Pinal Central

CASA GRANDE — Two members of the Vista Grande athletic department were honored at the Amateur Athletic Union Strength Sports 2026 National Awards on Aug. 15 in Laughlin, Nev. Oscar Ortega was named Junior Male Athlete of the Year in powerlifting, and athletic director Ruthann Miller was named Meet Director of the Year. Ortega told PinalCentral that he was very excited when he first found out about the award.

PCSO log The following were booked into the Pinal County Adult Detention Center: Arrests July 31 Lyle Bolte, 56, was arrested for driving under the influence and DUI with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or more. John Bryson, 46, was arrested for exceeding the speed limit by 20 miles per hour or more. Charles Pawlowski, 43, was arrested for first-degree criminal trespass, one second-degree failure to appear warrant and disorderly conduct fighting.

Editor: “You break it, you buy it” is a fair-minded adage. What the lawless, corrupt Trump regime and Republican legislators broke cost them nothing. Instead, Trump, his family and cronies have gotten richer. Conversely, innocent Americans and people around the world are suffering and paying high costs for Trump et al’s egocentric, reckless policies/actions.

When I attended a much different public school in suburban Maryland, there was a public service announcement on TV that asked: “It’s 10 o’clock. Do you know where your children are?” I was usually in bed at that hour on “school nights,” but that question might be put a different way today: “It’s 9 a.m. Do you know what your children are being taught?” Many parents don’t have a clue what is being fed into their children’s minds and spirits, or they learn after the fact.

kAm%96 H@C=5 :D D=66AH2=<:?8 :?E@ 2 ?6H ?F4=62C 2C>D C246]k^Am kAmpD 2C>D\4@?EC@= EC62E:6D 92D965 @FE @G6C 564256D =2AD6[ 4@F?EC:6D E92E 7@C>6C=J C6;64E65 A@DD6DD:?8 ?F4=62C H62A@?D 2C6 DE2CE:?8 E@ C64@?D:56C] %96 s@@>D52J r=@4< :D D6E 2E gd D64@?5D E@ >:5?:89E[ E96 4=@D6DE :E’D 6G6C 366? E@ E96 DJ>3@=:4 9@FC @7 E96 2A@42=JAD6]k^Am kAm%96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2?5 #FDD:2[ H9:49 4@?EC@= ge A6C46?E @7 E96 H@C=5’D ?F4=62C 2CD6?2=[ 2C6 H:E9@FE 2? 2C>D\=:>:E2E:@?

The Arizona Supreme Court has finished its work of deciding on challenges to propositions for the November ballot. Eight made the cut, and voters will have an opportunity to decide their fate (we’ll have more on that later). One that has received considerable commentary as well as court action is the “Fast Election Results Act,” Proposition 144. Since election results come slowly in the state, the name sounds appealing, but how this proposal helps with that is unclear.

Editor: In my last two letters, I focused one on independents and another on Republicans. This time it is for all voters. If you are a registered voter and care about the direction our country has taken both here and abroad, you need to vote for Democrats. If you haven’t registered to vote, you need to register immediately. The last day to register is Oct. 5. Affordability, healthcare, education and the following of our constitutional values are important.

Editor: kAm%96 =2E6DE C6DA@?D6 @? E96 DFCG:G2= @7 E96 s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJ :D[ Q(6 92G6 2 3:8 E6?EPQ (6==[ E92EVD 8C62E D@ =@?8 2D E96 Q?6H >6>36CDQ 5@?VE 3C:?8 =:E 7=2>6E9C@H6CD :?] %96 Q?6H >6>36CDQ 42== E96>D6=G6D Qs6>@4C2E:4 $@4:2=:DEDQ 3FE E96:C A=2E7@C> :D 4@>>F?:DE :? E96 6IEC6>6] $@ H9J 5@6D E96 Q@=5 8F2C5Q =:<6 $49F>6C[ y677C:6D[ }6HD@>[ !6=@D:[ @FC @H?

ELOY — The matchup between the Santa Cruz Valley Dust Devils and Coolidge Bears lived up to its pregame billing Friday night, producing a tough, physical encounter before the Dust Devils powered their way to a 28-20 victory. Santa Cruz (1-0) did much of its damage behind the effective combination of quarterback Richard Reyes Jr. and running back Diego Ibarra, with Ibarra repeatedly pounding away at a Coolidge defense that battled throughout the night.

APACHE JUNCTION — For a team as young and inexperienced as the Apache Junction Prospectors, matching up against the strong Gilbert San Tan Charter Roadrunners for the first game of the season was going to be a difficult task. While the Prospectors played with plenty of grit and determination, the opponent was just too strong on opening night, losing 65-0.