August 2015
NEW CONTEST! Can you find the fake ad? See page 3 for more info
Kieralyn Kennington jumps with excitement and fear as a monkey-tailed skink gets a little too close.
Smith takes over as city attorney By Kenneth LaFave
Don’t let the highsounding title fool you. There’s a lot more to the position of city attorney than just running an office. “It’s not simply a managerial job. You practice law and are involved in aspects of the practice of the law,” said City Attorney Jim Smith. Smith, who took over as city attorney effective Jim Smith July 24, was approved for the position by the City Council July 1. He succeeds outgoing City Attorney Debbie Spinner. Deputy city attorney for the City of Mesa for the last two years, and
Police boost air fleet with $3.2 million helicopter an assistant city attorney
By Israel Gonzalez Mesa police have added a $3.2 million helicopter to their fleet to help the department ease its aviation rotation and to assist ground officers. The MD530F-model helicopter was purchased from Northeast Mesa’s MD Helicopters with 2013 public safety bond money. It replaces an older model that experienced an emergency land- Mesa Police Department adds a third helicopter to its fleet. ing in June 2014. Mesa Police Department usuMPD has flown since 1994. ally operates with three helicopters Steve Berry, MPD spokesman, said but has been running with two since his department was excited to have a the 2014 incident. The new model is third helicopter on board. similar to the MD500E model the ...continues on page 17 ...continues on page 13
there for 10 years prior, Smith was selected from “a diverse pool of internal and external candidates,” Mayor John Giles said in a press release. “To do this job, you have to be a lawyer, a manager and a leader, all at the same time,” Smith said. “This office has had a great lawyermanager-leader in Debbie Spinner, and I intend to keep that going.” The city attorney’s responsibilities break down into three basic areas, according to Smith:
All the juice that’s fit to print! Mailed to homes in the Groves communities.
NearbyNews
Mailed toYour Home Monthly
Local Postal Customer
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID PHOENIX PERMIT # 1333