$5K presented to Apache Junction’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education program
Funds were recently given to the Apache Junction Police Department’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education program by members of a local drug-prevention coalition, which is dissolving.
“We have a nice donation for our local D.A.R.E. program. We have a check for $5,000 to our local D.A.R.E program,” Councilmember Christa Rizzi, a member of the Apache Junction Drug Prevention Coalition, said.
She and coalition members Gil Cropper, Robert Matsch and Chair Shelly Verley presented the check at the Aug. 18 Apache Junction City Council meeting.
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Funds were recently given to the Apache Junction Police Department’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education program by members of a local drug-prevention coalition, which is dissolving.
“We have a nice donation for our local D.A.R.E. program. We have a check for $5,000 to our local D.A.R.E program,” Councilmember Christa Rizzi, a member of the Apache Junction Drug Prevention Coalition, said.
She and coalition members Gil Cropper, Robert Matsch and Chair Shelly Verley presented the check at the Aug. 18 Apache Junction City Council meeting.
“Bob and Christa and Gil have been a part of this coalition from the very beginning — in 2008 — and they still carry that mantle to this day. And I just wanted to recognize and appreciate all of their efforts. Their impact on this community is completely immeasurable and very difficult to express in words,” Coalition Chair Verley said.
“As far as the D.A.R.E. program goes, that program is just so incredibly worthy,” she said. “I’ve been in education for 30 years, so I’ve seen how dynamic it is, how it impacts kids and how it went from teaching peer resistance, yes; teaching being able to be aware of the dangers of drug use, yes; but most recently it is now teaching a complete decision-making model where any choice that a child is faced with — at that age, a ... youngster I should say — this model just helps them make better choices all the way around.”
Richard Dyer Managing Editor | East Valley @RHDyer
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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