December 22, 2004

The Sunrise Mountain baseball team?s batting practice session Wednesday was a popular place to be. Almost three hours before their season-opening game against Deer Valley, they had already drawn a crowd. Or, to be more specific, Jaff Decker had drawn a crowd. Four scouts were there to get a look at the pitcher/outfielder, considered to be one of the best prospects in the state. As he stepped into the box, launching bomb after bomb over the fence in every direction, the scouts were laughing. ?I?m going to call this kid the Toy Cannon,? one scout said. For the team and for Decker, now in his senior season, the attention is nothing new. In fact, it is constant. ?It is like this every day,? head coach Eric Gardner said. ?Every game, every batting practice, there are at least a few guys who want to get a look at Jaff. I think it?s gotten to the point now that he doesn?t even really notice them.? Decker does notice, though. He just does not care. ?It doesn?t really bother me,? Decker said. ?I guess I just don?t think about it.? Decker has been playing baseball since he was four years old. Gardner said he has power to all fields as a hitter, and is a bulldog when he gets on the mound. ?He?s a power pitcher, there is no question about that,? Gardner said. ?He?s the type of guy that will just keep throwing fastballs by you until someone proves they can hit it. He?s a quiet guy normally, but when he gets on the field he gets seriously fired up.? After coming up short in the postseason two years in a row, it is no wonder why Decker is so competitive. ?I want to win a title,? Decker said. ?We came close two years ago, we lost earlier than we should have last year, in the semifinals, and now I?ve got one shot left. It?s all I think about.? In truth, that is not all he thinks about. Decker committed to play at Arizona State next season; previously, he had verbally committed to UCLA. He is even getting attention at the professional level; most draft projections have him going somewhere between the first and fifth round. ?It was a tough decision, especially after I gave my verbal to UCLA, but I know I made the right choice,? Decker said. ?And I do want to get drafted, but I think this is the best choice for me right now.? Gardner said he can see how excited Decker is to see how far his power arm and big swing can take him. ?I know Jaff is anxious to play for ASU, and to tell you the truth, I think he could step out on the field and make an impact for ASU right now,? Gardner said. ?As far as his career goes, I think he has a chance to go all the way. It really depends on who drafts him and at what position.? Decker said if he had to choose between the two, he would give up pitching. ?I love to hit,? Decker said with a smile. For now, though, he does not have to make that decision. For now, it is all about winning a championship. ?I don?t want to worry about that other stuff yet,? Decker said. ?I want to just focus on the season ahead.?

As conversation pieces go, Mary Consie’s yard art is a real gabber.

One of the most challenging issues in the national debate over illegal immigration is what to do about the children of such immigrants who gain automatic U.S. citizenship at birth.

Engineering isn’t something middle school students usually embrace. Reading books about how municipalities work can be boring even to kids who express somewhat of an interest in the subject.

Many people think of Alzheimer’s as an “old person’s disease” and an inevitable part of aging. As my family knows too well, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Many proposals swirling around Arizona and the rest of the country would increase government’s role in health care. Their common denominator: reduced individual choice and control over medical decisions.

Q. I did a "vanity" search on pipl.com and was appalled at how much information was available (albeit, some for a fee). There were sites offering to get your info off the Web. Are they legit, and is it possible to get your personal info removed from the Web even if it comes from public records? - B.A.

Data Doctors: Q. I did a “vanity” search on pipl.com and was appalled at how much information was available (albeit, some for a fee). There were sites offering to get your info off the Web. Are they legit, and is it possible to get your personal info removed from the Web even if it comes from public records? — B.A.

For many young political animals, casting their first ballot in a presidential election is quite a rush. That inaugural foray into the thunderdome of democracy can be a memorable experience.

Roger Alswager, 76, of Mesa, received a fishy phone call recently.

Perhaps the most interesting personality on either team is Ohio State receiver Anthony Gonzalez, a philosophy major who earlier this week said college athletes were the most exploited group of people in the United States.

TUCSON - A new Indian Health Service clinic is making it easier for American Indians and indigenous Alaskans to receive more personalized health care and physical therapy.

The campaign for Chandler City Council is taking some interesting turns as six candidates choose sides on issues, jump on bandwagons, reinvent the internet and father traffic signs. The more the candidates meet to “debate” the more their positions begin to look the same. Through all the posturing and handshaking, one candidate has emerged as the best person to represent us on the city council for the next four years.

It’s odd. Possessions can become a millstone to drag around day to day. Perhaps we should erect a warning sign for those clamoring for our lifestyle.

A new approach to medicine that emphasizes personalized treatment based on each patient’s unique physiological makeup was announced Wednesday by two Valley philanthropic organizations.

Deborah Rednour said Tuesday she had no idea that the man living in her home had a police record. Rednour described her housemate, Michael Craig Lance, suspected of killing 15-year-old Lyndsey Miles of Queen Creek, as a “very private person,” who never caused any problems.

Deborah Rednour said Tuesday she had no idea that the man living in her home had a police record. Rednour described her housemate, Michael Craig Lance, suspected of killing 15-year-old Lyndsey Miles of Queen Creek, as a “very private person,” who never caused any problems.

Q: I have an old HP scanner/fax/printer. Is it true that it stores your personal info inside somewhere and you should remove it before getting rid of it? I called HP and they denied that. Help! — Julie

Q: I have an old HP scanner/fax/printer. Is it true that it stores your personal info inside somewhere and you should remove it before getting rid of it? I called HP and they denied that. Help! — Julie

NEW YORK — Recent high-profile attacks on tourists in India, Brazil, Turkey and Mexico — including rapes — have raised questions about personal safety for overseas travel, especially for women. But frequent travelers and those who work in the industry say a few common-sense precautions can go a long way to ensuring personal safety.

NEW YORK - The difficult economic times we’re in have small-business owners scouring their companies’ books, looking for ways to improve cash flow and preserve their profits. They should also be taking that kind of care with their personal finances.

WASHINGTON — Your employer probably hasn’t bugged your apartment to determine if your television viewing is up to par. But that doesn’t mean that your life outside of work can’t affect your hiring, firing or promotions.

Arizonans are flocking to see their governor for breakfast at Mesa Community College, for lunch at a Marine air station in Yuma and for dinner at the Prescott Brewing Co.