Affectionately playing with their Miniature Dachshunds, Joey, Lisa Stapp and her son, Billy, praised the family pet after he rolled over on command.

Valley Christian graduate and Ahwatukee resident Carter Gladstone found a home to continue his baseball career as the outfielder signed with Northwest Missouri State on Tuesday.

Checked in with the Mountain Pointe boys basketball team today as new coach Hosea Graham tries to put his identity on the program before the Pride plays at Grand Canyon this weekend.

Mohammed Saleem bet one brother instead of chasing another.

Three students recently promoted from the eighth grade at St. John. Bosco Catholic School in Ahwatukee recently received scholarships for private high school tuition, each worth $8,000.


Local churches in Ahwatukee Foothills are keeping their heads above the sea of technology with the use of iPhone, Android and tablet apps for their members.
Along with the surge in use of Bible apps, online podcasts of sermons and social media, non-denominational Christian churches as a whole are remembering that relevancy is key.
Pastor Jeff Zubeck of Living Word Bible Church said “keeping up with the times” is key, though the larger scope of the church shouldn’t change the main message, just the method of delivery.
Whether in church services or at home, members and attendees of Mountain Park Community Church can literally have their church in their pocket.


Tyler Viza’s inclusion at No. 427 in Baseball America’s top 500 draft prospects shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who saw Desert Vista’s comeback against Brophy in the first round of the Division I state baseball tournament.

Bethany Christian School’s board of directors announced a change in leadership after Barbara Hunsaker informed them that after 13 years, she’s ready to move on.
The new administrator, Kary Sterkowitz, will be returning to Arizona after having spent the last nine years as a school administrator in El Cajon, Calif. 
Sterkowitz will be on campus starting June 10.


Arizona Christian University will hosts the 2013 Baseball Recruit Identification Camp June 3-6 at Firestorm Field. Players ages 14-18 are invited to attend the camp, which focuses on baseball skills development.

Jordan Kipper’s continual rise in the eyes of professional scouts should continue when the MLB first-player draft is held June 6-8.

Spent last night searching the web to find out how local products did or are doing this baseball season.

Four years in the making, Mountain Pointe High School graduate John Swan recently launched a Christian clothing line he hopes will be appealing to all walks of life.

Spring sprang, and now summer has set in.

Two old friends paid me a visit last week. The first slipped in without a word, freezing my mind for an instant, like the shock of ice cream gulped down too eagerly on a hot day. As we visited for a while, I noticed the familiar voice is edged with a steely insistence, somehow sharpened rather than blunted by a hunger for news of trouble, and the scent of brewing chaos. By God’s grace and through His perfect timing, there, just in nick of time, was another beloved friend knocking on the door of my heart, gently enfolding me in loving arms. This beloved voice speaks quietly, yet perfectly clearly, sharing a different story, at once both old and fresh. The voice carries words brimming with abundant life, like a lush oasis in an otherwise barren and hostile desert. Such is the power of moments of fear to paralyze our senses, and to leave us feeling isolated and lost. Such is the power of the unparalleled peace found through our faith in Christ Jesus, our Lord, in the comforting words of Scripture.

The Arizona Baseball Coaches Association has released its All-State teams for each of the four divisions.Three area players were honored.

Instead of asking for gifts, St. John Bosco sixth-graders Lauren A. and Shea S. combined their recent 12th birthday parties into a fundraiser for a family in need. The Perres are local residents facing heart wrenching medical issues and staggering medical costs. Within two months of one another, Mrs. Perre was diagnosed with a form of Lou Gehrig’s disease and her 16-year-old son was diagnosed with cancer. Lauren and Shea invited the entire sixth-grade population of St. John Bosco, as well as many other friends, to party at Desert Foothills Park on April 26. In lieu of birthday gifts, Shea, Lauren and their friends dug into their piggy banks and donated money to help the Perres. In the end, Lauren, She and their friends collected approximately $1,700. The Perres were overwhelmed at the compassion and generosity of both the girls and the community.

Jeff Rutledge, a former player and coach in the NFL and NCAA Champion quarterback at the University of Alabama, has been hired as the head football coach at Valley Christian High School.

The Horizon Honors golf team finished second at the Division III state tournament last weekend.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12).

A theatrical look at the life of an amazing young woman whose courage paved the way for all future Americans. Christian Youth Theatre of Phoenix stages this elaborate production with a 60 member cast.

The Horizon Honors golf team finished second at the Division III state tournament this weekend.