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THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | JULY 11, 2021
Chandler Civil Patrol cadet earns big honor ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF
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adet Col. Viet Zaengle of Chandler received the General Carl A. Spaatz Award recently in a ceremony at Arizona National Guard Headquarters. Maj. Gen. Kerry Muehlenbeck, Adjutant General of Arizona and director of the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, presented the award to Zaengle. Viet is a member of Civil Air Patrol’s Willie Composite Squadron in Chandler. He joined CAP in 2016 and currently serves as the cadet commander for his squadron. He just completed his junior year at Hamilton High School, where he also holds the grade of major in the Junior ROTC and is a member of the choir and cross-country team. He also is an Eagle Scout. A recipient of the 2021 Air Force Chief of Staff Private Pilot scholarship program, Viet currently is attending a flight academy at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University in Prescott, where he will earn his private pilot certificate and six college credits. “Working with cadets, watching them develop their leadership skills, seeing them choose to continue to serve as CAP volunteers as Colonel Zaengle is doing – it just doesn’t get much better than that,” said Arizona Wing Commander Col. Rob Pinckard. “CAP cadets like Col. Zaengle give me hope for the future of our country,” he added. The Spaatz Award is Civil Air Patrol’s highest cadet honor. On average, only a half percent of CAP cadets earn the Spaatz Award. It is presented to cadets who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, character, fitness, and aerospace education. Cadets qualify for this prestigious award after devoting an average of five
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Maj. Gen. Kerry Muehlenbeck, Adjutant General of Arizona, presented the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award to Civil Air Patrol Cadet Colonel Viet Zaengle in recognition of his demonstrated excellence in leadership, character, fitness, and aerospace education. (Special to SanTan Sun News)
Chandler artist-novelist making the rounds ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF
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ox Crossing resident and former journalist Laurie Fagen will take part in two book signings this summer. She was featured yesterday, July 3, in her hometown of Earlham, Iowa, at JK Books and Gifts, which has been carrying her two crime fiction mystery novels “Fade Out” and “Dead Air,” as well as polymer clay jewelry. On Saturday, July 17, she will be closer to home. She is one of more than 70 authors taking part in the annual Payson Book Festival 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Mazatzal Hotel & Casino, Highway 87, Payson. “I’m thrilled to be part of in-person book events once again,” Fagen said. “The pandemic was challenging for all of us, and I’m looking forward to seeing friends and meeting new readers.”
Books will be available for sale at both events, and personalized book signings are available. In addition, Fagen will exhibit her fiber and jewelry at two large studio tours this fall: Prescott Area Studio Tour Oct. 1-3 and Hidden in the Hills Nov. 19-21 and 26-28 in the north Scottsdale area. Fagen will join visual artist Nicole McCaigue of Santan Valley and Prescott at her location on Congress Street in Prescott for the three-day event. She will be one of six artists at The Images Studios, 6925 E. Windstone Trail in Scottsdale, for two weekends prior to Thanksgiving. Fagen’s career started at KTAR News
Laurie Fagen, a Fox Crossing resident who is a novelist and artist, will be participating in the Payson Book Festival. (Special to the Arizonan)
Radio as a student at Arizona State University when she reported live about traffic conditions while flying around the Valley in a single-engine aircraft. “Radio really gave me a great background in gathering news, and relying on the ear only,” she explained. “I base some of my novel’s radio reporter sleuth on those early days in my career.” After graduation, she worked full-time for the station as an assistant producer before making a move to television, returning to her home state of Iowa to work for KWWL-TV, an NBC affiliate television station in Waterloo, as a reporter, videographer, editor and anchor. Fagen spent the next 10 years working in commercial and cable television, then started her first business as a writer, producer and director for corporate tele-
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