COMMUNITY

Chandler Civil Patrol cadet earns big honor

ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

Cadet 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

Fox 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. 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-

Chandler Service Club honors Flower Girls

ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

Chandler Service Club recently recognized its Flower Girls from the 2020-21 school year.

“Their efforts in the community and in the classroom did not go unnoticed,” a spokeswoman said. “We appreciated the limited amount of time that we spent getting to know and learn about all of their gifts and talents.”

The goal of the Flower Girl Program is to foster a lifelong commitment to helping others through community service; to promote an appreciation for social graces and etiquette; and to develop leadership, self-image and other character-building skills for young women in our community.

Chandler Service Club members are mentors for each community service, educational and social event in which the participants have opportunities to experience, practice and enjoy the skills they have learned.

This year’s class of Flower Girls includes: Rae Allen, Milani Alo, Rebekah Bailey, Savanna Bell, Kendyl Brass, Gracelyn Brittingham, Brenna Brooks, Sophie Cooper, Sierra Dixon;

Also, Rylee Emerich, Allison Evdokimo, Payton Francisco, Claire Glessner, Ava Guereque, Savanah Gutierrez, Emma Harris, Carter Henkel, Grace Hicks, Kensington Jephson, Devon Knox, Keely Kroeger, Tatum Linnen, Alexis Mueller, Cally Munguia; Also, Talia Nark, Nina Petrone, Jaiden Phillips, Brooke Romero, Tatiana Savedra, Hailey Sherman, Jaelah Stanley, Lacey Stanton, Jor-

The Chandler Service Club recently honored its 2020-21 Flower Girls. (Special to the Arizonan)

dynn Stephens, Abigail Stoll, Madison Stoltz, Lexi Tamburrelli, Brinley Terry, Grace Thornton, Kiyra Tibke, Alexandra Ulibarri, Gracie Vincelette, Jolie Wahlberg and Amanda Wichman.

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years to progress through 16 achievements in the CAP Cadet Program.

Along the way, they develop self-discipline, a strong sense of personal responsibility, the ability to lead and persuade, and the foundations necessary for pursuing a career in aviation, space, or technology. The final step a cadet must complete to earn the Spaatz Award is a rigorous four-part exam consisting of a challeng-

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vision, which she ran for another decade before she and her late husband, Geoff Hancock, purchased the Ocotillo News and later renamed it SanTan Sun News.

They published the twice-monthly newspaper until his death in 2013, when Times Media purchased the community newspaper.

Fagen is also an artist and singer.

Fagen published her debut novel, “Fade Out” in 2016, the first full-length book in the Lisa Powers series, which involves her ing physical fitness test, an essay exam testing their moral reasoning, a comprehensive written exam on leadership, and a comprehensive written exam on aerospace education. Upon passing the Spaatz Award exams, the cadet is promoted to the grade of cadet colonel.

Contact: Maj. Margot Myers, CAP Public Affairs Officer, Arizona Wing

Email: margot.myers@azwg.org

C: 480.773.3118

coverage of a massive fire that destroys the opulent mansion of a reclusive pharmaceutical heir, and her career is jeopardized when the story gets way too hot. In “Fade Out,” Lisa dodges bullets investigating the cold case of a kidnapped bank executive found murdered and discovers horrors she never imagined while tracking down a missing father. She finds herself facing down criminals in addition to reporting on them.

“Dead Air,” the second in the series released in 2017, involves her coverage of a cop shooting that tears the community

About Civil Air Patrol

Civil Air Patrol is the longtime auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and as such is a valued member of its Total Force. In its auxiliary role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 single-engine aircraft and 1,944 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems. It performs about 90% of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 82 lives

apart; a sexual assault cold case involving a child; and a film noir-style podcast.

She has also narrated audiobooks for both titles, which are all available on Amazon and Audible.

Fagen is currently working on the third book in her “Behind the Mic Mysteries” series and plans to have it available in early 2022.

It’s the continuing story of a young radio reporter, Lisa Powers, who covers the crime beat for a fictional Chandler radio station; helps police solve cold cases; and for fun, creates a mystery theannually. CAP’s 60,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief, and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state, and local agencies. Operating as a nonprofit organization, CAP also plays a leading role in STEM/aerospace education, and its members serve as mentors to about 25,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs. Visit www.Go-

CivilAirPatrol.com or www.azwg.org for more information.

atre podcast.

The third book, called “Bleeder,” includes her coverage of the trial for the cop shooter from “Dead Air;” a domestic violence story and cold case; and “Art of the Steal” podcast about a murder and art theft in a gallery.

For additional information and how to purchase Fagen’s book and other published works, visit www.ReadLaurieFagen.com, her Amazon author page at amazon.com/author/lauriefagen and at ShortOnTimeBooks.com. Her art may be seen at FagenDesigns.com.