Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 30

VALLEY STATE B4 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2001 The Arizona Republic LAW AND ORDER Planned split of 520 code Metropolitan Tucson, Pima, Pinal, Cochise and Santa Cruz counties will retain the 520 area code. The rest of the state, outside Maricopa County, will be assigned a new area code. Crash near kills former Wickenburg XFL hopeful 602,480,623 COCONINO NAVAJO APACHE 4 area codes 520 proposed LmJ area codes I I Remainder of state Window I I to be assigned new I Rock area code Kingman MOHAVE k. Prescott y- YAVAPAI St. i rjtA I Johns I' LA PAZ 7 1 0ILA 1 Metro A i Phoenix Globe I A yuma MARIC0PAt; Is 3 GRAHAM Yuma "1 TI if pima 50 km COCHISE Associated Press Donald R.

Sellers, who spent most of training camp with the Las Vegas Outlaws but was placed on the XFL's exempt list after being charged with molesting a Gilbert girl, was killed Sunday in an automobile accident near Wickenburg. Sellers, 26, apparently was returning to the Phoenix area from Las Vegas when the accident occurred on U.S. 93. Sellers lost control of his vehicle and went off the road, according to police reports. When he tried to get the car back on the road, he crossed two southbound lanes into oncoming traffic.

His vehicle was hit by another car, split in half and rolled several times, said Jill Volz of the Department of Public Safety. She said Sellers was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. Volz said the roads were dry and clear, and officials were unsure why Sellers veered off the road. Authorities have not released identities of the driver and passenger of the other car and would say only that they were taken to a hospital with unspecified injuries. A quarterback at New Mexico, Sellers was trying for a job as a wide receiver with the Outlaws.

But when Source: Arizona Corporation Commission 520 1 Growth forces split in area code iO SOI HOT rice Civics From Page Bl would be affected by the change. That could include fax machines, computers with dial-up features, burglar alarms and cellular phones. The commission rejected an overlay proposal, suggested by Commissioner Marc Spitzer, that would have assigned a new area code to all new lines while allowing existing ones to retain 520. Although an overlay spares existing users the hassle of reprinting business, materials and reprogramming equipment, it eliminates any geographic identity and' could result in a business or residence having two area codes. An overlay also makes 10-digit dialing mandatory on all calls, while a split allows seven-digit calling for toll free calls in the same area code.

The commission, which in 1999 approved the three-way split of the 602 area code in was pronounced dead at a Phoenix hospital shortly after the 3:15 p.m. accident at 27th Avenue and Thomas Road. Pacheco's wife, who was driving the car, and his two children, a 10-year-old girl and a 7- or 8-year-old boy, suffered minor injuries. Firefighters believe no one in the car was wearing a seat belt Officials said the accident occurred when the car struck a tractor-trailer during Tuesday afternoon's rain. SCOTTSDALE Mentally impaired woman disappears Police are searching for a 22-year-old Scottsdale woman last seen Sunday at her home 'in the 7300 block of East Whistling Winds Way.

Ayesha Kellom has the mental capacity, of an 8-year-old, said her aunt, who has had custody of Kellom since she was 4. Police believe Kellom left looking for a ride, possibly to the West Valley, which she has done before. Kellom is Black, 5 feet 8 inches tall and 140 pounds with short hair. She was last seen wearing blue jean overalls, a green and white sweater, a black windbreaker and flip-flop shoes. Anyone with information can call Scottsdale Police at (480)312-5000.

ADVERTISEMENT Incredible five-day sale PHOENIX, Ariz. If you're in the market for a new car, there's no better time than now to shop at Showcase Honda. This week, Showcase Honda is offering every 2001 Honda Accord LX model for just $239 per month with zero cash down. That means $0 due at inception with no security deposit for 60 months, on approved credit. Or, you may purchase the vehicle at the special price of only $16,788.

During this special sales event, customers will be able to choose from rows and rows of cash-free Accords. The goal is to reduce the current Accord inventory in half in order to make room for the incoming shipment of vehicles. "This is a golden opportunity for anyone considering the purchase of a new Honda. 2001 Accords for just $239 per month with no cash down or a special purchase price of only $16,788. It's like buying an Accord for the price of a Civic.

These even beat our Internet prices," said Martin, Peters, general sales manager of Showcase iHonda. "We expect the public's interest in these cars to be out J4ccii3 fihe-K PHOENIX Police investigating shooting at apartment Phoenix police are investigating the shooting death of a man inside a central Phoenix apartment Monday afternoon. The man' identity was not released pending notification of his family. Police believe the victim, who was in his 30s, was drinking with five other people inside an apartment in the 1800 block of North 26th Place when four of them went to get more beer. The victim stayed behind with a man whom witnesses called Omar.

Omar apparently called the four others about 3:30 p.m. and said the victim had been shot. The men returned to the apartment to find the victim shot multiple times and lying on the living room floor, said Detective Bob Ragsdale, a police spokesman. Omar was missing. The victim was taken to Maricopa Medical Center, where he was pronounced-dead.

TEMPE Boy hits classmate's eye with scissors Five-year-old Paul Heinrich is seeing clearly, considering he was grazed in the eye with a pair of scissors Monday. The kindergartner said he was cutting out valentines with a classmate at Meyer Elementary School in Tempe when his classmate tried to take his paper away from him several times, Paul's mother, Julie, said. So Paul hit the boy in the stomach, his mother said. In retaliation, the boy picked up a pair of scissors, opened them, and hit Paul in the eye, Julie Heinrich said. Paul was taken to the emergency room with a scratch across his iris and pupil.

Had he not jerked away when the scissors came at him, he could have lost an eye, doctors said. Julie Heinrich said she has not been informed of any disciplinary action against her son or the other boy, but she has warned her son that he should be punished for hitting the boy. "But I would much rather the boy hit my son than pick up an item to use," Heinrich said. "It was a little more severe than a punch in the face." Meyer Principal Howard Oechsner could not be reached for comment. PHOENIX Man bleeds to death after car accident A 30-year-old father bled to death Tuesday after he severed his carotid artery in a car crash in Phoenix.

The impact of the collision threw Kevin Pacheco into the windshield and metal frame of his car, said Deputy Phoenix Fire Chief Bob Khan. He jail and escorted out of town by police. Allen said he is gratified that the accident prompted upgrades on Highway 60 at Gonzales Pass, and hopeful that the case will lead to better DPS investigative methods. As for the victims, he said, "My thoughts and prayers are with the Lopez family." Reach the reporter at dennis.wagnerarizona republic.com or (602) 444-8874. Outlaws officials became aware Jan.

18 of the charges against him, he was put on the exempt list. Four girls, between 15 and 18 years old, accused Sellers of assaulting them in separate incidents from December 1998 to March 2000, according to court records. Two of the girls said they bore his children. Sellers liked to hang out at places geared to teens: Mesa's Skateland, Arizona Mills mall and Greenfield Junior High School in Gilbert, according to three girls who filed police reports. In August, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office charged Sellers with aggravated assault.

A 14-year-old Greenfield Junior High School girl told police that on Feb. 18, 2000, Sellers hugged and kissed her. The girl told police she resisted at first but then relented because she was "very afraid," reports say. Las Vegas Coach Jim Criner said in January that if Sellers were convicted, XFL rules would bar him from playing in the league. With an acquittal or dismissal of charges, Criner said he would have considered taking Sellers back.

Includes information gathered by The Arizona Republic. ADVERTISEMENT cle title or payment book, and Showcase Honda will do the rest. "Bring in your trade and Showcase Honda will appraise your vehicle on the spot," continued Peters. "It's simple. Just ask to see the Official Kelley Blue Book Used Car Guide.

You'll know how much your trade is worth even before Showcase Honda does. "Then choose the Accord LX you want. You pick the color. You pick the style. And there's no need to negotiate to get these fantastic payments or prices.

Sales representatives will be on hand only to assist in processing the necessary paperwork. It couldn be much easier." Showcase Honda is located at 1400 E. Camelback Road in Phoenix. For more information on this special event, contact Martin Peters today toll-free at 1-888-584-4291 Don't be left out. This sale is for five days only, Thursday, February 15 through Monday, February 19th.

I Ji All payments are plus tax. O.A.C. Minimum 720 Isaac score is required. II A II 14 nuZ The Arizona Republic Maricopa County, went ahead with a split for 520 for the sake of consistency. "At this time the split just makes more sense," Commission Chairman William Mun-dell said.

Spitzer agreed to lend his support to the majority to make the decision unanimous. For affected customers, it will be the second area code change in six years. In 1995, the 520 area code was broken out of the 602 area code. Richard Boyles, a Corporation Commission staff engineer, said it was decided to allow Tucson to keep 520 because it has the largest concentration of people and businesses. "It was a tough decision, but it's a generally accepted practice to allow the larger urban areas to retain their numbers," Boyles said.

Reach the reporter at max.jarmanarizona republic.com or (602) 444-7351. children assessed. Districts such as Scottsdale and Marana, northwest of Tucson, strictly enforce the Sept. 1 cutoff. Twenty-one states use the Sept.

1 cutoff while only four use the Dec. 31 deadline. In California, a law recently passed creating a pilot program requiring students to be 5 by Sept. 1 before they enter kindergarten. The deadline in California had been Dec.

2. Reach the reporter at kristen.goarizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-7967. KINDERGARTEN I Mesa considers a change standing," continued Peters. We have even increased our sales staff just for this event and we're more than This is a golden 2001 Accords for just $239 per month with no cash down or a special purchase price of only $1688. Martin Peters General Sales Manager ready to assist anyone interested in one or more of the great selection of vehicles on our lot.

"This is a first-come, first-served sales event. And at these prices, these Accords are sure to sell quickly. "These models are equipped with all the options you'd want: AMTM with CD player, air conditioning, power windows and power door locks, just to name a few. We think you'd be hard-pressed to find fully loaded Accords like these at such exclusive ly low prices." Customers trade-ins will the highest with receive dollar amount tor their vehi- cles. In addition to their trade, they need only bring in their vehi CHARGES I Dropped in crash From Page Bl state is not responsible for paying for early-kindergarten programs.

Other school districts, especially in the East Valley, have been keeping close tabs on Mesa's decision. Arizona school districts have varying policies. Children in Peoria who turn 5 from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31 can be screened by early-childhood educators for free.

Debbie Pischke, director for community preschool partnerships and community enrichment in Peoria, says teachers look for students with strong language and motor skills and the ability to solve problems. Last year, 115 students took the test. Only 24 passed, and of those, 19 had birthdays in September and most were girls. "Parents have a confusion with saying their children know their letters and they know their numbers," said Terri Mainwaring, administrator for elementary operations in Peoria. "We've had lots of students that can do those things but they may not be ready." The Washington Elementary School District's policy is similar to 'Peoria's except that parents pay to have their i ii i.iid.

until rv -f-y is fl a iti (II II.IIIU.IUMI.I I From Page Bl an alternate claim: that Allen was impaired by prescription drugs when the crash occurred. Last week, defense lawyers provided information from an expert witness who found that Allen was not impaired. Soil said Monday's dismissal came during an emotional hearing with the defendant's and victims' families seated on opposite sides of the court. Afterward, he said, Allen was released from (J ft ff 7 a I I FIESTA MALL share the mall UJ UillllIUL, ,1 1 114--- IU11I I II I .1 I. 1I1JIH.JM IILIILLJJUI II I .1 Ill Ill Ml 1- I III l.

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