Inmate Gunsmithing, Power Tools for Pooches, and Other Hilarious April Shenanigans

April 1, 2025, marked a day of lighthearted pranks across Maricopa, embracing the spirit of April Fool’s Day while maintaining a commitment to honesty in reporting.

The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office drew attention with a satirical announcement from Sheriff Ross Teeple about an Inmate Gunsmithing Certification Program. In the playful reveal, Teeple claimed the initiative celebrated the Second Amendment while providing inmates with valuable skills for their reentry into society. Accompanying the announcement, social media videos featured Teeple instructing inmates on firearm assembly and maintenance. “With the inmates maintaining the weapons, deputies can exchange them and get back out on the road faster to better you and save the taxpayers money,” he stated, highlighting the supposed dual benefit of the program. This humorous video quickly gained traction, racking up 63,000 views within hours on Facebook.

Desert Sunrise High School added their own twist to the day by introducing “Goldie,” a new female companion for their mascot, Gary the Golden Hawk. The school’s Facebook post featured Gary and Goldie, with Goldie adorned in stick-on eyelashes and a blue hair bow. This playful prank follows last year’s amusing claim that Gary’s name would change to Gerald, continuing the school’s tradition of lighthearted announcements.

At Karsten’s ACE Hardware, the local store made waves by sharing a whimsical image of a dog clad in a hard hat and holding a wrench. This post humorously introduced a fictional line of pet-friendly tools, playfully suggesting that pets could also tackle DIY projects. While the idea of pets using tools is far-fetched—given their lack of opposable thumbs—the adorable dog photo provided a charming touch to the store’s post.

Amtrak also participated in the fun with a fake announcement for a “traffic simulator” designed for commuters in Maricopa. The virtual reality game promised a chance to earn points through road rage, mimicking the daily frustrations of State Route 347. A playful disclaimer made clear that the product was not real, humorously acknowledging the commuter experience without needing a game.

Lastly, AAMCO joined the festivities with a cheeky Facebook post stating a shift from traditional transmission services to time travel. The announcement jokingly suggested that customers could transform their vehicles into time machines, allowing them to revisit past mistakes or even witness the dinosaurs. Despite the comedic intent, the post sparked a lighthearted debate among followers about the practicality of such a service.