Monthly Archives: December 2016

Arizona begins installation of state’s first Safety Corridors

Posted on by

PHOENIX — This week, Arizona motorists will see new signage designating segments of some state highways as Safety Corridors. By the end of December, motorists may also notice an increased law enforcement presence in these Safety Corridors.

Safety Corridors are highway segments that have more crashes, injuries and deaths than would ordinarily be expected. Over the next two months, the Arizona Department of Transportation, Arizona Department of Public Safety and Governor’s Office of Highway Safety will implement four Safety Corridors in Arizona, aiming to reduce crashes, severe injuries and traffic fatalities.

“These segments were selected because they have higher-than-average instances of speeding, aggressive driving, impaired driving and lack of seat belt use,” said Brent Cain, director of ADOT’s Transportation Systems Management and Operations Division. “Those are the leading factors in traffic deaths, and decreasing their occurrence makes the roads safer for everyone.”

Motorists will see new signs signaling they are entering and leaving a Safety Corridor, as well as signs that alert drivers that there will be zero tolerance for violations in a corridor.

“There will be strict enforcement of driving laws with zero tolerance for violations,” said DPS Lt. Col. Daniel Lugo. “If drivers obey the speed limit and other laws, there will be fewer crashes.”

The Safety Corridors will launch in two phases, with each including an urban and rural segment. Sign installation in the first phase begins today, Monday, Dec. 12, and will be completed by Dec. 20. Work on the second phase is scheduled to begin and be completed in January 2017.

PHASE ONE

o Interstate 10 (urban): Four-miles from the I-17 Stack to SR 51/Loop 202 Red Mountain Mini-Stack (mileposts 143-147)
o Interstate 10 (rural): Twenty-three miles from Loop 202 Santan Freeway to State Route 187 (mileposts 162-185)

PHASE TWO

o US 60 (urban): Thirteen miles from Loop 101 Price Freeway to Loop 202 (mileposts 177-190)
o Interstate 40 (rural): Twenty-three miles from Kingman east to US 93 (mileposts 49-72)

A grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety helped support establishing these Safety Corridors.

“The Safety Corridors will make traveling safer for everyone,” said Alberto Gutier, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. “If you already obey driving laws, you have nothing to worry about and can enjoy safer travel. If you speed, drive aggressively or break other driving laws, you will face the consequences of zero tolerance enforcement.”

Safety Corridor segments were selected by reviewing historic crash data related to driver behavior and input from law enforcement. This is a pilot program that will remain in place for at least one to two years. After that, the partner agencies will review their effectiveness and consider whether to add Safety Corridors.

Valley Milk Products Recalls Limited Amount of Milk and Buttermilk Powder Because of Possible Health Risks

Posted on by

Valley Milk Products is announcing a recall of 50-pound bags of nonfat high heat milk powder and sweet cream buttermilk powder that were produced from December 10, 2015 to July 5, 2016 due to potential Salmonella contamination, which was identified at the manufacturing facility but not in tested finished product.

Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream such as septicemia, arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The products included in the recall can be identified by the following lot numbers which can be found in the lower right front of each bag.

·High Heat Nonfat Dry Milk Powder 50# bags with a shelf life of 18 months with the following Lot numbers # (see picture of the milk powder bag at the end of this notice):
H151210, H151226, H160106, H160126, H160212, H160406, H160422, H160621,
H151216, H151227, H160109, H160129, H160218, H160411, H160425, H160627,
H151217, H151230, H160111, H160201, H160222, H160412, H160502, H160705,
H151219, H151221, H151222, H151224, H151231, H160101, H160103, H160105,
H160112, H160115, H160119, H160125, H160202, H160205, H160208, H160211,
H160223, H160224, H160227, H160323, H160414, H160415, H160419, H160420,
H160504,H160506,H160510,H160608

· Sweet Cream Buttermilk Powder in 50# bags with a shelf life of 12 months with the following lot numbers: (see picture of the buttermilk powder bag at the end of this notice)
B151218, B160107, B160113, B160121, B160127, B160203, B160209,
B160215, B160216, B160225, B160302, B160316, B160326, B160418,
B160421

These products are not sold directly to consumers, but are used as ingredients in a number of foods uch as bakery products and distributed by brokers. None of the recalled finished product tested positive for Salmonella but environmental sampling performed by the FDA was positive for Salmonella. Valley Milk is currently investigating the cause for the positive environmental samples.

Below are some pertinent facts and references to aid food manufacturers in determining the disposition of their affected products.

For companies that used the Valley Milk recalled milk powder or buttermilk powder in a consumer ready-to-eat product and there is no FDA-recognized kill step or inactivation step in their processing system, their supplier should be immediately notified with such details as the product which contained the recalled Valley Milk powder products, the amounts of the products, whether these products are in storage or have already been distributed, where the distributed products are and records or other evidence that the recalled Valley Milk powder was used. Their supplier will in-turn notify Valley Milk.

The FDA is available to help companies review their specific processes and determine if additional action is warranted.

All customers that have received these products have been notified by Valley Milk and instructed to return the suspect powder or document the destruction of the powder, after contacting Valley Milk for specific instructions. In case someone identifies Valley Milk powders with the above lot numbers in their dry storage warehouse and has not been ontacted by a Valley Milk representative, please contact Michael Curtis at 301-512-5053 or mcurtis@mdvamilk.com immediately for instructions.

At Valley Milk Products, we are dedicated to producing dairy products that meet the highest quality and safety standards required by our customers as well as complying with all government food safety requirements. Valley Milk Products has a long history of producing these products from our own dairy farmers in the historic Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. We will continue to work cooperatively with the FDA and the Commonwealth of Virginia to provide products that meet our customers’ requirements, meet or exceed government food safety standards and provide the nutritious benefits of dairy products to customers throughout the United States.

For additional information, please contact:

Amber Sherian
Director of Corporate Communications
Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, Inc.
1985 Isaac Newton Square West, Suite 200
Reston, Virginia 20190
703-742-6800, extension 7406
8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. ET

Update: Persons of interest were hunting legally

Posted on by

Northern Arizona Gazette supports legal hunting. We do hope to help catch actual poachers. We presumed, as did Arizona Game and Fish Department, that the person who sent in this photo had some good faith indication that these legal hunters were poachers. We apologize to the couple for any inconvenience they may have suffered from this event.

SUPERIOR — The Arizona Game and Fish Department on Monday found that persons of interest in a photo distributed on some AZGFD social media accounts were hunting legally when they recently took a buck near Superior.

When they learned they were “persons of interest” through AZGFD social media posts, they contacted the Department, produced their tag and additional photos of the buck, and the investigation was concluded.

“This was a success story in that a member of the public reported what appeared to be suspicious behavior,” said AZGFD Officer Kriselle Colvin, “and thanks to social media and immediate cooperation of the hunter, we were able to confirm that this deer was in fact taken in a completely ethical and legal manner.”

Initially, a concerned citizen had sent the photo to Operation Game Thief. The majority of our state’s hunters do the right thing and uphold the game laws in Arizona — this case is another example.

If you see suspicious behavior, please contact AZGFD’s Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-800-352-0700, 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week, or visit www.azgfd.gov/ogt.shtml.

King Meat Services, Inc. Recalls Beef Products Due To Misbranding

Posted on by

WASHINGTON — King Meat Services, Inc., a Vernon, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 50,991 pounds of beef products due to misbranding, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The beef items were produced on various dates from Nov. 1, 2016 to Dec. 5, 2016. The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels (PDF Only)]

Boxes of vacuum-packed packages containing “BEEF BONE – IN SHORT RIB CHOICE OR HIGHER,” with product code 991012.
Boxes of vacuum-packed packages containing “BEEF BONELESS RIBEYE LIP – ON 13 LBS DOWN,” with product code 991027.
Boxes of vacuum-packed packages containing “BEEF BONELESS RIBEYE LIP – ON 13 LBS UP,” with product code 991028.
Boxes of vacuum-packed packages containing “BEEF BONELESS RIBEYE LIP – ON 16 LBS UP,” with product code 991031.
Boxes of vacuum-packed packages containing “BEEF BONELESS CHUCK SHORT RIB CHOICE OR HIGHER,” with product code 991164.
Boxes of vacuum-packed packages containing “BEEF BONELESS PASTRAMI PLATE,” with product code 991166.
Boxes of vacuum-packed packages containing “BEEF BONELESS CHUCK SHORT RIB SELECT OR HIGHER,” with product code 991170.
Boxes of vacuum-packed packages containing “BEEF BONELESS CHUCK SHORT RIB,” with product code 991171.
Boxes of vacuum-packed packages containing “BEEF BONE – IN SHORT RIB SELECT OR HIGHER,” with product code 991176.
Boxes of vacuum-packed packages containing “BEEF ANGUS BONELESS BRISKET,” with product code 991181.
Boxes of vacuum-packed packages containing “BEEF BONE – IN SHORT RIB NO ROLL,” with product code 991182.
Boxes of vacuum-packed packages containing “BEEF BONELESS SHORT RIB NO ROLL,” with product code 991183.
Boxes of vacuum-packed packages containing “BEEF BONELESS CHUCK SHORT RIB NO ROLL,” with product code 991184.
Boxes of vacuum-packed packages containing “BEEF BONELESS LIP – ON RIBEYE HEAVY,” with product code 991187.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “Est. 426” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to distributors, retail locations and food service locations in California.

The problem was discovered on Dec. 5, 2016, when FSIS inspection personnel observed establishment employees removing the marks of inspection of the original beef suppliers and replacing them with the King Meat Services, Inc. (Est. 426) mark of inspection.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

Kaibab National Forest plans pile burns on all districts this week

Posted on by

WILLIAMS — Fire managers plan to burn piles on each of the three ranger districts of the Kaibab National Forest starting tomorrow and continuing through Friday. The piles are the result of forest restoration efforts, and the goal of burning them is to further reduce fuels that could feed high-intensity wildfire.

North Kaibab Ranger District
North Zone fire managers plan to burn piles scattered within a 100-acre area between Tuesday and Friday just north of Jacob Lake. The piles are small and should consume quickly. Fire managers plan to ignite piles within 25-acre areas each day of the four days scheduled for burning. No significant smoke impacts are anticipated, as prevailing winds should push smoke north/northeast away from Highway 89A. No road or trail closures are expected. However, visitors should use caution and be aware of emergency vehicles in the area.

Tusayan Ranger District
Tusayan Ranger District fire managers plan to burn piles scattered within a 15-acre area Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday about a mile northwest of Grand Canyon Airport. The small piles have cured over the last two years and are expected to consume quickly. Fire managers plan to ignite piles within 5-acre areas early on each of the three mornings to allow plenty of time for good consumption and smoke dissipation during the day. They anticipate little to no smoke impacts to the Town of Tusayan, Grand Canyon Airport and Highway 64. No road or trail closures are expected.

Williams Ranger District
Williams Ranger District fire managers plan to burn piles scattered within a 37-acre area on one day between Tuesday and Friday near Cougar Park, which is about 5 miles south of Williams and just north of Coleman Knoll. Fire managers are monitoring weather conditions to determine which day will be most appropriate for completing ignitions on these piles. Some smoke may settle into the area immediately surrounding the pile burn in Cougar Park and Barney Flat. It may also be visible from County Road 73. No road or trail closures are expected.

Implementation of any particular prescribed fire, including a pile burn, is dependent on weather and fuel conditions including winds, temperature, humidity, moisture of the vegetation and ventilation conditions for dispersal of smoke. All prescribed fires are subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. For additional information on the Smoke Management Division and to view prescribed burn authorizations for any given day, visit http://www.azdeq.gov/programs/air-quality-programs/smoke-management.

In the interest of safety, visitors are always reminded to use caution when traveling in the vicinity of prescribed fires, as firefighters, fire-related traffic and smoke may all be present.

Notifications of upcoming prescribed fires are provided regularly throughout the season. Members of the public can find this information through the following sources:

TreeHouse Foods Announces Voluntary Product Recall Due to Possible Health Risk

Posted on by

Oak Brook, IL — TreeHouse Foods, Inc. (NYSE: THS) today announced a voluntary recall of certain macaroni and cheese cup products containing cheddar cheese seasoning which may be contaminated with Salmonella.

This follows notification from our supplier that the milk powder used in the seasoning has the potential for Salmonella contamination.

Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Most individuals recover without treatment. In some cases, diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.

Product was distributed nationwide through retail stores. The following products are affected by this recall:

Description UPC Best By Date
Big Win Original Macaroni & Cheese Dinner 001182258403 10/25/2017
Cheese Club Express Mac Macaroni & Cheese
Dinner		 004149817167 11/3/2017
11/4/2017
11/18/2017
11/22/2017
10/20/2017
10/21/2017
10/23/2017
10/29/2017
11/1/2017
11/2/2017
11/11/2017
11/16/2017
11/17/2017
11/22/2017
11/23/2017
11/28/2017
Great Value Macaroni & Cheese Original Cups 007874208249 10/22/2017
10/19/2017
10/27/2017
10/28/2017
11/3/2017
11/7/2017
11/18/2017
11/20/2017
11/21/2017

No illnesses have been reported to date.

AZGFD is asking for public’s help in identifying persons involved in deer poaching case

Posted on by

SUPERIOR — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is hoping someone will be able to identify two “persons of interest” in a possible deer poaching case.

A concerned citizen took a photo of a man and woman with a white-tailed deer draped across the hood of a Jeep Wrangler and forwarded it to the Department’s Operation Game Thief. The photo was taken during the morning of Nov. 27 near Oak Flat (Game Unit 24B), east of Superior, Ariz., and investigators are looking for anyone who can identify the people in the photo.

“If you recognize either of these individuals, or have seen anything suspicious on social media that may help us solve this case, we want to talk to you,” said Joshua Hurst, AZGFD Operation Game Thief Program Manager. “Poachers are not hunters. They are thieves stealing wildlife from the citizens of Arizona. Please call our Operation Game Thief Hotline.”

Arizona hunters and back-country recreationists are often the best sources of leads for catching wildlife violators. If you have any information about this incident, contact Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-800-352-0700, 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week, or on the web at www.azgfd.gov/ogt.shtml. Please reference case #16-004087.

“If you know the people in this picture, we hope you will reach out to us,” said Hurst. “Your information could help catch a criminal.”

The Department may pay cash rewards to individuals whose reports lead to the arrest of poachers and other criminals in Arizona. Under law, callers may remain anonymous and their confidentiality is protected. Money for rewards comes from criminal poaching fines, civil restitution by those who commit wildlife crimes, and donations.

State Route 77 to close for daytime blasting starting December 12

Posted on by

PHOENIX — To protect workers who are blasting potentially hazardous rocks along State Route 77 south of Globe, the Arizona Department of Transportation will close the road for five hours a day, Mondays through Thursdays, for the next four months.

Beginning Monday, December 12, SR 77 will be closed in both directions between mileposts 154-161 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closures will be in effect Mondays through Thursdays with no closures planned between Monday, December 26, and Tuesday, January 3.

In addition, lane closures are expected each work day from 7-10 a.m. and from 3-5 p.m. During those times, a pilot vehicle will guide motorists through the work zone. Drivers should expect delays of about 15 minutes.

The restrictions are expected to remain in place until March.

ADOT crews have been working at night to remove potentially dangerous rock that could have fallen along SR 77 near Dripping Springs. Work is switching to the safer daylight hours after an 18-foot limestone boulder fell 150 feet during previous nighttime blasting and landed on the roadway on November 30.

The incident underscored the risk for construction crews and the potential hazard to motorists. In addition to the instability of the rock face that is being removed, blasting creates flying rock that could be dangerous to workers, especially in the dark between sunset and sunrise.

During the closures, drivers can travel SR 177 and US 60 between Globe and Winkelman. That route will add about 20 miles to the trip.

As with any work zone, drivers are asked to drive slowly and cautiously in the work area and watch for construction workers and equipment.

Kaibab National Forest invites citizen scientists to participate in year-long biodiversity project

Posted on by

WILLIAMS — Forest managers are excited to announce a citizen science project to identify and document the biodiversity of the Kaibab National Forest that will begin January 1 and continue through all of 2017. During the year-long project, forest visitors will be encouraged to explore the Kaibab National Forest and report their discoveries of plants and animals to help improve forest managers’ understanding of the abundance and distribution of species.

It’s easy and fun! Visitors who capture a photo of any plant or animal with their smartphone can share them with the “Kaibab NF 2017 Citizen Science Project” on the free online platform iNaturalist.org and receive expert feedback on their discoveries. iNaturalist offers apps for both the iPhone and Android, which make uploading observations easy. There are even how-to videos on the iNaturalist website. Kaibab National Forest biologists will also help participants identify or confirm findings.

“See, snap and share! There’s really nothing more to it,” said Natasha Kline, forest biologist for the Kaibab National Forest. “It’s a great way to explore the forest, contribute to our knowledge of biodiversity in the area, and experience the awesome flora and fauna that the Kaibab National Forest has to offer!”

The following rules are in place for the “Kaibab NF 2017 Citizen Science Project”:

  • Observation must be made between January 1 and December 31, 2017.
  • Observation must have photo or audio sound connected to the observation to be valid.
  • Observation must happen within the boundary of Kaibab National Forest.

If someone isn’t clear on the boundaries of the forest, the project will seek out any observation meeting these criteria and add them to the project.

“We are excited to get members of the public involved in making observations out in the field,” said Mark Christiano, geographic information specialist for the Kaibab National Forest. “Throughout the year, we hope to also offer events at which forest employees and members of the public join forces to capture images of specific plants and wildlife for this project. It’s a great way to connect with people and places while enjoying our beautiful northern Arizona landscape.”

To participate, visit the “Kaibab NF 2017 Citizen Science Project” on iNaturalist.org.

Fraudulent phone calls being made to Flagstaff

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF — Over the past 24-48 hours, the Coconino County Sheriff’s has received multiple reports of fraudulent schemes which we are investigating. Don’t fall victim to these or other fraudulent schemes. Be aware that scammers often use fear and bullying tactics to coerce the victims.

One of the schemes reported is an individual calling on the telephone representing himself as a law enforcement or court official. In some cases the person has used the names of legitimate law enforcement officials and in other cases a fictitious name. The caller claims that either the victim or a member of the victim’s family has either failed to appear for jury duty or other court matters, failed to pay a fine, or has a warrant. The fraudulent schemer demands that money be paid immediately usually through pre-paid credit cards or money wire transfers, or else the person will be arrested. In some of the cases, he advises the person to stay on the phone, and if they disconnect the phone call or fail to do as instructed, he will immediately send Deputies to their home to arrest them.

In another fraudulent scheme, victims are contacting law enforcement advising they have found vehicles for sale via the internet at fictitious business in and around northern Arizona. These fictitious businesses often have what appear to be legitimate websites showing the fictitious business at a legitimate address. Victims have sent money for full or partial payment of vehicles only to find the business and or vehicle do not exist as advertised. The most recent listed a county maintenance yard and previously an auto salvage yard as the dealership address.

The third scheme we have received reports of recently is from people who have been using dating websites. They are contacted by someone who at first seems to be legitimate and of appropriate age. Later the person begins sending sexual photos and engaging in sexual conversation only to later claim to be underage. The victim is contacted by someone misrepresenting themselves as law enforcement (either a legitimate or fictitious name) or the under aged person’s parent demanding money to avoid prosecution.
Continue reading →