Monthly Archives: April 2017

Donating even $1 at tax time helps Arizona’s wildlife

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PHOENIX — Tax filing deadline is around the corner and the Arizona Game and Fish Department encourages those last-minute filers to help support the state’s wildlife by “making a mark” on their state income tax form.

The Arizona Wildlife Fund is a voluntary program that allows Arizona taxpayers to make a donation specifically to help at-risk and endangered wildlife, including Sonoran pronghorn, black-footed ferrets, California condors, Apache trout and Mexican wolves, among other non-game species.

“The Arizona Game and Fish Department does not receive any general fund dollars, so any additional funding provided through the Arizona Wildlife Fund helps to support our efforts in managing and conserving some of the state’s most iconic native species,” says Josh Avey, AZGFD Terrestrial Wildlife Branch chief. “The fund supports only non-game species that are not hunted or fished, and the cumulative effect of even a dollar can have a tremendous impact on conserving one of Arizona’s greatest natural treasures – its wildlife.”

Since Arizona started the program more than 25 years ago, taxpayers have donated more than $5 million to the conservation of non-game wildlife. In previous years, donations averaged $25, but any amount helps Arizona’s wildlife.

The Arizona Wildlife Fund box can be found on line “64” of the state’s long income tax form, or line “33” of the short tax form.

Learn more about the conservation and reintroduction efforts the fund supports.

National Air Quality Flag Program Challenge Began yesterday in Phoenix

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PHOENIX – Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today the start of the National Air Quality Flag Program Spring Challenge, which runs from April 15 through May 31, 2017.

Each year, the Spring Challenge provides Arizona schools and other eligible organizations the opportunity to teach people about local air quality, how air pollution affects health and actions we can take to protect ourselves and improve the quality of the air we breathe. This is especially important when it comes to children including teens, whose risk of experiencing health issues from air pollution is greater.

Eligible Air Quality Flag Program participants in Arizona include organizations such as schools, community health centers, environmental education centers, parks and recreation centers, fire departments, and after-school/early-childcare facilities located in Maricopa, Pinal, Santa Cruz and Yuma counties.

With support from regional coordinators, ADEQ is partnering with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to register participants in the Air Quality Flag Program now. You can help keep Arizona the recognized national leader by registering today.

Registration and participation is easy:

  1. Contact ADEQ to register and request flags:
    Julie Finke, Program Coordinator, 602-771-2231, Finke.Julie@azdeq.gov 
  2. Check the daily air quality forecast and fly the corresponding color flag in a visible spot
  3. Educate and inform the school and community
  4. Follow the air quality and outdoor activity guidance: http://static.azdeq.gov/ceh/outdoor_activity_guide.pdf 

This public and children’s health program uses colored flags to notify communities about local air quality conditions and associated health guidance, which correspond with the EPA’s Air Quality Index (AQI). The flags alert people to that particular day’s air quality, so they know when to modify their outdoor activities.

Learn more about the ADEQ Air Quality Flag Program and the EPA AQI:

Sign up to receive air quality forecasts:

Text or email for Maricopa County, Santa Cruz County and Yuma County

For Pinal County:

 Download Air Quality Smartphone Apps:

 ADEQ Regional Coordinators:

Gila River Indian Community, Mariposa Community Health Center, Pinal County Air Quality Department, and Yuma County Health and Wellness Coalition

Third Annual Route 66 Good Friday Procession draws churches together

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WILLIAMS – The Third Annual Route 66 Good Friday Procession traveled down Railroad Avenue without a problem. The Williams Police Department escorted the procession to ensure the safety of participants. Traffic was lighter than usual which made the procession easier this year.The members of the community began gathering at 6:30 this year; later than previous years. Father Killian, of Saint Joseph the Worker Catholic Church who led the procession, explained that the procession wanted to reach the Family Harvest Church at sunset.Member of the community and churches of Williams gathered about 6:30 to carry a cross to Fourth Street. The procession crossed Bill Williams Avenue to Grant Street where they turned on Grant to reach the Family Harvest Church.The community churches joined together at the Family Harvest Church for a community worship service and a reading of the Stations of the Cross.

The Procession ushers in the Easter weekend holiday. Tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held at the Williams Recreation Center on Railroad Avenue across the street from Circle K.
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Moonset Pit to re-open in May with limited use

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WILLIAMS – The Kaibab National Forest, in cooperation with the communities of Parks and Sherwood Forest Estates, will reopen the Moonset Pit on May 13 of this year to local residents to dispose of herbaceous materials from private property. Dates will be limited for use this year as scheduled renovations to expand the site an additional 5 acres are expected to begin by July. The pit will be open on the following four Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; May 13, May 27, June 10, and June 24.

The Moonset pit serves the local area providing a location for the disposal of natural forest debris. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of this facility in order to make their private property more defensible against the threat of wildland fire. No garbage, household trash, building materials, lumber or other items will be allowed. Materials should not be bagged.

“Opening up the space within the pit will allow for separation between the cinder operations and the woody debris piles which will provide for a much safer environment for all users” said Lands and Minerals Staff Officer Deirdre McLaughlin. “This will also provide a larger capacity and accommodate more users for this popular site in the future”.

Officials are planning to close the pit as monsoonal rains arrive which typically occur in July. This will allow fire crews to burn and consume the remaining materials accumulated from previous months with current disposals to prepare for the site expansion. Residents are strongly encouraged to get to the pit early this year due to the limited schedule for use this season. Once the pit is closed, it will not re-open until 2018.

The success of this community provision is largely attributed to the volunteers of the Parks Area Connection and Sherwood Forest Fire Department who staff the pit on Saturdays during the open hours of operation. This annual service is also supported by the Kaibab National Forest and the Rural Communities Fuels Management Partnership.

Moonset Pit is located just west of the Parks community on a dirt road east of Spitz Springs on the north side of old Route 66. For more information or to volunteer to staff Moonset Pit on open dates, contact Anne Dudley at (928) 635-0417 or Joanie Raetzel at (928) 635-0059.

For additional information on creating defensible space, visit www.firewise.org or www.fireadapted.org.

Maricopa police train using home acquired for SR 347 project

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MARICOPA – While Lt. Mike Campbell hopes Maricopa Police Department officers never need to enter a home to remove a barricaded suspect, a partnership with the Arizona Department of Transportation has helped them prepare, just in case.

With ADOT preparing to build a bridge carrying State Route 347 over the Union Pacific Railroad, officers have been able to train twice in a house acquired on Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway. The home eventually will be demolished to make way for a new alignment of Plainview Street that will connect Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway to Honeycutt Road and SR 347.

Campbell said the partnership ensures that the department’s Special Response Team has the opportunity to train for potentially life-or-death situations. That included practicing how to enter a home with a dangerous suspect inside, breaking down doors and methodically working their way through the building.

“There are very few opportunities for us to train for these rare but dangerous situations,” Campbell said. “Every time our officers can experience the challenges that come with entering a building in a hostile situation means we can do a better job if this kind of situation arises. This makes our officers better at their jobs and it makes Maricopa a safer place for our residents.”

ADOT has a 25-year tradition of working with first responders to provide real-world training opportunities in the controlled environment of vacant buildings. Training collaborations like the one that took place this month in Maricopa date back to construction of State Route 51 in the early 1990s.

Just last summer, ADOT-acquired properties along the route of the South Mountain Freeway were used to train fire and law enforcement officers from more than a dozen agencies. That included SWAT teams using homes to practice responding to hostage situations and the Phoenix Fire Department, which trained 48 ladder companies and scores of new recruits.

ADOT works side-by-side with emergency responders every day, said Brian Rockwell, ADOT assistant chief right of way agent.

“Police officers willingly put themselves in harm’s way to protect all of us in dangerous situations,” Rockwell said. “When we have the opportunity to help them train, as we did here, we’re not only happy to do that but we consider it part of our service to the community.”

Construction of the SR 347 bridge begins this fall. The two-year, $55 million project will carry traffic over the railroad tracks on a path just east of the current SR 347. It will alleviate congestion on a road that is expected to see traffic double to more than 60,000 vehicles a day by 2040 and save drivers the time of waiting for trains to cross the highway. The area now sees 40-60 trains a day, a number that is expected to reach 100 daily in the next 20 years.

Arizona temperatures are warm, but the water’s still cold

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Dogtown Lake – NAG Photo

PHOENIX — Arizona’s rising temperatures are signaling that the summer heat isn’t far off and some residents are already eyeing area lakes, looking to hit the water. With that in mind, the Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds watercraft users that while temperatures may be warm, water temperatures remain between the 50s and 60s at many of Arizona’s boating havens.

“Undoubtedly, we have seen phenomenally beautiful weather lately, but that hasn’t done much to warm up our lakes,” said AZGFD Boating Safety Education coordinator Josh Hoffman. “The current lake temperatures would be quite a shock on the system if you were to fall overboard right now. Such a shock can lead to gasping for air, which if you aren’t wearing a life jacket could prove to be your last gasp.”

Even in a healthy person, cold-water immersion can impact muscle movement, breathing and a person’s heart rate. Prolonged exposure to the water can lead to hypothermia, cardiac arrest and death. If you fall overboard, climb back into or on top of the boat. If you cannot, stay near the vessel and use oars or anything floating nearby to help stay afloat.

“Area lakes offer year-round family fun even during winter months, but it’s critical for everyone to wear a life jacket,” Hoffman said. “Should someone fall or be thrown overboard, that life jacket – regardless of water temperature – could very well save your life.”

Life jackets aren’t just a good idea, they are required by state law for anybody 12 years old and younger when the boat is underway. There must also be at least one life jacket available for everyone aboard.

To ensure watercraft users have life jackets available, the department has installed 15 Life Jacket Loaner Stations at lakes across the state including Lake Pleasant, Lake Havasu, Lake Mohave, Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake, Apache Lake, Bartlett Lake, and Patagonia Lake. Boaters needing a life jacket can borrow one, use it on the lake and return it once done.

Boaters are also encouraged to learn how to practice safe boating techniques and to respond in the event of an emergency by completing a boating safety course. To register for a free course or for more information on boating in Arizona, visit www.azgfd.gov/boating.

Coconino County Teacher of the Year finalists announced

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left to right: Jillian Worssam, Sara Zsenai and Angela Buzan

FLAGSTAFF — The office of the Coconino County Superintendent of Schools has announced the 2017 Teacher of the Year finalists.

“The three Teacher of the Year finalists are Angela Buzan of Coconino High School, Jillian Worssam of Sinagua Middle School, and Sara Zsenai of Cromer Elementary School,” said Superintendent of Schools, Risha VanderWey. “I look forward to announcing the winner later this month in a ceremony celebrating the great achievements of all our teachers and staff.”

The fifth annual Coconino County Teacher of the Year Ceremony will be at 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 19 at the High Country Conference Center, Flagstaff, AZ. Teacher of the Year (TOY) is the only countywide teacher recognition program that spotlights the contributions of state-accredited, full-time, public and charter school educators teaching pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade.

To be eligible for the TOY title, nominated teachers must personally complete an in-depth, multiple essay question application and submit it with three letters of support. A panel of judges score the applications using a rubric and group discussion to determine the top six candidates to interview. Next, the judges discuss, score, and determine the three finalists. The finalists are recognized and awarded cash prizes worth a total of $3000.

The winner will also receive a complimentary one year lease of a 2017 Toyota Tacoma from Findlay Toyota of Flagstaff. This event is funded entirely through sponsorships of local and statewide businesses, and community members.

Avoid a line and print that annual off-highway road vehicle decal at an MVD kiosk

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PHOENIX – Just in time for spring, the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division has added a new feature to its self-serve kiosks. For the first time, customers can use a ServiceArizona kiosk to print the annual off-highway vehicle (OHV) decal, eliminating the need to wait in line.

“Off-highway vehicles are very popular in Arizona, and the law requires that owners renew their decals every year,” said MVD Director Eric Jorgensen. “Rather than make people wait in line to get this credential, we expanded this service to kiosks located at many MVD offices as well as court buildings in a number of communities throughout the state. This is another way MVD is getting people out of line and safely on the road ‒ or, in this case, off-road.”

OHVs made primarily for use over unimproved terrain and weighing 1,800 pounds or less are required by law to display a valid OHV decal, which costs $25 and must be purchased annually. This includes “street legal” vehicles that meet those requirements. Getting the decal isn’t to be confused with registering the vehicle, which is required only for those OHVs that are meant to be street legal.

While OHV decals and registration are handled by the Motor Vehicle Division, renewal notices are sent by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. For more information, please visit azgfd.com/OHV.

In fiscal year 2016, nearly 86,000 decals were issued. Thirty percent of the funds collected go into the state’s Highway User Revenue Fund, which is distributed to counties and cities for road and highway maintenance.

The remaining funds are split as follows:

· 60 percent to Arizona State Parks for grants, agreements, trail construction, development and maintenance, signage and maps
· 35 percent to the Arizona Game and Fish Department for law enforcement education and outreach
· 5 percent to the Arizona State Land Department for mitigation signage and enforcement

For an interactive map showing court and MVD office locations with self-serve kiosks, please visit azdot.gov/MVD and click the Hours and Locations link under MVD Services.

Route 66 Good Friday procession this Friday

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WILLIAMS – This Friday the churches of Williams gather to carry a cross down Route 66 (Railroad Avenue) in the annual Route 66 Good Friday Procession. The group will gather at the Mustang on the east end of town and travel west to Memorial Park.The churches start gathering about 5 p.m. with the procession beginning at 6:45 p.m. The Stations of the Cross will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Family Harvest Church on Grant and 7th Avenue across the street from Safeway.

The Williams PD ensures the safety of the procession each year.

The procession is sponsored by the Williams Churches, but anyone is invited to join in on the event that leads up to Easter. The churches of Williams also hold a combined worship service in the evening of the last Sunday of the month.

ADOT set to reopen routes to lakes in White Mountains

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PHOENIX – After a long winter’s nap, three state highways to lakes in the White Mountains are scheduled to reopen Thursday, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

They are State Route 261 between Eagar and Big Lake; State Route 273 between Sunrise Park and Big Lake; and State Route 473 between State Route 260 and Hawley Lake.

Another highway that closes for the winter, State Route 67, leading to the north rim of the Grand Canyon, is anticipated to reopen in mid-May.

Before heading off to enjoy the mountains, motorists should do the following:

  • Make sure all occupants in a vehicle are buckled in.
  • Check tire pressure, fluids and more to make sure a vehicle is in proper running condition.
  • Be patient, including not following other vehicles too closely and building in extra travel time.
  • Get enough sleep before the trip.
  • Bring extra water and food.
  • Never drink and drive.
  • Check for information about highway restrictions and more by visiting az511.gov, calling 511 or following ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT).