Category Archives: Phoenix

Wyatt J. Martin killed in action in Afghanistan

Posted on by

morris-martinPHOENIX – Governor Jan Brewer ordered flags at half-staff for the death of an Arizona soldier. Specialist Wyatt J. Martin of Mesa was killed on Friday, December 12 along with Sgt. 1st Class Ramon S. Morris of New York city. The pair died as a result of a homemade bomb in Parwan Province in Afghanistan.

Specialist Martin joined the Army in August of 2012. He was assigned to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Cavalry in June 2014.

The proclamation of the governor reads:

I have ordered that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff from sunrise until sunset Monday, December 15, 2014, in honor of United States Army Specialist Wyatt J. Martin, 22, of Mesa, Arizona.

Specialist Martin died Friday, December 12, in Parwan Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. According to initial reports, Specialist Martin died of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

He was assigned to A Company, 3rd Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Please join me in offering a prayer for Specialist Martin, for his loved ones, and for all the men and women who have risked and given their lives to preserve and protect freedom throughout the world.

Southbound Interstate 17 north of Rock Springs closed for up to 20 minutes on Wednesday

Posted on by

Motorists traveling on southbound Interstate 17 on Wednesday morning, Dec. 17 need to be are aware of a brief closure scheduled between Rock Springs and Table Mesa Road that allow crews to remove rock fall debris along the shoulders of the highway, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

A five-mile segment (mileposts 237 to 242) of southbound I-17 will be closed for up to 20 minutes between 9:30 a.m. and 9:50 a.m. to provide a safe work zone for crews to remove debris from the roadway. Motorists are urged to plan accordingly or allow extra travel time. Northbound traffic will not be affected.

In addition to the full southbound closure, a right lane closure will be in place between 8:30 a.m. and noon between mileposts 237-238 for shoulder clean up. Minimal delays expected.

The speed limit through the work zones will be reduced to 45 mph during work hours.

Toolkit for Conducting Electronic Waste Recycling Events Now Available for Use by Border Region Communities

Posted on by

ADEQ-2PHOENIX – Arizona Department of Environmental Quality officials announced today that free toolkits for conducting free electronic waste (e-waste) recycling events in Arizona municipalities in the border region are now available.

A total of $115,150 is being utilized from a collaboration of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Border 2020 Program, the Border Environmental Cooperation Commission (BECC) and ADEQ to produce educational materials and conduct nine free e-waste recycling events in the southern Arizona communities. As part of the grant, ADEQ entered into a technical assistance agreement with BECC.

The recycling events will be held in Nogales, San Luis, Somerton, Wellton, Sahuarita, Patagonia, Douglas, Sierra Vista and Bisbee beginning early next year through the end of August 2015. ADEQ has retained a certified recycler that adheres to best practices to safely manage e-waste and protect public health and the environment.

The goal of the grant is to recycle, rather than send to a landfill, 100,000 pounds of e-waste in the border region and to have each of the communities develop capacity to hold annual e-waste recycling events.

“ADEQ has had a very successful free electronic waste recycling program focusing on central and northern Arizona the past five years,” ADEQ Director Henry Darwin said. “We are excited now to be offering these free opportunities to border region residents. This is a great opportunity for people to dispose of all the unwanted electronics they have collected over the years while at the same time ensuring that this potentially toxic stream of waste is disposed of responsibly and doesn’t take up valuable landfill space.”

ADEQ and the non-profit group Keep Arizona Beautiful will be conducting workshops in how to conduct the e-waste events during December throughout southern Arizona.

The toolkit, available in both English and Spanish, contains templates of media releases and flyers, options for selecting e-waste recycling companies, a how-to guide in conducting an e-waste event, educational materials, and volunteer sign-off forms. The toolkit will also be available in Spanish to facilitate these events in the border, ultimately benefitting the broadest communities.

“Every year, households in the U.S. discard more than two million tons of obsolete electronic products such as computers, cell phones and televisions,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “The goal of this toolkit is to educate communities on proper electronic recycling and prevent valuable materials from being thrown away.”

Border 2020 is a bi-national collaborative effort with a mission to protect human health and the environment along the U.S.–Mexico border. For more information on the Border 2020 Program, please visit www.epa.gov/border2020.

No state highway closures over Thanksgiving weekend

Posted on by

In an effort to help holiday travelers and promote safety, the Arizona Department of Transportation says no construction closures are scheduled along Phoenix-area freeways or state highways over the Thanksgiving weekend. No closures will be scheduled between Wednesday afternoon and early Monday morning, Dec. 1.

Drivers who have plans to travel over the weekend are urged to focus on safety. ADOT and its contractors will hold off on work requiring closures as the busy holiday travel season gets underway. Motorists should focus on staying alert and obeying speed limits, especially in areas where existing work zones are in place.

Last year, 13 people were killed in a total of 10 fatal crashes along Arizona highways and local roads over the Thanksgiving weekend. Three of those fatal crashes were alcohol-related. ADOT, the Department of Public Safety and Governor’s Office of Highway Safety ask motorists to follow these safe-driving tips:

  • Get a good night’s rest before heading out on a trip.
  • Check your vehicle, including tire pressure, fluid levels and the condition of engine belts.
  • Buckle up and double-check child safety seats.
  • Never drive while impaired. Arrange for a designated driver ahead of time.
  • Obey speed limits, be patient and avoid distractions. Don’t text while driving.
  • Be prepared for unscheduled closures due to accidents. Have an emergency preparedness kit that includes extra clothes, blankets, flashlights, snack foods and drinking water.

ADOT also teams up with DPS and the Black Canyon City and Daisy Mountain fire departments to focus on emergency response efforts along Interstate 17 north of Phoenix, especially when heavier traffic is expected on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons. ADOT will position vehicles and equipment in the Anthem and Cordes Junction areas to allow crews to quickly respond to crashes or disabled vehicles and reopen the highway in the event of closures or lane restrictions.

For the latest highway conditions across Arizona, travelers can visit ADOT’s Travel Information site at az511.gov or call 511 (outside Arizona call 1-888-411-ROAD). ADOT’s public information line for state highway conditions is 602-712-6513. You can also track closures and other highway conditions at Twitter.com/ArizonaDOT.

Additional information about winter driving and items to include in an emergency preparedness kit can be found at azdot.gov/KnowSnow.

Adopt a Highway program continues to keep Arizona beautiful

Posted on by

PHOENIX – Nearly 7,000 miles of Arizona highways take motorists on a journey through a variety of environments, from desert landscapes to snow-covered highlands to bustling urban settings. Keeping this wide-ranging system of roadways free of litter is no easy task, yet more than 12,000 volunteers and hundreds of sponsor groups beautify Arizona’s roadways and support the efficient use of state transportation system resources.

Since its inception in 1988, the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Adopt a Highway program has offered an opportunity for individuals, organizations and businesses to perform litter clean-up activities on two-mile sections of the state’s highway system.

Each year, Adopt a Highway volunteers typically collect around 63 tons of litter and provide ADOT with a current statewide labor value of $2.3 million. The Adopt a Highway program is active in all 15 counties in the state along approximately 2,000 miles of roadway.

More than 1,500 volunteer groups and several hundred sponsor groups collect litter. In rural areas, volunteer groups are asked to clean up their designated section of highway at least twice a year. An ADOT acknowledgement sign recognizes the volunteer group’s section after their first cleanup. In the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas, sponsor group organizations pay an ADOT-approved professional landscaping company to remove litter on a section of freeway.

The cost to taxpayers for the program is minimal. ADOT’s costs include vests and trash bags for the volunteers, and the production of the acknowledgement signs. A single ADOT staff member is responsible for managing the statewide program with operational and permitting support by ADOT field offices.

“The Adopt a Highway program promotes civic responsibility and community engagement,” said Patricia Powers-Zermeño, Adopt a Highway program manager. “Picking up litter is a way for someone to have a positive impact on the appearance of their community with just a few hours of effort.”

It is community spirit that attracts volunteers to the Adopt a Highway program in appreciation of Arizona’s natural beauty. Ron Curtis and his family volunteer on a section of the Arizona State Highway System in the Navajo Nation. “It’s a tradition,” said Curtis. “The earth is our mother and nowadays it is up to us to take care of mother earth. It brings us together and we send a message out.”

Richard Martin rides a motorcycle and says it’s important for him to give back. “We use these highways all the time. I encourage motorcyclists to participate,” said Martin.

Barbara Ricca is a 10-year volunteer in southeastern Arizona. She likes being outdoors and began participating in the Adopt a Highway program to introduce her family to community service. “My girls are grown now, but the satisfaction of working in the community is still strong,” said Ricca. “Right before my daughter Amanda moved to Scotland last year, I asked her what she wanted to do and she said volunteer with the Adopt a Highway program one more time.”

Not only do volunteers feel a sense of satisfaction cleaning up the environment, periodically they also find some entertainment in the things they pick up along Arizona’s roadways: a metal sculpture of a roosting bat, articles of clothing from head to toe, cans of food, geocache items and sometimes small bills or coins.

**MEETING NOTICE** : Governor’s Agricultural Best Management Practices Committee

Posted on by

Governor’s Agricultural Best Management Practices Committee
Thursday, November 13, 2014; 1:30 p.m.
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, Conference Rm 3175
1110 W. Washington St., Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Call-in Number: 1-877-820-7829, participant code 228497#

The general public is welcome to participate in this meeting by calling the number provided above or attending the meeting in Conference Room 3175 at ADEQ, for directions and parking go to http://www.azdeq.gov/function/about/contact.html.

I. Welcome, Review of Agenda & Past Meeting Minutes
II. Discussion & Possible Action on Revisions to the Proposed Best Management Practices Rule
III. Discussion & Possible Action on the Annual Report/Third Year Survey Report Forms: Crop Operations, Animal Productions, and Irrigation Districts
IV. Discussion & Possible Action on Language for the Three Year Survey; R18-2-610.03(g)
V. Discussion on Appointment of County Representative: “person who is employed by a county air quality department or agency” (49-457-(B)(15)
VI. Call to the Public
VII. Adjournment

Pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.02, notice is hereby given that the above-referenced conference call is open to the public. Order of agenda items is subject to change. For additional information regarding the conference call, please contact Lisa Tomczak, ADEQ Air Quality Division, at (602) 771-4450 or 1-800-234-5677, Ext. 771-4450. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter, by contacting Alicia Pollard, (602) 771-4791, via email pollard.alicia@azdeq.gov TDD line for hearing impaired individuals, (602) 771-4829. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.

Overnight delays on State Route 87 north of Sunflower expected

Posted on by

PHOENIX — Motorists who regularly travel overnight between Phoenix and Payson on State Route 87 are urged to plan ahead or allow extra travel time as the Arizona Department of Transportation moves into the next phase of an improvement project, approximately 7 miles north of Sunflower.

Beginning on Sunday night, Nov. 9, the highway will be restricted in both directions between 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. daily as crews begin slope excavation work. Traffic will be stopped in both directions between mileposts 223-228 and guided through the work zone with the aid of a pilot car.

Overnight traffic restrictions from Sunday night through Friday morning between 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. daily are expected to continue through Nov. 21.

Delays up to 30 minutes at a time are possible. A 12-foot vehicle width restriction will also be in place from mileposts 223-228.

The $6.2 million safety improvement project, which began last month approximately seven miles south of the State Route 188 junction, includes the reconstruction of an existing curve at milepost 227, as well as building a new southbound truck escape ramp at milepost 228. Runaway truck ramps offer an opportunity for out-of-control trucks, which may have inoperable brakes, to safely exit the highway and come to a controlled stop.

The work zone will be clearly marked by temporary barricades and signage. ADOT advises drivers to proceed through the work zone with caution, comply with the reduced speed limit, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

ADOT nearing completion of project to display commute times on more freeway message signs in Phoenix area

Posted on by

PHOENIX – Many Phoenix-area drivers have benefited from the display of commute times on freeway message boards since the Arizona Department of Transportation first introduced the program in 2008. ADOT is nearing completion of a project to add more rush-hour commute times on overhead message signs along Valley freeways.

The number of electronic message boards displaying commute times is due to increase to 76 by late this year. Since the expansion of the travel-times program in began in September, ADOT has added commute times to 34 freeway message boards, bringing the total to 65 signs that currently display the information for morning or afternoon freeway commuters.

The electronic signs provide drivers with estimated commute times to locations ahead, including major cross streets and well-known points along the freeways, such as the I-10 Deck Park Tunnel near downtown Phoenix.

Twelve of the 76 message boards will display the travel times during both the morning and afternoon rush hours.

The goal is to increase both efficiency and safety along Valley freeways, according to Reza Karimvand, an ADOT assistant state engineer.

“Having more signs showing travel time information can result in a smoother flow of traffic, since drivers have a better idea of freeway conditions up ahead,” said Karimvand. “National studies have shown that providing travel times reduces the likelihood of rear-end collisions or secondary crashes when an initial crash or other incident has occurred.”

When commute times are longer, drivers can use that information to make decisions about using alternate routes.

Five message boards also show rush-hour commute times along I-10 in Tucson.

ADOT operates a total of 193 overhead message boards along Arizona highways, including 108 in the Phoenix area and 15 in the Tucson area.

ADOT worked with the Maricopa Association of Governments, the metropolitan planning organization in the Phoenix area, in launching the commute-times program along Valley freeways six years ago.

David Gowan elected as speaker in the House

Posted on by

300-gowanBrenda Barton, Arizona House Representative for District 6, is reporting on her Facebook page that the newly elected Republican Caucus has met and selected David Gowan as the new Speaker of the House.

David M. Gowans Sr. is the legislator for District 14 and lives in Siera Vista. District 14 encompasses Cochise, Greenlee, Graham, and east Pima County with the exception of the Indian reservations.

Gowan has been a member of the Arizona House of Representatives since 2009. He is considered a strong advocate for gun rights and veterans affairs.

Doug Ducey declared the winner in the race for governor

Posted on by

Arizona-electsPHOENIX – As of 8:44 Doug Ducey was declared the winner for the race for governor of the Great State of Arizona. Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton blamed “the dark money” pouring into the State. He probably did not mind the nameless, faceless ads run against Ducey by Soros-funded organizations.

Ruben Gallego who beat out Mary Willcox in the primary, was the first race to be called in favor of the Democrat.

Generally across the board Republicans are doing well. In addition to the governors race, they may take the Secretary of State race with Michelle Reagan just over Terry Goddarad and the Office of Attorney General with Mark Brnovice over Democrat Felecia Rotollini.

Across the Federal offices most of the incumbents are winning. The rough race in District 9 looks like it will go to Kyrsten Sinema against Wendy Rogers. Currently it appears that Ann Kirkpatrick could take her race, but there are many precincts to report.

Tom Forese and Doug Little are running 7-percent over Democrat Sandra Kennedy.

The only blight on the night, so far, is Sylvia Allen is running behind Republican turned Independent so he could vote Democrat without the label Tom O’Halleran. Brenda Barton and Bob Thorpe are ahead by about 4-percent over Democrat challenger Lanny Morrison. This is with 38 of 89 districts reporting.

All of the elected State legislators will go in without a pay raise as Proposition 304 is being soundly defeated. Proposition 122 which would retain Tenth Amendment power in the Great State of Arizona is very close 50.67% to 49.33%. Terminally ill patients will likely have the opportunity to opt to take experimental drugs as Proposition 303 is being overwhelmingly approved 78.96% to 21.04%.

In Coconino, the sales tax referendum 403 is overwhelmingly passing.

These are based on unofficial results as the votes will have to be canvassed upon completion of the counting. Some of the races, such as the Secretary of State and Superintendent of Public Schools, currently led by Diane Douglas.