Category Archives: National

ARRL sponsors Rookie Roundup

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ARRL-Flag-waving-Large_54The American Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) is sponsoring a six-hour CW (Morse code) contest on December 20 for specifically aimed at those who have had a license less than three years. (So you were proud of yourself for getting your Amateur Extra only to learn you are a rookie for three years.)

ARRL sponsors Rookie contests three times a year in April, August and December. In these contests rookies can contact anyone, but old-timers can only contact rookies. Various contests are held by ARRL and other organizations throughout the year. These for rookies are particularly useful to learn how to use the frequencies for the new license levels they attain. It is a great opportunity to test new equipment. Additionally they can obtain awards and certificates for all of these contests.

ARRL also sponsors specific events in addition to contesting where amateur operators can collect special cards, called QSL cards. QSL cards confirm a contact between specific stations or stations to events. ARRL, for example, is sponsoring a year-long event called National Parks on the Air where Ham operators can contact operators stationed at various national parks throughout the country.

For the upcoming CW rookie contest, the ARRL web site states:

Mission: To encourage newly-licensed operators (“Rookies”) in North America (including territories and possessions) to operate on the HF bands and experience competitive Amateur Radio operating. Experienced operators (“Non-Rookies”) are strongly encouraged to participate and help new operators – either on the air or in person.

Objective: Rookies exchange information with as many other stations as possible on the 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter HF bands. Rookie entrants are encouraged to read “HF Contesting – Good Practices, Interpretations and Suggestions.” (Also available as PDF)

Electronic certificates will be emailed to the top five scoring Rookies in each US call area, Canadian province, Mexican call area and DX. No national winners will be recognized. A commemorative participation certificate will be available for download to every Rookie operator submitting a score.

For more information and to sign up, visit the ARRL web site .

Fire equipment vendors invited to information session

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The USDA Forest Service Southwestern Region announces an information meeting for vendors interested in providing resources to support wildfires and other emergency incidents.

The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016, from 1 to 4 p.m. MST via video teleconference at Forest Service offices throughout Arizona.

The meeting will discuss a variety of topics including:

  • How to become a government vendor
  • How to locate and respond to solicitations through the Virtual Incident Procurement (VIPR) system
  • How to read and understand contract requirements for specific equipment

In fiscal year 2016, the Southwestern Region is seeking competitive quotations for Water Handling Equipment, which includes Engines, Support Water Tenders, and Tactical Water Tenders with trained operators to support wildfires during the course of a three-year agreement.

Interested vendors can obtain copies of the solicitations at https://www.fbo.gov. Type VIPR into the keyword search box and press Search to obtain a list of VIPR solicitations from all over the country. Look for the ones from the Southwestern Region, Region 3. You can also search on Solicitation No. AG-8371-S-16-7000.

Vendors can attend the meeting at any of the following Arizona locations:

Apache-Sitgreaves NFs — Supervisor’s Office
30 S. Chiricahua Drive, Springerville, AZ

Coconino NF — Supervisor’s Office
1824 S. Thompson Street, Flagstaff, AZ

North Kaibab Ranger District
430 South Main Street, Fredonia, AZ

Prescott Fire Center
2400 Melville Road, Prescott, AZ

Tonto NF — Supervisor’s Office
2324 East McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ

Tucson Fire Center
2646 E. Commerce Center Place, Tucson, AZ

For information about VIPR go to: http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/vipr.php or contact Anne Weiskircher, Region 3 Fire Contracting Officer, at aweiskircher@fs.fed.us.

State Ousts Leader Of Oregon Amateur Radio Service

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OEMLogo_2014-COLOR_mediumOREGON — The state is cutting ties with the head of Oregon’s amateur radio service, Vince Van Der Hyde.

The cut comes after he asked volunteers not to take part in a recent emergency drill — because of bad equipment and control issues.

When Oregon suffers a major earthquake, cell phones, telephone lines and other communication systems may fail — or be overwhelmed. So the state has an agreement with amateur radio enthusiasts to provide a backup system.

That system was scheduled to be tested during a drill last week.

Read more at Oregon Public Broadcasting

FDA Orders Recall under Consent Decree for all Custom Ultrasonics Automated Endoscope Reprocessors

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today ordered Custom Ultrasonics to recall all of its automated endoscope reprocessors (AERs) from health care facilities due to the firm’s continued violations of federal law and a consent decree entered with the company in 2007. The identified violations could result in an increased risk of infection transmission. The FDA ordered this recall under the terms of the consent decree. The agency also issued a safety communication today recommending that health care facilities currently using Custom Ultrasonics AERs transition away from their use to alternative methods to reprocess flexible endoscopes as soon as possible.

These actions are part of the FDA’s commitment to patient safety and ongoing efforts to minimize the risk of patient infections associated with reprocessed endoscopes, including duodenoscopes and scope accessories. The FDA has been working with federal partners, manufacturers and other stakeholders to better understand the critical factors contributing to bacterial infections associated with duodenoscopes and how to best mitigate them.

An estimated 2,800 AERs manufactured by Custom Ultrasonics are currently in hospitals and outpatient clinics throughout the United States. The FDA’s recall order applies to all Custom Ultrasonics AERs, including the System 83 Plus, System 83 Plus 2 and System 83 Plus 9. Within seven business days after receiving the FDA’s recall order, Custom Ultrasonics must provide a written recall proposal to the FDA.

“We are taking action because Custom Ultrasonics failed to meet its legal and regulatory obligations,” said William Maisel, M.D., M.P.H., deputy director for science and chief scientist in the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “The FDA’s recall order stemmed from the company’s continued violations of federal law and the consent decree and is necessary to protect the public health.”

AERs are Class II medical devices that require 510(k) clearance and are used to wash and high-level disinfect endoscopes to decontaminate them between uses. AERs are designed to expose outside surfaces as well as interior channels of endoscopes to chemical solutions in order to kill microorganisms and prevent the spread of infection from these reusable medical devices. An endoscope must be thoroughly cleaned to remove any visible debris prior to placing it in an AER, which includes manually scrubbing the elevator mechanism and the recesses surrounding the elevator mechanism.
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SpaghettiOs Original 14.2oz Cans Recalled Due to Potential Choking Hazard

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640-472515Campbell Soup Company (NYSE:CPB) is voluntarily recalling 14.2 ounce cans of SpaghettiOs Original due to a potential choking hazard posed by pieces of red plastic found in a small number of cans. This plastic material is from parts of the can lining which may peel off.

The affected 14.2 ounce SpaghettiOs Original product has a date of February 22, 2017 which is stamped on the base of the can, and a UPC code of 51000 22432 printed under the bar code.

The issue was identified after the company received consumer complaints.

This recall affects 355,000 cans and is limited to the United States.

This product should not be eaten. People who have bought the affected product should return it to the store where it was purchased for an exchange or full refund. For more information call 1-866-535-3774 between 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST, Monday to Friday or visit Facebook/SpaghettiOs. Campbell Soup Company apologizes for the inconvenience.

Halo, Purely for Pets® Issues Voluntary Recall of Sensitive Cat Turkey Dry Food Due to Mold

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ucm472417Halo, Purely for Pets has initiated a limited, voluntary recall of its Spot’s Stew Sensitive Cat Turkey kibble with a Best By date of 09/04/2016 due to reports of mold. No other Halo products are affected.

Consumers who have Spot’s Stew Sensitive Cat Turkey stamped “Best By 09/04/2016” should discontinue feeding, and return the remaining portion to any Halo retailer for a full refund or replacement.

While some pets can ingest mold without incident, others may experience digestive issues. Consumers should consult their veterinarian if their cat experiences digestive issues.
Halo is also instructing its retailers to remove Sensitive Cat Turkey products stamped “Best By 09/04/2016” from their shelves.

The affected product is:

Product name:
Spot’s Stew Wholesome Turkey Recipe Sensitive Formula for Cats

UPC Codes:
745158350231 and 745158340232

Sizes:
6 lb. and 3 lb. bags

Best by Date:
09/04/2016

For more information, contact Halo Customer Care at 800-426-4256 Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST, or email customers@halopets.com or visit www.halopets.comdisclaimer icon.

Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd. Voluntarily Recalls Limited Production of Kitty Yums Chicken Recipe Cat Treats

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catyums-1Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd. is voluntarily recalling a limited production of Blue Kitty Yums Chicken Recipe Cat Treats that may contain low levels of propylene glycol, which is not permitted by the FDA for use in cat food.

Cats reacting to high doses of propylene glycol may exhibit signs of depression and may have a loss of coordination, muscle twitching, and excessive urination and thirst. If your cat has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

The affected product was distributed nationwide in the US and Canada through pet specialty stores and e-commerce.

The product is packaged in a 2 oz., plastic stand up pouch. Only these specific code dates of this product are involved:

* Blue Kitty Yums Tasty Chicken Recipe, UPC: 859610007820 – Best If Used By: April 24, 2016.
* Blue Kitty Yums Tasty Chicken Recipe, UPC: 859610007820 – Best If Used By: July 24, 2016.

No other BLUE pet foods or treats are involved in this recall.

The FDA tested product in response to a single consumer complaint and found propylene glycol in one bag of our cat treats in the impacted lot. To date we have had no other reports of incidents related to our cat treats. Out of an abundance of caution, we are voluntarily recalling all product manufactured in the same lot as the subject bag.

Consumers who have purchased the product being recalled may return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Blue Buffalo at: 888-667-1508 from 8 AM to 5 PM Eastern Time Monday through Friday and the weekend of November 7, 2015 or by email at BlueBuffalo5883@stericycle.com for more information.

Amateur Radio Relay League sponsors National Parks on the Air

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NPOTABeginning on January 1 and running through December 31 of 2016, the Amateur Radio Relay League will sponsor the special event National Parks On the Air (Facebook). This event does not begin until January 1, so amateur radio operators have time to register.

Since the 100th anniversay of the ARRL ended in 2014, amateur radio operators have pushed for another year-long event . The ARRL responded to the requests with this year-long event coordinated with the National Parks Service to celebrate their 100th anniversary. There are several awards and certificates available for this event, but HAM operators must register through the ARRL special web site.

Ham operators conduct several events throughout the year to earn certificates and awards. One is called contesting where an operator attempts to contact as many other Ham radio operators around the world as they can in a specified time. Ham operators set up in remote locations and send special cards, called QSL cards, to Ham operators who contact them.

A recent example is the 2015 Route 66 On The Air event. They even made a stop and broadcast in Williams and Flagstaff.

Ham radio operators will “activate” radio units in various parks, such as the Grand Canyon. “Chasers” will try to contact these Activators all year long to collect certificates. Regular paper logs will not be accepted for the event. Amateur radio operators will have to register in the ARRL Log of the World

The history of amateur radio extends to the days when radio transmissions began. Most contacts were made through morse code (called CW or continous wave in Ham radio) transmissions. Today there are a plethora of different radios and contact methods. You are encouraged to learn and use CW, but it is no longer required to obtain a license from the Federal Communications Commission.

Those “activators” will also demonstrate the capablity of Ham radio for uninitiated visitors to the park. They will answer questions and advise people on how they can become licensed Ham radio operators.

If you are interested in learning more about the Amateur Radio Service, how to obtain a license and participate in this event, you can check out the ARRL web site.

David Trail Mix Sweet & Salty Voluntarily Recalled Due To Undeclared Dairy Allergen

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daves-1DAVID® Trail Mix Sweet & Salty flavor is being voluntarily recalled by ConAgra Foods of Omaha, Nebraska, due to the presence of an ingredient in the trail mix that contains milk protein, which is not declared on the packaging.

The finished product is made for ConAgra Foods by a third party supplier who is conducting a separate recall for similar, impacted products.

This food is a concern for people who are allergic to milk. People who have allergies to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the product. ConAgra Foods was made aware of this issue through a consumer contact. ConAgra Foods is aware of one consumer allergic reaction associated with consumption of this product.

ConAgra Foods is advising consumers who have purchased this item to discard it or return it to the store where originally purchased.

This recall includes the following DAVID Trail Mix Sweet & Salty products sold as part of multi variety packages that also contain DAVID Trail Mix Classic. DAVID Trail Mix Classic is not impacted by this recall.

The DAVID Trail Mix Sweet & Salty UPC is: 26200 23885, 5oz. bags/149g.

The product was shipped to retail food stores and distributors in the U.S. and Mexico. ConAgra Foods is working with retail customers and distributors to ensure the packages are removed from store shelves.

This recall is limited to DAVID Trail Mix Sweet & Salty flavor only and does not impact other flavors of DAVID Trail Mix or any DAVID Seeds products.

Consumers with questions should call our Consumer Affairs hotline at: (800) 881-3989, open 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

General Mills Issues Voluntary Recall Of Cheerios And Honey Nut Cheerios Cereal

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800-cheerios-1MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — General Mills is voluntarily recalling several days of production of Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios cereal produced at its Lodi, California facility on certain dates in July of this year because of an undeclared allergen – wheat – with potential adverse health effects.

Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios produced on these dates at the company’s Lodi, California facility are being recalled because an isolated incident resulted in wheat flour being inadvertently introduced into the gluten free oat flour system at its Lodi facility. As a result, the products may contain an undeclared allergen – wheat – in products labeled as gluten-free.

General Mills will recall and retrieve affected cereals produced on those dates from customer warehouses and store shelves. Consumers with wheat allergies, celiac disease or gluten intolerance should not consume products bearing the affected code dates and should contact General Mills for a replacement or full refund.

This voluntary recall includes four days production of original (yellow box) Cheerios, and thirteen days of production of Honey Nut Cheerios at its Lodi, California facility with the following “BETTER IF USED BY” code dates and the plant code LD which indicates the product was produced at Lodi, California:

Honey Nut Cheerios
12JUL2016LD, 17JUL2016LD, 23JUL2016LD, 13JUL2016LD, 18JUL2016LD, 24JUL2016LD, 14JUL2016LD, 20JUL2016LD, 25JUL2016LD, 15JUL2016LD, 21JUL2016LD, 16JUL2016LD, 22JUL2016LD

Yellow Box Cheerios
14JUL2016LD, 15JUL2016LD, 16JUL2016LD, 17JUL2016LD

Products containing wheat can cause illness or severe reactions for individuals with wheat allergies or celiac disease. Products containing wheat can also cause illness or discomfort for individuals with gluten intolerance.

General Mills is transitioning five varieties of Cheerios to gluten free. Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios cereals produced at General Mills’ other facilities, or on dates other than those noted at the Lodi, California facility, are not impacted. General Mills’ other gluten-free Cheerios varieties – including Apple Cinnamon Cheerios, Frosted Cheerios and MultiGrain Cheerios – are not impacted and are not being recalled. No other General Mills cereals are affected

Consumers requesting refunds or calling with further questions should contact General Mills Consumer Services at 1-800-775-8370.