Governor Ducey nominates Jeffrey Buchanan to Arizona Game and Fish Commission

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department was informed today that Governor Doug Ducey has nominated Lieutenant General (retired) Jeffrey (“Jeff”) Buchanan to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission.

LTG Buchanan earned a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Ecology and is passionate about wildlife and natural resources conservation. He and his wife Laura (who also has a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Ecology) are members of various conservation organizations ranging from the Arizona Elk Society to the National Wildlife Federation.

LTG Buchanan retired from a distinguished 37-year U.S. Army career in 2019, having commanded at every level from Platoon to Theater Army. His assignments included tours in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, 25th Infantry Division, 101st Airborne Division, the 10th Mountain Division, and I Corps. He served four combat tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.

From 2016-2019, he served as USNORTHCOM’s Joint Forces Land Component Commander and led the operational-level military response in support of FEMA for five major hurricanes (Matthew, Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Florence) and in support of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency for Southwest border security.

Upon retirement, he and his wife moved home to Patagonia, Ariz., where he consults from his home office. In addition to serving as a Senior Fellow for National Defense University, LTG Buchanan serves as a Senior Mentor for the Department of the Army. He currently serves on three not-for-profit boards.

In addition to his Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Ecology, he also earned a Master of Arts in Leadership Development from the U.S. Military Academy.

Pending confirmation by the Arizona Senate, LTG Buchanan would replace commission member Leland (“Bill) Brake, whose term is expiring.

Over-the-counter archery deer hunters reminded of harvest limits and unit closures

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PHOENIX — Hunters with over-the-counter archery deer nonpermit-tags are reminded that harvest limits have been set by unit and species, and hunters are required to report their harvest. Once the harvest limit is reached for a unit and species, that unit will close to further ​​​​​​​over-the-counter, nonpermit-tag​​​​​​​ archery deer hunting for the remainder of the season. Please note that harvest limits will reset in August 2023, not January 2023.

Season and closure status can be found at https://harvest-tracking.azgfd.gov/. Hunters will be responsible for checking online or by telephone (623-236-7961) before hunting to determine if their desired unit is still open. Some units have already reached their harvest limit and are closed for the January 2023 season.

More information about over-the-counter archery deer hunting is at https://www.azgfd.com/hunting/draw/archerydeerhunting/.

Reserve your spot for the Arizona Game and Fish Commission Awards Banquet

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PHOENIX — Space is still available at the annual Arizona Game and Fish Commission Awards Banquet set for Saturday, January 21, 2023, at the Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs Resort, Grande Ballroom, 11111 N. 7th Street in Phoenix.

The Commission will recognize 14 individuals and one group at the banquet. The awards honor those who have contributed significantly to the conservation of the state’s wildlife, its outdoor heritage, and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Reservations are being accepted for $75 per person by filling out and submitting the online registration and sponsorship form. The event begins with a social hour at 4 p.m., followed by dinner and the awards presentation at 5:30 p.m.

Those being honored are:

  • Award of Excellence – Brian McIntyre, Cochise County Attorney’s Office
  • Youth Conservationist of the Year – Buck Pruit, Gila Ridge High School FFA Agricultural Mechanical Team
  • Media of the Year – Robbie Kroger, Blood Origins
  • Conservation Organization of the Year – Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society
  • Conservationist of the Year – Don McDowell
  • Natural Resource Professional of the Year – Scott Feldhausen
  • Volunteer of the Year – Doug Beach
  • Educator of the Year – Kathy Balman
  • Mentor of the Year – Gabriel Paz
  • Advocate of the Year – Senator David Gowan
  • Business Partner of the Year – KUIU
  • Buck Appleby Hunter Education Instructor of the Year – Jim Rich
  • Wildlife Habitat Steward of the Year – Scott and Dawn Dunton, Dunton Ranch
  • North American Model Commissioner’s Award – Kelly Alkhoury

All of the costs associated with the awards banquet are paid for by ticket sales and sponsorship donations, including the complimentary tickets for award recipients and their spouse or guest. Table sponsorships for organizations are available in several categories.

The first Commission Awards event was held in January 1991. Since then, more than 400 people have been recognized for their dedicated work toward securing Arizona’s wildlife for generations to come.

Questions? Please contact Olga Kline at (623) 236-7276 or e-mail at okline@azgfd.gov.

Registration and sponsorship form

President Trump big announcement

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President Trump digital trading cards.President Donald Trump made his major announcement on TruthSocial, today. TruthSocial is Trump’s social media website. Yesterday he posted that he had a major announcement to make with a slick super hero video. As it always is with President Trump, the announcement turned out to be big.

The announcement turned out to be a series of digital trading cars that can be obtained at his COLLECTTRUMPCARDS website.

The official limited edition series of trading cards costs $99, but it appears you can buy 1 up to 100. These trading cards, however, comes with special sweepstakes entries. You can also enter the sweepstakes without a purchase. Each card purchased gives you an entry in the sweepstakes that gives you a chance to win several prizes including a one-on-one meeting with the President.
There is a set of 45 digital trading cards that guarantees you a ticket to a dinner with the President.

We have not researched all of the details on the sweepstakes prizes. We ALWAYS recommend that you research the rules carefully to see what the packages contain. For example, does it include transportation to Florida and the hotel?

Northern Arizona Gazette @gazette is on TruthSocial and Twitter @naz_gazette.

NEARLY $530,000 AWARDED TO AZDPS BY THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY FOR TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND EQUIPMENT

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Phoenix — The Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) has been awarded over $527,000 in grant funding from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). The grants will help with overtime costs for troopers during driving under the influence (DUI) enforcement details, targeted distracted driving enforcement operations, seatbelt enforcement details, collision reduction details, and the street racing task force. The grant funding will also support overtime staffing in Operational Communications and the State Crime Laboratory.

Funds will also be directed to the training of additional Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) and will also allow for the purchase of Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) speed measurement devices and other speed measuring radars to be used for traffic enforcement by troopers.

GOHS has allocated grant funds in support of these programs:

  • $40,000 for seatbelt enforcement details
  • $100,000 for DUI enforcement
  • $30,000 for distracted driving enforcement
  • $152,369 for STEP speed enforcement and equipment
  • $30,000 for the Street Racing Task Force
  • $70,000 in overtime funding for the state crime lab
  • $15,000 for dispatch support for DUI & street racing enforcement
  • $90,000 for DRE training, materials & supplies

“Speed, impaired driving, aggressive driving, and seatbelt usage continue to be the leading causes of serious injury and fatal collisions,” said Lieutenant Colonel Deston Coleman Jr., Assistant Director of the Highway Patrol Division at AZDPS. “Thanks to the continued support of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, state troopers will be able to increase enforcement and make the roadways safer for the motoring public.”

Weather service warns of brief, but heavy, snow storm Sunday through Monday

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The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch from Sunday night through 5:00 p.m. Monday evening. Areas above 5000-feet are expected to receive 5- to 5-inches of snow with localized amounts between 8 and 12-inches.

Accumulated snow levels could be:

Doney Park 2 to 4 inches Flagstaff 6 to 8 inches
Grand Canyon 3 to 4 inches Jacob Lake 6 to 8 inches
North Rim 8 to 10 inches Prescott 1 to 3 inches
Prescott Valley 0 to 1 inches Seligman 1 to 2 inches

High winds and snow will limit visibility and there will likely be accidents on the roadways. If you don’t need to go somewhere, we recommend staying home

Power outages could occur, so you should plan for them. Make sure your pets are in a warm environment. Make sure your cell phone, two-way radio and other batteries you will need are charged or available.

Remember when shoveling snow to take it easy.

Northern Arizona Gazette leaving Facebook and META

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WILLIAMS — The editor has made the decision to remove from Facebook and META immediately. This will be the last story that will be posted on that platform. Northern Arizona Gazette will continue on it’s Mewe.com site, TruthSocial @gazette and the newly freed platform of Twitter @naz_gazette.

Facebook hackers (Ref. 1. & 2. below) have hacked two of the Facebook pages for our editor, Glen Davis. His current page is currently under attack. Facebook hackers locked out one account asking for a picture ID showing the birthdate. The editor sent a redacted JPG of his drivers license showing his birthdate and blacking out the drivers license number, address and other information that the hackers would use to steal identity. the requested picture and birthdate are clearly seen on the drivers license. Facebook hackers replied that it was not acceptable.

Facebook and META are popular platforms to spread hate against Americans and any media outlets that do not cow down to their behests. Therefore, the Editor of NAG decided to leave them and their adverstisers behind.

Northern Arizona Gazette has been on Mewe.com for about a year and finds it the best alternative to Facebook and META. There has been a rumor going around that you must pay to be on Mewe.com. That is not true. You can have one personal page for free. If you want other pages, they are $1.99 a month. If you want to support the site further, you can become a paid member for $5.99 a month. The advantages are no censorship and no ads.

Northern Arizona Gazette has also been on TruthSocial for several months and recently opened an account on Twitter. Unlike CNN and MSNBC, we have not seen a spike in hate speech on Twitter. Twitter has gone after child exploitation accounts, and that is probably why the left has attacked him.

We did not see them, but there were some compaints about hate speech from the left directed at Kirstie Ally after her death. We have not heard about any of these accounts being suspended or cancelled.

TruthSocial is the Twitter-like site started by President Donald Trump and you can find his posts there. He has not yet accepted the invitation by Twitter to return.

Unfortunately, this means that Facebook groups, such as Our Gang, will soon disappear from Facebook.

References:

1. The Wrap
2. MSN

Comment period extended for Arizona Title 15 fire management rules

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ADEQ has extended the public comment period on the proposed revision to Article 15 Arizona’s Forest and Range Fire Management Regulatory Rules. The comment period will now end December 9, 2022.

The revisions to Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) Title 18, Chapter 2, Article 15 streamline the rules to better conform to current industry standards, increase clarity, and to facilitate enhanced compliance. The rules once completed will be submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for incorporation in Arizona’s State Implementation Plan as required under the Clean Air Act.

View Public Notice/Related Documents

ADEQ encourages and values your input and participation.

Fall & Winter Pile Burns Begin on North Kaibab Ranger District at Various Locations

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FREDONIA – Prescribed fire pile burning will commence across the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest for the remainder of the fall and into the winter season.

Winter weather with forecasted snow present excellent opportunities nearly every year for fire crews to burn and consume piled slash and woody debris left over from previous forest restoration projects. For the months of November through February, 330 acres of piles near Dry Park Lookout Tower and Pleasant Valley cabin are planned for prescribed burning operations, with additional hand and machine piles planned near Jacob Lake and east of the North Rim Country Store near DeMotte Campground this winter.

Operations will begin with the ignition of about 300 acres of piles near Dry Park Lookout Tower on Wednesday, November 30th. These hand piles are relatively small in size and will consume quickly with little to no smoke impacts expected.

Smoke may be visible during the day as ignitions are occurring and may periodically impact Forest Road 22 but is predicted to be light in volume and short in duration. Smoke production is generally minimal after the first few hours with rapid dispersion as piles consume. Some smoke has potential to settle overnight into the lower elevations due to fluctuating atmospheric temperatures that produce nighttime inversions.

Forest visitors are asked to avoid active hot areas and are reminded to use caution and drive with heightened awareness when passing through any prescribed fire project vicinity.

All prescribed burning on the Kaibab National Forest is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
For additional information about the Smoke Management Division of the ADEQ and to view prescribed burn authorizations, please visit: legacy.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html

Oak Hill Snow Play area closed this season to facilitate theft of Arizona resources.

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WILLIAMS – The Oak Hill area on the Kaibab National Forest will be closed for the 2022-2023 winter season to protect public safety during logging operations. The Parks West forest restoration project is expected to begin December 1, 2022. Forest restoration projects are conducted to return the forest to more natural, fire-adapted conditions by removing overcrowded trees from the forest to reduce the likelihood and severity of wildfires.

The Oak Hill Snow Play Area is located in the center of the closure area, and will be closed. Heavy equipment will be working in and around the snow play area. The snow play area will also have a large amount of woody debris and ground disturbance following the restoration work that will make conditions unsafe for snow play.

Plan ahead for winter snow play. Though the Oak Hill Snow Play Area will not be available for use, the general forest is open for snow play and there are other privately operated snow play facilities in the Williams and Flagstaff area. Many of the roads are not maintained in the winter and travelers may become stuck while trying to access areas. Please ensure that you plan for winter driving conditions, have a 4×4 vehicle with tire chains, and have appropriate clothing, food, and water for cold and wet conditions.

Please reference temporary area closure order: #03-07-01-22-12 for more information.
Oak Hill Closure Map: bit.ly/3OJ2nFq