Namias of Arizona Recalls Chicken Products Due To Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens

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Namias of Arizona, Inc., a Tucson, Ariz. establishment, is recalling approximately 19,200 pounds of chicken products due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The products contain hydrolyzed soy protein, a known allergen which is not declared on the product label.

The fully-cooked chicken items were produced on various dates between Sept. 2, 2015, and March 1, 2016. The following products are subject to recall:

  • 20-pound cases containing 5-pound bags of “Carlotta’s Kitchen CHICKEN CHILE VERDE.”
  • 20-pound cases containing 5-pound bags of “Carlotta’s Kitchen SPORTS CHICKEN,” a chili-type entree.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “P-6006” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The chicken chile verde items were shipped to the company’s restaurant in Nevada. The sports chicken items were shipped to the company’s restaurants in Arizona.

The problem was discovered by FSIS personnel during a routine label review at the establishment. Hydrolyzed soy is a component of the chicken base used to manufacture the products.

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.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Consumers and media with questions about the recall can contact Garret Boos, company operations manager, at (520) 903-1922.

Even $1 at tax time helps Arizona’s wildlife

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az-game1Did you know that your state taxes do not support the conservation of Arizona’s wildlife, but your donations do? Taxpayers can help the state’s wildlife at tax time 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 imperiled and endangered wildlife, including majestic bald eagles, black-footed ferrets, California condors, Apache trout, Mexican wolves and desert tortoises, among other non-game species.

“Since Game and Fish does not receive any general fund dollars, the Arizona Wildlife Fund provides important support for managing and conserving some of the state’s most iconic native species,” says Josh Avey, terrestrial wildlife branch chief for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “The fund goes only to 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.

For the 2014 tax year, the average donation was nearly $26. 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.

To learn more about the conservation and reintroduction efforts the fund supports, visit www.azgfd.gov/nongame.

Cost for local attorneys to advertise services in Detention Facility reduced

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FLAGSTAFF — In 2015 the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office developed a unique program by which attorneys are given the opportunity to advertise their services at the Coconino County Detention Facility.  Attorneys who chose to invest in this advertising were able to reach out to individuals who were in need of legal services. At the same time, the advertising purchase assisted in funding important programs in the Coconino County Detention Facility to include the Inmate Welfare Fund.

The cost of having legal service advertisement displayed in a 14” x 11” space in our detention lobby at the onset of this program was $5,000 per year, but we are reducing that annual fee to $2,500.  This works out to a little more than $200 per month.  The cost includes printing a color poster with a legal advertisement and the acrylic display frame with a holder for business cards.

The advertisements in the lobby can assist individuals coming into the jail lobby in connecting with legal assistance. All moneys generated from renting an advertisement space will go to the Inmate Welfare Fund which supports important programs such as Exodus (our in-custody drug and alcohol treatment program), re-entry programs, and other services that directly benefit our inmate population.

We believe that this will be a win-win for participating attorneys and the inmates in the detention facility.  Interested attorneys may contact Kathleen Levinson at 928-226-5074 or klevinson@coconino.az.gov for details on this program.

Arizona Game and Fish, City of Tempe work together to keep Town Lake fish healthy

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TTLpicWebTEMPE — The City of Tempe and Arizona Game and Fish Department have cooperated on a management plan to help fish in Tempe Town Lake during the final phase of construction of the new dam.

“Our natural environment is extremely important to Tempe. We are grateful to have the expertise of Arizona Game and Fish and our longtime water quality expert, Aquatic Consulting, as we undertake the final phase of our dam construction,” said Tempe Public Works Director Don Bessler. 

Arizona Game and Fish and the City of Tempe are working together to save as many fish as possible while the previous dam system is being removed. Tempe has to move the water out of Town Lake into an SRP canal system, leaving the lake without water for approximately three to five weeks.

The cooperative effort started several months ago and includes:

  • Not stocking fish as normal in fall 2015 in order to lower the number of fish that would need assistance.
  • Removing the limit on the number of fish that people could catch at Town Lake.
  • Moving a representative portion of some fish into protected areas of the lake that will retain water.
  • Using fish-friendly pumps that allow the fish to move into the SRP canal system along with the water.
  • Monitoring pockets of water within the lake that contain fish, since fish can survive in small space for such short amounts of time.



This planning has reduced the number of fish that need assistance. Several thousand people live and work around Tempe Town Lake and millions come to visit each year. It is the intent of both Arizona Game and Fish and the City of Tempe to minimize the impact of this project for these people.

“Some people have asked why we can’t move fish into other bodies of water, such as nearby Canyon Lake. We can’t do this because of the possible transfer of fish-related bacteria and diseases,” said Scott Gurtin, AZGFD Community Fishing Program manager. “This plan represents the best and safest way to conserve fish and keep our waters healthy.”

New fish will enter Town Lake when the lake is refilled. The water will come from the Central Arizona Project canal system, which has many varieties of fish. Insect-eating fish will also be stocked at that time. Arizona Game and Fish will restock Town Lake with other varieties at the appropriate times.

Town Lake is expected to be completely full and operational by approximately April 30. The new dam system is expected to last more than 50 years. Read more.

Game and Fish Commission to meet March 4 in Sierra Vista

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Sierra Vista — The next meeting of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission will be March 4 at the Sierra Vista City Hall Council Chambers at 1011 N. Coronado Dr. in Sierra Vista. The meeting begins at 8 a.m.

The public is invited to attend the meeting in person, view it live via video stream at any Game and Fish regional office (Friday only), or view it over the web at www.azgfd.gov/commissioncam. Members of the public who wish to speak to the Commission may submit Speaker Cards (Blue Cards) in person at the meeting or from any regional Game and Fish office. The ability to speak to the Commission is not available for those viewing the webcast online.
 
Items on the agenda include:

  • An update on a potential reduced fishing license fees promotion as a means of marketing Arizona fishing and expanding the department’s customer base.
  • A briefing on current state and federal legislation related to the department’s mission.
  • A request to make Patterson Ponds in St. Johns a community fishing water.
  • A presentation on the department’s borderlands and international wildlife conservation efforts.
  • Several requests to reinstate bonus points.
  • Appointment of commissioners to standing committees.
  • Hearings on license revocations for violations of Game and Fish codes, and civil assessments for the illegal taking and/or possession of wildlife (time certain at 2 p.m.).

On Saturday, the commission will take a field trip to view one of Arizona’s premier state parks, Kartchner Caverns State Park.

To view a copy of the full meeting agenda, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission and click on the “commission notice/agenda” link.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is the policy-setting board overseeing the Arizona Game and Fish Department. It is composed of five members (serving staggered five-year terms) appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. No more than one commissioner may be from any one county. No more than three may be from the same political party. Since its inception in 1929, this organizational structure has served as a buffer for the best interests of science-driven wildlife conservation during eight decades of back-and-forth political change.

For more information on the commission, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission.

Bridge work scheduled on SR 89 at Hell Canyon next week

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Drivers traveling on State Route 89 at Hell Canyon Bridge (milepost 345) starting tomorrow (March 3) should expect intermittent delays of up to 30 minutes at a time as crews begin placing girders on the new bridge over Hell Canyon. Traffic will be stopped in both directions approaching the project.

Impacts for up to 30 minutes at a time are expected between 10 and 11 a.m. and again from noon and 1 p.m. The installation of the girders will be done by very large cranes, positioned in the bottom of the canyon, that need to be flown over the existing bridge causing the temporary closures.

In addition to the delays tomorrow, crews will again place girders next week, Tuesday through Friday (March 8 through 11) between 10 and 11 a.m. and again from noon to 1 p.m.

ADOT advises drivers to proceed through the work zones with caution, slow down, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

Sheriff’s Office Offers Citizen’s Situational Awareness/Active Shooter Survival Training

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The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is providing a two-hour class that will provide participants tools to assist them in surviving Crisis Situations such as Active Shooter Incidents.  This training is offered free of charge and is open to all community members ages 18 and older. 

The first portion of the class will address techniques to improve personal safety through Situational Awareness. The second half of the class will provide a three-step plan known as “Avoid, Deny, Defend” which can be applied to crises such as an Active Shooter Event. 

This two-hour class will be held on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm in the Auditorium of the Law Enforcement Administration Facility located at 911 E. Sawmill Rd., Flagstaff, AZ 86001.

In light of the recent life threatening crisis situations that have been forefront in the news, and the difficulty to predict where such incidents will take place, we believe this training is valuable for all community members. Sheriff’s Deputies and staff have been presenting a similar training to a wide variety of audience including classes for Coconino County employees, and we have received much positive feedback.

The class on March 22 will be taught by Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll and Lieutenant Jim Coffey. There is no fee, but pre-registration is required. The class includes some video and audio recordings of actual and simulated crises events that some people may find disturbing. Because of the possibly disturbing audio and video content, attendees must be 18 years of age or older to attend.

Because seating is limited, you are asked to pre-register online at the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office webpage: http://www.coconino.az.gov/sheriff.aspx.  There is a link for online registration in the left menu bar and on the homepage of the Sheriff’s Office under our mission statement.  You also can register by calling (928) 226-5012 and providing your contact information.  We will contact you to confirm your registration. 

In the event this class fills to capacity, we will establish a waiting list and schedule future training.

Doney Park Neighborhood Watch Meeting Thursday

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll and District 4 Supervisor Mandy Metzger would like to invite residents of the Doney Park community to attend the monthly Neighborhood Watch meeting on Thursday, March 3, 2016. The meeting will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Summit Fire District Station 32 and Administrative Offices located at 8905 Koch Field Road Flagstaff, AZ.

Supervisor Mandy Metzger will be available to answer questions and provide support to this partnership between law abiding citizens, law enforcement and county government.

Janet Dean who is the Community Affairs Manager for Arizona Public Service (APS) will present an update of APS Operations in Northern Arizona and will be available to answer any questions.

For more information about the Neighborhood Watch program and the meeting schedule, please call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 226-5089.

ADEQ Issues Three New Fish Consumption Advisories

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800-adeq-fish-1The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), in association with the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD), has issued three new advisories that recommend fish consumption amounts to protect public health. These advisories are based on recent analysis of data from fish tissue samples taken from these lakes, which showed these fish have elevated levels of mercury.

ADEQ encourages residents and visitors to Arizona to continue to enjoy the wide variety of recreational activities at each of these lakes, such as fishing, bird watching, and swimming, which are not affected by this advisory.

Fish can be an important part of a healthy, diverse diet because they are an excellent source of protein and low in saturated fat. The American Heart Association recommends eating two fish or seafood meals weekly as part of a healthy diet.

Any potential health risks from eating fish on ADEQ’s advisory list are based on long-term consumption, not eating fish occasionally.

RESOURCES:

ADEQ Fish Consumption Advisory Fact Sheet:

https://www.azdeq.gov/environ/water/assessment/download/fca.pdf

Arizona Game and Fish Department – Arizona Fish Consumption Advisory List:

https://www.azgfd.com/fishing/fishconsumption/

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration Guidance regarding Mercury and Fish Consumption:

http://www.fda.gov/food/foodborneillnesscontaminants/metals/ucm393070.htm 

Information wanted regarding Clover fire on Williams Ranger District

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800-20160228-CloverFire

Clover Fire at 3:43 p.m. February 28

WILLIAMS — Fire managers from the Williams Ranger District responded to a suspicious human-caused fire on Sunday, Feb. 28, just west of Buckskinner Park after receiving a call from the Williams Police Department. The Clover fire, which was reported just after 1 p.m., was suppressed by fire personnel and will continue to be monitored.

Forest visitors are reminded to use extreme caution when camping with recent warm temperatures, lack of precipitation, and low humidity as it can create a situation for rapid fire growth. Visitors can help in reducing the number of preventable, human-caused fires by completely extinguishing campfires before leaving their camp site.

No fire restrictions are in effect on the Kaibab National Forest, though fire managers continuously monitor conditions and could increase fire danger levels at any time, as necessary. Regardless of whether or not restrictions are in place, abandoning a campfire is illegal.

The Clover fire is currently under investigation by Forest Service Law Enforcement and anyone who may have information regarding the cause of the fire, or observed anyone suspicious in the area near the time of the fire is encouraged to contact Kaibab National Forest Dispatch at 928-635-2601 or Fire Information at 928-635-5653.

More information on the Kaibab National Forest can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/Kaibab. Information on fire restrictions across the state can be viewed at http://firerestrictions.us/az/.