Official briefing at Big Spring sheds light on Jade Helm

UPDATED: 4/20; 8:19 p.m.

BIG SPRING, Tx — An official briefing of the City Council of Big Spring surfaced on YouTube that sheds new light on the upcoming operation called Jade Helm 15. The briefing was conducted by Tom Mead, a contractor working for the United States Special Operations Command and planner and exercise designer for the Jade Helm Project. Mead explained that the purpose of the meeting was to obtain permission from the city officials. The video is edited greatly, but the portions remaining raise many questions.

Big Spring is a city in and the county seat of Howard County, Texas, United States, at the crossroads of U.S. Highway 87 and Interstate 20. With a population of 27,282 at the 2010 census, it is the largest city between Midland to the west, Abilene to the east, Lubbock to the north, and San Angelo to the south. Big Spring was established as the county seat of Howard County in 1882; it is the largest community in the county. (Wikipedia)

We are seeking written invitation and approval from local officials to conduct a realistic military training exercise within the jurisdiction of the City of Big Spring.

We’re not training for Afghanistan and Iraq—the things that we’ve done in the last fifteen years. We’re looking forward and we want to make sure these guys are trained properly.

He explained that the operation would be ongoing for five- to five-and-a-half weeks. The eight week time period would include time to prepare for the exercise in Florida and Mississippi. He also said that Texas would see the bulk of the exercise.

Mead explained that they would be asking for civilian participation.

We look for people who are willing to transport our guys, because they have to move around in a clandestine manner. For example, in the back of a horse trailer in the middle of the night so nobody can see them. These are ways they have to operate in foreign countries when they’re not supposed to be in those countries.

The video shows questions from council members.

Council man: Mr. Mead, how often do you do a operation like this? Is this done annually, or…
Mead: Yes, Sir, so, um, the Jade Helm project is a new project that has come along from General Cleveland, uh, from his staff at United States Army Special Operations Command. … Um, this operation is planned to be conducted yearly.
We conduct an exercise that’s similar to this. I say similar because the scope and the breadth of the exercise is nowhere comparable to what we do here. But they conduct that exercise six times a year in North Carolina.

COUNCILMAN: I just have to ask, how does FBI and DEA work with the military on an operation like this?
MEAD: Well, generally speaking, Sir, the FBI and DEA provide us liaison officers up at our command level, depending on how the scenarios written. One of the ways the FBI and DEA are working with us, here, is in Arizona they will actually do some questioning for us at one of the airports in Arizona.

COUNCILMAN: Do y’all use any personnel from NATO, UN, or…
MEAD: No, no, Sir. Currenly for Jade Helm it is US only. We… That has been one of the discussions that, I’m not sure if it has occurred yet, but… [Edited]

The operation that he refers to in North Carolina is probably Robin Sage. [Wikipedia] Robin Sage, however, is a confined exercise giving special forces groups specific scenarios, such as rescuing downed pilots. It does not include rounding up people and carting them off.

From the video, we derive that the operation is a new design to train troops to go into countries where they are not supposed to be. They are training to get rides from the local populace in the back of wagons. They will drive around in civilian vehicles without being noticed even though they are supposed to be wearing arm bands during the operation.
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Safety improvement project scheduled on SR 260 Wednesday

The Arizona Department of Transportation will remove dead trees from the right-of-way along a two-mile segment of State Route 260 next week in both directions (mileposts 247 to 249), approximately three miles west of the SR 260/87 junction, and eight miles north of Strawberry.

Work will begin on Monday, April 20 through Wednesday, April 22 between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. each day.

Drivers can expect delays of up to 15 minutes to allow a safe work zone for maintenance crews to remove fallen trees from the roadway. Flaggers will guide traffic through the work zone.

For safety reasons, motorists are urged to not to stop in the tree-cutting areas to pick up the wood.

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

Royal Frozen Food Recalls Beef and Chicken Products

WASHINGTON — Royal Frozen Food, a Los Angeles, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 3,821 pounds of beef and 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 milk, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.

The beef and chicken blintzes were produced on various dates prior to April 16, 2015. The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels PDF]

  • 20-oz. plastic trays containing ten pieces of “Royal Frozen Food, BLINTZES Blintzes with BEEF” with bar code “6 0723830019 5.”
  • 20-oz. plastic trays containing ten pieces of “Royal Frozen Food, BLINTZES Blintzes with CHICKEN” with bar code “6 0723830025 6.”

The products subject to recall bear the establishment number “Est. 20585 or P-20585” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items produced were shipped to retail stores and markets in California and Nevada.

The problem was discovered during a routine label review by FSIS personnel.

FSIS and the company have received no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

B & R Meat Processing Recalls Pork Products

WASHINGTON — B & R Meat Processing, a Winslow, Ark. establishment, is recalling approximately 2,129 pounds of pork products due to a possible processing deviation that may have led to staphylococcal enterotoxin contamination, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The cured and uncured pork items were produced on various dates between August 7, 2014 and April 1, 2015. The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels PDF]
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Brown’s Amusements returns to Williams

brown-02WILLIAMS — Brown’s Amusement carnival returns to Williams for the spring on April 23 through the 25th. The carnival opens Thursday April 23 at 5 p.m. and is set to close at 7 p.m. on Saturday the 25th. Advance discount tickets may be purchased at the Williams Visitors Center, 200 Railroad Avenue in Williams on April 20 starting at 8 a.m. The event will be held at Glassburn Park on Route 66.

Air Force veteran detained for picking up flag off of ground

voldosta-1VALDOSTA, GA — According to the Valdosta Daily Times, a military veteran was “detained but not charged” by Valdosta State University police after she interrupted a demonstration by taking the flag they were walking on off of the ground.

It appears that Air Force veteran Michelle Manhart was contacted by a student informing her that a group of protesters were walking on the American flag. She went to pick up the flag and refused to return it when ordered to by campus police.

It is unclear what the demonstration was about as the group refused to speak with The Valdosta Daily Times.

The protestors did not press charges and Manhart was given a criminal trespass warning effectively banning her from any campus activities such as football games.

Construction for temporary water line on US 93 west of Wickenburg next week

WICKENBURG — As work continues on the expansion project on US 93 (mileposts 185-190) west of Wickenburg, local motorists should be aware that crews will install a temporary construction water line affecting three driveways off of US 93 on Tuesday, April 21 and Wednesday, April 22 between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Access to the Moreton Air Park Road, Caballero Drive (Vista Royale) and the Antelope Creek Road will be limited during work hours as crews install a temporary construction water line.

Drivers will be guided through the work zone by flaggers and delays of up to 10 minutes are expected.

ADOT began this expansion project earlier this year to widen a five-mile segment of US 93 between State Route 71 and State Route 89. The $12.5 million improvement project to construct a modern, four-lane divided highway is expected to be completed in 2016.

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

Five ADOT projects start April 20

ARIZONA — ADOT reminds travelers that five projects are scheduled to start Monday, April 20 around our area.

1. Maintenance work on Milton Road (SR 89A) under Santa Fe Railroad Bridge in Flagstaff April 20

Travelers heading through Flagstaff need to allow for extra travel time Monday, April 20, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. as ADOT crews perform maintenance operations under the Santa Fe Railroad Bridge on Milton Road (SR 89A). One lane of travel will be closed in each direction during the scheduled work. Drivers are asked to allow for extra travel time to reach their destinations and use caution while maintenance is performed in the area.

2. Overnight dirt haul on SR 89 between Prescott and Chino Valley continues

Traffic on State Route 89 between Prescott and Chino Valley (mileposts 320 to 325) will be required to stop intermittently, weather permitting, for the next three weeks to allow trucks to safely cross the highway.

The hauling operation will resume on Monday, April 20 and continue through Friday, May 8.

Overnight work hours are Monday through Friday between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. each night and intermittent closures are expected for dirt hauling. Drivers can expect overnight delays of up to 10 minutes for the next three weeks .

Upon completion of the $17 million project, ADOT will expand the two-lane roadway to a four-lane divided highway along a five-mile segment of SR 89 (mileposts 320-325) between Road 4 South in Chino Valley and Deep Well Ranch Road in Prescott, just north of the SR 89/SR 89A junction. The project is expected to be complete by August.

3. Lane restrictions overnight on Interstate 17 for bridge work

Work will begin on Monday, April 20 at the McGuireville traffic interchange

PRESCOTT: Overnight bridge work will begin on a two-mile segment of Interstate 17 at the McGuireville traffic interchange (mileposts 292 to 294) on Monday, April 20 and continue through Friday, May 29.

Crews are working on the McGuireville underpass overnight and drivers can expect alternating lane restrictions in both directions and a 12-foot width restriction during work hours of 7:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. each day.

This $210,000 project consists of bridge work on the McGuireville underpass.

4. Work continues on I-17 near the McGuireville Rest Area

Work will continue next week at the McGuireville rest area on Interstate 17 approximately two miles south of the State Route 179 junction (mileposts 294 to 299).

Drivers can expect a single lane restriction in both directions Monday, April 20 through Thursday, April 23 between 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Minimal delays expected.

5. Paving work continues next week on US 93 at Wickenburg Ranch

Motorists traveling along US 93 north of Wickenburg should allow extra travel time next week as crews continue with final paving on the new roundabout at the Wickenburg Ranch entrance.

Work hours are Monday, April 20 through Wednesday, April 22 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

Drivers can expect intermittent single-lane restrictions on US 93 and delays of up to 15 minutes during work hours. Flaggers will direct traffic in alternating directions using the single lane that is open.

Southbound drivers on State Route 89 at the US 93 junction need to be aware of stopped traffic as a result of the scheduled paving work.

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

Poor lighting cause of poor looking meal

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A photo of a Federally-approved lunch released to the Internet and picked up by WAVY television is becoming viral.
portsmouth-lunch-picture1
EAG News reports that Congress is intending to “add flexibility” to the unpopular school lunch program instead of scraping it all together.

A parent at the James Hurst Elementary school took the photo of the unappealing meal and placed it on social media. After dozens of people contacted 10 On Your Side who in turn contacted Portsmouth Public Schools.

We appreciate this parent’s concern about the presentation of this school lunch. Poor lighting and food presentation make this lunch unappealing.

Thus, because of the lighting, your eyes may see the photo above instead of the reality that follows.
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Williams gets snow, clears tomorrow

640-1715-01WILLIAMS — Williams received a dusting of snow over night and a 20% chance for more remains until 11 a.m. The weather turns to a chance of rain throughout the rest of the day.

The predicted weather for tomorrow is sunny for the free weekend at the Grand Canyon. The temperatures will raise to the mid-60s through Wednesday with lows between 30 and 35.