Monthly Archives: October 2015

State General Counsel Bret Parke Named ADEQ Deputy Director

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality announced today the appointment of Bret Parke, currently General Counsel for the State’s Department of Administration, as the agency’s deputy director. In his new capacity, Mr. Parke will serve as chief of staff to ADEQ Director Misael Cabrera and oversee the agency’s operations, including its budget and administrative support functions.

The appointment, effective Oct. 26, 2015, marks a return to ADEQ for Mr. Parke, who began his legal career as a staff attorney for the agency before eventually becoming its Administrative Counsel in 2010. He held that post until April 2012 when he was named ADOA General Counsel, where he provided legal advice on the state’s myriad administrative practices – everything from procurement and risk management to government accounting and finance, state facilities construction, IT security, and employment and personnel services. As General Counsel, Mr. Parke also chaired the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council, which oversees and approves adoption of state agency rules.

As Administrative Counsel at ADEQ, Mr. Parke served as the top legal advisor to the agency director. He also chaired five internal committees, managed ADEQ’s Strategic Enforcement Unit and was the agency’s representative on the Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee.

“Bret wore many hats during his eight-year tenure with ADEQ, and his commitment to public service is evident in his 11-year career in Arizona government,” Director Cabrera said. “It’s Bret’s passion for ADEQ’s mission – his irrepressible drive to do more environmental good – that brings him back to ADEQ. His perspective and many of his qualities are quite similar to our former director, Henry Darwin, who was widely admired and respected both inside and outside of ADEQ,” Cabrera added.

Person arrested in NAU shooting

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Steven Jones - Flagstaff Police Photo

Steven Jones – Flagstaff Police Photo

FLAGSTAFF — Steven Jones was arrested for the shooting death of a student at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. According to news reports, three other students were injured.

According to the KNAU website, the students shot were members of the Delta Chi fatenity, but 18-year-old Jones was not.

Colin Brough was killed in the shooting and Nicholas Prato, Kyle Zientk and Nicoholas Piring were injured. Their site also references, “An Instragram account believed to be that of the NAU campus shooting suspect shows him posing with various firearms.”

Steven Jones made an intial court appearance for one count of first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated assault this afternoon.

The cause of the shooting is still under investigation. Jones claimed that he retrieved the gun from his vehicle because he was being chased after a fist-fight and warned that he was armed.

Flagstaff Voices noted that Flagstaff council member Eva Putzova was quick to politicize the shooting. She is an outspoken advocate of revoking the Second Amendment in Flagstaff.

Council member Coral Evans also took to Facebook questioning how it was possible for an 18-year-old freshman to have a gun on campus.

NAU policy does not allow firearms in the buildings, but they may be locked up in vehicles.

Pedestrian killed in Flagstaff early this morning

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FLAGSTAFF — At approximately 02:57 a.m. this morning, officers were dispatched to a collision involving a pedestrian and a vehicle at 1601 S. Milton which resulted in the death of the pedestrian.

Officer responding to the scene located a Native American male who had been hit as he crossed from the west side of Milton to the east side near the Target entrance.

The driver who struck the pedestrian had been traveling north in the curb lane.

The Native American male was wearing dark clothing and was not inside a crosswalk at the time of the collision. The pedestrian was transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center and later succumbed to his injuries.

The driver cooperated completely with the investigation and there was no indication of impairment. This investigation is pending next of kin notification of the deceased as well as further follow up.

ADEQ Reaches $1,250,000 Settlement with Apache Nitrogen Products, Inc.

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PHOENIX — Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today that Apache Nitrogen Products, Inc. (ANPI), a nitric acid and ammonium nitrate-based products manufacturer in St. David, Cochise County, has settled with the State for years of past noncompliance with ANPI’s air quality control permit issued by ADEQ.

ANPI will pay a $500,000 civil penalty, and could be required to pay an additional suspended penalty up to $750,000 if ADEQ documents additional significant violations in the next three years.

Between August 2010 and February 2015, ADEQ issued ANPI eight separate Notices of Violation related to production processes at two nitric acid production plants. Alleged violations included failing five emissions tests for ammonia and ammonium nitrate, the inability of the continuous emissions monitors for NOx (nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide) to pass accuracy tests on four occasions, and failure to calibrate, maintain and operate a continuous opacity monitor.

“By holding Apache Nitrogen Products, Inc. accountable for its violations, the company has improved its operations, is now in compliance with its permit and public health and the environment are protected,” ADEQ Air Quality Division Director Eric Massey said.

ANPI has resolved the alleged violations and is now in compliance with the permit requirements.

The consent judgment is subject to court approval.

Background
According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), NOx can damage respiratory airways and burn skin and eyes. Nitrogen dioxide also reacts with sunlight, which leads to formation of ozone and smog. ATSDR also states that exposure to high levels of ammonia can cause irritation and serious burns on the skin and in the mouth, throat, lungs, and eyes.

Flagstaff Police seek assistance in neighborhood vandalism

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FLAGSTAFF — On October 7, 2015 at approximately 2200 hours (10pm) until 0200 hrs. on October 8, 2015 the Flagstaff Police Department received in excess of 15 calls for service regarding criminal damage to mailboxes and vehicles.

Officers were called to the Smokerise neighborhood, Foxglen neighborhood and the Amberwood neighborhood for complaints of battered mailboxes as well as shattered vehicle windows.

The Flagstaff Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying the suspects involved or anyone who might have information regarding these crimes. If you have any information regarding these crimes please call the Flagstaff Police Department at 928 774-1414. Please call SILENT WITNESS at 928 774-6111 if you have any information and do not want to leave your name. You may be eligible for a cash reward regarding these incidents.

Blasting on State Route 69 in Prescott scheduled tomorrow and Tuesday

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State Route 69 in Prescott, between Prescott Lakes Parkway and Lee Blvd., will be closed tomorrow, Oct. 8 and Tuesday, Oct. 13 for up to 15 minutes between 6:25 a.m. and 6:40 a.m. for blasting.

The closures will provide a safe work zone for blasting operations as part of a development project adjacent to SR 69 near the Ranch at Prescott.

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. Law enforcement personnel will be present to enforce the closures as they occur.

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.

Motorists should be prepared for additional delays on Interstate 15 through Virgin River Gorge

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Construction on a major Interstate 15 reconstruction project on Virgin River Bridge No. 6 (milepost 16) is more than halfway complete. After finishing the northbound section of the bridge this summer, crews are now working to construct the new southbound bridge.

While the roadway will continue to be narrowed to one lane in each direction at this work zone, motorists should be prepared for additional travel delays up to 20 minutes while crews remove loose rocks near the southbound side of the bridge structure from Monday, Oct. 12 through mid-November.

Intermittent traffic breaks will be necessary during work hours, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. For more information on how ADOT uses traffic breaks, please visit the ADOT YouTube webpage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyUcqpQCfig.

This $27 million improvement project includes the replacement of the bridge’s superstructure (girders, deck and railings), as well as widening the roadway through the narrow passage of the gorge. The project is scheduled for completion in 2016.

With limited alternate routes due to the remote location of the I-15 Virgin River Gorge corridor, ADOT urges drivers to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, slow down and drive carefully through the work zone, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

Annual Habitat Grand Opry Night Friday

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WILLIAMS — The annual Grand Opry Night to benefit Habitat for Humanity will be this Friday starting at 6:30 p.m. Music will be by the Williams Opry Band. The event will be at the Williams Rodeo Barn across the street from Old Trails True Value Hardware store on Rodeo Road.

Events include dancing, live and silent Auctions, raffles, door prizes, and cake walk.

Tickets are available at the door are Adults $6.00, Students & Seniors $3.00 or $15 for a Family (4 or more). Hotdogs will be available for $2.50 and Water & Soda for $1.00.

Williams Alpine Harvest Festival in full swing

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Folks enjoy a scare at Scarizona.

Folks enjoy a scare at Scarizona.

Williams Wear always has the scariest scarecrow. GMO Scarecorn.

Williams Wear always has the scariest scarecrow. GMO Scarecorn.

WILLIAMS — The Grand Canyon Railway Pumpkin Patch Train is running every weekend Friday through Sunday. At Bearizona they have a scary haunted house and decorations for their Howly Growly Owly festival.

After enjoying the aforementioned events, you can enter for a chance to win a Scarecrow Contest Prize Basket to be drawn for on November 1.

The scarecrows are fun, but not all of the businesses decorated, this year, are on the list. Some are just decorated with great fall decorations. The Open Road Cowboy on Route 66 made me go into video mode.

Pick up a form at one of the listed businesses or the Williams Visitor Center. Get signatures from at least 10 of the 15 businesses for signatures.
640-151006-07

640-151006-13
Take the completed form to the Williams Visitor Center on Railroad Avenue across the street from Circle K to enter the contest.

Decorations at Allstate Insurance not complete, yet. Check them out in a couple of days.

Decorations at Allstate Insurance not complete, yet. Check them out in a couple of days.

This scarecrow at the Williams Library a bigger problem than too little time. How about too little eyes?

This scarecrow at the Williams Library a bigger problem than too little time. How about too little eyes?

Our competition even decorated. We were going to post a scarecrow of our editor at deadline. But that would be too much competition for the amateurs.

Our competition even decorated. We were going to post a scarecrow of our editor at deadline. But that would be too much competition for the amateurs.