Monthly Archives: January 2016

ADOT to host statewide workshops for Long Range Transportation Plan update

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PHOENIX — In today’s fast-paced world, a reliable transportation system is vital, as people and commerce move through a statewide network to get to where they’re going. To keep pace, the transportation needs of tomorrow take planning and investment to ensure that Arizona stays competitive and meets the needs of a growing state.

That’s why the Arizona Department of Transportation is looking 25 years down the road to determine the best mix of investment to preserve, modernize and expand the state transportation system with the resources available. It’s a project called the Long Range Transportation Plan, and it’s updated every five years.

Starting next week, ADOT will host a series of workshops across the state that are designed for community members, businesses and stakeholders to provide their input and ideas to shape the long-range vision for Arizona’s transportation system. These “Think Ahead about Transportation” workshops will be the foundation to begin the process of updating ADOT’s Long Range Transportation Plan, also known as What Moves You Arizona.

“As Governor Ducey pointed out in his State of the State speech last week, Arizona’s goals include growing our economy, while providing opportunity for all through our ability to work together,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “The work ahead on our Long Range Transportation Plan allows us to accomplish those goals, to ensure Arizona has a transportation system that carries us forward.”

While ADOT’s Long Range Plan is not project-specific, it identifies investment priorities based on current and projected transportation funding over the next 25 years. However, limited revenues will not meet all current and future transportation needs. The process requires distributing transportation funding in order to balance preservation, expansion and modernization of our system.

The 11 “Think Ahead about Transportation” workshops that have been scheduled are listed here. Additional workshops will be scheduled for the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Western Arizona Workshops

  1. Wednesday, Jan. 27: 1 to 3 p.m.
    Mohave County Public Works: Turquoise Room
    3675 E. Andy Devine Ave., Kingman, 86401
  2. Tuesday, Feb. 23: 2 to 4 p.m.
    Lake Havasu City Police Department: Meeting Room
    2360 McCulloch Blvd. N, Lake Havasu City, 86403

Northern Arizona Workshops

  1. Thursday, Jan. 28: 10 a.m. to noon
    Prescott Valley Public Library: Crystal Room
    7401 E. Civic Circle, Prescott Valley, 86314
  2. Wednesday, Feb. 3: 1 to 3 p.m.
    Navajo County Public Works: Chevelon Room
    100 W. Public Works Dr., Holbrook, 86025
  3. Wednesday, Feb. 17: 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
    Little America Hotel
    2515 E. Butler Ave., Flagstaff, 86004
  4. Thursday, Feb. 25: 1 to 3 p.m.
    High Country Conference Center: Agassiz Ballroom
    201 W. Butler Ave., Flagstaff, 86001

Central Arizona Workshops

  1. Thursday, Feb. 11: 1 to 3 p.m.
    City of Globe Municipal Building
    150 N. Pine St., Globe, 85501
  2. Thursday, Feb. 25: noon to 2 p.m.
    Casa Grande Council Chambers
    510 E. Florence Blvd., Casa Grande, 85122

Southern Arizona Workshops

  1. Thursday, Feb. 11: 1 to 3 p.m.
    Cochise College: Benson Center
    1025 S. Hwy 90, Benson, 85602
  2. Thursday, Feb. 18: 1 to 3 p.m.
    Pima Association of Governments
    1 E. Broadway, Ste. 401, Tucson, 85701
  3. Wednesday, Feb. 24: 1 to 3 p.m.
    Yuma County Library: Heritage Branch
    350 Third Ave., Yuma, 85364

It’s up to the public, policymakers and communities to tell ADOT what’s important to them throughout the long range planning process and to prioritize projects and funding for those projects.

Visit azdot.gov/whatmovesyouarizona for more information on ADOT’s Long Range Transportation Plan. You can leave a comment at azdot.gov/whatmovesyouarizona/comments. The final version of the plan is expected to be complete in early 2017.

Add this to your snow-play safety checklist: Don’t park along highways

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PHOENIX — Warm clothing and blankets? Check. Plenty of gas in the tank, fully charged cellphone, drinking water? Check, check, check.

Please add this to your safety checklist when heading to play in the snow: Don’t park along highways. Use only designated parking areas.

Highway shoulders are for emergencies, and parking on them to play in the snow is hazardous in several ways:

• Other drivers may be distracted by your vehicle.
• Other drivers may pull over as well to play in the snow, compounding the problem.
• Your vehicle may interfere with first responders who need to use the shoulder.
• Plows can throw snow and ice far off highways.
• It’s much safer to re-enter highways from on-ramps and other designated entrances.

Expect heavy snow-play traffic again this weekend along US 180, which can lead to long backups heading toward Flagstaff at day’s end.

Those making the trip should allow for extra travel time and prepare as they would for any extended period in snowy, icy or cold areas. For more tips on preparing for travel in snow country, please visit azdot.gov/knowsnow.

To avoid congestion heading home through Flagstaff, consider taking a marked alternate route offering a more direct path to Interstate 17, via the Interstate 40 Butler Avenue interchange.

US 60 east of Superior to close for blasting operations next week

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Motorists using US 60 between Phoenix and Globe next week should plan ahead and consider alternate routes as the Arizona Department of Transportation continues blasting work to build a passing lane and widen roadway shoulders east of Superior.

Construction of the two-mile-long climbing lane from Devil’s Canyon to Oak Flat (mileposts 231-233) will require three full closures, one lasting four hours and two lasting 90 minutes:

>> Tuesday, Jan. 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
>> Thursday, Jan. 28, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and again from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Traffic on eastbound US 60 will be stopped east of Superior (milepost 227), and traffic on westbound US 60 will be stopped at the Top of the World, west of Miami (milepost 235), until the blasting work is completed and debris is cleared.

Approximately 30 minutes prior to each blast, motorists should be prepared for possible delays and lane closures as crews set concrete barrier prior to each scheduled closure.

Motorists seeking an alternate route can consider state routes 77 and 177, which is approximately 68 miles long. Motorists headed to the White Mountains region, including Show Low and Springerville, can take State Route 87 through Payson and travel east on State Route 260.

Drivers should use caution, watch for construction equipment and personnel, and allow extra time.

SR 169 reduced to one lane Monday through Wednesday next week

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Drivers will be reduced to one lane from Jan. 25 through Jan. 27 next week on State Route 169 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. as crews repair potholes on a four-mile segment (mileposts 0 to 4).

Traffic will be directed through the work zone in alternating directions and drivers can expect delays of up to 15 minutes.

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.

Missing Person Lawrence Byrne

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lawrence-byrneLawrence Byrne was reported missing by his brother Shawn Byrne to both Phoenix PD and Scottsdale PD. Scottsdale PD has entered him into the Arizona criminal justice database as a missing person. Family is concerned that Lawrence may be suicidal. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office was contacted because there is the possibility that Lawrence may be in Northern Arizona near Williams. He is believed to be driving a white Volkswagen Toureg SUV with Arizona plates of BRC2028. Coconino County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Search and Rescue have conducted some ground and air searches with negative contact with Lawrence or his vehicle. If anyone has information about the whereabouts of Lawrence Byrne or his vehicle, they are urged to contact the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at 928-774-4523 or 1-800-338-7888.

Kaibab National Forest seeks input on proposed changes to management of grazing allotment on Tusayan Ranger District

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TUSAYAN — The Kaibab National Forest is seeking public input on a proposal to make changes to management of the Anita/Cameron grazing allotment on the Tusayan Ranger District.

The proposed action, which is available on the Kaibab National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=48309, includes the proposed number of livestock, period of use, and range improvement infrastructure for the allotment, which consists of 205,538 acres of national forest available for grazing. The allotment is located east and southeast of the Town of Tusayan.

The purpose of the proposed action is to authorize livestock grazing consistent with Forest Service policy and in a manner that maintains or improves resource conditions, promotes ecological resiliency across the landscape, and provides long-term management direction for domestic livestock grazing.

The proposed action also incorporates flexibility into the management of the allotment in order to allow the Forest Service and individual grazing permittees to better adapt management to changing resource conditions and the achievement of management objectives.

Members of the public are encouraged to review the proposed action for the Anita/Cameron grazing allotment and provide comments by Feb. 24. The proposed action and information on how to comment are available on the Kaibab National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=48309.

It is Forest Service policy to make forage from national forest lands suitable for grazing available to qualified livestock operators and to continue contributions to the economic and social well-being of people by providing opportunities for economic diversity and by promoting stability for communities that depend on range resources for their livelihood.

Body of Wing-Suit Jumper Mathew Kenney Recovered

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PAGE — On Sunday, January 17, 2016 a private group of professional technical climbers engaged by family members rappelled down to the location where the body of 29 year old Mathew Kenney of Santa Cruz, CA came to rest. Those rescuers lowered the body to a slope where Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue helicopter and crew based out of Kingman, AZ performed a one skid landing. The DPS helicopter off-loaded a Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue technician and was able to conduct a long line extraction of the body to Lees Ferry where it was released to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Technical Rescue Team members and National Park Service helicopter from Grand Canyon had previously attempted a body recovery by helicopter on Thursday, January 14, 2016. Due to safety issues and incoming weather, the recovery was suspended and additional plans were discussed for a technical recovery.

Mathew Kenney died on January 12, 2016 when he was wing-suiting in the Paria Canyon – Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness area within the BLM Arizona Strip District approximately 15 miles north of Lees Ferry. His body was located in the steep canyon walls.

Abbott’s Compounding Pharmacy Issues Voluntary Recall of All Lots of Unexpired Sterile Human and Animal Compounded Products Due to Lack of Sterility Assurance

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Abbott’s Compounding Pharmacy is voluntarily recalling all unexpired lots of sterile compounded products due to concerns of lack of sterility assurance. All unexpired lots are subject to the recall. These include injectable medications, sterile solutions, eye drops, and eye ointments. All recalled products were distributed to patients, physician offices and clinics, and veterinarians within California.

All recalled products have a label that includes the Abbott’s Compounding Pharmacy name and expiration date. If unsure, Customers can call the pharmacy to determine the expiration date. This recall impacts all sterile products distributed between 01/01/2015 and 01/14/2016.

The recall was issued after a series of onsite inspections by the FDA. Out of an abundance of caution, Abbott’s Compounding Pharmacy is voluntarily recalling all sterile compounded products within expiry. If there is microbial contamination in products intended to be sterile, patients are at risk for serious and potentially life-threatening infections.

To date, Abbott’s Compounding Pharmacy has not received any reports of any adverse effects or injuries, and the recalled products were distributed exclusively within the state of California directly from its Berkeley, California pharmacy location.

Customers that have recalled product should immediately stop using it and contact the pharmacy to arrange for the return of unused product. Customers should contact their physician or health care provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using these products.

Customers with questions regarding this recall can contact Abbott’s Compounding Pharmacy by phone Monday thru Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm at (510) 548-8777, or email its media representative.

Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.

  1. Complete and submit the report Online: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
  2. Regular Mail or Fax: Download form www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178
  3. For reporting animal adverse drug events: http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/ReportaProblem/ucm055305.htm

Abbott’s Compounding Pharmacy deeply regrets any disruption that this voluntary recall and temporary suspension of Sterile compounding services have on its Customers, but notes that safety and quality are its primary concerns.

Blendtech Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk Allergen in Uncle Buck’s Fish Batter Mix – Original

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ucm482079BlendTech Inc of Wichita, KS, is voluntarily recalling one lot of Uncle Buck’s Fish Batter Mix – Original due to the presence of an undeclared milk ingredient. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

The recalled Batter Mix was distributed in Bass Pro Shops stores nationwide and through mail order.

The affected product is packaged in a 22 ounce, yellow plastic bottle with black cap, UPC 9222972528, and marked with lot #09241505 on the bottom of the bottle.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The recall was initiated after BlendTech discovered product containing milk was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of milk.

Consumers who have purchased the affected product are urged to discard it. Consumers who would like replacement or have questions may contact the company at 1-844-265-7354 or at 1-316-941-9660, Monday – Friday 8:00AM to 4:30PM CST.