Daily Archives: January 2, 2017

Would you believe we are over five-years old?

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I was just looking at the “archives” and realized that the first story on my site was about aliens back in November of 2011.

The Gazette was around longer than that. I started out using b2Evolution for the format. While it had some nice features, it turned out to be to difficult to use. We switched to WordPress which has some problems, but is a much easier format to deal with. In November of 2015 we added a Facebook page.

We have filmed parades, covered life and death, the rise and fall of businesses, and many events in Williams. we have covered tragedies and triumphs. We have tried to keep you up on the latest weather and traffic. With the help of Flagstaff Independent Press, KAFF News and other sources, we have tried to keep you informed about our neighbors.

Actually I never expected to be around this long. It has been fun and we hope to keep going for many more years.

Governor Ducey’s response to recent national monument designations by President Obama

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PHOENIX — In response to President Obama designating two national monuments this week in Utah and Nevada, Governor Doug Ducey issued the following statement requesting that the president respect Arizona by not designating the proposed Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument:

“Western public land agreements have established a legacy of multi-use that have provided a recreational, environmental, conservation and economic balance that has served our state and nation well.

“In the early 1990s Republican Senator John McCain and Democratic Congressman Morris Udall worked appropriately through congressional action to create a massive footprint of designated wilderness in our state. Arizona also already hosts the most national monuments of any state in the nation. Those monuments more than suffice for enough acreage set aside for elevated public lands management. That work is now complete.

“Our state needs no further designations. Designations done by decree have already negatively impacted our state’s ability to manage wildlife, held in trust for the people of Arizona and our nation. Proof of this fact is seen in the decline of desert sheep in the Sonoran Desert Monument, where access closures impeded our ability to maintain water catchments to grow these herds. Forest management also suffers in special designation areas, and my fear with the proposed designation is a catastrophic fire that would damage this area for more than a century.

“I have long joined Senators McCain and Flake, the majority of our congressional delegation, more than 20 sportsmen/women organizations, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, and thousands of Arizona citizens in steadfast opposition to this unneeded and poorly thought-out presidential decree that will permanently damage the recreational, environmental, conservation and economic balance that is so important to our state.

“I request that the president respect the wishes of our state’s leadership and the Congress of the United States, which is where the real authority for public lands designations resides. The intent of the Antiquities Act gives the president limited authority to set aside the smallest amount of land possible to protect the artifact; this proposed designation of 1.9 million acres of land would be a clear violation of that intent.

“If designated by the president in his waning hours, Arizona will take every step necessary—legally and legislatively—to stop it. My hope is that the president respects our wishes.”

Input can shape target-shooting policy for Sonoran Desert National Monument

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department encourages the public, especially those interested in recreational target-shooting, to provide their input on management alternatives for the Sonoran Desert National Monument near Gila Bend.

The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Phoenix District Office recently announced the release of a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendment that kicked off a 90-day public comment period. The BLM is collecting public input before moving forward in the decision-making process.

As part of the process, three public meetings have been scheduled:

Jan. 19: 5-8 p.m., BLM National Training Center, 9828 N. 31st Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85051.
Jan. 20: 5-8 p.m., Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086.
Jan. 21: Noon-4 p.m., Dorothy Powell Senior Adult Center, 405 E. 6th St., Casa Grande, AZ 85122.

Written comments can be mailed to Wayne Monger, BLM’s project manager, at: 21605 N. 7th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85027. Comments also can be faxed to (623) 580-5623, or e-mailed to BLM_AZ_SDNMtargetshooting@BLM.gov. All comments must be received prior to the close of the 90-day public comment period March 15.

Under a March 2015 federal court order, the BLM was required to reanalyze the impacts of recreational target-shooting on the monument. A range of alternatives was developed based on public comments and suggestions received during the scoping process earlier this year. The draft EIS and RMP amendment analyze the impacts of each alternative. The RMP website is http://bit.ly/SDNMtargetshooting.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department recognizes the importance of protecting public access and enhancing outdoor recreational opportunities, including recreational target-shooting. In partnership with the BLM, U.S. Forest Service and the nonprofit Tread Lightly!, Game and Fish is helping to keep Arizona’s public lands healthy and open through the “Respected Access is Open Access in Arizona” campaign. For more information about the campaign, visit www.respectedaccessarizona.org.

Make an outdoors New Year’s resolution

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PHOENIX – As many of us reflect on 2016 and think about the changes we’d like to make in the new year, how about adding an outdoors resolution to the list? Here are some ideas:
1. Buy a hunting, fishing or combo license and head out for some outdoor fun while supporting wildlife. Licenses are inexpensive: Arizona residents pay $37 for a general hunting or fishing license or $57 for a combo hunt/fish license; nonresidents pay $55 for a fishing license or $160 for a combo hunt/fish combo license. Licenses are valid for a year. You can also buy short-term (one-day) licenses at $15 per day for residents, $20 per day for nonresidents. All license purchases help fund wildlife conservation efforts. You can buy them online 24/7 at https://license.azgfd.gov/home.xhtml.
2. Set up a free AZGFD customer portal account. The portal lets you create a secure account where you can view and manage your licenses, draw results, bonus points and memberships in your own personal “My AZ Outdoors” section. Just click on the “Sign in to Account” button in the upper right-hand corner of the www.azgfd.gov home page and then select the “Create an Account” option, and you’re on your way into a world of wildlife!
3. Take a youngster outdoors. Look for animal tracks together and identify the critter that made them. Armed with only a bird identification guide, embark on an expedition to see how many species you can find. A day in the field will create memories that last a lifetime – for both of you.

4. Pick it up. Vow to clean up not only after yourself, but those who aren’t as considerate. Take an extra trash bag along on your next outing and spend a few minutes picking up those empty cans, cigarette butts or campsite trash. After all, respected access is open access.

5. Explore “Expo.” Save the date – March 25-26 – and experience the great outdoors at the department’s 2017 Outdoor Expo at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility. There will be plenty of hands-on activities, wildlife presentations/educational demonstrations, and the opportunity to meet with outdoors groups, agencies and exhibitors. Admission and parking are free.
6. Hunt something new. Don’t let the odds of being selected in the random draw keep you from applying for what could be the hunt of a lifetime. If you’ve always dreamed of hunting bison, pronghorn or bull elk, then get in the game and fill out an application. Also, don’t overlook small game or other species that can be hunted year-round.
7. Be a wildlife watcher. Arizona provides some of the best wildlife-viewing opportunities in the nation, with more than 800 species of wildlife. It’s a fun, inexpensive activity the entire family can enjoy.

8. Fish local. Make it a point to wet a line this year at one (or more) of 38 waters in the Community Fishing Program. With lakes and ponds in 17 Arizona communities that are seasonally stocked with rainbow trout, channel catfish and bluegill, there’s always a hotspot close to home. This is a great way to introduce a youngster to a fun, lifelong sport. Your reward? Hearing that youngster squeal with delight while pulling in his or her first fish.
  
9. Buy an “I Support Wildlife” membership. Wildlife lovers have another means of supporting wildlife by becoming a member of the department’s ISW program. Your $25 annual dues get you a great online mapping application, a one-year subscription to Arizona Wildlife Views magazine, up-to-date fish stocking reports, and provide much-needed funding to sustain important wildlife and habitat conservation projects.
10. Be a conservationist. It’s difficult to imagine what our wildlife populations might be like today without the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. For a presentation from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, produced by Arizona Game and Fish, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE4L9KicSeU.