‘Crystal Darkness’ on TV Tuesday

March 16, 2007 | Leave a Comment

‘Crystal Darkness’ on TV Tuesday

A special TV program, “Crystal Darkness,” about the effects of meth, will be shown Tuesday, April 15, from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m., with no commercial interruptions. A call center will be open during the program to answer questions. Participating TV stations are donating the time and pre-empting programs. When it was shown on one station in San Diego, volunteers received 450 calls in 30 minutes, seeking help for others or themselves.
Testimonies of actual users have been shown to be an effective warning both with “straight” people and with users. The testimonies of young people in “Crystal Darkness” have been described as “heart wrenching,’” “raw honesty,” and “shocking and scary.”
“Make sure your family watches,” says the Crystal Darkness Program, a Silent Witness task force seeking to unite recovery experts, faith groups, law enforcement and others to fight back against a rapidly-growing drug epidemic. Meth is now the number one illegal drug law enforcement problem in the U.S. The rate of hospital admission for meth has increased over 3000% in rural communities. A third of all meth labs seized were at homes with children, with a third of those children testing positive, and many showing developmental delays. An increasing amount of meth is coming over the border from Mexico. Increasing numbers of youth are involved, and meth use is mentally and physically draining, and extremely addictive.

Posted by Rita | Filed Under News 

Gila County Disaster Preparedness

March 14, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Gila County Disaster Preparedness

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 Forest Service Conducts Prescribed Burns South East of Globe 

w100_1136.jpg Photos & Story by Michael Casillas

The Tonto National Forest Service began the first of three prescribed fire projects on Saturday. Fire crews spent the weekend and early part of this week burning a perimeter around a 3,350 acre target area located to the southeast of Globe, in the Pipeline, and Windmill Gap areas. Once a fire line was established by ground crews, the majority of the nearly 4000 acre burn sight was ignited by helicopter using a Delayed Aerial Ignition Device or “ping-pong ball system”, which jettisons combustible plastic spheres into hard to reach areas. 

   Quentin Johnson, the Fire Management Officer in the Globe Ranger District says all the necessary resources needed to accomplish the project successfully are available and will be utilized to ensure that the fire stays away from private land.

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  Johnson says, Globe and San Carlos residents will notice an increasing amount of smoke over the next few days as the controlled burn nears completion. 

  The Forest Service has plans to complete two additional prescribed burns including 200 acres near Pinal and Signal Peaks, as well as 600 acres near Timber Camp and Carol Spring Mountain. Those projects will take place during the winter months, when ground snow can be used to limit the risk of each project.  

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COMMUNITY PROTECTION PROJECT READY FOR USE

 

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(Above L to R) Globe Fire Chief-Al Gemeros, Helitach Crew Foreman-Gus Tellez, Crew Members-Byran Quinlan, Pilot-Cabott Wilford, Crew Member-Freddie Tavares, Fire Managment Officer-Quinton Johnson at landing zone-storage tank.

A project that enhances the protection and availability of resources to the Globe-Miami community is now ready for use. The project is a landing zone site and water storage tank that can be used for large helicopters for the suppression of wildland fires around our community and southern Gila County. The site is located on City of Globe property and is a direct flight to the Pinal Mountains that have been a concern for several years. This project is a disaster preparedness plan that was made possible by a collaborative agreement between the City of Globe, Gila County, and the U.S. Forest Service.

After two years of negotiations, contracts, and construction, the final phase of the project was installed by Gila County, a ten thousand gallon water storage tank. The City of Globe provided the land, funding, the construction labor, and design for the project. The U.S. Forest Service provided a major portion of the funding and will provide the resources to man the site as needed. The estimated cost for this project is about $80,000.00.

The City of Globe Public Works Department cleared the land, installed water lines with two hydrants, constructed four large cement slabs, and covered the land with gravel. Three slabs provide a landing site for a Type II or Type III helicopter that can carry 120 gallons of water per load. The fourth pad is larger and provides a site for a Type I helicopter that can dip 1,500 gallons of water per trip. The ten thousand gallon water tank that was purchased and erected on the site by Gila County will supply enough storage water to use on a working fire by the U.S. Forest Service. The U.S. Forest Service will provide a crew and helicopter to be on standby on the site in critical times in our community or to shuttle crews and equipment to our area if a major fire were to occur.

The future plans for the site are to install electricity and sewer so that the site will be more self- sufficient. The site may also be considered for a possible contract with an Air Ambulance Company if one is interested. 

 

Posted by Rita | Filed Under Featured Story 

Globe Viaduct Project Begins March 31

March 3, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Globe Viaduct Project Begins March 31

photo by Ed Kuehneman

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) will begin a preservation project on the U.S. 60 Globe viaduct on Monday, Mar. 31. The work consists of replacing the bridge deck joint assemblies, repairing a section of sidewalk and bridge barrier, sealing the bridge deck and other incidental work. Truesdell Corporation of Tempe, Ariz. is the prime contractor on the $248,000 project, which is scheduled to be completed in mid-April.

Work hours will be from sunrise to sunset Monday through Thursday, and sunrise to noon on Fridays. 
The viaduct will be narrowed to one lane in each direction during the project.  Local drivers should consider alternate routes. The Globe Police Department will be on-site to monitor traffic flow and insure safe conditions for motorists and workers.
ADOT advises drivers to proceed with caution, obey all posted speed limit signs, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.
Road conditions and up-to-date restrictions can be found by dialing 511 or going online to www.az511.com.

Posted by Rita | Filed Under Featured Story