Officials make contact with isolated Navajo Nation residents
Written by Webmaster
AIR MISSION ON TRIBAL LANDS DELIVERS NEEDED EMERGENCY AID TO ISOLATED RESIDENTS AFFECTE BY THE STORM
Officials make contact with isolated Navajo Nation residents
HOLBROOK, ARIZONA — a scheduled air mission for isolated areas around the Kayenta and Black Mesa area was conducted by the National Guard yesterday delivering emergency food and water supplies to residents in the far remote areas in northern Navajo County. These residents have been severely affected by the storm that hit Northeastern Arizona nearly one week ago. “It is amazing to see how hard the people were hit by the storm, because the farther we flew the more snow there was. The vastness of the land is very apparent.” Navajo County’s Sheriff, KC Clark stated in reflection of the mission and the picture below as they first saw snow about 10 miles north of Holbrook.
The National Guard piloted the Blackhawk that Sheriff Clark and Navajo County District I Supervisor Jonathan Nez rode in during this mission. The mission was successful as supplies were successfully dropped to families in several isolated areas along and around the Black Mesa Ridge. Black Mesa is approximately 50 miles northeast of Pinon. Supervisor Nez pointed out the last 18 miles to Black Mesa is dirt road. They were able to view the impact of the large amount of precipitation along with the snow has saturated the clay infused dirt roads causing worsening roadway conditions. Nez explained the only way to get supplies and medical help to the residents is by air or in the early morning hours when the clay mud is frozen.
Both Sheriff Clark and Supervisor Nez were inspired at the people’s ability to be resourceful in spite of the severe snow storm. “We were flying and then the pilot saw a reflection signal coming from a mirror, as we turned back, we then saw a family with children waving their arms in the universal sign of distress.” The pilot located a safe place to land the plane so we could inquire about their needs. The family was housebound from the high levels of snow and had run out of food and water with one adult family member was on home dialysis.
From the start of Operation Winter Storm, all agencies involved raised concern for dialysis patients since the storm grounds many families from being able to attend their Wednesday appointment. Failing to receive treatment can cause a person to go into shock and could lead to death. Sheriff Clark stressed, “Time is of the essence. They are already nearly a week overdue with their dialysis treatments. If we do not get supplies and medicine to the people now the mission will be more costly and may have devastating results.”
“I am proud of my people as they are resourceful in finding ways to provide assistance for themselves and their neighbors,” Supervisor Nez stated when telling of a family they came upon during this air mission who had dug through approximately one mile of snow in an attempt to get help; unfortunately, they still had about three more miles to go before getting to a main road. Supervisor Nez, along with Board of Supervisors Chairman Jesse Thompson request that any need for assistance as a result of this storm and the upcoming storm should be relayed to the Navajo Nation Emergency Management at 928-871-6892 or -6894.
The entire region is thankful for the State assistance, including the incident management team and the National Guard, being provided during this emergency, as a result of the recent State of Emergency declared by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer.
Sheriff Clark said residents can get the latest information about emergency efforts by calling the Emergency Management Hotline at 928-524-4200, Option 3. Weather and other emergency services information is also available on the Navajo County website at www.navajocountyaz.gov or on the Arizona Emergency Information Network at www.azein.gov.
West Nile Virus (WNV) is a seasonal epidemic that begins in spring in Arizona and continues into the fall. In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 1,338 cases of WNV, 114 in Arizona.
WNV is spread by infected mosquitoes and can cause serious, life-altering consequences—even death. Accordingly, schools must be aware of the risks and take the necessary steps to prevent students and staff from becoming infected.
PUSD #4 faces unpredictable budget challenges for the next two to three years. To meet the challenges of a $1.3 million expenditure in utilities, we must implement energy conservation measures to reduce utility cost. This reduction will add budget to impact the cuts being imposed by the Legislature. Working smartly, I believe we can reduce our utility budget by $350,000 per year. Working smartly! Your support and cooperation is greatly appreciated.
Energy conservation measures:
District Wide
1. Remove all vending machines from district property by Friday, May 22. Until the machines are removed, please unplug the power. Clubs responsible for vending machines are to contact the vendor for removal. Unfortunately, this will continue for approximately two years.
2. Remove all appliances (heaters, fans, microwaves, coffeemakers, etc) from district property by Friday, May 22.
3. All HVAC units will be adjusted to 73 degrees. Please close all classroom doors and PAMS windows as the HVAC unit is designed to cool the classroom, not the classroom and hallway.
4. Consolidate servers and turn off all servers that are not critical to the operation of the District and classrooms.
5. Adjust all exterior light timers to 12:00 am to 4:00 am on all buildings. Adjust to leave entry lights on. This measure includes all parking lights as well.
6. All buildings will be closed and all exterior doors locked at 5:00 pm. The building is to be cleared of all staff and students.
7. All exterior doors are to be closed at all times during the day. When unloading supplies, please close the doors to keep cool air from escaping.
8. All facility use agreements with clubs, etc. and in-school requests are cancelled effective this date. The only permissible events are graduations and promotion ceremonies.
9. The auditorium is closed and the temperature will be adjusted to 80° for a closed facility.
10. The district gym lights should be turned off and all doors closed when not in use. All open gym activities in the district gym are cancelled until further notice. All PEP staff are assigned to the PE classes at the school sites.
11. Teachers are to turn off classroom lights if possible. Do not strain the eyes of students nor endanger your eyes. Most importantly, turn-off all lights when you are not in the classroom or office.
12. All unused classroom are to be closed, lights off, thermostats adjusted as high as possible.
13. Support services building to implement energy conservation measures as stated above, i.e. darken hallways, turn-off lights in unoccupied areas, turn-off lights when not in office. If exterior rooms, can you work without lights?
14. Effective June 4, all district kitchens are to be cleaned and coolers emptied for the summer. Coolers will shut down; water heaters will be shut down, and closed June 4 through July 27. PES elementary kitchen will be operating a summer breakfast and lunch program.
15. Bus wash will be operational Tuesday and Thursday from 7:45 to 8:30 for washing buses and district vehicles. After June 3rd, the bus wash will be operational on Thursday 7:45 to 8:30 for cleaning District vehicles. The circulator pumps need to run all the time (low energy usage) so water does not stagnate.
16. All computers are to be turned off or put to sleep when not in use.
17. All printers and copiers not in district or school offices will be shutdown effective June 8.
Pinon High School
1. The practice gym at Pinon High School is closed, all lights and cooling will be adjusted for a closed facility.
2. The PHS concession stand is to be cleaned and the refrigerator unplugged and the refrigerator door remains open to conserve electricity. The Cantina, outside concession building, is closed and all electrical appliances shut down for the summer.
3. Vocational agriculture is to reduce electrical devices by prepping the greenhouse and classroom for the summer by putting both black shade screens on.
4. PES and PHS entry lights, common area lights, and any hallway where the lights can be turned off during the day are to be turned-off.
5. District culinary arts classroom to clean and shut down ice machine – sanitize and shut filter and water off and coolers as soon as possible for summer. Notify Mr. Begay. Director, when he can shut down the power.
6. Effective June 8, all chillers will shut down at the high school and middle school except to circulate water to avoid corrosion. Summer operations will be centered in the district office area and Pinon Elementary school.
Pinon Middle School
1. Effective June 8, all chillers will shut down at the high school and middle school except to circulate water to avoid corrosion. Summer operations will be centered in the district office area and Pinon Elementary school.
Pinon Elementary School
1. PES and PHS entry lights, common area lights, and any hallway where the lights can be turned off during the day are to be turned-off.
Please forward any suggestions you have for conservation of energy to your supervisor. Thanks to everyone for your support.
Respectfully,
Larry E. Wallen
Superintendent
Legislators Propose $800 Million in Cuts to Education
Written by Webmaster
Senate Appropriations
Commitee Passes $800 Million in Cuts to K-12
Party line vote also includes retributions to silence teachers
<http://capwiz.com/nea/az/utr/1/ACNHKNULCT/GTWQKNULGL/3375177596>
Take Action Now! <http://capwiz.com/nea/az/utr/1/ACNHKNULCT/EJTIKNULGM/3375177596>
The
Senate Appropriations Committee passed their version of the FY2010 budget this
evening. The committee voted on partisan lines with Republicans voting in
support of the cuts, and the Democrats opposing. In
addition to over $800 million in K-12 cuts, the bill included non-budget
related anti-teacher language that would restrict the ability of teachers to
use their own leave time to visit the Capitol to talk to legislators or
advocate for public education and the profession. It also included a provision
that would limit teachers rights to be represented and eliminates the
requirement that teachers who are being non-renewed be notified by April 15. Senator
Rebecca Rios (D- Pinal County) called these policy changes an attempt to stifle
the voices of those working in our public schools stating, "this is direct
retribution against teachers willing to speak out for public schools and their
students." Senator Rios offered two committee amendments: the first
restored the soft capital cuts and the second removed the attacks on public
school employees that are currently in the bill. Both amendments failed
on party-line votes. AEA
President John Wright testified in committee and was attacked by the Senate
Appropriations Chair Russell Pearce (R- Mesa) who claimed that cuts to the
inflation factor and building renewal funding were not cuts to education.
Senator Pearce was restrained from continuing to attack Mr. Wright by Senator
Hale (D - Window Rock) so Wright could continue his testimony. It has
been reported that the House and Senate Republican leadership support this
budget package but they may be dangerously out of step with their own caucus
members. Your legislators need to know you oppose this budget and want
Democrats and Republicans to join forces with the Governor to create a budget
that supports public schools through appropriate revenue enhancements and use
of stimulus dollars. Contact them now
<http://capwiz.com/nea/az/utr/1/ACNHKNULCT/OWSJKNULGN/3375177596>
. You can
also keep the pressure on by signing
<http://capwiz.com/nea/az/utr/1/ACNHKNULCT/EGMUKNULGO/3375177596
> up <http://capwiz.com/nea/az/utr/1/ACNHKNULCT/BMJSKNULGP/3375177596
> to be at the Arizona Capitol during the month of June. Learn more <http://capwiz.com/nea/az/utr/1/ACNHKNULCT/HZBUKNULGQ/3375177596>
. Special
Notice-
It appears Governor Brewer will be issuing a special session call to expand the
private school voucher program permitting increased amounts to be donated to a
school tuition organization (STO) in exchange for a tax credit. The
Governor and Republican Legislative leadership have their priorities wrong by
considering a law allowing more revenue to be diverted to private schools on
the same day the Senate Appropriations Committee axed funding to schools,
health care and children's social services.
Act now <http://capwiz.com/nea/az/utr/1/ACNHKNULCT/MLFVKNULGR/3375177596>
by sending teh Governor a message.
The National Guard piloted the Blackhawk that Sheriff Clark and Navajo County District I Supervisor Jonathan Nez rode in during this mission. The mission was successful as supplies were successfully dropped to families in several isolated areas along and around the Black Mesa Ridge. Black Mesa is approximately 50 miles northeast of Pinon. Supervisor Nez pointed out the last 18 miles to Black Mesa is dirt road. They were able to view the impact of the large amount of precipitation along with the snow has saturated the clay infused dirt roads causing worsening roadway conditions. Nez explained the only way to get supplies and medical help to the residents is by air or in the early morning hours when the clay mud is frozen.
Both Sheriff Clark and Supervisor Nez were inspired at the people’s ability to be resourceful in spite of the severe snow storm. “We were flying and then the pilot saw a reflection signal coming from a mirror, as we turned back, we then saw a family with children waving their arms in the universal sign of distress.” The pilot located a safe place to land the plane so we could inquire about their needs. The family was housebound from the high levels of snow and had run out of food and water with one adult family member was on home dialysis.
“I am proud of my people as they are resourceful in finding ways to provide assistance for themselves and their neighbors,” Supervisor Nez stated when telling of a family they came upon during this air mission who had dug through approximately one mile of snow in an attempt to get help; unfortunately, they still had about three more miles to go before getting to a main road. Supervisor Nez, along with Board of Supervisors Chairman Jesse Thompson request that any need for assistance as a result of this storm and the upcoming storm should be relayed to the Navajo Nation Emergency Management at 928-871-6892 or -6894.
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West Nile Virus (WNV) is a seasonal epidemic that begins in spring in Arizona and continues into the fall. In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 1,338 cases of WNV, 114 in Arizona.