Game & Fish

Vandalism of public property along local Heritage Fund trail

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[Source: Derek Jordan, The Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Daily Review] – Police are investigating a report of criminal damage at Cochise College High Desert Trail in Sierra Vista after several information plaques along the trail were found to be defaced or damaged.

Along the 600-foot path are about a dozen laminated information panels atop steel frames, many of which are now scarred with the letters “BK” carved into the plastic. BK is most likely Blood killer. It’s gang graffiti,” said Officer John Papatrefon, one of two officers who responded to the outdoor teaching area located off of North Columbo Avenue between the college and Berean Academy around 8 a.m. Friday morning. One of these panels was torn from its stand and discarded in a nearby wash, while others, including a stone bench, were sprayed with black paint. Some of the destruction is not new, according to the officer.

“Some of the damage has been there a while,” although the sign that was broken off most likely happened the night before or early that morning, Papatrefon said. “I’m taking this a little personal,” said Jamie O’Rourke, a facilities maintenance technician with the college and the one who discovered the damage during his morning rounds. “I made all those steel frames.”

The trail, which was funded with a combination of grant money from the Heritage Fund Program of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, as well as donations and matching funds and labor from the college, was opened in June 2003. Surrounded by native plant and wildlife, the path serves as an outdoor classroom for instructors, said Tasneem Ashraf, chair of the Science Department.

Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Heritage grants program returns in 2011

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[Source: Gretchen Mominee, Phoenix Nature Examiner] – The Heritage Funds grant program is back this year after being on a one-year hiatus, according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s website.  During the time the grants were not being offered, the Game and Fish Department created an entirely revised application, eligibility, scoring and award notification process.  This year’s grant application deadline is September 30, 2011. For more information about applying for grants or for application forms, click here.  

An informational workshop for interested applicants will take place at Game and Fish’s Phoenix headquarters at 5000 W. Carefree Hwy on Monday, August 22. Participants may choose from two sessions, from 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. To R.S.V.P. for a workshop, call Heritage Grants Coordinator Robyn Beck at (623) 236-7530Workshops need at least three pre-registered attendees at each location to occur.

September 30, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. MST is the deadline for grant applications

Game and Fish’s Heritage grants return in 2011 with new simplified processes

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[Source: AZGFD.gov, 8-11-2011] – Thanks to continued support from Arizona Lottery sales, the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s popular Heritage grants program returns after a one-year hiatus with new, simplified processes. The department undertook and completed a comprehensive revision to the Heritage Fund grants program, including the application, eligibility, scoring, award notification and close-out processes.

“In response to public feedback that we had received over the years, Game and Fish completely revamped the Heritage Fund grants program to make it easier to apply for a grant, and to get more school children, teachers, administrators and parents involved in Heritage-related wildlife activities through Arizona,” says Marty Herrera, the department’s Heritage Fund administrator.

Started in 1990, the Heritage Fund was established by Arizona voters to further conservation efforts in the state, including protecting endangered species, educating our children about wildlife, helping urban residents to better coexist with wildlife, and creating new opportunities for outdoor recreation. Over the years, Game and Fish has awarded more than $12 million in grants to communities across the state. Arizonans can help raise money for the Heritage Fund every year simply by buying Arizona Lottery tickets.

The department will hold informational workshops for interested applicants at the following times and locations:

  • Monday, Aug. 15 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Flagstaff regional Game and Fish office, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road, Flagstaff.
  • Friday, Aug. 19 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Pinetop regional Game and Fish office, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd., Pinetop.
  • Monday, Aug. 22 at Game and Fish’s Phoenix headquarters, 5000 W. Carefree Hwy., Phoenix. (Choice of two sessions: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.)
  • Wednesday, Aug. 24 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Yuma regional Game and Fish office, 9140 E. 28th St., Yuma.
  • Monday, Aug. 29 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Tucson regional Game and Fish office, 555 N. Greasewood Road, Tucson

Workshops must have a minimum of three preregistered attendees per location to be held. The deadline for applications is Friday, Sept. 30, 2011 at 5 p.m. MST.Potential grant recipients must have a project that is either located in Arizona or involves research in which the wildlife or its habitat is located in Arizona.  To R.S.V.P. for a workshop, call Heritage Grants Coordinator Robyn Beck at (623) 236-7530. More information on the grants and application forms can be found at www.azgfd.gov/heritage.

Visitors on the rise at Tonto Natural Bridge near Payson

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[Source: Peter Aleshire, Payson Roundup] – Bouyed by a 12-percent rise in visitation, the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park has returned to a seven-day-a-week schedule as rangers and volunteers brace for a busy holiday weekend.

Managers of the world’s largest natural arch and its historic buildings hope that word will spread among visitors still confused by fire-based forest closures and lingering questions about state parks budget cuts. “I think we’ll be very busy on the Fourth, but I don’t think we’ll be overloaded,” said Ranger Steve Jakublowski, the park manager. “There’s a lot of misconceptions still going on, especially with the fires. People are calling quite a bit wondering whether we’re open.” [to read the full story click here].