It’s official – The American Red Cross Arizona Region Blood Services is short on blood supplies, and asking for help from area citizens. The Red Cross announced that it has less than a 24-hour supply of O-negative and O-positive blood types available for the 22 Arizona hospitals it provides blood to. In support of the Red Cross plea, Tucson blood collection centers will be open for longer days. If you want to know where one of the over 200 Tucson collection locations are, or get more information on being a blood donor in Tucson, log into https://www.givelife.org

On the Morning of July 24, Tucson Fire Department Engine 20 was responding to a call, and while making a right turn onto East Fort Lowell Road. All five firefighters aboard were injured and required evacuation to the hospital. None of the injured Tucson firemen were listed as critical, and none had life-threatening injuries.

The cost of the wrecked fire engine, including the equipment aboard, was about $450,000. The engine is considered a complete loss. The Tucson Fire Department’s Accident Review Committee will be investigating the accident to determine the cause. No citations were issued by the Tucson police, who responded to the accident scene.

Dr. Roger Angel is a University of Arizona professor in Tucson. The doctor also runs the Steward Observatory Mirror Laboratory and the Center for Astronomical Adaptive Optics – among other things. He is one of the world’s foremost authorities on the subject of modern optics – and a really smart guy.

Doctor Angel has proposed an unusual solution to global warming, or at least an action which could be implemented in conjunction with the reduction of greenhouse gas production, to reduce the warming trend. The Tucson professor suggests sending about 20 million tons of a specially formulated, low density shading material into orbit around earth. The orbiting material would literally shade the planet from much of the sun’s heat, and thereby reduce the global warming effects we are currently experiencing. The idea has such merit that the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts funded the feasibility and logistics of Angel’s work.

In conjunction with the Tucson doctor’s unusual approach to a solution, comes an unusual approach for launching the material into space. Currently, we use fueled rockets to launch material into space. Angel suggests implementing technology that was originally conceived of in the 1930’s – magnet fields and forces. The magnetic propulsion system costs only a fraction of today’s preferred methods.

Doctor Angel’s idea would cost something in the neighborhood of $3-Trillion dollars, and take many years to accomplish. However, the price tag seems less and less out of line as the expenses of global warming continue to mount in the form of annual damages and loss.

As if the lingering immigration issues were not creating enough discord between the US and Mexico, the announcement by Mexico that it will be building a toxic dump site – just down the road… And while the people of Tucson are understandably concerned, the people of the Tohono O’odham Nation are much more concerned. The new dump will be a mere 25-miles from their homes.

The new toxic waste dump is supposed to deal with 45,000 tons of toxic matter every year. That’s 90-million pounds of potentially lethal, always harmful material. That’s about 92-pounds of toxic garbage for every man, woman, and child in the city of Tucson – every year!

Mexico has already approved the construction of the toxic landfill, despite the claims of many that it violates agreements with the US – as well as representing a danger which is not being honestly disclosed by the Mexican Government and/or authorities. Also, the Pima Association of Governments, the Tohono O’odham Nation, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the EPA have stated that the Mexican authorities failed to provide them with proper notice about the intended landfill. Among those expressing various other types of concerns over the new dump are people from the University of Arizona in Tucson, and Joan Lionetti, the Executive Director of the local non-profit group Tucson Clean and Beautiful.

The proposed facility has already been named the La Choya Hazardous Waste Facility. If you would like to voice a complaint, get more information contact any of the above mentioned groups or organizations. Contact information for Tucson Clean & Beautiful is as follows: BJ Cordova, Director Of Development & Community Outreach, (520) 791-3109, Fax number: (520) 622-7112. Address: P.O. Box 27210 • Tucson, AZ 85726-7210 • Web Site: http://www.tucsonaz.gov/tcb.

Following the national trend, businesses in Tucson are starting to install more and more digital video surveillance equipment. Since the cost of digital video and audio equipment is dropping, the advantages become more attractive. The advantages include a much clearer image – and one that can be more easily manipulated by software. As compared to analog equipment, the new digital equipment is smaller equipment, and has the ability to store more data in a smaller space – data which can more easily be transmitted digitally. The Tucson police frequently use surveillance video to help capture criminals, and the clearer videos are a real boon to their efforts. As crime in Tucson escalates, these new cameras may help authorities keep a lid on certain types of criminal acts – especially those in convenience stores such as the shooting death of the 50-year old Tucson store attendant last week.

This morning, from a cave somewhere in Pakistan, Taliban Minister of Migration, Mohammed Omar, warned the United States that if military action against Iraq continues, Taliban authorities will cut off America’s supply of convenience store managers. And if this action does not yield sufficient results, cab drivers will be next, followed by Dell customer service reps.

It’s getting ugly…

You may want to know if you are buying a car, or if there’s been one parked in your nice Tucson neighborhood and abandoned for a couple of weeks. Or for whatever reason – you now have a way of finding out quickly if a car is stolen. Simply visit the following Arizona website: http://theftaz.azag.gov/. You can search the site by license plate number or vehicle identification number (VIN). If you are purchasing a vehicle, you should use the VIN, for other purposes, the license plate number should suffice.

If you are in Tucson and determine absolutely that a vehicle is stolen, notify the Tucson Police – do not attempt to take any action yourself.

The Tucson Citizens’ Police Academy, which held its first class in February 1995, is designed to provide community leaders with a greater understanding of the Tucson Police Department and its operations through class lectures as well as hands-on experiences. It is the goal to make this course an informative and enjoyable experience for all of those involved. It is also an opportunity for the police department to learn from participants through discussion and interaction with instructors, classmates, and visiting Tucson Police Department commanders and staff. The overall objective is to further a partnership in making Tucson a great place to live, work, and raise our families!

It is the intention of the Tucson Police Department, through this 12-week Academy course, to provide students with knowledge and understanding of the functions and responsibilities of providing law enforcement services in Tucson. The police department’s members and instructors are professional with their presentations and in making all participants feel welcome.

Academy Schedule
The Tucson Police Department conducts a spring and fall session of the Tucson Citizens’ Police Academy. Each session is twelve weeks in length, with classes meeting on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the City of Tucson’s Public Safety Training Academy. The twelfth week of the Academy is a graduation ceremony, which family and friends are welcome to attend.

Entrance Requirements
Interested candidates for the Tucson Citizens’ Police Academy must meet the following criteria:

Minimum age of 18 years
No misdemeanor arrests within six months of application
No felony arrests or convictions within five years of application
Excellent character
The Police Department confidentially reviews all applications for approval. There is no cost to apply or enter the Citizens’ Academy.

Selection Procedure
The Chief of Police generally selects Tucson Citizens’ Police Academy students through a nomination and application process. Citizens are nominated by police staff, past Citizens’ Academy graduates, and by direct application. Enrollment is limited to approximately thirty students per session. For more information or an application, call (520) 791-5211 Ext. 1114.

Some of the covered topics include:

Community Policing in Tucson
Behavioral Sciences
Police/Media Relations
Crime Laboratory
911 Communications
Air Support
Traffic Law
Domestic Violence Issues
K-9 Support
Firearms Use
Vice and Narcotics
SWAT and Hostage Support
Gangs
Victim/Witness Program
Crime Prevention
Whose Problem is Crime?
Crime is a community problem, not just a police problem. The safety of all citizens depends on actions and involvement by all of us. The Tucson Police Department believes that community education is an essential and productive activity that leads to an effective partnership that attacks the causes of community problems, not merely the symptoms.

Form or join a coalition to address problems
Support established solutions like Neighborhood Associations
Work to improve our community environment.
Blend all of the talents of the police and community for a better Tucson!

Questions should be directed to Officer Steve Beller at 791-5211 X-1114. Applications can be faxed to 791-4261 or emailed to Steve.Beller@tucsonaz.gov

Items from the historic Steinfeld mansion located at 300 North Main Avenue in downtown Tucson will be put into a silent auction that is being held on Saturday, July 22 to benefit a Tucson Benedictine Monastery located at 800 N. Country Club Road. The 61,000 square foot monastery was built 66 years ago, and keeping it in good repair has become more and more expensive every year – according to the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, who live in and maintain the historic monastery.

It’s said that the Steinfeld mansion was originally designed by noted architect Henry Trost in 1898. Trost, noted for his body of work located in El Paso,  did not move to Tucson until 1899 – when he came here from Colorado with his sister Louise.

Some of the pieces that will go into the silent auction date back to pre-1934, when the owner passed on. The Sisters of Perpetual Adoration will also be adding to the auction with a small number of special items from the monastery.

The Tucson City Court is implementing a new DUI Warrant program.

Defendants with outstanding DUI warrants may avoid being physically arrested by reporting to Tucson City Court between June 30 and July 31, 2006.

Defendants should report to 103 East Alameda, 1st floor, Courtroom 3.

Tucson City Court is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Later in July, the Court will extend its hours to accommodate the working public regarding the new program.

The DUI Warrant program will terminate on August 1, 2006, and defendants will be subject to physical arrest and detention at the Pima County Jail. Tucson City Court urges the public to resolve any pending criminal charges.

For more information, call 791-4216.