September 2023

 Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Reach Agreement

(PHOENIX, Ariz. – April 28, 2023) - Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) are pleased to announce they have reached a new network agreement. This agreement is effective April 1, 2023, and therefore all services from that date will be handled as in network.

 The goal was always to continue to provide patients and members with quality, convenient, and affordable health care in Yavapai County. Both organizations thank the community for their patience throughout the negotiations.

 “After many months of negotiations, we are very pleased that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona has agreed to a new contract that will put our patients first and keep health care local,” says Anthony Torres, MD, President and CEO of Dignity Health YRMC and YRMG. “Providing local high-quality health care services is a top priority and we look forward to furthering our mission of improving the health of those who call Yavapai County home.”

 “Standing up for our members has always been our priority, and we are thankful that Yavapai Regional Medical Center joined us in this effort,” said Dr. Cara Christ, Chief Medical Officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. “Together, we can ensure those in Yavapai County have access to the care they need while protecting affordability.”

 Patients and BCBSAZ members who have questions about the new agreement, can contact BCBSAZ or its affiliated health plan using the phone number on the back of their insurance card or reaching out to memberhelp@azblue.com. Patients and members can also call YRMC at 702-616-5789.

Our Greatest Crime Fighting Tool is You

Prescott Valley Police Department wants to make our citizens aware of a local program designed to make our communities safer.  A Neighborhood Block Watch program is a group of people living in the same area who want to make their neighborhood safer by working together and in conjunction with local law enforcement to reduce crime and improve their quality of life.  The idea is that neighbors will look out for one another and report suspicious or problematic issues to the police. One of the best things about living in Prescott Valley is the relationship our department has with our community.  We can’t be everywhere, but if we know where there is a problem, we can work with our citizens to find a solution. This program has been turning citizens into crime-fighting superheroes since 1972.

The newest component of the modern Neighborhood Block Watch program is the Virtual Block Watch program, where neighbors can register the location of their external security cameras with the police. If a crime occurs where a camera just might have information to assist the police, detectives will contact the camera owner and ask the owner to review the footage in that time frame.

When we work together, we can accomplish great things to keep our community safe. For further information on the Neighborhood Block Watch and Virtual Block Watch programs, please call the PVPD Block Watch Coordinator Evelyn Sharman at 928-772-5113 or email at esharman@prescottvalley-az.gov. External cameras can be registered at https://www.prescottvalley-az.gov/1017/Virtual-Block-Watch.

Prescott Valley Police Department can be contacted at (928) 772-9267 for non-emergencies, 911 for emergencies. Yavapai Silent witness is 1-800-932-3232.

Prescott Valley Police Department earns State Accreditation

The Prescott Valley Police Department has completed a two-year process and earned accreditation through

the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ALEAP), which is

the voluntary accrediting agency for the State of Arizona. The accreditation process assists law enforcement agencies to measure and improve their overall performance and demonstrate that they meet commonly accepted best practices and industry standards. The Department finished the process in April, and accepted the accreditation in Tucson on April 20.

To achieve accreditation, police departments must have policies and procedures in place and show proof of compliance with 175 standards. “This usually results in policy/procedure changes throughout the initial accreditation process to comply and brings to light areas in which an agency might have deficiencies or need to encourage different ways of doing certain processes,” said PVPD Lt. Nancy Roberts, who led the accreditation effort. “Overall, our agency was doing extremely well with following our policies and procedures.”

Since beginning the accreditation process, Prescott Valley PD has extensively reviewed its policy and procedural manuals, making any needed changes or improvements along the way. Some changes were made in the way the Department handles reports and official documents, to bring them into compliance with ALEAP “best practices.” “In the areas within the agency where minor deficiencies were discovered, we quickly brought them up to standard and continue to hold this line,” Lt. Roberts said.

The ALEAP commission board gave excellent reviews on the Department’s level of professionalism, hospitality, and the overall temperament of the department. On-site assessors commented on the Department’s detail-oriented and easy-tofollow way the accreditation was compiled and took recommendations to share with other agencies.

Roberts said the accreditation is a change in mindset and dedication to adhering to and continuing to abide by a code of best practices, which shows a high level of transparency to the community and employees about what is expected. It also shows the Department’s level of commitment to improvement, which produces better service to the community.

“This type of commitment and compliance ensures that everything from the way we are training on our defensive tactics to how we are handling evidence is being done in what is seen as the best way, according to the ALEAP standards,” she said.

PVPD Chief Bob Ticer said, “I am so proud of the professional men and women of the Prescott Valley Police Department. This accreditation validates their hard work and commitment to professional policing in this awesome community and our great state. We are committed to our continued partnership with our residents to keep our community safe.”

Prescott Valley is the 24th agency to be accredited of 53 departments statewide.

YC Performing Arts Names Chad Pittman New Choral Music Director

Ohio conductor/teacher will take the baton at Yavapai College on August 1

Prescott, Arizona (July 20, 2023) – Yavapai College Performing Arts begins the next phase of its highly regarded Choral Music program by handing the baton to an accomplished Ohio conductor and teacher with a track record of choral excellence. YC has named Chad Pittman its new Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Music at Yavapai College.

Mr. Pittman first learned about Yavapai College through a mentor, who guest-conducted here. “The opportunity to engage with [this] community after hearing so much about it is a full-circle moment!” He said. “YC’s vocal and choral offerings are diverse and comprehensive. I am ecstatic that it involves degree-seeking young musicians and community members of all ages. It is an exciting time to be part of Yavapai College. I can't wait!”

Raised in northeast Ohio, Mr. Pittman is currently finishing his doctorate at Kent State University. He holds a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University, a master’s degree in Educational Administration from Cleveland State University and a Bachelor of Music Education and Organ from the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music. He is passionate about fostering community, communication, and personal growth in the choral classroom.

“I believe there is no medium in music more authentic, vulnerable and organic as singing with others.” He said. “I believe that every rehearsal and performance should have life-changing moments of beauty and connection. All singers deserve to be appreciated, respected and uplifted for exactly who they are—I want them to feel this during every moment of music-making.”

In only a decade of teaching, Mr. Pittman has built a reputation for creating choral ensembles that distinguish themselves at competitions and festivals. In Ohio, he twice set a state record for the number of musical ensembles selected to perform at events in a single year. Seven of his ensembles were selected to perform at Ohio’s state music convention between 2019 and 2021. His groups were also invited to perform for the Ohio Music Education Association in 2017, 2019, and 2021 as well as the Ohio Choral Director’s Association in 2015. His ensembles have also sung with a host of nationally renowned groups, including Roomful of Teeth, University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club, Ohio State University Men’s and Women’s Glee Clubs, Capital University Chapel Choir, and a 2020 appearance at Carnegie Hall.

Mr. Pittman’s career is deeply rooted in both church music and instrumental performance. As co-founder of the organ duo Two Men and a Bench, he and partner Mark Thewes have performed in churches across the country. He is also one-half of The Paderewski Duo, a collaboration shared with violinist Wanda Sobieska. Appointed to his first church position at age eleven, Mr. Pittman was named Director of Music and Organist for St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Massillon, OH, where he led choral ensembles, facilitated a weekly guest artist program, and founded and coordinated Cathedral Concerts in the Evening, the church's professional concert series.

Mr. Pittman replaces Dr. Joshua Harper, who has accepted a position at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania.

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