June 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.

Introducing: Prescott Valley Citizens Alliance

By ISABEL CERECEDES and JEAN MOTTA

What’s your vision for Prescott Valley?

     Whether you’re a newcomer or long time resident of this region, we bet it was the wide

open spaces, mountain views, small town charm and rural character that drew you to

the area. Perhaps it was the delight upon spotting Pronghorn along a hiking trail or the

brilliant sunsets and dark skies perfect for star-gazing that made you decide to call

Prescott Valley “home.”  These are the very things that Prescott Valley Citizens Alliance (PVCA) wants to

preserve.

     PVCA is a local grassroots, not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization that advocates for

good governance, promotes development design standards that enhance our quality of

life and seeks to inform others about key issues we face as a region.

PVCA advocates for sound public policy that prioritizes the needs of residents and

sustainable growth. We support the protection of natural resources, wildlife habitats,

open space, and a regional plan to ensure clean air, safe water and a secure water

future. We seek a community environment where the voices of all citizens are heard,

valued and appreciated.

     We envision a town developed through thoughtful planning that will respect the Town’s

character and preserve the natural beauty of our environment. We support public policy

that will minimize the depletion of natural resources and meet the needs of the present

without compromising the ability of future generations to enjoy the same life necessities

and regional gems.

     PVCA is community driven. We seek the highest order and practice of transparency,

accountability, integrity, leadership and inclusiveness in government.

If you share our vision for Prescott Valley or are concerned about high density

construction filling in the wide open spaces that forces away the wildlife, strains our

resources and services, and detracts from the rural character of Prescott Valley, then we

hope you’ll join Prescott Valley Citizens Alliance and take part in the refined shaping of

Prescott Valley’s future.

     Supporting our efforts is a valuable way to make a difference. We hope you’ll stop by

and introduce yourselves to us at our Prescott Valley Day’s event booth on May 12 and

13. Please check out our website and join us at: PVCitizensAlliance.org

Together for a Better Tomorrow!

Isabel Cerecedes is the Chairperson and Jean Motta is on the Board of Directors for the

Prescott Valley Citizens Alliance, a 501(c)(4) not-for-profit organization. PVCA invites

all concerned citizens to join our volunteer organization and learn more about us on our

website: PVCitizensAlliance.org

Sparklight® Awards $15,000 for STEM Education Through

‘Dream Bigger’ Campaign

Six winners will each receive $2,500 to support K-12 science, technology, engineering, and math projects

April 26, 2023 – Phoenix – Sparklight® today announced the six winners of its fifth annual “Dream Bigger” social media campaign, which awards $15,000 to schools and organizations providing STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education to K-12 students.

Since 2019, Sparklight and the associated Cable One family of brands have awarded nearly $120,000 through the Dream Bigger initiative.

“Helping provide our future leaders with access to hands-on learning opportunities through our ‘Dream Bigger’ campaign aligns with our continued commitment to the communities we serve,” said Trish Niemann, Vice President of Communications Strategy. “STEM education sets these young students up for success, and we are honored to be part of their learning journey.”

More than 100 schools and organizations from communities in the 21 states Sparklight serves submitted entries outlining how the award would be used to fund their STEM projects, and how the projects benefit students. Determined by public voting, six schools and STEM programs will each receive the $2,500 Dream Bigger award including:

▪ Beckemeyer Elementary School – Hillsboro, Ill.

The Sparklight award will support Beckemeyer’s after-school STEM club, which allows students to complete hands-on activities while learning about coding, robotics, physics and much more in an environment that makes learning fun.

▪ The Big A.I. Robotics Team – Clark Middle School – Vincennes, Ill.

In its second year, Clark Middle School’s Big A.I. Robotics team will use the Sparklight award to help build its second robot, and to expand its robotics program so more students who are interested in STEM can participate.

▪ The Ask Academy – Rio Rancho, NM

The Sparklight award will help Ask Academy students acquire the resources and equipment needed to explore new areas of robotics, physics, and engineering, as well as attend a STEM-related field trip.

▪ Presbyterian Day School – Cleveland, Miss.

The sixth-grade science class at Presbyterian Day School will use the Sparklight award to purchase new and different electrical equipment to help with their study of electricity, conductivity, and circuits.

▪ Long Beach Television (LBTV) – Long Beach High School – Long Beach, Miss.

The Sparklight award will be used to purchase an additional, much needed professional-grade video camera for the daily LBTV broadcast, which teaches the student journalists about reporting, videography, teamwork, and professionalism.

▪ Syringa Middle School – Nampa, Idaho

The Sparklight award will help Syringa Middle School purchase two new 3D printers to expand its ability to teach students about design, engineering and computing in a fun environment that allows students to see and handle the results of their STEM experiments.

The winners will be highlighted on Sparklight’s social media channels, including Facebook and Instagram.

Sparklight® Extends Partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation

to Plant 130,000 Trees

April 25, 2023 – Phoenix – In honor of Arbor Day, Sparklight® is pleased to announce it has extended its partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant trees on behalf of customers who switch to paperless billing. Now in its ninth year, the partnership has resulted in 130,000 trees being planted in Sparklight markets and national forests.

“Planting trees in forests of greatest need can have a substantial impact on surrounding animals, plants, and communities," said Dan Lambe, Chief Executive at the Arbor Day Foundation. "We are encouraged by Sparklight's passion to help create a greener future through the power of trees and we look forward to the continued impact that we can have together."

Paperless billing is part of Sparklight’s ongoing effort to offer customers more choices while reducing the company’s impact on the environment.  Paperless billing also provides Sparklight customers with secure online access to their statements, payment options, and account history. 

“We’re excited to extend our partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation and help make a positive impact in the communities we serve,” said Trish Niemann, Sparklight Vice President of Communications Strategy. “By choosing paperless billing and online statement delivery, customers can join Sparklight in protecting our environment while at the same time enjoying the convenience and security that paperless billing offers.”  

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, Cable One’s efforts have resulted in avoiding and sequestering more than 324,866 metric tons of carbon; avoiding and removing more than 874 tons of air pollution; and avoiding more than 43,719,710 gallons of water runoff.

To sign up for paperless billing, Sparklight customers are encouraged to visit sparklight.com.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Fostering Community Water Stewardship

Learn about techniques for fostering community water stewardship that link individual water conservation measures to neighborhood and community projects. Catlow Shipek, Senior Program Director with Tucson-based Watershed Management Group, will describe his experience with rainwater harvesting, green infrastructure, and stream restoration in a Zoom presentation hosted by the Citizens Water Advocacy Group (CWAG) on Saturday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to noon. The Zoom registration link is posted under "Next Event" at www.cwagaz.org .

CWAG is a local citizens group advocating for a secure water future for Prescott and central Yavapai County and for the protection of the upper Verde River. For more information, visit www.cwagaz.org or email info@cwagaz.org  .

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.

Highest-achieving Yavapai College Students feted at annual recognition events in Prescott, Verde Valley

Yavapai College’s top students across all disciplines for the 2022-2023 academic year were honored at separate Evening of Recognition ceremonies at the Prescott and Verde Valley Campuses.

The annual events recognize students who, as YC President Dr. Lisa Rhine put it in her remarks at the Prescott campus event, “had to reach in deep, sacrifice and commit to excellence in their work.  Individually and collectively, the students we honor today embody our college’s mission—to make the world a better place through our ideas, our innovations and our engagement with one another.”

Rhine also praised YC faculty and staff for their contributions to the honorees’ success saying, “Across the disciplines, you are developing and shaping ideas that make a positive and lasting impact on our future and I thank you for your efforts.” 

YC Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Diane Ryan, speaking directly to the student honorees at both ceremonies, said: “You are a testament to resiliency and determination. You have shown us anything is possible and we are proud of you and all of your accomplishments. You are an inspiration to all of us.”

The college’s highest student honor, the President’s Award for Excellence, was bestowed on future engineer Aidan Skoch at the Prescott Campus and future nurse, Taidyme Mae, at the Verde Valley Campus.

A YC Honors student and vice president of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, Aidan was lauded as an “exceptional” student and leader who “always seems to be five minutes ahead” of his professors in class. Aidan is one of four YC students who earned All-Arizona Academic Team scholarships this year. After graduating this spring, he plans to pursue mechanical engineering at Arizona State University.

A first-year nursing student at the Verde Valley campus, Taidyme serves as the president of the Student Nursing Association. “Taidyme is an effective and vital force with the Verde SNA chapter and exemplifies the ability to inspire, guide, delegate and mobilize students,” her nomination stated.

Finalists for the President’s Award for Excellence this academic year were Chasity Bryant and David Wauters on the Prescott campus and Staci Fowler and Pam Gonzales on the Verde campus.

Earning the Vice President’s Award for Academic Accomplishment on the Prescott Campus was Visual Arts student Zoe Harman. Finalists were Keenan Hammack, Rosa Laban and Megan Young. The Vice President’s Award winner for the Verde Campus was 84-year-old lifelong learner Carolann Chambers. Matthew Rickman-Jones was a finalist for the award.

Prescott Frontier Rotary 50 Years after Watergate

April 18, 2023: OPEC forced gas prices so high Japanese companies introduced cars to the U.S. with small engines and better fuel economy. The year was 1973, with the start of the Watergate hearings in the U.S. Senate.

Good happened in Prescott, Arizona, something unique started that year. The Bob Newhart show and the Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour played on CBS. The Exorcist scared the Disco out of people, and John Denver was High in the Rocky Mountains.

Prescott had 13,263 people in the city, with a group of community leaders wanting to make a difference. Paul Harris started the very first Rotary gathering 68 years prior. The group of Prescottonians desired a similar lunch gathering of leaders that cared about each other, their businesses, and the community. Prescott Frontier Rotary was born and continues 50 years later.

On May 2, local Rotarians celebrate the golden anniversary with a 1973-themed party. They remember their founding members and the good they started. This year $20,000 was donated to the Prescott Frontier Rotary scholarship fund at Yavapai College. A $2000 Peace Scholarship funds the Bradshaw Mountain and PHS Interact Clubs, Rotary after-school leadership training at both schools, and the Prescott Frontier Rotary Math and Reading clinic continue to this day.

The club's international influence is significant with support to Crutches for Africa, Clean drinking water in Mexico, and the end of Polio globally are some of the initiatives of this 50-year-old club.

Local companies are still involved after all these years: Bennett Glass, Edward Jones, Farmers Insurance, Findlay Toyota, Hassayampa Inn, Pinniacle Bank, Forest Villa Hotel, Lamb Chevrolet, Montoya Wealth Management, North Central University, Olsen's for Healthy Animals, Murphy Realty One Group, NP Accounting, Prescott Resort, Renovations, Rummel Eye Care, Salvation Army, San Marin Travel, State Farm Insurance, Visiting Angels, Yavapai College, Wertz Designs and Watters Garden Center.

Prescott Frontier Rotary gathers community leaders that provide opportunities to serve their community, promote high ethical standards, fellowship, and goodwill in Prescott, Arizona. They encourage visiting one of their weekly meetings hosted every Tuesday at 12 noon at the Prescott Resort to learn more.

Past members or Prescott Frontier Rotary are encouraged to join the celebration May 2 @ 5-8pm, Prescott Resort. 

© 2023  Lonesome Valley Newspaper, Corp. All Rights Reserved.