Sacaton Bridge Rebuilt and Reopened
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“Serving all seven districts of the Gila River Indian Community” Blackwater - Hashen Kehk - Gu U Ki - Santan - Casa Blanca - Komatke - Maricopa Colony MAY 1, 2015 WWW.GILARIVER.ORG/NEWS VOL. 18, NO. 09 Change Service Requested AZ 85147 Sacaton, Box 459 P.O. News Gila River Indian Sacaton Bridge Rebuilt and Reopened By Christopher Lomahquahu Gila River Indian News Crossing the Gila River just got a bit safer for commuters traveling in and out of Sacaton to the north. For the Community, rebuilding the Sacaton Bridge was an im- pressive undertaking that involved multiple agencies. Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis and Lt Gov. Monica L. Antone greeted Community members and project representatives to cut PRESORTED Permit No. 25 No. Permit STANDARD U.S. Postage U.S. the ribbon on the new bridge April 16. AZ Sacaton, GRICDOT determined the old bridge, PAID built in 1964, was in need of replacement. It has endured times when the Gila River was flowing at it highest, and the time in 1992 when the Gila River flooded over. Christopher Lomahquahu/GRIN Steven Johnson, a Senior Civil En- Tribal leaders and Community elders met with GRICDOT, FHWA and construction workers to The Strategic Highway Re- gineer at GRICDOT, said, “We set out to cut the ribbon on the new Sacaton bridge, which opened April 16. search Program 2 grant gave make the bridge a lot safer according to fed- over the bridge. GRICDOT set a goal to the doors for funding specific to building of $500,000 for the Community’s eral standards.” complete the bridge within six months. the new bridge.” implementation of the ABCT and an addi- Designers incorporated broader shoul- Construction of the bridge was made She accredited the quick turnaround to tional $2.2 million from the federal Tribal ders and a pedestrian walkway into the de- possible through a combination of two a new construction method called Acceler- Bridge Replacement Program. sign of the bridge. grants awarded from the Federal Highway ated Bridge Construction Technique, where No other tribe in the U.S. has built a Gov. Lewis said, “[This] bridge adds Administration. sections of the bridge are built on site. Out bridge using the ABCT standard, making an extra security and safety net for Com- Karla Petty, the Arizona Division Ad- of the six months the bridge was under con- this a unique opportunity for the Communi- munity members walking across” ministrator of the FHWA said, “We are struction, Sacaton road was closed for only ty to work with the federal government on The pace of construction was quick ac- pleased and privileged to have worked with five days, when sections of the bridge were road improvement projects. cording to project coordinators, to accom- the Community. The partnership opened slid together piece by piece. modate the high flow of traffic that travels GRIC/Honeywell Crime Victim Services Raises Awareness about Sex Crimes in Indian Country Partnership By Christopher Lomahquahu situation [they] are in, when sexual assault. In her youth, Gila River Indian News they go to the hospital to get she recalled, a couple of close Victims of sexual checked,” he said. “There needs encounters with strangers with assault may feel powerless to be more awareness about ulterior motives. With the help of and voiceless, but one tribal sexual assault crimes, because a few good Samaritans, she was department is giving them an it affects everyone not just the able to seek safety and get away opportunity to speak up. individual.” from a potentially dangerous Crime Victim Services held Claude Jackson, the situation. If it wasn’t for the a Sexual Assault Gathering on director of Defense Services concern of these bystanders, the April 18 at the District 2 Hashan Office, praised the audience for situation could have been a lot Kehk Multipurpose Building being at the gathering. different. to raise awareness about one “[This] is something we Her message was clear that of Indian Country’s most need to get the word out about,” women can do something to underreported crimes. he said. “This is something that prevent it from happening, and One of the overarching victims don’t have to go alone. that is to talk about it. questions about sexual assault The Community stands behind In her previous position as a that departments like CVS are them. There are support systems District 4 Coordinator, Lt. Gov. trying to address is, “What that can help them.” Monica L. Antone saw firsthand Mikhail Sundust/GRIN can we do to help victims District 2 Councilwoman the impacts of sexual violence Honeywell manager John Hertz points to the tail of a Boeing 737 at the San Tan report crimes and how can the Carol Schurz shared a candid on Community members. Aerospace Testing Facility. Hertz visited Sacaton Elementary School April 16 to testimony of the dangers interest young students in career opportunities in engineering. Community as a whole speak Continued on Page 5 out about it?” Events like this of almost being a victim of By Annie Gutierrez dience a brief understanding of what are part of the initiative to end Gila River Indian News they do at the San Tan facility. crimes that threaten the safety of In December, Honeywell Inc. The Honeywell San Tan Aero- Community members. donated $10,000 and a set of new ro- space Test facility, tucked on the north Various speakers from law bots to the Sacaton Middle School’s side of the San Tan Mountains on the enforcement, the Community’s after school robotics program. Since Gila River Indian Reservation, was judicial system and tribal then, Honeywell engineers have vol- opened in 1961 and specializes in cre- leadership spoke about the need unteered at the school, assisting staff ating and testing aerospace products. for education about sex crimes. and students to build and construct the Honeywell’s Aerospace Division, the Gila River Police Officer robots. largest manufacturer of aircraft en- Manuel Duarte has experience Last week, John Hertz, manager gines and avionics, is headquartered working on domestic violence of the Honeywell San Tan Aerospace in Phoenix, Ariz. and sexual assault cases in the Testing Facility, presented at Sacaton Hertz has been with the San Tan Community. Elementary School’s monthly family Testing Facility for over 33 years as a “I am with the victims meeting on April 16. Hertz gave an manager and mechanic specialist. He sometimes an hour to two is also on the Aviation Advisory Coun- Christopher Lomahquahu/CPAO open invitation for families to tour hours after the crime has been Crime Victim Services staff assist attendee with registration at the 165-acre facility and gave the au- committed. It is a very tragic the Sexual Assault Gathering April 18. Continued on Page 6 IN the GRIN Pg. 6 - Letters & Opinions......Page 3 Council Elections Senate Committee GRIN Kids art Community Updates...Page 5 Action Sheets...........Pgs. 8, 9 & 10 passes KPTA, Pg. 4 contest, Pg. 7 Youth & Elder...............Page 7 Announcements/Notices....Pg. 10 Page 2 Gila River Indian News May 1, 2015 May 1, 2015 Letters & Opinions Page 3 Blackwater Book Project Contributed by Holly Hartman Unite for Literacy Children in the Blackwater community are enjoying a special opportunity to learn O’otham vocabulary by listening to the voices of local el- ders. Governor Randall Stone, Gwen Paul and Tillie Pratt Stephen Roe Lewis have volunteered as translators and narrators of books that are being created for a preschool class Lt. Governor at Blackwater Community School. Monica L. Antone At a family literacy event Stone stated, “It’s Community Council our responsibility as elders to be sure that our Representatives children are taught the customs and language of District #1 our people, so they can keep our ways alive. Arzie Hogg Just as my grandfather taught me, it’s my Joey Whitman time to share the teachings that preserve our way District #2 of life.” Carol Schurz The native speakers are translating and nar- District #3 rating 25 books each year. Stone has also au- Carolyn Williams thored some of the books, including the titles Rodney Jackson Gila River is Our Home and Farmer’s Tools. District #4 A parent in the program expressed gratitude Jennifer Allison for the opportunity these books have created. Christopher Mendoza “By listening to these recordings and read- Angelia Allison ing the books, we’re learning parts of our heri- District #5 tage that are important.” Robert Stone Through this generous offering of time and Franklin Pablo, Sr. Janice Stewart knowledge, Blackwater children can develop an Brian E. Davis, Sr. appreciation for their rich District #6 Albert Pablo heritage. Anthony Villareal, Sr. For Mr. Sandra Nasewytewa Stone, it is District #7 one man’s way Devin Redbird to honor his elders while Robert Keller, Tribal Treasurer connecting the Shannon White, past and fu- Community Council Secretary ture. Gila River Indian News Randall Stone. Photo courtesy Roberto A. Jackson of Unite for Literacy. [email protected] CPAO Acting Director (520) 562-9719 BLACKWATER COMMUNITY Mikhail Sundust SCHOOL [email protected] Acting Managing Editor 2015-2016 School Year Openings (520) 562-9717 Teachers – Preschool thru Grade 5 Christopher Lomahquahu [email protected] Requires Valid AZ Teacher Certification and Early Community Newsperson Childhood Education Endorsement for Preschool thru Grade 2 – Salary $34,446 - $46,164 (520) 562-9718 VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT Andra Gutierrez Teacher Assistant/Paraprofessionals Community Newsperson Casa Blanca Community School (520) 562-9715 Requires Associate’s Degree and ability to pass an AZ Dept. of Education approved parapro assess- 3455 W. Casa Blanca Rd Gina Goodman ment - $10.27 to $11.31/hr.