Commission selects 2008 award recipients at September meeting
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission selected its 2008 Commission Award recipients at its monthly public meeting in Pinetop on Sept. 5-6. The award winners, who will be formally recognized at the annual Meet the Commission banquet in January, are:

• Award of Excellence – Senator Linda Gray, Clyde Halstead, John Wintersteen, Chandler Rod and Gun Club, Off-Highway Vehicle Legislative Work Group, United Arizona Anglers Foundation
• Youth Environmentalist of the Year – Arizona Envirothon State Champions (Clint Hales, Zach Hare, Natalie Lucas, Michelle Scmoker and Rachel Stringer, all at Sinagua High School)
• Outdoor Writer of the Year – J.C. Amberlyn
• Media of the Year – Arizona Boating and Watersports
• Conservation Organization of the Year – Phoenix Zoo
• Conservationist of the Year – Marty Underwood
• Environmentalist of the Year – Warner Glenn
• Volunteers of the Year – Steve Hopkins, Dave Hoyle
• Educator of the Year – Debi Molina-Walters
• License Dealer of the Year – Sportsman’s Warehouse
• Outdoor Woman of the Year – Betty Mason
• Wildlife Habitat Stewardship Award – Peggy Ingham

The Commission Awards Banquet will be held the evening of January 17, 2009 at the Four Points Sheraton, 10220 N. Metro Parkway East, Phoenix. More information on the banquet and the award winners will be posted at www.azgfd.gov/commission (click on the “commission awards” link).

In other matters at its September meeting, the commission:

• Unanimously voted to oppose Proposition 105, a ballot initiative that would require any future ballot initiative that imposes additional taxes or state spending to be approved by a majority of all registered voters – not just a majority of those casting votes. See the article in this issue of Wildlife News for more information.
• Approved the department’s land exchange of the 3-acre Commission-owned Bow and Arrow Park property with the City of Flagstaff in exchange for a 20-year water commitment that would help maintain water sites in important wildlife watching areas.
• Approved the department’s acquisition of 122 acres near the headwaters of the San Pedro River from The Nature Conservancy.
• Heard an informational presentation from the Arizona Department of Transportation and the department on the current status of funding needs for future transportation projects that may affect wildlife.
• Directed the department to continue to work on plans to relocate the Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center, and specifically to explore the costs associated with doing either a temporary or permanent move to the department’s Deer Valley South property.

The next Arizona Game and Fish Commission meeting will be held on Oct. 10-11 in Phoenix. An agenda will be posted soon at www.azgfd.gov/commission.