Peace officers working hard

Chickaloon Views, by Patricia Wade

Chickaloon Village Tribal Peace Officers and forest rangers are presently providing services to our tribal members and surrounding neighborhoods. We encourage you to take advantage of these services and become involved through programs such as "Community Watch" and "Safe House."

Public involvement will provide an essential component in our law enforcement efforts, which will, in turn, aid in the achievement in our goal of safe and healthy communities. If you are interested in learning more by attending a community meeting in the spring, please contact our office so that we can notify you of meeting dates.

Our officers are being trained at the same level as state troopers and will be attending a state-certified training academy. Our focus will be meeting the needs of the community and finding common-sense, locally based solutions to recurring problems.

Traditional enforcement, detention, and correction solutions will be used as a last resort, in cooperation with the Alaska State Troopers, for uncontainable situations. In this way, the community maintains greater control.

At the present time we are providing a scheduled community patrol, call in response, educational presentations, and assistance in community events and programs.

We have established a working relationship with local fire departments in identifying fire hazards and impediments to public safety issues. In addition, we have implemented an outreach program to introduce ourselves, make home visits, and identify special needs of elders and individuals with disabilities. You do not need to be American Indian or Alaska Native to access this outreach program.

Our forest rangers are also providing patrol on tribal lands as well as the neighborhood communities. They will assist hunters, campers and hikers in obtaining the necessary permits to legally enter tribal lands.

The rangers provide fish and wildlife protection services, educational presentations, assistance with community events and programs and are available for search and rescue efforts.

The rangers are also the enforcement mechanism for the Chickaloon Village environmental protection program. These two departments will work together to insure our lands and waters remain free of pollutants and contaminants.

We are looking forward to building a safer community for everyone residing in the eastern portion of the Matanuska-Susitna Valley.

Questions can be referred to the chief peace officer at 745-0743, or the director of forestry at 745-0742.

Fourth Annual Native American Music Awards

On Oct. 20, at 4:30 p.m. Koahnic Broadcast Corp. 90.3 FM will provide live radio coverage of the Fourth Annual Native American Music Awards (NAMMYs) from the Sandia Casino Amphitheater in Albuquerque, N.M. Listeners can also hear the broadcast at KNBA's Web site, www.knba.org.

The Native American Music Awards (NAMA) was created to directly help Native American musicians further their career advancement while enhancing cultural preservation and expansion.

Patricia Wade is the editor of the Chickaloon News.