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π΅ How the shutdown affects Southeast Arizona
Published 4 days agoΒ β’Β 6 min read
Welcome to issue #11 of Trail Mix, a weekly newsletter about the people, places, history, and happenings in Southeastern Arizona.
Welcome back! We've had some beautiful rain and cooler temps. I hope you've had a chance to step outside. Fall is here, and we have your roundup of the events lined up to help you soak it all in. But first, there are a few things you should be aware of as you head out now that the government has shut down. Let's get into it.
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raising four arrows
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Nothing screams Fall like rich, spice scents and warm candle glows in your home. Stock up for football afternoons and playdates in your home, then get a few extras to have on hand as gifts. Save 10% when you use your Trail Mix Passport!
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How does the government shutdown affect our area?
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Quick refresher: The government is on break for all funded activities not deemed "excepted" (essential to the safety of human life or property) or "exempted" (funded by non-appropriated sources, like prior-year funds or fees).
What it means for us: Federal presence and spending are a core component of the Southeast Arizona economy. The impact is felt through:
Lost Wages: Thousands of federal civilian employees in the region, across agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), among others, are either furloughed (sent home without pay) or "excepted" (required to work without pay). The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) confirms that all affected employees are legally entitled to retroactive pay once the lapse ends, as per the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 (P.L. 116-1). However, the immediate loss of a paycheck creates severe financial strain. β
Contract Freeze: Work on new or partially funded federal contracts will largely halt, immediately affecting private-sector contractors in Pima County who rely on federal money for services, IT, and maintenance. β
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (D-M): Military readiness continues, but staff and support are significantly impacted. All active-duty personnel, including those stationed at D-M, are considered essential and are required to report for duty. However, their paychecks will be delayed until Congress passes new appropriations or separate legislation authorizing military pay, according to the Contingency Plan Guidance for Continuation of Operations. A substantial number of DOD civilian employees who support non-essential administrative, logistics, or training functions are furloughed. β
U.S. Army Fort Huachuca: All military personnel will continue in a normal duty status, although their paychecks may be delayed. Their essential function is national defense, and the mission will continue uninterrupted, a status that applies across all commands. In contrast, the status of DOD civilian employees is divided: those supporting "excepted activities," such as Fort Huachuca's police, guards, firefighters, and staff for Libby Army Airfield operations, initial military training, and the hospital (Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center), will continue working. However, all other non-excepted federal civilians are immediately furloughed. You can find more details here. β
Saguaro National Park Closed/Limited: The National Park Service (NPS) Contingency Plan mandates that visitor centers, contact stations, and interpretive programs are closed. This includes the Red Hills Visitor Center (West) and the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center (East). The NPS guidance generally allows park roads, trails, and open-air memorials to remain accessible. However, core services like trash collection, routine maintenance, and non-emergency restrooms are suspended or severely limited. Any facility that is usually locked after hours, such as gated roads or parking lots, must remain locked for the duration of the shutdown.
Looking for local shutdown closure updates? You might not want to rely on social media for up-to-the-minute information.
Park websites and social media will not be maintained, except for essential communications related to public health and safety. You will not find routine trail condition reports or cancellation notices on official federal pages until the government reopens. For more information, see this post from the NPS.
And don't expect routine updates from many federal offices. Youβll likely see an βOut of Officeβ message or a static post on the social media accounts and official websites of federal agencies, such as this one from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
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Rustic Roots Fall Festival
Join in for excellent food and craft vendors, chair massages, and fun for the kids. Games, a petting zoo, and a jumping castle! The festival will run October 4th from noon to 6pm at the Tractor Supply in Rita Ranch.
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tucson reptile and amphibian show
Head to the Tucson Reptile & Amphibian Show & Sale October 4 & 5th at the Pima Co. Fairgrounds, Old Pueblo Hall and see 60,000 sqft of Reptiles, supplies, reptile art, everything Reptilian.
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Oktoberfest at trail dust town
Join the fun at Trail Dust Town's 11th Annual Oktoberfest! Enjoy local craft beer, delicious German food, live music, as well as amusement rides and Western fun at Tucson's favorite Old West destination, Trail Dust Town!
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Want to spread the good word about your business, a project, a job opening, or just want to shout out one of your neighbors? Trail Mix has you covered.
Bonanza (#A880022) Weight: Approximately 106 lbs. Age: Approximately 4 years old Bonanza is a calm, gentle giant. In fact, she even let PACC staff pick her up to put her on the scale. What an accommodating queen! When she arrives at playgroup, she happily greets all of the handlers with a wagging tail and solicits pets. She seems interested in playing with other pups, but also seems like she might not know how to do it yet.
Contact: Pima Animal Care Center, 4000 N. Silverbell Rd., 520-724-5900. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 12 pm - 7 pm. Wednesday 1:30 pm - 7 pm. Saturday and Sunday 10 am - 5 pm
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πΈ: Ideal Home
want a reason to head to the vail depot?
How about to take part in the trending thrifted ghost painting? Here's how it works:
Head to a local thrift store, like the Vail Depot, and pick up a painting of a landscape or home.
Once home, paint in a few spooky elements to the scene, such as ghosts in the window, bats in the sky, spiderwebs, or something cute like pumpkins near a tree.
Hang for easy holiday decor that also supports a good cause!
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Ready to shout your business name from the Vail, Benson, and Sonoita rooftops? Have a fun event to share and want to attach your flyer to the Mix? Have a home you want to show off in the Home on the Range section? Selling something big like an RV or piece of land? Want to share your Airbnb? This is the spot to do it!
Get the FREE Local Fall Passport + Newsletter that Keeps You in the MixβοΈπ΅β‘οΈ
Discover the people, places, history, and happenings in Vail, Benson, and Sonoita.
*FREE LOCAL FALL PASSPORT NOW AVAILABLE!* Download your passport with discounts, activities, and a chance to win prizes! Get on the list for the weekly newsletter that tells you the best of what's happening around Vail, Benson, and Sonoita each week β all delivered straight to your phone. New editions land on Thursdays at 7 am. ποΈ Subscribe FREE and your Local Fall Passport will be sent to your inbox within minutes! ‡οΈ
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