Zia Participates in the Great American Cleanup

Zia employees contributed to the Keep Las Cruces Beautiful campaign by clearing debris and picking up trash in an arroyo near the Laguna Seca Shopping Center in Las Cruces. We were also delighted to have employees of Terracon and WTS (A Sister Company of Zia), as well as several family members join in this community service effort.

On April 25th, our participants showed up on a Saturday morning to donate four hours of time and effort in conjunction with the Great American Cleanup, which is the nation's largest community improvement program. The program is one of Las Cruces' two major annual city-wide cleanups.

We were honored by the recognition and personal note of appreciation sent to Zia by Mayor Ken Miyagishima.

Keep Las Cruces Beautiful focuses on the 3 E's: Education Eradication andEnforcement. The program is dedicated to keeping Las Cruces beautiful through litter and weed control, graffiti eradication and prevention activities, community recycling efforts, and neighborhood and community-wide beautification projects. Community involvement is a key component of the program empowering the citizens of Las Cruces to take action in their neighborhoods. The program is a part of the Codes Enforcement Division of the Las Cruces Police Department.

Zia would like to recognize and extend appreciations for the great citizenship of the employees of Zia, WTS and Terracon and their family members who participated in this worthwhile service to keep our city beautiful. We would also like to extend a special note of thanks to Catrina Hernandez who tirelessly organized this wonderful community service.

Christina Chavez

Christina is a project archaeologist and field supervisor at Zia. She earned her master of arts degree from New Mexico State University with emphasis on prehistoric and historic archaeology. She has participated in several cultural resource inventories in the southwestern United States and has participated in dozens of archaeological surveys, data recovery and excavation projects. Currently, she is wrapping up a cultural resources data recovery for the Spaceport America project slated to be constructed in southern New Mexico.

Recently, Christina had the opportunity to embark on what many archaeologists would regard as a pinnacle experience. She went on a three-month archaeological expedition to Egypt. The following excerpt is a brief narrative that Christina provided about her experience along the western edge of the Nile.  

"Through the years, while doing archaeology, I have made many friends and colleagues, setting the path for many networking opportunities. Through a dear friend and colleague of mine, I was approached by Pennsylvania-Yale-Institute of Fine Arts, New York University Expedition to Abydos, Egypt about an upcoming archaeological field season. Abydos, which is centrally located along the western edge of the Nile in Upper Egypt, was the primary cult place of the god Osiris, ruler of the underworld, and the temple of Osiris, now mostly reduced to a vast pile of limestone rubble, was situated in the middle of the town it served. The focus of the 2009 field season and the many field seasons in the past was on the monumental funerary cult enclosure of King Khasekhemwy of Dynasty 2 (ca. 2700 BCE) in addition to a large-scale program of architectural conservation of the enclosure.

I feel that this opportunity has provided me with an excellent professional experience and adds to my archaeological credentials. I am proud to be a member of Zia's environmental team as we continue to establish our position as one of the premier civil and environmental engineering firms in the southwest.

The field season lasted three months. In those short yet seemingly long three months I excavated archaeological deposits ranging in date between Dynasty 2 through more recent Coptic Christian. I lived those three months of my life in a guarded, gated living quarters, outside a small village, surrounded by stunning sunrises and glimpses of the Milky Way at night."

This opportunity and experience was that of a lifetime. I fear that the slightest attempt to describe the archaeological work and share with you the friendships I made while on my adventure does not and would not respectively allow you as the reader the opportunity to fully understand and engage on this experience. Words do not explain! Stories are always repeated better with words.

Zia wins Spaceport EIS Mitigation Contract

Zia has been awarded a contract by the New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) to provide Cultural Resources Data Recovery and Reporting services for Spaceport America. Zia will conduct archaeological data recovery investigations in conformance to state and federal guidelines at four identified sites located within the Spaceport's boundaries.

NMSA announced that Zia was among several companies competing for the contract, was considered well qualified for the work and submitted the most competitive bid.

"We are pleased that not only did we find a high quality company for the job, but that Zia is based right here in Las Cruces, New Mexico," said NMSA Executive Director Steve Landeene "The economic possibilities that Spaceport America holds for Southern New Mexico and the entire state is exemplified by contracting with local companies like Zia." Landeene is confident that Zia and the NMSA will work diligently to preserve New Mexico's rich archaeological history. Zia will complete the archaeology and data recovery prior to construction of the entrance road to Spaceport America.

Spaceport America continues to make progress. Presently, the architectural team of URS/Foster + Partners is completing the final design for the terminal and hangar facility, after which an RFP will be issued. Local and regional companies can then bid on the various components of the spaceport facilities construction project, scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2009. Road construction to Spaceport America from Truth or Consequences is currently underway, scheduled to be completed in late March or early April. For the latest information regarding spaceport construction RFPs click here

Spaceport America has been working closely with leading aerospace firms such as Virgin Galactic, Lockheed Martin, Rocket Racing Inc./Armadillo Aerospace, UP Aerospace, Microgravity Enterprises and Payload Specialties. The terminal and hangar facility is projected by NMSA to be completed by late 2010.

Zia Provides Natural Resources information at Health and Safety Expo

Zia displayed this informative natural resources conservation exhibit at the eighth annual B&W Y-12 Environment, Safety and Health Expo, in Oakridge, TN, on June 10. The Expo is an exhibition of information, equipment, supplies and success stories that promote environment, and safety and health responsibilities at home and at work. The display outlined some of Zia's natural resources conservation efforts by describing endangered species programs that Zia is involved with at White Sands Missile Range. The display provides an overview of Zia's efforts concerning the Aplomado falcon, several chipmunk species, the gray vireo, and woodland snails. The display emphasized that these investigations help to determine the health of the natural biotic community within and around these installations. The investigations aide resource managers in making wise decisions which will result in safe-guarding precious unique and rare organisms, while supporting the United States in development and training for our National Defense.

Bataan Memorial Death March Honors World War II Soldiers

Zia participates in Bataan Memorial Death March

Event commemorates WWII Japanese attack on the Bataan peninsula that resulted in deadly long-distance march of American and Filipino Soldiers

Several Zia employees participated in this year's annual Bataan Memorial Death March, held on March 29, at White Sands Missile Range. Zia was represented at the event by Mary Chapler, Mantana (Toy) Curry, Gabrielea Locklear and David Winnett.

Mary Chapler, a staff engineer at Zia, participated in and finished the event this year for the second time.

"I participate in the Bataan Memorial Death March to honor and remember the American citizens that gave their life by fighting for this county during World War II," said Chapler. "The experience is amazing, pretty much indescribable. The only way to really know what the experience is like is to complete the march yourself."

Chapler recounted a memory she had from the prior year's event. She was coming up to one of the last medic stations, with every muscle and joint in her body aching. Her feet were starting to swell. "I can't do this, what was I thinking marching 26.2 miles. When up ahead I see a soldier sitting on the side of the path with his prosthetic leg removed, tending to what was left of his leg. At that point, I thought to myself that it's because of people like that soldier, who put their life on the line for this country, that I am here to remember and honor the people who have fought and are fighting for this country."

Chapler noted that unlike the actual March in 1942, participants in the memorial events have access to unlimited food, water and shoes. Another difference is that the actual March was over 60 miles, while this year's memorial event was just over 26 miles. Chapler's husband, Michael Barnhart, also participated in the memorial event this year and said the experience made him think about what the original soldiers must have gone through.

"The pain that I felt and the pain and condition of those around me caused me to really reflect on what it must have been like for our soldiers to have to march continuously without any food, rest, or any type of hospitality,' said Barnhart. "Those were men of great courage and endurance."

Over 5300 participants from the United States and eight other countries came together for this year's event to honor the soldiers who endured the actual event during World War II. The Bataan Death March occurred in 1942 after the Japanese attacked the Bataan peninsula in the Philippines, where American and Filipino soldiers were stationed. After three months of fighting the Japanese with insufficient weapons and dwindling supplies, the American and Filipino soldiers were ordered to surrender April 9, 1942.

"Meeting these amazing people and having the opportunity to shake their hand is a great reward for crossing the finish line," said Chapler.

Zia Engineering & Environmental Consultants LLC.
755 S. Telshor Blvd., Suite F-201
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88011
Phone: 575-532-1526
E-mail: Info@ZiaEEC.com

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