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Show Times 0 Hilltop 9, 2002 May 9 Protect and serve, love and cherish Hill couple serves together in desert by the Grotts are like kids in a candy store when they visit the cop supply shop. Later, Jason and Kimberly might go into work with and clean their guns. They've even gone on In the the North Salt Lake Police. addition, couple enjoys equipment magazines and disflipping pages of cussing what weapons or other items they'd like to have. "That's probably the last thing married couples talk about," speculates Jason. "We can bring our days home with us because we can really relate to one another, where a lot of couples have to pretend they're interested when their spouse is talking about their day at work." At Al Udeid, Jason and Kim share stories about their day when it's over, they share the same days off, they even share an ironing board, but aren't allowed to share a tent. Rarely in their careers has the twosome worked at the same post at the same time. Instead, they're split apart for the day for "obvious reasons," Jason explained. "Whenever we're not working, we're together," said Kim- Senior Airman Matt Donegan 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs ride-alon- AL UDEID AB, . Qatar They're kind of like the couple on television's "Mad About You." Both are funny, yet serious, and both perfectly depict a happily married couple living in modern times taking on everyday challenges. Then again, TV couples never had to spend 12 hours in the lOOdegree sun scanning the desert with a machine 7.62-calib- job-relat- er gun: . Hill AFB's Jason and Kimberly Grott aren't only newlyweds, heat also pack daily while deployed here with the 379th they Forces Squadron. Security The senior airmen represent one of several married couples at Al Udeid who don't face the anxiety and stress of separation from their partner during long deployments. They prefer to travel in tandem. The Grotts could be poster Americans for Operation Enduring Freedom. They took in the sights of New York City from atop the World Trade Center a month before its destruction. When they heard of the attacks on Sept. 11, they realized their lives had just changed and they'd probably be deploying together ... again. Last year the Grotts did a tour together in Southwest Asia. During their time there, many people didn't realize the two were married. While walking around off duty holding hands and hanging out, some people looked at them accusy love." ingly while others uttered comments about had it all the and gawkers Though wrong, Jason Kimberly, while admittedly half tempted, never shot back with any remarks about their lifelong commitment. They've never deployed without one another in each of their three-plu- s years of service. In fact, Jason said he can't recall being separated from his spouse more than 48 hours since they got married 16 months ago. "Deploying together takes a lot of stress off married life," Jason said. "I can definitely see how separations are tough on marriages, but it's important the Air Force makes the effort to deploy us together and minimize our separation time." A couple of months ago, it was Jason who was tasked to leave home for Qatar. When security forces officials at Hill asked Kimberly if she wanted to go with him, there was no hesitation in her answer. "It's good knowing we're as a married couple in said Jason, Freedom," participating Operation Enduring who admits he and his wife get more quality time on their days off here than at home because there's none of the extra things like bills or shopping to worry about. The pair first met in security forces tech school three years ago, but didn't really know one another until they were in the .'elite gate guard unit together at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. Kimberly doesn't remember, but Jason said she i bought him a drink one night while they were at a club with some friends and that's when he started noticing her. One day also Jason's jwhen Kimberly was off duty, her supervisor boss, called and asked if she wanted to go out on a date with 105-da- y "90-da- Mm pSi'T , ft side-by-si- . ! Photo by Senior Airman Matt Donegan Senior Airmen Kimberly and Jason Grott, from Hill AFB, are one of several married couples deployed to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Udeid AB, Qatar. The security forces members have deployed together twice since tying the knot 16 months ago. Grott. Now just a few years later, the weapon-wieldinduo is like MRE peas and carrots. They do everything together, including watching marathons of "Cops" so they can critique the takedown procedures of the real-lif- e officers on the show. On their days off back home, which are always shared together, g Use pesticides sparingly ' "Gutter Talk' is a monthly column intended to '.educate and inform Base personnel and families ; regarding stormwater and the environment. ; Spring signals the time to start venturing out : fpfflin in the sun and the time to return to beautifying lawns and gardens. Each year thousands of tons of insecticides, herbicides and fertilizers are applied to lawns Jand gardens. Surveys show that most people apply 3 times the amount of chemicals actually needed by their lawns. When too much pesticide andfertilizer is applied to lawn, trees and bushes, it can be easily washed away. Rain or water from garden hoses and sprinklers washes the chemicals and other materials off yards, driveways and vstteets. The chemical-lade- n water flows into gutters 4 storm drains, then it is transported through fijfxn drainage systems to ponds, creeks or hir waterbodies. Once in the stream, these ,fieirnicals continue to do their work pesti- 'ijdcte kill bugs, fish, insects, plants and wildlife, j "hile fertilizers make plants grow. Even organic fertilizers and manure can be harmful because to avoid polluting stormwater nutrients cause the stream's natural $xss r tfwtfonment to deteriorate. Ground-wate- on may also occur, especially where sinterflow exists between surface waters and vgftKind waters. pesticides and nutrients reportedly account for guar ter of the pollutants found in rivers and ireams. Improper disposal of excess chemicals ir ijsed containers and uncontained spills may apq contribute to the problem. Residential lawns taceR't the only places that contribute chemicals liQ&cal waters golf courses, municipal arks, highway medians and roadsides also 3dipesticide and fertilizer pollution. Sediment, including clay, silt and other soil may wash off lawns in the same way. excessive sediment is delivered to a stream, Jfhlm 35tids the water, suffocating aquatic life. Water a'Ktion can also occur when yard trimmings s a?e placed in the storm drainage system. decomposing in a stream can use up the $j$gen that aquatic animals need to survive. pollution resulting from yard care can ;6$asily prevented by making it as difficult as rC$3ble for rain to carry anything off of yards. $$r more details on storm water issues, call $D$a Mclntyre, Environmental Management Ciliance, at Ext. 53651. ftggestions to help prevent water pollution irijtSxlawn care are: com-poient- s, Trim-;felhg- :$ter :Goemicaluse lt M clear that the type, quantity and timing of tfitifcrials used make a significant difference. Maintain healthy soil. This helps keep plants :&pajhy without adding a lot of chemicals. ::Te.st the pH and fertility of the soil some S )R COPY! placing barriers, vacuuming, caulking holes and setting traps, and biological controls such as predatory insects. Many organisms feed on insect pests. These natural enemies frequently prevent the pest population from reaching damaging levels. Biological controls include hand-pickin- g, 1 Outfer predators, parasites, pathogens, pheromones ; 2-- Jj berly. The Grotts plan on keeping it that way too. Both hope to move over to the Air National Guard next year and also put on a different shade of blue with the New York City Police Department, a job they both think they shouldn't have any trouble netting. The only negative part of working the same job together that they admit to is worrying about one another, because neither wants to think about "until death do you part." "There's always the possibility something could happen, especially out here," said Jason. "It's just something we have to accept and learn to deal with." The Twin Towers were still standing the only time Kim visited New York, her one and only trip to a big city, but she fell in love with the Big Apple. The tickets to the top of the towers are even hanging on the couple's fridge. "I joined the Air Force because I wanted to get training to be a civilian cop," said Kim, whose father and sister are both in law enforcement. "And I learned a lot about being a cop for use on the outside and in the National Guard." Similarly, when Jason enlisted, he saw the Air Force as a stepping stone. The money for college was also a key, but he considers himself patriotic and always knew he wanted to be a part of the military. Their New York state of mind came easily, as Jason and Kimberly said they've never heard an NYPD member talk bad about their job. They want to live up to the billing of "if you can be a cop in New York, you can be a cop anywhere." "Being in the military means being a part of the country and, in a sense, being a New York cop is almost associated with that now," said Jason. "New York is the image everyone pictures when they think of America ... it's just the place to work. What those guys accomplished after Sept. 11 adds to it." When Jason and Kim tied the knot, they entered into a sacred and holy bond of loving, honoring and cherishing just as the other married pairs on base have. The only thing that sets them apart is that their undying promise included a few unspoken, but understood, extras protecting, serving, cuffing, and locking and loading. soils may not require any fertilizer. If fertilizer is required, follow container recommendations. Assess the need for fertilizer and pesticide applications. Look into alternatives such as replacing varieties, mulching vegetation with disease-resistafor weed control, using organic manure or composting for soil preparation. Use organic fertilizers and pesticides whennt ever possible and sparingly. They are generally safer to apply and store than chemicals. fertilizers. As a last resort Try try the least toxic pesticides available, such as time-relea- se dehydrating dusts, insecticidal soaps and soap solution, boric acid powder, horticultural oils (also called summer or supreme oils), pyrethrin-base- d insecticides. Avoid products that are toxic to fish, and when possible use products that have short-ter- effects. m Check the weather before applying chemical treatment. Don't apply before heavy rainfall or when soil is wet, as surface treatment will be more susceptible to running off. Don't water the lawn after applying chemicals. Identify the pest and its stage of development and use the least toxic pesticide possible. Don't It's better to use two applicants than one excessive application, which may run off or wash away when irrigated. Perform spot applications on problem areas as they arise rather than broad coverage or entire lawn areas. Don't apply near wells, sidewalks or driveways. The chemicals may directly contaminate the drinking water supply or runoff sidewalks and driveways to contaminate storm water. Maintain a buffer between areas treated with lawn chemicals and the storm drainage system or surface water. Any practice that reduces soil loss, slows or reduces water runoff or traps sediment may also reduce herbicide contamination of storm water. over-appl- y. and juvenile hormones. Prevent over watering. Over watering can increase nitrogen loss. Test the lawn's water needs with methods available at a local conservation office. Not over watering saves precious water during the current drought situation, energy costs by reducing home water bills, and soil quality by reducing nitrogen loss. This reduces the need for more fertilizer. Use soaker hoses and trickle or drip irrigation systems as alternative to sprinkler systems. These systems deliver water at lower rates, which can increase the volume infiltrated, conserve water and avoid runoff that can be associated with improperly operated sprinkler systems. Employ watering methods that develop good root structure and don't leave plants susceptible to pests. Water in the early morning, deeply but not too often. Replace vegetation with robust groundcover, desert-typ- e landscaping or to reduce to the area native the need vegetation for fertilizer and discourage pests and insects. Choose plants (especially native plants) that are well suited to the soil, sunlight and moisture conditions. This will reduce the need for fertilizers, pest control and watering. creative landscaping for decreased Xeriscaping water, energy, and pesticide-fertilizinputs can reduce required lawn maintenance up to 50 percent and reduce watering requirements by 60 percent University extension agents and home improvement stores have xeriscaping ideas. Try mechanical controls. Remove the insect eggs, larvae, cocoons and adults from the plants by hand. Remove weeds by pulling or hoeing. Cover the garden with landscape fabric or mulch to prevent weed germination. Remove d plant residue in the fall. Remove diseased leaves, fruits and plants to help control problems. Also remove fruit, vegetables and plants when they have finished producing to deter insects. high-maintenan- er pest-infeste- Consider where vulnerable with are plants mingled pest deterrents. For example, chives or garlic interplanted with lettuce or peas may reduce aphids, marigolds may prevent cucumber beetles, and pennyroyal is avoided by ants. "co-plantin- g" Chemical alternatives To reduce chemical use in landscaping maintenance, develop a healthy and robust vegetative cover and practice preventive maintenance to reduce potential problems. Speak to county cooperative agents about an integrated pest management plan for a safer, long-terpest control solution rather than a more temporary, chemicals-only approach. IPMs include implementing physical controls such as removing pests through m Correct mowing height may be the most important factor in lawn health: mowing height for most lawns should be two to three inches. A healthy lawn holds rainwater, filters sediments and chemicals, and requires less watering. Poorly tained garden beds or lawns can be a source of sediment as well. Space, thin and prune shrubs and trees to promote air circulation. This is important to manage plant disease. Compost garden trimmings, leaves and other organic materials into natural fertilizer for the garden, or contribute them to a community composting program. Avoid raking autumn leaves or grass clippings into gutters since these can subadd nutrient loads and stances to stormwater. Hire a professional lawn care company with state certification for applying lawn chemicals. Trained lawn care professional can also help educate the general public about the advantages of approaches. oxygen-demandin- g low-inp- ut Chemical guidelines Use all the product or take the excess to a hazardous waste disposal site. Don't allow the product to reach paved surfaces or storm drains. Unopened pesticide containers and those that have been banned by the government can be returned either to the retailer or directly to the manufacturer. Read the entire instructions periodically to check for changes or additional information added by the manufacturer. Store and mix chemicals in a covered, secure location. Follow label directions carefully. Be sure the storage area is protected from rainfall and any spillage will be contained in the area by curbs or a washtub (be sure not to use it for anything else). Sweep up spills after absorbing the spill with sawdust Place the used sawdust in a strong plastic bag and take to a household hazardous waste collection center. Don't store and mix near floor drains or storm drains. Never wash down spills. Mix only the amount needed. Store chemicals carefully in airtight, labeled containers in a locked and secure area. This will keep containers from weathering, prevent exposure to precipitation and prevent spills directly to the ground. Store dry products above any liquids to prevent wetting from spills. Follow disposal recommendations for empty chemical containers. Don't leave equipment that contains pesticides or herbicides unattended. Clean and rinse all equipment over the lawn or garden, but never on the sidewalk, driveway or down the gutter or storm drain sewer. Excess chemicals should be diluted with water and applied to lawn or garden where the water will be absorbed and not carried into the storm drain sewer. Use proper application equipment that can be adjusted to deliver the correct amount and that can be shut off in the event of an emergency. Keep equipment free from leaks. |