Moore named Arizona High School Unified Sports Athlete of the Year

Darnell Moore accepts award for Arizona High School Unified Sports
Athlete of the Year. (Submitted photo)

By LORI ANN EDMO
Sho-Ban News
TEMPE, Arizona — Darnell Moore won the Arizona High School Unified Sports Athlete of the Year award June 10 at Arizona State University.

Moore, 16, is a student at Amphitheater High School in Tuscon, Arizona and a Shoshone-Bannock tribal member. He is a son of Racheal Watson and Dennis Moore. He’s been competing in Special Olympics since he was in seventh grade and will be a senior in high school in the fall.

Darnell competes in bowling, track and field, basketball and tennis. His team won the State Championship in basketball.

Darnell said he was so excited in accepting the award. “I want to thank my coaches, teammates and those who nominated me,” he said in a video his mother Racheal sent. He also thanked his family for always supporting him. “I want to thank my dad for teaching me how to play basketball and practicing with me every weekend.”

Darnell with his parents Racheal Watson and Dennis Moore and
grandparents Gary and Elaine Watson. (Submitted photo)

The presenter in the video explained Unified Sports is a unique initiative that pairs athletes with and without intellectual disabilities together to compete. Racheal previously said her son has autism and Arizona Special Olympics has given him opportunities to meet new people, socialize, be a team member and come out of his shell.

“We’re all extremely proud of him and his accomplishments,” Racheal said. “He brought tears to our eyes when he got up and gave his speech. We were worried he would be scared but he went to accept his award with confidence.” She added they were all happy that his grandparents Elaine and Gary Watson could make it for the event.

Darnell’s coach Kim Dickinson advised Racheal that he’s super proud of him. “I love the dedication that he has for practices and games,” he said in a text to her. “I coached many sports for a long time and Darnell stands out among all of the other athletes that I have coached. “His passion and the love he has for basketball and competing is priceless.”

BLM meetings to review sage grouse draft agreements

BOISE — As the next step in aligning federal habitat conservation efforts with state wildlife management plans, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will hold three meetings in Idaho beginning June 21, to provide information and answer possible questions regarding the recently released draft amendments to Greater sage-grouse plans finalized in 2015. 

Draft Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) and amendments to the 2015 plans were published on May 4, beginning a 90-day public comment period.  The public meetings will help attendees learn about the draft plan amendments and formulate written submissions before the comment period ends on August 2. 

“The 2015 sage-grouse plans have been in place for almost three years,” said acting BLM Idaho State Director Peter Ditton.  “We know what is working and what needs more attention.  We are taking the opportunity to build on the plans and strengthen them, and look forward to comments from the public to help us to do so.” 

Ditton noted that Western governors have sought changes to the 2015 plans for BLM-managed lands in their states, which spurred the BLM in proceeding with the plan amendments.  “The state and the BLM are neighbors and partners in conserving Greater sage-grouse, and this means that we must work cooperatively,” he said.  

Plan amendments could affect up to 61 BLM land-use plans for about 53 million acres in the seven western states.  In Idaho, 23 plans guiding management on 8.8 million acres of public land could be revised.  

The public meetings will be held in an open-house format, with BLM specialists attending information stations to interact with meeting attendees to provide answers or additional information.  Oral comments will not be accepted at the meetings, but computer terminals will be available for submitting written comments on-site. 

Idaho meetings will be held at:

June 21: Marsing, American Legion Hall at 5 p.m.; June 26: Twin Falls at 5 p.m. at the BLM Twin Falls District office and June 28 Hilton Garden Inn, Idaho Falls.