News briefs (clink on this link for full coverage) Published Sept. 19, 2007 MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Commissary Case Lot Sale -- The Misawa Commissary will be holding a case lot sale Sept 26 to Oct. 2 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Shopping case lot sales provides additional savings over everyday commissary prices. Some of the items that will be on sale include paper products, canned fruits, juices, vegetables and much more. In addition, the commissary will be having a produce market with extra savings Sept. 29 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Please check in the entrance to the commissary for a list of products that will be offered. Spouse Tuition Assistance Program -- STAP Term 2 application period runs from Sept. 24 to Oct. 5. Are you a Military Spouse? Considering going to school? The Air Force Aid Society offers the General George Brown Spouse Tuition Assistance Program to help you fund your college education while stationed overseas. This program will pay 50% of your unmet tuition fees up to $300 per term. To apply: fill out the STAP Application, attach a copy of your active duty spouse's full month LES and your latest pay statement if applicable. Return applications and copies of LES(s) to the Education Center, Building 653, 2nd floor by the deadline. Awards will be posted before the start of the new term. If you have any questions, please call the Airmen and Family Readiness Center at 226-4735. STAP for Other Military Branches: Navy Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) Spouse Tuition Assistance: Please call 226-3721 during normal office hours on Tuesday 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. or Thursday 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. to get further information on application procedures and deadlines. Army Emergency Relief Spouse Education Assistance Program (SEAP): Applications and further program information are available: http://www.aerhq.org/education_spouseeducation.asp. Applications must be mailed to AER HQ and post marked NLT each term's deadline. Birth announcements: Herrera -- Staff Sgt. Joseph and Darlene Herrera, 372nd Training Squadron Detachment 23, announce the birth of their daughter Maricia Jolene on Aug. 15. Sullivan -- Capt. Vincent and Pranee Sullivan, Misawa Security Operations Center, announce the birth of their daughter Pairin Pamela on Aug. 29. Medical appointments call in times -- Please call during the following times for same day acute appointments between 7 and 9 a.m. For routine, established and well appointments, call after 9 a.m. To schedule appointments, call 226-6111. Misawa Professional Development Center Community of Practice -- This website is designed to assist supervisors with mentoring their subordinates as well as career information. To learn more, go to: https://afkm.wpafb.af.mil/ASPs/CoP/OpenCoP.asp?Filter=OO-ED-PC-24 Safety tip of the week: Don't have a blow-out! A recent incident prompted me to write about tire pressure. Last month, Misawa received a report of a vehicle tires exploding, because they were extremely over-inflated. I can't tell you the exact pressure that was in the tires, but the tires that did not explode pressure was more than double the recommended pressure. Under-inflation is a more common problem than over inflation, but both offer problems for your tires. Both cause the tires to wear improperly, decreasing the life of the tires. Improper care of tires can cost you hundreds of dollars, by replacing tires more frequently or worst case thousands, from having to repair the vehicle as well. Save yourself some money, take a few minutes out of your schedule and check your tires at least once a month. Keep in mind that recommended inflation pressure is for COLD tires. This means tires that have not been driven on for several hours (ideally overnight). Ensure you use an accurate tire gauge. Air Force Sergeants Association -- The Air Force Sergeants Association meetings are at the NCO Club in the Aomori Ball Room at 5 p.m. the last Wednesday of the month. Snacks and beverages are provided. For more information, call Tech. Sgt. Timothy Walsh a 226-3218 or cell 080-3176-2407. You can also e-mail him at: timothy.walsh@misawa.af.mil Road construction -- Road construction to replace existing curbs and road pavements on Yellowstone and Yosemite Drives will be ongoing through Oct. 31 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Support group meetings -- Parents of Children with Special Needs support group meet the first Saturday of every month at Sollars Cafeteria from 9-11 a.m. and the third Monday of every month at Davy Jones Locker from 12-2 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. The group will discuss establishing a social group for their children with special needs to keep their social skills working over the summer, we will be getting help and ideas from EDIS for this. For more information, call David or Melissa Rogers at 222-7537 or e-mail pcsn.facilitator@gmail.com. You can also join the Yahoo group to chat, advocate for each other, share information, and find links to great web-sites Check out the calendar for meeting schedules, fun outings, and alternating "Night Out" dates for mom and dad. Go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCSN_supportgroup/ Survivor Benefit Plan -- Retiring members, who need to build an estate to protect their families from the loss of retirement benefits if they die, should use the Survivor Benefit Plan as the floor of their protection. This inexpensive protection will ensure their spouse will have guaranteed income for life. Insurance and investment plans have a place in the estate plan of many retiring members, but as a supplement to SBP, not as a replacement for SBP. Additional details are available by calling your SBP counselor, Larry Lewis at 226-3962. Stray animal control -- For stray animal control during Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., call 226-4257. After duty hours and weekends, call 226-3218. For more information, call Tech. Sgt. Shanon Sheets, 35th CES Pest Management Shop, at 226-4257.