Chris Picciuolo

News reporter

(480) 274-7252 - Chris.Picciuolo@SRPMIC-nsn.gov
Chris Picciuolo is from Aurora, Illinois. Previously, he worked as a photojournalist for the Ak-Chin O'odham Runner Newspaper in Ak-Chin, Arizona, and as news editor and production specialist at NCTV17 in Naperville, Illinois.

An Inside Look at the Career of an SRPD Police Officer

The Salt River Police Department (SRPD) is currently hiring for several open positions within the department. Current positions available are crime scene specialist (two positions), police officer (approximately 40 positions), records clerk (approximately three positions), dispatcher 1 (approximately eight positions) and animal control technician (one position). Currently, 14 members of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian […]

January 24, 2022

Introduction to Estate Planning, Wills and Probate

In the next few issues, O’odham Action News will be presenting a series of articles about the different aspects of estate planning, wills and probate services provided to members of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The SRPMIC Community Development Department (CDD) Membership and Real Property Management (MRPM) Probate Services and Legal Services Office (LSO) […]

January 21, 2022

A Personal COVID-19 Experience and Advice From Experts

With COVID-19 cases reaching new heights in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, and in the U.S. as a whole, O’odham Action News reached out to Community members and the SRPMIC Health and Human Services (HHS) Department to get a better understanding of what this next phase in the pandemic is looking like. In a […]

January 8, 2022

New Utilities and Roads Building and SRPMIC Storage Space to Open Soon

In March, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community’s Public Works Department will begin operating a new hub for its Utilities and Roads Division off Osborn Road and 92nd Street. The new Utilities and Roads building will be divided into two sections: storage for street signs and equipment, and an office space for about 60 to […]

January 7, 2022

Salt River Royalty Teaches ‘Jingle Bells’ in O’odham to Quail Group

On December 8, Miss Salt River Sistine Lewis and Jr. Miss Salt River First Attendant Raina Cisneros taught the holiday classic song “Jingle Bells” in O’odham to the Quail Group, a co-ed group of second- and third-graders who are part of Youth Services’ After School Program. “It was so fun hearing you all sing with […]

January 7, 2022

Theodus “Odie” Toney Retires From Salt River Fire Department

Salt River Fire Department firefighter Theodus “Odie” Toney hung up his gear on December 11, retiring after providing just shy of 30 years of fire service in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Even though Toney is retiring, he said that he still has “plenty of gas in the tank” at 53 years old and […]

January 7, 2022

Salt River Royalty Visits Pueblo Grande Museum Indian Market

On the weekend of December 11 and 12, the Salt River Royalty visited Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park in Phoenix to share their talents with the audience and provide information about the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The demonstrations took place during the museum’s 44th annual Indian Art Market, which was open to the […]

January 7, 2022

Cinnaholic Opens Doors in Community

On December 3, gourmet cinnamon roll bakery Cinnaholic officially opened its doors to the public in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community’s business corridor. Before the official ribbon-cutting ceremony began, customers lined up outside to smell the fresh, handcrafted custom desserts, which are 100% vegan plant-based and dairy-free. “We specialize in cinnamon rolls but we […]

January 7, 2022

Attendance Incentive Program Aims to End Absenteeism in Schools

The new Attendance Incentive Program from School & Community Relations (SCR) at Salt River Schools is now in effect to help increase attendance rates of Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community students in outside school districts, such as Mesa Public Schools. SRPMIC-enrolled students in grades K-12 who attend any public or charter school are eligible for […]

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Jacob Butler Becomes Chair of Native Seeds/SEARCH

After serving on the board of Native Seeds/SEARCH since 2017, Community Garden Coordinator Jacob Butler will now serve as chair of the board for the nonprofit seed-conservation organization based in Tucson. Butler has a big presence in the Community, having served as Community garden coordinator for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community for 16 years. […]

Taté Walker Talks ‘The Trickster Riots’ and Collaborating With Family

Salt River Schools Communications and Public Affairs Director Taté Walker (Lakota citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota) has released a new poetry collection called “The Trickster Riots” with illustrations by their 14-year-old child, painter and graphic artist Ohíya Walker (Lakota citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe/Red Lake Ojibwe/Mvskoke Creek). For […]

Winners Crowned at 2023-24 Jr. Miss Salt River and Miss Salt River Pageant

On June 17, the 31st Annual Jr. Miss Salt River Pageant and 35th Annual Miss Salt River Pageant, presented by the Miss Salt River Committee, took place at the Salt River Pi-Copa Gym in front of an audience filled with Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community members, families and royalty from around Indian Country. The annual […]

River People Health Center Opens to Community Members

The River People Health Center (RPHC) is now fully open to Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community members, all other tribal enrollees and their family members under the age of 18. All services are now open, including primary care (family practice, pediatrics and internal medicine) as well as dental, optometry, podiatry and physical therapy. “The only […]

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