Pastor brings prayer walk down Route 66 in Flagstaff and Williams

640-McGill-01WILLIAMS — Williams was visited, yesterday, by a man carrying an United States flag and saluting passersby. Pastor Walter “Chick” McGill is traveling cross country with several goals.

The flag is a tribute to veterans. Pastor McGill is a Vietnam veteran who went through a difficult time upon returning—as did many veterans. He credits the natural healing of God for his recovery. Although he still suffers from a disease which makes his walk difficult, he wants to plant the flag in Santa Monica after carrying it from “sea to shining sea.”

That leads to another purpose of his journey. To spread the good news—aka the Gospel of Jesus. His walk is also a prayer walk in which he prays with and for communities through which he passes.

He also wants to inspire communities to restore God into those communities and schools. He wants to promote the ideal of the laws of God being the basis of our Constitution and other documents as the founders intended.

His journey began in Kills Devil, North Carolina 197 days ago on his anniversary with wife Barbara who travels in the following car. He traveled along U.S. Route 64 connecting with U.S. Route 66 in Arizona. He hopes to end his journey in Santa Monica in April of this year.
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He noted that he was happy to pass through Williams as he found the most friendly people in the area since leaving Oklahoma.

A few days ago he spoke with NAZ Today in Flagstaff.

(NAZ Today video)

Star Trek fans mourn the loss of Leonard Nimoy

rzranzlmgruxkhxradpmStar Trek fans, today, mourn the loss of Leonard Nimoy whose most famous role was First Officer Spock on the cult television and movie series Star Trek. His roles, however, run the gamut from his first role in Queen for a Day in 1951. Nimoy was 83.

Nimoy once said that he was so sure that the popularity Star Trek would be short lived that he did not even bother to change his phone number. One of the mistakes he learned from. The character of Spock and the tension between his character and that of Doctor McCoy—played by the late DeForest Kelley—turned out to be popular among fans of the show.

Shatner shared on his Facebook page, “I loved him like a brother. We will all miss his humor, his talent, and his capacity to love.”

Nichelle Nicols, Lt. Uhura on Star Trek, issued a statement from Pensacon sci-fi convention:

“I am deeply saddened by the death of my dear friend Leonard Nimoy. But, I also want to celebrate his extraordinary life. He was a true force of strength and his character was that of a champion. Leonard’s integrity and passion as an actor and devotion to his craft helped transport STAR TREK into television history. His vision and heart are bigger than the universe. I will miss him very much and send heartfelt wishes to his family.”

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Nimoy played a variety of roles in a variety of television shows over the years. He acted aside Dean Stockwell in the Twilight Zone episode A Quality of Mercy. He acted as the reporter Judson Ellis in The Outer Limits presentation of I, Robot. He had roles of soldiers and sailors. He played spies and native Americans and cowboys. He played roles in Combat!, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Wagon Train, Sea Hunt and many other popular sixties television series.

He was also a noted author, producer and director including Star Treks III and IV and one episode of T.J. Hooker with his former Co-star on Star Trek, Williams Shatner.

He is also known for his books including I Am Not Spock. People took that to mean that he did not like to be connected with his role of Mr. Spock, so he wrote a sequel called I Am Spock in which he revealed that he had not problems being connected with the Star Trek role because he never wanted for work because of it. His image and voice was instantly recognizable even by non-Star Trek fans.

Snow started today

640150226-3FLAGSTAFF/WILLIAMS – Clouds hugged San Francisco Peaks and snowflakes began to fall in Flagstaff about 2:44 p.m. today with more along I-40. The weather turned out colder than predicted throughout the day. There was apparently an accident on I-40 in Williams, but we have no details.

Rain and snow through next Wednesday

640-Methodist-FLAGSTAFF/WILLIAMS – Flagstaff and Williams, again, are expected to experience similar weather according to the long-range forecast. Chance of rain and snow Friday night through next Wednesday. Williams has a 10% chance of rain and snow starting tomorrow after 11 a.m. Both cities will then experience similar weather patterns.

Friday night there will be a 70% chance of rain and snow raising to 80% Saturday. Saturday night and Sunday the chance drops back to 70%. Snow is likely through next Wednesday.

Little or no snow accumulation is expected until Saturday night when Williams may receive 3 to 5-inches with another 1 to 2-inches possible Sunday.

Wind gusts of 21-mph are expected today and up to 23-mph tonight. Winds will rise to 13 to 18-mph tomorrow rising to up to 21-mph Friday night. Saturday the highest winds are expected to be up to 28-mph with gusts up to 39-mph.

Heritage Pharmaceuticals Initiates a Nationwide Voluntary Recall of Colistimethate for Injection

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Eatontown, NJ, Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Heritage) today announced the voluntary nationwide recall of ten (10) lots of Colistimethate for Injection, USP, 150 mg Single-Dose vial (NDC 23155-193-31) and three (3) lots of Rifampin for Injection, USP, 600 mg Single-Dose vial (NDC 23155-340-31) manufactured by Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and distributed by Heritage. Both products are sold in single vial mono-cartons in case packs of ten (10). Heritage has initiated this voluntary recall of Colistimethate for Injection, USP, 150 mg Single-Dose vial and Rifampin for Injection USP, 600 mg Single-Dose vial to the user level due to FDA observations pertaining to aseptic and GMP practices at the manufacturer’s site potentially impacting product sterility.

Intravenous administration of non-sterile injection products to a normally sterile site may result in a site-specific or systemic infection, which in turn may cause hospitalization, significant morbidity (permanent organ damage), or fatal outcome. To date, Heritage is not aware of any adverse patient events resulting from the use of the subject product lots.

The lot numbers with expiry date being recalled are: Colistimethate for Injection

Lot No.
VCOA002
VCOA003
VCOA004
VCOA005
VCOA006
VCOA007
VCOA008
VCOA009
VCOA010
VCOA011
Exp. Date
9/30/2014
10/31/2014
10/31/2014
1/31/2015
3/31/2015
9/30/2015
12/31/2015
2/29/2016
10/31/2016
10/31/2016

Rifampin for Injection

Lot No.
VRIA002
VRIA003
VRIA004
Exp. Date
8/31/2016
9/30/2016
9/30/2016

The products were distributed to hospitals, wholesalers and distributors nationwide from December 2012 through January 2015 (Colistimethate) and from October 2014 through January 2015 (Rifampin). Colistimethate is indicated for the treatment of acute or chronic infections due to sensitive strains of certain gram-negative bacteria. Rifampin is indicated for the treatment of all forms of tuberculosis.

Customers are being notified by fax, email, UPS, and/or certified mail that includes arrangements for return of all recalled product. Customers have been instructed to examine their inventory immediately and to quarantine, discontinue distribution of, and return the recalled lots of product. Customers who may have further distributed these products have been requested to identify their customers and notify them at once of this product recall.

Any questions about returning unused product should be directed to the customer call center at (866) 901-1230 M-F 9am-5pm EST. Healthcare workers who have medical questions about Colistimethate for Injection, USP, 150 mg base/vial and Rifampin for Injection USP, 600 mg/vial may contact Heritage Medical Affairs (732-429-1000, Ext. 101) M-F 9am-5pm EST.

Fiber line cut near Carefree causes massive Internet and phone outage in Northern Arizona

PHOENIX – Northern Arizona lost phone, Internet and television due to a fiber line that was cut near Carefree, Arizona. The outage affected from Page to Williams.

Channel 3 in Phoenix reported that Century Link officials confirmed that a fiber line that was deliberately cut caused the outage. The cut line caused outage of communications from about 11:30 a.m. until about 6 p.m. Other Internet and service providers using the line were also affected.

911 calls were immediately re-routed through another line.

Officials are still investigating the incident.

Archaeology Comes Alive on the Kaibab

WILLIAMS –  Two free Archaeology Month evening lectures will be held at  6:30 PM at the Mills 326 Café, 326 West Route 66, Williams, Arizona. There is limited seating so please call 928-635-5600 for reservations. To order food ahead of time call, 928-635-0777.
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  • March 5: (Williams and Tusayan Ranger District Archaeologist Neil Weintraub) –Williams Youth Conservation Corps: Getting’ Dirty Preserving Kaibab National Forest Historic Sites. This presentation will discuss the history of how the Williams Youth Conservation Corps has helped to protect and enhance dozens of prehistoric and historic archaeological sites on the Williams Ranger District.
  • March 19: (Kaibab National Forest Archaeologist Margaret Hangan and Neil Weintraub) – History of Kaibab National Forest Managed Fires and Cultural Resource Protection Efforts during the Summer 2014 Sitgreaves Fire. For the past decade when conditions are appropriate during monsoon season, the Kaibab National Forest fire staff has managed wild fires across large portions of its fire adapted landscape. Archaeologists will discuss how Kaibab National Forest fire staff managed the summer 2014 Sitgreaves Fire to treat a steep mountain landscape while protecting and reducing fuels on dozens of significant cultural resources.

Kaibab archaeologists will also lead free educational hikes to the Keyhole Sink Petroglyph site at 2 PM on March 14 and March 28. Please call ahead for reservations, 928-635-5600.
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Bring boots and warm clothing as this 3/4-mile hike each way will take place whether there is rain, snow or sun. Be prepared to get wet as a waterfall often cascades off the lava flow requiring crossings in ankle deep water to access the petroglyphs.

To attend, meet at the Oak Hill Snow Play area, 4 miles west of Parks Arizona on the south side of Route 66. From Flagstaff, take I-40 west to exit 178, turn right at top of ramp and then left on to Route 66. Drive about 4 miles west to the Oak Hill Snow Play Area.

From Williams, drive east on I-40 to Exit 171 and at top of off ramp make a right and then another right onto Route 66. Drive east on 66 about 2 miles to the Oak Hill Snow Play Area.

Lectures are Wheelchair Accessible; petroglyphs are not.

All NAU Students and Faculty Airlifted to Safety

FLAGSTAFF – All of the NAU students and Faculty have been rescued from the area of Sowats Point near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon where they have been stranded since yesterday afternoon.

As of 4:00 pm today all of the individuals were flown to the parking lot of Jacobs Lake where they will be driven back to NAU Campus. Today’s eleven hour rescue effort began this morning at 5:00 am and ended at 4:00 pm this afternoon.

All twenty of the individuals are reported to be in good health and none of them required medical attention. Due to the vast distances involved the DPS Air Rescue Helicopter had to fly into Utah twice for the purpose of refueling. Students and faculty will be transported from Jacobs Lake to NAU campus via NAU vehicles.

Efforts Underway to Rescue 20 NAU Staff and Students near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon

FREDONIA – On Monday, February 23, 2015 at about 1:00 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a representative of Northern Arizona University. According to the caller two NAU vans carrying sixteen students, two university staff members, and two graduate students/assistants were stuck by snow-covered, impassable dirt roads in the area of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The group had been camping for several days in the area of Sowats Point located outside of the Grand National Park. They attempted to drive out of the area yesterday afternoon when the vans became stuck in snow. Students and staff were able to free the vehicle; however, it was apparent to them that the dirt roads covered with deep snow were impassable. The area from Fredonia to the North Rim is reporting between 18-24” of snowfall from the most recent storm.

Sheriff’s Office personnel had intermittent contact with members of the party via cell phones and satellite texting. All members of the group are in good health with ample provisions and camping equipment to sustain them overnight. Due to the time of day and the weather conditions, the decision was made to have the group drive as far east as possible and to shelter in place inside the vehicles overnight. The group is approximately 30 miles south of Fredonia and 20 miles west of SR 67.

The Sheriff’s Office developed two rescue plans and coordinated with Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue. This morning an AZ DPS helicopter and crew from Flagstaff flew to the area to determine if members of the party can be safely picked up and flown out. Current conditions of low cloud cover, heavy fog and light snow may hamper this rescue approach. Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel will stand by with a snow cat and a four wheel drive vehicle equipped with mattracks. In the event that an air rescue is not possible, SAR personnel will drive to the location and transport them to safety.

At 12:57 p.m. today, the Arizona DPS helicopter pilot has surveyed the area on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon where the 20 NAU students and faculty are stranded at Sowats Point. He determined he can safely transport the stranded people out of area by air. Currently three of the students have been airlifted to the parking lot at Jacobs Lake where they were met by NAU transport vehicles. The students and factuality members will be flown three at a time until all members of the party have been safely relocated.

Baggiore Selected Director of ADEQ’s Water Quality Division

PHOENIX – Trevor Baggiore has been selected as the new director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s Water Quality Division, ADEQ Director Henry Darwin announced today.

Baggiore had served as the division’s deputy director since September 2014 and had been deputy director of the ADEQ Air Quality Division for four years before making the move to the Water Quality Division. Baggiore replaces Mike Fulton, who resigned last week to become deputy director of the Maricopa County Air Quality Department.

Baggiore received his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Arizona State University in 2001, the same year he joined ADEQ as an intern. He received his master’s degree in business administration from ASU in 2006 and is a registered professional engineer in Arizona.

“Trevor brings tremendous energy and enthusiasm to his leadership role along with a proven track record of planning and executing complex projects,” Darwin said. “I’m extremely excited by the prospects of his promotion not only for Trevor but for the Water Quality Division and the entire agency.”

Before being selected deputy director of the Air Quality Division, Baggiore had been both a unit manager and section manager in the division for six years.