Free car wash at Cool Country Cruise In

Cool-Country15-08-07-01WILLIAMS — Cool Country Cruise In is on in Williams and the weather is cooperating—or not depending on your view. Heavy rain is expected to continue with flash flood warnings until midnight. There is a slight chance of rain tomorrow which should clear up Saturday and remain clear until Monday when more thunderstorms are expected.

This is the first time in recent memory that the event has experienced this kind of weather. Today there was a short downpour with a couple of thunder cracks over Williams causing scattered tourists downtown. It cleared up by 7 p.m. in time for the gun show.

Generally Williams proper receives short bursts of rain in town while the surrounding areas get doused.

Update on missing boy

JACOB LAKE — The search for five-year-old Jerold Williams at Jacob Lake is still active. The Coconino County Sheriff’s office issued this statement:

The search for missing 5 year old Jerold is still active and ongoing with ground and air resources. There is limited radio/phone communication in the area and we are working on that as well. There has been an outpouring of offers from people throughout Arizona and nearby communities offering to assist. We want to express our gratitude for the offers, but at this time we are not in need of additional searchers. If we need additional resources, we will certainly reach out.

Seeking Assistance in Locating Missing Person Michael Moening

Michael-Moening1FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives are attempting to locate 44 year old Michael Thomas Moening. Investigators believe that the last time Michael was in contact with his friends or family members was approximately 2 weeks ago. A hiker who was on a dirt road close to the Mountainaire Community reported seeing Mr. Moening’s vehicle abandoned for at least 4 days. Responding Deputies checked Michael’s home located in Mountainaire and it was obvious that he had not been there for quite some time. It is believed Mr. Moening has his two adult Boxer dogs with him. He is a white male, 5’11”, 165 lbs, blue eyes, balding with red/brown hair on the sides.

Anyone with information regarding circumstances leading up to Michael Moening’s disappearance or knowledge of his current whereabouts is asked to call the Coconino County Sherriff’s Office at 928-774-4523 or 1-800-338-7888 or Silent Witness 928-774-6111.

Paving on SR 89 at Road 4 North in Chino Valley next week

CHINO VALLEY — Crews will be paving at the new roundabout on State Route 89 at Road 4 North on Monday (Aug. 10) and Tuesday (Aug. 11). Work hours are from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Paving activity may require some intermittent delays during work hours and drivers are encouraged to be alert for construction equipment and personnel through the work zone.

This $2.1 million project consists of a new roundabout at the intersection of SR 89 and Road 4 North between mileposts 330.48 and 330.78. Additional work includes removal and replacement of existing pavement, drainage improvements, new pavement markings and lighting.

This project is expected to be complete by the fall.

Search for Jerold Joseph Williams continues

Jerold WilliamsJACOB LAKE — There has, apparently, been a generous amount of offers by citizens to assist in the search or Jerold Williams, the five-year-old missing since yesterday. With several agencies already on scene, however, the Coconino County Sheriff’s office is requesting that the public only call in any known information to 928-226-5012. They would like to keep the phone line open only for tips and not for general inquires. Any unauthorized search parties risks erasing clues which might lead to the whereabouts of the five-year-old.

Cool-Country Cruise In may expect cool tomorrow

Cool-Country130809-3WILLIAMS — Rain in the forecast may keep the Cool-Country Cruise In cool tomorrow. There is an 80% chance of rain dropping to 60% overnight and 10% tomorrow. Temperatures are expect to be about 77.

The rain today and through the night will cause difficulty keeping the Spring Fire burning so there should be no problem with smoke.

The problem is that the National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning through midnight on August 8. The flash flood warning covers the Kaibab Plateau and all canyon area, including Oak Creek, Sycamore, Marble Canyons and the Glen Canyon and Grand Canyon country areas.

The flood warning covers the cities of Flagstaff, Williams, Jacob Lake, Fredonia, Page, Lees Ferry, Grand Canyon Village, Supai, Valle, North Rim, Tuba City, Munds Park and Sedona.

People arriving for Cool-Country Cruise In today can take in the movie at the Methodist Church on the corner of 2nd and Sherman at 7 p.m. tonight. The screening of Do You Believe? is free.

The Williams Aquatic Center will be open for a free swim tomorrow from noon until 4 p.m.

Five-Year-Old boy goes missing near Jacobs lake

UPDATED: 8/7, 9:27: Photo added
Jerold WilliamsJacobs Lake, AZ — The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received the report yesterday at about 5:30 p.m. of a missing 5 year-old boy at an unimproved campsite located approximately 12 miles south of Jacobs Lake in the area of Highway 67 off of Forest Service Road 241. This area lies within the northern portion of the Kaibab National Forest.

Jerold Joseph Williams is described as a white male, 5 years of age, approximately 3’6” in height, and weighing approximately 35 pounds. He has brown eyes and brown hair cut very short. Jerold’s mother described him as having a thin build and a light complexion. Jerold had visible facial abrasions and was last seen wearing a gray or tan shirt size (4) and a pair of blue jean pants size (4) and hiking boots size (12) and white long handled underwear.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies were immediately dispatched to the campsite. Upon their arrival they spoke with the missing child’s mother who identified her son as Jerold Joseph Williams.

According to Mrs. Williams she and her son were with 15 to 20 other friends and family members who were camping in the area. At approximately 1:30 pm Jerold and his mother were approximately 100 to 200 yards from the camp site and Jerold was chasing grasshoppers. Mrs. Williams lost site of the child and for the following 4 hours members of the camping group to include Mrs. Williams searched for Jerold. At approximately 5:30 pm the decision was made to call the Sheriff’s Office.

The search continued through the night with personnel from various agencies, 2 search dogs and two night-vision equipped helicopters from Nellis Air Force Base searched the area where Jerold was believed to be missing.

Anyone with information regarding the possible location of Jerold Williams or the circumstances leading up to his disappearance is urged to call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office.