Monthly Archives: September 2015

Campgrounds scheduled to close for season on Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts

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WILLIAMS — Campgrounds on the Williams and Tusayan ranger districts of the Kaibab National Forest will soon be closing for the winter season.

Williams Ranger District

The last night to camp at Dogtown Lake Campground and White Horse Lake Campground on the Williams Ranger District will be Sept. 30. Campsites may be reserved at www.recreation.gov through Sept. 22. After Sept. 22, all campsites at the two campgrounds will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The last night to camp in the group sites and the upper loops of Kaibab Lake Campground will be Sept. 30. The lower loops (loops A and B) will remain open until Oct. 17, with the campsites being available on a first-come, first-served basis. The day-use area and the boat ramp will remain open.

Spring Valley Cabin north of Parks, Ariz., does not close seasonally. It will remain open throughout the winter months and can be reserved at www.recreation.gov.

Tusayan Ranger District

The last night to camp in the group sites at Ten-X Campground on the Tusayan Ranger District will be Sept. 30. The single-family campsites will remain open until Oct. 4. The single-family campsites may be reserved at www.recreation.gov through Sept. 25. After Sept. 25, they will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Hull Cabin is scheduled to close for the winter season Sept. 30. It will reopen in April 2016 and can be reserved at www.recreation.gov.

ADOT MVD wins award for driver license services expansion

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division won an award at the recent American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators International Conference for its expanded offering of driver license services at Authorized Third Party businesses across the state.

The Motor Vehicle Division received a Customer Convenience Award for giving customers more options to obtain a driver license or identification card by expanding the number of Authorized Third Party businesses that offer those credentials.

“One of MVD’s goals is to give communities across Arizona more access to our services,” said Third Party Program Administrator Juan Beltran. “Earlier this year, we rolled out a phased expansion program, and have added three to four businesses in each phase to expand the number of Third Party businesses that offer driver licenses and identification cards.”

There are currently 19 Authorized Third Party businesses around the state that offer driver license services in addition to title and registration services.

ADOT’s goal is to have 23 Authorized Third Party businesses offering driver license and identification card services around the state by next January.

Sheriff’s office attempting to locate two missing persons

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hildwine-darby-2FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Sheriff’s office is trying to locate two persons who may be suicidal.

Ashley DARBY is a 23-year-old white female, 5’6″, 175 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair. She has been known to change hair color. She has Bass Cleft musical nots on each shoulder blade and a ppierced nose and piercing below the lower lip.
Jeriah HILDWINE is a 35-year-old white male, 6’5″, 270 pounds with blue eyes and blonde hair. His tatoos include Nordic crows on either side of head, dinosaur on back, “hobo alphabet” symbols on both forearms, dinosaur skeleton on chest, blue puzzle piece upper left chest, map on left thigh, dinosaur skull on right thigh. He has pierced ears and nose.

They were both last seen on September 2 at about 3 p.m. at a lawyer’s office in Flagstaff. Darby was reported missing by her father September 3 and Hildwine by his mother September 8. A vehicle known to be used by Darby was located in the Bear Jaw-Abineau trail head parking lot on September 19, along with a note indicating HILDWINE and DARBY intend to commit suicide.

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Urban Waters Small Grants program is currently requesting proposals

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Under this announcement, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting proposals from eligible applicants for projects that will advance EPA’s water quality and environmental justice goals. Proposed projects will address urban runoff pollution through diverse partnerships that produce multiple community benefits, with emphasis on underserved communities. Note that proposed project activities must take place entirely within one of the Eligible Geographic Areas, as illustrated on the interactive map provided on the Urban Waters Small Grants mapping website at http://www2.epa.gov/urbanwaters/urban-waters-small-grants-mapping

The complexity and widespread impact of urban runoff pollution requires various levels of government and local stakeholders (e.g., community residents, local businesses, etc.) to work together in developing effective and long-term solutions with multiple benefits. EPA supports and empowers communities, especially underserved communities, that are working on solutions to address multiple community needs, and fostering successful collaborative partnerships. Projects should address local water quality issues related to urban runoff pollution; provide additional community benefits; actively engage underserved communities; and foster partnership.

The total estimated funding available for awards under this competition is approximately $1.6 million. EPA expects each award to range from $40,000 to $60,000. EPA Regional Offices will award the cooperative agreements resulting from this announcement. It is anticipated that each EPA Regional Office will award approximately two to three cooperative agreements. Funding is contingent upon Agency funding levels, the quality of proposals received, and other applicable considerations.

Visit the Urban Waters Small Grants website to learn more about the program and how to submit a proposal at http://www2.epa.gov/urbanwaters/urban-waters-small-grants.

Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov. Please be sure to allow 3 weeks for your organization information to be updated in Grants.gov.

Delays starting next Monday on US 60 at Queen Creek Tunnel for rock removal

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The Arizona Department of Transportation will be starting another improvement project on US 60 in the Superior area on Monday Sept. 28. The project will involve removal of loose rock from the embankments around the entrances to the Queen Creek tunnel.

Two other construction projects are currently going on in the Superior area, including the passing lane project at Oak Flat and the Silver King/Superior Streets widening project.

There are currently weekly delays for blasting for the passing lane project, but no major delays for Silver King/Superior Streets project.

Work hours for the Queen Creek tunnel rock removal will be Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should plan for intermittent 20-minute delays during this time as crews remove loose rock from the embankment and clear the road.

Some of these delays will be done during the scheduled closures for the Oak Flat passing lane blasting. (Blasting schedules for the Oak Flat Passing Lane project may be found at azdot.gov/us60oakflat).

Motorists seeking an alternate route can consider state routes 77 and 177, which is approximately 68 miles long. Motorists headed to the White Mountains region, including Show Low and Springerville, can also take State Route 87 through Payson and travel east on State Route 260 as an alternative.

ADOT is working to minimize the traffic impacts as much as possible, including scheduling some nighttime work. The project is scheduled to be completed in three weeks.

There will be narrow traffic lanes, wide-load restrictions and a reduced speed limit through the work zone. Flaggers and pilot cars will be used at different times throughout the project.

Drivers are asked to use caution, watch for construction equipment and personnel, and allow extra time for your commute.

CPT meeting scheduled September 26

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WILLIAMS — There will be a meeting Saturday, September 26th at 10 a.m. of the Community Preparedness Team. The meeting will be held at the Wild West Junction on Route 66. The CPT program is designed to develop teams to support the community in the event of natural or man-made disaster.

Flagstaff Police seek missing 17-year-old

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lindseyrossFLAGSTAFF — The Flagstaff Police Department is looking for the public’s help in locating 17-year-old Lyndsey Ross. Ross was last seen on September 14, 2015. She has been in contact with her parents and is possibly staying with friends. She has been in contact with her parents by text. There is no indication of suspicious activity at this time. If you have any information regarding her whereabouts please contact the Flagstaff Police Department’s detective division at 928 774-1414.

ADEQ Launches E-Waste Recycling Event Toolkit to Kick Off Pollution Prevention Week

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PHOENIX — Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today the agency’s launch of the online ADEQ E-Waste Recycling Event Toolkit (E-waste Toolkit), which includes best practices, marketing materials, contacts, and other educational materials to continue to support and expand Arizona cities’ and town’s efforts to properly recycle their electronic waste now and in the future. Interested public, private and non-profit sector organizations, may access the E-Waste Toolkit (both English and Spanish versions) at http://azdeq.gov/environ/waste/p2/ewastetoolkit/index.html

“ADEQ’s E-Waste Toolkit provides even inexperienced users with a roadmap for success in creating a recycling alternative to disposing used electronics in landfills and with expanding existing community recycling options,” said ADEQ Recycling Coordinator J.B. Shaw. He added, “Using the E-Waste Toolkit, communities can get ready and stay organized to collect tons of e-waste.”

Following two and a half years of development and testing, the web-based E-Waste Toolkit is a continuously improving, public-private collaboration among several parties and was funded by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Border Environment Cooperation Commission. Employees from five border-region municipalities – Nogales, Somerton, Sahuarita, San Luis, and Bisbee – helped refine the content of the E-Waste Toolkit by using it to plan and host their own e-waste collection and recycling events. To date, more than 20 tons of e-waste has been collected and recycled as a direct result of the E-Waste Toolkit testing.

A sixth event to support continuous improvement of the E-Waste Toolkit is being held in Sierra Vista during P2 Week on Sat., Sept. 26. See PDF flier for event details.

Since 2009, the more than one hundred ADEQ-sponsored e-waste events in more than 50 participating Arizona communities have collected and recycled more than 2.7 million pounds of e-waste.

Online launch of the E-Waste Toolkit is just one of the activities ADEQ is undertaking to increase pollution prevention awareness during P2 week. For a complete list of ADEQ P2 educational webinars, activities and resources, please check PDF file HERE.

Repairs to continue on US 89A just west of Marble Canyon

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The Arizona Department of Transportation continues with repairs on US 89A at milepost 551, just west of Marble Canyon, which began Friday with a one-lane restriction in place. A temporary traffic signal will accommodate for alternating travel through the restriction and will be in place continuously until the work is completed by late fall, 2015.

The repair addresses roadway damage caused by the House Rock Flood which occurred last August following an intense weather event in the area.

Grand Canyon open free on Saturday

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Grand Canyon open for free President's Day Weekend.

GRAND CANYON – The Grand Canyon will be open for free in honor of National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 26.

Dogs must be on a leash at all times.