Monthly Archives: February 2017

Free seasonal flu shots available

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FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Public Health Services District (CCPHSD) is offering free seasonal flu vaccinations.

The free flu vaccination clinics will be held on Friday, Feb. 24 from 8 am – 12 pm and 1 pm – 5 pm and Saturday, Feb. 25 from 9 am to 1 pm at the CCPHSD Clinic located at 2625 N. King St., Flagstaff. Appointments are available by call 928-679-7222 or toll-free at 1-877-679-7272. Walk-ins are welcome.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that flu vaccination efforts continue throughout the flu season. According to the CDC, Flu activity can occur as late as May.

“Because flu activity can continue well into spring, it’s not too late to protect yourself from illness by getting a flu shot,” said Marie Peoples, CCPHSD Chief Health Officer.

“A yearly flu vaccination is the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses.”

It is strongly recommended that everyone 6 months old and over get a flu shot each year. It’s especially important that the following groups get a flu vaccination either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications, including:

· Pregnant women
· Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2
· People 50 years of age and older
· People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
· People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
· People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
· Health care workers
· Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
· Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

Flu symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, congestion, runny nose, headaches and fatigue. Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes and can cause death.

In addition to getting a seasonal flu shot, good health habits will help you stay well. These simple actions can stop the spread of germs and help protect you and others from getting sick:

· Wash your hands frequently during the flu season.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
· Avoid contact with people who are sick.
· Cover your mouth with your upper sleeve or with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
· Don’t share eating utensils, cups, and straws.
· Stay home when you are sick.

Additional information is available at www.coconino.az.gov/health. Contact your health care provider or call the Coconino County Public Health Services District Clinic at 928-679-7222 or toll-free at 1-877-679-7272.

Maine Consolidated School District seeking Governing Board applicants

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FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Risha VanderWey is seeking applicants for appointment to the Maine Consolidated School District Governing Board. There are currently two vacant seats.

The appointments will be two-year terms ending Dec. 31, 2018.

Applicants must be Arizona registered voters and residents of the school district for at least one year prior to the date of appointment. Applicants or their spouses can’t be an employee of the district.

Application information:
· Download the application here http://www.coconino.az.gov/schoolboardapplication
· Deadline to submit is Monday, March 13 by 5 p.m.
· Submit by email kgraves@coconino.az.gov (Live signature original required)
· Submit by fax 928-526-1469 (Live signature original required)
· Mail/drop off Coconino County School Superintendent, 2384 N Steves Blvd, Flagstaff, AZ 86004

An advisory committee, consisting of district residents and a current board member will be assembled to conduct interviews and advise Superintendent VanderWey on the appointments.

For more information, please call Kim Graves at the Office of the Coconino County School Superintendent at 928-679-8070 or e-mail: kgraves@coconino.az.gov.

Summer ramada reservations available for County parks

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FLAGSTAFF – County Parks and Recreation will begin accepting summer ramada reservations on Feb. 21, 2017. There are 11 ramadas at four County parks available for rental.

Ramadas are used to host parties, reunions and get-togethers. They are available for rent seven days a week, for half or full days.

Customers may reserve a ramada online by going to Coconino.az.gov/Parks/Ramadas. People may also reserve them by going to the Parks and Recreation Administration office located at Fort Tuthill County Park, 2446 Fort Tuthill Loop, Flagstaff, Arizona Regular business hours are Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Prices range from $46-$114 for ramada rentals. A staff member will follow up with a confirmation within one business day. For reservations less than 24 hours in advance or questions, please call the Administration office at (928) 679-8000.

Fredonia Moccasin School District seeking Governing Board applicants

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FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Risha VanderWey is seeking applicants for appointment to the Fredonia Moccasin Unified School District Governing Board. There is one vacant seat.

The appointment will be a two-year term ending December 31, 2018.

Applicants must be Arizona registered voters and residents of the school district for at least one year prior to the date of appointment. Applicants or their spouses can’t be an employee of the district.

Application information:
· Download the application here http://www.coconino.az.gov/schoolboardapplication
· Deadline to submit is Monday, March 13 by 5 p.m.
· Submit by email kgraves@coconino.az.gov (Live signature original required)
· Submit by fax 928 526-1469 (Live signature original required)
· Mail/drop off Coconino County School Superintendent, 2384 N. Steves Blvd., Flagstaff, AZ 86004

An advisory committee, consisting of district residents and a current board member will be assembled to conduct interviews and advise Superintendent VanderWey on the appointment.

For more information, please call Kim Graves at the Office of the Coconino County School Superintendent at 928 679-8070 or e-mail: kgraves@coconino.az.gov.

CAVIAT Board Vacancy at Grand Canyon Unified School District

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FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Risha VanderWey is seeking applicants for appointment to the Coconino Association for Vocations, Industry and Technology (CAVIAT) Governing Board. One vacant seat is eligible to residents of the Grand Canyon Unified School District.

Per CAVIAT Bylaws, the appointment will be a four-year term ending Dec. 31, 2020.

Applicants must be Arizona registered voters and residents of the school district for at least one year prior to the date of appointment. Applicants or their spouses can’t be an employee of the district.

Application information:
· Download the application here http://www.coconino.az.gov/schoolboardapplication
· Deadline to submit is Monday, March 13 by 5 p.m.
· Submit by email kgraves@coconino.az.gov (Live signature original required)
· Submit by fax 928-526-1469 (Live signature original required)
· Mail/drop off Coconino County School Superintendent, 2384 N Steves Blvd, Flagstaff, AZ 86004

An advisory committee, consisting of district residents and a current board member will be assembled to conduct interviews and advise Superintendent VanderWey on the appointment.

For more information, please call Kim Graves at the Office of the Coconino County School Superintendent at 928-679-8070 or e-mail: kgraves@coconino.az.gov.

Planning a trip on Forest Roads? Don’t take the bus.

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WILLIAMS – Another tour bus seems to have fallen victim to the strong winter weather we are experiencing. A tour bus got stuck apparently trying to use Dogtown Road as a turn-around off of Perkinsville Road (County 73) two-miles south of Williams. Coconino County has been notified but no details are known at this time.

In January the Coconino County Sheriff’s office and Arizona Department of Public Safety responded to an incident where a tour bus with 45 passengers got stuck four-miles off of highway 180 on Forest Road 417. Highway 180 had been closed due to drifting snow in Kendrick Park and the driver used GPS to find an alternate route.

Forest roads are not paved and some are rarely maintained, particularly in the winter. The amount of snow melt-off has caused all of our lakes to overflow. This same melting snow causes the roads to become muddy and soft easily bogging down many vehicles. The safest course is to stick to the paved roads until forest roads dry out in spring.

Pioneer Museum in Flagstaff hosts Black History Month presentation Thursday

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FLAGSTAFF – On Thursday, February 23, the National Park Service, Kaibab National Forest, Arizona Historical Society Pioneer Museum and Flagstaff Arts Council are hosting presentations on the history of northern Arizona’s black community titled, Hidden and Revealed: Revisiting the African American Experience in Northern Arizona. Come learn the history of northern Arizona’s black pioneers and their settlement in the Flagstaff, Williams and Grand Canyon area.

Local scholars Margaret Hangan, Kaibab National Forest Heritage Program Manager, Public Lands Historian, Ben Carver, Ph. D and Historian, Jack Reid, Ph. D will present on the early history of African Americans in the southwestern United States, including migration and settlement in Flagstaff and Williams and working on public lands in northern Arizona.

This program is part of the Flagstaff Pioneer Museum, Night at the Museum production, Hidden and Revealed and includes a public reception with appetizers and drinks at 5:30 at the Pioneer Museum (2340 N Fort Valley Rd, Flagstaff), followed at 6:30 by presentations at the Coconino Center for the Arts (2300 N Fort Valley Rd – directly behind Pioneer Museum). This event is free and all ages are welcome.

Winter storm advisory through Sunday afternoon

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WILLIAMS – Rain started sprinkling about 6 a.m. this morning with a quick dump of slush about 6:45 for about fifteen-minutes. A winter weather advisory takes effect at the end of the day running through late Sunday afternoon. There is a chance of up to 5″ of snow through Sunday. 25- to 32-miles of wind are expected today with gusts up to 43. Winds will drop overnight and remain up to 14-mph through Sunday with gusts up to 20. The weather will clear Monday and Tuesday with rising temperatures and breezy. Chance of rain returns by Tuesday night through Thursday clearing up and becoming sunny Friday.

Sheriff’s Office Pleased to Announce First Local Attorney is Advertising Services in Detention Facility

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Commander Figueroa showing Attorney Advertising Program to benefit inmate welfare

FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce that a local attorney, The Kaiser Law Group, is the first to take advantage of our program allowing purchase of ad space in our lobby and also contributing to the Inmate Welfare Fund.

In 2015 the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office developed a unique program giving attorneys the opportunity to advertise their services at the Coconino County Detention Facility. The advertising does two things. First it provides attorneys and law firms a place to inform individuals of their legal services. Second, the advertising purchase costs are put toward important programs in the Coconino County Detention Facility that enhance inmate welfare.

In 2016, in an effort to provide incentive for local attorneys to enter into this mutually beneficial service, the cost of having legal service advertisement displayed in a 14” x 11” space in our detention lobby was reduced from $5,000 to $2,500 per year. This equates to a little more than $200 per month which is far cheaper than many other forms of advertising. The cost includes printing a color poster with and the acrylic display frame with a holder for business cards.

We believe that allowing advertising in our jail lobby can help connect many people coming into the lobby with legal assistance. All moneys generated from renting an advertisement space will go to the Inmate Welfare Fund which supports important programs such as Exodus (our in-custody drug and alcohol treatment program), re-entry programs, and other services that directly benefit our inmate population.

We believe this is a win-win for participating attorneys and the inmates in the detention facility. Interested attorneys may contact Kathleen Levinson at 928-226-5074 or klevinson@coconino.az.gov for details on this program.

Pavement repair continues on Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff

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PHOENIX – After the back-to-back winter storms that took a toll on highways in Arizona’s high country, Arizona Department of Transportation maintenance crews are continuing to repair pavement along Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff.

This week, maintenance crews completed pavement repairs along I-40 and I-17 in the Flagstaff area.

Next week, the work will focus on I-40 westbound between mileposts 108-110, approximately 12 miles west of Seligman, and I-40 eastbound between mileposts 168-170, just a few miles east of Williams. The work includes patching potholes and laying asphalt over the existing pavement in some areas.

Potholes can pop up quickly when moisture seeps into and below asphalt, which in northern Arizona can be stressed by the combination of freezing overnight temperatures and daytime thawing. The Flagstaff area usually experiences more than 200 daily freeze-thaw cycles each year. Add heavy traffic, and this stressed pavement can break away.

ADOT has two projects coming later this year along I-40 between Flagstaff and Williams that will add a new layer of pavement in both directions.