Monthly Archives: July 2020

Remote water measuring sensor saves bighorn sheep

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PHOENIX — Earlier this month, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) received an alert from one of its solar-powered remote water sensors, located in the Chocolate Mountains near Yuma, indicating that a wildlife water catchment – critical to wildlife survival – was dry.

The sensors, developed and installed by the United States Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG), deliver timely, remote notifications of significant water loss.

Concerned for the well-being of the animals, an AZGFD team hiked – in scorching heat – nearly 2 miles of steep terrain to assess the situation. Upon arrival, the team discovered the empty water catchment…and 15 bighorn sheep standing nearby. A broken pipe was responsible for the water shortage. The team mitigated the problem by turning on a back-up water system.

Without the real-time data from the electronic water measuring system, AZGFD would have not found the failure for weeks, which could have resulted in the death of bighorn sheep and other wild animals. In total, YPG has developed and installed four remote sensors on its property, where AZGFD manages several water catchments.

“Rain is unpredictable in southwest Arizona, and this requires innovative approaches and partnerships to protect wildlife,” said AZGFD Yuma Regional Supervisor Mike Sumner. “By continuing to foster our relationship with our partners at the U.S. Army’s Yuma Proving Ground – who adapted existing range equipment to monitor these water sensors – we can develop affordable solutions to protect wildlife and provide them with the water they need to survive during dry periods.”

Inmate Death

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FLAGSTAFF – On Friday July 31, 2020, at approximately 2:11 pm, an inmate from the Coconino County Detention Facility died while at Flagstaff Medical Center.

On July 29, 2020 a local law enforcement agency was initiating the booking process into the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Temporary Holding Facility in Page, AZ. During the booking process, the arrestee refused to answer any medical related questions asked by our Detention Officers. Our Officers noticed a laceration on the arrestee’s finger that appeared red, swollen, and hot to the touch. Our Officers contacted the Detention medical staff in Flagstaff, relayed the information, and the arrestee was refused acceptance.

The arresting agency transported the arrestee to the Page Emergency Department. The arrestee refused all medical treatment while at the hospital. Ultimately the arrestee was transported back to the holding facility. Again, the arrestee refused to answer all medical questions and refused to allow vitals to be checked by our officers. Detention staff contacted the Detention Medical staff in Flagstaff, explained the arrestee’s refusal for treatment at the hospital and the refusal to answer medical questions and vitals to be checked. Because we had documentation that the arrestee had refused medical treatment and refused to answer our medical questions, our medical staff advised our officers to accept the arrestee. The arrestee was processed and booked into the Page holding facility.

On Friday morning, July 31, 2020, the inmate was on a transport from Page to be housed in the Flagstaff Facility pending further adjudication. While on transport the inmate began to have a medical related emergency. Our Detention Officers pulled over, contacted dispatch, requested emergency services and began life savings measures. Emergency Medical Services responded, took over life saving measures and transported the inmate to the Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC). The inmate was taken into emergency surgery and came out of surgery at approximately 1:00 pm. At 2:11 pm our officers guarding the inmate at FMC notified Sheriff’s Command staff that the inmate was deceased.

The cause of death is currently under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division and pending autopsy and review by the Coconino County Medical Examiner. The name of the inmate and any further information is being withheld pending next of kin notification.

Page Police Announce An Internet Transaction Zone for Community Use

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PAGE — The Page Police Department is proud to announce that an “Internet Transaction Zone” (ITZ) has been created for use by community members. The ITZ is located in the public parking area of the Page Public Safety Building located at 808 Coppermine Road.

The purpose of the ITZ is to provide a safe, neutral location where community members may meet to complete transactions arranged via the Internet. Residents are encouraged to use the zone to conduct transactions instead of their own residence.

The ITZ is covered by cameras that will record each transaction in order to enhance the level of safety for all involved. Residents are encouraged to pull their vehicle into the stall facing the ITZ sign so the camera will be able to easily capture license plate information for later use should a crime occur.

This is also a safe location to conduct child exchanges as needed. This is a free service provided by the City of Page and the Page Police Department.

Fire Restrictions to be Lifted Tuesday on Entire Kaibab National Forest

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WILLIAMS — Due to significant and widespread precipitation received across much of northern Arizona, the Kaibab National Forest will lift all fire restrictions on all three districts on Tuesday July 28 at 6:00 a.m.

Coconino County has also lifted fire restrictions in the unincorporated areas.

The area closure protecting the Bill Williams Mountain watershed will also be rescinded at this time, and visitors can once again camp, hike, and drive in the popular recreation areas. However, due to the hazardous nature of technical work in the higher elevations where steep slope fuels reduction operations have been occurring, a revised area closure will be forthcoming in September to ensure public safety on that portion of the mountain as work resumes.

The districts have received a substantial amount of rain over the last two weeks relaxing the danger levels across the forest. Each year fire officials closely monitor conditions before decisions are made to implement fire restrictions and area closures designed to protect human life, property and natural resources. These procedures are used to help prevent unwanted, human-caused fires and to limit the exposure of visitors during periods of potentially dangerous fire conditions.

The Kaibab National Forest would like to express appreciation for all those who assisted our firefighters and patrol units with their compliance while under these conditions. When members of the public abide by fire restrictions and closures, they greatly help in protecting their public lands and adjacent communities from the threats posed by human-caused wildfires.

Tyrannical Phoenix government shuts down Williams parade by edict

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An edict by Governor Doug Ducey caused Williams to cancel the annual Independence Day Parade. But there sure was a lot of traffic downtown this evening. I believe they were throwing a little tea.

OpEd by Glen Davis

Murphy’s Towing of Ash Fork was on hand in case someone broke down in the traffic jam.

WILLIAMS – INDEPENDENCE DAY — The Williams Independence Day parade was cancelled by an arbitrary edict of a tyrannical government in Phoenix ordering the cancellation of any celebrating of the day we threw off the chains of a tyrannical government that issued arbitrary and tyrannical edicts on the colonists. A move that, no doubt, please the Chinese government no end.

That means the Williams Independence Day parade was cancelled by City Hall. Although we understand Eager flat-out defied the arbitrary edict.
But there sure was a long traffic tie-up down Route 66 In Williams this evening beginning about 6 p.m. to about 6:30 p.m. The traffic was so heavy that it stretched from Monument Park on the west end of town all the way past First Street. Many of the vehicles were carrying American Flags. The traffic was so bad that some people tried to assist by marching with the vehicle carrying flags. There were tow trucks from Murphy’s Towing in Ash Fork involved in case anyone got stuck. Fortunately they were here. The Williams Police Department had to help clear up the traffic jam; the likes Williams has not seen in some time.The major traffic-jam was witnessed by a lot of visitors and residents of Williams.

If there had been a parade, I guess it would have turned out to be a disaster.

You know, I could swear I caught a waft of tea in the air.

Wildfire north of Flagstaff producing noticeable smoke

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FLAGSTAFF — A wildfire approximately 4 miles north of Flagstaff on the west side of the San Francisco Peaks was reported at 5:30 a.m. today and is producing a lot of smoke visible to surrounding residents.The Twisted Fire is currently about 2 acres with minimal activity, and firefighting resources on scene include a Hotshot crew, several engines, a dozer, and water tender.