Daily Archives: November 4, 2022

Fossil Creek reopened to public yesterday

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FLAGSTAFF — The Fossil Creek recreation area — closed since June 2021 due to impacts from the Backbone Fire — will reopen to the public beginning November 3.

All Fossil Creek sites, including Childs Dispersed Camping Area, will reopen November 3 except the Dixon Lewis Trail (formerly known as the Waterfall Trail). This trail is expected to reopen later this month when repairs are complete.

“This area is special to a great many people and we appreciate the public’s patience while it recovers,” said Deputy District Ranger Alex Schlueter. “That recovery continues for both Fossil Creek and Sycamore Canyon, but we are excited to welcome visitors back.”

The 16-month closure was necessary to allow the landscape to recover from both fire and monsoonal damage. Road and infrastructure repair was conducted during the closure period to ensure visitor safety.

The area’s continued recovery also means that a future closure is likely during the 2023 monsoon season (June through October) for public safety. Because vegetation in the area has not fully grown back since the fire, there is a greater risk for flash flooding and debris dams, especially during heavy precipitation.

Additionally, Fossil Creek will likely close temporarily in early 2023 to complete resurfacing of Forest Road 708.

Permits are not currently required to visit the Fossil Creek area, but permits will be required beginning April 1, 2023. Permits will be available for purchase beginning March 1, 2023 via Recreation.gov.

Recreationists interested in purchasing permits for the 2023 season can subscribe to emails from the Coconino National Forest or visit the Coconino NF website to remain up-to-date on permit information and check for unexpected changes in conditions or closures.

Recreationists seeking to explore Fossil Creek are reminded to pack out all trash, stick to developed recreation areas, and abide by all posted signage indicating restrictions or closures. It is also important to note that camping is only allowed downstream of Fossil Creek Bridge and upstream of the historic dam site in the backcountry. Camping is not allowed within the permit area during the permit season.

Winter Pile Burns Begin on Kaibab National Forest at Various Locations for Remainder of 2022

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WILLIAMS — Prescribed fire pile burning will commence across the Williams and Tusayan districts of the Kaibab National Forest for the remainder of the fall season.

Winter weather with forecasted snow present excellent opportunities nearly every year for fire crews to burn and consume piled slash and woody debris left over from previous forest restoration projects. For the months of November and December, up to 8,000 acres of piles near Tusayan, Williams, and Parks are planned for prescribed burning operations.

Operations will begin near the City of Williams on Friday, November 4th. About 300 acres of piles will be ignited on the south side of Bill Williams Mountain. These hand piles are relatively small in size and will consume quickly with little to no smoke impacts expected.

Smoke may be visible during the day as ignitions are occurring and may periodically impact Coconino County Road 73 and the City of Williams, but is predicted to be light in volume and short in duration. Smoke production is generally minimal after the first few hours with rapid dispersion as piles consume. Some smoke has potential to settle overnight into the lower elevations due to fluctuating atmospheric temperatures that produce nighttime inversions.

Forest visitors are asked to avoid active hot areas and are reminded to use caution and drive with heightened awareness when passing through any prescribed fire project vicinity.

All prescribed burning on the Kaibab National Forest is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
For additional information about the Smoke Management Division of the ADEQ and to view prescribed burn authorizations, please visit: legacy.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

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Movie Review by Glen C. Davis

ROKU – The much anticipated Weird debuted, today, on Roku TV. This is the actual true story of Weird Al Yankovic. And there are so many things that are revealed about him.

The movie stars Daniel Radcliffe simply because they did not offer me the part. Radcliffe is known for staring in the Harry Potter series of movies. Radcliffe does a tremendous job of bringing the story of Weird Al Yanovic to life.

Weird Al’s musical journey started when his dad beat up an accordion salesman collapsing his lung. In order to avoid a lawsuit his mother offered to buy the accordion. His dad objected to this stringently. I don’t want to spoil the movie for you so I won’t tell you that his dad bought an accordion which caused his ejection from the Amish community he lived in.

Weird Al Yankovic and Daniel Radcliffe.

He attempted to sell his first song, My Bologna, to a record company run by Tony Scotti who is played by an actor who is vaguely familiar, though I can’t place him. They refused the song and advised him to write more songs and play before an audience. It was his song I Love Rocky Road that catapulted him to the top.

What I found amazing was how closely our lives parallel. We both grew up listening to Dr Demento.  He was a musical genius with the accordion. I had one of those wind-up monkeys that clashed the symbols together. He was Madonna’s lover. I saw Madonna’s videos on MTV. He was invited to the birthday party of drug lord Pablo Escobar, who was his biggest fan. I read about Escobar in the newspaper and then used the newspaper as a fan.

The movie follows his true life experience right up until the time when he was assassinated at the Shrine auditorium in 1985 while accepting an award.

The movie is a drama in pure Weird Al style. If you are a Weird Al Yankovic fan, you will want to see this film. If you’re just looking for a good movie with a lot of comedy you want to see this movie.

The only problem is it leaves a burning question. Did Michael Jackson come out with “Bad” first or did he parody Weird Al’s Fat?”