Three new bear cubs join Bearizona Wildlife Park

Bearizona Photo

Bearizona Photo

WILLIAMS — Bearizona Wildlife Park is excited to announce the arrival of three un”bear”ably cute North American bear cubs, which were born in early January at the Williams, Arizona Wildlife Park. The bear cubs will be viewable in a special care area of the park until May, when they will then be big enough to go out into their own enclosure within the walk through portion of the park.

Black Bears commonly have two to four cubs per litter, and can nurse up to six cubs. Despite high birthrates, only four out of ten cubs will reach their first year of life. The sixty percent of cub mortality is a result of starvation and depredation by male bears are other large carnivores.

Arizona has a stable wild population of black bear in the wild, however the elusive animals are rarely seen. Visitors to Bearizona Wildlife Park are able to get a close encounter with captive black bears, while learning about their habits and history.

“The connections people make between our animal residents and the habitats in which they reside are key to understanding and conserving wildlife,” explains COO and Curator Vanessa Stoffel. “We have a unique opportunity to educate the public about what it means to live with and recreate among black bears, and these little ambassador cubs are where it all begins.”

Bearizona is a wildlife park in which guests experience a scenic three-mile drive in their own vehicle or coach witnessing North American animals in their natural environment.

Visitors can then leisurely stroll through the forest along winding walkways to get an up-close look at the antics of baby and smaller animals in Fort Bearizona. Guests are encouraged to catch their complimentary Birds of Prey free flight show where they will come face to face with hawks, owls and other raptors.

Bearizona’s mission is to promote conservation through memorable and educational encounters with North American wildlife in a natural environment.

Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest to Celebrate Black History Month with Special Guest Darryl Haley

Darryl Haley

Darryl Haley

GRAND CANYON — Grand Canyon National Park and the Kaibab National Forest will host former-professional football player, Ironman tri-athlete and host of the radio talk show Fitness Friday, Darryl Haley for a special evening program in honor of Black History Month on Wednesday, March 18th at 7:30 p.m. at the Shrine of the Ages in Grand Canyon National Park. Mr. Haley will be joined by staff of Grand Canyon National Park and the Kaibab National Forest promoting Black History Month and the Healthy Parks Healthy People initiative.

The Black History Month theme for 2015 is “Celebrating a Century of Black Life, History, Culture and Future Health of our People on our Public Lands”. Mr. Haley is a staunch advocate for parks and public lands as well as a renowned athlete and fitness trainer.

Mr. Haley, who also hosts WHUR’s (Howard University Radio) Fitness Friday during the Steve Harvey Morning Show, hopes to show that parks are places diverse audiences can enjoy, and that they offer a wide range of opportunities for people of varying fitness levels to experience and recreate on their public lands.

grand-canyon1He will be joined on stage by Margaret Hangan and Danelle D. Harrison, USFS. Ms. Hangan is the staff archeologist for the Kaibab National Forest and will be presenting on the history of African American people in northern Arizona. Ms. Harrison is the District Ranger for the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest and will be presenting on the Forest Service role in providing healthy recreation opportunities for diverse communities.

During the week, graduate students from Howard University will be working with staff of Grand Canyon National Park and the Kaibab National Forest, reviewing the agencies’ respective archives while researching the history of diverse individuals in the Grand Canyon region. These stories not only demonstrate the past contributions of diverse individuals to the northern Arizona landscape but also open doors of understanding, forging connections for people today and in the future to their public lands.

Black History Month is about celebrating and honoring the past and creating memories now to carry into the future. As a health and fitness enthusiast, Haley’s programs reach diverse audiences and help promote the making of black history, breaking down barriers in human and race relations. Providing equitable access to public lands and promoting the health and well being of all people are critical components of Healthy Parks Healthy People.

Local artist gets mentions in national magazines

640-LookbookWILLIAMS — Local bear artist Brenda Carter is getting attention by national industry magazines. In January of this year, she received recognition for Miss Penelope in teddy bear & friends magazine. This month she is mentioned with others in Bear Beautiful magazine.

Brenda grew up in England during WWII amid air raids and bombs dropping. Many a day was spent in the basement of their home during a raid and amazingly the damage to her home consisted mainly of windows blown in and ceilings falling down while other homes on the street were destroyed.

Over fifty-years ago, she immigrated to the USA. Meeting her husband many years later. He served with the Sheriff’s Office in California for 26 years. After his passing she moved to Williams and opened a gift shop called Autumn Buffalo for about 12 years.

When she retired, she started a hobby of making dollhouses and furniture. Later her friend Lorrie a well known sculptor of art dolls (LorelieBlu Studio) taught her how to sculpt fantasy dolls.

Brenda started a Facebook page called Teddy Bears and Fantasy Dolls and quickly gathered many followers. The past couple years she started to think about how much her little teddy bear from the war gave her comfort which she still has and decided to start creating Teddy Bears for others to collect and make their own memories. This is when she moved into making Teddy Bears and became a Banner member of Artist Bears International where she posts her work for sale.

Comedian John Branyan explains the Three Little Pigs if you lived in days of yore

In thy mind, place ye in days of yore. In days when communication doth not instantaneous make through plates of glass, yet only the scroll doth reign.

Michael John Poirier concert at St. Joesph the Worker Catholic Church

michael-poirierWILLIAMS — St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church of Williams proudly presents the legendary Michael John Poirier in concert Monday and Tuesday, March 16 and 17. The concerts begin at 7 p.m.

Poirier is a well-known Christian artist whose music is available through Amazon and through the online store on his web site.

St. Joseph the Workder Catholic Church is located at 900 W. Grant behind the Family Dollar store. Call (928)635-2430 for more information.


March comes in more like a leopard

snow-150303-04WILLIAMS – The old saying of March coming in like a lion does not seem to apply to Williams, this year. This year it came in more like a snow leopard. After receiving about six-inches yesterday, Williams can expect up to eight-inches today.

Steady snow is predicted today for Williams with an accumulation of 4 to 8-inches. Winds of 17 to 21-mph with gusts of 31 are expected to keep it cold throughout the day. Tonight there is a 60% chance of snow before 11 p.m. New snow accumulation overnight of one-inch is expected.

The snow and rain is predicted to clear Wednesday becoming sunny with temperatures raising to the mid-50s by Saturday.

Walking in a winter wonderland

640-150301-21WILLIAMS – Williams and Flagstaff are seeing something they haven’t seen in some time. Snow. A real snow. Predictions of 7-inches in Williams have probably already been met and the snow is still falling. The snow plows are actually plowing something and some of the street lights have turned on.
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The weather forecast predicts rain and snow today with winds of up to 15-mph with gusts of 24-mph.

Rain and snow is expected to continue tomorrow with up to 3-inches of new snow. Higher winds are expected tomorrow with gusts of up to 37-mph. The chance of snow drops to 40% on Tuesday and 20% Tuesday night with little or no new snow accumulation expected.
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It is expected to clear up and be sunny and warm on Wednesday continuing that way for the rest of the week.

Although far from blizzard conditions, it is a welcome and hopeful sight for the City of Williams. This snow will probably do little to fill the Santa Fe reservoir without more snow later in the season to cover Bill Williams mountain.

Pastor brings prayer walk down Route 66 in Flagstaff and Williams

640-McGill-01WILLIAMS — Williams was visited, yesterday, by a man carrying an United States flag and saluting passersby. Pastor Walter “Chick” McGill is traveling cross country with several goals.

The flag is a tribute to veterans. Pastor McGill is a Vietnam veteran who went through a difficult time upon returning—as did many veterans. He credits the natural healing of God for his recovery. Although he still suffers from a disease which makes his walk difficult, he wants to plant the flag in Santa Monica after carrying it from “sea to shining sea.”

That leads to another purpose of his journey. To spread the good news—aka the Gospel of Jesus. His walk is also a prayer walk in which he prays with and for communities through which he passes.

He also wants to inspire communities to restore God into those communities and schools. He wants to promote the ideal of the laws of God being the basis of our Constitution and other documents as the founders intended.

His journey began in Kills Devil, North Carolina 197 days ago on his anniversary with wife Barbara who travels in the following car. He traveled along U.S. Route 64 connecting with U.S. Route 66 in Arizona. He hopes to end his journey in Santa Monica in April of this year.
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He noted that he was happy to pass through Williams as he found the most friendly people in the area since leaving Oklahoma.

A few days ago he spoke with NAZ Today in Flagstaff.

(NAZ Today video)

Star Trek fans mourn the loss of Leonard Nimoy

rzranzlmgruxkhxradpmStar Trek fans, today, mourn the loss of Leonard Nimoy whose most famous role was First Officer Spock on the cult television and movie series Star Trek. His roles, however, run the gamut from his first role in Queen for a Day in 1951. Nimoy was 83.

Nimoy once said that he was so sure that the popularity Star Trek would be short lived that he did not even bother to change his phone number. One of the mistakes he learned from. The character of Spock and the tension between his character and that of Doctor McCoy—played by the late DeForest Kelley—turned out to be popular among fans of the show.

Shatner shared on his Facebook page, “I loved him like a brother. We will all miss his humor, his talent, and his capacity to love.”

Nichelle Nicols, Lt. Uhura on Star Trek, issued a statement from Pensacon sci-fi convention:

“I am deeply saddened by the death of my dear friend Leonard Nimoy. But, I also want to celebrate his extraordinary life. He was a true force of strength and his character was that of a champion. Leonard’s integrity and passion as an actor and devotion to his craft helped transport STAR TREK into television history. His vision and heart are bigger than the universe. I will miss him very much and send heartfelt wishes to his family.”

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Nimoy played a variety of roles in a variety of television shows over the years. He acted aside Dean Stockwell in the Twilight Zone episode A Quality of Mercy. He acted as the reporter Judson Ellis in The Outer Limits presentation of I, Robot. He had roles of soldiers and sailors. He played spies and native Americans and cowboys. He played roles in Combat!, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Wagon Train, Sea Hunt and many other popular sixties television series.

He was also a noted author, producer and director including Star Treks III and IV and one episode of T.J. Hooker with his former Co-star on Star Trek, Williams Shatner.

He is also known for his books including I Am Not Spock. People took that to mean that he did not like to be connected with his role of Mr. Spock, so he wrote a sequel called I Am Spock in which he revealed that he had not problems being connected with the Star Trek role because he never wanted for work because of it. His image and voice was instantly recognizable even by non-Star Trek fans.

Archaeology Comes Alive on the Kaibab

WILLIAMS –  Two free Archaeology Month evening lectures will be held at  6:30 PM at the Mills 326 Café, 326 West Route 66, Williams, Arizona. There is limited seating so please call 928-635-5600 for reservations. To order food ahead of time call, 928-635-0777.
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  • March 5: (Williams and Tusayan Ranger District Archaeologist Neil Weintraub) –Williams Youth Conservation Corps: Getting’ Dirty Preserving Kaibab National Forest Historic Sites. This presentation will discuss the history of how the Williams Youth Conservation Corps has helped to protect and enhance dozens of prehistoric and historic archaeological sites on the Williams Ranger District.
  • March 19: (Kaibab National Forest Archaeologist Margaret Hangan and Neil Weintraub) – History of Kaibab National Forest Managed Fires and Cultural Resource Protection Efforts during the Summer 2014 Sitgreaves Fire. For the past decade when conditions are appropriate during monsoon season, the Kaibab National Forest fire staff has managed wild fires across large portions of its fire adapted landscape. Archaeologists will discuss how Kaibab National Forest fire staff managed the summer 2014 Sitgreaves Fire to treat a steep mountain landscape while protecting and reducing fuels on dozens of significant cultural resources.

Kaibab archaeologists will also lead free educational hikes to the Keyhole Sink Petroglyph site at 2 PM on March 14 and March 28. Please call ahead for reservations, 928-635-5600.
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Bring boots and warm clothing as this 3/4-mile hike each way will take place whether there is rain, snow or sun. Be prepared to get wet as a waterfall often cascades off the lava flow requiring crossings in ankle deep water to access the petroglyphs.

To attend, meet at the Oak Hill Snow Play area, 4 miles west of Parks Arizona on the south side of Route 66. From Flagstaff, take I-40 west to exit 178, turn right at top of ramp and then left on to Route 66. Drive about 4 miles west to the Oak Hill Snow Play Area.

From Williams, drive east on I-40 to Exit 171 and at top of off ramp make a right and then another right onto Route 66. Drive east on 66 about 2 miles to the Oak Hill Snow Play Area.

Lectures are Wheelchair Accessible; petroglyphs are not.