Category Archives: Ash Fork

Restaurant: Impossible to perk up Ranch House in Ash Fork

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ASH FORK — The Food Network show Restaurant: Impossible, hosted by Chef Robert Irvine, is coming to Ash Fork to perk up the Ranch House Cafe in Ash Fork. The challenge of the reality series is to save America’s most desperate restaurants from impending failure in just two-days. And the producers are asking for assistance from the community members.

The producers of the show are inviting members of the community to dine at the restaurant for lunch prior to the re-modeling at their expense. You can also join them for dinner at the Grand Re-Opening on May 4th at your expense. They cannot, unfortunately, allow diners under the age of eight-years old.

Lunch will be on Tuesday, May 3rd at 11 A.M. The Grand Re-opening dinner will be Wednesday, May 4th at 7 P.M. If you are interested in making a reservation at RANCH HOUSE for either service, please email the Restaurant: Impossible production at: reservationsimpossible@gmail.com by APRIL 28TH at 12:00pm (PST). Please use the following in your subject line: 2014 / RANCH HOUSE RESERVATIONS.

The producers have issued a “casting call” for volunteers to help Robert Irvine with remodeling the restaurant. They are looking for people with construction skills such as painting, plumbing, cleaning, decorating, upholstering, and the like. Shift 1 will work May 3rd at 1 P.M. with shift 2 working on May 4th at 10:30.

  • You must be 18 years or older
  • Everyone must sign an appearance release on site
  • This is a paid position
  • If you are selected, you will be subject to a COVID test prior to filming
  • Masks are required on set at all times
  • Please wear sneakers or boots and work clothing with no logos.

If interested, please email the Restaurant: Impossible staff at reservationsimpossible@gmail.com by APRIL 28TH, at 12:00PM (PST) with the subject line of 2014 / RANCH HOUSE Volunteer. Please include your full name, email address, cell number and any profession (plumber or painter, etc.).

Heavy rains may produce flash floods

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WILLIAMS — Heavy rains and thunderstorms over the next couple of days could cause flash floods. A flash flood watch is set for portions of northern and central Arizona from 11 a.m. today through late Wednesday. Particularly vulnerable are areas of recent fires damage such as the are of the Museum Fire that has experienced problems already. Other areas include Coconino Plateau, Mogollon Rim, White Mountains, Oak Creek and Sycamore Canyons and Ash Fork.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to increase today and continue at times through Wednesday. Some of these storms will be capable of producing 1- to 2-inches of rain in less than an hour, leading to flash flooding. Burn scars and low water crossings are especially vulnerable to flooding.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue through Labor Day.

Kaibab National Forest considers new fiber optic line to support rural communities

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ASH FORK/PAULDEN — The Kaibab National Forest (KNF) is considering authorization of a new fiber optic line between Paulden and Ash Fork, Arizona. Arcadian Infracom 1, LLC has proposed the installation of a high-capacity fiber optic line to create new connectivity for Tribal and rural communities to major metropolitan areas, providing these communities with access to sufficient bandwidth to enable data intensive applications which will benefit public education, healthcare, and economic development.

The southern terminus of the fiber optic line would be located near Paulden and follow the east side of the Arizona Department of Transportation right-of-way for Highway 89 to the vicinity of the Ash Fork. Approximately 50,579 feet (9.58 miles) of the project is proposed to run through the Kaibab National Forest in the Williams Ranger District. The remainder of the line would be on the Prescott National Forest, as well as small sections of state and private lands. The total disturbance on the Kaibab National Forest would be a temporary right-of-way of 17.4 acres (15’ wide x 9.58 miles) for construction, with a permanent right-of-way totaling 11.6 acres (10’ wide x 9.58 miles).

Additional information about the project, including a map, can be found at http://bit.ly/PauldenAshforkFiberOpticPA.

Acting District Ranger Andy Kelher invites public comment about the proposed fiber optic line, and is considering use of this categorical exclusion to authorize the project on the national forest: Additional construction or reconstruction of existing telephone or utility lines in a designated corridor (36 CFR 220.6(e)(2)). If interested, please submit your written comments by June 9, 2021, by email to comments-southwestern-kaibab@usda.gov, mail to 800 South 6th Street, Williams, AZ 86046, or fax to 928-635-8208. For questions, contact Andy Kelher at andrew.kelher@usda.gov or 928-635-8230.

Major weather impact predicted through Tuesday

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Northern Arizona – Travel from any point to Flagstaff will be very difficult over the next couple of days. The weather service expects white-out conditions and heavy snow starting Monday morning through to Tuesday morning. High winds and blowing snow could pose a major hazard for travelers along I-40 and especially I-17 around the areas of Kachina Village and Munds Park south of Flagstaff.

According to the weather service, snow levels will be from 4000′ – 5000′ tonight dropping to 2000′ by Tuesday. The possible levels in the area are 15-21″ in Flagstaff, 16-22 in Williams, 6-10″ in Chino Valley and 7-11″ in Seligman. Snow fall could reach 1″ an hour over Monday during the day and Monday night.

Temperatures will drop to the single-digits for the upper elevations to the lower teens for elevations below 4000′. A winter storm warning may be issued by the weather service starting Monday morning.

If you must travel during these periods, remember NOT to get right behind a snowplow on the freeways hoping to get clearer roads. The snowplow stop and change directions frequently and you could be involved in an accident. Stay clear of snow plows.

The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) was activated yesterday and will be monitoring tonight starting about 6 p.m. through the storm. They will be monitoring the repeaters on Bill Williams and in particular the 146.780 (-91.5) repeater and 146.980 (-162.2) repeater on Mount Elden. Should the repeaters fail, they monitor 146.980 simplex.

Census Workers Confronted in Kaibab Estates West

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KAIBAB ESTATES WEST – On June 14, 2020 at 12:35 pm Coconino County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report from census workers of gun shots being fired in the Kaibab Estates West area. The census workers advised Dispatch that when exiting their vehicle to check an address, they heard what they believed to be a loud gun shot. They then got back into their vehicle to leave the area but the road was blocked by another vehicle. They were contacted by a male subject who approached their vehicle while carrying a shotgun. The census workers identified themselves and left the area.

After conducting an investigation, deputies arrested 55-year-old Kaibab Estates West resident, Kory Beihn. Beihn was booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility for charges involving
Threatening and Intimidating.

This investigation is ongoing.

Man Arrested on Multiple Charges Related to Shooting Incident in Kaibab Estates West

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Chad Anderson – CCSO Booking Photo

ASH FORK – On February 24, 2020 around 8:30 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a call reporting that a person fired shots at residences in the Kaibab Estates West community, which is west of Williams, AZ.

Several people had been gathered at a residence when a disagreement occurred between two individuals. Witnesses and victims advised that the suspect went to his vehicle where he obtained a handgun and fired multiple shots toward the home. He then left the scene and went to a nearby residence where he fired multiple rounds toward another home. Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office also responded to assist in locating and taking the suspect into custody.

Chad Anderson, 46-year-old resident of Kaibab Estates West, was taken into custody and booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility on charges including Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Endangerment, Assault Drive by Shooting, Prohibited (Weapons) Possessor, Disorderly Conduct with Firearm, and Criminal Damage.

No one was injured by the gunfire. The investigation is still on-going and no further information is available at this time.

Wind advisory today and winter weather advisory through tonight

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WILLIAMS – The National Weather Service has set a wind advisory today for after 11 a.m. which will blow in clouds leading to a winter weather advisory overnight. A southeast wind of 15 to 23-mph is expected with gusts to 34-mph. High winds will affect high-profile vehicles. The snow conditions may cause some drivers who will not slow down to slide-off, roll-over, collide or other wise cause problems on I-40, I-17 and highway 64 making first responders quite busy during the period. Call 511 or visit az511.gov for current road conditions.

Williams and Flagstaff have similar predictions with Williams expected to get slightly more snow and wind for the period. In Williams, less than one-inch of snow is expected during the day after 11 a.m. with 3 to 5-inches expected overnight.

A 30 percent chance of snow showers after 11am. Increasing clouds, with a high near 39. Breezy, with a south southeast wind 15 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one-inch possible. Some thunder is possible during this snow storm. Temperature high will be around 39 with overnight low of 22-degrees.

On Wednesday there is a 40% chance of snow shower before 11 a.m. and conditions will turn to mostly cloudy after as this storm passes. New snow accumulations of less than an inch likely. High is expected to reach 36-degrees with 22-degrees overnight. Winds will be mild.

The outlook through next Monday is brighter with mostly sunny days and clear nights. Friday is expected to be partly cloudy and there is a small chance of now showers before 11 p.m. Saturday night. Highs will be in the mid to lower 40s with overnight lows around 27-degrees.

Busy Monday morning for first responders

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WILLIAMS – A busy, cold morning for first responders began with the Williams Fire Department responding to a fire at the Newpac Lumber yard at 675 Garland Prairie Road in Williams at about 4:50 a.m. The Williams Fire Department called for the assistance of the Sherwood Fire Department early in the fire and, with the workers at the Newpac Lumber yard, battled the blaze until about 9:10 when the fire department began overhaul procedures.The Williams Fire Department continually sprayed foam on the burning logs as the workers used cranes to move logs. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

A slight veil of smoke covered I-40, but the impact of visibility appears to be minimum. No injuries were reported.While the fire department was fighting this, the Ash Fork Fire Department, Department of Public Service and Lifeline Ambulance responded to a one-vehicle roll-over at mile 149 on I-40 at about 8:20 a.m. Fortunately no serious injury was reported. An investigation is ongoing.

Man Arrested for Shooting Incident near Ash Fork

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Ash Fork – Coconino County Sheriff’s deputies and detectives have arrested an Ash Fork man in connection with a shooting incident surrounding a domestic dispute.

On Sunday May 7 Coconino County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of shots fired at a home in Kaibab Estates West, a residential subdivision outside Ash Fork. Deputies contacted the occupants of the home and found that no one had been shot; however, several shots had been fired outside the home.

Through the investigation, deputies learned that 47-year-old John Wayne Slater of Ash Fork had driven to the victim’s home to confront him about Slater’s estranged wife who was staying at the home of the victim. Slater approached the door to confront them and was armed with a handgun. The homeowner and Slater spoke briefly at which time the homeowner closed the door on Slater. Slater fired several shots outside the front door. Slater went back to his vehicle and began to drive off and fired several other shots, then fled the area.

No one was hit by the gun fire but a vehicle parked in the driveway was found to have one bullet hole.

Deputies located Slater a short time later and took him into custody without incident.

Slater was arrested for one count of Aggravated Assault, 2 counts of Disorderly Conduct with a Weapon, 2 counts of Felony Endangerment, Criminal Damage and trespass and booked into the Coconino County Jail.

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Freeman no longer a free man

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WILLIAMS – All three suspects who fled police this morning are now in custody.

At approximately 10:45 AM, a Yavapai County Sheriff K9 attempted to stop a maroon 4 door sedan for a traffic violation east I-40 in the Ash Fork area. As the vehicle failed to yield, a male passenger appeared to be thrown from the vehicle and was detained.
The k9 unit pursued the vehicle at speeds in excess of 100 mph. The vehicle apparently became disabled and pulled off at milepost 165 near the Bearizona attraction and crashed into a culvert.

One of the remaining two suspects was apprehended almost immediately at the ADOT yard on Route 66 near the Bearizona Wild Life park. The suspect identified as John Dale Freeman fired shots at deputies and fled beginning a six-hour manhunt with units of the Yavapai County and Coconino County Sheriff’s Departments, the Williams Police Department and the Department of Public Safety including the DPS helicopter. The Arizona Department of Transportation also assisted and Kaibab Forest Rangers may have also participated. None of the search party were injured in the event.

Arizona DPS helicopter flies over Williams searching for suspect.


Schools in Williams were locked down as was Bearizona. Guests of Bearizona were gathered in the Gift Shop and Restaurant area for a couple of hours. They were eventually allowed to evacuate the park. Parents of Williams were required to pick up their kids from schools early and kids in outlying areas were bused home at the regular time.

Freeman in custody.


Various reports of sightings of Freeman occurred in Williams with none being confirmed. The search continued in the forested areas around Bearizona until about 3:30 p.m. when Freeman was reported captured outside of Bearizona. The other two suspects have not yet been identified.

Freeman turns from camera while in police vehicle.


Citizens around Williams reported recognizing Freeman as frequenting the Williams area. Others in Flagstaff reported on the Facebook page of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Department that they recognized him around Flagstaff. Freeman may have lived in Williams according to some accounts. Our research shows that Freeman may have a criminal past.