Category Archives: Flagstaff

Army veteran and cancer survivor rides for life.

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Fred-Vlchek130730FLAGSTAFF—Thirteen-year army veteran and cancer survivor Fred Vlchek stopped in Flagstaff yesterday on his way to dip his bicycle tire into the water of the Pacific Ocean at the Oceanside Municipal Pier.

Fred is riding to raise funds for Fred’s Difference, his 501(C)3 non-profit organization committed to increasing awareness and to support/fund treatment of all types of cancer plaguing the world today. The elements of the threefold mission of Fred’s Difference are; fundraising to help cancer patients offset the costs associated with cancer treatments, increasing awareness of the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of those affected by cancer, and support community efforts to increase awareness and raise funds for the assistance of cancer patients and their families.

As a six-year testicular cancer survivor, Fred began this pilgrimage on July 26th in Oceanside to raise funds in order to help others struggling in their battle with cancer. The five-week, 3200 mile trek will cover 12-states reaching elevations over 8,000 feet.

The next leg of his journey takes him through Tuba City toward the Navajo township of Kayenta where he is looking for assistance. He will need lodgings overnight to prevent paying a hotel bill which takes away from the effort of the ride. In fact, any lodgings that people can provide along the way will help save money which can be applied toward the foundation. As a Fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus, he hopes that he will have assistance from that organization throughout his ride.

You can follow his ride and make donations at his web site: Freds Difference.com.

Coconino lifts fire restriction due to monsoon weather

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Stage 1 fire restrictions remain on US Forest Service property

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FLAGSTAFF—Monsoon rains allowed Coconino County to lift its fire restrictions earlier this month, but stage 1 fire restrictions remain in the Coconino and Kaibab forests. The Williams watershed opened for hiking, but some areas of Coconino may still be dry and present hazardous fire conditions.

Ample monsoonal rainfall throughout Northern Arizona has brought much needed moisture to tinder-dry forests and area landscapes. Fortunately the rainfall lessened the danger of fire from thunder. Careless acts with fire could still start a blaze, however.

Under Stage 1 fire restrictions on federal land:
• Fires, campfires, charcoal, coal and wood stoves are allowed in developed campgrounds only.
• Smoking is allowed only in enclosed vehicles, buildings or in developed campgrounds.
• Using a device that is solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off is allowed in areas that are clear of flammable materials.

This has prompted the Northern Arizona Shooting Range to open again with a clay pigeon shoot scheduled for the weekend of August 10 & 11 and another scheduled for September 7 & 8. Conditions could change, so you should contact the range to see if these activities are still available.

Long range predictions are for excellent chances of precipitation through Wednesday with chances of scattered thunderstorms through next Saturday.

Renaissance Dinner a success

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We apologize for the delay in our reports. Computer casualties and vacation time interfered with our timely reporting.


WILLIAMS—The dinner by the Grand Canyon Renaissance Experience group at the Sultana theater catered by Anna of the Grand Canyon Coffee and Cafe seems to have been a success.

Crowds shuffled in to dining, music, magic, and song all with a Renaissance flavor.

Mark Worden explained that the original intent was to have a regular renaissance festival, but had a stroke in February. They have had regular renaissance festivals in Flagstaff over the past few years.

This and other fundraising efforts is to build a castle on five-acres provided by Sean Casey of the Bearizona drive through wildlife park for future renaissance affairs.

Hot forecasted for the weekend.

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The high temperature in Williams, today, is expected to reach 88 increasing to the mid-90s by the weekend with only a slight chance of thunderstorms Friday. The temperature on Saturday is expected to reach 98 dropping two-degrees on Sunday with not enough wind to produce usable electricity.

The outlook for Flagstaff is similar except for a chance of thunder showers Saturday and Sunday.

If you are taking a Marvelous Marv’s Private Grand Canyon tour, you will probably want to take a couple of bottles of water as the temperatures will reach a high of mid-90s on Saturday with a slight chance of thundershowers on Sunday.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the Flagstaff Police Department Offer Woods Watch Training and Orientation

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FLAGSTAFF—As Coconino County has moved into heightened fire danger season and into greater fire related restrictions, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Flagstaff Police Department, and the US Forest Service are offering “Woods Watch” training and orientation. This volunteer program is similar to Neighborhood Watch and is of vital importance in residential areas that interface with forested land. Volunteers are asked to watch for people accessing closed areas of the forest and for people who are using fire carelessly or against current fire restrictions. These volunteers are trained to be especially vigilant for activity that may be occurring on forested lands in the Flagstaff City limits, unincorporated areas of Coconino County, and on US Forest Service land.

Woods Watch has been very successful in years past. In 2002, approximately 300 volunteers attended the training and assisted Northern Arizona law enforcement officers in watching access points to the forest. Teams of volunteers were trained in the greater Flagstaff area, Mormon Lake, Munds Park and other unincorporated areas of Coconino County. The additional sets of eyes on our community helped keep unlawful fire activity under check. With the extremely dry and windy conditions our community experiences, a fire start may spread very quickly endangering lives and property.

This year, we are offering Woods Watch re-certification and new volunteer training on Friday, June 28, 2013 at 6:00 pm at the Law Enforcement Administration Facility located at 911 E. Sawmill Rd. Citizens who have attended this training in previous years are asked to attend again as a review and to receive updated information. Coconino County Sheriff’s Office also will be providing Woods Watch training to its established volunteer groups of Search and Rescue, existing Neighborhood Watch Programs, and CERT during their regular meetings. The training takes approximately one hour.

The Woods Watch Program area a commitment to join local law enforcement officers with community members to keep our communities and our forests beautiful, safe and free of wild land fires.

Historic Marble Canyon Lodge and Restaurant Destroyed by Fire

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The remains of the historic Marble Canyon Lodge---Photo Courtesy of the Coconino County Sheriff's Department

The remains of the historic Marble Canyon Lodge—Photo Courtesy of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Department


FLAGSTAFF–The historic Marble Canyon Lodge and Restaurant located on Highway 89A burned to the ground early this morning. Both the north and south bound lanes of 89A were closed for approximately two hours but were reopened at about 5 am. Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives and fire investigators from the Flagstaff Fire Department are on scene attempting to determine the origin of the fire.

At about 1:30 am this morning the burglary alarm for the Marble Canyon Lodge activated an audible siren that woke the owner who was asleep in a nearby residence. The owner also received telephone notification from the dispatch center of the alarm company. As the owner walked outside he saw a large amount of smoke and flames coming from the rear of the structure.

Crew members of a construction company that are doing improvements on the Lee’s Ferry Road and who are staying at the Marble Canyon Motel attempted to fight the fire with the aid of two company owned water tanker trucks. Firefighters from the city of Page, Arizona, arrived at approximately 3:00 am. Other responding agencies included the Fredonia Fire Department, Colorado City/Hildale Fire Department, Page Electric, National Park Service Rangers from Lee’s Ferry, and Kane County Medical Transport.

The newer building that houses the post office and convenience store and is located north of the lodge was not damaged nor was the motel that is located to the south. The Marble Canyon Lodge was established in 1926 and is located 125 Miles North of Flagstaff near the Colorado River at Lee’s Ferry.

Free flights for youth in Flagstaff

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FLAGSTAFF—The Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 856 of Flagstaff will be hosting an EAA Young Eagles flight experience for children 8 to 17. The ten-minute flights from Pulliam Airport in Flagstaff will be held on Saturday June 29.

Vehicle Collides with FUSD Bus

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FLAGSTAFF—Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the report of a two vehicle collision involving a school bus and a suburban utility vehicle today at about 12:32 pm. The collision occurred on Leupp Road in the area of Copley Drive. To date Deputies have determined that the SUV was traveling southbound on Leupp Road and for an unknown reason crossed the centerline of the roadway and struck the driver side of a FUSD school bus that was traveling northbound.

The impact caused the rear axle of the bus to break free from its mounts. The rear axle of the bus struck the front drivers side wheel and axle of the SUV causing it to separate from the frame. Summit Fire Department and Guardian ambulance personnel transported the driver of the SUV for minor injuries. There were three children on the school bus at the time of the collision. All three elementary school students denied injury however two were transported to Flagstaff Medical Center as a precautionary measure where they were treated and released. The third child was released to a family member who arrived on scene. The driver of the bus was not injured in the collision.

The three students were being transported from an elementary school located in Flagstaff to their homes in Leupp at the time of this collision. Deputies are continuing this investigation. No citations have been issued at this point in the investigation.

Deceased Male Located in Oak Creek Canyon

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FLAGSTAFF—The body of the man who was found deceased in Oak Creek Canyon on May 27,2013 has been identified as forty-seven year old Stephen Buck of Washington state.

On May 27, 2013 at about 4:13 pm an individual who was hiking in Oak Creek Canyon called a Coconino County Sheriff Emergency Dispatcher on his cell phone to report that he and a companion hiker were exploring the canyon when they found a deceased male subject. The caller’s location was determined to be off of State Route 89A in the area of mile post 379.5. Upon their arrival Deputies made contact with the reporting party and found the body to be that of an adult male, that was lying face down behind some trees by a creek. The subject was fully clothed and investigators did not observe any signs of injures or blunt trauma that would be consistent with an assault or some other manner of foul play.

Detectives found several types of controlled substances or narcotics in close proximity to the body. Investigators found a key for a U-Haul vehicle in a pocket of clothing worn by the deceased individual and matched it to a U-Haul van that was parked along SR 89A. The van was reported as stolen by the renting agency and investigators learned that there was an active US Marshal Federal Warrant for the deceased subject that was initiated by the Department of Drug Enforcement in California.

Detectives are considering the possibility that the individual died as the result of a self-induced drug overdose. This investigation is being continued.

Continuing court during emergency situations

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tj-20130412-01WILLIAMS—The weight of snow has just collapsed the roof. The snow has caused a train to derail on Seventh street sparking a horrendous forest fire. The fire is melting the snow causing flooding. The flooding freezes over Railroad Avenue causing a semi to skid out of control into the building. Okay, not all of those things are likely to happen at one time, but something might happen to cause the evacuation of the Williams Justice Center. The staff of the Williams Justice Center will have to have a way to provide important court services after that.

The Williams Municipal and Justice Courts are working together with Coconino County Court Administration to develop our Continuous Operations (COOP) plan to enable our courts to continue providing services during any unanticipated emergency or contingency.

“The court has to be able to issue orders—court orders—and those things 24/7. We have to be able to provide orders of protection and other court orders during business hours and that take precedence in court,” Justice of the Peace Robert Krombeen explained.

“If somebody’s arrested in the city they have to be seen by the JP or a magistrate within twenty-four hours. They have to be. For a felony—a homicide, for example—they would be released in twenty-four hours. That’s required by law and the Arizona Constitution.”

The Flagstaff Court system has their own system as part of the County emergency plan. “They have the specifics of their plan in place where they have other sites in the greater Flagstaff area where they could set up their court, as well, so that they could maintain court within their precinct.”

Krombeen explained that our plan has two alternative sites within our precinct so that we can maintain court in this area. “If something really weird happened where it was going to be a longer term, we could potentially go to Flagstaff. But it’s our goal and our plan to set up to have those services provided right here.”

One of the sites being considered is the Coconino Community College building which is being turned over to the high school. It has facilities to allow video court similar to the facilities in the Williams Justice Center. The other location is the Clark Memorial Airport which has sufficient parking and Internet facilities that could allow the same function.

So if an emergency should occur in any of the areas serviced by the Williams Justice Center, do not try to take advantage of the situation. You will not pass go, you may loose $200 and you may go to jail.