Category Archives: Flagstaff

Flagstaff Mayor Jerry Nabours is a HAM!

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Corrected 6:43 am; 6/26
ARRL-Field-Day-16-06-25-01FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Amateur Radio Club participated in the Amateur Radio Relay League annual Field Day Event. The event is designed to demonstrate the abilities of amateur radio. Part of the demonstration includes allowing people to operate gear even without a license.

The event also allowed amateur radio operators, also called “Hams,” to demonstrate the usefulness of communications in an emergency situation. All of the units demonstrated were operated on alternative power, such as battery or generators.

ARRL-Field-Day-16-06-25-04Ron KG7OH and other CERT members displayed the equipment received after successful training. They were available for questions on the program and what you should carry when you hike in the woods in northern Arizona.

The Coconino Amateur radio club has an Amateur Radio Emergency System (ARES) team which provides emergency communications in times of distress. They operate in conjunction with CERT or separately depending on the situation. ARES is the ARRL version of what the Federal Communication Commission calls RACES or Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service. Last year Arizona lost all telephone and Internet service when a fiber optic cable was cut and the FBI is investigating the cutting of fiber optic cables in California at least eleven-times. In these instances, amateur radios still work. Amateur radio operators have assisted in emergency communications in virtually every disaster faced by America. Including 911 and the devastation in Katrina.

ARRL-Field-Day-16-06-25-05COCO President, Sandy Meadowcroft, KF4JHC, demonstrated how amateur radios can be used to track a person in an emergency using GPS and a basic amateur hand held unit. She also demonstrated how Ham radio operators can pass emails even when the Internet is down. Glen, KG7YDJ, displayed a small radio and basic car jump starter can be used as an emergency communication system.

Mayor Nabours (left) discusses amateur radio with CARC vice-president Tom Sheehan.

Mayor Jerry Nabours (left) discusses amateur radio with CARC vice-president Tom Shehan, KY7WV.

Flagstaff Mayor Jerry Nabours even stopped by to get a sample of the many uses of amateur radio.

People also got to see the fun side of amateur radio. Amateur operators constantly work to improve their equipment and communication skills by making contacts as far away as they can. While Morse code is no longer a requirement for a license, many Hams still use it as a viable communication skill today.

While some Ham operators purchase radios and antennas from various outlets, others still build their own. Communications using digital computer programs are popular. There is even amateur radio television.

Joe, W7LUX, sets up solar telescope for interested people to see the sun.

Joe, W7LUX, sets up solar telescope for interested people to see the sun.

Joe, W7LUX, set up telescopes so that people could see activities on the sun. Unfortunately we are currently in a solar minimum, so there was not much to see. Joe still answered questions about how solar activity acts on the atmosphere of the earth to provide long distance communication.

The ARRL Field Day runs until 11 a.m. tomorrow and the Coconino Radio Club will start to break down the demonstration. If you are interested in amateur radio, the Coconino Amateur Radio Club meets every 2nd Thursday of the month (Except December) at 7 p.m. at the Sizzler on Route 66 and Fanning Drive in Flagstaff. You can also visit their web site.

Amateur Radio Field Day active Saturday

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CARC Photo

FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino Amateur Radio Club will be participating in the annual Field Day event sponsored by the Amateur Radio Relay League. The event will be held at the Silver Saddle Outdoor Market on Highway 89a in Flagstaff. In Prescott, the Yavapai Amateur Radio Club will be hosting an event at the Jeep Posse building.

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CARC Photo

Amateur radio clubs across the nation participate in this event allowing the uninitiated a chance to find out what Amateur radio is all about. You DO NOT have to have an Amateur radio license to get a chance to work the equipment. If you are new to Ham radio, this is an opportunity to check out various HF operations.

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CARC Photo

Amateur radio has more to offer in this technologically advanced age. Most people do not realize that, with the Internet and Voice Over the Internet Protocol, you do not even need to purchase a radio. Echolink is a popular program that you can download and use on your computer and smart phone. You must have at least a technician license to use the program. There are web sites that allow you to operate over HF frequencies if you have the proper credentials.

Demonstrations at the Flagstaff location include:

  • SINGLE SIDE BAND RADIO
  • G.O.T.A (Get On The Air) STATION (You can talk of the radio)
  • DIGITAL STATION – sending message from radio to internet to radio, or, peer-to-peer
  • Auto Patch – Radio to phone
  • RIMLINK – Relaying radio messages from repeater to another repeater to reach Phoenix
  • APRS – Automatic Packet Reporting System
  • Alternative power sources – solar, hand cranked generator

Amateur radio groups across the country will operate at the exact same time and have similar activities. In Arizona the main operation will be from Saturday, June 25 at 11 a.m. ending Sunday at 11 a.m. In Flagstaff, the Coconino club will be setting up at 9 a.m. on Friday and members will be available in the afternoon for questions and possibly some demonstrations.

At 9 a.m. on Saturday at the Flagstaff location, the CARC will be giving the test for Amateur Extra for those who desire to get the license before the new examination is issued July 1. You must provide a picture I.D., copy of Amateur Radio license, and $15 fee. You need to bring a pencils for filling out the answer sheet and black pen for filling out the applications. You may bring and use a simple calculator.

Paving Operations Underway on Townsend-Winona Road

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photo 1_CROPPaving is underway on Townsend-Winona Road between Rio Rancho and Cosnino. Operations will continue throughout the week. Traffic delays of up to 20 minutes can be expected. Motorists are encouraged to leave early, expect delays and use an alternate route.

Fee-Free Weekend: Independence Day, July 2-4, 2016

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FLAGSTAFF — The Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest will waive fees associated with many recreation sites and amenities July 2-4, 2016 in honor of Independence Day.

As part of this event, fees will be waived for all Red Rock Pass Fee Program sites including Palatki, Honanki, V Bar V cultural sites, and multiple trailheads.

Campgrounds and recreation sites managed by concessionaires are not included in this event. These sites include Grasshopper Point, Crescent Moon Ranch, and Call of the Canyon.

See full details and the complete list of 2016 Fee-Free Days on the Coconino National Forest.

Registration required: No
Sponsor url: 2016 fee-free days

Sponsor Contact: Red Rock Ranger District
Phone: 928-203-2900

Mount Elden will have 27 acres of forest hand-thinned

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fseprd505663FLAGSTAFF — As part of the Flagstaff Water Protection Project, Coconino National Forest crews will begin hand-thinning 27 acres of forest around Mount Elden Wednesday (June 15) near the Rocky Ridge Trail for the next two months.

The thinning operations will be off of the Mount Elden Lookout Road (Forest Road 557), with the majority of the unit being north and west of the trail causing very little impact to users of Rocky Ridge Trail. The work crews will place signs on the trail on each end stating “tree work ahead” when necessary.

Forest Service personnel will be parking along Mount Elden Lookout road near the Rocky Ridge trail head, so forest goers should be cautious of the firefighters working in the area over the next two months.

Visit the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project for more information about the important work being done to protect Flagstaff area watersheds and communities.

Developed recreation sites on Coconino NF exempt from fire restrictions

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FLAGSTAFF — Certain developed recreation sites on the Coconino National Forest are exempt from fire restrictions, which began June 15, 2016 at 8 a.m. across the forest.

Under the restrictions, campfires, charcoal, coal and wood stoves are not allowed throughout the forest—unless in a developed recreation site.  However, fires are never advised anywhere during a Red Flag Warning such as was issued today by the National Weather Service.

The following list includes the only developed recreation sites on the Coconino National Forest exempt from fire restrictions. Note that campfires, and charcoal, coal and wood fires are prohibited at Forest Service rental cabins during Stage I and Stage II fire restrictions.

On the Flagstaff Ranger District (listed in alphabetical order):

  • Ashurst Lake Campground
  • Bonito Campground
  • Canyon Vista Campground
  • Dairy Springs Campground
  • Double Springs Campground
  • Forked Pine Campground
  • Flagstaff Nordic Center Lodge
  • Lake View Campground
  • Locket Meadow Campground
  • Narrows Picnic Area
  • O’leary Group Campground
  • Pine Grove Campground
  • Upper Lake Mary Boating Site

On the Red Rock Ranger District (which includes Oak Creek Canyon):

  • Banjo Bill Day-Use Site
  • Beaver Creek Day-Use Site
  • Bootlegger Day-Use Site
  • Cave Springs Campground
  • Chavez Group Site Campground
  • Clear Creek Campground
  • Crescent Moon Ranch Day-Use Site
  • Encinoso Day-Use Site
  • Grasshopper Point Day-Use Site
  • Halfway Day-Use Site
  • Lawrence Crossing Campground
  • Manzanita Campground
  • Pine Flats Campground

On the Mogollon Rim Ranger District:

  • Blue Ridge Campground
  • Clints Well Campground
  • Moqui Group Site Campground
  • Rock Crossing Campground

Arizona Game and Fish to consider proposed fishing regulation changes

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Fishing_Lees_Ferry_webPHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is proposing changes to Commission Order 40 (fishing regulations) to be considered by the Game and Fish Commission at its August meeting in Pinetop.

The department encourages the public to review the proposed changes (PDF: Click Here) and email comments to: fishregscomments@azgfd.gov.

The public also can provide comments at one of the following public meetings at which AZGFD will present the proposed changes:

  • Tucson: Tuesday, June 28, 6 p.m., Tucson Regional Office, 555 N. Greasewood Rd.
  • Flagstaff: Wednesday, July 6, 7 p.m., Flagstaff Regional Office, 3500 S. Lake Mary Rd.
  • Yuma: Wednesday, July 6, 7 p.m. American Legion, 2575 S. Virginia Dr.
  • Phoenix: Tuesday, July 12, AZGFD headquarters, Quail Room, 6 p.m., 5000 West Carefree Highway
  • Mesa: Monday, July 13, 6 p.m., Mesa Regional Office, 7200 E. University.
  • Pinetop: Wednesday, July 20, 7 p.m., Timber Mesa Fire Station No. 13, 2922 W. White Mountain Blvd, Lakeside.

Local resident asking for assistance in locating missing teen

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13427915_1325022454191867_5769990726795733846_nWILLIAMS — Local resident Autumn Mitchell is asking the assistance of the public in locating her granddaughter, Samntha Reis—aka Sammi.

Samantha has been missing four-days and was last seen in the Flagstaff area. There is some evidence that she may be attempting to get transportation to Tuscon, Arizona with an ultimate goal of Seattle, Washington.

Samantha is 17-years-old, weighs approximately 98-pounds, is approximately 5′ 5″ with dishwater blonde hair.

Anyone with information can call Autumn at 928-592-7727 or contact the Flagstaff or Williams police departments. She would appreciate if you call only with verifiable evidence as to the location of Samantha.13428357_1325022917525154_35462566357655912_n

Improvements continue on I-40 east of Flagstaff

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FLAGSTAFF — The Arizona Department of Transportation continues with improvements on a section of Interstate 40 between Walnut Canyon and Twin Arrows roads (MP 204 to MP 218), approximately six miles east of Flagstaff beginning Monday (June 20) and continuing weekly Monday through Thursday during daylight hours until late August. Some Friday work may be needed.

Single lane closures can be anticipated within the project area to accommodate construction. Please observe reduced speed limits and allow for extra time for travel through the work zone.

A.R.S. 28-710 provides for increase fines for speeding through a highway construction zone.

Sheriff Department Woods Watch training Wednesday June 15

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Sheriff’s Department will be holding a Woods Watch Training on Wednesday, June 15, 2016 from 6-8 pm at the Law Enforcement Administrative Facility, 911 E. Sawmill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001.

Please remember that to continue as a Woods Watch Participant, we need you to attend / renew this training annually and complete an updated application / waiver form.

If you plan to attend, please RSVP at 928-226-5012 or sheriff@coconino.az.gov

Concerns about dry conditions, wind, and the impending Wildland Fire Season are on the minds of many community members in our cities and unincorporated areas of Coconino County. Community members can help keep our communities safe through a partnership with government and public safety agencies by volunteering for the Woods Watch Program.

To sign up, community members need to attend an approximately 2-hour training and complete a simple application process. The training and application need to be completed / renewed annually to ensure all information is current.

The Woods Watch Program is similar to Neighborhood Watch and is of vital importance in residential areas that interface with forested land. Volunteers are trained to assist local officials in watching for and properly reporting people accessing closed areas or people who are using fire carelessly or against fire restrictions, especially on forested lands. Community volunteers make a commitment to join local law enforcement officers to keep our communities and our forests beautiful, safe and free of wild land fires.

Each year over 100 volunteers have attended Woods Watch training and assist by being good witnesses to suspicious activity occurring on or near our forested lands and communities. This first class of this year will be held on June 15, 2016 at 6:00 pm in the Law Enforcement Administrative Facility Auditorium at 911 E. Sawmill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ. Please register by calling (928) 226-5012 to help us plan accordingly.