Category Archives: Flagstaff

“Blood moon” all the rage tonight.

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Schematic diagram of the shadow cast by the Earth. Within the central umbra shadow, the Moon is totally shielded from direct illumination by the Sun. In contrast, within the penumbra shadow, only a portion of sunlight is blocked. - Wikipedia

Schematic diagram of the shadow cast by the Earth. Within the central umbra shadow, the Moon is totally shielded from direct illumination by the Sun. In contrast, within the penumbra shadow, only a portion of sunlight is blocked. – Wikipedia

Coconino Astronomical Society flier from Fred Espanak's web site.

Coconino Astronomical Society flier from Fred Espanak’s web site.

FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino Astronomical Society is encouraging the viewing of a somewhat rare astronomical event starting tonight and running into the early morning hours. Tonight there will be the first of four total eclipses of the moon in 2014. It is predicted to have a red appearance which has given rise to the term “blood moon.”

NASA is even promoting a live stream of the event if it is too chilly for you or if the cloud coverage in your area causes a problem.

Coconino Astronomical Society flier from Fred Espanak's web site.

Coconino Astronomical Society flier from Fred Espanak’s web site.

The rarity of this even is that four blood moons will occur in roughly six-month intervals on the following dates: April 15, 2014; October 8, 2014; April 4, 2015, and September 28, 2015. This is called a tetrad by astronomers. The NY Daily News reports:

According to NASA, seeing four complete lunar eclipses in a row is very rare. The skies were tetrad-free from 1600 to 1900. But in the 21st century, there will be many.

What’s even stranger is that Americans have a front row seat.

“The most unique thing about the 2014-2015 tetrad is that all of them are visible for all or parts of the USA,” NASA eclipse expert Fred Espenak told CNN.

According to the Society flier the eclipse can be viewed with the naked eye with no special equipment required. Binoculars might give a better view of the event.

An eclipse of the moon can only take place during the full moon phase when the moon passes through some portion of the shadow of the Earth. The shadow consists of two parts; the penumbra and umbra. It is when the moon passes through the umbra portion that the earth blocks all light from the sun. That is the type of eclipse we will see with the tetrad.

The event begins at about 10:58 tonight when a partial eclipse begins. The total eclipse should bet at 12:07 tomorrow morning. The moon will be eclipsed until around 1:25 with another partial eclipse ending at 2:33 am.

The Coconino Astronomical Society promotes taking advantage of the dark skies of Arizona to view astronomical events. They have a private, two-acre viewing area two-miles north of Williams provided for CAS members and their guests.

They group has recently been attempting to set up monthly viewing sessions inside Williams. Even within the lighted city the session this month provided remarkable views of Jupiter and four of the moons. Later in the summer Saturn will be visible including the amazing rings surrounding it.

Theatrikos Presents A 1940’s-Themed Fundraising Gala

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FLAGSTAFF – The Theatrikos Theatre Company will be hosting a gala event at the DoubleTree (formerly the Woodlands Hotel) in Flagstaff on May 3, 2014, complete with gourmet food and world-class entertainment. The reception will begin at 6:00 PM, followed by dinner at 7:00 PM and a presentation at 8:00 PM. The theme is “A Nostalgic Look Back to the 1940’s.” Period attire is encouraged, but not required.

Stan Sutherland and Ray Jordan, both members of the Theatrikos board of directors and frequent volunteers for various Northern Arizona nonprofit organizations, will present the evening’s entertainment with the help of other members of the Theatrikos family. Sutherland thinks that the 1940s theme will be a good excuse for people to get dolled up in period clothes and immerse themselves in an iconic era. “The ’40s were interesting, because in addition to being a time of unprecedented tragedy, they were a huge cultural highpoint. Film Noir classics like ‘The Maltese Falcon,’ as well as stuff like ‘Casablanca’ and ‘Citizen Kane’ were being made all in the same brief stretch.

Read more at Flagstaff Voices

Flagstaff Liberty Alliance April meeting features candidates.

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alliance-bannerFLAGSTAFF – The Flagstaff Liberty Alliance (Facebook) will introduce candidates John Lewis Mealer and Gary Kiehne at their April meeting (Facebook). Mealer is an Independent candidate for governor of Arizona and Kiehne is a Republican running for Representative for Congressional District #1.

The meeting will be held at the Weatherford Hotel at 23 N. Leroux Street in Flagstaff. The meeting will be on the second floor on Thursday, April 17 at 6 pm.

Detention Officer Arrested for Unlawful Sexual Conduct in a Correctional Facility

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FLAGSTAFF – On Tuesday, April 8, 2014 a staff member of the Coconino County Detention Facility spoke with an adult female inmate who told him that a detention officer was engaging in inappropriate conduct of a sexual nature with her. This information was given to the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation division and an internal affairs investigation was initiated. Sheriff’s Office staff contacted the Flagstaff Police Department and requested they conduct the criminal investigation of the offense.

As a result of the investigation by Flagstaff Police Detectives, 50 year-old Pete C. Gomez of Flagstaff, a Detention Officer II with the agency, was arrested for the offense of one count of Arizona Revised Statute 13-1419A (Unlawful Sexual Conduct in a Correctional Facility).

Gomez’s has been employed at the detention facility for five years. Gomez is on administrative leave as the internal investigation is continued by Sheriff’s Office Detectives. Flagstaff Police Detectives are continuing the criminal investigation.

ADOT seeks input on five-year transportation plan on May 9 in Flagstaff.

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PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation continues to gather comments on the 2015-2019 Tentative Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program while reaching out to the public and communities statewide for their input on the direction of the program over the next five years.

The third in the series of public hearings will be held in the City of Flagstaff Council Chambers, 211 W. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff, AZ 86001. The monthly State Transportation Board meeting will follow the public hearing.

The Five-Year Program is updated every year and serves as a blueprint that details where, when and how regional, state and federal funding will be spent for projects over the next five years to improve the state’s transportation infrastructure. This includes highways, bridges, transit and aviation.

Much like the current Five-Year Program, the 2015-2019 Tentative Five-Year Program reflects a major focus on preserving the existing state highway system to keep it in good repair, while moving some programmed projects forward. ADOT must prioritize projects due to stagnant revenue from the gas and vehicle license taxes and from decreased federal funding — all of which support the Five-Year Program. Last year, ADOT cut $350 million from the 2014-2018 Five-Year Program because of substantially decreased revenue dedicated to transportation. No additional funding cuts are forecast for the 2015-2019 Five-Year Program; however, overall state and federal transportation funding continues to be flat.

The 2015-2019 Tentative Five-Year Program includes a three percent increase in preservation spending over the 2014-2018 Program, with a steady increase in preservation funding over the next 10 years. Preserving the system means protecting our investment of $18.4 billion; this is the estimated value of the state highway system. The funding for the 2015-2019 Tentative Five-Year Program looks like this:

  • Greater Arizona: $1.8 billion over five years (60 percent for preservation, 11 percent for expansion and 29 percent for modernization)
  • Maricopa County region: $1.7 billion over five years
  • Pima County region: $349 million over five years Aviation: $1.1 billion over five years

Both the Maricopa and Pima county regions have independent revenue streams established through voter-approved sales tax increases.

The 2015-2019 Tentative Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program is available for public review and comment at azdot.gov/fiveyearprogram. ADOT has developed a “how to read it” guide and welcomes feedback at fiveyearprogram@azdot.gov.

The State Transportation Board will consider all public comments received by May 20. The first public hearing was held in March in Phoenix. The third and final public hearing will be held on May 9 in Flagstaff.

The board is expected to adopt the final 2015-2019 Five-Year Program at the June 13 meeting in Willcox at the City of Willcox Council Chambers, 300 W. Rex Allen Drive.

Citizen Prosecutor Academy scheduled for May 2d.

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CASEALGoldBlueReduced2FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Attorney office will conduct another Citizen Prosecutor Academy on Friday May 2d from 8:30 to 5 pm.

The day-long academy is taught by various experts from the Coconino County Attorney’s Office as well as other professionals from the criminal justice system. Attendees will learn how criminal cases are handled from intake/grand jury through trial to appeal. They can also expect a lecture presented by the Medical Examiner and a presentation about the Department of Public Safety Crime Lab. Participants will gain a behind-the-scenes understanding of real-world prosecution and law enforcement. You can see a sample of lectures from their previous agenda.

“We are excited to continue our academy which brings the community into the office to share information, exchange ideas, and facilitate a better understanding of how the County Attorney’s Office serves the public. It’s also a lot of fun,” County Attorney Rozema stated in the press release.

The class sizes are limited so interested parties should apply as soon as possible. You can download an application by clicking here.

Battlefield 4 tournament at Flag Military Surplus April 27th

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battlefield-4FLAGSTAFF—Flag Military Surplus and the Phantom Gaming Society have announced a tournament based on the Battlefield 4 video game beginning at 11 am. The proceeds will benefit the Wounded Warrior program.

The entry fee is $20 per person and includes dog tags, free drink and lunch and an entry for a raffle for a desktop PC. The cash purse will depend on the number of entries. There will be live music with a D.J. and a dunk tank.

Other sponsors of the event include 103.7 The Eagle, GameStop, Radio Shack, CommSpeed, Coca-Cola and BTO.

You may register at Flag Military Surplus at 7975 north U.S. 89 north of the Flagstaff Mall or where ever you see the Phantom Gamers car in town.

Gun shows return to Coconino County Fairgrounds.

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FLAGSTAFF—Arizona Collectibles and Firearms will return to the Coconino County Fairgrounds at Ft. Tuthill for two gun shows on May 17th & 18th and September 6th & 7th. The shows feature firearms, parts, ammo, knifes, militaria and much more.

The shows will run from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday and 9 am to 4 pm on Sunday.

To reserve a space or for more information, contact Dennis Champagne at (928) 310-8544 or by email at dennis.champagne@aol.com

Timberline/Fernwood and Doney Park Neighborhood Watch Meeting this week.

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neighborhoodwatchFLAGSTAFF – There will be a Timberline/Fernwood Neighborhood Watch Meeting on
Tuesday, April 1 (no foolin’) and Doney Park Neighborhood Watch Meeting Thursday, April 3.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll and Coconino County Supervisor Liz Archuleta will meet with residents of the Timberline and Fernwood communities at the monthly Neighborhood Watch meeting on Tuesday, April 1, 2014. The meeting will be held from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at Summit Fire Station 33, located at 6050 Firehouse Lane, off of North Highway 89. Members of the Sheriff’s Office staff will be at the meeting to share information and encourage continued neighborhood participation.

Sheriff’s Office staff will discuss concerns regarding motor vehicle collisions that have occurred in the past and continue to occur On Townsend Winona road. Tim Dalegowski who is the Transportation Planner for Coconino County will discuss the collisions on Townsend Winona Road from a Public Works perspective.

Neighborhood Watch is similar to the Block Watch program commonly conducted in urban areas and goes back to the concept of “neighbors looking out for neighbors” that many people remember from 30 years ago. It is one of the most effective ways to prevent and deter criminal activity, attend to home and personal security, address the safety of our children and the elderly, and to alleviate fear and isolation. Residents learn how to observe and report suspicious activity and reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll and District 4 Supervisor Mandy Metzger will meet with residents of the Doney Park community at the monthly Neighborhood Watch meeting on Thursday, April 3, 2014. The meeting will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Summit Fire District Station 32 and Administrative Offices located at 8905 Koch Field Road Flagstaff, AZ.

Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll will be at the meeting to encourage continued neighborhood participation and to share information. Doney Park Community Deputies will be available to answer questions and provide support to this partnership between law abiding citizens, law enforcement and county government.

Sheriff’s Office staff will discuss concerns regarding motor vehicle collisions that have occurred in the past and continue to occur On Townsend Winona road. Tim Dalegowski who is the Transportation Planner for Coconino County will discuss the collisions on Townsend Winona Road from a Public Works perspective.

Resident Stabbed During Assault

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FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives are investigating an alleged assault during which the victim claims he was stabbed while fighting with an assailant who forced his way into the victim’s home. On Sunday, March 23, 2014 at approximately 2:00 pm Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatchers received a call from an individual who reported he was stabbed by an intruder in his home. According to the victim/caller the suspect left his residence before the victim called the Sheriff’s Office.

Upon their arrival at the residence located in a west Doney Park neighborhood, deputies examined the victim and saw that he had sustained a single stab wound in his abdomen. He received on scene medical attention from Summit Fire District medics and was transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center by Guardian Ambulance where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

According to the victim, he answered a knock at his front door and was greeted by an adult male that was unknown to him. The stranger introduced himself as a private contractor and offered to do inexpensive roof repairs on the victim’s home. When the victim declined the offer, the unidentified suspect allegedly forced his way into the victim’s home. The two were engaged in a physical struggle and worked their way into the kitchen. According to the victim he obtained a small knife off of the counter to defend himself, and during the ensuing struggle was stabbed in the stomach.

The alleged intruder is described as an adult male with dark complexion, possibly Native American or Hispanic, with dark very short cropped hair almost giving the impression the suspect was bald, a dark goatee, approximately 5’11” in height, weighing approximately 190 pounds, and approximately 35 to 40 years of age. The alleged suspect was last seen wearing a black t-shirt and blue jean pants and exited the residence through the kitchen door.

Investigators believe this alleged crime is an isolated occurrence; the Sheriff’s Office has not received any reports of similar incidents. Detectives are pursuing this investigation in an effort to identify a suspect and to determine what occurred. If you live in the Doney Park area and have been contacted by a subject claiming to be a private contractor, offering inexpensive home repairs, you are asked to call the Sheriff’s Office.

Community members who believe they may have information regarding this alleged crime or individuals who observe something they believe is suspicious are urged to call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 774-4523, toll free at 1-800-338-7888, Coconino County Silent Witness at (928) 774-6111 (toll free at 1-877-292-7463). For all emergencies please dial 911.