Category Archives: City

Rescuers Respond to Paria Canyon Twice in Two Days

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FLAGSTAFF — On Sunday, September 27, the Sheriff’s Office was made aware of a sick hiker in Paria Canyon in very close proximity to where the previously described response occurred. The DPS helicopter based in Kingman responded, located the ill hiker, and landed. The individual was flown out of the canyon and subsequently refused any medical treatment.

Yesterday at about 5:00 pm, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a Kane County Utah Sheriff’s Deputy who advised of a personal locater beacon spot activation in Paria Canyon approximately 8 miles upstream from Lees Ferry. The family members of the hikers in possession of the device, indicated to investigators that the distress signal was a level 2 which indicates the individuals initiating the signal are sick or injured and need help as soon as possible.

Due to the late hour of the day, the impending darkness and the rugged terrain, an air search was conducted by the Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue Helicopter based in Flagstaff—instead of a ground search. The helicopter left the airport at 5:30 pm and arrived at the location where the device was activated an hour later and began an air search.

Crew members spotted the hikers approximately 1 mile downstream from the initiation point. The pilot was able to safely land the helicopter and crew members made contact with the group of hikers. According to one of the individuals, he was changing the batteries in the spot locater and accidentally activated the level 2 emergency signal. None of the party members required transport and the DPS helicopter returned to Flagstaff.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Arizona Department of Public Safety for the availability of air rescue helicopters and crews. This vital service is extensively utilized by the Sheriff’s Office throughout Coconino County on search and rescue assignments and a wide variety of other law enforcement related missions.

Final striping today on SR 89 at Road 4 North in Chino Valley

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CHINO VALLEY — Work at the State Route 89 and Road 4 North roundabout in Chino Valley is almost complete and crews are striping the new intersection today, Sept. 28 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Minimal impacts are expected during work hours. For the remainder of the week, drivers can expect intermittent lane restrictions approaching the roundabout for final miscellaneous work.

Drivers are encouraged to be alert for construction equipment and personnel through the work zone.

This $2.1 million project began in February and included a new roundabout at the intersection of SR 89 and Road 4 North near milepost 331, the removal and replacement of existing pavement, drainage improvements, new pavement markings and lighting.

Missing Person Ethan Depler Found Deceased

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Coconino County Sheriff Photo

Coconino County Sheriff Photo

FLAGSTAFF — Twenty-one year old Ethan Depler of Chandler Arizona who was the subject of a missing person investigation by the Chandler Police Department and later believed to be somewhere in Northern Arizona was found deceased on Friday 9/25/15.

At approximately 2:30 pm on Friday the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a United States Forest Service employee who had previously received the missing person flyer on Ethan from the Sheriff’s Office. According to the caller he found Ethan’s vehicle as described in the flyer off of Forest Service Road 75 which is located north of Pittman Valley off of Interstate 40.

On duty Deputies from both the Flagstaff and Williams patrol divisions responded to the area and began a ground search. Within a short period of time Deputies located the body of Ethan Depler on a wooded knoll approximately 100 to 150 yards west of where his vehicle was parked.

Ethan’s body was removed to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office. Detectives and Medical Examiner’s Death Investigators are considering the possibility that Ethan died as the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The Pumpkin Patch Train event begins this weekend.

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WILLIAMS — The Grand Canyon Railway rolls to the secret pumpkin patch starting this weekend and running every weekend through October. The event includes some spooky fun at the terminal on Grand Canyon Boulevard.

The long-range weather forecast currently shows sunny weather for the event on Friday and Saturday with a slight chance of thunderstorms on Sunday. Highs will range from 82 to the upper 70s throughout the week. Highs Saturday and Sunday are expected to be around 78.
There are only eight-days for the Pumpkin Patch Event through October. The dates are the 3, 4 (this weekend), 9, 10, 11, 12, 17 and 18. Departure times are 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Tickets for the Pumpkin Patch train event are $23 for adults and $18 for children. Tickets can be purchased at the Grand Canyon Railway web site.

30-Day Public Comment Period and Hearing

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) opens a 30-day public comment period today, September 28, 2015, for the proposed State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision for the Regional Haze Rule (RHR), 5-Year Progress Report. The report addresses the RHR requirement under the Clean Air Act to submit a report describing progress in achieving reasonable progress goals to improve visibility in federally designated Class I areas in Arizona, as well as nearby states that may be affected by emissions from sources in Arizona.

The Class I areas include Grand Canyon National Park, the Petrified Forest Park and Sycamore Canyon Wilderness area.

A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, October, 27, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. in the ADEQ Building, Conference Room 3100B, 1110 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007. All interested parties will be given an opportunity to submit their comments, data, and views both verbally and in writing.

Written comments shall state the name and mailing address of the person, be signed by the person, their agent or attorney, and clearly set forth reasons why the SIP revision should or should not be finalized. Grounds for comment are limited to whether the SIP revision meets the criteria spelled out in federal air pollution control laws or rules.

If you are unable to attend the public hearing, your written comments should be addressed, faxed, or e-mailed to Justine E. Miller, miller.justine@azdeq.gov, (602) 771-6723, Air Quality Division, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, 1110 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007. Comments submitted via U.S. Postal Service, FedEx, or UPS must be postmarked on or before October 28, 2015.

Copies of the revisions’ proposal are available for review, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., in the ADEQ Records Center, 1110 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007, (602) 771-4712. The proposal can also be accessed through ADEQ’s Website (PDF). The final SIP revision will be submitted to EPA following consideration of all comments received during the public notice period.

Williams Middle School Drama club presents Hairball

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WMS-DramaHairball-1WILLIAMS — The Williams Middle School Drama club presents Hairball; a modern comedy about the trials and tribulations of hair. The presentation will be at the Bud Parenteau Auditorium at the middle school, 601 N 7th Street in Williams. The play will be Wednesday, September 30 at 6:30 and the cost is $1 for students and $2 for adults.

Workers put holes in the bridge

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640-Boxcar150925-13WILLIAMS — City workers cut the holes in the boxcar bridge this morning. They said that they had no word on when the bridge would be complete. There is still some concrete work left to do.

US 60 east of Superior to close briefly for blasting operations Sept. 29-Oct. 1

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PHOENIX — Motorists traveling along US 60 between Phoenix and Globe next week need to plan ahead or allow extra time as the Arizona Department of Transportation continues blasting work as part of an improvement project to build a new passing lane and widen roadway shoulders east of Superior, approximately 65 miles east of downtown Phoenix.

The construction of the two-mile-long climbing lane from Devil’s Canyon to Oak Flat (mileposts 231-233) will require five separate full closures of US 60 for up to 90 minutes:

  • Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and again from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
  • Thursday, Oct. 1, at 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and again from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Traffic on eastbound US 60 will be stopped east of Superior (milepost 227) and westbound US 60 will be stopped at the Top of the World, west of Miami (milepost 235) until the blasting work is completed and the roadway is reopened after all debris is cleared. Law enforcement officers will be stationed at each closure to assist with traffic control.

Immediately prior to each blast, crews need to set the concrete barrier for that blast and additional delays are possible.

ADOT anticipates the highway will be closed at least once per week for blasting for up to three months. As blasting continues there will be a lesser impact on traffic and delays will be reduced.

Motorists seeking an alternate route can consider state routes 77 and 177, which is approximately 68 miles long. Motorists headed to the White Mountains region, including Show Low and Springerville, can also take State Route 87 through Payson and travel east on State Route 260 as an alternative.

ADOT will work to minimize the traffic impacts as much as possible, including scheduling some nighttime work.

There will be narrow traffic lanes, wide-load restrictions and a reduced speed limit through the work zone. Flaggers and pilot cars will be used at different times throughout the project.

Drivers are asked to use caution, watch for construction equipment and personnel, and allow extra time for your commute.

Pavement work scheduled overnight at Sunset Point tomorrow

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The Arizona Department of Transportation will install new pavement markers at the Sunset Point rest area on Saturday, September 26. Drivers can expect minimal delays and restrictions to the on and off-ramps at Sunset Point on southbound Interstate 17 between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

The speed limit through the work zones will be reduced to 45 mph during work hours.

Williams Vikings hold homecoming parade

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vikings-3WILLIAMS — The Williams Vikings held their annual Homecoming parade blocking off portions (all of) historic Route 66 this afternoon. The parade was a prelude to their bonfire tonight in preparation for their ignominious stomping of their rival from Mayer tomorrow at 7 p.m.