Category Archives: City

Lane restrictions on Interstate 17 tomorrow for pavement work

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The Arizona Department of Transportation will perform routine pavement maintenance on Interstate 17 between New River and the Bloody Basin traffic interchange (mileposts 235 to 258) tomorrow, Tuesday, June 23 between 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Motorists should be prepared for alternating lane restrictions and intermittent shoulder closures between mileposts 235 and 258 to provide a safe work zone for maintenance crews. Minimal delays are expected.

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

Maintenance on I-40 just west of Flagstaff scheduled for June 23 and June 24

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FLAGSTAFF — Motorists traveling eastbound on I-40 just west of Flagstaff on Tuesday (June 23) and Wednesday (June 24) should allow for extra travel time and potential delays as the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) performs maintenance work from milepost 185 to 190. The work will be conducted during daylight hours and will require closure of the travel lane during operations.

ADOT advises drivers to proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

Toy box raffle coming soon

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WILLIAMS — You still have time to get tickets for the toy box raffle sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW Post. Tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5. The hand-made toy box is stuffed with toys for babies, teens and adults. The drawing will be held at the Williams Event Stage at 2 p.m.

Locust Fire grows slowly; continues to benefit forest resources

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FREDONIA — The Locust Fire continues to slowly grow near Rainbow Rim Trail on the North Kaibab Ranger District. The lightning-caused fire is located 39 miles south-southeast of Fredonia, Ariz., and northeast of Locust Point. The fire is approximately 37 acres in size and forest officials are managing the fire for resource objectives.

Over the coming weeks, fire crews will manage the fire within a 3,283-acre boundary. Roads, trails, and ridges will help crews maintain low to moderate fire spread within the management area.

The objectives fire managers are working to achieve include returning fire to a fire-adapted ecosystem, reducing accumulated fuels on the forest floor, recycling nutrients into the soil, enhancing wildlife habitat, and protecting the area from future high-intensity wildland fires. To help accomplish these objectives, fire crews are removing vegetation around designated perimeter roads. These and other predefined locations are known as Management Action Points (MAPs) where actions will be taken to slow, redirect, or prevent fire spread, to accomplish stated objectives.

Fire activity consists of low and slow surface fire with four to eight inch flame lengths. The Locust Fire is spreading in all directions but mainly to the east-southeast. For those planning a trip to this area of the forest, please be cautious as smoke may be present in and around the Rainbow Rim Trail during the day and overnight.

The weather forecast shows warm and dry conditions. Fire activity will likely increase as fuels continue to dry in the fire area and smoke may be visible from Arizona Highway 67 and Highway 89A. No road closures are in effect. Motorists are reminded to exercise caution when in the area.

State Transportation Board approves Five-Year Construction Program

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PHOENIX — Projects to improve Arizona’s highway system through expansion, preservation and modernization were formally approved today to move forward as part of the Arizona Department of Transportation’s annual five-year planning process.

Funding for the Five-Year Program is generated by the users of transportation services, primarily through gasoline and diesel fuel taxes, and the vehicle license tax.

Today the State Transportation Board met in Pinetop-Lakeside and voted to adopt the 2016-2020 Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program. The board’s action determines which projectsdi are now programmed in Greater Arizona, the Maricopa County region and the Pima County region. The process to finalize these projects began in March with a call to the public, stakeholders and local governments to comment online or during three public hearings.

“ADOT and its partners are striving to reduce fatalities, increase mobility and improve the economy by balancing infrastructure needs all while using a funding source that continues to erode due to inflation, fuel economy and alternative fuels,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “While fuel economy and alternatives to gasoline are good for the consumer and the environment, necessary expansion and maintenance of our transportation infrastructure is not keeping pace with needs. Appropriate investment is necessary for expansion and maintenance of our infrastructure, not only for safety and efficiency, but also to compete in today’s global economy.”

Much like the current Five-Year Program, the newly adopted 2016-2020 Five-Year Program reflects a major focus on preserving the existing state highway system while moving some high-priority expansion projects forward. ADOT must prioritize projects due to continued low revenue from the gas and vehicle license taxes and from decreased federal funding — all of which support the Five-Year Program. ADOT’s continued focus on preservation allows the department to protect its investment of $19.7 billion in the state highway system. Without a commitment to preservation, it would cost approximately $200 billion to replace the system.

Both the Maricopa and Pima county regions in the two metropolitan areas have independent revenue streams established through voter-approved sales tax increases that allow for more expansion projects to take place and for more transportation funding overall.

The following is a list of major projects for Greater Arizona, the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) region and the Pima Association of Governments (PAG) region during the 2016-2020 Five-Year Program. This list provides an overview and does not include all projects in the Five-Year Program.

  • State Route 260, Interstate 17 to Thousand Trails: This widening project totals $62 million ($52 million will be allocated in FY 2016 for construction, while $10 million was programmed in FY 2015 for right of way). The project, which is scheduled to begin construction in spring 2016, will upgrade a nine-mile segment of SR 260 from a two-lane roadway to a four-lane, modern divided highway between Thousand Trails Road and the Interstate 17 junction in Camp Verde, east of Cottonwood. The project is the final step in transforming SR 260 into a continuous four-lane divided highway between the I-17/SR 260 junction and Cottonwood to enhance safety and improve traffic flow for the Greater Verde Valley area.
  • State Route 347 Railroad Overpass: This estimated $55 million bridge project is intended to alleviate traffic backups at the Union Pacific Railroad crossing in Pinal County by replacing the existing at-grade intersection with an overpass on SR 347, so vehicle and train traffic do not impede one another. SR 347 is the only direct route between the city of Maricopa and metro Phoenix. The funding for this project is allocated in phases. ADOT has an agreement with the city of Maricopa for the city to contribute a total of $8 million to this project.

FY 2016: $5.5 million allocated for right of way

FY 2017: $7.3 million allocated for right of way

FY 2020: $36.2 million allocated for construction

In FY 2015,$6 million was allocated for project development.

  • State Route 189, Nogales to Interstate 19: Total project cost is currently estimated at $70 million. ADOT is planning these improvements along SR 189 to ensure international commerce can efficiently and safely travel between Arizona and Mexico at the Mariposa Port of Entry, one of the busiest land ports in the United States. Even though it is one of the shortest highways in the state, SR 189 has a huge impact on trade in this region.

FY 2016: $2 million allocated for preliminary engineering

FY 2018: $4 million allocated for design work

FY 2021: $64 million is anticipated to be available for construction (note that this portion of the project is in the 2021-2025 Development Program)

  • State Route 89, State Route 89A to Deep Well Ranch Road: $15 million allocated in FY 2017 for a corridor widening project that will improve capacity, operations and safety. The roadway will be widened from two lanes to four lanes.
  • US 60, Show Low to 40th Street: $6 million allocated in FY 2018 for this project, which will add turn lanes, widen the roadway and construct intersection improvements.
  • US 93, Cane Springs section: $5 million allocated in FY 2019 for project design work on this widening project that is part of ADOT’s commitment to convert all of US 93 to a modern, four-lane divided highway. In FY 2024, $31 million is anticipated to be available for construction (note that this portion of the project is in the 2021-2025 Development Program).
  • Interstate 15, Bridge No. 1: $2.5 million allocated in FY 2017 for design and $33 million allocated in FY 2019 for bridge replacement.
  • Interstate 10, Ina Road traffic interchange: $85 million allocated from FY 2016 to FY 2017. This project entails a full reconstruction of the Ina Road traffic interchange. Interstate 10 currently passes over Ina Road, and with this project, Ina Road will become elevated and pass over I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad. The existing frontage roads and ramps will also require reconstruction.
  • Interstate 10, Houghton Road traffic interchange: $41 million allocated from FY 2016 to FY 2019 for this construction project.
  • Interstate 10, Ruthrauff Road traffic interchange: $104 million allocated from FY 2017 to FY 2018 for this reconstruction project.
  • Interstate 10, Country Club Road traffic interchange: $71 million allocated from FY 2018 to FY 2020 for this construction project.
  • Interstate 19, Ajo Way traffic interchange: $22 million allocated in FY 2018 for Phase II of this reconstruction project.
  • South Mountain Freeway: $1.48 billion allocated from FY 2016 to FY 2020 for construction, which is expected to begin in early 2016.
  • Loop 303, I-10 interchange: $83 million allocated from FY 2016 to FY 2019 for Phase II of the Loop 303 project, which will extend Loop 303 south of I-10 in Goodyear.
  • Interstate 10, 32nd Street near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to the Loop 202 Santan Freeway in Chandler: $303 million allocated from FY 2016 to FY 2020 for widening and other improvements to I-10. This project includes improvements at the Broadway Curve to help traffic flow more efficiently through this section of the Maricopa Freeway.

The Five-Year Program serves as a blueprint for future projects and designates how much local, state and federal funding is allocated for those projects. It is updated annually. Each program begins with a long-range visioning process, moves into a more realistic 20-year plan and finally yields each Five-Year Program. The program is developed by working closely with local planning organizations and community leaders to identify ready-to-construct or design projects.

Rescue of fallen climber on Mount Elden

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640-sheriff-photo

Coconino County Sheriff photo.

FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Sheriff 911 dispatchers received a report yesterday at about 10:45 a.m. of a 38-year old woman who fell 25-feet while climbing on the Schultz Pass side of Mount Elden in the area of Oldham Falls.

According to the caller a 38 year-old woman who was climbing on a rock face was attempting to place an anchor in a crack in the shear rock face where she was climbing. She fell approximately 25 feet, jerked to a stop at the end of her secured safety line, and slammed with a great deal of force into the rock face.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Search Unit and the Flagstaff Fire Department responded to the call for service. When the first responders arrived, by standers had already freed the victim from her line and she was positioned on the ground.

Flagstaff firefighters provided on scene medical care and prepared the victim for transportation in medical litter. Eight Flagstaff firefighters and seven Search and Rescue volunteers took turns carrying the victim approximately three-quarter of a mile to a waiting Guardian Ground Medical Transport unit.

The victim was transported to the Flagstaff Medical Level 1 Trauma Unit where she was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Northern Arizona law enforcement track kidnapping suspect

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On Wednesday, June 18, 2015 at approximately 1:19 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Lieutenant who manages the Page Patrol division received information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that an individual may have been taken against his will. The FBI provided subject, victim and vehicle descriptions as well as direction of travel of the vehicle. Additionally, the subject was seeking to acquire a firearm.

The CCSO Lieutenant initiated a regional attempt to locate message with information regarding the case and a vehicle description to Northern Arizona Law Enforcement Agencies to include the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Page Police Department, the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety and the National Park Service.

An Arizona DPS Officer and a CCSO Sergeant located the suspect vehicle as it was north bound on Highway 89 and positioned behind a pilot vehicle at a construction zone near Cedar Ridge.

The officer and a deputy attempted to perform a high risk stop on the vehicle and administered verbal commands instructing the occupants to exit the vehicle. The occupants failed to follow instructions and the driver maneuvered the vehicle through the construction zone and continued north on Highway 89 at speeds reaching 100 miles per hour with officers in pursuit.

Page Police Officers, AZ DPS Officers and National Park Service Rangers attempted on four occasions to deploy Stop Sticks designed to gradually deflate vehicle tires; however the driver was able to avoid the stop sticks at all four locations.

At one point a Page Police Officer fired his duty weapon once at the suspect vehicle; no one was struck or injured by the bullet. CCSO Detectives and Page Police Department personnel are conducting independent investigations of this shooting.

The pursuit continued through the City of Page, AZ and north on Highway 89 into Utah. As the vehicle fled from pursuing officers the occupants threw items out of the windows to include miscellaneous papers. Utah law enforcement authorities deployed stop sticks at two more locations and during both incidents the devices effectively deflated all four tires of the suspect vehicle. In the area of milepost 54.9 on Highway 89 after traveling on tireless wheels, the vehicle veered to the side of the road.

Pursuing officers gave commands to the occupants to exit the vehicle. For a prolonged period of time the occupants refused to follow commands and continued to throw items out of the vehicle to include an empty handgun holster. They also waved an American Flag and a second unidentified flag out of the windows. At least one of the occupants placed gas masks over his face.

Eventually the driver who was believed to be the alleged kidnap victim exited the vehicle and shortly thereafter the passenger also exited the vehicle. Both individuals were taken into custody by Deputies assigned to the Kane County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Unit. Utah Highway Patrol officials are continuing this investigation.

A portion of Highway 89 in Utah was shut down for a prolonged period of time as the result of the pursuit and subsequent standoff with the vehicle occupants.

Florence AZPDES renewal permit

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PROPOSED ARIZONA POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (AZPDES) RENEWAL PERMIT

Pursuant to the Clean Water Act and in accordance with Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R18-9-A907, the Director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) proposes to renew an Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (AZPDES) Permit to discharge pollutants to Waters of the United States to the following applicant, subject to certain effluent limitations and special conditions:

Public Notice No.15-64                      Published on June 18, 2015
Published in Florence Reminder

AZPDES Permit No. AZ0025208
Town of Florence- South Wastewater Treatment Plant
P.O. Box 2670
Florence, AZ 85232

The Town of Florence applied for renewal of an AZPDES permit for the proposed discharge of up to 2.5 million gallons per day (mgd) of treated domestic wastewater from the Town of Florence South Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Gila River in the Middle Gila River Basin in Township 4 S, Range 9 E, Section 34, in Pinal County, Arizona. The Town of Florence South Wastewater Treatment Plant is a publicly owned treatment works that receives domestic wastewater from residential and commercial sources in the town of Florence and the Florence Prison System. Sludge is treated in sludge digesters, then pumped to a belt press and disposed of at the Apache Junction Landfill Corporation in Pinal County. The WWTP also receives and treats sludge from the North Florence WWTP.

The permit and fact sheet may be viewed online at http://www.azdeq.gov/cgi-bin/vertical.pl by typing the permit number in the box left of “Search Event”. The public notice and related documentation also are available for public review, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the ADEQ Records Center, 1110 W. Washington St., Phoenix, Arizona, 85007. In Phoenix, please call (602) 771-4380 or e-mail recordscenter@azdeq.gov 24 hours in advance to schedule an appointment to review the file.

Persons may submit comments or request a public hearing on the proposed action in writing, to Richard Mendolia, Water Permits Section, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division, 1110 W. Washington St., 5415B-3, Phoenix, Arizona 85007. All written comments received by ADEQ by the close of business on the date 30 days after publication of this notice will be considered in the final permit decision. A public hearing request must be in writing and must include the reasons for such request. If there is a significant degree of public interest, the Director will hold a hearing in accordance with A.A.C. R18-9-908(B).

Locust Fire being managed on Kaibab National Forest

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FREDONIA — Like the Jolly Fire, the Locust fire is a lightning caused fire in the Kaibab National Forest. The Locust Fire is located approximately 39 miles south-southeast of Fredonia, Arizona northeast of Locust Point near the Rainbow Rim Trail. The fire was discovered by fire personnel on June 15 at approximately noon during an aerial reconnaissance flight.

North Zone fire managers met yesterday to discuss strategies for managing a second fire in the North Kaibab Ranger District, and the possible impacts this managed fire could potentially have on forest visitors.

They plan to allow it to burn to rid the forest of Pine litter, down woody debris and grass fuels. The planning area is bound by Forest Service Road (FSR) 214 on the north, FSR 206 on the east, FSR 293 on the south and FSR 250 on the west. The Rainbow Rim will not be closed during this managed fire, and fire managers are aware of the anticipated increase in visitor use during this weekend’s scheduled bike festival.

Smoke may be visible from FSR 22, FSR 206 and Arizona Highway 67, Highway 89A and the scenic vista viewpoints on the Rainbow Rim. No closures are currently anticipated.

Sheriff’ Deputies Respond to Multiple Reports of Burglary from Automobiles in 2 Rural Neighborhoods

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FLAGSTAFF — At about 6:30 am this morning, Tuesday, June 16, 2015 a Sheriff’s Deputy responded to the report of a vehicle burglary in Pioneer Valley Estates on Pioneer Valley Road. The reporting party believed the crime occurred sometime after Monday, June 15, 2015 7:30 pm and before Tuesday, June 15, 2015 6:00 am. According to the victim the vehicle was left unlocked and several items of value were taken. After taking the initial report Deputies drove the area and discovered an additional 5 vehicle burglaries. Deputies found several vehicles with doors left open. Many of the vehicle owners were asleep and unaware that their vehicle had been burglarized. Due to similar physical evidence found at several of the crime scenes Deputies believe all of the crimes were committed by the same suspect or group of suspects.

These burglaries also occurred in Sunset Crater Estates on Moonbeam and Gemini. Items taken during the burglaries included a portable audio player, a satellite radio receiver, cash and loose change, and a firearm. All the victims told the investigators that they left their vehicles unlocked. During the investigations Deputies learned that locked vehicles located in close proximity to the burglarized vehicles were left untouched. It is not uncommon for individuals who commit vehicle burglaries to walk a neighborhood and check the doors of each vehicle. If the vehicle is locked they move on until they find a vehicle that is unlocked.

Auto-burglary prevention, like all crime prevention, involves limiting the criminal’s ability and/or opportunity to commit the crime. With very little time and effort, you can make a huge difference in your vulnerability to auto-burglary.

  • Lock ALL your vehicle’s doors even if you plan to be gone for only a brief time. Every year, we have items stolen from unlocked vehicles where the owner was only going to be gone “just for a second.” It only takes seconds to steal your stuff! It’s not uncommon for thieves to walk down a row of parked vehicles and check vehicle doors to see if they are unlocked. Don’t leave any window open or even cracked open, including vent/wing windows and sunroofs.
  • Don’t leave valuables in your car. That sounds like “common sense,” but drivers/passengers do leave items of value in plain view every day. If you leave valuable items visible in your car, your car is automatically a target.
  • Try to park in busy, well-lighted areas. Try to park in well-traveled areas. Large anonymous lots are hit by thieves much more often than parking immediately adjacent to residential housing or other occupied buildings.
  • Set any alarm or anti-theft device. If you have one, use it! Many people believe that car-alarms no longer make a difference, but they can be an effective deterrent to an auto-burglar, who most often chooses the easiest target.
  • Mark your valuables! As a last line of defense (not really to prevent theft as much as to aid in recovery), mark your valuables. Recording serial numbers is dandy, but nowadays many serial numbers are on removable “labels” rather than “engraved” into valuable items. Sheriff Pribil suggests inscribing/engraving a “personal identifier” on all valuables.
  • Take Removable Equipment with You. If you have an after-market stereo/CD-player with a removable faceplate, remove it. Without the faceplate, the unit is less attractive/useful to many thieves, and harder to “fence.” If the unit can be pulled, pull it! Take it with you. Just covering a valuable radio (or ANY valuables in your car) with something (like a blanket or towel) to hide it will probably only draw thieves’ attention.
  • Report Suspicious Activity. If you see suspicious activity, report it to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 774-4523 or call 911

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