Category Archives: City

Two Vehicle Collision on Townsend/Winona Rd. Claims a Life

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Flagstaff – Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives are investigating a two vehicle collision that occurred yesterday in the 6300 block of Townsend/Winona Road that resulted in the death of a sixty five year-old Richard Hintz of Flagstaff, Arizona.

On Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at about 1:47 p.m. the Northern Arizona 911 emergency dispatch center received several cell phone calls from motorists who reported a two vehicle head-on-collision in the 6600 block of Townsend Winona Road. Upon their arrival Deputies determined that the drivers of both vehicles were trapped inside their vehicles. Emergency first responders from Summit Fire District worked to extricate both of the trapped victims. Once Richard Hintz was removed from his White Honda four door sedan paramedics immediately began life saving efforts to include C.P.R. Sadly, the sixty-five year old man of Flagstaff did not respond to the medical attention and was eventually pronounced deceased at the scene of the collision.

A sixty-two year old man of Winslow, Arizona was freed from his vehicle and was taken to the Flagstaff Medical Center by Guardian Medical Transport where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries. There were no passengers in either vehicle. Judging from physical evidence at the scene and statements obtained from witnesses, investigators believe the white Honda four door sedan was traveling west bound on Townsend Winona Road and the driver of a white Dodge pickup was traveling east bound and for an unknown reason the two vehicles collided in a head-on fashion.

This collision remains under investigation and no enforcement action has been taken at this point.

South Mountain Freeway Public-Private Partnership Concept Advances

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‘Request for Information’ next step for public-private partnership proposal

Study area. Click on image to go to ADOT site.

Study area. Click on image to go to ADOT site.


PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation has released a Request for Information related to the proposal to construct the South Mountain Freeway as a public-private partnership, if the freeway is approved through the ongoing federal environmental process.

Those with an interest in the public-private partnership proposal are encouraged to submit responses to outlined questions to ADOT’s Office of P3 Initiatives by Feb. 25. Comments should focus on the construction of the proposed South Mountain Freeway as a public-private partnership, with an emphasis on procurement methods and structure of a public-private partnership arrangement.

The purpose of this Request for Information is to seek the industry’s perspective and feedback on specific questions, and to provide an opportunity for industry input on the overall procurement process for the proposed project. Interested organizations and individuals are encouraged to submit responses with detailed comments. The information contained in the responses to this Request for Information will help ADOT advance planning and development efforts for the project; help confirm or refine ADOT’s project procurement, financing and delivery approach; and may result in the launch of a formal Request for Proposals.

A forum for industry representatives will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 27 in the ADOT Auditorium, 206 S. 17th Ave. in Phoenix. Seating for the industry forum is limited, and reservations should be made by contacting P3Office@azdot.gov.

This Request for Information is the next step for the unsolicited public-private partnership proposal submitted to ADOT in 2013 – the first unsolicited proposal for a highway public-private partnership submitted to the agency. Under state law, ADOT is required to conduct a review of the proposal before deciding if the concept merits an open solicitation for other companies to submit competitive proposals.

The South Mountain Freeway remains a corridor under study, and this public-private partnership proposal has no impact on the ongoing environmental impact statement that is scheduled to be finalized in 2014. The environmental impact statement must be completed and acceptable to the Federal Highway Administration regardless of how the proposed project is funded or constructed.

Public-private partnerships allow a private-sector entity to participate in the delivery of a transportation project. ADOT has authority to partner with the private sector to build or improve Arizona transportation facilities.

Submissions to the Request for Information for the South Mountain Freeway and RSVPs for the industry forum can be submitted electronically to P3Office@azdot.gov.

For more information on ADOT’s public-private partnership program, or for a copy of the Request for Information, visit azdot.gov/P3.

Snow predicted through next week.

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snow-20140131Snow possibility is predicted by the National Weather Service through next Thursday. While this is only the beginning of our heavy snow period, it is questionable whether or not it will be enough to prevent a dangerous fire season this summer.

Today, 80% chance of snow is predicted with with a 40% chance overnight. Winds up to 18 mph with gusts to 32 are expected. Snow began to fall about 9:30 this morning, less than an inch is expected.

Saturday, snow is likely during the day after 11 with calmer southeast winds of 5-9 mph. The chance of snow drops to 40% overnight.

Sunday is expected to be clear with a 20% chance over Sunday night. Chance of snow increases Monday to 40% and drops to slight chance through Thursday of next week.

Overall snow accumulation could be about 3″. The heavy snow period for this area is usually February and March.

Timberline/Fernwood Neighborhood Watch Meeting

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neighborhoodwatchFlagstaff––Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll and Coconino County Supervisor Liz Archuleta would like to invite residents of the Timberline and Fernwood communities to the monthly Neighborhood Watch meeting on Tuesday, February 4, 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.

Paul Currivan who is a Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Volunteer and participant of the Timberline Neighborhood Watch program will give a presentation on Driving Safety Tips during Inclement Weather. Community Deputy Robert Smith will give a presentation on Preparedness for and Survival of Severe Winter Weather.

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.

For more information about the Neighborhood Watch program and the meeting schedule, please call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 226-5089.

Doney Park Neighborhood Watch Meeting

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neighborhoodwatchFlagstaff—Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll and District 4 Supervisor Mandy Metzger would like to invite residents of the Doney Park community to attend the monthly Neighborhood Watch meeting on Thursday, February 6, 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. District 4 Supervisor Mandy Metzger will be present to share information from Coconino County Government.

Supervisor Metzger will speak about forest access in the Doney Park area and will have a representative of the United States Forest Service on hand to answer questions. Michelle Hart who is an Adult Probation Officer III will speak about her assigned duties and will present an overview of the Coconino County Adult Probation Department.

Two Men Arrested for Attempted Homicide

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suspectsFlagstaff—On Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at about 9:00 pm Coconino County Sheriff’s Detectives and Deputies arrested eighteen-year old Garrett McCabe of the Greater Flagstaff area and subsequently arrested nineteen year-old Christian Cordova also of Flagstaff both for Attempted Homicide in the first degree.

On January 28, 2014 at about 6:19 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center was advised that a victim arrived at an urgent care facility in Winslow, AZ suffering from multiple stab wounds to his shoulder and back which he had received during an attack that occurred in the earlier that day.

The nineteen-year-old male victim of Flagstaff arrived at a Winslow, AZ emergency room on the afternoon of January 28, 2014 with multiple stab wounds to his shoulder and upper torso. Deputies were able to contact the victim’s mother. The victim told his mother that an acquaintance he identified as Garrett McCabe and another unknown male later identified as Christian Cordova arranged to meet him near his house, drove him to a forested area off of Eden Springs Road where McCabe stabbed him multiple times with a knife. He was then driven to McCabe’s residence, where the suspects attempted to bandage his wounds. According to the victim he was eventually dropped off near his home and walked the remaining distance to his house. A family member drove the victim to a medical center located in Winslow. The victim told his mother that during the attack, he believed Christian Cordova chased him with a hatchet.

Deputies responded to Garrett McCabe’s residence and observed a small trail of blood droplets on the concrete driveway and on the handrail leading to the front door. Despite multiple attempts to summons an occupant to the front door, no one answered. Shortly after the Deputies arrival at the residence, a man arrived and identified himself as the owner of the home and as a relative of Garrett McCabe. He allowed Deputies to enter his residence and directed them to a bedroom where they found the suspect asleep. While inside the home, Deputies observed what they believed to be fresh droplets of blood on the floor. Garrett McCabe was transported to the Sheriff’s Office for questioning. During his interview with Detectives, McCabe made statements implicating himself in the offense of Attempted Homicide.

Late Wednesday, January 29, 2014 Detectives located and interviewed Christian Cordova at his place of employment in Flagstaff. During his conversation with detectives, Cordova made statements implicating himself in the crime of Attempted Homicide. Both Garrett McCabe and Christian Cordova are currently being held at the Coconino County Sheriff’s Detention Facility.

Two Vehicle Injury Collision Involving School Bus

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Flagstaff—On Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at about 4:12 pm Coconino County Sheriff’s Emergency Dispatchers received multiple cell phone calls from individuals reporting a collision between a SUV and a school bus on Townsend Winona Road in the area of Lindsey Road. Several of the callers reported that the adult female driver of the SUV was trapped inside her vehicle.

Deputies assisted firefighters of the Summit Fire District in extricating the 66 year old female driver of the S.U.V. from her vehicle where she was trapped. Once emergency first responders were able to remove the driver, she received on-scene emergency medical care. The victim was then transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center Emergency Room by Guardian Medical Transport where she was treated for non-life threating injuries. The bus driver who was uninjured was the only occupant of the school bus as there were no student passengers.

Judging from information received during interviews with witnesses and physical evidence found on the roadway, investigators believe that just prior to the collision the S.U.V. was headed eastbound and the school bus was traveling in the west bound lane of Townsend Winona Road. For an unknown reason the S.U.V. partially left the west bound lane and crossed over into the east bound lane resulting in the driver’s side of the S.U.V. impacting the driver’s side front corner of the school bus. This collision remains under investigation.

Base Jumper Fatality at the Little Colorado River Canyon Area

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Page—On Friday, January 24, 2014 at 5:30 pm Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies received a report of a possible base jumping fatality near the confluence of the Little Colorado River and main Colorado River channel. Friends of the base jumper waiting on the canyon floor reported him missing after he attempted a second jump from the canyon edge. After hiking out of the canyon they were able to see their missing friend approximately 2000 feet from the top of the canyon. Stather was using a popular wing suit and parachute worn by many jumpers in the sport.

Attempts to reach a 41 year old David Stather of Calgary, Canada by helicopter that evening were not possible due to darkness and lack of visibility. On Saturday, January 25 an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter assisted Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and Search and Rescue in locating Stather. He was confirmed deceased from his injuries due to a fall trauma. Stather was air lifted from the canyon.

David Stather was a well-known and respected respiratory therapist and surgeon at the Alberta Health Center in Canada. He is survived by his parents who reside in Guelph in the Ontario Province of Canada.

This incident is currently under investigation by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Michaels Warns of Possible Data Breach

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Crafts-Store Chain Says It May Have Been Victim of Attack

By Andrew Dowell, Wall Street Journal

MK-CJ597_MICHAE_D_20140126182729Michaels Stores Inc. said it may have been the victim of an attack on its data security, making it the third major chain in a rash of assaults aimed at U.S. retailers.

In a statement on its website, the arts-and-crafts retailer said it had recently learned of possible fraudulent activity involving credit or debit cards that had been used at Michaels. The company said it hasn’t determined that a breach occurred, but said it is working with federal law-enforcement authorities and computer-security experts to determine what happened.

The disclosure echoed recent acknowledgments by Target Corp. and Neiman Marcus Group that they had suffered data breaches that compromised customers’ card information. Target said 40 million debit and credit card accounts had been affected, and Neiman said last week that 1.1 million accounts had potentially been exposed. In those cases, software was slipped into the retailers’ systems to quietly scrape card data.

Michaels, like those two retailers, made its comments following inquiries from security researcher and blogger Brian Krebs. In the statement, Michaels Chief Executive Chuck Rubin said the retailer was disclosing the issue to alert customers so they could take steps to protect themselves.

Read more at the Wall Street Journal

2-1-1 Arizona gets you connected with vital information

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211arizonaArizona residents can get vital resource information at the web site 2-1-1 Arizona. The web site is part of a nation-wide effort to provide information for community referral services.

The web site even breaks down the resources to specific counties such as the one for Coconino County.

If you plan to move out of state, you can always reference the national web site before you even pack.

If you need to reach out for help, this site should give you the leads you need.