Category Archives: Phoenix

ADOT: No highway closures over Labor Day Weekend

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PHOENIX – Arizona drivers can look ahead to open highways and no scheduled construction closures over Labor Day weekend. The Arizona Department of Transportation and contractors will not schedule any construction or maintenance-related closures along state highways between Friday afternoon and late Monday, September 2.

Motorists should still plan ahead and expect heavy traffic during peak travel times on highways to and from popular destinations, including the state’s high country and California beaches.

ADOT also will work with the Arizona Department of Public Safety and local first responders in clearing crashes, disabled vehicles or other incidents that can cause travel delays.

Drivers have the most important role in keeping highways safe at all times, including holiday weekends. Motorists should focus on safe driving behavior, including using seat belts, obeying speed limits, avoiding distractions and not allowing impaired people to get behind the wheel. Being prepared for changing weather conditions, including blowing dust and potentially heavy rain, is another important safety measure as the summer travel season winds down.

Last year, nine people were killed in eight fatal crashes on Arizona roadways, including local streets, over Labor Day weekend. Four of those fatal crashes involved alcohol.

ADOT will position personnel and equipment in areas along heavily traveled highways during peak times this weekend, including I-17 and State Route 87 north of the Phoenix area. Those crews will be prepared to assist AZDPS troopers and local emergency responders in clearing travel lanes if crashes or other incidents occur.

While no weekend closures are scheduled along state highways during the Labor Day period, motorists should be prepared to slow down and merge safely in existing improvement project work zones.

Elk workshop at Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area scheduled for October 5

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PINETOP — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is again partnering with the Arizona Elk Society White Mountain Chapter (AES) to offer an elk natural history and viewing workshop Saturday, October 5, 2019 at Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area near Eagar.

Workshop presentations will begin at 11 a.m. and are followed by an early dinner AES. Maps will be provided to nearby areas with likely elk viewing opportunities. Sipe Wildlife Area has several hiking trails where you might see elk or other wildlife.

Late September to early October is breeding season, making it the best time of year to view local elk. The bulls will bugle as they battle to gather cow elk into harems and it is truly an awesome time of year to experience this unique wildlife event.

The workshop will be limited to 150 participants and costs $20 per person for each reservation. The dinner is a fundraiser for the AES, whose mission is to enhance the quality of wildlife habitat as well as teaching our next generation the importance of being responsible stewards of our national heritage our great outdoors.

Dinner will include a hamburger, side and dessert. Water and refreshments will also be provided. Children must be at least 12 years old to participate.

Workshop topics covered include:

  • Elk natural history
  • Elk management in Arizona
  • History of Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area
  • How to choose the best optics for wildlife viewing or hunting
    Elk calling
  • Wildlife Photography by AZGFD photographer George Andrejko OR
  • How to get started hunting by AES​​​​​​​

Directions to Sipe
Take Highway 191 south to Eagar towards Alpine; you’ll see the turnoff signs just two miles outside of Eagar. Follow the graded dirt road, suitable for passenger cars, about five miles to the property.

Additional information
If you plan on looking for elk after the workshop, please wear long pants and hiking/comfortable shoes. Participants might be walking distances of a quarter-mile or more in low light conditions.

Be prepared for a cool night and possible rain; layering would be best. Also, try to wear dark or camo clothing. White or bright clothes will alert wildlife when participants are near. Bring a headlamp or flashlight, binoculars or spotting scope if you have one, a camera and water.

For more information contact Diane Tilton at the Arizona Game and Fish Pinetop Office at (928) 532-3691 or email dtilton@azgfd.gov. To register for the event, visit www.arizonaelksociety.org.

New mobile app with hourly air quality forecasts for certain Arizona cities

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PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) launched new hourly forecasts for Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma, Nogales and surrounding areas on the Air Arizona mobile app. These forecasts can be used to help residents and visitors better plan their outdoor activities through the day to minimize the impacts of air pollution.

“A team of meteorologists at ADEQ creates the hourly forecasts every morning,” said acting Air Quality Division Director Daniel Czecholinski. “Our meteorologists provide expertise on the factors that affect air quality, producing a more accurate picture of how it fluctuates through the day and impacts people’s daily lives and that of their families.”
Available in English and Spanish, Air Arizona provides information for the following areas of the state:

Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma, Nogales and surrounding areas

  • Hourly air quality forecasts for the next 5 days
  • Alerts sent to your device’s home screen when a High Pollution Advisory or Health Watch is in effect
  • Tips for how you can help improve air quality | 5 Things You Can Do To Help Improve Air Quality

Globe/Miami and Hayden/Winkelman

  • Air quality forecasts, alerts and notifications sent to your device’s home screen for pollutants emitted during mineral processing activities
  • Pollution reduction efforts
  • Historical pollution data

Red Cross Offers Safety Tips as Students Are Back in School

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PHOENIX — The school bells are calling students back to the classroom and the American Red Cross wants to make sure your student is safe as they head back to school for the upcoming year.

“While safety is a top priority for all students, there are special steps for parents of younger kids and those headed to school for the first time,” said Jim Gilloon, Regional Communication Manager, “Make sure the child knows their phone number, address, how to get in touch with their parents at work, how to get in touch with another trusted adult and how to dial 9-1-1. Teach children not to talk to strangers or accept rides from someone they don’t know.”

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY

  • If children ride a bus to school, they should plan to get to their bus stop early and stand away from the curb while waiting for the bus to arrive. Cross the street at the corner, obey traffic signals and stay in the crosswalk.
  • Never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
  • Teach your student to board the bus only after it has come to a complete stop and the driver or attendant has instructed them to get on.
  • Kids should board their bus only, never an alternate one.
  • Make sure your student always stays in clear view of the bus driver and never walks behind the bus.

GETTING TO SCHOOL BY CAR, BIKE, ON FOOT

  • If children go to school in a car, they should always wear a seat belt. Younger children should use car seats or booster seats until the lap-shoulder belt fits properly (typically for children ages 8-12 and over 4’9”), and ride in the back seat until they are at least 13 years old.
  • If a teenager is going to drive to school, parents should mandate that they use seat belts. Drivers should not text or make calls use their cell phone and should avoid eating or drinking while driving.
  • Some students ride their bike to school. They should always wear a helmet and ride on the right in the same direction as the traffic is going.
  • When children are walking to school, they should only cross the street at an intersection, and use a route along which the school has placed crossing guards.
  • Parents should walk young children to school, along with children taking new routes or attending new schools, at least for the first week to ensure they know how to get there safely. Arrange for the kids to walk to school with a friend or classmate.

DRIVERS, SLOW DOWN!

Drivers should be aware that children are out walking or biking to school and slow down, especially in residential areas and school zones. Motorists should know what the yellow and red bus signals mean. Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is getting ready to stop and motorists should slow down and be prepared to stop. Red flashing lights and an extended stop sign indicate the bus is stopped and children are getting on or off.

Motorists must stop when they are behind a bus, meeting the bus or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped. Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety. This includes two and four-lane highways. If physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping. Do not proceed until all the children have reached a place of safety.

PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES Know what the emergency plan is at your child’s school in case a disaster or an unforeseen event occurs. Develop a family emergency plan so everyone will know who to contact and where to go if something happens while children are at school and parents are at work. Details are available at redcross.org/prepare.

TAKE A FIRST AID CLASS The Red Cross First Aid App provides instant access to information on handling the most common first aid emergencies whether it be before, during or after school. Download the app for free by searching for ‘American Red Cross’ in your app store or at redcross.org/apps. Learn and practice First Aid and CPR/AED skills by taking a course (redcross.org/takeaclass) so you can help save a life.

AZGFD to host webcast on hunt management approaches August 15

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PHOENIX — In an ongoing effort to better serve its constituents, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) will host a webcast to provide an update on existing hunt management approaches, recent projects and to gather public input.

Those who access the webinar from 6-7:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 15, will be able to submit questions, comments or concerns about existing hunt management approaches or hunt guidelines to Amber Munig, big game management supervisor, who will open the online discussion with a short presentation. Other department personnel also will be available during the webcast to address input as it relates to specific game management units (GMUs) or regions.

The webcast can be viewed at www.azgfd.gov/webcast, or in person at any department office statewide. Those locations include:

AZGFD headquarters: 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix
AZGFD (Region I): 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd., Pinetop
AZGFD (Region II): 3500 S. Lake Mary Road, Flagstaff
AZGFD (Region III): 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road, Kingman
AZGFD (Region IV): 9140 E. 28th St., Yuma
AZGFD (Region V): 555 N. Greasewood Road, Tucson
AZGFD (Region VI): 7200 E. University Drive, Mesa

The public can email questions during the webcast to AZHuntGuidelines@azgfd.gov. All questions pertaining to hunt management approaches or hunt guidelines will be addressed at the end of the presentation.

The existing hunt management approaches or hunt guidelines provide the biological and social parameters used by wildlife biologists to develop annual hunt recommendations (season structures, season lengths, season dates, permits allocated, etc.). These recommendations result in the annual hunts in which licensed hunters may participate.

While hunting opportunity is important, wildlife is held in the public trust; therefore, using science-based principles to shape the guidelines process remains paramount to ensure healthy, sustainable and diverse wildlife populations in perpetuity.

AZGFD continues to seek feedback on how to best meet the demands of the hunting public, while finding ways to develop new opportunities that help pass along our hunting heritage to future generations.

For those who miss the webcast, it will be recorded and available to be viewed at https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Guidelines/. Additional comments can be emailed to AZHuntGuidelines@azgfd.gov.

ADOT detectives nab man who purchased sports car with stolen identity

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PHOENIX – A man who allegedly used a stolen identity to purchase a sports car and stick the victim with the bill was arrested on a felony warrant after detectives with the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General brought the case before a grand jury.

In March of last year, Randall Cepi, 31, concocted a scheme to use the personal information of a customer at the dealership where he was employed in Winslow to purchase a 2007 Chevrolet Corvette from a dealership in Flagstaff.

The victim came into the Nissan dealership where Cepi worked and bought a new half-ton pickup. About a week later, Cepi used her personal information to obtain a loan to buy the Corvette. He arranged to have the victim’s signature forged on the dealership and loan documents.

A few weeks later, the victim became aware of the scheme when she received insurance and loan information for a vehicle she did not purchase. She filed a complaint with ADOT’s Office of Inspector General, and detectives with the Dealer Investigation Unit opened an investigation.

The dealership in Flagstaff was made aware of the situation and called Cepi, demanding that he return the Corvette. Instead, he abandoned the sports car at the dealership in Winslow where he worked and disappeared. While searching for Cepi, ADOT detectives brought the case before a grand jury where the felony warrant was issued.

Cepi was found working at a dealership in Gallup, New Mexico where he was arrested by local authorities on July 29. He will be extradited to Arizona to face charges of fraud schemes and forgery, theft of means of transportation and taking the identity of another.

Checking your credit report after a major purchase, such as a vehicle, is a good way to make sure no one is using your information without your knowledge. Each of the major credit bureaus will provide you one free credit report each year.

In addition to identity theft, detectives with ADOT’s Office of Inspector General also investigate fraud involving vehicle title and registration, licensed and unlicensed dealers, and support investigations by state, local and federal law enforcement.

AZGFD Commission honored by Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

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AZGF Photo

PHOENIX — The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) honored conservation professionals from several western states with awards commending their work to conserve fish and wildlife resources at an awards ceremony July 15 at the organization’s annual conference in Manhattan, Kansas.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission was recognized with the WAFWA Commission of the Year Award.

Current AZGFD Commission members are: James Zieler; Eric Sparks; Kurt Davis; Leland “Bill” Brake; and James Goughnour.

“As a staunch advocate for the state’s authorities to manage wildlife in Arizona, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission is a national leader in wildlife conservation,” AZGFD Director Ty Gray said. “This leadership and support allows the Department to generate innovative ways to better serve our customers and ensure Arizona’s wildlife and outdoor recreational opportunities are around for future generations to enjoy.”

WAFWA also honored Bureau of Land Management Arizona State Director Ray Suazo as its Federal Conservation Partner of the Year. Since his appointment as State Director in 2011, Suazo has supported AZGFD’s mission to conserve Arizona’s diverse wildlife resources.

For more information about WAFWA and to review a complete list of award recipients, visit www.wafwa.org.

Game and Fish Commission to meet August 2 in Flagstaff

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The next meeting of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission will be held Friday, August 2 at the Northern Arizona University de Bois Center (Building 64), Aspen ABC Conference room, 308 E. Pine Knoll Dr., Flagstaff.

View the complete agenda.

Agenda revisions, if any, are typically posted no later than the Wednesday before each meeting.

Game and Fish Commission approves final rulemaking prohibiting organized predator killing contests

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Commission today voted 4-0 to approve a Notice of Final Rulemaking that, if approved by the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council (GRRC), would designate a predator or fur-bearing hunt contest, as defined by the rule, an unlawful manner and method of take for these species.

The Commission’s intent in adopting this rule is to address social concerns over formally organized and publicized contests that award prizes to competitors that kill the largest number or variety of predators or fur-bearing animals, as these are the types of events that have caused the strongest public objection.

“To the extent these contests reflect on the overall hunting community, public outrage with these events has the potential to threaten hunting as a legitimate wildlife management function,” said Kurt Davis, a member of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. “Regulated hunting fundamentally supports wildlife conservation efforts in North America. The loss of hunting would equate to a measurable loss in conservation efforts, and would represent a failure of the Commission to fulfill its duty to conserve wildlife for the beneficial use of current and future generations.”

For the purposes of the rule, “contest” means a competition in which participants must register or record entry and pay a fee, and prizes or cash are awarded to winning or successful participants.

The rule would not apply to lawful, regulated hunting of predators and fur-bearing animals, which plays an important role in wildlife management, nor would it apply to events such as fishing tournaments.

The Commission proposed the rule at its March 15 meeting, and a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was posted in the Arizona Administrative Register on April 12, opening a 30-day comment period. Game and Fish received more than 4,800 comments during the comment period.

Predatory animals as defined in A.R.S. § 17-101 are coyotes, bobcats, foxes and skunks. Fur-bearing animals are weasels, raccoons, beavers, badgers, ringtail cats, muskrats, otters and bobcats.

​​​​​​​The rule next goes to the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council (GRRC) for its review. If GRRC approves the rule, it could become effective Jan. 1, 2020.

Drivers should plan for ramp closures on Interstate 40 in Williams through June

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WILLIAMS – Northern Arizona drivers on Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff should plan for travel delays due to construction work between Parks and Williams. Crews have scheduled ramp closures and lane closures while a new layer of asphalt pavement is placed on 17 miles of east- and westbound I-40 between Parks and Williams this summer. The project also includes a final layer of asphalt, known as friction course, to further improve the roadway surface, and installation of guardrail, striping and signage. The project is scheduled for completion in late 2019.

The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for travel delays while the following ramp closures are in place:

  • Friday, June 7 through Wednesday, June 12: Grand Canyon Boulevard
    • The westbound I-40 on-ramp at Grand Canyon Boulevard (exit 163) will be closed around-the-clock Friday, June 7, through Wednesday, June 12. DETOUR: Traffic accessing westbound I-40 will use westbound historic Route 66 and enter westbound I-40 at Country Club Boulevard (exit 161).
  • Monday, June 10: Parks
    • The westbound I-40 on-ramp at Parks (Exit 178) will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, June 10. DETOUR: Traffic from Parks accessing westbound I-40 will take eastbound I-40 to Bellemont (Exit 185) and re-enter westbound I-40 toward their destination.
  • Wednesday, June 12: Grand Canyon Boulevard and Parks
    • The westbound I-40 on- and off-ramps at Grand Canyon Boulevard (Exit 163) will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 12. DETOUR: Traffic accessing westbound I-40 will use westbound historic Route 66 and enter westbound I-40 at Country Club Boulevard (exit 161). Westbound I-40 traffic accessing Williams will exit at Country Club Boulevard (Exit 161) and enter eastbound I-40 to exit at Grand Canyon Boulevard.
    • The eastbound I-40 on- and off-ramps at Parks (Exit 178) will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 12. DETOUR: Traffic from Parks accessing eastbound I-40 will travel westbound I-40 to Pittman Valley Road (Exit 171) and re-enter eastbound I-40 toward their destination. Westbound I-40 traffic accessing Parks will continue to Pittman Valley Road (Exit 171) and re-enter eastbound I-40 to Parks.
  • Thursday, June 13: Parks
    • The westbound I-40 on- and off-ramp at Parks (Exit 178) will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 13. DETOUR: Traffic from Parks accessing westbound I-40 will take eastbound I-40 to Bellemont (Exit 185) and re-enter westbound I-40 toward their destination. Westbound I-40 traffic accessing Parks will continue to Pittman Valley Road (Exit 171) and re-enter eastbound I-40 to Parks.
    • The eastbound I-40 on- and off-ramps at Grand Canyon Boulevard (Exit 163) will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 13. DETOUR: Traffic from Williams accessing eastbound I-40 will travel westbound to Country Club Boulevard (Exit 161) and enter eastbound I-40 toward their destination. Eastbound I-40 traffic accessing Grand Canyon Boulevard will continue to Williams (Exit 165) to re-enter westbound I-40 to Grand Canyon Boulevard.
  • Friday, June 14: Pittman Valley Road and Garland Prairie Road. These ramps will NOT be closed at the same time.
    • The eastbound on- and off-ramps at Pittman Valley Road (Exit 171) will be closed from 6 a.m. to noon Friday, June 14. DETOUR: Traffic accessing eastbound I-40 will take westbound I-40 to Garland Prairie Road (Exit 167) and re-enter eastbound I-40 to their destination. Eastbound I-40 traffic accessing Pittman Valley Road will continue to Parks (Exit 178) and re-enter westbound I-40 to Pittman Valley Road.
    • The eastbound on- and off-ramps at Garland Prairie Road (Exit 167) will be closed from noon to 7 p.m. Friday, June 14. DETOUR: Traffic accessing eastbound I-40 will take westbound I-40 to Williams (Exit 165) and re-enter eastbound I-40 toward their destination. Eastbound I-40 traffic accessing Garland Prairie Road will continue to Pittman Valley Road (Exit 171) and re-enter westbound I-40 to
  • Monday, June 17: SR 64
    • The eastbound on- and off-ramps at SR 64 (Exit 165) will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, June 17. DETOUR: Traffic accessing eastbound I-40 will travel westbound I-40 to Grand Canyon Boulevard (Exit 163) and re-enter eastbound I-40 to SR 64. Eastbound I-40 traffic accessing SR 64 will continue eastbound to Garland Prairie Road (Exit 167) and re-enter westbound I-40 to SR 64.
  • Tuesday, June 18: SR 64
    • The westbound on- and off-ramps at SR 64 (Exit 165) will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 18. DETOUR: Traffic accessing westbound I-40 will travel eastbound I-40 to Garland Prairie Road (167) and re-enter westbound I-40 toward their destination. Westbound I-40 traffic accessing SR 64 will continue to Grand Canyon Boulevard (Exit 163) and re-enter eastbound I-40 to SR 64.
  • Thursday, June 20: Grand Canyon Boulevard. The on- and off-ramps will not be closed at the same time.
    • The westbound I-40 on- off-ramps at Grand Canyon Boulevard (Exit 163) will be closed from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 20. DETOUR: Traffic accessing westbound I-40 will travel eastbound I-40 to SR 64 (Exit 165) and re-enter eastbound I-40 to Grand Canyon Boulevard. Westbound I-40 traffic accessing Williams will exit at Country Club Boulevard (Exit 161) and enter eastbound I-40 to exit at Grand Canyon Boulevard.

The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for travel delays while these ramp restrictions are in place.

Learn more about this project on the project site.