Category Archives: Sedona

Kaibab National Forest and Red Rock Ranger District announce March archaeology month events

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WILLIAMS — This March, the Kaibab National Forest will continue its more than decade-long tradition of offering stimulating presentations and outdoor excursions in the Williams area as part of Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month. In Sedona, ancient cultures and their technologies are celebrated during planned events throughout the month at the Red Rock Ranger District.

In Williams, Wednesday evenings throughout March, experts will present a series of lectures starting at 6 p.m. at the Sultana Theatre in Williams covering topics such as the history of sheep ranching in northern Arizona, Fred Harvey’s original farm-to-table legacy, and the role of the Forest Service in shaping Arizona and its lands.

On all four Saturdays in March, Kaibab National Forest archaeologists will lead fun and educational hikes to the Keyhole Sink petroglyph site near the Parks community starting at 2 p.m. The Keyhole Sink Trail offers a short, relatively flat hike to a scenic box canyon where prehistoric residents left their mark carved into the canyon’s gray volcanic walls.

Close-up image of some of the petroglyphs at Keyhole Sink. Photo by Dyan Bone. Kaibab National Forest.

A special addition to the 2020 archaeology month offerings is the Stone to Steel Dam Trail hike, which will be held both March 14 and March 28. Guests should arrive at 9:30 a.m. at the Ash Fork Museum in Ash Fork. The trail is an easy, winding path between two historic dams. The first large steel dam in the nation was built in Ash Fork in the late 1890s by a railroad company. Less than a mile upstream is another dam dating from 1911, which was also constructed by the railroad but with stone blocks.

“We are so fortunate to live in an area that is so rich with history and culture,” said Neil Weintraub, archaeologist for the south zone of the Kaibab National Forest. “There is no better time than archaeology month to learn about and explore the incredible diversity of special places that make the Kaibab National Forest and northern Arizona so unique.”

Archaeology month is intended to generate understanding of and support for the state’s archaeological heritage. Celebrations and events focus on promoting the preservation of archaeological resources and illustrating ways the public can help in protecting and appreciating them.

For detailed information about the Kaibab National Forest archaeology month offerings in the Williams area, download the PDF schedule.

In Sedona, attend one or all of the planned presentations to learn about how Native Americans have thrived in this area for hundreds of years.

March 6: Peter Pilles, Coconino National Forest archaeologist, will give a presentation on the Rock Art of the Verde Valley by describing the many cultural groups that have lived in the Verde Valley and the styles of rock art each created. This event begins at 11 a.m. at the Red Rock Visitor Center and will last about an hour.

March 13: Visitors can learn how natives used agave for food and fiber. A presentation by Wendy Hodgson and Andrew Salywon, entitled Pre-Columbian Agaves in the Southwest – Discovering Lost Crops among the Hohokam and the Verde Valley Cultures, will begin at 11 a.m. at the Red Rock Visitor Center and is slated to last an hour.

March 21: People who are interested to learn about the natives of the V Bar V Ranch area may see more than 1,000 petroglyphs at this site and understand how they used the solar calendar to plant their crops. Jake Newhouse will give a presentation on the Spring Equinox, beginning at 12:30 p.m. at the V Bar V Heritage Site. The presentation will last until 2 p.m.

March 28: Join a demonstration of Ancient Technology, witnessing a wide variety of ancient tools commonly used by Native Americans of the region. Bob Erb will give a presentation at the V Bar V Heritage Site beginning at 10 a.m. until about 2 p.m.

The Red Rock Ranger District visitor center located at 8375 state Route 179, in Sedona, AZ 86351.

Petroglyphs at the V Bar V Heritage Site in Sedona

The V Bar V Heritage Site located 2.5 miles southeast of Interstate 17, Exit 298 on Forest Road 618. Drive east past the Beaver Creek Day Use Picnic Site, then turn right into the V Bar V Heritage Site driveway. Each vehicle requires a Red Rock Pass or equivalent to park, as explained on the V Bar V Heritage Site web page. Passes may be purchased at a vending machine in the parking lot.

For more information about the Coconino National Forest and its heritage sites, please visit www.coconinonationalforest.us. For more information about these events, please contact the Red Rock Visitor Center at (928) 203-2900.

Expect lane closures, up to 30-minute delays on State Route 89A in Oak Creek Canyon through fall

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SEDONA — Drivers who use State Route 89A through Oak Creek Canyon should plan for long delays and lane closures in both directions from just north of Sedona to the bottom of the switchbacks, this fall while crews complete hazard tree removal work and begin pavement preservation work.

Crews are currently removing hazard trees from both sides of SR 89A from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, until late October. Hazard trees are generally identified as dead or dying; pose a danger of falling into the roadway because of high winds, unstable soil or other factors; or otherwise can cause harm to life or property.

Pavement-improvement work will occur from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday nights through Thursday mornings, beginning in early October and continuing through mid-December.

After paving work is complete, crews will begin the replacement of over 30,000 feet of guardrail through the project. This work will continue through the spring.

The following traffic restrictions will be in place when crews are working:

  1. SR 89A will be narrowed to one lane only and drivers could experience delays up to 30 minutes.
  2. Flaggers and a pilot car will direct drivers through the work zone.
  3. Speeds will be reduced to 25 mph.

Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution and watch for construction personnel and equipment.

For more information, visit the project website.

Red Rock Ranger District fee-free day on Monday

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SEDONA — Coconino National Forest’s Red Rock Ranger District will be waiving amenity fees on Monday, September 2 for Labor Day.

The fee waiver includes all areas that require the Red Rock Pass, which provides access to the Palatki and Honanki Ruins, the V Bar B Cultural Site, and nearly 300 miles of multiple-use trails.

This does not include Call of the Canyon (West Fork Trailhead), Crescent Moon Ranch (Red Rock Crossing), Grasshopper Point, campgrounds or state parks.

The district offers many fee-free days throughout the year, including New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, National Get Outdoors Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, National Public Lands Day, Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving Day. Fees are waived only on the days listed, generally for day-use areas, such as picnic grounds, developed trailheads and destination visitor centers.

For more information concerning fee-free days and events on the Red Rock Ranger District visitors center, please call 928-203-2900.

New ranger selected for Red Rock Ranger District

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Amy Tinderholt – Coconino National Forest Photo

SEDONA — The Coconino National Forest Supervisor has selected a new ranger for the Red Rock Ranger District after Nicole Branton moved earlier this month to serve as the deputy forest supervisor on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Washington.

Amy Tinderholt was selected as the permanent ranger for the district and comes from Deschutes National Forest in Bend, Oregon, where she left her position as the deputy district ranger of the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District.

“We’re very excited to welcome Amy to northern Arizona,” said Coconino National Forest Supervisor Laura Jo West. “She will be a tremendous asset to the Red Rock Ranger District and brings with her a wealth of experience, positive outlook, and a fresh perspective of the issues in such a busy district.”

Tinderholt is a graduate from the University of Arizona and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Management. She is a seasoned leader, specializing in recreation endeavors and partnerships, and experienced in firefighting.

“I am excited about returning to the southwest and hiking in our beautiful landscapes,” said Tinderholt. “The Red Rock Ranger District is an exciting place to be, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve as its ranger.”

The District is comprised of approximately 487,000 acres and encompasses the Sedona area and its colorful collection of buttes, pinnacles, mesas and canyons surrounding the red rock vistas. Over the years, the district has served as the setting of many western novels, movies, paintings, photographs and other works of art.

Seeking Public Information Regarding Two Investigations

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FLAGSTAFF – On Saturday, August 17, 2019 Deputies responded to the area of Hwy 89A near milepost 389, the area commonly referred to as the switchbacks of Oak Creek Canyon, for a report of a recovered stolen vehicle. That same day Detectives responded to a deceased elderly male near the area the vehicle was located. Detectives are working to identify the deceased male.

At this point in the investigations, it is unknown if the two are connected. The Sheriff’s Office is seeking information from the public that may assist in the investigations.

The vehicle is described as a 2006 Silver Hyundai Sonata passenger car with an Arizona State flag front license plate. A photograph of the actual vehicle is attached to this release.

The Sheriff’s Office is requesting anyone who traveled Hwy89A between Sedona and Flagstaff Friday night through Saturday morning to please contact the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 928-226-5087.

Due to the ongoing investigations, no further details are available at this time.

Saber Fire is growing slowly, cleaning the landscape

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FLAGSTAFF August 14, 2019 – The Saber Fire produced minimal smoke Tuesday as it grew to 75 acres while it continued to move slowly across the landscape within the 2009 Taylor Fire burn scar.

Coconino National Forest Photo

Fire managers are pleased with the observed fire effects. The Saber Fire is consuming and eliminating hazardous dead and down forest fuels left behind from the Taylor Fire. Hazardous fuels include snags, fallen trees and thick brush. Reduction of these excess fuels will reduce to the likelihood of severe wildfires moving through the area in the future.

Today, crews will remove fuels around the Turkey Butte lookout and along the Arizona Public Service (APS) high voltage electrical powerlines in preparation for anticipated firing operations later this week. Removing fuels allows firefighters to safely conduct low intensity ignition operations to eliminate sources of fuel around these values at risk, ahead of the fire, in order to secure and protect infrastructure and powerlines.

Firefighters will continue to scout and prepare contingency lines around the planned fire perimeter to ensure the fire remains within the predetermined planning area.

Fire managers do not anticipate a significant increase in smoke impacts over the next few days. Smoke will lift during the day and may be visible from Sedona, Verde Valley, Oak Creek Canyon, state Route 89A, Interstate 40, Interstate 17 and Flagstaff. Smoke may settle overnight into drainages and canyons flowing into communities at lower elevations below the Mogollon Rim.

The public should avoid the immediate fire area near Turkey Butte and drive with caution in the forest as smoke may impact visibility where wildland firefighters are working.

Information on the Saber fire can be found at InciWeb.

State Route 179 to be restricted through Oak Creek for chip seal work

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PHOENIX – Those traveling between Interstate 17 and Sedona along State Route 179 will need to plan extra travel time as the highway will be narrowed to one lane between the Red Rock Ranger Station and Chapel Road so Arizona Department of Transportation crews can apply chip seal.

Beginning Monday, May 13, crews will restrict SR 179 to one lane in 3-mile segments through the Village of Oak Creek. Drivers moving through the area should expect long delays as each direction of traffic will alternate through the work zone.

Flaggers and pilot cars will provide traffic control through the work zone. Flaggers will also be on site to maintain access to businesses, communities and local streets throughout the project area.

Drivers can also consider using SR 89A and SR 260 through Cottonwood as an alternate route between I-17 and Sedona.

The project is expected to last for five consecutive days and be completed by the end of the week.

For more information on this project and others, visit azdot.gov.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Arrest three Suspects in Vehicle Burglary Ring

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Coconino County Sheriff booking photos.

FLAGSTAFF – On November 29, 2018, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office arrested three suspects involved in a vehicle burglary ring. These Burglaries spanned through multiple communities in Northern Arizona.

On November 20, 2018, three separate vehicle burglaries were reported in the Timberline neighborhood, north of Flagstaff. Deputies noted several firearms and personal banking credit cards were taken during the burglaries. Detectives were able to track the credit cards through use at local businesses in Flagstaff and developed potential suspects involved with the theft and use of the stolen property.

On the morning of November 29th at 3:30 am, police officers with the Sedona Police Department responded to a report of a burglary at Thai Palace in Uptown Sedona. Three suspects were observed by officers and fled on foot from the scene leaving a vehicle behind.

A search warrant was served on the vehicle by Sedona Police Detectives. During this search information was obtained identifying Kaiden Cox, Jonathan Hernandez, and Hipolito Zavala Molina as suspects to the burglaries in Timberline on November 20th.

On November 29th at 3:30 pm, Sheriffs Office Detectives located the three suspects at their homes in Flagstaff and served a search warrant at one the home of one of the suspects in the Fox Glenn neighborhood.

Stolen property was located at the residence of the suspects and has been recovered by Sheriff’s Office and Sedona Police detectives. The property included four firearms (two handguns and two rifles), WIIO stolen vehicles, and electronic equipment. Additional items were obtained which link these suspects to additional burglaries within the City of Flagstaff.

The following subjects have been arrested for their involvement in these events:

  • Kaiden Cox, 18-year-old, charged with 1st Degree Burglary, Theft, Theft of a Credit Card, Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia;
  • Jonathan Hernandez, 18-year-oid, charged with 1st Degree Burglary, Theft, Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card, Forgery;
  • Hipolito Zavala Molina, 18-year-old, charged with 1st Degree Burglary, Theft, Theft of a Credit Card, Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card.

Detectives from the Sheriffs Office, Sedona Police Department, and Flagstaff Police Department are following up on additional leads and information that has been obtained during this investigation which could result in additional charges. Cox, Hernandez, and Molina are in Custody at the Coconino County Jail with $25,000 bonds,

The Coconino County Sheriffs Office would like to remind the community to lock their vehicle when unattended and secure valuables out of sight if being stored inside the vehicle.

Expect lane closures on State Route 89A near Sedona November 26 to December 7

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The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for lane closures on north- and southbound State Route 89A near Sedona between mileposts 383 and 385 while crews maintain roadside vegetation.

The work is scheduled to occur on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 26, through Friday, Dec. 7.

  • SR 89A will be narrowed to one lane during daytime operations.
  • Flaggers and a pilot car will direct motorists through the work zone.
  • No restrictions are scheduled to be in place during weekends.

Please proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for maintenance personnel and equipment.

Expect lane closures on State Route 89A near Sedona November 6-8

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The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for lane closures on north- and south-bound State Route 89A near Sedona between mileposts 389 and 374 while crews maintain roadside vegetation.

The work is scheduled to occur from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 6, through Thursday, November 8.

SR 89A will be narrowed to one lane during daytime operations.
Flaggers and a pilot car will direct motorists through the work zone.

Please proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for maintenance personnel and equipment.