WILLIAMS—The local scout troops are once again Scouting for Food to assist the Williams food bank. They are delivering bags to houses for residents to place food into. They ask that residents put food in the bag and set the bags outside on the sidewalk by 9 am this Saturday, April 13.
The troops/packs that are participating are 140 sponsored by the United Methodist Church and Lions Club and 138 sponsored by the Church of the Latter Day Saints in Williams.
During this time when there are no holidays, people tend to forget that there are still needs in our community. This is a chance to continue to help your neighbors in need.
WILLIAMS—The advisory committee for the H.A. Clark Memorial Airport will meet Monday, April 15 at 5:30 pm. The committee will welcome new members and John Ferrier will discuss a hanger proposal and the ground school.
The long-range forecast indicates a beautiful weekend for fishing and hiking with temperatures in the upper 60s dropping to only the upper 30s at night. Feel free to take in the Habitat for Humanity Opry night at the rodeo barn Friday night or the Egg Race on Saturday to benefit the Williams Aquatic Center.
In fact you should take in the great weather this weekend which gives way to possible rain and snow and cooler temperatures on Monday and Tuesday. The temperatures, though, are only expected to drop to the upper 50s. The weather is expected to clear by Wednesday.
WILLIAMS—At the City Council meeting March 28th, Mike Brown of Western Destinations proposed the instillation of a ride called Zip Line perhaps in the area of Cureton Park. The proposed cost of rides would be approximately $39 with a re-ride costing half of that. Williams residents would get a discounted price.
The ride, Mr. Brown indicated, could provide as many as forty jobs in Williams. Local residents would be trained to conduct the ride safely and the ride would be insured for $5 million.
Councilman Don Dent considered what affect such a ride would have on the Route 66 image that Williams has built up. Joplin Missouri and Branson Missouri have theme parks along, or in the area of, Route 66 both trading off on the Route 66 name. Knight’s Action Park operates in Springfield, Illinois along the Mother Road.
Blog BatesLine by Michael Bates of Tulsa Okalahoma asked: Wouldn’t it be cool to restore Crystal City on Historic Route 66 as an amusement park, right next to a restored Red Fork Main Street?
Dwayne the canoe guy commented:
This is great news. There is a small amusement ‘park’ on Route 66 in Joplin but it would be great to have a good sized park like Bell’s rockin & rollin on the Mother Road. Especially with a minigolf with 66 icons (wigwam motel, round barn, gemini giant, cadillac ranch)
Right here in Williams, Napolitano approved a special taxing district for a theme park in Williams that never developed. That action even caused the County Board of Supervisors to raise property taxes for a short time. So you now know what a “special taxing district” is.
Flagstaff operates a smaller version of the Zip Line ride at their Extreme Adventure Course near the fairgrounds as seen in the following video.
There are currently Zip Line rides in Indianapolis, Las Vegas and Hawaii. For the longest and fastest Zip Line in the world, you will need a ticket to South Africa.
Mr. Brown indicated that the ride would be “low impact” meaning that it could be easily removed leaving no marks if it did not do well. However, the engineering in the videos presented does not appear to bear that out. It appears that Williams would have to build a large tower to make the ride. It is also unclear how the project would impact softball and little league games at the park.
While the project does not seem appropriate in the indicated area, it could be an interesting compliment to the Bearizona drive through wildlife park. Another area of possible interest might be the Williams snow play area.
The kids of Civitan made this poster for the Duck Race.
WILLIAMS—The Friends of the Williams Aquatic Center and the Williams Lions Club are conducting a Duck Egg Race on Fairway Drive at the Highland Meadows North subdivision this Saturday April 6. The first place cash prize is $100, second place $50 with third at $25. Eggs are $5 each or five eggs for $20.
The members of the Friends of the Williams Aquatic Center also seek to fill two openings for the nine-member board. The volunteers would be required to attend 8 to 20 meetings a year and help in the events that they plan. The Friends of the Williams Aquatic Center finds ways to raise money to help keep the WAC open and provides help with swimming lessons and programs for children.
The current board members are Mike Dulay, Clare Hydock, Tom Hooker, Kris Vasquez, Bobby Patriccia, Beth Michelson and Edie Phillips. You can contact one of them or email friends_at_williamsaquaticcenter.org (remove the underscores and add the @ sign).
They are looking for five people to assist in setting up, serving and clean up for the Fourth Annual Golf Tournament scheduled for Saturday, June 8 beginning at 7:30 am. There will be a deep-pit barbeque of beef, pork and side dishes after the golf tournament that is open to golfers and non-golfers. The volunteers would be required from about 12:30 to 3:30 pm. If you cannot donate time, they are looking for desert items such as pies, cakes, cookies and the like.
If you would be available June 8 to assist for 2-3 hours, please contact Edie by e-mail (ehpoh_at_aol.com), in person, or by phone (635-4784).
WILLIAMS—The Habitat for Humanity annual Opry Night is this Friday from 6:30 to 9 pm. It will be held at the Rodeo Barn across from True Value. The tickets are $6 for adults, $3 for seniors and students and $15 for a family of four or more. Water, sodas and hotdogs will be on sale for the event.
The event includes live auctions and door prizes. There is also a raffle in which you will be able to place tickets for specific prizes that you want to win. The price of raffle tickets is $1 each or six ticket for $5.
President Pam Hendrickson said that the proceeds benefit the Habitat for Humanity which is still working toward a new home for the next family.
WILLIAMS—The last chance to sign up for Williams Junior and Major League baseball and try out for the teams is this Saturday, April 6th at the little league field. The $45 fee and an acceptable proof of age is required at the time of registration. Ages for the various league divisions are T-Ball 4-6, Minor League 7-8, Major League 9-12 and Junior League 13-14.
Practices will start in May and the games run from May to early July. Volunteers for coaching, umpiring, score keeping and other positions are also open.
The league is comprised of teams from Ash Fork, Grand Canyon, Parks and Seligman in addition to the City of Williams. The games are played in the surrounding communities so travel is required.
For more information, Contact Luci Felton at 928-266-2470 or via email at williamslittleleague@gmail.com.
The sign outside the new Parsonage of the First Baptist Church tells the story.
WILLIAMS—The First Baptist Church of Williams has closed the 10-acre Welles property and the adjacent home. The 10-acre area will be used to construct the new Church. The church dedicated the property on Easter Sunday. The property has been on the market for some time.
Pastor Andy (Left) and Youth Pastor Dan astride the dedication sign.
A significant number of members attended the ceremony which was lead by a prayer by Pastor Andy McDaniel. Pastor McDaniel thanked the Lord for the property and dedicated it to Him.
The Baptist Church is also planning their Vacation Bible Study for the week of July 15-19 themed Colossal Coaster World based on 2 Timothy 1:7 which reads:
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Any member wishing to help with the VBS should contact Carol Gutshall at 928-635-1291 to arrange to attend the training on April 6th at First Southern in Avondale.
Members of the First Baptist Church gather for the dedication ceremony.
WILLIAMS—Coconino County announced that the 2.1 million Cataract Lake County Park will open on April 13th. The funds to renovate the park were derived from the Coconino Parks and Open Space sales tax program approved by county voters in 2002.
Mayor John Moore of Williams explained that the transformation of the old camping site into a day use area is not a loss for Williams. “I personally don’t think that the loss of camping will bad. I think it will make a place for the locals, now, to go in for a day, have family reunions in some of the shelters and be able to go fishing.”
Fishing at Cataract Lake requires a trout stamp. There are still camp site on the south-east area of Cataract Lake which can be accessed by taking Cataract Road to Copper Ranch Road. As of this writing, that camping area is closed for the season.
“It’s a county park operated by the City of Williams,” Mayor Moore added.
County Parks and Recreation Director Judy Weiss said, “The renovation of Cataract Lake County Park is our new model of park operation that we have implemented to provide quality park amenities in the most efficient way possible.”
The $2.1 million dollars invested to redevelop the park was used for planning, development, design and construction of the site. The park features restrooms, a boat launch, two picnic ramadas, a playground, fishing areas, walking trails and horseshoe pits.
The County and City of Williams plans a barbeque from 11 am to 3 pm on April 13th to christen the new park.
WILLIAMS—As the sign says, it is once more time for the Community Easter Eggstravaganza at the Williams Recreation Center and Skate Park on Railroad Avenue. The event features an Easter egg hunt and prizes and food.
There will also be the annual Sonrise Service this Easter Sunday at 6am at the Younglife camp on South Road. This service is open to the entire community. Of course each Church will have their own Easter service.
