WILLIAMS — Timber and silviculture staff on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest will begin tree marking operations next week and continuing through the spring, between Forest Road 141 (Spring Valley Road), and Forest Road 76 in advance of eventual tree thinning operations to improve forest health conditions.
The area to be marked is part of the 4,400-acre Moonset Task Order, which will eventually be issued for treatment under the 1st Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) Environmental Impact Statement. Active forest restoration work will occur once the task order has been issued to a contractor, which is expected in 2017. In the meantime, residents and visitors to the area can expect to see trees and internal boundaries marked with orange paint, which will eventually serve as visual guidance to the contractor regarding Forest Service expectations for treatment.
A portion of the tree marking operations will take place on National Forest land that borders private property. Land owners in these areas may notice an increased number of Forest Service personnel and vehicles in the area over the next few months while tree marking operations are completed.
The objectives for treating the area within the Moonset Task Order are to reduce fuel loading and the potential for future high-intensity wildfires and to improve wildlife habitat and overall forest health.
The goal of the 4FRI is to accelerate the pace and scale of restoration within 2.4 million acres of ponderosa pine forest in northern Arizona to increase resilience and proper functioning. Restoring this fire-adapted ecosystem is accomplished with a suite of restoration activities – from watershed maintenance and habitat improvements to prescribed burning and thinning.
WILLIAMS — In the early morning hours only a sliver of blue sky remained as a backdrop to the Three Sisters. That was soon covered by an overcast sky. 
GRAND CANYON — Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. day and marks the first free entrance day to all of the National Parks. This includes the 
Williams— After the Alabama Crimson Tide beat the Clemson Tigers 45 to 40, someone with a healthy respect for the team stopped into Williams to celebrate. This Jeep was parked in front of the Fiesta Mexican Grill on Route 66 this afternoon.
WILLIAMS/PARKS/TUSAYAN/VALLE — Sergeant James Steng of the Coconino County Sheriff’s office will be holding a training course starting this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CERT, Community Emergency Response Team grew out of the natural desire to help others during and after a natural disaster. The first people on most scenes after a disaster are survivors who want to help.
WILLIAMS — A new storm front coming from Washington State is bringing more moisture into the area and could bring as much as 13″ of snow by Thursday.
WILLIAMS — It was warm much of the early afternoon, in Williams, until the clouds blew in cooling temperatures in the city.
Williams and Flagstaff share nearly the same forecast over the next week with snow possible from tonight through Friday. Six-inches of snow could be possible over the week.
WILLIAMS — Williams woke up to a light coat of snow which did not prevent the fire department from making the rounds with Santa. The sun burnt off much of the snow before noon and the day remained mostly sunny.
Santa Fe is a rare mix of water and a thin coat of ice which captured the morning snow. Some even took time to create some artwork in the snow.
All-in-all it was a beautiful day in Williams. That may change overnight, however, as there is a 40% chance of snow today with 20% in the morning and into Saturday night. High winds are predicted with wind chill values of -14-degrees.
WILLIAMS — Just when you thought they couldn’t get any lower, Love’s does. They dropped gas prices to $1.99 (and 9 tenths) at 9 a.m. this morning.