Early shoppers get the best deals.
Spaces are $10 a day or $25 for the weekend, whether a three- or four-day weekend. There is an additional $5 per night for those desiring to stay overnight.
The proceeds from the Route 66 Street Market benefit the projects of the Kiwanis Club International of Williams.
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Happy Memorial Day.
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WILLIAMS — Several groups of Williams Elementary-Middle School seventh-grade students were encourage to Speak Out under the tutelage of Language Arts Teacher Lela Schober. During the presentation, she might have had second thoughts when one group learned during their study that she used the most paper in the school.
The students were encouraged to tackle a problem they felt the school had, collect data on the problem and present a solution.
Ms. Schober introduced the program and said that they conducted this experiment last year, but this year there was an addition. Citizens from the community attended the presentation, asked questions and also added their suggestions.
On the paper trail, one group revealed that too much paper was being used by teachers and students at the school. Their solution was to issue iPads to the students to conduct their work. They said that students would be responsible for replacing the equipment if they damaged it.
Also on the technology front, one group desired to have Wi-Fi access restored to students. They explained that Wi-Fi was available until one student abused the privilege. The infrastructure still exists.
Three groups cited a problem with electives. Either the electives are not fun or there are not enough. The presentation by Sasha Adrian, Kaylee Robertson and Mary Martinez included a hand-out which said that the WEMS middle school deserves electives to provide skills that prepare them for adulthood.
Among the electives suggested by all of the groups were shop class, home economics, ceramics, robotics and even forensics. One group suggested that teachers could volunteer to teach more electives during their preparation hour.
Three groups noted a problem with sports equipment and facilities at the school. There were suggestions that the school could conduct fundraisers for new equipment and donate the old equipment. One very effective presentation included photographs of the poor condition of the gym and sports facilities.
Apparently students and others attending sporting events have received splinters from the wooden bleachers in the gym. The students said that the floor gets dirty and slippery.
Carol Glassburn suggested the students might get in touch with the Arizona sports teams to see if the could contribute replacement sports equipment.
One group believed that there was not enough time for lunch.Their solution was to start school fifteen-minutes earlier. Another group added that the school needed better lunches with a vegetable and a fruit choice.
One group with the best power point display pointed out that there should be a study hour. They cited studies that indicated homework stress. They said that students that have extracurricular activity have little time for homework and a study hour would assist in resolving the problem.
One group cited the prairie dog problem at the school. They noted that during track, students tended to fall into prairie dog holes.
Superintendent Rachel Savage, in attendance at the presentation, explained that there was a plan worked out with Arizona Game and Fish to relocate the animals. The person they were working with, however, was moved to another jurisdiction before the plan could be put into effect.
One group, surprisingly, pointed out that the school needs more discipline. They felt that disturbing influences distracted from learning.
WILLIAMS — The Williams City Council considered a proposal to revise the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Williams Justice Court at the meeting on Thursday the 14th. The proposal was to provide more money for the addition of a bailiff and a 2.5% merit raise for the county employees acting on behalf of the city.
The City of Williams has the authority to conduct its own city court business for violations of Williams ordinances. The city could hire its own magistrate, impose and collect fines and so-forth. The Williams Justice Court provides these services to the city under the terms of the IGA for a cost. The original IGA did not account for the services of a bailiff or merit raises for employees.
Under the proposed revisions to the IGA, the city would pay 25% of the services of the bailiff added to the Williams Justice Court. This would add approximately $5,550 annually to the agreement. The position of bailiff was added without consulting the City of Williams.
Judge Krombeen explained that the bailiff position was necessary because the court occasionally reviews cases where disputing parties may become violent. The Williams Police Department may not be able to provide security in those cases. Judge Krombeen explained that the court was responsible for security.
While many cases are heard via video link with the Flagstaff Detention Center, there are cases where the defendant has been released on bail to appear in court at a later date. For example, in a domestic dispute situation, the police will usually take one of the parties into custody for safety, but that person may be released on bail. Both of the disputing parties would then appear in person for the court date creating a possible situation in the court.
Judge Krombeen explained,
“But the protective orders and the other types of cases that we are dealing with on a weekly basis are the bigger portion of the reality of the challenge that we face.
We keep a log of all of the weapons that the bailiff has taken off of folks coming into the court room over the last three-years and its a surprising number. I think I reported in the previous report we’ve had someone show up with swords in the court and we’ve had a number of incidents; crimes committed. Victims have been victimized at the court house and I’ve reported that information to you in the last couple of years.”
The City Council did not necessarily object to adding the bailiff. In fact Councilman Lee Payne indicated that he was surprised that there was not a State law requiring a bailiff.
Vice Mayor Don Dent said after the meeting that the council receives reports from the police department daily and he was surprised to see an increase in domestic violence cases in Williams.
The 2.5% merit raise was a major concern to the Council. The City Council agreed that it was an oversight on the part of the IGA, but they were concerned about the figure and the fact that they had no oversight into the merit increases as they do with other city employees.
Another point of contention was that if the city agreed to a flat 2.5% each year and the county pay raise was less than that figure, where would the extra money go? They were concerned that they could not account for the expenditures of money if they paid the 2.5% and the merit increase for the year was less than that.
Councilman Payne said that it would be hard to explain to city employees why the City is paying for a flat 2.5% pay raise for the county employees conducting city business when they might only be able to give proper city employees less of a pay raise or no pay raise at all for that same year.
Judge Krombeen pointed out that there were no city employees at the Williams Justice Center, but county employees conducting city business.
Vice Mayor Don Dent suggested that the IGA should read that the City of Williams would pay whatever the merit raise for the county is each year up to the 2.5%, but not obligate to a fixed 2.5% figure.
Councilman Craig Fritsinger summed up the council position.
“I won’t sign that,” he said. “I won’t agree to that and I don’t think anyone on the council would agree to that. From my perspective, what you said is perfectly appropriate. I would like to have you bring back a re-written document that eliminates that two-and-a-half every year. We can’t explain that to the pubic, to the newspaper, to our employees…. So change it. Bring it back. We’ll work on it.”
The Council voted to table the IGA and have Councilmen Bernie Hiemenz, Jim Wurgler and Frank McNelly work with the City Manager to study the proposal and return with a more equitable proposal for the city.
At the meeting the city councilman unanimously voted to approve the 2015-2016 budget. They also agreed to accept a Joint Project Agreement to conduct pavement maintenance on the runway at H.A. Clark Memorial Field. According to Brandon Buchanan, the city would be responsible for 10% of the cost of the repair.
“We would be responsible for ten-percent of that which would be $98,000 of the almost nine-million dollar cost of the project,” Buchanan said.
WILLIAMS — A winter storm warning has been issued for northern Arizona as snow and fog is predicted overnight. There is an 80% chance of snow overnight in Williams with a possibility of up to 2-inches. There is a 20% chance of snow and rain Saturday clearing by Sunday. Flagstaff has a 10% better chance of precipitation over the same period.
It appears that Bellemont bore the brunt of the storm today with snow turning to mostly rain in Flagstaff. Snow started to fall in Flagstaff about 4 p.m.
Williams received mostly rain and fog.
Corrected 5/14/2015, 11:59 p.m.
WILLIAMS — The sun was lower than normal as The Riders of the 2015 Run For The Wall event rolled into town later than usual. They even managed to miss the snow predicted for this weekend.
Run for the Wall has stopped exclusively in Williams in the past. For the last two years, the group has split with some proceeding to Flagstaff as the popularity of the event grows. The Williams group conducted their normal parade down historic Route 66.
After which they formed up at the American Legion Cordova Post #13 where volunteers from the community served dinner and deserts for the riders.
The American Legion dedicated the event to the memory of the late Richard Aguilar. Richard was a member of the post and worked hard every year to make this event successful.
Rain did come the next morning as they gathered to have breakfast at the Wild West Junction. Mayor John Moore has been supportive of the event since he took office. He even came out in the blizzard of 2011 that met the group when they arrived.
The annual event is run to keep the memory of prisoners of war and those missing in action alive. There was some good news in 2014 with the remains of 14 Vietnam Veterans located and returned and their names removed from the Vietnam Veterans memorial.
Walt “Detour” Reichard is a Vietnam Veteran from Virginia and the Virginia State Coordinator for Run For The Wall. His motorcycle reflects the dedication of the rider of this event right down to his license plate. It reads simply “R4TW.”
Walt said that he makes the ride from Virginia to California only to return on this ten-day ride because he appreciates the dedication of this group. He is a seven-time veteran of the ride.
Sadly, many of the Vietnam veterans are either getting too old to ride or are passing away. The event organizers have opened up the event and active-duty military and some civilians have been making the memorial ride.
UPDATED 5/13, 9:21 a.m.
WILLIAMS — The motorcycle riders of Run for the Wall will arrive today as their first stop on their ride to the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington. The riders goal is to bring attention to the plight of those real prisoners of war and missing in action from all wars. They also honor those active-duty military who carry on the tradition.
On the east coast, Rolling Thunder serves the same function.
Each year the riders plan their journey to reach the Vietnam Memorial in Washington on Memorial Day meeting up with Rolling Thunder.
The riders will stop in Williams tonight to eat at the American Legion Cordova Post #13. They will depart early tomorrow morning after a breakfast provided by Wild West Junction and served by the Kiwanis Club of Williams.
The event was formed by Vietnam Veterans and included them and their families on the ride. The last few years, however, others—including active-duty military—have joined in the ride. The organizers of the event now invite everyone to ride for those who can’t.
SANTA MONICA — Tennessee Pastor Walter “Chick” McGill passed through Williams on a blistery February day this year carrying the flag. His goal was to carry the flag from Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina to Santa Monica pier. The 69 year-old Vietnam veteran completed the 3,200-mile journey on April 29.
Pastor McGill was greeted by supporters and social media contacts. Los Angeles-based ABC Eyewitness News 7 documented his arrival at the Pier.
Pastor McGill hand-carried his large American flag the full distance from coast to coast and saluted every passing motorist on the walk route as a gesture of honor and respect for his fellow Americans. He received a “Day of Recognition” certificate from Tennessee Governor Haslam’s office in Nashville, and numerous cities along the 14-state route demonstrated recognition by giving the veteran city lapel pins, keys to their cities, city memorial coins, and certificates of appreciation. McGill received police escorts through towns in Georgia and Tennessee and was published at Wikipedia online as one who had successfully walked across America.
McGill’s “TransAmerican Crosswalk 2014,” billed as a national prayer-walk, promoted “’a new birth of freedom’ and integrity in America,” while calling attention to the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule, and the nation’s founding documents.
You may visit www.walkingcoast2coast.com to read about this historic cross-country adventure.
WILLIAMS — The wildlife is emerging in Williams. A frequent visitor to our city is the rabbit.
That means, however, that we should be visited by skunks in the evening and night hours. There were even rumors of a mountain lion in the city a few nights ago. Some warnings might be in order about wildlife. While they may be pleasant to look at, they are wildlife and can be dangerous.
Beside the known reason for keeping away from skunks, skunks have been known to be rabid. Rabbits and squirrels will bite.
Whether or not a mountain lion appeared in town, larger animals—such as elk and deer—do roam the streets. A 200-pound mountain lion was reported struck on Highway 64 by the Williams News in 2008. Deer have been killed along Route 66 in the city limits in traffic collisions.
Please use caution when driving Highway 64 to the Grand Canyon and Perkinsville Road—Popularly known as South Road—toward Dogtown and White Horse lakes.
WILLIAMS — This Saturday, Save Meant to Rescue will host thier Balls for Dogs golf tournament at the Elephant Rocks Golf Course.
The tournament will include: