You could receive a $25 gift certificate if you can guess the number of gum balls in this jar. The Camp Civitan Thrift Trading Company is holding the competition at their store at 129 W. Route 66 in Williams. The store is next door to the Grand Canyon Coffee and Cafe. The entry fee is only $1.
You might also check out the new and gently used products available at the store which helps fund Camp Civitan which provides camping opportunities and activities for special needs people.
WILLIAMS – The roar of glasspacks from the Cool Country Cruise-In have been replaced with the rolling thunder of the monsoons. Thunder started sounding about 1pm in Williams and the rain descended shortly thereafter.
Williams and Flagstaff share a similar forecast through next week. 40% chance of showers overnight rising to 50% tomorrow through Wednesday with a 40% chance Monday night. The rain Monday is expected to occur mainly after noon. Winds are expected to be from 5- to 11-mph during that period.
There is a chance of thunderstorm activity from Thursday through next weekend.
Mike shows off his incredible snow cone making capability.
The pool will now only operate on Friday and Saturday until the end of the season on August 30. On that day, the Friends of the Williams Aquatic Center will host one last bash. They will accept any volunteer help from the community.
Their next big event after that is a two-person scramble Golf Tournament at the Elephant Rocks Golf Course September 13. The cost is $80 per player. Hole sponsorships are available at three levels.
Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the activities of the Friends of the Williams Aquatic Center, an Arizona 501(c)3 public charity organization.
(Here is a secret saving tip that only we and anyone who read the flier knows about. Register before September 1 and receive $5 off per registration)
You can contact Kris Vasquez to register at 938-863-2467.
BENHAM TRAIL – While hiking Benham Trail on Tuesday last, my alert hound treed a couple of chipmunk. While I could have used a .22 (which I didn’t have), I decided to use by Fuji instead. Fortunately it was only a stump of a tree, but it still took 20- to 30-minutes to get pictures of the varmints. They don’t hold still for pictures.
Can you see me now?
If you are lucky you may get a shot of a deer or elk. Again you will want to rein in your dog because elk sometimes turn and it could be disastrous.
There are also some beautiful wild flowers growing since spring finally hit Williams. It is also a great trail for a night time hike, but watch your footing. A good flashlight is a must.
For the latest information on hiking, fishing and boating activities around Williams, stop by the Williams and Kaibab Forest Visitor Information Center on Railroad avenue. You can also check out the Kaibab National Forest web site.
WILLIAMS – Only a few drops of rain threatened, but did not dampen, the Cool Country Cruise-In this year. The sound of the roaring machines could be heard cruising both stretches of historic route 66 throughout the weekend. The event was a treat for locals and visitors from around the globe.
Local radio KBZX 92.1 FM provided appropriate music for the route 66 event as well as an entry.
While not an “official” entry, this Marine celebrated his historic military organization and those who have yet to come home.
The weather was sunny Friday. Saturday produced a few drops near the end of the day. That did not stop the classics from cruising the historic strip.
Not all of the classics were limited to the area between First Street to the east end of Route 66. On the west end Conoco had their classic truck on display.
WILLIAMS – Some of the classics in for the Cool Country Cruise-In event on Route 66 in Williams started lining up about 7:30 today. The annual event brings classic cars from several States.
Drivers are reminded that the speed limit is reduced to 15-miles per hour from First Street east to the end of Bill Williams Avenue (Route 66) for the event. Drivers need to watch for pedestrians and photographers.
The Matthew J. Broehm VFW post will be selling raffle tickets for the tactical shotgun which will be drawn for today.
Cars are not the only events available this weekend. The Friends of the Williams Aquatic Center will host a free swim and party with pizza, snow cones and beverages on Saturday, August 9 from noon to 2 pm. The pool will then go to a reduced schedule open to the public only on Friday and Saturdays through August 30. The Friends are planning one more free swim and party on the last day of the season.
Bearizona is always open from 8am to 7pm. Cars begin to line up for the drive-through wildlife park even before opening. You will probably find Marvelous Marv’s orange Volkswagen Beetle at the car show, but his orange van will be available to take visitors to the Grand Canyon for his world-famous private tour.
On the west end of town near Safeway, across the street from Memorial Park, the Kiwanis Club Route 66 Street Market will be open. The Route 66 Street Market replaced the Swap Meet which used to be held in the same area. Proceeds from this event benefit the Kiwanis scholarships offered to local students.
If you are not into the noise and bustle of the downtown activities, the Kaibab National Forest is open for hiking and camping. Anglers should be happy because the Buckskinner Park reservoir is up to its aspens in water. Although the aspens did not flourish this season, the recent monsoon has filled the reservoir to near capacity. It appears that it has recently been restocked as trout are jumping. It should be remembered that a trout stamp is required for fishing in our local lakes.
Aspens at Buckskinner park. Unfortunately they did not spawn leaves this year.
The weather is expected to be clear today with a 10% chance of thunderstorms tomorrow and Sunday. The chance of thunderstorms rises to 50% on Monday. Winds are expected to be from 5- to 10-mph through the weekend.
Mayor John Moore may be re-elected
With the results of the early balloting not yet in, we believe that Don Dent, Lee Payne and even Bernie Hiemenz will retain their council seats.
It also appears that Mayor John Moore should receive a majority of the votes provided no dogs, horses or other animals or livestock are written in.
On a serious note, Proposition 402 appears to be not consistent with Arizona voting practice. In the past, courts have stopped Propositions which asks voters to approve two different items in one proposal.
This Proposition calls for voters to approve the extension of the alternative expenditure limitation, or the so-called Home Rule. Otherwise the city would have to comply with the expenditure limits imposed by the State of Arizona. This proposal would allow Home Rule in Williams through 2019.
It also allows the candidates for office to be declared the winners in the primary election without having to appear on the ballot for the General Election on November 4. This would prevent any person desiring to be a write-in candidate for the General Election from running.
Rain drops rippled puddles this morning.
WILLIAMS – The Zip Line ride in downtown Williams opened this afternoon as the city received a respite from the hailstorm of yesterday. The rain continued throughout the night and into this morning.
No. That green thing is a real softball.
The good news is that the ground is so saturated that puddles are forming throughout the town. This limits the fire danger considerably. This is particularly helpful since the Kaibab Forest service plans to continue managed burns. Patches of hail remain from the storm yesterday.
The forecast shows a 40% chance of thunderstorms throughout the night which has already started as of this writing. The low is expected to be about 54 with south southeast wind around 8 mph.
Here’s mud in your face.
Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be clear with a chance of thunderstorms beginning again on Thursday.
The weather for Flagstaff is essentially identical and the weather service has issued a warning about possible localized flooding for the area.
Williams drenched by rain and hail.
Williams was enjoying a warm day when the rain and hail hit about 1 pm. Electricity went out for about a minute. The ground was still so warm that in some areas steam began to rise creating a thin fog. The temperature dropped drastically and as of this writing is still cool.
House finches. Click on photo for larger view.
WILLIAMS – I have had some interesting experiences lately in this small city called Williams. While visiting a friend, I stepped out side and this little House Finch with the red feathers kept flying around keeping an eye on me. I could not figure out what made this little creature so brave.
Soon the all gray female joined him. Even as I took this photo through the glass door, both kept a wary eye on me.
A short time later it was revealed that these two had created a nest in one of the unused flower pots at my friends house. And they were prepared to defend it.
I decided not to test their strength. I just had too much respect for their determination.