Category Archives: Williams

Run for the Wall reminds us of what Memorial day is about

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somegaveallWILLIAMS – While most Americans feel that Memorial Day is to mark the beginning of summer and barbeque season, there are those who actively participate in what Memorial Day was actually meant to be. The day is meant to honor the approximate 7% of those Americans who have actually served and are serving to keep this country free from tyranny.

In about a week, the motorcycle riders of Run for the Wall will arrive in Williams once again. The Run for the Wall mission actually consists of three routes with the Central route making its first stop in Williams at the Cordova Post American Legion Hall.

Run For The Wall (RFTW) was started in 1989 by Vietnam veterans James Gregory and Bill Evans. The mission is to promote healing among all veterans and their families and friends and to call for an accounting of all still listed as prisoners of war (POW) or missing in action (MIA).

Sergeant Bowe R. Bergdahl of Idaho is still a prisoner of war in Afghanistan.

The ride consists mostly of Vietnam veterans, but younger veterans are invited and are starting to answer the call. Some riders are not veterans, but are friends, relatives and others who want to honor those who gave all.

The run begins on the 14th, this year, and the riders usually begin arriving between 4 and 5 pm. The American Legion Cordova Post #13 in Williams hosts a barbeque for the group between 7 and 8 pm. The riders then rest up for the continuation of their ride through New Mexico. The three routes converge in Washington, D.C. at the Vietnam Veteran’s Wall memorial for the Memorial weekend.

The group Rolling Thunder, founded about the same time, makes a Memorial Day run to Washington, D.C. as well. Their mission to bring attention the POW/MIAs is the same as Run for the Wall.

Their motto—We ride for those who can’t—indicates the fact that they ride in honor of those fallen heroes killed in action and those serving in the active duty military, as well as the POW/MIAs.
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KZBX brings radio back to Williams

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kzbz-92-radioWILLIAMS – KZBX FM 92.1 radio is on the air. Actually, it has been on the air for sometime, but Station Manager/Owner Leslie Stevens may have finally found a permanent home for the station.

KZBX radio is a non-profit 501(c)3 radio station with an authorized 100-watt output. Currently the station runs only 30-watts and has a ten-mile radius. Les expects the station to be broadcasting full power within a few weeks.

Recently Les has been working on getting all of the FCC requirements in order such as the emergency broadcasting system and Amber Alert. The station moved into the First Baptist Church building until they could convert the storage room in back of the church into a radio shack.

The station has been broadcasting syndicated oldies music radio show. Now it is producing local radio broadcasts. Leslie Sevens has his show from 4 to 6pm on Friday and Saturday. PJ the DJ hosts her radio show from 6 to 8 pm on Friday and Saturday.

As a non-profit, the station depends on volunteers to assist in running the station. He does not run commercial advertising so financial donations are helpful. Other non-profits can make use of the station to broadcast their existence and activities.

Leslie said that he would gladly show anyone who desires to run a show how to run the board and equipment.

Fun Run blasts from the past hits Williams, Flagstaff

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Williams resident Bob Sarkesian displays his 1930 Model "A" next to a red 1929

Williams resident Bob Sarkesian displays his 1930 model A next to a red 1929

NORTHERN ARIZONA – The horrendous winds we have been experience stopped as the classic cars of the Route 66 Fun Run rolled into town. Each May classic car owners join together for a run down Route 66 to end up in the town of Topock, Arizona.

The Fun Run is sponsored by the Route 66 Association of Arizona which started the run seven-years after Williams became the last Route 66 town bypassed by I-40. They are dedicated to preserving the memory of the Will Rogers Highway which has come to be known as “The Mother Road.” The road has sparked the imagination through movies such as The Grapes of Wrath and Easy Rider—and more recently the hit animated feature Cars. The long-running television series Route 66 staring Martin Milner and George Maharis concerned two men traveling in a Corvette looking for various job opportunities. Though much of the series was not filmed on Route 66.

Richard from Scottsdale stands with his 1957 Chevy Pickup.

Richard from Scottsdale stands with his 1957 Chevy Pickup.

The Run travels through Holbrook to Flagstaff, through Williams and Ash Fork down through Seligman. They stop at Kingman for a 10 am car show tomorrow. The Run ends just short of crossing the Pipeline Bridge into California at the town of Topock, Arizona. Arizona boasts the longest remaining contiguous stretch of Route 66 and these cars travel the entire distance.

Richard, from Scottsdale, drove his 1957 Chevy pickup with a group of hot rods. While the others stayed in Flagstaff, Richard and his wife decided on Williams where they enjoy the dining fare at Rod’s Steakhouse on Route 66.
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Coconino Astronomical Society viewing May 9th.

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640px-earthriseOur source informed us late tonight that the viewing by the Coconino Astronomical Society is apparently next Friday, May 9 at the same times. There will be a slight interference from a sliver of sunlight, but it will be dark enough for some great viewing.

We apologize for any inconvenience this error may have caused.

You can do a sky viewing of your own at any time, however. You can see some pretty amazing things even with a simple pair of binoculars. You only have to travel as far as the Santa Fe Dam, for example, to find a dark enough area for a viewing.

You might even have a good viewing area in your back yard.

View the heavens Friday

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You will not see this.

You will not see this.

WILLIAMS – The Coconino Astronomical Society will be holding a viewing of the night sky on Friday, March 2d between 7:30 and 9:30 pm. The viewing will be held in the vacant area across from the laundry and Rod’s Steakhouse on Railroad avenue. The viewing is free.

The Society held a viewing last month in the same location and hopes to make this a monthly event. Tourist and residents of Williams are invited to come tour the skies.

The group picked this day because the brightness of the moon will not interfere with the viewing of other heavenly bodies. The group donates their telescopes and time to interest people in the science of astronomy.

Winter storm dampers Clean and Beautiful and Kite Day

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20140426-01WILLIAMS – Rain, snow and high winds stopped plans in the city of Williams for the annual Clean and Beautiful campaign and Kite Festival. Both activities are generally scheduled just after Easter and the day is normally warm and sunny. This is the first time that it has dampened the plans for Clean and Beautiful.

Some kids still enjoyed the snowy weather.

Some kids enjoyed the snowy weather.

The weather started about 2 am with rain turning into snow in the morning. Visibility dropped to about 100 yards, but some people still took advantage of the electronics waste disposal sponsored by the City of Williams at the rodeo barn.

The visibility increased later in the morning, but snow continued to fall. The weather service predicts the snow to continue in Williams and Flagstaff through the night clearing by tomorrow morning. 1-3 inches of snow accumulation is expected. Temperatures should rise to the 70s by next Saturday.

The weather was enough to kill events and the gardens people may have planted, but not enough to make up for the loss of snow over the winter months.

Williams Alliance urges parents to speak to kids before prom night.

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waada-logo-01By Judge Rob Krombeen
Williams Alliance

The Williams Alliance wants to remind parents and members of the community during this upcoming Williams High School prom and graduation season, that we can make a difference to decrease the risks to our students associated with underage drinking and substance abuse, during this time of year when our youth are more vulnerable and at risk. As we enter this season of celebration, let’s keep our eyes focused on the great potential of those lives, but let us honor the lives that have been lost in the past, by ensuring those lives were not lost in vain.

Statistics and analysis from the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC) show that underage drinking continues to be a significant concern across the state of Arizona, and Williams in particular. (see http://www.azcjc.gov/ for more information) Those statistics however, also show that proactive and combined efforts across the state have reduced underage drinking, and have increased and improved youth awareness and perceptions about the negative aspects of underage drinking and substance abuse.

Preventative measures and programs implemented in recent years such as the Draw The Line campaign, have also increased community awareness and reduced risk factors amongst our youth. Ultimately, the ability to increase awareness of the inherent risks of underage drinking and reduce those risks our youth face, particularly at this time of year, may be with each of us.

Parents, educators, community leaders, peers, and others have one of the most effective tools at their disposal to make a significant difference in the decision making of our youth, which is simply, communication. Talking with your teenager, student, youth group members, and friends about underage drinking can have a dramatic impact on their decisions in upcoming weeks.

Add accountability to the effectiveness of speaking with our youth about underage drinking, combined with the creation of boundaries and parameters, and we will go a long ways towards increasing the chances of a safe prom and graduation season.

Please remember your words are powerful and can make a difference!

Rob Krombeen

Interstate 40 paving between Ash Fork and Williams to continue

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Winter construction shutdowns have lifted, enabling crews to continue paving work on Interstate 40 between Williams and Ash Fork (mileposts 146 to 162) starting Monday, April 28.

Over the next eight weeks drivers can expect a single lane restriction on I-40 in each direction during work hours, which are between 1 a.m. and 8p.m. Monday through Friday.

The work is part of a 16-mile repaving project on I-40 between Williams and Ash Fork. The work also includes new pavement, guardrail replacement, pavement markings and some bridge work.

The project is scheduled to be completed in summer 2014.

Visitors and residents should remember that speeding through a construction zone increases the fines. Arizona also has a “move over” law requiring all vehicles to move over for any vehicle with flashing lights if you can do so safely.

Bill Williams Mountain Men prepare for a trip to the State capitol.

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WILLIAMS – The Williams Mountain Men have been a fixture in Williams, Arizona for a number of years. They make up the stuff of myth and legend. Today they are a popular addition to the parades in Williams, Arizona.

Goldie’s Route 66 Diner recently published an article and photos they found from photographer C.M. Whitaker who ran the photography studio in Williams for a number of years.

The City of Williams was named after William Sherley Williams—known commonly as Bill Williams or Old Bill. Some local historians contend that Bill Williams probably never visited the area of the City of Williams. Bill Williams mountain, they say, was probably named after him by a fellow trapper.

A statue of Bill Williams stands in the Williams Memorial Park on the west end of town across the street from Safeway along with the new Veteran’s Own memorial.

640px-bskin-001

BILL WILLIAMS MOUNTAIN MEN

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SHERLEY WILLIAMS, known as old Bill Williams spent nearly 25 years in the Rocky Mountain country. As a young man he had been for a time a preacher in backwood Missouri; in his old age he was famous even among the Mountain men themselves for his rugged individualism.

Old Bill and many of his colleagues liked to make their trapping camps together, it meant added protection against the Indians, help in case of injury or accident.

About all the worldly possessions that Old Bill had was his traps, rifle, knife, powder and lead and most of the time he had one horse and a mule to pack his beaver pelts and supplies.

Read more at Goldie’s Route 66 Diner

Still time to get in on some of the Easter egg hunt

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bunnyaWILLIAMS – The Easter egg hunt is still going on at the Williams Recreation Center. Most of the eggs, however, have been found. There is still time to get in for barbeque chicken, hotdogs, cole slaw and other treats.

High above the event the Zip Line is running and drawing a crowd.
zipline

There is also a yard sale at the First Baptist Church of Williams on Grant street across from Safeway.

You still have time to partake of some of the activities.