UPDATE: The Zipline began operation on Wednesday, June 12.
WILLIAMS—The Historic Route 66 Zipline across Grand Canyon Blvd appears near completion.
For fifteen twelve-dollars, one can now ride a seat up to the towers set up by the community stage. There they can travel the ten-seconds, or so, back down to the starting point.
The travel will give you the opportunity to take in the scenic view of Grand Canyon Blvd and the city dumpsters.
You might want to rethink parking in the city parking or the Visitor Center parking. If you do, remember that the car wash is only a couple of blocks down and on the left on Railroad Avenue.
WILLIAMS—The Arizona Collectibles and Firearms gun show provides the perfect venue for fathers this weekend. The gun show will be held this Saturday and Sunday the 15th and 16th at the Bob Dean Rodeo Grounds in Williams. The show times are from 9 am to 5 pm and 9am to 4 pm respectively. The cost to enter the show is $7 for one day and $10 for both days. Look for a $2 discount coupon. Gun show dealers and purchasers are reminded that they are obligated to follow all applicable laws.
ValJesse O’Feeny reads to the group from her autobiography.
WILLIAMS—It was a hot, sweaty Saturday morning in the little City of Williams. The shade of the taped, parchment colored tarp covering the dirt courtyard surrounded by the western town of the Wild West Junction.
Surrounding me, drug deals are looming. Political corruption reigns as money changes hands for power and favor. Murder is a way of life.
I’m covering the monthly meeting of the Northern Arizona Authors Association in Williams at the Wild West Junction.
The Northern Arizona Authors group meets in various locations once a month around 10 o’clock. The idea is to read portions of their latest works for critique and to encourage writers and potential writers. Anyone is welcome and there are no dues. If you are an author, you can bring a portion of your work to read.
If you have not started, perhaps this is the inspiration you will need to release that one book inside of you.
WILLIAMS—It’s summer and rodeo season is here. The Arizona Cowpunchers rodeo returns to the Bob Dean Rodeo Grounds in Williams this month. The Cowpunchers rodeo features real working cowboys much like the first rodeo in Prescott in 1888. While it has grown over the years, most of the cowboys in this rodeo are from central and northern Arizona.
Make plans to see the performances at 1 p.m. starting Friday, June 21st through the 23rd. There is a barn dance Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
If you are visiting from anywhere, but especially from a foreign land, this is the rodeo you must see if you are interested in western culture.
WILLIAMS—At the May 23rd meeting of the city council, the Williams City Council voted to allow APS to install “automatic meters,” also called “smart meters,” in place of traditional electric meters.
According to the minutes of the meeting [PDF] on the city web site, none of the council members addressed the Fourth Amendment concerns that have been raised throughout the country concerning these smart meters. Recently there have been concerns raised about illnesses from these meters because of the electromagnetic radiation they emit.
Joe Carter of APS noted in the meeting that the advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) has become industry standard and that APS began installing these meters throughout their service area in 2006. Installing the meters would “bring Williams up to date.”
Installation of these meters will take three- to four-weeks after the approval by the council. Customers would be notified by mail and door hangers and the meters would be installed up to three-days later.
Carter responded to a question on reading the meters from Councilman Heimenz by explaining that it is done by radio and cell phone technology. Heimenz did not ask, nor did Carter explain, concerns about hacking into these meters by others with cell phone technology. In England, where people pay for the meters and television, this is a growing concern.
These meters can be used to determine what appliances you have and how they are used. Even what types of DVDs and CDs you watch or listen to according to some sources. This information has been sold by some utility companies. Hacking the meters can tell a potential criminal the times that you are away from your home.
A 2012 article by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, smart meters can be used as part of a data retention program.
Smart Meter Hacking for Privacy
On day four of the 28th Annual Chaos Communication Congress, Smart Hacking for Privacy explored the privacy-intrusive potential of smart meter technology. EFF has articulated the privacy concerns around smart meters – including how this technology can be used to monitor what appliances a consumer uses in the home and exactly when she uses them. According to Network World, Smart Hacking for Privacy went a step further and showed that under certain circumstances, researchers could use smart meters to “determine devices like how many PCs or LCD TVs [were] in a home, what TV program was being watched, and if a DVD movie being played had copyright-protected material.” This builds off of research (PDF) by a team at the University of Washington on the electromagnetic interference (EMI) signatures produced by televisions. Smart Hacking for Privacy also demonstrated how smart meters could be hacked so that the readings were incorrect. The entire presentation is available on YouTube.
We sent an email to the Arizona Corporation Commission on smart meter technology and are waiting a response. They may not have had time to formulate a response to the questions we asked because we only sent the email last night.
Texas has a bill in the Senate to ban the use of these meters.
Smart meters are not a concern only in the United States. On the other side of the world groups in Australia are fighting against this technology. A group called the East Gippsland Action Group [Facebook page] offers a sign to be posted by the owners of property warning electric companies not to install the meters.
Their web site complains that these meters allow electric companies to control your airconditioner, heaters and other appliances in your home.
WILLIAMS—The Northern Arizona Authors Association will meet in Williams on June 8 at 10 am. The meeting will be held at the Wild West Junction on Route 66. Any writer, or perspective writer, is welcome to attend. Please bring something to read.
WILLIAMS—A parade, the Kiwanis Swap Meet, and a free swim were the order of the day for the Williams Memorial. The members of the American Legion Cordova Post #13 lined route 66 with the American flag on Saturday and Monday.
The Grand Marshal for the parade was Carla Lugo of Williams. Carla is an Army as a logistics readiness officer set to deploy to Afghanistan in July. Leading the Grand Marshal was the American Legion Cordova Post #13 color guard.
The Bearizona shuttle made its debut this week also participating in the parade. The bus makes a run throughout the City of Williams to pick up passengers destined for the park. The bus picks up starting at Denny’s Restaurant at ten-minutes after the hour. At twenty-minutes after the hour the shuttle picks up at the Williams Visitor Center with a pick-up at the Wild West Junction at the half-hour. The shuttle bus allows you to visit the park and take the open-air bus, take in the raptor show and stroll through the walk-through area. The normal park entry fees apply.
Two new businesses opened just in time for the holiday weekend. Glenn and Linda opened Treats N Treasures candy store next to the Sultana for their mother. The store features candy, ice cream, sodas and other great treats and souvenirs you won’t find in other stores. Ivo, with wife Christine, have opened up their beautifully decorated restaurant next to Addicted to Deals.
The free swim signaled the opening of the Williams Aquatic Center for the summer season. The Kiwanis Swap meet brings deals into Williams that cannot be found elsewhere. The swap meet attracts visitors—including a lot foreign tourist. The swap meet also causes less of a blight on the landscape of Williams than the smokers allowed on the sidewalk outside of the bars.
Christine adds finishing touches to indoor scenery.
WILLIAMS—They problem with Ivo and wife Christine is that they are so friendly and outgoing, they stopped to display their artwork and answer the major question of locals—When are you going to open? That delayed them from opening their new barbeque restaurant.
Well, the answer is today is the day. Ivo will have his Grand Opening tonight at 5 p.m.
While Ivo worked on the internal equipment and other matters, Christine turned her talent to the internal decor turning the walls into an indoor forest.
So if you are looking for a place to eat tonight, you can check out Williams’ newest restaurant.
WILLIAMS—The Northern Arizona Gazette heard rumors of gunshots ringin’ out on Bill Williams street in downtown Williams Wednesday ’bout 7 in the eve. Of course that made us suspicious and we sent out our investigative reporter to find out what was goin’ on. He never returned, but we did find his Browning and extracted this photo confirming our fears. Those polecats of the Cataract Creek Gang have apparently returned from their winter hiatus in the Bahamas (Hey. They ain’t too bright, but they do got style!) to rob banks and argue over women.
Now you can’t ‘cuse these boys of being zactly a candle in the window. So we pretty much worked out where these polecats will be hanging out. If you want to give these boys a wide berth, remain clear of these areas at 7 p.m. through June.
‘Course we spect that you will ignore our warning and crowd around to see the show. None of us locals are brave ‘nough to file any reports to the Sheriff, so you folks is on yer own.
WILLIAMS—Williams homicide suspect, 53-year-old John Willis, was ordered held over without bond by Justice Robert Krombeen in his initial appearance at the Williams Justice Center. Willis is alleged to have murdered 17-year-old Manuel “Boongy” Navalez with a single-shot to the back of the head possibly in retaliation for an alleged residential burglary.
Willis was arrested on May 21 as a result of evidence collected at the scene where Navellez’ body was discovered, the interviewing of friends, family and acquaintances of the victim, and evidence collected during the service of search warrants on multiple homes. Three residences and one vehicle were searched. Willis was known to frequently stay at one of the residences. Evidence was located during the search warrants which was consistent with evidence at the scene. Evidence and interviews indicate this was not a random shooting incident. Detectives currently are investigating the possibility that drugs may have been a factor in this crime. Detectives are investigating the possibility that this homicide may have been in retaliation for a residential burglary to which Navellez may have been an involved party.
Investigators credit the cooperation of the community of Ash Fork and Kaibab Estates and resident deputies from the Yavapai Sheriff’s Department
The defendant had his initial court appearance before Justice Krombeen today via video link to the county jail. The Justice ordered the defendant to be held without bail at the request of the State on four charges. The charges against Willis are first degree murder, prohibited possession of a firearm, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Krombeen bases his decisions on a statement of facts to show probable cause of a crime submitted by the arresting officer—which is submitted in all cases before the court.
This is the first initial hearing on a homicide case before Krombeen since he took office. The Williams Justice Court hears initial cases, and sometimes the pre-trial hearing, in cases originating in the jurisdiction of the Williams Justice Court. That area extends from Ash Fork through Williams and up highway 64 to Tusayan.
After the initial appearance, law enforcement must file charges within 48 hours with the Williams Justice Court and a pre-trial hearing must be set within ten-days. A pre-trial hearing has been set for Friday, May 31. Justice Krombeen said that County Attorney David Rozema can choose to send it to the Grand Jury which meets every Thursday by-passing the Williams Justice Center.
The body of Navallez was discovered by an employee of a gas company on the north side of Interstate 40 just east of Ash Fork on May 17. Deputies of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Department investigated and notified next of kin.
