WILLIAMS—Williams is working on updating the city General Plan and is asking for public input to the committee. You can download a form here and mail it to the city or drop it off to the City Clerk.
Category Archives: Williams
Coconino and Kaibab National forests implement fire restrictions Wednesday.
Santa Fe reservoir dropping rapidly. – NAG 05/17
This situation, of course, leads to the inevitable fire restrictions in the Coconino and Kaibab forests. The forest service will be implementing fire restrictions starting Wednesday, the 22nd. The dry, warm, windy conditions forecast over the Memorial Day weekend are likely to cause Red Flag warning conditions.
Under the restrictions, fires, campfires, charcoal, coal and wood stoves are allowed in developed campgrounds only. The restrictions also limit smoking to within enclosed vehicles or buildings or in developed campgrounds. Using a device that is solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off is allowed in areas that are clear of flammable materials.
Visitors to the area are reminded that they are subject to heavy fines or even arrest for ejecting cigarette butts from a vehicle and are encouraged to use the car ash tray. The Williams Visitors Center offers pocket ash trays that smokers can carry with them in town, but they are not authorized for use in the forest as a substitute for common sense.
Fire restrictions will be in effect until the area receives significant precipitation. That is not likely to occur unless the area receives heavy monsoon rains which usually occur around the beginning of July.
Bearizona celebrates 3rd anniversay Wednesday
WILLIAMS—The Bearizona drive-through wildlife theme park in Williams celebrates its third year in operation this Wednesday, May 22nd. From its humble beginning, the park grew to include raptor show run by the High Country Raptors. Now they even include an open-air bus tour.
The open windows of the bus allow you to take photographs without interference from the car windows. The cost is $4 for adults, $3 for children 4 to 12 and children under three ride for free.
On the tour you will see goats, donkeys, Bighorn sheep, wolves and the star attraction. In the walk-through area you can take in the free raptor show or some of the smaller animals and juvenile bears.
From the Bench: Justice Krombeen thanks Tusayan.
(Grand Canyon Edition) by Justice of the Peace Robert Krombeen
Since entering into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Town of Tusayan just over a year ago, it has been our court’s privilege to partner with the Town to provide your court and judicial services. Now that the council has voted to enter into a longer-term IGA for the next five years, I want to reiterate our court’s commitment to your community.
During the past year, our staff has made administrative changes and improvements which have led to improved customer service in our court. Surveys conducted by the Coconino County Court Administration have shown our court to have amongst the highest ratings for customer service in the county. We are continually striving to find ways to improve the function and services of our court.
It has been my observation that our staff has worked exceptionally well with the Town Prosecutor and Public Defender to provide consistent, designated time on the court calendar to Tusayan customers who appear in our court. The relationship with the Town Prosecutor and Public Defender will only continue to improve, as we find creative ways to provide those services in an efficient manner to reduce drive time for those appearing. As has been demonstrated this past year, it has and will continue to be our court’s desire to be good neighbors to the Town as you develop your community into the future.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your judge. We look forward to providing services to your community for the next five years. Please contact the court at (928) 635-2691 if you have any questions about the IGA or the services provided.
City of Williams announces free community swim
WILLIAMS—The Williams Aquatic Center will be open for a free Community swim to open up their 2013 season. The pool will be open Saturday, May 25th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free swim day is sponsored by the Friends of the Williams Aquatic Center and the Williams Chamber of Commerce.
The Friends of the W.A.C. is a non-profit group in Williams which conducts fundraising events to help keep the pool open during as much of the season as possible. They currently have openings for volunteers and board members.
Run for the Wall rolls on.
WILLIAMS—The riders of Run for the Wall stopped in Williams for an overnighter before continuing on their journey in the early morning of the 16th.
Their mission statement from their web site is:
To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over the world.
The Run for the Wall event was started 25 years ago by James Gregory and Bill Evans. They came up with an idea to bring attention to those POWs and MIAs who were still unaccounted for. The ten-day trek across the United States is a peaceful, non-political demonstration to honor the memory of those who have given all.
There are still several Arizonans listed as missing in action.
Williams has been the end of the first day of their ride where the American Legion Cordova Post #13 provides a barbeque and a rest for the weary travelers. The Williams-Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce provided American flags for the viewers of the parade to wave as they passed.
Run for the Wall departed May 16.
Run for the Wall arrives today
WILLIAMS—Memorial day weekend is coming soon; a day in which we honor the sacrifices that are veterans have made and those in service today. It also means that the motorcycle riders of Run for the Wall start their annual trek to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. The ride is meant to make the public aware of the prisoners of war and those still listed as missing in action.
Another group called Rolling Thunder with the same mission recently highlighted the plight of Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl. They believe that he is still alive and a prisoner of war after four years.
Each year both groups ride to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington in time for Memorial Day. To support the ride they set up in towns and sell souvenirs of the ride. Their first stop since mid-2000 has been Williams where the American Legion Cordova Post #13 provides a hot meal and a rest for their visit.
The veterans enter the City with a parade each year.
Each year many of the Williams residents stop by and visit the veterans and give them support. Or maybe it’s just to check out the motorcycles.
See Also:
2012 Run for the Wall
2011 ride
Williams enters the fray – Dollar General coming
WILLIAMS—The Dollar General being built on Grand Canyon Blvd next to the closed Rosa’s Cantina is coming along. One worker said that they planned to be open in March, but have to wait until mid-June to complete some of the ground work. It is not clear if they will meet the June time frame even though the building may be ready.
What might be more interesting about this chain coming is it might be seen by industry watchers as another “base” in the “war” between Family Dollar, Dollar General and Walmart. One dollar store-watching web site notes that consumers are reporting that people are generally finding the best deals at Dollar General and Walmart—particularly the so-called “Super Walmarts”—when comparing them between Family Dollar and local grocery stores.
Bloomberg reported that the January increase in payroll taxes may have impacted the two low-priced chains. The article says that the resurgent Walmart store may also be impacting the retail sales of Dollar General and Family Dollar; no. 1 and 2 respectively in this market.
Family Dollar, for example, suffered its biggest loss in twelve-years dropping 13% because of the 2% increase in payroll tax that hurts the poor more than anyone. Analysts Bloomberg surveyed said that Dollar General was moving into its slowest growth period in three years. They had to cut holiday pricing over Christmas.
While most residents of Williams wait and purchase essentials either through Sam’s Club or Walmart, it appears that Dollar General is hoping to keep customers local in Williams and perhaps take in some of the tourist trade. This might actually be a good time for Dollar General, in fact, since Williams recently lifted the tax on food.
It remains to be seen what form of imaginative pricing that Safeway will have to develop to meet the new threat to their market share.
Mom’s store opens, appropriately, in time for Mother’s Day
Treats and Treasures – 309 West Route 66
WILLIAMS—Glenn and Linda have been working for several months to open Treats n Treasures at 309 W Route 66 next to the Sultana Theater. They are the friendly managers for the store owned by their mother. Although they have not received all of their stock, they managed to open, appropriately, just before Mother’s Day.
Treats N Treasures carries a varied assortment of candies from the new to the kind that your grandfather used to buy. An interesting item is a cup with a mix of candies from the 60s, 70s or 80s. Something that you usually do not find in a candy store is a variety of fresh fruit for the health crowd. Also in stock is a variety of gourmet popcorn with flavors such as peanut butter cup, white truffle Parmesan and cookies and cream. Beef and pork jerky is also available.
In addition they have gourmet ice cream with your choice of waffle, sugar or old fashioned cone. For the morning crowd, they have coffee and gourmet pastries.
The store carries a wide variety of sodas with cane sugar instead of the more dangerous high fructose corn syrup. The selection includes a variety of flavors and brands. It would probably not be too hard to guess where Capone comes from. They also have a brand called Moxie which was sold in the early 1800’s originally as an elixir to cure all ills.
They carry souvenirs, like many of the stores. Their selection is a little bit different from the normal Route 66 fare available at other souvenir shops. The shop carries a limited selection of collectible coins and paper money such as a colorized Grand Canyon park two dollar bill and silver Arizona coin.
Their differing variety of stock should make this store a welcome addition to the Route 66 business community.
Veterans invited to potluck at FBC
WILLIAMS—The First Baptist Church of Williams is inviting all veterans to be honored with a potluck dinner after the 10:30 service on Sunday, May 26th in honor of Memorial Day.