Category Archives: Counties

High speed chase ends in crash and manhunt in Williams

Posted on by

WILLIAMS – A chase by Yavapai County Sheriff’s deputies which began in Ash Fork ended in a crash at exit 165 in Williams at about 11. It appears there were three suspects, one was injured in the crash and one was apprehended at the ADOT yard on Route 66. A manhunt is in effect for one suspect, considered armed and dangerous.

Williams schools are currently on lock-down. Bearizona was on lock-down, but it appears they are allowing traffic out of the wild life park, but traffic is still being re-routed on Route 66. Traffic on I-40 still appears to be moving.

Details are not known about the cause of the chase or what the suspects were wanted for. There were gunshots fired, but there are no reports of injuries at this time.

Units from the Williams Police Department, Coconino County Sheriff’s office and the Department of Public Safety are participating in the search.

County Supervisor hosts “Grappling with Gridlock” Community Forum

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF – “Grappling with Gridlock,” from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Thursday, March 30, 2017 at the Museum of Northern Arizona’s Branigar-Chase Auditorium. Participation is limited to the first 100 people who register online at https://gridlock.eventbrite.com. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the forum begins promptly at 6 p.m.

For those unable to attend the March 30 event, Babbott has scheduled a follow-up discussion from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., April 6 in the Board of Supervisors Chambers at 219 E. Cherry Ave. Flagstaff. The public is invited to attend and no registration is required for this event.

Tens of thousands of visitors come to northern Arizona on weekends for recreation. Traffic congestion and gridlock on the Highway 180 scenic corridor north and west of Flagstaff sometimes reach extreme levels, creating negative impacts on emergency services, traffic enforcement, and quality of life for both residents and visitors.

Babbott considers traffic gridlock on the 180 corridor a public safety crisis and is determined to find relief for residents. “When it takes two hours to go eight miles, there is no way first responders — including police and ambulance service providers — can serve our neighborhoods and communities effectively,” said Babbott.

Several participants in the forum will give short presentations on the impacts of 180 gridlock, including local resident Adam Diebel, Coconino County Sheriff Jim Driscoll, Arizona Department of Transportation Engineer Audra Merrick, Coconino National Forest Supervisor Laura Jo West, and Flagstaff Mayor Coral Evans.

Babbott will be seeking ideas and perspectives from all participants, especially those directly affected by the traffic congestion. He will also be seeking input on three proposals for relief that fit within current funding and political realities. Two of the proposals would create local funding sources for alternative means of transport to and from recreational hotspots. The third would enable a temporary alternative route to Interstate 40 when needed.

Babbott’s proposals will depend on public-private partnerships to be successful. “The gridlock, congestion, quality of life and public safety issues surrounding peak demand weekends on the Highway 180 corridor can only be addressed by bold and innovative actions,” said Babbott. “I’m counting on everyone to roll up their sleeves to help make gridlock a thing of the past.”

ADEQ Announces $37,734 Brownfield Grant Award to the City of Cottonwood, Yavapai, AZ

Posted on by

PHOENIX – Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today a $37,734 Brownfields Grant award to the City of Cottonwood to revitalize the downtown area by performing an Asbestos and Lead-Based Paint Abatement on the Cottonwood Civic Center. The remodeling of this historic building is a step in the process of bringing new life to the historic Old Town Cottonwood district.

The Cottonwood Civic Center was built in 1939 using local sandstone and river rock and partially funded by the Works Progress Administration. The building has fallen into disrepair due to the expense of removing the lead-based paint and asbestos found in the construction materials. The Brownfields Grant abatement was scheduled for completion March 3, 2017.

ADEQ Announces $97,630 Brownfield Grant Award to the Town of Camp Verde, Yavapai, AZ

Posted on by

PHOENIX – Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today a $97,630 Brownfields Grant award to the Town of Camp Verde to revitalize the downtown area by performing an Asbestos and Lead-Based Paint Abatement on the old library building, removing it and making way for expanded parking for the newly constructed Camp Verde Community Library.

The abatement will allow the library to safely park more patrons and hold more community events. Since opening the new 17,000 square-foot facility in November 2016, the Camp Verde Community Library has seen more than 26,700 visitors, issued 500 new library cards and held more than 124 community events. The Brownfields Grant abatement of the old library building is scheduled for completion by mid-March.

ADEQ Announces $16,635 Brownfield Grant Award to the Desert Hills Fire District, Mohave County, AZ

Posted on by

PHOENIX – Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today two Brownfields Grant awards totaling $16,635 to the Desert Hills Fire District in Lake Havasu to support redevelopment of Fire Station No. 1. The redevelopment will bring the aging structure up to building code and remove harmful contaminants such as mold, asbestos and lead-based paint.

Funds will be used to perform a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) and asbestos and lead-based paint survey. The ESA and survey will address both the underlying land and physical improvements to the property by identifying potential or existing environmental contamination and the presence, type and amount of building materials that contain asbestos and lead-based paint, which require cleanup or abatement to protect public health and the environment. The ESA and survey are expected to be completed by the end of March.

Redeveloping brownfields has the potential to reduce environmental hazards, mitigate public health threats, create new business opportunities, increase tax revenue and restore habitats and blighted areas to productive use. Program funds are limited and available to eligible applicants.

Learn more about the ADEQ Brownfields Assistance Program and apply for a grant at azdeq.gov/brownfields.

Body found below Midgley Bridge identified

Posted on by

Oak Creek Canyon – The person whose body was recovered yesterday afternoon from the creek below Midgley Bridge has been identified as a 20 year-old, male who was a student at Arizona State University (ASU). His body was located by hikers on February 28, 2107 in the creek below Midgley Bridge. Sedona Fire responded and confirmed the subject was deceased. Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue recovered the body. Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Detectives preliminarily identified the subject by information in his wallet and located his vehicle in the parking lot at Midgley Bridge.

Although the body had been located below Midgley Bridge, investigators were at first cautious about referring to the case as a suicide until further investigation could be conducted. The condition of the body did not show many of the external indicators typically associated with suicides from Midgely Bridge.

As the investigation continued, it was learned the student had been reported missing by family to ASU Police Department which contacted Northern Arizona University (NAU) Police Department on February 27, 2017. It was learned the subject had last been seen on February 26, 2017 visiting a friend at NAU. NAU PD entered him as a missing person into the National Crime Information Center database as missing and endangered based on suicidal statements that investigators learned he had made.

Investigation is still ongoing and pending results from the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Coconino Community Development annual training

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Community Development will have an all staff training 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Wednesday, March 1.

Community Development will be open and limited staff will be available to answer phones. However, subject matter experts will not be available to answer questions. Customers are encouraged to submit payments and ask questions after 1 p.m. on March 1.

Community Development staff undergo training annually to better serve the residents of Coconino County. Training for the department will focus on communication and team building.

For more information or questions, please call 928-679-8850.

Free seasonal flu shots available

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Public Health Services District (CCPHSD) is offering free seasonal flu vaccinations.

The free flu vaccination clinics will be held on Friday, Feb. 24 from 8 am – 12 pm and 1 pm – 5 pm and Saturday, Feb. 25 from 9 am to 1 pm at the CCPHSD Clinic located at 2625 N. King St., Flagstaff. Appointments are available by call 928-679-7222 or toll-free at 1-877-679-7272. Walk-ins are welcome.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that flu vaccination efforts continue throughout the flu season. According to the CDC, Flu activity can occur as late as May.

“Because flu activity can continue well into spring, it’s not too late to protect yourself from illness by getting a flu shot,” said Marie Peoples, CCPHSD Chief Health Officer.

“A yearly flu vaccination is the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses.”

It is strongly recommended that everyone 6 months old and over get a flu shot each year. It’s especially important that the following groups get a flu vaccination either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications, including:

· Pregnant women
· Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2
· People 50 years of age and older
· People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
· People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
· People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
· Health care workers
· Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
· Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

Flu symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, congestion, runny nose, headaches and fatigue. Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes and can cause death.

In addition to getting a seasonal flu shot, good health habits will help you stay well. These simple actions can stop the spread of germs and help protect you and others from getting sick:

· Wash your hands frequently during the flu season.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
· Avoid contact with people who are sick.
· Cover your mouth with your upper sleeve or with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
· Don’t share eating utensils, cups, and straws.
· Stay home when you are sick.

Additional information is available at www.coconino.az.gov/health. Contact your health care provider or call the Coconino County Public Health Services District Clinic at 928-679-7222 or toll-free at 1-877-679-7272.

Maine Consolidated School District seeking Governing Board applicants

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Risha VanderWey is seeking applicants for appointment to the Maine Consolidated School District Governing Board. There are currently two vacant seats.

The appointments will be two-year terms ending Dec. 31, 2018.

Applicants must be Arizona registered voters and residents of the school district for at least one year prior to the date of appointment. Applicants or their spouses can’t be an employee of the district.

Application information:
· Download the application here http://www.coconino.az.gov/schoolboardapplication
· Deadline to submit is Monday, March 13 by 5 p.m.
· Submit by email kgraves@coconino.az.gov (Live signature original required)
· Submit by fax 928-526-1469 (Live signature original required)
· Mail/drop off Coconino County School Superintendent, 2384 N Steves Blvd, Flagstaff, AZ 86004

An advisory committee, consisting of district residents and a current board member will be assembled to conduct interviews and advise Superintendent VanderWey on the appointments.

For more information, please call Kim Graves at the Office of the Coconino County School Superintendent at 928-679-8070 or e-mail: kgraves@coconino.az.gov.

Summer ramada reservations available for County parks

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF – County Parks and Recreation will begin accepting summer ramada reservations on Feb. 21, 2017. There are 11 ramadas at four County parks available for rental.

Ramadas are used to host parties, reunions and get-togethers. They are available for rent seven days a week, for half or full days.

Customers may reserve a ramada online by going to Coconino.az.gov/Parks/Ramadas. People may also reserve them by going to the Parks and Recreation Administration office located at Fort Tuthill County Park, 2446 Fort Tuthill Loop, Flagstaff, Arizona Regular business hours are Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Prices range from $46-$114 for ramada rentals. A staff member will follow up with a confirmation within one business day. For reservations less than 24 hours in advance or questions, please call the Administration office at (928) 679-8000.