Category Archives: News

Coconino County implements fire safety program “Ready, Set, Go!”

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County is launching a proactive and collaborative fire preparedness program between local, state and federal governmental agencies focusing on the importance of wildland fire danger. The unusually dry winter and warm temperatures could bring an early start to Arizona’s wildfire season increasing the threat to the safety of residents, visitors and property.

The Ready, Set, Go! (RSG) program educates residents about proactive measures to take before an emergency, such as proper waste management, and actions to follow when communities are threatened. The County adopted the three tenets to encourage citizens to get ready by preparing now for what threatens their community, be set by maintaining awareness of significant danger and to go, or evacuate immediately when the danger is current and life-threatening.

“Fire and post wildfire flooding are the number one danger to the safety of residents and property in Coconino County, especially after this extremely dry winter,” said Chairman Matt Ryan. “It’s important that citizens are prepared and ready to protect themselves this upcoming fire season. Signing up for the County’s emergency notification system and contacting your local fire department or fire district for information about wildland fire threat is key to staying informed and safe.”

This program has also been adopted by the Coconino County Sheriff and the Arizona Sheriff’s Association.

The Ready, Set, Go! program highlights actions residents should take during each step:

READY: “Prepare now”

Be aware of hazards that can threaten your community.
Register for the Coconino County emergency notification system (see below).
Create defensible space around your home by keeping grass mowed short and trimming vegetation.
Build an emergency supplies kit. Start with the five P’s: people and pet supplies, prescriptions, papers, personal needs and priceless items.

SET: “Be alert”

There is significant danger in your area.
Consider voluntarily relocating to a shelter or with family/friends outside of the affected area.
This might be the only notice you receive.

GO!: “Evacuate”

Danger in your area is current and life-threatening.
Evacuate immediately to a shelter or to family/friends outside the affected area.
Follow instructions from emergency personnel, and stay on designated evacuation routes.

The Ready, Set, Go! program started in March 2011, when the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) aimed to improve the dialogue between fire departments and the residents they serve.

Sign up for the County emergency notification system at coconino.az.gov/207/Emergency-Management and visit ein.az.gov to learn more about hazards in the state and how to prepare.

Vendors Wanted for the 2018 Coconino County Fair

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Parks and Recreation is currently accepting vendor applications for the 2018 Coconino County Fair, held August 31 to September 3 at Fort Tuthill County Park. Vendors may submit applications for amusement, food, commercial businesses and non-profits. First review of applications will be in March 2018.

To promote local products and services, an early bird rate is being extended to Coconino County-based, for-profit businesses. Interested business owners and operators are encouraged to submit a vendor application by May 31 to take advantage of a 50 percent early bird discount for non-premium outdoor locations on the fairgrounds. Non-profit vendors and food vendors are not eligible for early bird rates.

Vendor applications are available on the Coconino County Fair website at coconinocountyfair.com. The Coconino County Fair is celebrating 69 years. More than 40,000 people regularly attend the fair, which features exhibits by 4-H and community members as well as national, regional and local entertainment, and food and commercial vendors.

For more information on the County Fair, visit coconinocountyfair.com or call the Coconino County Parks and Recreation Department at 928-679-8000.

Public meeting on proposed Lees Ferry rainbow trout stocking is Monday

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PHOENIX – The public meeting on the proposed stocking and the current status of the Lees Ferry fishery will be held 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, March 5, at the old lodge across from Marble Canyon Lodge on U.S. Hwy 89A in Marble Canyon.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department plans to stock rainbow trout this spring into the lower 3 mile walk-in section of Lees Ferry, a blue-ribbon trout fishery below Glen Canyon Dam in northern Arizona. The meeting will include discussions on the state of the trout fishery at Lees Ferry, the proposal to stock, overall impacts of the stocking, Department perspective on the project and an open forum.

See the agenda, including more information on the project.

Public comments can also be emailed to CCantrell@azgfd.gov.

The overall rainbow trout fishery at Lees Ferry has been in decline since early 2011. Accordingly, AZGFD creel survey results during recent years have shown a dramatic decrease in angler catch rates. Although rainbow trout fishing during the past year seems to have recovered somewhat in the upper portion of the river with reports of large rainbow trout being captured, trout fishing in the walk-in area has not recovered as quickly as the Department had hoped.

This stocking is intended to boost sport-fishing opportunities for rainbow trout at this walk-in portion.

Lees Ferry is regarded as one of the top tailwater rainbow trout fisheries in the nation, and fishing at this massive, clear-running river has a profound impact on the local economy near Marble Canyon.

The Department will plan to stock trout at this portion of Lees Ferry as necessary throughout 2018 to address low catch rates and angler satisfaction.

Nominations sought for Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame

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PHOENIX — The Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation is soliciting nominations for this year’s inductees into the Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame.

The Outdoor Hall of Fame annually recognizes individuals and organizations that have made significant and lasting contributions toward Arizona’s wildlife, the welfare of its natural resources, and the state’s outdoor heritage.

Nominations will be accepted from March 1 to April 30. To submit a nomination, head to the Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame page, download and complete the form, and return it along with all supplemental materials to:

Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation
c/o Arizona Game and Fish Department
Attn: Kent Komadina
5000 W. Carefree Highway
Phoenix AZ 85086

Nominations also may be submitted by e-mail to Kent Komadina at Kkomadina@azgfd.gov. For more information, call 623-236-7288.

This year’s inductees will be honored in August at the annual Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet.

Past Outdoor Hall of Fame inductees have been individuals with backgrounds in wildlife volunteerism, corporate leadership, politics, wildlife and the media, including Ben Avery, Barry Goldwater, Morris K. Udall, John McCain, Bill Quimby and Tom Woods, as well as groups and organizations such as Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center Volunteers, Arizona Antelope Foundation, Rio Salado Sportsman’s Club, Arizona Deer Association, National Wild Turkey Federation, Safari Club International, Audubon Arizona, Arizona Public Service and Salt River Project.

Wildlife for Tomorrow was created in 1990 to enhance the management, protection and enjoyment of Arizona’s fish and wildlife resources. The foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works closely with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to provide additional support for projects and education activities where traditional resources are not adequate. For more information, visit www.wildlifefortomorrow.org.

MVD to offer written drivers’ test online

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PHOENIX – Arizona teenagers pursuing a driver instruction permit will be able to take the written drivers’ test online beginning Monday, March 5.

The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division is introducing the Permit Test @ Home available to parents by setting up a free personal AZ MVD Now account, which is accessed through ServiceArizona.com.

Potential drivers will still be required to pass a road skills test prior to receiving a driver license, and all permit holders must drive with a licensed driver in the front seat.

“Online testing is commonplace for things such as college courses and professional certifications, so having the Permit Test @ Home is a modern and convenient way for MVD to serve our customers,” said MVD Stakeholder Relations Manager Jennifer Bowser-Richards.

“Learning to drive is a rite of passage for many teens and the Permit Test @ Home makes the process a bit easier,” she added. “Rather than requiring teens and their parents to come to an MVD office to pick up the manual and then return for the knowledge test, MVD is making everything available digitally.”

Online practice tests have been available at www.azdot.gov/practice for a number of years, allowing students to familiarize themselves with the questions and become better informed about traffic laws and procedures. The Permit Test @ Home expands that to the actual test by establishing a secure proctoring method in which parents log into AZ MVD Now to establish an account using their driver license or ID card.

The parent or guardian will then register their teen for the Permit Test @ Home and agree to the terms. Teens must be at least 15 years and 6 months old to obtain an instruction permit. Parents must certify that they will proctor the exam fairly. For teens under the age of 18, the application for an instruction permit or driver license must be signed by a parent or guardian who is responsible for damage caused by negligence or the willful misconduct of the child.

The Permit Test @ Home requires a $7 application fee, which is the same fee applicable to office visits.

Teens will have three attempts to pass the test within 12 months.

For more information: www.servicearizona.com

Sheriff’s Office Investigating a 2 vehicle Head on Collision

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Leupp Road Az – On March 3rd, at approximately 8:04 a.m., Coconino County Sheriff’s Office responded to Leupp Road, Mile Post 438 for the report of a 2 vehicle head on Collision, with multiple injuries. Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, along with Summit Fire Department, Guardian Ground and Air units, responded and treated 5 Victims. 1 victim was transported by Helicopter and 4 by Ambulance to Flagstaff Medical Center.

At this time Leupp road is reduced to one lane at Mile Post 438. Residents and travelers can expect delays and a 1 lane closure for most of the day. The cause of accident is under investigation at this time. More details will follow as they become available.

After one year, online veterans’ specialty plate sales show savings

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PHOENIX – Online sales for veterans’ specialty license plates have proven to save a lot of time for both veterans and Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division employees since the convenient service launched in January 2017.

Previously, veterans’ specialty plates had to be ordered in person at an MVD or Authorized Third Party office because veterans must provide paperwork authenticating their service in the U.S. military. With the advent of new security and other technical measures, that process has been available on ServiceArizona.com for just over a year.

Because of the addition of digital access, more than 6,200 veterans’ plates have been issued online saving approximately 2,600 hours of customer visit time and 1,000 hours of employee processing time.

“The veterans’ plates not only honor veterans and their families, but also boost Arizona’s economy,” said Air Force Col. (Ret.) Wanda Wright, Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services Director. “In 2017, the funds from the license plates went to non-profits statewide that support veteran needs and events, which impact our local communities.”

“The veterans’ specialty plate is a great resource for Arizona,” said MVD Stakeholder Relations Manager Jennifer Bowser-Richards. “Making these available for sale online allows more veterans and their families to order these very popular plates and to do it on their schedule without coming to a physical location. It’s another way MVD honors those who have served and gets Arizonans out of line and safely on the road.”

For more information: www.ServiceArizona.com.

Wind advisory today and winter weather advisory through tonight

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WILLIAMS – The National Weather Service has set a wind advisory today for after 11 a.m. which will blow in clouds leading to a winter weather advisory overnight. A southeast wind of 15 to 23-mph is expected with gusts to 34-mph. High winds will affect high-profile vehicles. The snow conditions may cause some drivers who will not slow down to slide-off, roll-over, collide or other wise cause problems on I-40, I-17 and highway 64 making first responders quite busy during the period. Call 511 or visit az511.gov for current road conditions.

Williams and Flagstaff have similar predictions with Williams expected to get slightly more snow and wind for the period. In Williams, less than one-inch of snow is expected during the day after 11 a.m. with 3 to 5-inches expected overnight.

A 30 percent chance of snow showers after 11am. Increasing clouds, with a high near 39. Breezy, with a south southeast wind 15 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one-inch possible. Some thunder is possible during this snow storm. Temperature high will be around 39 with overnight low of 22-degrees.

On Wednesday there is a 40% chance of snow shower before 11 a.m. and conditions will turn to mostly cloudy after as this storm passes. New snow accumulations of less than an inch likely. High is expected to reach 36-degrees with 22-degrees overnight. Winds will be mild.

The outlook through next Monday is brighter with mostly sunny days and clear nights. Friday is expected to be partly cloudy and there is a small chance of now showers before 11 p.m. Saturday night. Highs will be in the mid to lower 40s with overnight lows around 27-degrees.

Lane closures on State Route 89 scheduled for tomorrow in Chino Valley postponed

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CHINO VALLEY – The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers that due to the weather forecast for the coming week, the planned lane closures on north- and southbound State Route 89 between E Road 1 S (milepost 327) and E Road 4 N (milepost 330) for pavement repair have been postponed.

Lane closures on State Route 89 begin tomorrow in Chino Valley

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CHINO VALLEY – The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for lane closures on north- and southbound State Route 89 between E Road 1 S (milepost 327) and E Road 4 N (milepost 330) for pavement repair.

Crack-seal work is scheduled to occur from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. beginning Tuesday, February 27, through Thursday, March 1. No Friday or weekend work is planned.

SR 89 will be narrowed to one lane in each direction while work is underway and the speed limit will be reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph. Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.

Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen factors. For more information, please call the ADOT Project Information Line at 855.712.8530 or email Projects@azdot.gov. For real-time highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except when driving.