Category Archives: News

Pony Express to ride along state highways February 7-9

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PHOENIX – Motorists traveling state highways between Holbrook and the East Valley this week may see a caravan that includes Pony Express re-enactment riders carrying mail along state highways.

The 60th annual Hashknife Pony Express ride is scheduled to begin in Holbrook at 8 a.m. Wednesday, February 7, and reach Old Town Scottsdale at high noon on Friday, February 9.

On Wednesday, riders with the Navajo County Sheriff’s Posse will travel along State Route 77 south of Holbrook to SR 377 and SR 277 to reach the Heber-Overgaard post office at about 11:30 a.m. They will then travel along SR 260 to the Payson post office, arriving at about 4:45 p.m.

On Thursday, the Hashknife horsemen will ride along SR 87 from Payson to reach the Fountain Hills post office at about 3 p.m.

The final leg on Friday, from Fort McDowell to Scottsdale, will take them south on SR 87 to the Arizona Canal, where riders will head west to end the 200-mile trip at Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West.

Law enforcement officers will provide a safety escort for the riders, who will hand off the mail bags every mile of the relay route. The riders will travel along the edge of the highway or shoulder.

Motorists shouldn’t stop along the highway to photograph riders. Highway shoulders are for emergencies only.

More information on this event is available at HashknifePonyExpress.com.

Busy Monday morning for first responders

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WILLIAMS – A busy, cold morning for first responders began with the Williams Fire Department responding to a fire at the Newpac Lumber yard at 675 Garland Prairie Road in Williams at about 4:50 a.m. The Williams Fire Department called for the assistance of the Sherwood Fire Department early in the fire and, with the workers at the Newpac Lumber yard, battled the blaze until about 9:10 when the fire department began overhaul procedures.The Williams Fire Department continually sprayed foam on the burning logs as the workers used cranes to move logs. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

A slight veil of smoke covered I-40, but the impact of visibility appears to be minimum. No injuries were reported.While the fire department was fighting this, the Ash Fork Fire Department, Department of Public Service and Lifeline Ambulance responded to a one-vehicle roll-over at mile 149 on I-40 at about 8:20 a.m. Fortunately no serious injury was reported. An investigation is ongoing.

Free flu shots offered in Page, Arizona

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PAGE – The Coconino County Public Health Services District (CCPHSD) is offering free flu shots from 9 to 11:30 a.m., this Wednesday February 7, at the CCPHSD Northern Region office, 467 Vista Avenue in Page. No appointment is needed.

Influenza (flu) is still at elevated levels in Coconino County. Health Officials recommend that individuals who have not received a flu vaccination get one now. Getting a flu shot can reduce the risk of getting the illness and lessen the severity of the symptoms and complications associated with the flu.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a yearly flu vaccination as 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 five, but especially children younger than 2-years old
Children with special healthcare needs
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.

Arizona’s “Conserving Wildlife” license plate benefits habitat, education and youth

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PHOENIX — Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation’s (AZSFWC) “Conserving Wildlife” license plate ended 2017 surpassing the prior year both in license plate sales and grant awards from the proceeds.

Last year, AZSFWC, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, awarded 16 different grants totaling $170,665 in funding. Putting this into perspective, it means 10,039 Conserving Wildlife license plates were purchased or renewed to fund those projects. Since 2012, the organization has awarded 100 grants totaling more than $520,900.

Every time someone purchases or renews one of these specialty license plates through the state of Arizona, AZSFWC receives $17 of the $25 cost. These funds are placed in a dedicated account and each quarter AZSFWC assesses grant proposals from qualified organizations.

Grant money benefits conservation education efforts, youth recruitment and retention, and important habitat projects. Three notable projects were landscape-scale habitat efforts requiring significant coordination by AZSFWC member organizations with other partners, including federal and state agencies (such as the Arizona Game and Fish Department), other nongovernmental organizations, private landowners, and volunteers:

  • A National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) project continues with a multi-year landscape restoration in the Pinaleno Mountains (Mt Graham) in southeastern Arizona. The Pinaleno Ecosystem Restoration Project will reduce dense timber stands in this part of the Coronado National Forest and will directly benefit both Gould’s turkeys as well as the endangered Mount Graham red squirrel. This project began in 2013 and is projected to continue through 2020.
  • An Arizona Elk Society (AES) project is another long-term, landscape-scale habitat effort in the Coconino National Forest near Clints Well in north-central Arizona. The Long Valley Meadow Restoration Project has several partners restoring a forest meadow as well as enhancing the drainage, water table and waterway.
  • An Arizona Deer Association (ADA) project is a landscape-scale habitat project near Payson in the Tonto National Forest. The Round Valley Grassland Restoration will remove juniper and other woody plants that have taken over former grasslands. The project will begin in 2018.

To see a list of past grant recipients and funded projects, visit http://azsfwc.org/license-plate-fund-projects/.

Arizona residents can purchase a Conserving Wildlife license plate at http://servicearizona.com/.

MVD revolutionizes customer service with personal accounts

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PHOENIX – It just became easier to do business with the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division, and more enhancements are on the way.

For the first time ever, customers can now set up an online personalized account to manage all their MVD needs through the new AZ MVD Now portal, which is accessible through ServiceArizona.com.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” said MVD Director Eric Jorgensen. “AZ MVD Now works like having an account with an online retailer. This will revolutionize how people do business with MVD much like people’s shopping habits have been transformed by the internet. This will open the door to maximize the number of MVD transactions done online. Right now that number is a little more than half, but eventually most will be available through AZ MVD Now.”

“Among the first major improvements we will unveil sometime in 2018 is allowing customers to transfer titles online, which will make it much easier for people to buy and sell vehicles without having to do paperwork at a physical location,” he added.

The current ServiceArizona.com method for conducting individual, point-in-time transactions remains in place, but AZ MVD Now, which represents the ongoing implementation of the Arizona Management System championed by Gov. Doug Ducey, provides a higher level of individualized service, including:

  • Create an account: AZ MVD Now allows you to manage your interactions with MVD. All of the vehicles titled and/or registered in your name are associated with the account.
  • Fund the account: When paying at an MVD office or online, you can still use a traditional form of payment such as debit, credit or EFT. Or you may pay with funds in your new financial account.
  • Issue a prepaid voucher: This functions like a store credit and allows flexibility of who pays for transactions.
  • View a title: A vehicle owner can see full title details on vehicles they own. Additionally, there is a limited view where a citizen can look up a vehicle to confirm the vehicle is eligible for transfer.

Jorgensen noted, “Arizona’s MVD is among the first motor vehicle agencies in the U.S. to adopt this technology that will make it easier for MVD to fulfill its vision to get Arizona out of line and safely on the road.”

Double your outdoor fun: Buy a hunt/fish combo license!

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PHOENIX — With the approaching elk and pronghorn hunt application deadline, this is a time when many hunters buy their license.

If you’re someone who typically buys only a hunting license (or an angler who only buys a fishing license), you’re missing out on one of the BEST DEALS around. Consider buying a hunt/fish COMBO LICENSE this year and double your outdoor fun!

A combo license costs Arizona residents $57—only $20 more than buying just a hunting or fishing license. It includes all the privileges of a general hunting license as well as fishing privileges for state waters and Community Fishing Program waters, and privileges for trout, two-pole and Colorado River fishing. Nonresidents can buy their Arizona hunt/fish combo license for only $160.

During the next month, there should be some hot fishing for yellow bass and crappie – both are excellent table fare. Hot spots for yellow bass in Arizona are Apache, Saguaro, and Canyon lakes in the Tonto National Forest. Prime waters for crappie are Roosevelt, Bartlett and Alamo lakes.

If you haven’t already purchased your license, you can conveniently buy it online 24/7 or when you are submitting your elk/pronghorn draw application.

So make it a COMBO LICENSE this year and be ready for your upcoming hunting and fishing adventures!

Budget request would expand pavement preservation work

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PHOENIX – With transportation funding limited, a simple yet highly effective way to protect Arizona’s $20 billion-plus investment in state highways is sealing road surfaces against the ravages of weather, heavy use and time.

To help the Arizona Department of Transportation expand this preventive maintenance, Governor Doug Ducey’s executive budget for fiscal 2019 includes $25.6 million for pavement treatments known as fog seals and chip seals. This would be added to the $15 million ADOT currently has programmed for such work.

The funding would allow ADOT to address approximately 3,000 lane miles, 14 percent of all lane miles in the state highway system, with surface treatments to extend the life of pavement along many higher-volume routes.

“Highway maintenance is very much a case of pay now or pay more later,” said Dallas Hammit, ADOT’s state engineer and deputy director for transportation. “The requested funding would be used to prolong the life of pavement and reduce the need for more costly repairs later due to deterioration.”

ADOT has identified 132 highway stretches as needing surface treatment projects that have yet to be funded. While specific funding decisions would come later, these areas include – but aren’t limited to – interstates 8, 10, 19 and 40, state routes 85, 87 and 260, and US 93 and US 95.

It costs $3,000 per lane mile for a fog seal, which applies a diluted asphalt emulsion to the road surface. Chip sealing, a more involved and lasting treatment mixing gravel or similar material with liquid asphalt, costs $36,000 per lane mile.

Once pavement deteriorates, it costs $300,000 per lane mile to mill down and replace the asphalt surface. Replacing pavement in its entirety is far more expensive. For example, ADOT has invested $34 million in an ongoing project to rebuild 5 miles of Interstate 40 from the ground up in each direction west of Williams, a stretch that sees scores of freeze-thaw cycles each year along with regular snow and snowplowing.

With paved surfaces the main asset in Arizona’s overall transportation system, federal funding for preventive maintenance has been insufficient for ADOT to follow the recommended schedule for preserving taxpayers’ investment in state highways. As a result, maintenance work is becoming increasingly reactive and will fail to maximize the life expectancy of pavement.

“While Arizona’s transportation system remains one of the nation’s best, this request looks to the future,” Hammit said. “If we don’t adequately fund this essential maintenance, pavement will deteriorate faster than it would otherwise, leading to more expensive reconstructions in the long run.”

Online applications for 2018 elk/pronghorn hunt draw are due by February 13

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PHOENIX — Although the deadline to submit paper applications for the elk and pronghorn antelope hunt draw has passed, you can still apply online. The deadline to submit online applications is 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time), Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018.

To apply online, visit https://draw.azgfd.gov and scroll down to “Apply for a Draw.” For an overview of the online application service, including license requirements, applying for bonus points and payment information, see Page 10 of the “2018 Pronghorn Antelope and Elk Hunt Draw Information” booklet. Printed booklets also are available at all Game and Fish offices and license dealers statewide.

The department encourages all applicants to sign up for a free AZGFD portal account. The portal allows customers to create a secure account where they can manage and view their draw applications, license history, bonus points, gain access to their “I Support Wildlife” membership and more, in the “My AZGFD Dashboard” section. A portal account also provides convenient access to the online license purchase and draw application systems.

It’s easy to create an account. Just click on “My Account” in the upper right-hand corner of the AZGFD home page and then select the “Register” option, filling in the requested information. A portal account is mobile-friendly, so customers can view their information on their smartphones.

AZGFD is dedicated to assisting applicants with the online process. All department offices are equipped with customer computers that can be accessed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Customer service representatives can be reached by calling (602) 942-3000. As a reminder, customer service representatives will be available to provide assistance only until 8 p.m. February 13. (deadline day).

A valid hunting license (or combination hunting and fishing license) is required to hunt wildlife in Arizona. No one under 14 may hunt big game without having completed a Hunter Education course. While it is not necessary for anyone 10 to 13 to complete a Hunter Education course before applying for a hunt permit-tag, these courses fill quickly. Consider registering now by visiting www.azgfd.gov/huntered or calling 623-236-7239.

Property Tax Exemption Programs

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FLAGSTAFF – The Assessor’s office is now accepting applications for the Widow/Widower and Disability Property Tax Exemption Programs.

Arizona law offers several property tax exemption programs for individuals. This program reduces the taxable value used to calculate an individual’s property tax bill. These programs are designed for widow/widowers and disabled persons, although there is an income limitation. The deadline to apply for an individual exemption is April 1, 2018.

“In Coconino County, we have worked collaboratively with the Treasurer and Community Services to notify homeowners of these programs with great success,” said Assessor Armando Ruiz, “This year we will continue our Mobile Service Days, in which we provide services in many of our communities throughout the County. This is a great opportunity for residents to come ask questions, apply for exemptions and find more about the great services our offices have to offer.”

Application Information:

Widow/Widower Exemption:

  • Must be a resident of Arizona
  • Resided with your spouse in Arizona at the time of the spouse’s death or come to Arizona before 1969
  • Meet the income and property valuation qualifications

Disability Exemption:

  • Must be over the age of 17
  • Certified 100 percent totally and permanently disabled by a doctor
  • Meet the income and property valuation qualifications

Income Qualifications for 2018:

$32,447 for an individual or $38,926 for a household. Some sources of income such as VA benefits and Federal Social Security may be excluded from the exemption income limitations

To speak with the Assessor regarding the property tax exemption programs, please call the Assessor’s office toll free at (877) 679-7120, visit the Assessor’s office at 110 E. Cherry Ave in downtown Flagstaff or visit a Mobile Service Day location near you.

East Valley Toms chapter of NWTF hosts 5th annual banquet

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TEMPE – The East Valley Toms chapter of the National Wild Turkey Foundation will be hosting its Fifth Annual banquet at its new location–the Tempe Elks Lodge, 2320 S Hardy Dr Tempe AZ 85282–on March 3, 2018. Purchase your tickets before Februray 12th and get a free $20 raffle ticket.
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Tickets can be purchased at their online store along with tickets for their Arizona Turkey Tag and Canyon Cooler raffles.​​​​​​​