Category Archives: News

Cost for local attorneys to advertise services in Detention Facility reduced

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF — In 2015 the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office developed a unique program by which attorneys are given the opportunity to advertise their services at the Coconino County Detention Facility.  Attorneys who chose to invest in this advertising were able to reach out to individuals who were in need of legal services. At the same time, the advertising purchase assisted in funding important programs in the Coconino County Detention Facility to include the Inmate Welfare Fund.

The cost of having legal service advertisement displayed in a 14” x 11” space in our detention lobby at the onset of this program was $5,000 per year, but we are reducing that annual fee to $2,500.  This works out to a little more than $200 per month.  The cost includes printing a color poster with a legal advertisement and the acrylic display frame with a holder for business cards.

The advertisements in the lobby can assist individuals coming into the jail lobby in connecting with legal assistance. All moneys generated from renting an advertisement space will go to the Inmate Welfare Fund which supports important programs such as Exodus (our in-custody drug and alcohol treatment program), re-entry programs, and other services that directly benefit our inmate population.

We believe that this will be a win-win for participating attorneys and the inmates in the detention facility.  Interested attorneys may contact Kathleen Levinson at 928-226-5074 or klevinson@coconino.az.gov for details on this program.

Arizona Game and Fish, City of Tempe work together to keep Town Lake fish healthy

Posted on by

TTLpicWebTEMPE — The City of Tempe and Arizona Game and Fish Department have cooperated on a management plan to help fish in Tempe Town Lake during the final phase of construction of the new dam.

“Our natural environment is extremely important to Tempe. We are grateful to have the expertise of Arizona Game and Fish and our longtime water quality expert, Aquatic Consulting, as we undertake the final phase of our dam construction,” said Tempe Public Works Director Don Bessler. 

Arizona Game and Fish and the City of Tempe are working together to save as many fish as possible while the previous dam system is being removed. Tempe has to move the water out of Town Lake into an SRP canal system, leaving the lake without water for approximately three to five weeks.

The cooperative effort started several months ago and includes:

  • Not stocking fish as normal in fall 2015 in order to lower the number of fish that would need assistance.
  • Removing the limit on the number of fish that people could catch at Town Lake.
  • Moving a representative portion of some fish into protected areas of the lake that will retain water.
  • Using fish-friendly pumps that allow the fish to move into the SRP canal system along with the water.
  • Monitoring pockets of water within the lake that contain fish, since fish can survive in small space for such short amounts of time.



This planning has reduced the number of fish that need assistance. Several thousand people live and work around Tempe Town Lake and millions come to visit each year. It is the intent of both Arizona Game and Fish and the City of Tempe to minimize the impact of this project for these people.

“Some people have asked why we can’t move fish into other bodies of water, such as nearby Canyon Lake. We can’t do this because of the possible transfer of fish-related bacteria and diseases,” said Scott Gurtin, AZGFD Community Fishing Program manager. “This plan represents the best and safest way to conserve fish and keep our waters healthy.”

New fish will enter Town Lake when the lake is refilled. The water will come from the Central Arizona Project canal system, which has many varieties of fish. Insect-eating fish will also be stocked at that time. Arizona Game and Fish will restock Town Lake with other varieties at the appropriate times.

Town Lake is expected to be completely full and operational by approximately April 30. The new dam system is expected to last more than 50 years. Read more.

Game and Fish Commission to meet March 4 in Sierra Vista

Posted on by

Sierra Vista — The next meeting of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission will be March 4 at the Sierra Vista City Hall Council Chambers at 1011 N. Coronado Dr. in Sierra Vista. The meeting begins at 8 a.m.

The public is invited to attend the meeting in person, view it live via video stream at any Game and Fish regional office (Friday only), or view it over the web at www.azgfd.gov/commissioncam. Members of the public who wish to speak to the Commission may submit Speaker Cards (Blue Cards) in person at the meeting or from any regional Game and Fish office. The ability to speak to the Commission is not available for those viewing the webcast online.
 
Items on the agenda include:

  • An update on a potential reduced fishing license fees promotion as a means of marketing Arizona fishing and expanding the department’s customer base.
  • A briefing on current state and federal legislation related to the department’s mission.
  • A request to make Patterson Ponds in St. Johns a community fishing water.
  • A presentation on the department’s borderlands and international wildlife conservation efforts.
  • Several requests to reinstate bonus points.
  • Appointment of commissioners to standing committees.
  • Hearings on license revocations for violations of Game and Fish codes, and civil assessments for the illegal taking and/or possession of wildlife (time certain at 2 p.m.).

On Saturday, the commission will take a field trip to view one of Arizona’s premier state parks, Kartchner Caverns State Park.

To view a copy of the full meeting agenda, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission and click on the “commission notice/agenda” link.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is the policy-setting board overseeing the Arizona Game and Fish Department. It is composed of five members (serving staggered five-year terms) appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. No more than one commissioner may be from any one county. No more than three may be from the same political party. Since its inception in 1929, this organizational structure has served as a buffer for the best interests of science-driven wildlife conservation during eight decades of back-and-forth political change.

For more information on the commission, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission.

Bridge work scheduled on SR 89 at Hell Canyon next week

Posted on by

Drivers traveling on State Route 89 at Hell Canyon Bridge (milepost 345) starting tomorrow (March 3) should expect intermittent delays of up to 30 minutes at a time as crews begin placing girders on the new bridge over Hell Canyon. Traffic will be stopped in both directions approaching the project.

Impacts for up to 30 minutes at a time are expected between 10 and 11 a.m. and again from noon and 1 p.m. The installation of the girders will be done by very large cranes, positioned in the bottom of the canyon, that need to be flown over the existing bridge causing the temporary closures.

In addition to the delays tomorrow, crews will again place girders next week, Tuesday through Friday (March 8 through 11) between 10 and 11 a.m. and again from noon to 1 p.m.

ADOT advises drivers to proceed through the work zones with caution, slow down, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

Sheriff’s Office Offers Citizen’s Situational Awareness/Active Shooter Survival Training

Posted on by

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is providing a two-hour class that will provide participants tools to assist them in surviving Crisis Situations such as Active Shooter Incidents.  This training is offered free of charge and is open to all community members ages 18 and older. 

The first portion of the class will address techniques to improve personal safety through Situational Awareness. The second half of the class will provide a three-step plan known as “Avoid, Deny, Defend” which can be applied to crises such as an Active Shooter Event. 

This two-hour class will be held on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm in the Auditorium of the Law Enforcement Administration Facility located at 911 E. Sawmill Rd., Flagstaff, AZ 86001.

In light of the recent life threatening crisis situations that have been forefront in the news, and the difficulty to predict where such incidents will take place, we believe this training is valuable for all community members. Sheriff’s Deputies and staff have been presenting a similar training to a wide variety of audience including classes for Coconino County employees, and we have received much positive feedback.

The class on March 22 will be taught by Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll and Lieutenant Jim Coffey. There is no fee, but pre-registration is required. The class includes some video and audio recordings of actual and simulated crises events that some people may find disturbing. Because of the possibly disturbing audio and video content, attendees must be 18 years of age or older to attend.

Because seating is limited, you are asked to pre-register online at the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office webpage: http://www.coconino.az.gov/sheriff.aspx.  There is a link for online registration in the left menu bar and on the homepage of the Sheriff’s Office under our mission statement.  You also can register by calling (928) 226-5012 and providing your contact information.  We will contact you to confirm your registration. 

In the event this class fills to capacity, we will establish a waiting list and schedule future training.

Doney Park Neighborhood Watch Meeting Thursday

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll and District 4 Supervisor Mandy Metzger would like to invite residents of the Doney Park community to attend the monthly Neighborhood Watch meeting on Thursday, March 3, 2016. The meeting will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Summit Fire District Station 32 and Administrative Offices located at 8905 Koch Field Road Flagstaff, AZ.

Supervisor Mandy Metzger will be available to answer questions and provide support to this partnership between law abiding citizens, law enforcement and county government.

Janet Dean who is the Community Affairs Manager for Arizona Public Service (APS) will present an update of APS Operations in Northern Arizona and will be available to answer any questions.

For more information about the Neighborhood Watch program and the meeting schedule, please call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 226-5089.

ADEQ Issues Three New Fish Consumption Advisories

Posted on by

800-adeq-fish-1The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), in association with the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD), has issued three new advisories that recommend fish consumption amounts to protect public health. These advisories are based on recent analysis of data from fish tissue samples taken from these lakes, which showed these fish have elevated levels of mercury.

ADEQ encourages residents and visitors to Arizona to continue to enjoy the wide variety of recreational activities at each of these lakes, such as fishing, bird watching, and swimming, which are not affected by this advisory.

Fish can be an important part of a healthy, diverse diet because they are an excellent source of protein and low in saturated fat. The American Heart Association recommends eating two fish or seafood meals weekly as part of a healthy diet.

Any potential health risks from eating fish on ADEQ’s advisory list are based on long-term consumption, not eating fish occasionally.

RESOURCES:

ADEQ Fish Consumption Advisory Fact Sheet:

https://www.azdeq.gov/environ/water/assessment/download/fca.pdf

Arizona Game and Fish Department – Arizona Fish Consumption Advisory List:

https://www.azgfd.com/fishing/fishconsumption/

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration Guidance regarding Mercury and Fish Consumption:

http://www.fda.gov/food/foodborneillnesscontaminants/metals/ucm393070.htm 

Information wanted regarding Clover fire on Williams Ranger District

Posted on by
800-20160228-CloverFire

Clover Fire at 3:43 p.m. February 28

WILLIAMS — Fire managers from the Williams Ranger District responded to a suspicious human-caused fire on Sunday, Feb. 28, just west of Buckskinner Park after receiving a call from the Williams Police Department. The Clover fire, which was reported just after 1 p.m., was suppressed by fire personnel and will continue to be monitored.

Forest visitors are reminded to use extreme caution when camping with recent warm temperatures, lack of precipitation, and low humidity as it can create a situation for rapid fire growth. Visitors can help in reducing the number of preventable, human-caused fires by completely extinguishing campfires before leaving their camp site.

No fire restrictions are in effect on the Kaibab National Forest, though fire managers continuously monitor conditions and could increase fire danger levels at any time, as necessary. Regardless of whether or not restrictions are in place, abandoning a campfire is illegal.

The Clover fire is currently under investigation by Forest Service Law Enforcement and anyone who may have information regarding the cause of the fire, or observed anyone suspicious in the area near the time of the fire is encouraged to contact Kaibab National Forest Dispatch at 928-635-2601 or Fire Information at 928-635-5653.

More information on the Kaibab National Forest can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/Kaibab. Information on fire restrictions across the state can be viewed at http://firerestrictions.us/az/.

Safety improvement project on SR 169 will require impacts next week

Posted on by

Drivers traveling on State Route 169 next week will need to allow additional time to reach their destination as crews continue work on the safety improvement project. Starting on Monday (Feb. 29) and Tuesday (March 1) crews will restripe the roadway and move temporary concrete barrier between milepost nine and 10.

Work hours are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Drivers will be guided through the work zone with a pilot car in alternating directions; delays of up to 15 minutes are expected.

ADOT advises drivers to proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel. The speed limit through the work zone will be 45 mph.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule. To stay up-to-date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit the ADOT Traveler Information Center at www.az511.gov or call 5-1-1.

This $1.6 million safety improvement project includes widening the existing roadway to provide new turn lanes, drainage improvements, signing and new striping.

Twice-weekly US 60 blasting closures east of Superior through April

Posted on by

Having already cleared nearly 90,000 cubic yards of rock material from a mountainside, the Arizona Department of Transportation is entering its final stages of blasting work needed to build a passing lane and widen roadway shoulders east of Superior.

After having no travel restrictions this week, US 60 blasting operations will resume on Tuesday, March 1, and Thursday, March 3, and continue on a twice-weekly schedule until the end of the project in late April.

During that period, the closures for work between Devil’s Canyon and Oak Flat (mileposts 231-233) will be every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Motorists should plan ahead and consider alternate routes.

Traffic on eastbound US 60 will be stopped east of Superior (milepost 227), and traffic on westbound US 60 will be stopped at the Top of the World, west of Miami (milepost 235), until the blasting work is completed and debris is cleared.

Blasting operations are expected to be completed by the end of April. ADOT needs to excavate an additional 40,000-50,000 cubic yards of earth. Following the blasting work, ADOT will pave the widened roadway before opening the additional travel lane to traffic this summer.

ADOT started the $8.8 million project in August 2015 to provide the westbound passing lane, shoulder widening in Devil’s Canyon (mileposts 233-234), bridge work at Waterfall Canyon (milepost 229) and drainage improvements (milepost 242) west of Miami.

Approximately 30 minutes prior to each blast, motorists should be prepared for possible delays and lane closures as crews set concrete barrier prior to each scheduled closure.

Motorists seeking an alternate route can consider state routes 77 and 177, which is approximately 68 miles long. Motorists headed to the White Mountains region, including Show Low and Springerville, can take State Route 87 through Payson and travel east on State Route 260.

Drivers should use caution, watch for construction equipment and personnel, and allow extra time.