Category Archives: News

Pavement maintenance next week on State Route 89A in Prescott Valley

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adot-logo3State Route 89A in Prescott Valley will be narrowed to one lane toward the top of Mingus Mountain (mileposts 331 to 338) between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 3 and 4 for pavement preservation work.

Flaggers and a pilot car will direct traffic in alternating directions through the work zone. The speed limit will be reduced to 25 mph and drivers can expect delays of up to 15 minutes.

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

Fines for speeding through a construction zone are doubled.

Republicans speak out on Tom Horne-gate

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ATTORNEY GENERALOpinion by Glen Davis

Recent revelations about an extramarital affair by Republican Tom Horne have caused the Republican party to speak out.

Some have attempted to blow it off with a comparison to South America. That happens all of the time in Brazil. Or the same caparison to European politicians. If a European politician doesn’t have a mistress there is something wrong with him. Oh, it’s so cosmopolitan they cry.

What a man does in the privacy of his own room is his own business, Republicans are quick to add.

The Republicans are stressing that the Federalist Papers make it clear that a misdemeanor is not impeachable unless it violates our national security.

clinton-lewinskyOh, I am sorry. I got my stories confused. The same people that are running ads encouraging people to call Tom Horne to urge him to drop out of the race are the same people that used those statements to defend the extramarital affair of Bill Clinton with Monica Lewinsky in 1996.

And the media—especially in Arizona—is loving to hate. The same media that defended Bill Clinton’s extramarital affair is going after Tom Horne like he was investigating the death of four Americans in Africa.

AZfamily.com did report that Horne paid the $300 fine for the misdemeanor hit-and-run. The article quotes Horne as saying,

The vehicle’s owner stated the car already had a dent that the federal agents who noted the incident wrongly assumed I caused. Had I known there were scratches, I would have left my name and contact information so that I could have taken care of this personally.

He apparently pleaded not guilty to the affair (pun intended) back in November of 2012, however.

The intent of this oped is not to defend extramarital affairs by anyone. They are wrong.

I do have a problem with the States’ Attorney General not leaving a note no matter how small the accident might seem. The one thing that the Federalists of old assured the people is that everyone would be obligated to follow the laws that were passed by Congress—including Congressmen. Except, of course, for the Obamadoesntcare mandates.

Of course Arizona politicians from Flake to Salmon (and of course Democrats) are asking Horne to step aside. If Horne does not step down it could impact the party which McCain and Flake have so carefully maintained as the bastion of Republican ideals which our founder espoused.

The problem is that people cannot seem to see the hypocrisy of the position of the media because the media apparently does not deliver historic context to their iPads. Voters cannot be bothered by anything beyond the latest episode of Twilight or latest scripted reality series.

Tom can always apologize to his mistress in 17 years, or so.

Mystery flight MH370 wins over Benghazi at CNN 239 to 4

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Opinion by Glen Davis

Photo from Business Insider

Photo from Business Insider

Jeff Zucker is moving from MSNBC to head this nation’s last bastion of television journalism—AKA, CNN. The new head at CNN will not be shamed, however, into covering what the fine folks at Media Matters calls “the Benghazi hoax.” The answers, according to them, can be found in a report by an “independent” investigation convened by then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (PDF).

The Washington Post agrees.

Select committees make for good theater and often uncover important facts. But in the national security arena, the independent commissions that have probed the most shocking security lapses — including the 2001 attacks and several devastating bombings of U.S. embassies — have a better record of conducting impartial investigations and bringing about landmark reforms.

The report does not mention a YouTube video that had about ten hits prior to being linked as the cause of the 911 attack in Benghazi.
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Coconino Community College district to raise your property taxes.

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COCONINO COUNTY – The Coconino Community College district will raise your taxes on the next property tax cycle based on public input today. Elisha Dorfsmith of the Flagstaff Liberty Blog noted that a Truth in Taxation notice appeared in the May 4th edition of the Arizona Daily Sun for the Coconino Community College. A public hearing was held today on the CCC campus in Page. There is nothing on the web site of the Coconino Community College about the proposed tax increase.

The notice read:

TRUTH IN TAXATION HEARING

NOTICE OF TAX INCREASE

In compliance with Section 15-1461.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, Coconino County Community College District is notifying its property taxpayers of Coconino County Community College District’s intention to raise its primary property taxes over last year’s lever. The Coconino County Community College District is proposing an increase in primary property taxes of $140,690 or 1.98%.

For example, the proposed tax increase will cause Coconino County Coummunity College District’s primary property taxes on a $100,000 home to increase from $46.95 (total taxes that would be owed without the proposed tax increase) to $47.88 (total proposed taxes including the tax increase).

This proposed increase is exclusive of increased primary property taxes received from new construction. The increase is also exclusive of any changes that may occur from property tax levies for voter approved bonded indebtedness or budget and tax overrides.

All interested citizens are invited to attend the public hearing on the tax increase that is scheduled to be held May 27th, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in the D10 classroom at Coconino Community College, 475 S Lake Powell Blvd, Page, Arizona.

John Moore, Mayor of Williams, said that he was not aware of the proposed tax increase, but he opposed it. His opposition, however, was not specifically targeted at this proposal. He opposes an increase in taxes anywhere in the government in this economy.

We spoke with Gioia Goodrum, elected District 3 board member who could not comment on the issue and referred us to Coconino Community College.

Scott Talboom, of the public relations department of CCC, informed the Gazette that the statute cited in the notice allows College Districts to increase taxes by 2.5% per year. This increase is allowed to be automatically generated by the College District independent of voter intervention according to the statute cited in the ad. Apparently even the elected Coconino College Community board has nothing to do with the increase.

It is when they ask for an increase of more than the 2.5% that they must make a proposal to voters as with the failed initiative last November. The Arizona Daily Sun reported in January that Coconino Community College lost its bid for a hike of $4.5 million in the November 5, 2013 special election. Only four of Flagstaff’s 10 voted districts supported the override and it was defeated by Williams voters.

The questions that Mr. Talboom could not answer are why the comments are being taken in Page and if there are any other alternative means of making public comments. This is one of the issues raised by The Flagstaff Liberty Blog. Reaching the Page campus is difficult even under the best of conditions. With highway 89 impassible it creates even more of a burden.

The college could not confirm if there are alternative methods of public input, but they do have a contact section on their web site for Faculty and Staff.

Slide Rock firefighters discover historic cabin

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10415667_716489855063758_6710966526141201803_nFirefighters preparing to do burnout operations on the Slide Fire north of Sedona discovered the remains of a previously unidentified historic cabin unknown to the forest.

Engine Boss Leo Holley and crewmembers from the Coronado National Forest identified this historical small cabin, tucked away in a steep side canyon, and right away recognized the importance of this exciting find.

Leo and his crew began to remove fuels and constructed a fire line and removed debris around the cabin to protect and preserve the delicate piece of unseen history. They reinforced defense efforts with a layer of protective fabric that will help save it during burnout operations. Coconino National Forest archaeologist Jeremy Haines salvaged an axe hewn log from the structure in order to send it to the Tree Ring laboratory at the University of Arizona to have it dated.

This is just one more extraordinary effort firefighters have taken to preserve this piece of land we all hold dear.

Slide Rock Fire Information Page

Doug Ducey Lurches Left

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Doug_Ducey_-_Arizona_State_TreasurerSonoran Alliance March 28, 2014 by arizonaprogressgazette The Conservative’s Corner

It has been said that you can’t choose your family, but you can choose your friends. That’s why so many people say it is unfair to judge someone by what a family member does. On the other hand, it is also why so many people look long and hard at the advisers and staff members that elected officials hire.

When Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema hired an illegal alien who was fortunate enough to be granted deferred action through President Obama’s DACA program, she was making a point. When House Speaker John Boehner hired an advisor who led John McCain’s push for amnesty, it too sent a message.

Perhaps that is why Arizona politicos pay so much attention to the various hires made by the candidates running for Governor, and who is supporting whom at this early stage?

East Valley News Net

Memorial Day services in Williams

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WILLIAMS – The flags at the Williams Own Veterans memorial hung at half-staff as they held a Memorial Day service at the cemetery with ceremonial-songs and testimony and a 21-gun salute.

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Perico Avila, Williams American Legion Cordova Post #13.

The ceremony was conducted by Perico Avila, Chaplain of the American Legion Cordova Post #13. Father Kilian of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church conducted a prayer service.

Army veteran Mike Rioux gave a speech detailing his return to active duty at age 49 and combat service in Afghanistan. Debbie, Pamelia and Beverly sang in honor of those who lost their lives in battle.

The ceremony ended with the honor guard giving the traditional a 21-gun salute and Lu Carle played taps.

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Williams holds parade and events against a backdrop of Slide Rock Fire smoke

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WILLIAMS – The appearance of Smokey the Bear at the Memorial Day parade in the City of Williams against a backdrop of smoke was a somber reminder of the result of carelessness. The Slide Rock fire in Oak Creek and Woods Canyon fire near Payson are human-caused fires being fought by fire crews who cannot stop to enjoy the festivities.

975 fire fighters are still on the Slide Rock fire which has consumed nearly 11,000 acres and is still only 5% contained. They are fighting with air craft, as well, and are reporting some positive results with air-dropped fire retardants. Winds have died down—as they usually do around this time—which helps the fire fighters.

With them in mind, the City of Williams went on with the annual parade in honor of those who are fighting, have fought and who died doing their duty for their country.

Members of the American Legion Cordova Post #13 carry the colors followed by the Vietnam Veterans Association.

Members of the American Legion Cordova Post #13 carry the colors followed by the Vietnam Veterans Association.

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The parade naturally starts with members of the American Legion Cordova Post #13 carrying the flag. They were followed by the Vietnam Veterans Association.

Entries included the Bill Williams Mountain Men, the First Baptist Church and Saint Joseph Catholic Church and the Shriners. Camp Civitan, The Flagstaff Kennel Club K-9 Drill Team entered and the Cancer Society entered a float for breast cancer awareness.

Of course there were classic cars, politicians, first responders from Junipine, Ponderosa and Williams fire departments and Lifeline Ambulance.

After the parade a concert was held at the community stage. The Williams Aquatic Center was opened thanks to the efforts of the Friends of the Williams Aquatic Center including a pool party.

Attractions such as the Zipline and Bearizona were open for business.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Matthew Broehm post held a fundraising barbeque and sold tickets for their August raffle. They are raffling a Remington Model 870 tactical shotgun to be drawn for during the August Cool-Country Cruise In. Raffle tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. Only 500 tickets will be sold.

Events included the opening of the Williams Aquatic Center and rides on the Zipline.

Events included the opening of the Williams Aquatic Center and rides on the Zipline.

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Slide Rock Fire meeting in Sedona today

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SEDONA – There will be a meeting concerning the Slide Rock fire held today a 4 pm at the Sedona High School, Performing Arts Center, 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Rd.