Category Archives: News

Williams weather permitting

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Springtime snowfall in Williams.

WILLIAMS—Twenty-four inches of snow blanketed the city to welcome spring. The snow melted almost as fast as it came leaving some muddy spots in less maintained areas, such as around the Santa Fe Dam lake and forest roads.

The long range forecast shows a 30% chance of rain/snow starting Sunday night through Monday during the day. It is expected to clear by Monday night leaving no appreciable accumulation. The Williams weather usually consists of chances of snowfall through May.

Some train no matter the weather.

Temperatures will rise through Wednesday giving residents and visitors the opportunity to start training for the Lion’s Club 5-K/10-K and Fun Run during the Labor day weekend in September. The Mountain Man Run started last September and will be run again this year.

The advantages of registering early are lower prices and a free T-shirt. Through May 31, the prices for the 10-K, 5-K and fun run are $40, $30 and $15 respectively rising to $55, $45 and $30 on race day. Those who register before July 31 get a T-shirt. If you cannot race, the Lion’s Club accepts volunteers for traffic control and other assistance.

The race benefits the vision and hearing services that the Lion’s Club provides for the Williams Community. You can register for the race at Virtual Roster.

Friends of the Williams Aquatic Center seeks board members

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WILLIAMS—The Friends of the Williams Aquatic Center (FWAC/Blog) is seeking volunteers to fill 2 Board of Director positions. The election will be held on Monday, March 19 at the Williams Youth Recreation Center from 6:30 to 8 PM.

The positions are open to any legal resident of the United States. You don’t need to be a resident of Williams to run. The positions are open to anyone desiring to assist the community.

The Board usually meets monthly between March and September in order to plan and hold fundraisers. The meetings are open to the public. This year’s goal is replacement of the PoolPak (the climate control system). They hope to do that with additional funding from grants. The mission of the FWAC is to return the Williams Aquatic Center to year-round operations.

For more information please contact Clare Hydock at 928-235-5321.

March 13th election results in Coconino County

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FLAGSTAFF — In the Mayoral race in Flagstaff, Jerry Nabours leads with 3632 votes followed by Al White with 3302. Paul Kulpinski received 1919 votes with Paul Reilly receiving 557. There were 38 write-in votes.

In Williams, Mayor John Moore took 66% of the vote over former mayor Ken Edes. Moore received 439 to Edes 218 votes with 41% of registered voters going to the polls.

When asked about the vote, a voter in Williams commented, “I didn’t know Edes had that much kin in Williams.”

Frank McNelly and James Wurgler were the top two people seeking City Council spots with 488 and 470 votes respectively. Bobby Patricca came in third with 314 and Craig Fritsinger received 297 votes making a run-off election between the two in the next election cycle.

In Fredonia, Alvin Johnson received 57% of the votes for city council over Dustin Riddle; 230 votes to 164.

In the Tusayan recall election, Robert Evans received two more than the 54 votes for Greg Bryan. Clarinda Vail received 54 to the 53 votes received for Al Montoya. In the recall of Cecily Maniaci, Craig Sanderson received 71 votes tallying to 85.54% against 12 votes for write-in candidates.

In the race for board members of the Kaibab Estate W. Fire District, Pat Whitted took 80 votes followed by Douglas Gorniak with 77. Robert Wilkins received 75 votes and Carol Miller and George Wallace tied with 74 votes each. Andy Velasquez received 19 votes.

This county-wide summary is based on non-canvassed results and they could change. For more detailed election results, go to the Coconino County Elections web site.

Legislation sent to the governor increases schedule IV substances.

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PHOENIX—H.B. 2356 which adds to the growing list of controlled substances was sent to the governor for signature.

The drugs added to the list are, Butylone, Fluoromethcathinone, Methoxymethcathinone, Methylenedioxymethcathinone, Methylenedioxypyrovalerone, Methylmethcathinone and Naphthylpyrovalerone.

Many of the drugs listed are in the class of so-called designer drugs and the long-term health hazards of the drugs are unknown. Some are psychoactive drugs, such as Butylone. It was researched as a possible entheogen, which is a drug used in religious ceremonies like peyote.

New email scam aimed at domain name owners

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Internet–A new email scam is running around the web targeting owners of domain names. The email comes from “John” whose email address was john4873587806@gmail.com, but the Reply to is john4873587@gmail.com.

The initial email is in broken English informing the person that someone is interested in purchasing your domain name, but it does not specify which domain name. Subsequent emails offer you $9000 for your domain name and instruct you to go to ToSellDomains.com.

The first email reads:

Hi
We have a customer interested to buy your domain. If you are interested to sell it let me know your asking price
We dont know how to contact with you, if you got this email please contact us ASAP
Thanks

John Sean

A follow-up email reads:

Sorry for delayed, i lost your email in bulk folder.
my customer offer is $9000 for your domain
i want buy though www.ToSellDomains.com its secure for both

A Whois search reveals no information about the owner of the site and only reveals that it is registered in Colorado. The site was registered in February of this year.

The purpose of the scam remains a mystery.

Source: Williams TEA Party

Coconino County Parks & Rec Launches “CocoRec”

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Online site offers registration for recreation programs and campsites

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.–— Coconino County Parks & Recreation Department has kicked off its new web-based registration and reservation system “CocoRec.”

CocoRec allows county residents and visitors to view and register for recreation programs and reserve campground sites and stables at Fort Tuthill County Park through the Parks & Recreation website at http://www.coconino.az.gov/parks/.

“Online registration for programs and campsite reservations are eco-friendly,” said County Parks & Recreation Director Judy Weiss, who noted that registrations and reservations could be made 24/7. “You save gas, reduce carbon emissions, save time and paper.  Plus, you have the added convenience of registering anytime wherever you are with internet access.”

To view a catalog of available programs, campsites and stables visit the Parks & Recreation website and click the link to CocoRec. Before registering for any programs or reserving a campsite, or stable, individuals and families must establish an account by setting up a login and password.

Spring recreation programs include geocaching, navigating the outdoors and camping clinics for the less experienced camper. A list of summer offerings will soon be available as Parks & Recreation moves forward with year round recreation offerings.

USGS: Cinder Lake Adequate to Contain Schultz Floodwater

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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.—– A federal study funded by Coconino County determined Cinder Lake, a dry volcanic cinder bed capable of storing 3,960 acre-feet of water, is adequate to contain floodwater from the 2010 Schultz Fire burn area.

Results from the Cinder Lake Study, compiled by hydrologists and scientists with the US Geological Survey, substantiate that Cinder Lake serves as a significant element of the larger flood mitigation efforts to protect residents and property in the Doney Park area from ongoing flooding.

“Armed with this new information, the County, and our federal and state partners, are in a better position to fine tune projects aimed at ensuring floodwaters travel in the least destructive path as possible,” said County Supervisor Liz Archuleta, whose district includes the flood area.

The study was in response to extensive flooding in the wake of the 2010 Schultz Fire that charred more than 15,000 acres of forest on the eastern face of the San Francisco Peaks. As summer rainfall came, flood waters quickly ran through neighborhoods, decimating properties, roadways, utility lines and claiming the life of a 12-year-old girl.

The scientific geologic study found that flood water is naturally flowing into Cinder Lake and into the subsurface.

USGS subsurface surveys estimate the lake can hold approximately 1.3 billion gallons of water. The flood events during the 2011 summer monsoon season produced about 16 million gallons of water, which eventually made its way into Cinder Lake.

“These events have greatly impacted our residents who constantly have a cautious eye skyward,” said County Supervisor Mandy Metzger, whose district is also impacted by the floods. “This study provides a critical piece of information and reinforces our early belief that Cinder Lake had the capacity needed to develop a comprehensive flood mitigation strategy.

The entire Cinder Lake Study can be found at: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1018/ . To view the USGS’s press release, visit: http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=3113 .

Saint Patrick’s Day Dinner at the Williams Methodist Church

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WILLIAMS—The Williams Community United Methodist Church on the corner of Second Street and Sherman in Williams will be hosting a Saint Patrick’s Day dinner on Saturday, March 17th.

The dinner will consist of corned beef and cabbage, deserts and beverages. The dinner will run from 5 to 7 pm or until the food runs out.

They ask your most generous donation for the dinner.

Williams Senior Center March for Meals pancake breakfast

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WILLIAMS—The Williams Senior Center will be holding a March for Meals pancake breakfast this Saturday, March 10th from 9 am to 11 am. The Senior Center is at 850 W. Grant Street next to Safeway. Grant Street is one block down from Route 66.

The breakfast will consist of Pancakes, Hash Browns, Bacon, Sausage, Biscuits, Eggs and Yogurt, Orange juice, coffee and tea will also be served. Generous donations for the breakfast will be matched by the Meals on Wheels Association of America and benefit the Williams Senior Nutrition Program.

The Senior Center provides lunches in-house for seniors in Williams and delivers lunches to seniors who cannot make it to the Senior Center. The Senior Center has a thrift store which also supports their activities and provides other activities for seniors in Williams.

Too many nonviolent offenders stuck behind bars

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Policy Change Could Save State $30 to $73 Million Annually and Maintain Safety

PHOENIX — Ten years ago the state’s three universities received 40 percent more funding from the General Fund than did the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC).  Today, it’s reversed; corrections receives 40 percent more than universities.  No one voted to change priorities, rather a new report from the Grand Canyon Institute, a centrist think tank, argues Arizona’s rigid approach to sentencing nonviolent offenders is a significant cause.

The Grand Canyon Institute Monday released its report “Reducing Incarceration While Maintaining Public Safety: From Truth in Sentencing to Earned Release for Nonviolent Offenders.”   Says report author, Dave Wells, a Fellow for the Institute, “Arizonan is the only state in the country that requires nonviolent offenders, regardless of risk or programs they complete while in custody, to serve at least 85 percent of their sentence behind bars.  That’s neither cost effective nor best practice.  Arizona can learn from other states that have moved toward earned release with appropriate community supervision and drug treatment and save between $30 and $73 million annually while maintaining public safety.”

Former Republican State Representative Bill Konopnicki, who serves on the Institute’s Board, notes, “Our prisons can be a revolving door.  Last year 19,055 people left the Arizona Department of Corrections and another 18,759 people replaced them.  At least three in four have significant substance abuse issues, yet last year only 1,810 received treatment.  It’s no wonder that repeat offenders make up seven out of every 10 inmates.”
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