Category Archives: News

Polling Changes for Feb. 28 Presidential Preference Election

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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Only voters registered with the Republican party or Green party are eligible to vote in the Feb. 28 Presidential Preference Election (PPE).

Recognized political parties are given the option to participate in a Presidential Preference Election and only the Republicans and Green parties selected to participate for 2012. If a voter wishes to register to vote or change party affiliation they must do so by Jan. 30.

Voters who are registered to vote as Democrats, Libertarians, non-partisans, independents or any other political party are NOT eligible to vote in the PPE. The reason being is that this “preference” election is being conducted by political party rules.

However, all voters no matter what party preference they are registered with, will be eligible to participate in the Aug. 28 Primary Election.

Per state statute for this election, the county is required to consolidate precincts except on reservation land. Based on that, Coconino County Elections has taken 85 precincts and consolidated into 26 polling districts.

Each household with a registered Republican or Green Party voter will be mailed a sample ballot that lists the name and polling place address for this election. Sample ballots should arrive about 30 days prior to the election.

In addition, as provided by ARS (16- 248A) voting precincts containing 300 or less registered voters will be conducted as mail ballot precincts. That means a ballot will automatically be mailed to every eligible registered Republican and Green Party voter in those precincts and there will be no polling place on election day. The following 23 precincts will be conducted as all mail ballot precincts; Bellemont, Parks, Ranches, Blue Ridge, Forest Lakes, Mormon Lake, Meteor, Winona, Kiva, Fort Tuthill, Kachina Village, Pinewood, Fort Valley, Fredonia, North Rim, Glen Canyon, Grand Canyon, Tusayan, Kaibab North, Havasupai, Paiute, Sedona North and Sedona South.

Republican and Green Party voters who currently have signed up to be on the Permanent Early Voting list (PEVL) will automatically be mailed a ballot on February 2.

Republican and Green Party voters that live in precincts that will be voting at a polling place but are not on the PEVL listing can still vote an early ballot by either calling the Elections Office at 928-689-7860 or toll free 800-793-6181; send a written request to Coconino County Elections, 110 E. Cherry, Flagstaff, AZ 86001; or submit an on-line request at www.coconino.az.gov/elections and click on “Request Early Ballot.”

Republican and Green Party voters may also vote an early ballot in person at early voting locations throughout the County. The following early voting locations are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm, unless noted differently, at the following locations:

Coconino County Elections Office – 110 E. Cherry (first floor), Flagstaff
Ferdonia Town Office – 25 N. Main Street, Ferdonia
Page City Hall – 697 Vista Avenue, Page
Tuba City Elections Office – Tuba City Library – Basement
Williams City Hall – 113 S. First Street, Williams. (Monday through Thursday only)

Toll proposal puts the brakes on economic recovery

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By BUSTER JOHNSON
Chairman
Mohave County Board of Supervisors

During the January 10 meeting of the Mohave County Board of Supervisors, we unanimously voted to oppose the state’s proposal to turn a 30-mile segment of Interstate 15 into a toll road. Now, Arizona State Rep. Karen Fann (R-District 1, kfann@azleg.gov, co-sponsored by Republican Russ Jones rjones@azleg.gov) has launched legislation that would open the gates to toll roads throughout the state.

Fann’s House Bill 2358, titled Public-Private Partnership; Toll Facilities, creates regulations for collection of tolls and a variety of punishments for those who do not pay them. Specifically, it allows the suspending or revoking of vehicle registrations and driver’s licenses.

This long-winded bill sets up procedures for toll agencies to track and nail anyone who has “liability for toll nonpayment” throughout the state. HB 2358 is the legal foundation that will be used for the furtherance of toll roads, toll bridges and other toll transportation facilities (read rest stops) in Arizona.

I understand the traditional toll facility proposals. A major bridge or road is built through bonded indebtedness and, when it opens for use, customers pay a toll that eventually pays off the cost of construction. But to establish a precedent of charging tolls to use pre-existing roads and bridges is a terrible wrong turn that Arizona does not need to make.

If our State Legislature passes HB 2358, the gates will be opened for many toll proposals leading to costly trips. Driving Arizona highways will no longer be enjoying the open road. It will be more like traversing a board game with costly detours and, if you avoid a toll booth, an expensive Get Out Of Jail fee. The state slogan will become, “You can’t get there from here.”

Okay, that was a bit facetious, but in an age where we are trying to get business back to health and America back to work, HB 2358 sets up roadblocks to prosperity. Truckers who have to take the highways and interstates will be hit the hardest with new fees. At the end of the line, those costs will be passed on to retail customers. Those same customers will have to pay tolls on the roads bringing their more-expensive purchases home.

We will bring more prosperity and transportation funds to Arizona by removing roadblocks to economic development; not by adding them. This Board of Supervisors opposed the state’s proposal of putting a toll on I-15 and I oppose HB 2358, which would drive more toll proposals and bring economic recovery to a screeching halt.

Northern Arizona Authors Group expanding their vision

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The small writer’s group in Williams is expanding in size and scope. Their plans are to tackle the intricacies of screenplays. The group normally meets once a month at the Williams Public Library, but will have two meetings next month.

On February 4th at 9 a.m. David Seals will be conducting a screenplay workshop. He is asking the group to write a 5 page treatment. Mr. Seals has been a writer in different genres for 45 years and has published with Penguin and Random House. David wrote Pow Wow Highway in 1989 which won awards at the Sundance Film Festivals in San Francisco, Montreal and Milan.

The regular meeting of the Northern Arizona Authors Group is scheduled for February 18th at 9 a.m. If the library is closed due to the holiday, the meeting will be held in the Brown Bag Sandwich restaurant across the street.

You can get more information about the group at their web site.

Arizona entrepreneur creates the “ultimate” survival tool

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CROVEL0Scottsdale, AZ — Shortly after launching its Gear Up Center online store, Recon LLC has announced the arrival of its newest innovation, The Crovel Folding Shovel. After purchasing countless shovels, creator Tim Ralston conceived the idea and followed through with extensive research. The ex-military expert decided to move forward and develop the e-tool by combining several tools into one with its base serving as a crowbar and a shovel. The Crovel (shovel + crowbar) was unveiled at an outdoor camping gear show and introduced as the next evolution of the e-tool to the show’s attendees. The Crovel shovel offers multiple functions such as a hammer, ax, pick, pry bar, hoe, and machete. During the audience demonstrations, the Crovel’s sheer strength and solid construction proved the tool to be virtually indestructible and highly versatile compared to other folding shovels.

Made of 10 gauge-hardened steel, the Crovel claims to outlast and outdo its fellow competitors who offer stamped steel shovelheads with wooden handles. When put through a rigid test, competing folding shovels frequently bent and broke while the Croval remained in tact. By combining several tools into one, the Crovel can reduce excess weight of unneeded gear by approximately 45 pounds. Made for durability, multiple functionality and handling ease, the sharpness and strength of the Crovel’s edge gives the user the options for cutting, chopping, and sawing while keeping its edge. The shovel’s handle is a 19” hardened gooseneck crowbar with a hammer face on the end to add additional strength and function. Further distinguishing it from its competitors, the Crovel has 550 para cord wrapped around the handle for additional grip strength while giving the user 15-20’ of life-saving material that can be used thousands of different ways.

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Sign the Declaration of Independence

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The National Archives has devised an interesting way to be a part of history. Or to collect names for the next edition of the Department of Homeland Security Domestic Terrorist magazine. You can now sign the Declaration of Independence. Ironically, they even warn you.

Wonder what happens if you decide not to sign?

The Declaration of Independence was ratified by adopting the Lee Resolution for Independence with only New York not voting. After some minor changes by Franklin and Adams, according to the web site, it was declared officially adopted on July 4th 235 years ago in 1776.

Their Charters of Freedom web site has photographic images and text transcripts of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. At the bottom of that page is a button which takes you to a page with another link to sign and other links to information about the signers and a timeline for the events surrounding the Declaration.

You can elect to sign the document in three different fonts; Colonist, American and Patriot. You can print on a color or black-and-white printer. Make sure you used the print link at the bottom of the page and do not try to print from your browser print function. Flash is required to use the program.

And you thought that investment in parchment paper was foolish.

Direct link to start signing.

Williams TEA party joins blackout protest

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Today at midnight, Wikipedia blacked out the English version of their encyclopedia on the Internet. They were joined by a host of other web sites.

The Williams TEA Party, while not totally blacked out, joined the protest by blacking out the header on their web site with a quote by Thomas Jefferson.

Wikiprotest may have had an effect

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By Glen Davis

In an interesting protest against the SOPA and PIPA bills in Congress, the English version of Wikipedia went dark at midnight today. Some report being able to access the online encyclopedia through certain smartphones according to CNN.

The protest is over concerns that these bill would allow the United States to take down domains for virtually any excuse. Proponents say the bills are necessary to protect intellectual property available on the Internet. Thefts and piracy do present a problem, but industry estimates of the dollar loss could be inflated.

Read more at the Williams TEA Party Blog

State Senate second readings

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The Arizona State Senate conducted a second reading of several bills on January 12 for the fiftieth legislative session. A bill is required to be read three times before being considered for passage. The brief descriptions given here are from reading the legislation and the authors of the legislation have not been contacted for clarification.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 1007 introduced by Senator Gallardo would allow Arizona voters to amend Article IV, Part 2, Section 6 of the Arizona Constitution relating to the arrest of members of the legislature. It would amend that section to read, “Members of the legislature shall not be subject to any civil process during the session of the legislature, nor for fifteen days next before the commencement of each session.” This strikes the privilege from arrest which Senator Scott Bundgaard evoked amidst charges of domestic disturbance some months ago. He resigned shortly before he was to testify before the ethics committee.

SCR 1008 would declare, “…an emergency within the borders of the State of Arizona and, in order to protect the health, welfare and safety of Arizona’s citizens, notifies all federal agencies with implied de facto authority that due to lack of congressional oversight and the violations of trust with their disregard for strict compliance with the acts of Congress, the State of Arizona will be exercising its right of sovereignty over soil within its boundaries.” The measure is an intent to declare State sovereignty due to the ineptness shown by federal government agencies. They cite the Bear Wallow Fire as an example of the problem. Residents of Williams still recall the frightening events surrounding the Twin Fires of a few years ago when portions of the City had to be evacuated.

In addition, SB 1081 would allow county board of supervisors to take actions to clear the forest of fuel wood and thin trees upon consultation with the State Forester. The job of the State Forester is further empowered by changes that would be enacted if SB 1075 passes.
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Your $2 investment

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If you are one of those who have been sinking your retirement into the $1 investments hoping for a return of $20-million or more, tomorrow your payments will increase. The price of the Powerball ticket will rise to two-dollars. The price of the Mega-millions, The Pick and other games remains the same.

The Arizona Lottery urges you to play responsibly, just pay more.

Senate confirms appointment of Kurt Davis to Arizona Game and Fish Commission

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PHOENIX – The Arizona Senate on Jan. 11 confirmed Gov. Jan Brewer’s appointment of Kurt R. Davis as the newest member of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission.

“Kurt possesses a wealth of expertise in government, communications and business,” said Gov. Brewer at the time she made the appointment on Dec. 8. “In addition to an eclectic professional background, Kurt is both well-liked and well-versed in issues affecting the Arizona outdoors. He will be a tremendous asset to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission.”

An avid hunter and angler, Davis is currently a founding partner at FirstStrategic Communications & Public Affairs, where he specializes in strategic public policy development for nonprofit clients, issues relating to rural Arizona, and government relations. He also is on the board of directors of Great Hearts Academies, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, and ASU’s Ramsey Executive Program for Public Policy.
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