Hunting/fishing license dealers will have option to charge convenience fee in 2019

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PHOENIX — Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) customers are advised that, effective Jan. 1, 2019, Arizona hunting and fishing license dealers will have the option to charge a convenience fee for license, tag and stamp sales at their locations. Licenses, tags and stamps purchased online from AZGFD or purchased at AZGFD offices are not subject to a convenience fee.

A change in the law (A.R.S. §17-338) allows dealers to “collect and retain a reasonable fee as determined by the license dealer in addition to the fee charged to issue the license or permit.” The law also eliminates the 5 percent commission that dealers currently deduct and keep from sales of licenses, tags or stamps. That means after January 1, the dealers will transmit to AZGFD the full value of the license for each sale and the dealers will retain the convenience fee, if any.

“The price that Arizona Game and Fish charges for hunting and fishing licenses, tags and stamps will remain the same as before,” said Doug Cummings, assistant director for support services. “Dealers will have the ability to charge a convenience fee, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will. It will be up to each dealer whether or not they charge a fee.”

Cummings pointed out that receiving the full monetary value of each license will benefit department programs, allowing more money to be put into wildlife conservation.

Game and Fish is stipulating that dealers who charge a convenience fee must post the amount in an area clearly visible to customers.

To buy a license online, visit https://www.azgfd.com/license/.

Getting a new license plate? No need to bring the old one back

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PHOENIX – Buying a vehicle that needs a new license plate, or upgrading to a specialty or personalized plate? The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division is reminding motorists that you don’t need to return an old license plate to the MVD.

“We’re working very hard to get Arizonans out of line and safely on the road, and part of that is letting people know it’s okay to keep an old license plate instead of taking time out of a busy day to go to an MVD office,” said MVD Stakeholder Relations Manager Jennifer Bowser-Richards. “The only exception occurs if a plate is mutilated or illegible. In that case, the law requires a vehicle owner to get a new plate,” she noted.

She added, “Customers do have the option of transferring their current plate when they buy a different vehicle, but quite often if it involves merely a standard plate, people will just want to get rid of it. We want to make sure they know an office visit isn’t needed to do that. We also urge people who may not want to keep a plate to put it in their recycling bin as opposed to simply throwing it in the trash.”

For more information on plates and placards, visit azdot.gov/mvd

Value engineering increases value, reduces delivery time for I-17 bridge project

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PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation’s original plan for improving the Interstate 17 bridges at Willard Springs Road south of Flagstaff called for replacing the decks in both directions over two summers, ending well into 2019. The project that’s underway, however, is replacing the bridges in their entirety by the end of November – at no additional cost.

The difference is thanks to a process called value engineering.

Once a project has been awarded, ADOT and contractors can use value engineering to systematically analyze the plans and identify ways to deliver improvements safely, reliably and efficiently for the lowest overall cost possible, looking for ways to improve quality and value while reducing time needed to complete the work. For ADOT to approve a contractor’s value engineering proposal, the change must either reduce cost or delivery time or both while adding value.

As an alternative to removing and replacing just the bridge decks at I-17 and Willard Springs Road, the contractor, Fisher Industries, proposed creating new bridge abutments as well by using giant steel plates attached to construction vehicles as molds around rebar cages. Once the concrete sets, the steel plates can be moved quickly, allowing crews to pour concrete for another part of the abutment.

Building abutments normally takes weeks. With this technique, being used for the first time on an ADOT project, it took only days for crews to create abutments for the I-17 bridges at Willard Springs Road.

“Once the abutments are built, the bridge work is the same that we’ve always done,” said Steve Monroe, senior resident engineer for ADOT’s North Central District. “It’s nice to have the contractor get in, get the job done in a much more efficient way and get out.”

The new bridges are expected to be ready prior to the long Thanksgiving weekend. For now, drivers are moving by the work zone along I-17 using two lanes. Willard Springs Road is closed under I-17 while work is occurring, but drivers who need to access Willard Springs can still do so use using the southbound lanes of I-17.

In addition to improving delivery time and value, having both bridges done in one season rather than two reduces the length of time drivers must deal with restrictions at Willard Springs Road.

The bridge improvements are part of a larger project to improve northbound I-17 from milepost 312 north to the Flagstaff area. Several miles of the interstate have been repaved along with new guardrail. Both the right and left lanes from milepost 312 to 315 have been completely rebuilt and are already being used by traffic.

In the final weeks before the weather turns too cold for paving, crews will focus on completing paving of both lanes between mileposts 312 and 316 and the right lane up to milepost 331 at Kelly Canyon Road. After a winter hiatus, crews will return when the weather warms to finish the project.

For more information, please visit azdot.gov/I17Paving.

Paving continues on Interstate 40 in northern Arizona

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The Arizona Department of Transportation advises northern Arizona drivers to plan for possible travel delays because of a ramp closure on I-40 at Parks on Monday. Crews are repairing 17 miles of pavement on I-40 between Parks and Williams. As crews pave I-40, they plan to close the westbound on-ramp at Parks (milepost 178) from 6 a.m. to noon. Traffic will be detoured to Bellemont (milepost 185) to re-enter westbound I-40.

Please proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.

AZGFD presentation posted online

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has posted a presentation on its website kicking off the 2nd phase of public input for establishing and maintaining a discretionary, dedicated funding source for public awareness and education.The Arizona Game and Fish Commission recently directed the Department to analyze ideas submitted by the public: the addition of a big game bonus point option, and the potential to expand revenue sources from non-traditional customers.

The public is invited to view the presentation (above), then submit comments specific only to the proposals via email (ideas@azgfd.gov) throughout a public input period that ends November 18.

AZGFD is also seeking feedback to specific questions at Answer Questions HERE regarding a big game bonus point option. This feedback will provide the Department with a preliminary glimpse of public opinion on the topic. Additional analyses and public vetting will be needed to fully assess the potential for this option.

The presentation and online feedback form also are posted at https://www.azgfd.com/agency/dedicated-funding-source/.

AZGFD will present feedback on the potential options for the funding source to the Commission at its public meeting December 7 in Phoenix.

Pile burning continues on North Kaibab Ranger District

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FREDONIA — North Zone fire managers continue planning for pile burning this winter, targeting areas across the district as conditions allow, but initially focusing on higher elevation areas and within the vicinity of Jacob Lake.

These piles are typically composed of vegetative materials, commonly called slash, such as tops, limbs, branches, brush, and other recently cut miscellaneous materials resulting from forest management activities such as thinning, pruning, timber harvesting, and wildfire hazard mitigation. Upon arranging slash into compact, teepee-shapes and allowing the piles to dry, fire managers burn the piles during safe burning conditions, generally after a snowfall or significant wetting-rain events.

“With recent significant moisture continuing to blanket the Kaibab Plateau, fuel moistures continue to rise making it too wet for broadcast burning,” said North Zone Prescribed Fire and Fuels Technician Dominic Ali. “So we have switched gears and begun targeting the brush and slash piles resulting from fuels reduction and mechanical thinning projects over the last few years. By reducing these hazardous fuels, we can help reduce the threat of future high severity, high-intensity wildfires.”

Desired Objectives: Fire managers have recently accomplished approximately 130 acres of pile burning within the vicinity of DeMotte Park, and plan to target an additional 2,000 acres as conditions allow.

Smoke: During ignitions, motorists are cautioned that smoke may be present on roadways in short durations, but is generally expected to have minimal impact. Pile burn operations require moisture in the surrounding vegetation and as such typically produce lighter smoke than a prescribed broadcast burn.

Safety: Areas anticipated to be impacted by smoke include AZ Highway 67, Forest Road 22, Forest Road 611, Kaibab Lodge, and the North Rim Country Store. Motorists are reminded to use caution, drive slowly, turn on headlights, and avoid stopping in areas where fire personnel is working. As a reminder, all prescribed burning is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and appropriate weather conditions. To view prescribed burn authorizations, visit http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html.

Fire information: Additional information is made available through the following:

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6237/
Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaibabNF/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaibabNF
Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311.

Multi-Agency Rescue of Injured Hiker on Mt Elden

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Coconino SAR rescue Mt Elden hiker – CCSO photo

FLAGSTAFF — On October 21 at approximately 2:53 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, responded to Mount Elden Trail and Sunset Trail for the report of an injured adult female hiker incapable of extricating herself.

The adult female hiker from Kayenta was reported to have a lower leg injury that made her unable to continue her hike. Bystanders provided aid until emergency responders arrived at the scene. Emergency responders hiked to the patient’s location and initiated care while Search and Rescue hiked in with a litter, litter wheel, and warming blankets to assist with carrying her out.

The Department of Public Safety Air Rescue Helicopter had been staged at the top of Mount Elden. The patient arrived at the top of Mount Elden and was transferred to the helicopter at approximately 6:00 pm and flown to Flagstaff Medical Center for additional treatment.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit, Summit Fire District, Guardian Medical Transport, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety Northern Air Rescue Unit responded to the injured hiker on the Mount Elden Lookout Trail near the intersection with the Sunset Trail.

This incident highlights the close working relationship between local public safety agencies to respond to and resolve rescue situations. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the hikers who rendered aid prior to our arrival and remind hikers to be prepared for the unexpected emergency on the trail by carrying at least the Ten Essentials in addition to a charged cell phone.

  1. extra water
  2. extra food
  3. extra warm clothing
  4. navigation equipment
  5. headlamp or flashlight
  6. first aid kit
  7. shelter material (large leaf bag or emergency blanket)
  8. fire starting kit
  9. pocket knife
  10. signaling equipment (whistle/signal mirror)

Amateur radio operators should have local repeaters programmed into their radios. The Mount Elden repeater is 146.980 (162.2 tone – offset), the Bill Williams Mountain repeater is 146.780 (91.5 tone – offset) and the RIMLINK repeater is 146.140 (162.2 tone + offset).

Grand Canyon Unified School District seeking Governing Board Applicants for Appointment

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Risha VanderWey is seeking applicants for appointment to the Grand Canyon Unified School District Governing Board. Currently, one seat is vacant.

Applicants must be Arizona registered voters and residents of the school district for at least one year prior to the date of appointment. Applicants or their spouses cannot be an employee of the district.

Application information:

  • Download the application here http://www.coconino.az.gov/schoolboardapplication
  • Deadline to submit is November 30 by 5pm
  • Submit by email to aterhaar@coconino.az.gov (live signature original required)
  • Submit by fax to 928-526-1469 (live signature original required)
  • Mail/Drop off Coconino County School Superintendent, 2384 N Steves Blvd, Flagstaff, AZ 86004

An advisory committee may be assembled, consisting of district residents and a current board member to conduct interviews and advise Superintendent VanderWey on the appointments.

For more information, please call the Office of the Coconino County School Superintendent at 928-679-8070 or email: aterhaar@coconino.az.gov.

Paving continues on Interstate 40 in northern Arizona

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The Arizona Department of Transportation advises northern Arizona drivers to plan for travel delays because of ramp closures on Interstate 40 at Parks on Monday, October 22, and Tuesday, October 23. Crews are repairing 17 miles of pavement on I-40 between Parks and Williams.

As crews pave Interstate 40, they plan to close the on- and off-ramps at Parks between the following hours:

1. The eastbound off-ramp at Parks (milepost 178) will be closed from noon to 5 p.m. Monday, October 22. Traffic will be detoured to Pittman Valley Road (milepost 171) to re-enter eastbound I-40.
2. The westbound on-ramp at Parks (milepost 178) will be closed from 6 a.m. to noon Tuesday, October 23. Traffic will be detoured to Bellemont (milepost 185) to re-enter westbound I-40.

Drivers are advised to plan for travel delays. Please proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.

Kaibab National Forest to host public meetings for proposed landscape restoration project on North Kaibab Ranger District

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FREDONIA — The Kaibab National Forest will offer two public meetings for the proposed Kaibab Plateau Ecological Restoration Project on the North Kaibab Ranger District, which is designed to increase resiliency and overall health of vegetation and watersheds and to restore low-intensity fire to the fire-adapted ecosystems of the area.

These public meetings will be offered in an open house venue where interested stakeholders and community members may view project maps and discuss the proposed project actions with Forest staff.

  1. The first public meeting is scheduled for November 1 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., and will be held in the East Flagstaff Community Library Community Room. The library is located on the southeast corner of Cedar and 4th Street, in the buildings of Coconino Community College’s Fourth Street Campus.
    East Flagstaff Community Library
    3000 N. Fourth Street, Suite 5
    Flagstaff, AZ 86004
  2. The second public meeting is scheduled for November 2 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., and will be held in the North Kaibab Ranger District Conference Room.
    North Kaibab Ranger District
    430 S. Main St.
    Fredonia, AZ 86022

The project is designed to increase resiliency and overall health of vegetation and watersheds and to restore low-intensity fire to the fire-adapted ecosystems of the area. Specifically, the proposed action includes prescribed fire and non-commercial, mechanical vegetation treatments on about 511,000 acres of the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest.As a reminder, the public scoping for the Kaibab Plateau Ecological Restoration Project began on October 5. The Kaibab National Forest encourages public participation in the development of proposed projects and is seeking input and comments on this project. Specific, written comments should be received no later than November 5.

Comments must be in writing and may be delivered electronically, in person, or by mail or facsimile. Electronic comments, including attachments, may be emailed to comments-southwestern-kaibab-north-kaibab@fs.fed.us. Please include “Kaibab Plateau Ecological Restoration Project” in the subject line. Comments may be submitted electronically in Word (.doc or .docx), rich text format (.rtf), text (.txt), Adobe portable document formats (PDF), or HyperText Markup Language (.html). Submit comments via hand delivery (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays) or mail to: U.S. Forest Service, Kaibab National Forest, Attn: Sue Farley, 800 South 6th Street, Williams, AZ 86046. Send comments via facsimile to 928-635-8280.

For detailed project information, including the full proposed action document, please visit www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=54226. For questions, please contact Sue Farley, environmental coordinator for the Kaibab National Forest, at 928-635-8331 or sfarley@fs.fed.us.