Tag Archives: Coconino County

Two Stranded Hikers Rescued from West Fork in Oak Creek Canyon

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SEDONA—Two male hikers, one seventeen and one twenty years of age both of Scottsdale, Arizona, were rescued by Coconino County Sheriff’s Office personnel late Saturday evening after they found themselves in darkness with no flashlights or other light sources.

On Saturday, June 1, 2013 at about 8:43 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Sedona Fire Department (SFD). According to a SFD dispatcher, she received a 911 emergency call from one of two hikers who were stranded in West Fork Canyon in extremely dark conditions in the absence of a visible moon. The Sedona Fire Emergency Dispatch was able to determine latitude and longitude for the cell phone call, within approximately 100 feet, because they are equipped with a 911 Enhanced emergency call system that provides cell phone location information.

Furnished with a precise location of the stranded youth, a team comprised of a Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputy, a Search and Rescue Coordinator and a Search and Rescue Volunteer responded to the West Fork Trailhead and hiked approximately two miles to the victims’ location. Rescuers reached the victims at about 11:10 pm and provided each with a flashlight. The rescuers then accompanied the two hikers back to the trailhead.

The men and women of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit would like to remind hikers and hunters to leave a detailed trip plan with a trusted person and be prepared for the unexpected night out in the event of an accident or other emergency. Carry the 10 Essentials: extra water, food, warm clothing, navigation equipment, a headlamp or flashlight, a first aid kit, shelter material, a fire starting kit, a pocket knife, and signaling equipment like a signal mirror and whistle. These can be important tools to help you stay safe in the outdoors and to aid searchers in locating you. During the summer months extreme caution with fire is urged in order to prevent a wildfire.

Take Precautions to Prevent Hantavirus

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Residents, visitors urged to protect themselves against the Hantavirus

FLAGSTAFF, AZ––As warmer temperatures and wetter weather return to Northern Arizona, so does the threat of Hantavirus, a rare but fatal disease spread by infected rodent droppings.

The Coconino County Public Health Services District (CCPHSD) reminds the public to take a few precautions when entering and cleaning sheds, garages, campers, cabins, barns and other buildings to protect themselves from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS).

“As preparations for summer activities begin, we want to remind everyone to take the time to use appropriate precautions when entering and cleaning structures and buildings,” said Kimbal Babcock, CCPHSD Interim Chief Health Officer.

HPS is transmitted to people who come into contact with or breathe the urine, droppings and saliva of wild mice, primarily deer mice. The illness starts with fever, headache and muscle aches, and progresses rapidly to severe difficulty in breathing and, in some cases, death.

The last reported case of Hantavirus in Coconino County was reported in 2007, but to prevent HPS, public health officials recommend the following:

Proper clean-up methods:

  • Open all door and windows, leave them open for 30 minutes before cleaning.
  • Do not stir up dust by vacuuming, sweeping, or any other means.
  • When rodent droppings or nests are found in and around the home, spray them liberally with a household disinfectant and allow them to soak for at least 15 minutes. Any rodent droppings and rodent nests should be sprayed with a pesticide to kill fleas before disinfecting or disposing the carcasses.
  • After disinfecting, wear rubber gloves and clean up the droppings with disposable materials such as paper towels, rags or disposable mop heads.
  • Seal all materials, droppings or nests in double plastic bags and dispose of them in the trash.

Rodent-proof your home:

  • Prevent rodents from entering the home by plugging or sealing all holes and gaps to the outside greater than 1/4-inch in diameter. Use steel wool, thick wire screen, metal flashing or cement to seal holes.
  • Eliminate or reduce rodent shelter around the home by removing outdoor junk and clutter, and by moving woodpiles, lumber, hay bales etc., as far away from the house as possible.
  • Do not make food easily available to rodents. Do not leave pet food in dishes. Dispose of garbage in trash cans with tight-fitting lids.

Certain forms of outdoor recreation, such as camping and hiking, can pose a risk for Hantavirus exposure.

  • A few precautions should be taken, including:
  • Campers should not pitch tents or place sleeping bags in close proximity to rodent nests, burrows, or in areas of heavy rodent activity.
  • Before use, properly clean tents and other camping gear that have been stored where rodents may have had access.
  • If possible, do not sleep on the bare ground and zip tents closed to keep animals out.
  • Use only bottled water or water that has been disinfected by filtration, boiling, chlorination, or iodination for drinking, cooking, washing dishes and brushing teeth.

Flagstaff plane crash victims identified; second crash out of Page

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FLAGSTAFF, PAGE—The victims of the plane that crashed departing Pulliam Airport in Flagstaff yesterday have been tentatively identified as 59-year old Matthew Sulivan Mezger of Sacramento, California and his 54-year old wife Mary Patricia Hughes.

The cause of the crash of the Beechcraft 336 single engine plane is still being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The investigation by the Coconino County Sheriff’s department in cooperation with other agencies indicates that the couple spent the weekend in Flagstaff and flew out of Pulliam airport on Tuesday intending to fly to Bryce Canyon, Utah. The plane crashed at about 11:45 in the Mountainaire neighborhood of Flagstaff.

The Sheriff’s office also investigated a plane crash out of Page Tuesday at 4 p.m.

The dispatcher of the Page Police Department received a cell phone call from the passengers of a downed aircraft 5 miles east of the Page Airport in the vicinity of the Navajo Generating Station.

The Sheriff’s Department, Navajo Police Department and Page Fire Department responded and located a privately-owned, twin engine place out of Nevada.

The plane had left New Orleans heading to Nevada with planned fuel stops in Texas and Page, Arizona. According to statements, the fuel supply expired approximately 5 miles prior to the Page Airport.

The passengers reported only minor injuries to the pilot.

Investigation of the plane crash will be conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Multiple Agencies Respond to Aircraft Crash Killing Two People

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Flagstaff, AZ –– Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a call for an airplane crash near the community of Mountainaire. The call came into the 911 Dispatch Center at approximately 11:45 am on 5/28/13 from a citizen in the area who witnessed the crash and fire. Before arrival of emergency responders, several citizens attempted to extinguish the flames and attend to the occupants. Two occupants of the plane are reported deceased on scene.

The plane is reported to be a small single engine plane, privately owned, and with a registration out of California. The plane had attempted take off out of the Pullium Airport in Flagstaff, AZ. The crash occurred south of the airport and within a hundred feet of residential structures in the Mountainaire community near the end of Tonawanda Rd.

Fire crews of the Highlands Fire Department and the Bear Jaw Wildland Fire Crew responded to the crash as well as a wildland fire ignited by the crash. The wildland fire was contained at approximately ¼ acre. Several trees were in the path of the plane. No structures were damaged by the crash or the wildland fire.

Multiple citizens as well as other agencies assisted the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office in the response including Department of Public Safety Officers, DPS Ranger helicopter crew, US Forest Service Law Enforcement, US Forest Service wildland fire crews, Highlands Fire Department, Bear Jaw Wildland Fire Crew, and Guardian Medical Transport.

The identity of the occupants is still being determined and will not be released until notification of next of kin. Investigation of the plane crash will be conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Coconino Sheriff Deputies make arrest in Freeway Fire

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Flagstaff, AZ—Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies have arrested twenty five year-old James Duncan an individual who is currently in transit and who is originally from Mississippi, for one count of Reckless Burning a Class One Misdemeanor. Investigators believe Mr. Duncan was responsible for a one acre fire named the Freeway Fire.

On Thursday, May 24, 2013 at about 1122 am the Sheriff’s Office received a call from dispatchers assigned to the Northern District of the Arizona Department of Public Safety regarding a hitch hiker who was believed to have stated the Freeway Fire.

The Freeway Fire was a one-acre fire on the north side of I-40 just west of the Bellemont rest stop.

According to the DPS Dispatcher one of their Officers had visual contact with a hitchhiker who matched the description of an individual who was seen smoking in the area where a wild land fire ignited. DPS dispatchers received a cellular phone call from a passing motorist who observed the suspect sitting on a log on the shoulder of the West bound lanes of Interstate Highway I-40 in the area of Mile-Post 181 and smoking a lit cigarette.

When the Deputy arrived he and the DPS Officer made contact with the individual. The caller returned to the area and identified the subject as the same person he observed sitting on the log and smoking the cigarette. During an interview with the subject he admitted to sitting on the log and smoking a cigarette but denied causing the fire. United States Forest Service Firefighters identified the point of origin of the Freeway Fire to be the log where Duncan was seated or in very close proximity to the log.

James Duncan was arrested for one count of Reckless Burning and transported to the Coconino County Detention Facility located in Flagstaff, Arizona.

High winds and dry conditions have caused red flag conditions in Coconino causing fire restrictions to be put in place in the Kaibab and Coconino forests starting today.

County Attorney announces citizen prosecutor academy

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FLAGSTAFF—The County Attorney has announced the next no-cost Citizen Prosecutor Academy. The academy will be held Friday, June 7, 2013 from 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

This could be the start to your legal career. However if you plan to pursue a career in this area you can expect a little more schooling at a little more cost. This course gives citizens an idea of how the court system works in general terms. “Participants will gain a behind-the-scenes understanding of real-world prosecution and the responsibilities of the Coconino County Attorney’s Office,” the press release states. These classes fill up quickly so it is recommended that you sign up soon if you are interested.

Tami Suchowiejko, coordinator for the academy at the County Attorney’s office, said that they prefer participants be over 18-years of age because of the graphic nature of some of the content of the course.

“We’re excited to continue our academy which brings the community into the office to share information, exchange ideas, and facilitate a better understanding of how the County Attorney’s Office serves the public. It’s also a lot of fun”, said County Attorney Rozema.

The academy presenters include various experts from the Coconino County Attorney’s Office as well as other professionals from the criminal justice system. Participants will learn how criminal cases are handled from intake/grand jury through trial. They can also expect presentations from the County Medical Examiner and a Criminalist from the Department of Public Safety Crime Lab.

To get an idea of what the course entails, you can see the previous academy agenda. If you are interested in participating, you can download an application to fax to (928) 679-8201 or mail to Coconino County Attorney’s Office, 110 E. Cherry Avenue, Flagstaff, AZ 86001.

The County Attorney’s office also holds an advanced version of the academy for graduates of this course.

Second Payment of Coconino County Property Taxes Due

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FLAGSTAFF— Coconino County Treasurer Bonny Lynn reminds property owners that the second installment of their Tax Year 2012 Real and Personal Property Tax payment is due and will be considered delinquent after 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 1.

The Tax Notice for the 2012 property taxes was mailed in September and the first half-installment was due Nov. 1. Property owners could have paid the full-year tax amount by Dec. 31 without a late penalty.

The County Treasurer is the legally responsible party for collecting taxes for all taxing jurisdictions within Coconino County. However, each taxing jurisdiction is responsible for its own tax levy, as established by their individually elected Board of Directors.

The Property Tax Notice was mailed to each property owner regardless of mortgage status. If a property owner has a mortgage impound account for taxes and their mortgage company pays the taxes, the notice should be regarded as informational only.

Partial payments are accepted, but interest will accrue on the unpaid balance when the delinquency date has passed. Tax payments may be made by cash, check or credit/debit card in person at the Treasurer’s Office, 110 E. Cherry Avenue, 2nd floor, Flagstaff, AZ 86001; or by mailing a check.

Tax payments via electronic bank bill payment and those paid with personal check will be treated as an ACH transaction. Citizens are reminded there is a convenience fee for use of a debit or credit card. Instructions for paying with a credit/debit card via the internet can be found on the Treasurer’s website at www.coconino.az.gov/treasurer.

For taxpayer convenience – and due to lack of parking at the 110 E. Cherry building – a white drop-mail box is located near the flagpole inside the parking lot. Payment envelopes may be dropped in the box.

Bomb found in Arizona Apache Sitgreaves National Forest

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On the 16th, a portion of the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest was closed when forest service workers found a pipe bomb.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office says Forest Service workers found a metal pipe bomb near some trees while conducting a survey Monday along a forest road west of the community of Forest Lakes.

The forest area was closed for about six-hours to allow the Flagstaff Police Department bomb personnel to remove the device and search the area.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Jason Lurkins says the pipe bomb was next to a tree and there apparently had been a failed attempt to detonate it. There is no indication how long the device was there.

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Magistrate contract with Justice Court still pending.

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WILLIAMS—Williams was left without a contract for the Justice of the Peace to hear municipal cases as as Magistrate as of the last meeting of the City Council. The Williams Justice Court—a county jurisdiction—makes intergovernmental agreements (IGA) with cities and towns that require his service to hear municipal cases. Justice of the Peace Robert Krombeen, however, said that he will still hear municipal cases until the contract issues are resolved.

JP Robert Krombeen explained that smaller cities and towns, including Williams, contract with the County Justice Court to hear their cases rather than build separate court facilities and hire their own Magistrate. The Justice Court, for example, entered into an IGA with the recently incorporated Town of Tusayan to hear their municipal cases.

The City of Williams had a contract when JP Krombeen was elected two-years ago. According to City of Williams Code, they can only make a contract for the services of Magistrate for two-years at a time. The effort, now, is simply to create another contract for another two years.

While the Justice of the Peace is an elected official, he is classified as an employee of Coconino County.

“I’m an employee, even though I’m an elected official. I’m an employee of Coconino County as well as part of that office and that position. So I don’t have all employee benefits and privileges, but I do classify as an employee. For example, as an elected official I don’t get vacation time, I don’t get sick time, and that type of thing. But I can take time off by having the court covered and my duties covered in my absence.”

There are certain cases in which the Justice Court has jurisdiction in both the Justice Court and Municipal Court jurisdictions.

“Any criminal charge filed in the Justice Courts jurisdiction is going to be, at least initially, seen by the JP. So, even a felony would be seen by the JP, for example, for the initial appearance and the setting of bond. Then the case could go to a preliminary hearing here in the Justice Court and then would be transferred to the Superior Court,” JP Krombeen explained.

“Now, on the city side, as magistrate, I would see any misdemeanor cases, both from the initial appearance through conclusion. If there is a felony case filed, then that would automatically be a Justice Court appearance.”

It is the prerogative of the City of Williams to select their own Magistrate and create their own court system. It is cost effective, however, to have the court system in the same building.

JP Krombeen said, “Historically, as far back as I’m aware of, both courts have been in the same building. The City could have their own courthouse, or have it in the Council Chambers. We used to be in the strip mall downtown. Both courts were together in both of those locations previously. In some cities the city has their own courthouse.

“Again, you’re talking about a justice court which averages close to 5000 cases a year and a city court that averages, recently, between—Oh, give or take 500 case per year. So, it’s far more cost effective for the city to have an Intergovernmental Agreement to be in a cooperative agreement with the county such as we are now. It saves the taxpayer tremendously from the cities point of view of not having to have their own facility and that type of thing.”

The City also entered into an IGA last September to have the Justice Court staff take on the duties of the Municipal court staff. “It’s been a very challenging, but very smooth transition,” the JP said.

“That’s really helped our customer service, because in the past, we’d have one—at best two—[city] employees. But when those employees weren’t available, people would come up to the front window to, for example, make a payment and they’d see someone sitting there, and the person would say, ‘I’m sorry, we’re the Justice Court, we can’t help you. There’s nobody here from the City Court.’ There were issues because of that.”

The Justice Court staff is responsible for taking care of the cases and keeping the cases in their appropriate jurisdiction for the judge.

“We’ll have a courtroom filled with people, sometimes, with some being City cases and some being Justice Court cases. So as the Judge, I just call the case and I say that this case is in the Williams Justice Court, and we go through the proceeding.

“Next person may be a Municipal Court case. Since I’m Magistrate I handle that case. I call that this case is in the Williams Municipal Court. The Court Staff administratively keep those cases separate. They’re not all consolidated into one court. They’re separate, but we—other than that—handle everything the same whether someone comes in for the City court or the Justice Court.”

City Council members MAY be at Cataract Lake this weekend

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Free food? Where will the city council be?

Free food? Where will the city council be?

WILLIAMS—The City of Williams has posted notice that the city council MAY be at the opening of the new Cataract Creek park on Saturday, April 13th at 11 p.m. This MAY present a quorum.

Two words, people. FREE FOOD! Where do you think the council members will be this weekend!

Of course, you can join them in the festivities. The celebration is open to all. You just might want to get there before the council if you want anything to eat.