Tag Archives: Flagstaff

Joanne Keene named Deputy County Manager

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Manager James Jayne has announced the appointment of Joanne Keene as Deputy County Manager. The Board of Supervisors are expected to approve the appointment at a regular board meeting in March.

Keene has almost twenty-five years of experience in local, state and federal government. Most recently, Keene has served for five years as the Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff to Northern Arizona University. Prior to her work at NAU, Keene served as the Government Relations Director for Coconino County from 2007 – 2015 and for eight years in various roles in Arizona and in Washington, D.C., for the U.S. House of Representatives.

“We’re thrilled to welcome back Joanne to the County team,” said County Manager James Jayne. “Several highly qualified candidates were interviewed for this position and Joanne’s experience and dedication to this County made her the clear choice. Joanne has remained an essential and trusted voice in our community and has been a fantastic partner in her role with NAU. She is known for her leadership, professionalism and devotion to public service and we look forward to her joining the County Management team as she provides vital leadership to key departments.”

As Deputy County Manager, Keene’s focus will be on fulfilling the goals and further developing the missions of internal service departments. As part of the County’s Organizational Renewal initiative, the Deputy County Manager will promote organizational culture to achieve success and partnership in Information Technology, Human Resources and Facilities Management.

“Coconino County is a special place and I’m excited to rejoin such a committed organization,” said incoming Deputy Manager Keene. “I strongly believe that local governments, and the people working in them, make an incredible difference in people’s lives. I look forward to working with the Board, people, elected officials, the County Management team and the internal service departments to continue the work the County does to provide excellent service.”

Keene is a graduate of NAU with a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelors in English and Broadcast Journalism. She is also a Certified Public Manager through Arizona State University and a Flinn-Brown Fellow. Keene currently serves on several local boards including High Country Humane and Mountain Line. On the statewide level, Keene services on the Board of Directors for Arizona Forward and is a Governor’s appointee to the Arizona State Fair and Exposition Board and the Arizona Commission on the Arts.

Governor’s Office and County collaborate to promote child passenger safety

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FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) Injury Prevention Program received a grant from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety of $15,913 this fiscal year. From the grant, $14,138 will be spent on child passenger safety/occupant protection and $1,775 will go towards pedestrian and bicycle safety.

The CCHHS Injury Prevention Program has promoted child passenger safety and driver awareness with the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety since 2003.

The CCHS Injury Prevention Program will use the funding to provide under-served areas in Coconino County with car seat safety education and to participate in events that enhance the existing child safety program, materials and supplies.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children ages two to 14. Research shows that as children age, they are less likely to be in the appropriate child safety seat for their age and weight. Correctly used child safety seats are extremely effective and reduce the risk of injury and death approximately 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers. Children ages 4-8 using belt-positioning booster seats are 45% less likely to sustain injuries than those only using seat belts.

Child Passenger Safety is at the heart of the CCHHS Injury Prevention Program and teaches families how to safely transport their children. Certified child passenger safety technicians and instructors inspect child safety seats at several community events throughout the year and educate parents and caregivers.

For more information on the CCHHS Injury Prevention program, call 928-679-7262 or visit www.coconino.az.gov/health.

Public comment period for County Fair fee changes open

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FLAGSTAFF — The public can comment on proposed County Fair fee changes until April 6. The 60-day comment period on the proposed fees affects vendors, open livestock entries and 4-H wristbands. The Coconino County Board of Supervisors reviewed the fee changes, which have not increased since 2006, at the regular meeting on Jan. 28

The Board may consider any increase or change up to the amount proposed by the department but not anything higher. The Board could approve the fees any time after the 60-day comment period ending April 6, 2020

Coconino County Parks & Recreation (CCPR) manages the Coconino County Fair. CCPR suggested the fee changes to recover costs due to increased prices for goods and services, to align with industry best practices and to moderately increase revenue without impacting the cost to fairgoers. Fees also help offset damages to the Fairgrounds at historic Fort Tuthill Quad, which had a $4.1 million renovation in 2017.

The following is a summary of the proposed fee changes:

Coconino County Fair Vendors

  • Food Vendor fees change from a square footage fee to a minimum guarantee based on frontage against a percentage of gross revenue.
  • Amusement Vendor fees change from a percentage to a square footage fee.
  • Commercial & Non-Profit Vendors will see a nominal increase in cost per square foot of space rental.
  • A refundable deposit will now be required to account for damages, staff time outside of scheduled hours and violating rules set forth in the contract.

Open Livestock Entry

  • Open Poultry and Rabbit & Cavies fees increase from $50 to $1 per entry to offset a portion of the cost of feed and bedding supplied by the Fair.
  • Open Horse fees increase from $3 to $5 per entry to offset a portion of the cost of supplies associated with the Fair Horse Show.

4-H Wristbands (applicable to 4-H youth and parents only)

  • 4-H Adult Admission Wristband (includes unlimited days and parking) fee increases from $20 to $25.
  • 4-H Child Admission Wristband (includes unlimited days and parking) fee increases from $12 to $15.

For more information on the proposed fee changes and to provide comments, visit Coconino.AZ.Gov/Parks.

County Superintendent of Schools to host 2020 Spelling BEE

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FLAGSTAFF – Twenty-two Coconino County students will compete to be the top speller at the 2020 Coconino County Spelling BEE. The County BEE will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 8 in the Coconino High School mini-auditorium at 2801 N. Izabel Street, Flagstaff.

The 2020 Coconino County Spelling BEE consists of home, public, charter and private school-students from throughout the County who won their school or district Spelling Bee.

The Rotary Clubs from Flagstaff, Grand Canyon and Williams donate monetary prizes for the top three spellers. The clubs also provide experienced and qualified judges who determine if the contestants have spelled the words correctly.

The winner of the County Spelling BEE will advance to compete with 26 other top spellers at the state level. The Arizona Educational Foundation State Spelling Bee is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, March 21 at AZ PBS, 500 N. Central Avenue, 6th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004.

The winner of the state bee will represent Arizona at the 2020 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. in late May or early June.

The County Spelling BEE is coordinated and hosted annually by the County Superintendent of Schools Office. Spectators are welcome to attend.

For information please contact Betsey Williams at (928) 679-8070 or e-mail bwilliams@coconino.az.gov.

Coconino County Detention Facility Upgrades Video Visitation System

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FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Detention Facility recently upgraded its Video Visitation System so that friends and family can now visit from anywhere using a smart phone, computer or tablet. Visitors no longer need to go to the jail lobby to use the free video visitation feature.

Inmates now receive 60 minutes of free video visitation each week. Visitation can take place from anywhere, and inmates can use their weekly free minutes for the visits. The 60 minutes can be split up into different visits and can be used with any type of visit, whether to a computer, phone, tablet, or with someone in the Flagstaff or Page jail lobbies.

For more information and to set up an account, please visit www.gettingout.com or from a smart phone or table visit the app store to download the free app GettingOut Visit.

Sexual assault suspect in custody

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FLAGSTAFF – On January 25, at approximately 4:30 am, Jason Gonnie was taken into custody during a traffic stop at 4th Street and Highway 66 by Deputies from Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Officers and the Flagstaff Police Department.

Gonnie was taken into custody without incident, during an early Saturday morning traffic stop, where he was then transported to the Coconino County Detention Facility.

Gonnie was booked for Kidnapping, Sex Assault, 3 counts of Endangerment, Aggravated Assault with a deadly weapon, Burglary 2nd degree, Possession of Marijuana and a Probation Warrant. Gonnie currently has a $150,000.00 bond.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Flagstaff Police Department, Department of Public safety, United States Marshals Office, the media and the public for their assistance in bringing this matter to a peaceful resolution.

Barricaded Subject in Kachina Village not found in residence.

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FLAGSTAFF – On January 23, 2020 around 5:20 pm, after continued efforts by negotiators to contact the suspect Jason Gonnie with negative results, the Tactical Team was deployed and made entry into the residence off Chof Trail where Gonnie was last seen.

The entire multilevel residence was cleared and searched by the Tactical Team with the assistance of a canine and robot. Gonnie was not in the residence.

Detectives found through investigating the incident that the suspect was familiar with the family and the residence. Gonnie is believed to have broken into the lower level of the residence and contacted the victim sometime Wednesday night.

Gonnie remained at the residence until Thursday morning at which
point, he presented a weapon and refused to allow the victim and children to leave the home. It was during this time Gonnie reportedly sexually assaulted the victim. Around 1:00 pm on Thursday the victim was able to escape the residence with her two children after Gonnie moved to another level of the residence, leaving her alone.

Efforts to locate Jason Gonnie are ongoing. Gonnie is considered a threat to the public and potentially armed. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to use caution if they come in to contact with Gonnie. If anyone is aware of Gonnie’s location or sees him, they are asked to immediately
call 911 or Silent Witness at 928-774-6111.

Barricaded Subject in Kachina Village

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FLAGSTAFF – On January 23, 2020 since around 1:16 pm, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office has been working a barricaded subject accused of Sexual Assault in the area of Chof Trail in Kachina Village. On scene deputies are still trying to confirm if the suspect is in the residence.

Information obtained from the reporting party was the victim along with two other children had removed themselves from the house and made their way to the reporting party’s residence. The reporting party advised that the suspect was the only one in the residence.

After arriving on scene, deputies confirmed the safety of the victim and children who had been in residence. Deputies set up a perimeter around the residence in which the suspect was last seen. At this time no contact has been made with the suspect. The Sheriff’s Office is continuing to attempt to contact the suspect through phone and loudspeaker. The suspect has been identified as Jason Gonnie an 18-year-old Native American male, 5 foot 9 inches tall, slim build, black hair and black eyes.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter has been deployed along with the Northern Arizona Regional Tactical Team. Efforts are ongoing to confirm Gonnie is still in the residence. Due to the ongoing investigations, no further details are available at this time. More information will be made available as the investigation progresses.

Pop-Up Art Show Featuring Drawings and Sketches by Inmates of the Coconino County Jail

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FLAGSTAFF – Artistic drawings and sketches created by individuals while they were in-custody at the Coconino County Jail will be on display at the Exodus Pop-Up Art Show at the Coconino Center for the Arts, located at 2300 N Fort Valley Rd, Flagstaff, Arizona. The opening reception will be Friday, January 24 from 6 – 8 pm with an entrance fee of $5 at the door. The art can also be viewed Saturday, January 25 and Sunday January 26 from 11 am – 5 pm.

This is the second official Exodus Art Show highlighting artistic pieces from individuals who participated in the Exodus program at the Coconino County Jail. The first show was held in 2016 at a Firecreek Coffee and recently pieces of inmate art also were displayed at the Art in Action exhibit at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany.

The Coconino County Detention Facility Exodus program is an in-custody substance abuse treatment program for men and women detained at the jail. The Exodus Program incorporates parenting classes, health education, creative writing, expressive art classes, stress management training and other life skills lessons that are provided by staff and outside agencies.

Goals of the Exodus Program include:

  • Reduce the impact substance abuse has on our community.
  • Provide therapeutic and educational services to assist addicted inmates in making the decision to avoid future alcohol or drug consumption.
  • Enhance inmates’ ability to make positive changes in their lives.
  • Strengthen families, reduce recidivism and provide a proactive response to alcohol and substance abuse related crimes.

Many of the inmates housed in our facility have much to give and share with the community, and art can be part of the recovery and re-entry process. The Sheriff’s Office hopes this art display will enlighten community members as to the talent and abilities of many of our inmates, as well as the positive impact of the Exodus program on the lives of people in our community.

County offices closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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FLAGSTAFF — All Coconino County administrative offices will be closed Monday, January 20 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

While the administrative offices at the Sheriff’s Office will be closed, Dispatch, Patrol and Detention will be open. Records will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday January 20 with limited staffing. Please dial 9-1-1 for emergencies. For non-emergencies, dial 928-774-4523 to connect with the non-emergency Dispatch number or to leave a message for one of the administrative offices.

In the event of a snow storm or other impactful weather during the holiday, County Public Works crews will be deployed to keep County roadways open and passable.

Coconino County’s parks and natural areas will remain open during the holiday, but administrative offices at Fort Tuthill will be closed and limited staff or services will be available. The Fort Tuthill Bike Park is currently closed. Please do not sled on the Fort Tuthill Bike Park or you will damage the features which were built specifically for cyclists to hone their skills on jumps and flow trails. Drinking water is available at Fort Tuthill County Park and Louise Yellowman County Park (located near Tuba City), and bathrooms are still available at Raymond, Peaks View and Sawmill County Parks. Water has been turned off at all park ramadas.

Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) Animal Management will have an officer available from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, January 20. Contact the CCHHS Animal Management office at 928-679-8756 and leave a message and an officer will respond. Call 9-1-1 for emergencies.