Tag Archives: Flagstaff

Missing Person Debra Schwartz – Found Deceased

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FLAGSTAFF — Today at approximately 11:10 am the body of missing hiker Debra Schwartz was located in an unnamed slot canyon below the rim of Oak Creek Canyon. A three member technical rescue team that was tasked with checking the slot canyons located her.

On this third day of this intensive search for the missing ASU Professor, rescuers were in the field and under way by daylight. Today the search resources consisted of:

· One Team of five searchers mounted on horseback
· Three teams of off-road vehicles
· Six teams of ground searchers with five people in each team
· One dog team consisting of 3 dogs and six handlers
· Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Air Rescue Helicopter and crew
· Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue Helicopter and crew based in Flagstaff
· The Yavapai County Jeep Posse
· Three technical rescue teams with three technicians in each team

Several slot canyons that run from the rim to the canyon floor were partially searched yesterday however steep inclines, very rough terrain and thick underbrush made conditions unsafe for conventional ground searchers. The three technical rescue teams that were deployed today were assigned to thoroughly check the slot canyons in the area. At approximately 11:10 am today a technical rescue team that was searching an unnamed slot canyon from the rim down discovered Debra Schwartz’s body.

It should be noted the this technical rescue team completed two rope rappels to make their way into the canyon to a spot where they were able to see the body and then a third rappel to actually reach the body. She was located approximately ½ mile from her campsite. The body will be transported to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office. Coconino County Sheriff’s Detectives will work with personnel from the medical examiner’s office in an attempt to determine the cause and manner of death.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office and the Yavapai County Search and Rescue Unit for providing ground searchers, dog search teams, mounted searchers, the Yavapai County Jeep Posse, their Air Rescue Helicopter and their technical rescue teams. We would also like to thank the Arizona Department of Public Safety for the assistance of their air rescue helicopters and crews based in Flagstaff and in Kingman.

We are also grateful for the investigative assistance given by the ASU Police Department. Finally we cannot express the extent of our continuing gratitude to all of the tireless men and women of the Coconino County Search and Rescue Unit.

Sheriff’s department asking assistance in locating missing person

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image004NAME: Debra Schwartz
RACE: White
GENDER: Female
AGE: 59
HEIGHT: 5’4”
WEIGHT: 160
EYES: Green
HAIR: Brown

FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is seeking any information about the location and welfare of Debra Schwartz. She was last seen on the morning of May 4, 2016 at Pine Flat Campground in Oak Creek Canyon. Debra did not check out of the campground as expected and there is concern for her welfare. If anyone has information about Debra Schwartz please call 1-800-338-7888. It is unknown what clothing she was wearing at her disappearance.

Sheriff’s Office presents two Community Emergency Response Team Trainings for the Flagstaff area and Surrounding Communities

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the Coconino County Emergency Management Division will present two (three) day Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training classes at the Law Enforcement Administration Facility located at 911 E. Sawmill Road. More than 100 CERT classes have been delivered to urban, rural and reservation communities throughout Coconino County.

The first class will be begin Tuesday, May 10,2016 from 8:00 am to 5:00 prn, Wednesday, May 11 from 8 am to 5 pm and Thursday, May 12 8 am to noon.

The second class will begin on Friday, May 13,2016 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Saturday, May 14 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday, May 15, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. These training sessions are offered to all community members free of charge.

Basic CERT Training addresses the following areas:

Session I, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: Addresses hazards to which people are vulnerable in their community. Materials cover actions that participants and their families take before, during, and after a disaster.

Session II, DISASTER FIRE SUPPRESSION: Briefly covers fire chemistry, hazardous materials, fire hazards, and fire suppression strategies. However, the thrust of this session is the safe use of fire extinguishers. sizing up the situation, controlling utilities, and extinguishing a small fire.

Session III, DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS PART I: Participants practice diagnosing and treating airway obstruction, bleeding, and shock by using simple triage and rapid treatment techniques.

Session IV, DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS, PART II: Covers evaluating patients by doing a head to toe assessment, establishing a medical treatment area, performing basic first aid, and practicing in a safe and sanitary manner.

Session V, LIGHT SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS: Participants learn about search and rescue planning, size-up, search techniques, rescue techniques, and most important, rescuer safety.

Session VI, DISASTER PSYCHOLOGY AND TEAM ORGANIZATION: Covers signs and symptoms that might be experienced by the disaster victim and worker. It addresses CERT organization and management principles and the need for documentation.

Session VII, COURSE REVIEW AND DISASTER SL\1ULATlON: Participants review their answers from a take home examination. Finally, they practice the skills that they have learned during the previous six sessions in disaster activity.

Community members who would like additional information or who wish to register for one of the basic training sessions are encouraged to call the Community Programs Office of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 226-5089.

Northern Arizona cannot seem to shake winter

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800-BillWilliams-16-05-01 001WILLIAMS — Flagstaff and Williams cannot seem to shake the winter doldrums despite a mild mid-winter. Last week was filled with light snow and some heavy rains which continued through this weekend.

This morning Williams and Flagstaff received cold weather and snow causing some icy road conditions. Less than a half-inch of snow may fall this afternoon turning to rain throughout the night.
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50% chance of thunderstorms are expected tomorrow dropping to 20% chance of rain over Monday night. Tuesday through Thursday will be clear with temperatures in the 60s.
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The chance of rain and cooler weather will return next weekend.

Are you ready to get your Amateur Radio License?

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UPDATED 20160423 9:38 a.m.
800-UV-2501-16-01-08-3If you have been studying to get your Amateur Radio license, you have two chances coming up in May.

The Coconinco County Amateur Radio club is planning an exam for all classes of license on May 14 from 9:00 – 11:00 AM. The examination will be held at the North County Health Care classroom. The North County Health Care center is at 2920 N 4th Street in Flagstaff. Visit their web site for information on what you are required to bring for the exam.

In Yavapai county you have an opportunity to become licensed by the Yavapai Amateur Radio club. They require you to obtain an Federal Registration Number (FRN). The requirements can be found on their web site. Their next exam is also scheduled for May 14 and you can take a practice exam on Tuesday May 10. You must pre-register online. The exam will be held in the Jeep Posse Building 1200 Commerce Drive in Pioneer Park behind the outdoor hockey rink (MAP).

The fee for the examination at either location is $15. You can take all three levels of exam unless you fail one along the way. You must pay another fee to continue or you can choose to take what you get and go home to study.

You are not required to know Morse code for any of the exams. That requirement has been stricken. However you can go on to learn Morse code for fun later.

Amateur radio is becoming more popular since lower priced hand held radios have been dumped on the market. They give you more range than those cheap Family Radio Service (FRS) and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) radios you purchase in department stores. It also gives you access to more frequencies and propagation modes using amateur satellites and even bouncing a signal off of the moon.

There are many other aspects to Amateur Radio including emergency communications during disasters.

Fifty-Nine Year-Old Lost Hiker Rescued from Humphries Peak

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FLAGSTAFF — On April 21st at approximately 8:30 AM the Sheriff’s Office and Search and Rescue responded to a report of a lost hiker on Humphrey’s Peak. The 59 year old male hiker was determined to be off trail at approximately 11,700 foot elevation in an area known as Temptation Gully. The hiker was reported to be cold, tired, disoriented, with some underlying medical conditions.

Search and Rescue personnel hiked into the area and located the hiker at 12:43 AM. After assessing his condition it was determined that the safest route was to hike to the Humphrey’s Saddle and then evaluate the options for evacuation. A second search team hiked to the Humphreys Saddle and prepared to receive the hiker and provide warm drinks, food, and dry clothing.

Due to the hikers fatigue and symptoms of acute mountain sickness an Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) Air Rescue helicopter from Phoenix was requested to evaluate landing at the saddle to pick up the hiker. DPS Air Rescue arrived in the area of the saddle at 3:30 AM and attempted to land but was unable to due to high winds. The decision was made to camp just off the saddle and out of the wind until daylight allowing the hiker time to rest and regain normal body temperature. The daylight would also offer increased visibility. At 4:15 AM a third search team equipped with a litter and ropes began hiking to the saddle and was prepared to assist the hiker if he became unable to hike out on his own due his symptoms of acute mountain sickness and fatigue.

At approximately 6:00 AM the hiker and the search teams began to hike down the Humphreys Trail. An Arizona Snowbowl Snowcat was dispatched to an area near the ski area boundary at the base of the Pluto ski run. The Search and Rescue Teams assisted the hiker to that location where he was loaded into the snowcat and transported to the Agassiz Lodge to be reunited with a family member. The Search and Rescue personnel hiked down the mountain and completed the mission by 11:30 A.M.

This incident was another example of the close working relationship between the Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, DPS Air Rescue, and the Arizona Snowbowl to resolve an emergency. Even in the spring, winter like conditions can still exist on the San Francisco Peaks. Hikers on the peaks trails should research the conditions and be prepared to turn around if the conditions become hazardous or the trail becomes difficult to navigate. Hikers should also be personally and physically prepared for the hike including carrying the appropriate equipment and clothing and leaving a detailed trip plan with a trusted person.

Woman Returns Home to Find Burglar Exiting her House

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On Thursday, April 14, 2016 at about 3:39 pm 911 dispatchers received a call from a woman who reported a burglary in progress at her home located off of Mount Elden Lookout Road. Upon their arrival responding Deputies made contact with the caller and checked her for injuries. They learned that the victim was not assaulted by the suspect and she was uninjured.

According to the victim she returned home exited her vehicle and observed an adult male as he was leaving her house. She confronted the individual and asked him what he was doing. The suspect who was carrying food items and bottled alcohol apologized and said his car had broken down and asked if he could take one of her vehicles to which the victim said no. The suspect left the area on foot to the west of the residence into a wooded area.

The on-duty Patrol Sergeant began to search the area for the suspect and spoke with several hikers and bikers in the area. Several of the subjects the Sergeant spoke with said they saw a man matching the suspect’s description in a vehicle that was stopped on Schultz Pass Road. The Sergeant went to that area and observed a vehicle alongside the road. He made contact with the driver who was identified as 26 year-old Arthur Zampini originally from Glendale, AZ but currently homeless and transient. Mr. Zampini was similar in appearance to the description of the suspect provided by the victim. Upon questioning Zampini admitted to the burglary and also admitted to driving two of the victim’s vehicles away from the residence only to return them. When asked why he drove the vehicles he replied because they were cool.

After inventorying her home the victim reported that cash, miscellaneous food items and bottled alcohol were missing. Arthur Zampini was booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility for one count of second degree burglary, one count of first degree trespass, two counts of unauthorized use of motor vehicle, and one count of cultivation of marijuana.

Intermittent northbound I-17 closures start April 17 for overnight work near McGuireville

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PHOENIX — A project to reduce the potential for rockfall in a quarter-mile section of northbound Interstate 17 between Camp Verde and Flagstaff will require closures of up to 30 minutes overnight starting Sunday, April 17, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Drivers using this route between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. should plan ahead and budget extra time on the following dates, when intermittent closures will occur northbound near milepost 292 approaching McGuireville:

• Starting at 8 p.m. Sunday, April 17, and ending at 6 a.m. Friday, April 22.
• Starting at 8 p.m. Sunday, April 24, and ending at 6 a.m. Friday, April 29.

The project area is between Middle Verde Road (Exit 289) and the Rimrock/Lake Montezuma/Cornville exit at milepost 293.

Southbound I-17 traffic will be unaffected.

The project will remove rockfall debris and scale slopes to reduce the potential for rock to fall, among other work.

From April 17 through April 29, northbound oversize loads wider than 12 feet will be required to detour around the project area between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. The detour for oversize loads is State Route 260 to Cottonwood, State Route 89A to Sedona and State Route 179 to I-17.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule. To stay up to date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit the ADOT Traveler Information System at az511.gov or call 511.

Flagstaff/Williams fishing: hit Dogtown before dog days of summer

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150608-01-dogtown
dogtownbrownNo question: Dogtown Reservoir south of Williams is one of Arizona’s trout fishing hot spots. A shred of evidence: Joshua Rose on Saturday caught this gorgeous 23 ¾-inch, 4.3-pound brown trout out of Dogtown.
Rose caught the fish on corn PowerBait.

This 50-acre lake in the Kaibab National Forest is being stocked consistently and is one of the best bets for a high country Arizona trout fishing adventure. Some experienced anglers are catching plump winter holdovers.
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Effective baits have been PowerBait, small spinners, and wet flies such as bead-headed prince nymphs and zug bugs. Make sure the spinners are small — no heavier than 1/8 of an ounce. Some anglers are having success slow-trolling spinners.

A couple weeks ago, 10-year-old Matthew R. duped this 3 pound-pound that measured 19.5 inches.

Where to trout fish in Flagstaff/Williams area
150608-02-dogtown
Stocking trucks from Page Springs Hatchery have been loading up trout into Flagstaff/Williams regional waters the past few weeks .

Here is AZGFD Region 2 Aquatic Wildlife Program Manager Scott Rogers’ top 5 spots to fish near Flagstaff and Williams (all are being stocked with trout).

  1. Dogtown Lake
  2. Ashurst Lake
  3. Cataract Lake
  4. Frances Short Pond
  5. City Reservoir (Santa Fe Dam)

A high chance of rain is predicted for Flagstaff and Williams Friday and Sunday (trout sometimes bite great just before a storm), and these waters should be great options throughout April.

Grab your gear and your fishing license and get ready for a pine-scented weekend! Temporary fishing permits available at some Williams merchants.

The road to Dogtown has some beautiful trees including Aspens and Oaks. It is a great drive in fall.

The road to Dogtown has some beautiful trees including Aspens and Oaks. It is a great drive in fall.

Nightime restrictions needed on Milton Road (SR 89A) to test new overhead sign

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FLAGSTAFF — The Arizona Department of Transportation crews will be testing the newly installed overhead electronic message signs on Milton Road (SR 89A), between University and Forest Meadows in Flagstaff. This work will require restrictions for southbound travel on Milton (SR 89A) during nighttime hours, Wednesday (April 6) from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Please observe reduced speeds and exercise caution while traveling through the work zone.

Electronic message signs span ADOT roadways and are used to help keep drivers informed of traffic, road and weather conditions.