Tag Archives: Flagstaff

Scott Olson found deceased

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scott-01FLAGSTAFF – Lost hiker Scott Olson was found deceased at about 10:50 a.m. this morning on the north-west side of Humpries Peak. A search team assigned to that area spotted recent dog tracks and followed the tracks to where Faith, his dog, remained in close proximity to his master.

Mr. Olson’s body was located at an elevation greater than 10,000 feed downslope from a landmark know as Philomeno Spring. The cause of death was not readily apparen. Inestigators found no signs of foul play.

Faith was in good condition and taken down the mountain and returned to a member of the Scott family.

On Tuesday, November 11, 2014 Scott Olson left his cabin located in the Hart Prairie area and told his neighbors he was going for a hike in the meadow with his mixed breed dog “Faith.” That was the last time that his friends or family members saw or heard from him. Scott’s relatives reported him as a missing person on Wednesday afternoon.

The Sheriff’s Office initiated a ground and air search late Wednesday evening with searchers on foot and in vehicles looking for Mr. Olson all night.

Early Thursday morning a day time search was initiated that include searchers on foot, in vehicles, with scent dogs and in aircraft. Once again the search continued throughout the night.

On Friday morning the search group consisted of more than 50 individuals serving as searchers or support staff and air support provided by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Department thanked the many friends and relatives of Mr. Olson who assisted in the search or provided valuable information and support.

Scott Olson served as a volunteer in the Coconino County Detention Facility for five years beginning October of 2009 providing ministry services for hundreds of inmates. His dedication and strong sense of community service was greatly appreciated by jail staff and the inmates he served. The investigation will be continued by Sheriff’s Detectives and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Northern Arizona Gazette extends our condolences to the family of Olson Scott.

Coconino County Sheriff seeks information on lost person

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scott-01FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information regarding the whereabouts of 63 year old Scott Olson. Scott was last known to be at his cabin in the Hart Prairie area on Tuesday 11/11/14.

Oldon told family/friends he was going for a hike in the meadow. Scott would have taken his dog with him but has not been seen or heard from since. Scott’s car is at his cabin and his cell phone appears to be turned off.

Scott is a white male, 6′ 3″, 195 pound with blue eyes and grey hair.

Anyone who has seen Scott Olson or has information regarding the disappearance or whereabouts of him and his dog is urged to call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 774-4523 or 800-338-7888.

Early opportunity to preview 4FRI final environmental impact statement and draft record of decision

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350-4friFLAGSTAFF – The Forest Service is providing the public with an early opportunity to preview the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and draft Record of Decision (DROD) for Phase 1 of the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI).  The FEIS and DROD for the first analysis area on the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests will be available by November 21, 2014 at the 4FRI website.

In order to allow additional time for public consideration of these extensive documents, online access to the FEIS and DROD is being made available prior to the official start of the formal objection period.

“This environemntal analysis and the subsequent decision will help shape restoration action on almost a million acres for a decade,” said Kaibab National Forest Supervisor, Mike Williams. “An early preview will give the public extra time to review, understand, and ask questions about a significant step forward for our landscape.”

The FEIS analyzes about one million acres on the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests in northern Arizona. The Coconino and Kaibab National Forests are proposing 586,110 acres of restoration activities with approximately 355,708 acres on the Flagstaff, Mogollon, and Red Rock districts of the Coconino NF and 230,402 acres on the Williams and Tusayan districts of the Kaibab NF. The completed environmental analysis and a subsequent final ROD for Phase 1, provide the legal authority to accelerate restoration activities.

“The FEIS and DROD incorporate years of stakeholder and public input including key concerns such as the protection of large and old trees. Meaningful collaboration continues to be essential to our success on this project,” added Williams.

In accordance with federal regulations, the Forest Service will offer a 45-day formal objection period on the FEIS, which will begin with the publication of the Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register.  The NOA is expected to be published in early December 2014.

Flagstaff has chance of snow tomorrow

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FLAGSTAFF/WILLIAMS – The long range forecast predicts a 10% chance of rain and snow for Flagstaff while Williams will enjoy a warming trend.

Flagstaff can expect a 10% chance of rain and snow tomorrow and patchy fog before 11 am with temperatures rising to a high of 48. Winds will calm to about 5-mph. On Tuesday the temperature will rise to about 51 with winds from 9- to 17-mph with gusts up to 23. The rest of the week the temperature should rise to the mid-60s during the day lowering to the low 30s at night.

Williams will enjoy milder weather with winds about the same as Flagstaff. Wednesday shows sunny with temperatures in the upper 60s lowering to the mid-30s at night through Sunday.

Beulah Boulevard/SR 89A to be closed for both directions just north of Fort Tuthill County Park to Purple Sage Trail

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adot-logo3FLAGSTAFF – Access through Beulah Boulevard/SR 89A just north of the Fort Tuthill County Park will require a temporary full roadway closure beginning at the north park entrance and continuing to Purple Sage Trail, beginning Monday, Oct 27 at 6 a.m. including nights and weekends, until Wednesday, Nov 5 at 6 p.m.

The full roadway closure will accommodate constructing a new roadway transition from the existing Beulah Boulevard /SR 89A alignment to the new roadway intersection being built at JW Powell Boulevard. This work is part of the intersection improvement project currently underway which includes a new roundabout and realignment of SR 89A/Beulah Boulevard.

During construction traffic may still enter and exit the fairgrounds at Fort Tuthill County Road, and also at Purple Sage Trail. For commuters who frequent Beulah Boulevard /SR 89A for travel, northbound traffic may exit onto I-17 from JW Powell Boulevard and take Exit 339 (Lake Mary Road). For southbound travel, traffic may exit at McConnell Drive to Milton/I-17, and take Exit 337 at JW Powell Boulevard.

I-17 southbound ramp to be closed at JW Powell Boulevard

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FLAGSTAFF – Access to the I-17 southbound off-ramp at Exit 337 (JW Powell Boulevard) will be closed from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21, to complete preparations for new ramp construction. This work is part of the intersection improvement project currently underway which includes a new roundabout and realignment of SR 89A/Beulah Boulevard.

The recommended detour for southbound I-17 connections to the Flagstaff Airport and to SR 89A is to continue southbound on I-17 past Exit 337, then exit at Kachina Trail/Mountainaire Road (Exit 333). Detour signage will be in place to assist travel in the area.

I-17 southbound ramp to be closed at JW Powell Boulevard

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adot-logo3FLAGSTAFF – Access to the I-17 southbound off-ramp at Exit 337 (JW Powell Boulevard) will be closed on Monday, Oct. 20, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., to install a temporary concrete barrier in preparation for new ramp construction. This work is part of the intersection improvement project currently underway which includes a new roundabout and realignment of SR 89A/Beulah Boulevard.

The recommended detour for southbound I-17 connections to the Flagstaff Airport and to SR 89A is to continue southbound on I-17 past Exit 337, then exit at Kachina Trail/Mountainaire Road (Exit 333). Detour signage will be in place to assist travel in the area.

Paving to occur at Route 66 and Switzer Canyon intersection in Flagstaff

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adot-logo3FLAGSTAFF – Travelers heading east- and westbound through Flagstaff on Route 66 (Milton Ave.) can expect delays Monday and Tuesday Oct. 20 and Oct. 21, between 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., including work Tuesday night from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. while maintenance crews mill and pave the intersection following repairs to the water main. Traffic northbound on Switzer Canyon Road will also experience restrictions during the repair and paving activity. Travel lanes will be reduced to one lane in each direction at the intersection while construction is underway. Please exercise caution while driving in and around the construction zone.

Overdue Hiker on Kachina Trail Located

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coco-sheriff-300pxFLAGSTAFF – At 8:30 pm on Thursday, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office dispatched deputies to investigate a report of an overdue hiker on the Kachina Trail. The 55-year-old male was reportedly conducting a day hike with his dog along the Kachina Trail. He was reported overdue by his girlfriend when he did not return by late afternoon as expected.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit members responded to the location and conducted search operations throughout the evening. During the search they located clues indicating the path he had traveled near the Weatherford Trail. Search operations continued into the early morning hours this morning. The hiker was able to self-extricate and contacted the Sheriff’s Office.

Interviewing the hiker revealed that he had become disoriented while on the Weatherford Trail as the result of white-out conditions and had taken shelter until daylight.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and our 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.

They also recommend that you carry these Essentials:

  • extra water and food
  • warm clothing
  • compass or GPS
  • headlamp or flashlight
  • first aid kit
  • shelter material
  • fire starting kit
  • pocket knife
  • 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.

Bad news for lunar eclipse observers

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tsra60Another thunderstorm has moved into northern Arizona which may interfere with the viewing of the lunar eclipse in the early morning hours of Wednesday.

From Flagstaff through Williams to Prescott there is a prediction of thunderstorms from 40% to 70% over the viewing area. Even if the rain is light, the clouds will certain pose a threat to the viewing of the celestial event.

The clouds were heavy during the September “Supermoon,” but the moon did peek out making for good photographs. That may be the case for the upcoming lunar eclipse.