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Kaibab National Forest to implement fire restrictions this Friday

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WILLIAMS – The Kaibab National Forest will implement campfire and smoking restrictions, also known as Stage I fire restrictions, across the entire Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts beginning at 8 a.m. this Friday. Due to different weather and fuel conditions, the North Kaibab Ranger District, which is located north of Grand Canyon National Park, will not yet implement any fire restrictions.

Under the restrictions to be implemented Friday across the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts, fires, campfires, charcoal, coal and wood stoves are prohibited, except within the specific developed recreation sites listed here:

  • Kaibab Lake Campground, Williams Ranger District
  • Dogtown Lake Campground, Williams Ranger District
  • White Horse Lake Campground, Williams Ranger District
  • Tex-X Campground, Tusayan Ranger District

Stage I restrictions also limit smoking to within enclosed vehicles or buildings or in the listed developed recreation sites.

Using a device that is solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off is allowed in areas that are barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet of the device. Fireworks are always prohibited on all National Forest lands.

The Forest Service uses fire restrictions to help prevent unwanted, human-caused fires and to limit the exposure of visitors during periods of potentially dangerous fire conditions. Implementation of fire restrictions normally occurs based on a combination of factors that are carefully measured.

Criteria used to determine when to implement restrictions include things such as current and predicted weather, fuel moisture, a variety of science-based indices, fire activity levels and available firefighting resources. Additional restrictions may be applied any time that conditions warrant. Fire restrictions typically remain in effect until the area covered by the restrictions receives significant precipitation, at which time they will be rescinded.

Forest officials would also like to remind visitors that having a campfire on the National Forest while under fire restrictions is a violation that carries a mandatory appearance in federal court. Violations are punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000, imprisonment of not more than six months, or both.

These fire restrictions apply only to the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts of the Kaibab National Forest. However, many city, state, and county agencies implement similar restrictions, so members of the public should check with the appropriate agency on any restrictions before starting a campfire, charcoal grill or anything with an open flame.

Members of the public can find additional information on the Kaibab National Forest through the following sources:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF (Text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404 to receive text messages.)
Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF

Evacuation Warning Lifted for Residents due to the Indian Meadows Fire

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VALLE – On April 23rd, 2018 at approximately 2:00 p.m., the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office issued Evacuation warnings for the Woodland Ranch Area near Valle Arizona due to a quick spreading wild fire.
As of 7:30 p.m., the Evacuation for the Indian Meadows Fire/Lateral Fire was be lifted by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office. All Residents will be allowed back into their homes.

Current investigation indicates the fire was started by a resident of Woodland Ranch Road who was burning yard trimmings when the fire went out of control. Updated information shows the fire to have burned approximately 100 acres, one unoccupied residential structure, multiple vehicles and several out buildings. This is the second fire this month started by residents burning. The Copley fire in Winona was started by a resident burning. Even if you have a permit to burn, you are still must burn responsibly. If you are burning and fire becomes uncontrollable, call 911 immediately. Do not try to fight it yourself.

Fire and Law enforcement units will continue to work and investigate throughout the night and into the morning. Coconino County Emergency Management along with the American Red Cross have set up a shelter for those displaced from their homes in Williams Arizona at 636 S. 7th Street.

Possible Missing person out of Buckeye AZ located in Horseshoe bend

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PAGE – On April 22, 2018 at approximately 2:13 p.m., the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office out of the Page substation responded to Horseshoe Bend Parking lot in response to a possible missing person out of Buckeye, Arizona. Family members of the missing person located the missing persons vehicle in the parking lot and notified the Page Police Department.

Search efforts, with additional assistance from National Park Service Rangers, located what is believed to be the missing person deceased at the bottom of the Horseshoe Bend at about 3:22 p.m.

Department of Public Safety Helicopter and Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies made their way to the body from the top of the rim by helicopter, while National Parks Service Rangers made access from the River side. The body was transported by short haul to the top of the rim.

The case is still under investigation pending a positive Identification of the body by the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

ADOT receives $7 million in federal relief for summer 2017 flood damage

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PHOENIX – The Federal Highway Administration is providing $7 million in emergency relief funds to help cover the Arizona Department of Transportation’s cost of repairing two state highways damaged by flooding last summer. Governor Doug Ducey issued an emergency declaration for both highways. The $7 million reimbursement allows ADOT to put money spent on these emergency repairs toward other highway projects.

A long stretch of State Route 88 northeast of Apache Junction experienced structural erosion following an intense monsoon storm last July. The highway remained open while ADOT made emergency repairs, and now much of that stretch is part of a previously planned safety-improvement project.

On Mount Graham in southeastern Arizona, runoff from areas scarred by the Frye Fire, which started in early June, damaged the upper reaches of State Route 366, also known as Swift Trail. Because of damage to the roadway and concerns about flash flooding from burned areas, the highest reaches of the highway remained closed until mid-September.

The Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program reimburses state and local jurisdictions for the repair or reconstruction of highways, roads and bridges damaged by catastrophic events. The emergency funds cover the cost of initial repairs to both highways, emergency repairs to SR 88 and preliminary design work to address longer-term issues from flooding along SR 366. ADOT will seek an additional $4 million in emergency relief funds for permanent restoration on SR 366.

ADOT detectives nab man with Illinois felony warrant

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PHOENIX – A Glendale resident who allegedly used his brother’s identity to apply for an Arizona driver license was revealed to have a felony warrant out of Illinois and has been charged with forgery thanks to Arizona Department of Transportation detectives’ use of facial recognition training and technology.

In late February, Luis Castro, 32, applied for an Arizona driver license using the name, date of birth and Social Security number of his brother at the Glendale MVD office.

ADOT’s facial recognition system found that Castro’s photo did not match the previous photo under his brother’s profile. Detectives, who have FBI training in facial recognition, confirmed this was the case and opened an investigation.

ADOT’s investigation found that Castro’s photo matched a booking photo from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois. Digging further, detectives found that Castro had an extraditable felony warrant out of Cook County for aggravated assault, aggravated robbery and prohibited possessor of firearms.

Confirming that fraud had taken place, OIG canceled the permanent credential. When Castro called MVD looking for his driver license that hadn’t shown up in the mail, detectives made arrangements with him to meet at the West Phoenix MVD office on April 17 where Castro believed he was picking up the fraudulent credential.

ADOT detectives arrested Castro in the parking lot on counts of forgery and the felony warrant out of Illinois. He was booked at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Fourth Avenue Jail.

This case is one more example of how facial recognition technology used by ADOT’s Office of Inspector General protects Arizonans’ identities and helps prevent fraud involving state-issued driver licenses and identification cards.

County enacts Stage 1 fire restrictions below the Mogollon Rim

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Board of Supervisors enacted the Wildfire Defense Ordinance Stage 1 fire restrictions, for Coconino County, below the Mogollon Rim, during the regular board meeting Tuesday night.

Restrictions go into effect Friday, April 20 and will remain until fire danger conditions subside and the Board of Supervisors act.

“Currently, we have very dry and dangerous conditions in Coconino County and the weather isn’t forecasted to change,” said Chairman Matt Ryan. “The Board unanimously voted to enact Stage 1 fire restrictions below the Mogollon Rim, in collaboration with our partners, to help lessen the threat of wildfire. We also hope during this time of heightened awareness, people sign-up for emergency notifications on coconino.az.gov/ready to stay informed when emergencies happen.”

The following restrictions apply on County public lands below the Mogollon Rim (Oak Creek Canyon, City of Sedona and other areas on attached map) as well as private lands in the unincorporated areas of the County below the Mogollon Rim. During Stage 1, the only combustion, open fire and campfire allowed are listed below:

1. By persons with a written permit from a proper governmental authority that specifically authorizes the prohibited act.
2. For personal use of cigarette or other tobacco smoking medium when inside an enclosed vehicle or building, or in a developed recreational site in an area that is free of combustible materials and vegetation.
3. For emergency repair of public utilities and railroads and other health and safety mitigation measures when operated by a public utility or railroad and implemented in accordance with an approved agency plan.
4. By any Federal, State or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting entity in the performance of an official duty.
5. By persons whose OPEN FIRE is the result of a device fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and turned off (for example a gas grill) when used in an area that is free of combustible materials and vegetation.
6. By persons operating internal combustion engines in the course of mechanical or industrial operations that would produce open flames and sparks but containing appropriate spark arresting devices; those welding or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame in an area that is free of combustible materials and vegetation; and those using explosives with written permission of an authorized governmental agency.
7. By persons operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails.
8. By persons operating electric generators or pumps with an approved spark arresting device within an enclosed vehicle or building in an area that is free of combustible materials and vegetation.
9. Persons engaged in industrial and ranching operations where specific operations and mitigation measures are identified in an operating plan.
10. For cooking of food or for providing warmth for human beings in an area designated by a governmental authority specifically for that purpose; for example – a CAMPFIRE or OPEN FIRE in an established campground with fire-hosting amenities [grill, fire ring].

Stage 1 fire restrictions do not affect recreational activities at County parks.

Citizens are reminded to use caution when smoking cigarettes outdoors and to completely extinguish them. The use of any machinery that may emit sparks, such as chainsaws and welding equipment should be used with caution during the high fire danger period. Be prepared and have fire extinguishing equipment readily available.

Residents and visitors are asked to use their best judgment when considering whether to engage in any activity that could spark a fire. Residents and visitors are reminded that they can be held legally responsible for causing any wildfire.

A link to the full Wildfire Defense Ordinance can be found at on the Coconino County homepage at www.coconino.az.gov/emergency.

Green Waste Disposal Site Opening Dates Announced

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WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest in cooperation with the Parks Area Connection and Sherwood Forest Estates Fire District are announcing dates the green waste disposal site will open to residents for dumping of woody debris materials from private property.

This alternative site is being offered to the local community as a result of the temporary closure of the Moonset Pit while undergoing construction to expand capacity for future operations.

The green waste disposal site located at the old dump site off forest road 900 north of Pittman Valley will be staffed and open between the hours of 08:00am and 2:00pm on the following dates. Users will only be allowed to access and discard herbaceous material on these dates while staff is present.

Saturday, May 12, Sunday, May 27.
Saturday, June 9, Saturday, June 23.
Saturday, July 14, Saturday, July 28.
Saturday, August 11, Saturday, August 25.
Saturday, September 8.

Residents are encouraged to take advantage of these services in order to make their private property more defensible against the threat of wildland fire. No garbage, household trash, building materials, lumber or other items will be allowed. Materials should not be bagged.

An alternative cinder collection site has also been offered to residents in the interim until the Moonset Pit re-opens in 2019. The W-Triangle Cinder Pit just north of Spring Valley will be available to residents for personal use cinder collection. Personal mineral material permits are available at the Williams Ranger District office at 742 S Clover road during regular business hours Monday through Friday. The pit will remain open to all users who possess a valid permit for collection with no time or date restrictions.

For more information on the about the Moonset Pit expansion project contact Deirdre McLaughlin at damclaughlin@fs.fed.us 928-635-5662. For additional information on creating defensible space, visit www.firewise.org or fireadapted.org/

Sixth Annual Coconino County Teacher of the Year Awards Event

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County School Superintendent’s Office will be hosting the sixth annual Coconino County Teacher of the Year Awards event at 4:30 p.m. on April 18 at the High Country Conference Center.

Every year, the Coconino County School Superintendent’s Office holds the Teacher of the Year awards event. Superintendent VanderWey will be introducing the new category of Rookie Teacher of the Year this year.

The Teacher of the Year event is a county-wide teacher recognition program that spotlights the contributions of state-accredited teachers of Pre-Kindergarten through 12th-grade. This year a total of 28 teachers were nominated. The Teacher of the Year, and the runners up, or the Ambassadors for Excellence, are recognized and announced at the awards event. Each of the finalists will receive cash prizes, automatic nomination for the Arizona Teacher of the Year Award and various other prizes. The Teacher of the Year also wins a one-year leased Toyota Tacoma from Flagstaff Findlay Toyota. The event is made possible through sponsorships from businesses and community members.

Superintendent VanderWey would like to formally release the names of the teachers in the running for the 2018 Coconino County Teacher of the Year Award: Mr. Joe Cornett of Flagstaff High School/CAVIAT, Ms. Louise Durant of Williams Elementary Middle School, and Mr. Kelley Smith of Coconino High School. Superintendent VanderWey would also like to formally release the names of the teachers in the running for the 2018 Rookie Teacher of the Year: Ms. Alexa Frechette of Mount Elden Middle School, Ms. Heather Horner of Kinsey Elementary, and Ms. Catherine Kowalksi of Williams High School.

The public is welcome to join in celebrating the outstanding teachers in our county. For more information or for tickets to the event, contact the School Superintendent’s Office at 928- 679-8070 or email Elizabeth Sorg at esorg@coconino.az.gov.

MVD adds basic title transfers to online options

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PHOENIX – For many Arizonans, transferring a vehicle title may no longer require a visit to an Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division or an Authorized Third Party office. MVD has unveiled the eTitle online service, which gives many customers the option to do this transaction on their computer, tablet or mobile device.

“Going to an MVD or third-party office can be time-consuming, so having eTitle available for basic customer-to-customer transactions simplifies the process by allowing many customers to do this online,” said MVD Director Eric Jorgensen. “People go online to do their banking, pay bills, file taxes and a lot more, so expanding our digital offerings to include basic title transfers is a common-sense innovation. It’s one more way MVD is getting Arizonans out of line and safely on the road.”

A basic transfer is one in which the seller must be an individual owner, or two or more owners who have the “or” legal status. The vehicle must be titled and registered in Arizona and have no liens or brands (such as salvage title). The buyer must be an individual owner with an Arizona credential.

With eTitle, the first step is for the buyer and seller to each set up a personal account at AZ MVD Now, an online portal available through ServiceArizona.com where customers establish a secure online account to do multiple MVD transactions.

AZ MVD Now uses multi-factor security protocols requiring an account to be password-protected and verified by sending the customer a text or phone message to verify the security code. Out-of-state residents cannot use the system.

The eTitle process should not begin until after shopping and negotiations are done, and both parties are ready. It takes just a few minutes but customers are given 24 hours to complete the process.

eTitle guides the buyer and seller through the process and once completed, the title information is verified and updated in the MVD database. Paper titles are more susceptible to fraud, so eTitle is a consumer protection enhancement as well as a convenience.

With the transfer complete, the buyer can print a temporary registration at home as well as the temporary paper license plate to be displayed on the vehicle until the permanent plate is sent to the buyer. The buyer finalizes the transaction by paying applicable title and registration fees to the MVD.

The MVD does not have any role in the actual sale of the vehicle such as determining the price.

For more information: www.azdot.gov/eTitle

Flagstaff to host second public hearing for ADOT’s Tentative Five-Year Program

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FLAGSTAFF – The Arizona Department of Transportation continues to gather comments for its proposed Five-Year Construction Program by reaching out to all members of the public and communities statewide for their input on which projects should move forward over the next few years.

The second public hearing for the 2019-2023 Tentative Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday, April 20, at the City of Flagstaff Council Chambers, 211 W. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff. The monthly State Transportation Board meeting will follow.

In its Tentative Program, ADOT proposes several major expansion projects along Arizona’s Key Commerce Corridors, the state’s busiest highways. Better mobility means better daily commutes and travel, along with enhanced freight movement, trade, commerce and economic development. Projects include:

  • The first phase of a project beginning in fiscal year 2019 to improve State Route 189 in Nogales between the Mariposa Port of Entry and Interstate 19
  • Two major widening projects along US 93 in fiscal years 2020 and 2023 that will bring ADOT closer to its goal of completing a four-lane divided highway from Wickenburg to Interstate 40, laying the groundwork for the future Interstate 11
  • Widening Interstate 17 in areas between Anthem and Sunset Point in fiscal years 2021 and 2022, with specific areas and projects still under study
  • Widening the last section of State Route 260 near Star Valley beginning in fiscal year 2023 (the Lion Springs section), reaching ADOT’s goal of completing a four-lane divided highway along the entire length of the corridor

These are just some of the projects that are included in the 2019-2023 Tentative Five-Year Program. The complete report is available at azdot.gov for review and comment until June 5.

The Tentative Program also reaches the department’s goal of allocating at least $260 million per year for the preservation of the state highway system. Preservation projects include repaving highways, filling potholes, extending the life cycle of existing pavement, and repairing or reconstructing bridges.

In addition, ADOT has proposed increasing the amount of preservation funding to $320 million per year during the next six to 10 years as part of the recently adopted Long-Range Transportation Plan, a blueprint for investment priorities over the next 25 years.

The complete report, posted with a “how to read it” guide, is available at azdot.gov for review and comment. ADOT welcomes feedback via an online form at surveymonkey.com/r/G6DNQVG, by email at fiveyearconstructionprogram@azdot.gov and by phone at 855.712.8530.

Here are the details for the remaining public hearings (the first was on March 16 in Sahaurita), a follow-up study session and the State Transportation Board’s June meeting, where the final Five-Year Program is expected to be approved. All hearings begin at 9 a.m.:

April 20: Public hearing and State Transportation Board meeting at the City of Flagstaff Council Chambers, 211 W. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff.

May 18: Public hearing and State Transportation Board meeting in the ADOT Administration Building Auditorium, 206 S. 17th Ave., Phoenix.

June 5: State Transportation Board study session at ADOT’s Human Resources Development Center, 1130 N. 22nd Ave., Phoenix.

June 15: State Transportation Board meeting at the City of Globe Council Chambers, 150 N. Pine St., Globe.