Tag Archives: News

Board of Supervisors & District Nominating Committees solicit applications for the Commission on Trial Court Appointments

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FLAGSTAFF – Applicants are being sought to fill positions for the Commission on Trial Court Appointments for Coconino County District 1, District 2 and District 3. District 4 and District 5 are developing their nominating committees and will be seeking applications for the Commission shortly.

In 2018, Coconino County voters elected to change the selection of Superior Court Judges from a partisan-popular election to a merit selection-judicial retention election. When a Superior Court vacancy occurs, the Coconino County Commission on Trial Court Appointments provides a list of qualified attorneys to the Governor whom appoints a new judge from the list for the Coconino County Superior Court.

Requirements for non-attorney applicants are:

  • Applicant must have resided in the State for at least five years.
  • Applicant must have resided in the supervisorial district from which appointed for at least one year before being nominated (To determine your current Supervisorial District, call 928-679-7144 or visit the Elections Website at: https://coconinocounty.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=c4d1cdcd9f73452dbbf2908d035eda32
  • The applicant cannot be a judge, a retired judge or an attorney admitted to practice law in Arizona.
  • The applicant cannot hold any governmental office, elective or appointive, for profit (i.e. salary, commission, etc.) (An appointee can be a governmental employee.)

Applications along with the Committee’s recommendation for appointment will be forwarded to the Governor who shall make appointments subject to confirmation of the Arizona Senate.

To apply, please contact the following by April 30, 2019:

District 1 – Send a letter and resume to Michele Ralston, Executive Assistant to Supervisor Art Babbott, ATTN: Commission on Trial Court Appointments Nominating Committee, 219 E. Cherry Ave. Flagstaff, Arizona 86001.

District 2 – Send a letter and resume to Theresa M. Munoz, Executive Assistant to Supervisor Elizabeth Archuleta, ATTENTION: Commission on Trial Court Appointments Nominating Committee, 219 E. Cherry Ave. Flagstaff, Arizona 86001.

District 3 – Send a letter and resume to Gregory Nelson, Executive Assistant to Supervisor Matt Ryan, ATTN: Commission on Trial Court Appointments Nominating Committee, 219 E. Cherry Ave. Flagstaff, Arizona 86001.

Vendors wanted for 2019 Coconino County Fair

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Parks & Recreation is accepting vendor applications for the 2019 Coconino County Fair, on August 30 to September 2 at Fort Tuthill County Park. Vendors may submit applications for amusement, food, commercial businesses and non-profits.

To promote local products and services, an early bird rate is being extended to Coconino County-based, for-profit businesses. Interested business owners and operators are encouraged to submit a vendor application by May 31 to take advantage of a 50 percent early bird discount for non-premium outdoor locations on the fairgrounds. Non-profit vendors and food vendors are not eligible for early bird rates.

Vendor applications are available on the Coconino County Fair website at CoconinoCountyFair.com. The Coconino County Fair is celebrating 70 years in 2019. More than 40,000 people regularly attend the fair, which features exhibits by 4-H and community members as well as national, regional and local entertainment, and food and commercial vendors.

For more information on the County Fair, visit http://www.CoconinoCountyFair.com or call the Coconino County Parks & Recreation Department at 928-679-8000.

ADEQ to present webinar on Waters of the United States rule proposal

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On December 11, 2018, the EPA and Department of the Army proposed a rule revision for the Waters of the United States (WOTUS), with the goal of providing a clear, understandable and implementable definition.

During February 2019, ADEQ held stakeholder meetings in Phoenix, Flagstaff and Tucson to listen to stakeholder comments regarding the proposed rule revision. For more information about these meetings, including comments submitted by Arizona stakeholders, visit the website at azdeq.gov/wotus.

ADEQ reviewed the submitted comments and collaborated with other state agencies to draft Arizona’s response to the rule revision. ADEQ will host a webinar on Friday, April 19 at Noon to share this information with Arizona stakeholders.

On the day of the webinar, you can see it here. You can also call in by phone at 240-454-0879 and use Access code 803 335 479.

ADOT-operated airport supports Grand Canyon tourism, area economy

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PHOENIX – It probably isn’t a surprise that Grand Canyon National Park Airport is a gateway for many wishing to experience the natural wonder of Arizona’s signature tourist attraction. In the process, it supports tourism and the area economy.

What might surprise you: The Tusayan airport, which is the state’s fourth-busiest in terms of passengers served, is owned and operated by the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Tourists from all around the world fly into Grand Canyon National Park Airport. Open since 1965, it serves as a local hub for large tourist groups wishing to experience the Grand Canyon via air tours.

In managing the airport, ADOT hosts six air-tour companies that allow visitors to fly over the canyon for a unique experience. It also hosts a skydiving company that brings added attraction to the area.

“It’s our goal to support tourism to the Grand Canyon and be a good neighbor to the local community,” said Matt Smith, ADOT’s Grand Canyon airport manager.

On average, the airport sees 275 commercial flights daily from three airlines based in the Las Vegas region, allowing people to make visiting the Grand Canyon part of their Las Vegas getaways. In 2017, the airport and its private air-tour operators served more than 336,000 passengers.

Grand Canyon National Park Airport accommodates smaller commercial passenger jets, generally those weighing less than 100,000 pounds, but it can accommodate Air Force One, a Boeing 747 that has visited twice.

Seven firefighters employed at the airport – and who live on site – are trained to respond to major incidents well as medical emergencies. The airport has three fire rescue vehicles, including a truck with a Schnozzle, a piece of equipment that can puncture an aircraft fuselage and spray 1,500 gallons of fire-suppressing foam or 500 pounds of dry chemical extinguishing powder.

The facility also houses four snowplows to keep the runway clear, with firefighters pulling double duty as certified snowplow operators. With an elevation of more than 6,600 feet, the airport sees between 50 and 100 inches of snow annually.

An FAA tower completed in 2003 controls air traffic at Grand Canyon. Federal rules set restrictions on flights over the national park.

Cities, counties and regional airport districts oversee most U.S. airports, with only a handful owned and operated by states. Because Tusayan wasn’t incorporated, Arizona assumed the responsibility of operating Grand Canyon National Park Airport when it opened. Built on U.S. Forest Service land, the runway was completed in 1965, while the terminal was dedicated in 1967.

ADOT assumed ownership of the airport in 1974 when what was previously known as the State Highway Department merged with the Arizona Department of Aeronautics.

For more information on Grand Canyon National Park Airport, visit azdot.gov/GrandCanyonAirport.

Grand Canyon Boulevard FULL closure under Interstate 40 in Williams scheduled April 16

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WILLIAMS – Drivers who use Interstate 40 in northern Arizona are advised to plan for travel delays as crews return to complete paving, bridge and intersection work between Parks and Williams.

On Tuesday, April 16, crews will close Grand Canyon Boulevard in both directions under I-40 to perform roadway reconstruction. This three-week closure will also include the eastbound I-40 on- and off-ramp. The following detour will be in place:

  • Southbound Grand Canyon Boulevard traffic will enter westbound I-40 via Country Club Road (exit 161).
  • Northbound Grand Canyon Boulevard to eastbound I-40 traffic will head eastbound on Historic Route 66 to enter eastbound I-40 at Williams/Grand Canyon (exit 165).
  • Northbound Grand Canyon Boulevard to westbound I-40 traffic will head westbound on Historic Route 66 to enter westbound I-40 at Country Club Road (exit 161).
  • Eastbound I-40 traffic accessing Williams will exit Country Club Road (exit 161).

In addition, the following ramp closures and detours are scheduled while crews repair the on- and off- ramps at Grand Canyon Boulevard:

  • From 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, April 29, through Friday, May 3, crews will close the westbound I-40 off-ramp at Grand Canyon Boulevard. DETOUR: Westbound I-40 traffic accessing Williams will exit at State Route 64 (exit 165).
  • From 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, May 6, through Friday, May 10, crews will close the westbound I-40 on-ramp at Grand Canyon Boulevard. DETOUR: Eastbound I-40 traffic accessing Williams will exit at Country Club Road (exit 161).

The eastbound and westbound I-40 ramps at Grand Canyon Boulevard will NOT be closed at the same time.

In early summer, crews will put down new asphalt on 17 miles of I-40 pavement in both directions between Parks and Williams. The project also includes a final layer of asphalt, known as friction course, to further improve the roadway surface, as well as installation of guardrail, striping and signage. The project is scheduled for completion in late 2019.

Motorists should allow extra travel time and plan for possible delays while work is underway.

Mormon Lake Road north entrance to close

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FLAGSTAFF — The north entrance of Mormon Lake Road is scheduled to be closed from Tuesday, April 9 to Thursday, April 11 while crews replace the cattleguard approximately 0.4 miles north of Rockledge Road. During this period, motorists will access Mormon Lake Road through the south entrance.

Cattleguard replacement is a preconstruction job for the Central Federal Lands’ Mormon Lake Road Reconstruction Project, which is scheduled to break ground this summer. Due to a wet winter, the base of the cattleguard is saturated and a detour around the cattleguard is not possible because of the wet conditions on the adjacent shoulders.

To replace the cattleguard, crews must first remove it to “de-water” its base, which includes a significant layer of subterranean clay. After this “de-watering” stage is completed, crews will install large rocks, fabric and slurry as bridging material before adding the new cattleguard.

Coconino County Public Works has deployed electronic message boards at the north entrance of Mormon Lake Road and just north of the township to alert residents of the upcoming closure. Motorists are asked to plan for and expect delays when traveling.

This project is slated to be completed by Thursday afternoon. However, the schedule is subject to change due to weather or other factors.

For more information about the Mormon Lake Road Reconstruction Project please visit www.coconino.az.gov/MormonLakeRoadProject.

Townsend-Winona Pavement Repair Project breaking ground next week

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FLAGSTAFF — Repairs to a four-mile stretch of Townsend-Winona Road will start next week. Coconino County secured a $1.4 million emergency maintenance contract with C & E Paving and Grading for the construction of the Townsend-Winona Road Repair Project.

Funded by Prop. 403, the project was approved by the Board of Supervisors on April 2, 2019. It includes milling of two inches of existing asphalt and the installation of approximately 2.5 inches of asphalt on the travel lanes and shoulders of Townsend-Winona Road between U.S. Highway 89 and just east of Rio Rancho Road. This section of roadway was severely impacted by freeze/thaw cycles that created numerous potholes along the roadway during the winter. Left unrepaired, the pavement would continue to deteriorate and require a complete reconstruction.

“I would like to thank all the constituents who reached out to my office with their concerns regarding the conditions on Townsend-Winona Road,” said District 4 Supervisor Jim Parks, whose district includes Townsend-Winona Road. “After contacting the County’s Public Works Department, we quickly came up with a plan to address the issue. I am excited to see that the needed repair work will begin very soon. I would like to thank Public Works Director Lucinda Andreani for her quick action and attention to this matter.”

Repairs will be conducted between 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday with additional weekend work possible. Flaggers, signage and other traffic control devices will be in place as needed to direct vehicles through the construction zone. Drivers can expect delays during the approximate three weeks of construction. The schedule is subject to change based on weather or other factors.

“This project is a good example of how Prop. 403 funds allow the County to address unforeseen road issues quickly and effectively,” said District 1 Supervisor and Board Chairman Art Babbott. “Repairing this section of Townsend-Winona Road now rather than having to rebuild it later is the kind of cost-effective solution that allows the County to conduct ongoing road maintenance and pavement preservation projects to help to extend the service life of roads in our inventory.”

The Townsend-Winona Pavement Project Construction and traffic control information for this project will be available on the “Coconino County Roads” Facebook page and on the project’s web page at www.coconino.az.gov/TownsendWinonaProject.

ADOT to finish State Route 260 widening project in Camp Verde

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PHOENIX – After a wet and cold fall that forced an early winter hiatus, the Arizona Department of Transportation is set to return later this month to complete a State Route 260 widening project that will enhance travel and mobility between Camp Verde and Cottonwood.

Starting April 17, crews will begin laying the final layer of asphalt along the widened 9-mile stretch of SR 260. Paving will take about two weeks and require lane closures in each direction while crews work.

After paving is complete, crews will add permanent lane stripes, rumble strips and pavement reflectors. In all, the work is expected to take about six weeks.

The $62 million project widened SR 260 between Interstate 17 and Thousand Trails Road to a four-lane divided highway and added seven roundabouts to major intersections, including two new locations for future development.

The widening project also added a multi-use path between Wilshire and Cherry Creek roads and a new bridge over Cherry Creek.

For more information on this project, visit azdot.gov/projects and click on North Central District.

Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen factors. For more information, please call the ADOT Bilingual Project Information Line at 855.712.8530 or go to azdot.gov/contact and select Projects from the drop-down menu. For real-time highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except while driving.

Arrest Made in Blue Ridge Homicide

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Patrick D. Nagal, booking photo – CCSO

HAPPY JACK – On March 30 around 3:30 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a partially decomposed body at Bly Pit in the Blue Ridge area.

Detectives were able to make a preliminary identification of the victim as 37-year-old Tika Young of Happy Jack, Arizona. The ID is still pending by the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s office.

With the preliminary identification, CCSO detectives served a search warrant at a residence in the community where they discovered evidence of a crime. During the search, they identified a person of interest. The person of interest was Patrick D. Nagel, 62-years-old of Happy Jack.

Nagal was brought into the Sheriff’s Office for questioning. During an interview with Detectives, the person admitted to striking the victim several times while the victim was lying in bed. The subject then moved the victim and concealed her in the area identified as Bly Pit where her body was subsequently found.

Nagel was arrested and booked into the Coconino County Jail for First Degree Homicide, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Tampering with Physical Evidence, Abandonment/Concealment of a Dead Body, and Consuming Liquor While Operating a Vehicle.

Arizona Sheriff’s Adopt Ready, Set, Go! Program

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Although Northern Arizona enjoyed a wet winter, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like people to be prepared for the spring, a time when the forest and grass lands dry out and are more vulnerable to wild fire. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office wants you to be prepared. Over the next several weeks, we’ll be posting information on the Coconino Sheriff Facebook page to help you take proactive measures as outlined by Ready, Set, Go!

The fifteen Arizona Sheriff’s adopted Ready, Set, Go! (RSG), a program that educates residents about proactive measures to take before an emergency. Ready, Set, Go is the standard language that will issued to the public and actions to follow when communities are threatened by wildfire. The program’s three tenets encourage Arizonans to get READY by preparing now for what threatens their community, be SET by maintaining awareness of significant danger and to GO, evacuate immediately when the danger is current and life-threatening.

“The Sheriffs of Arizona have partnered with the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, fire community and emergency management to provide information to help the public and our communities prepare for situations that could result in evacuations,” said Sheriff Jim Driscoll.

The Ready, Set, Go! program highlights actions residents should take during each step:

READY: “Prepare now”

  • Be aware of hazards that can threaten your community.
  • Register for Smart 911 Emergency Notifications
  • Create defensible space around your home by keeping grass mowed short and trimming vegetation.
  • Build an emergency supplies kit. Start with the five P’s: people and pet supplies, prescriptions, papers, personal needs and priceless items.

SET: “Be alert”

  • There is significant danger in your area.
  • Consider voluntarily relocating to a shelter or with family/friends outside of the affected area.
  • This might be the only notice you receive.

GO!: “Evacuate”

  • Danger in your area is current and life-threatening.
  • Evacuate immediately to a shelter or to family/friends outside the affected area.
  • Follow instructions from emergency personnel, and stay on designated evacuation routes.

The Ready, Set, Go! program amplifies the common goal of all-hazards preparedness. Successfully preparing for an emergency encourages personal responsibility to protect yourself, your family and your property. Visit the Arizona Emergency Information Network at https://ein.az.gov to learn more about hazards in the state and how to prepare. For additional Ready, Set, Go! information, follow the Coconino County Sheriff’s Facebook page and follow @AzEIN on Twitter