Monthly Archives: April 2012

Williams Clean and Beautiful campaign

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Carol Glassburn, one of the Clean and Beautiful committee members, stops for a drink.


WILLIAMS—The Williams Clean and Beautiful campaign kicked off today with civic and local groups cleaning up Williams and along highway 64 to the Grand Canyon.

Each year Williams conducts a major clean-up allowing residents to dispose of hazardous material without a fee. Western Recyclers returned to pick up spent electronics. For the rest of the week, residents can contact the city to pick up one major appliance.

As usual, the veterans of the American Legion Cordova Post #13 in Williams did an excellent job of cooking and serving up hot dogs and hamburgers for participants and guests.

Embattled sheriff played probe tape for laughs at fundraiser

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PHOENIX — An audio recording has surfaced of an Arizona sheriff playing his refusal to cooperate in a racial profiling investigation for laughs at a fundraiser for an anti-illegal immigration group in Texas. He ridicules politicians who sought the probe and displayed contempt toward federal authorities who were — and are still — investigating him on two fronts.

The dismissive comments in 2009 by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio came as the U.S. Justice Department had already launched a civil rights probe of his trademark immigration patrols and the FBI already was examining abuse-of-power allegations for the sheriff’s investigations of political foes.

In the September 2009 speech in Houston, Arpaio boasted that he arrested hundreds of illegal immigrants after politicians and federal investigators started to pick apart his patrols. He said he wouldn’t cooperate with the inquiry, but said he would tone down the patrols — if he was proven wrong.

Read more at Desert News

Forecast includes clear for Clean and Beautiful

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WILLIAMS—The seven-day forecast shows an 80% chance of rain for Thursday night with a slight chance Friday. However it is predicted to clear for the Williams Clean and Beautiful campaign Saturday.

The clean-up event ends with a barbeque around noon after completion at the Recreation Center. Everyone is invited to join the event by showing up at the Recreation Center parking lot by the new community stage to get a bag for trash.

Williams, like other communities, still has a problem with plastic bag flags and aircraft blowing in the wind. The issue was taken up once, but the problem continues. Safeway was collecting bags returned to the store for recycling. They can, also, be used in some trash containers as alternative trash bags or used to clean up after your pets when walking them as required by city ordinance.

For smoking visitors or residence, the Williams Chamber located in the Williams Visitor Center offers pocket ash trays which can be used while walking through town. They are safer than dropping your cigarette butts into a trash can and can be disposed of later.

In addition residents can dispose of spent electronics at the dump located on Rodeo Road next to the Rodeo grounds. Residents have a week after to dump yard trash for free. They can also call the city to get rid of one used appliance.

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WILLIAMS—The elegant Winchester Ranch restaurant is open for the season beginning at 5 p.m. For reservations you can call 602-759-5772.

The $44 meal includes the entrée and a glass of wine or beer. The meal consists of your choice of top sirloin, chicken breast or salmon with Portabello mushrooms, garden salad, corn on the cob and more. It includes a homemade apple desert.

The Winchester Ranch Dinner Theater was originally the Pine Crest Dairy and Farm in 1952 and provided milk products for Williams and the surrounding area. Western Destinations turned the barn into a beautiful restaurant with a stage upstairs for entertainment.

Future plans for the property include an indoor shooting range.

Spring carnival returns

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Brown's Amusements on Railroad Avenue

WILLIAMS—It’s springtime in Williams and that means the return of the Brown Amusement carnival. The crew began setting up Wednesday and tested the rides today. With beautiful weather predicted for the weekend, it looks like a good weekend to take in the event.

Windfall showing scheduled for two dates in Coconino County

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The Canyon Country Coalition for Responsible Renewable Energy has scheduled two showings of Windfall by Laura Israel.

Tuesday, April 17th the showing will be at Northern Arizona University sponsored by their “Hot Topics” program. The movie will start at 6pm followed by a moderated discussion. On Thursday, April 19th the movie will show at the Fray Marcos Hotel in Williams in the Santa Fe Room from 7pm to 9 pm.

“We hope to see many of you there, and please spread the word to those who have participated in any way with the efforts to join us. Some of your friends and neighbors who are local might be interested,” the Coalition email stated.

“We have invited the County Supervisors, P&Z Commissioners & Staff, and others to attend either of the viewings, and some have indicated that they are going to try to be there.”

They would like an RSVP if you plan to attend to arrange enough seats.

Governor Brewer vetoes bills strengthening Sheriff controls and endorsing the Second Amendment

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PHOENIX—Governor Jan Brewer, whose finger-wag was seen ’round the world, vetoed Arizona H.B. 2434 which would have required federal law enforcement officials to report to the County Sheriff prior to taking any law enforcement action.

In her April 11th letter, she informed House Speaker Andy Tobin of her concerns with interference with federal agencies.

“This legislation has the potential to interfere with law enforcement investigations and adds unneeded reporting requirements for law enforcement. Rather than hinder the efforts of our federal law enforcement colleagues, we need to focus on collaboration,” she wrote.

She noted that the Arizona Counter-Terrorism Intelligence Center gathers local, state and federal law enforcement to jointly fight against terrorism and other serious crimes. Apparently that does not include securing the southern border.

The Governor also vetoed House Joint Resolution 2001 “Authorizing opposition to the use of an international force on american soil that seeks to enforce any united Nations treaty that has not been ratified by the United States senate.”

The resolution reads:

Whereas, the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution firmly states, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed”; and

Whereas, Article II, section 26, Arizona Constitution, states, “The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself or the state shall not be impaired”; and

Whereas, member nations of the United Nations have formed committees with the intent to regulate private firearm ownership; and

Whereas, the United Nations committees have held hearings on the Arms Trade Treaty, which includes regulation of private firearms ownership; and

Whereas, the Constitution of the United States prevents the President from enacting a treaty without ratification from the United States Senate; and

Whereas, the National Rifle Association has secured the commitment from 58 current United States senators that they would not ratify the United Nations’ Arms Trade Treaty as long as it includes regulation of private firearms ownership; and

Whereas, the United Nations Security Council regularly shows its disregard for sovereign nations and their constitutions and laws; and

Whereas, the United Nations has used force to disarm citizens of a sovereign nation in the past, which led to mass killings by bladed weapons; and

Whereas, the United Nations often uses international forces to impose its will on sovereign nations.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

1. That the State of Arizona opposes any use of an international force on American soil that seeks to enforce any United Nations treaty that has not been properly ratified by the United States Senate.

2. That the State of Arizona authorizes using organized resistance to thwart any international force that infringes on the United States Constitution or any of its amendments.

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Easter Eggstravaganza in Williams.

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WILLIAMS—The Williams Recreation was crowded Saturday as kids and adults waited for the Easter bunny.

Guy of the Williams Emergency Food Bank and Rose of the Williams Recreation Department took extra precautions to prevent problems which plagued other cities. Macon, Georgia cancelled their hunt because of past violence caused by parents trying to collect eggs for themselves and their kids.

For the past few years, Williams organizers have maintained an orderly Easter egg hunt.

Only one incident in recent memory occurred when the Cataract Creek gang attempted to rob the Easter bunny and were booed out of the area by the kids.

E. Bunny greets a few kids arriving at the Eggstravaganza

Apparently, one of the eggs hatched.

Crowd watches as E. Bunny arrives. There are kids there somewhere.

Easter bunny welcomes 1 to 3 year olds.

Increases in Rocky Mountain spotted fever detected in Arizona

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A March 30 email from the Arizona Health Alert Network reports:

Arizona Department of Health Services has detected increased levels of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) in the state including one confirmed and one suspect fatality. RMSF is a serious illness that can be fatal if not treated promptly and correctly, even in previously healthy people. Doxycycline is the treatment of choice for adults and children of all ages and should be initiated immediately whenever RMSF is suspected. Use of antibiotics other than doxycycline is associated with a higher risk of fatal outcome. Treatment is most effective at preventing death if doxycycline is started in the first 5 days of symptoms.

Treatment should never be delayed pending the receipt of laboratory test results, which are unlikely to be available in time for treatment to prevent death. Treatment should not be withheld in a patient where there is clinical suspicion on the basis of an initial negative finding for R. rickettsii. The diagnosis of RMSF must be made based on clinical signs and symptoms, and can later be confirmed using paired sera.

Most people will develop symptoms one week following the tick bite (range 3-14 days) and not all infected patients recall a tick bite.
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Take-a-Break center opens at St. John’s

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WILLIAMS—The St. John’s Episcopal Church has started a center to give caretakers of adults with special needs a chance to shop or just relax. The Take-a-Break (TAB) center provides a safe, non-medical social environment for adults with special needs such as autism or early dementia. The center does not provide medical facilities or a medical staff.

The center which operates from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. provides activities—cards, games, puzzles and such—for adults who are under the care of other adults. The idea is to provide a time for caregivers to take care of their needs for a short period. The center provides free coffee and donuts and lunch.

Drop-ins are welcome, but it is preferred if you call 635-2925 and ask for Pat or 635-2781 to leave a message. This is to ensure that space and lunch is available. St. John’s is at 202 W. Grant Avenue in Williams.