Monthly Archives: July 2012

Williams Independence Day parade takes over Route 66

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Crowd lines Route 66 in Williams waiting for the parade.


WILLIAMS—Dark clouds cooled off the small City of Williams, but did not damper one of the best parades in a number of years. The American Legion Cordova Post #13 led the parade which included local groups, the 108th Army Band and—it must be an election year—politicians. Smokey made an appearance and the Williams Fire Department brought out their fire trucks.

The American Legion Cordova Post #13 carries the colors to begin the parade.


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Baconomics

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FEUDALISM: You have bacon. The lord comes and takes the bacon. And your last pig. You get a potato.

PURE SOCIALISM: You have some bacon. Your neighbor does not. The government takes your bacon and gives it to the neighbor. You have to take a second job to bring home the bacon so you can continue to supply the non working neighbor with your bacon.

BUREAUCRATIC SOCIALISM: You have some bacon. The government takes half of it to give to the neighbor with none. The bacon is then managed by a Bacon Czar with a large staff. The Bacon Czar is a vegan. With the ensuing paperwork, and the latent inability of the Bacon Czar to actually handle the bacon, the bacon goes bad and is thrown out.

FASCISM: You have a little bit of bacon. The government takes it, and offers to sell you the oink.

PURE COMMUNISM: You have bacon. Your neighbor works to help you get more bacon and you share in it, even though he eats twice as much as you and does half the amount of work.

RUSSIAN COMMUNISM: You have bacon. The government takes it and gives you a potato.

DICTATORSHIP: You have bacon. The government takes it and drafts you. You get MRE’s. They do not contain bacon.

PURE DEMOCRACY: You have bacon. You vote with your neighbors as to how your bacon should be protected.

REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY: You have some bacon. You elect someone to vote on how best to ensure you get more bacon.

Grieving for Freedom

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By Van Irion

Whether you realize it or not, all freedom-loving people are grieving our lost freedom this Independence Day. Psychologists teach that the first reaction to devastating loss is denial. When we lose something that we love, our minds initially deny the event in order to survive the shock. After denial comes bargaining, anger, depression, and finally acceptance. Each stage of grief allows our minds to absorb the new reality and grieve the loss of something cherished.

Last week’s devastating Supreme Court rulings have caused various reactions. Many insist upon explaining Roberts’ ruling as political genius. Some search for a silver lining in the ruling. Others focus on the upcoming election. All of these reactions reflect the first two stages of grief. Most Americans are still in denial or are attempting to bargain-away the shocking loss of freedom inflicted by those that were supposed to defend our freedom.

Some of us have already moved on to anger. Please join us. Anger is a gift.

Unlike people, freedom can be restored. No matter how much freedom is taken away, it can always be taken back. But it will not be given. Those that enslave do not give back freedom willingly. We must fight them for it. So, anger is a useful emotion when grieving for freedom. Anger will motivate us to act.

Stop denying our loss of freedom by imagining genius in Justice Roberts’ treasonous act. Killing constitutional principals in the name of short-term political payback is not genius. It’s an insult to every man or woman that ever died defending freedom.

Stop claiming that Roberts’ ruling is a victory because it created a limit on the commerce clause. The commerce clause is no more limited than it was before the ruling. Prior to Obamacare no one would have imagined that the commerce clause could possibly justify regulation of lack-of-commerce. Last week’s ruling simply confirmed what we already knew. But it left the commerce clause exactly where it has been since Wickard v. Filburn. In fact, the ruling explicitly acknowledged that the rule from Wickard is still the accepted commerce clause rule. This is the rule that got us to where we are today. Why is anyone celebrating this? The answer is: DENIAL.
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First Baptist Church movie night Saturday

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WILLIAMS—The First Baptist Church at 7th and Grant is having a movie night on Saturday beginning at 5 p.m. The movie night is being conducted to raise funds for a youth rafting trip later this summer.

This Saturday, July 7 is the 2008 drama The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry. The movie stars Gavin MacLeod as Jonathan Sperry, Jansen Panettiere and Robert Guillaume.

The movie includes a meal and a donation of $10 is requested. The movie is open to tourist as well as locals.

Residents reminded about County Fire, Fireworks Ban

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FLAGSTAFF—As we head into the Fourth of July holiday, Coconino County reminds residents and visitors that while the sale of consumer fireworks is legal in Arizona, the County’s current fire ban prohibits their use.

On May 16, the County Board of Supervisors imposed a ban on open burning in unincorporated areas of the County – including on private property – until extreme fire conditions improve. Included in that ban is the use of fireworks, other pyrotechnic displays, all open fires and campfires (in both developed and undeveloped campgrounds).

“The continued lack of any measurable rainfall has resulted in extremely dangerous fire conditions throughout our county and the state,” said County Board of Supervisors Chairman Carl Taylor. “It’s prudent for everyone to use the strictest caution when using anything that could spark a fire. A wildfire can burn for weeks, but their impact is felt for decades.”

While the fire ban may not specifically ban every type of fire-causing activity, 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.

County Sheriff’s deputies have been patrolling the region looking for those violating the County and US Forest Service fire bans. Those caught violating the County’s fire ban by using fireworks face up to 30 days in jail, one year probation or a fine of up to $500. Citizens are encouraged to check with other jurisdictions before using any fireworks. State law allows counties to restrict the use of fireworks when there is a risk of wildfire, but counties are unable to restrict the sale of fireworks.

In addition to the countywide fire ban, the following restrictions have been placed at all public County parks:

• Camping is permitted only in designated campgrounds at Fort Tuthill County Park;
• Smoking is strictly prohibited outdoors and only allowed in designated areas and/or in enclosed vehicles;
• Parking is prohibited on grassy forested areas and allowed in designated parking areas;
• Open fires are prohibited. This includes campfires, charcoal grills, torches, fireworks and candles. Only liquid gas stoves are permitted in improved areas (cleared of all vegetation, typically on a cinder or gravel surface).

Residents and visitors countywide are allowed to use (with caution) petroleum-fueled stoves or lanterns, and charcoal barbeque grills (with a lid that covers the entire grilling surface) operated in residential yards. Special events may be allowed, with the approval of the County Board of Supervisors.
Coconino and Kaibab National Forests also remain in Stage 2 fire restrictions. The fire ban in both forests includes:

• Open fires, including all campfires; charcoal, coal or wood stoves, including in developed campgrounds.
• The use of explosives.
• The use of any internal or external combustion engine without a spark-arresting device.
• Welding or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame.
• The use of chainsaws between 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• The discharge of firearms.

Firemen fight fire on Sherman

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UPDATE: The family dog was transported to the veterinarian clinic in Flagstaff and did survive the ordeal. The Williams Police Department reports the dog is in good condition.

WILLIAMS—After their arrival, it took less than fifteen-minutes for Williams Firefighters to reduce the blaze at 119 Sherman to a smoldering ember. No one was home at the time except the family dog.

Firefighters took on the blaze in the rental with a fire cannon and hose. They also sprayed neighboring homes to prevent the spread of the intense heat. The fire began about 9:50 a.m.

Neighbors across the street reported hearing a pop and going outside to find a black bag burning on the porch. They reported the fire to the Williams Fire Department.

After rescue, fire fighters work to comfort the family pet.

While firefighters rescued the dog, paramedics at the scene were not allowed to administer any manner of medical treatment or first aid.

“It should not take any special training to give a dog an oxygen mask,” local resident Brenda Carter complained.

The dog is alive, but his condition is unknown.