Monthly Archives: May 2013

City of Williams announces free community swim

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WILLIAMS—The Williams Aquatic Center will be open for a free Community swim to open up their 2013 season. The pool will be open Saturday, May 25th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free swim day is sponsored by the Friends of the Williams Aquatic Center and the Williams Chamber of Commerce.

The Friends of the W.A.C. is a non-profit group in Williams which conducts fundraising events to help keep the pool open during as much of the season as possible. They currently have openings for volunteers and board members.

County Attorney announces citizen prosecutor academy

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FLAGSTAFF—The County Attorney has announced the next no-cost Citizen Prosecutor Academy. The academy will be held Friday, June 7, 2013 from 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

This could be the start to your legal career. However if you plan to pursue a career in this area you can expect a little more schooling at a little more cost. This course gives citizens an idea of how the court system works in general terms. “Participants will gain a behind-the-scenes understanding of real-world prosecution and the responsibilities of the Coconino County Attorney’s Office,” the press release states. These classes fill up quickly so it is recommended that you sign up soon if you are interested.

Tami Suchowiejko, coordinator for the academy at the County Attorney’s office, said that they prefer participants be over 18-years of age because of the graphic nature of some of the content of the course.

“We’re excited to continue our academy which brings the community into the office to share information, exchange ideas, and facilitate a better understanding of how the County Attorney’s Office serves the public. It’s also a lot of fun”, said County Attorney Rozema.

The academy presenters include various experts from the Coconino County Attorney’s Office as well as other professionals from the criminal justice system. Participants will learn how criminal cases are handled from intake/grand jury through trial. They can also expect presentations from the County Medical Examiner and a Criminalist from the Department of Public Safety Crime Lab.

To get an idea of what the course entails, you can see the previous academy agenda. If you are interested in participating, you can download an application to fax to (928) 679-8201 or mail to Coconino County Attorney’s Office, 110 E. Cherry Avenue, Flagstaff, AZ 86001.

The County Attorney’s office also holds an advanced version of the academy for graduates of this course.

Run for the Wall rolls on.

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WILLIAMS—The riders of Run for the Wall stopped in Williams for an overnighter before continuing on their journey in the early morning of the 16th.

Their mission statement from their web site is:

To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over the world.

The Run for the Wall event was started 25 years ago by James Gregory and Bill Evans. They came up with an idea to bring attention to those POWs and MIAs who were still unaccounted for. The ten-day trek across the United States is a peaceful, non-political demonstration to honor the memory of those who have given all.

There are still several Arizonans listed as missing in action.

Williams has been the end of the first day of their ride where the American Legion Cordova Post #13 provides a barbeque and a rest for the weary travelers. The Williams-Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce provided American flags for the viewers of the parade to wave as they passed.

Run for the Wall departed May 16.

Run for the Wall arrives today

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sam-eagleWILLIAMS—Memorial day weekend is coming soon; a day in which we honor the sacrifices that are veterans have made and those in service today. It also means that the motorcycle riders of Run for the Wall start their annual trek to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. The ride is meant to make the public aware of the prisoners of war and those still listed as missing in action.

Another group called Rolling Thunder with the same mission recently highlighted the plight of Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl. They believe that he is still alive and a prisoner of war after four years.

Each year both groups ride to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington in time for Memorial Day. To support the ride they set up in towns and sell souvenirs of the ride. Their first stop since mid-2000 has been Williams where the American Legion Cordova Post #13 provides a hot meal and a rest for their visit.

The veterans enter the City with a parade each year.

Each year many of the Williams residents stop by and visit the veterans and give them support. Or maybe it’s just to check out the motorcycles.

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See Also:
2012 Run for the Wall

2011 ride

Rolling Thunder say American U.S. Army Soldier still prisoner of war

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WBTW-TV: News, Weather, and Sports for Florence, SC
By Leah Mishkin, May 13, 2013
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) – The first of the two weekends for the 74th annual spring rally is in the books as thousands of bikers hit the Strand for a good time and for a good cause.

The Rolling Thunder set up a booth at the Harley-Davidson dealership hoping to raise money to continue their mission of finding and bringing home American prisoners of war.

“Since World War 2, there are over 84 thousand unaccounted for and our mission is to educate people at the same time we also lobby up with congress to put pressure on them to bring our Americans home,” said chairman of the Rolling Thunder Myrtle Beach chapter Bill DeVaughn.

And while this organization is not only for bikers, Rolling Thunder members said with bikers, many find great interest in finding prisoners of war since many are veterans.

More on Rolling Thunder at WBTW News 13

Arizona Firearms and Collectibles gun show this weekend in Flagstaff

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FLAGSTAFF—The Arizona Collectibles and Firearms gun show will be held this Saturday and Sunday the 18th and 19th at the Coconino County Fairgrounds on Ft. Tuthill loop. The show times are from 9 am to 5 pm and 9 am to 4 pm respectively. The cost to enter the show is $7 for one day and $10 for both days. Look for a $2 discount coupon. Gun show dealers and purchasers are reminded that they are obligated to follow all applicable laws.

Williams enters the fray – Dollar General coming

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dollar-130514WILLIAMS—The Dollar General being built on Grand Canyon Blvd next to the closed Rosa’s Cantina is coming along. One worker said that they planned to be open in March, but have to wait until mid-June to complete some of the ground work. It is not clear if they will meet the June time frame even though the building may be ready.

What might be more interesting about this chain coming is it might be seen by industry watchers as another “base” in the “war” between Family Dollar, Dollar General and Walmart. One dollar store-watching web site notes that consumers are reporting that people are generally finding the best deals at Dollar General and Walmart—particularly the so-called “Super Walmarts”—when comparing them between Family Dollar and local grocery stores.

Bloomberg reported that the January increase in payroll taxes may have impacted the two low-priced chains. The article says that the resurgent Walmart store may also be impacting the retail sales of Dollar General and Family Dollar; no. 1 and 2 respectively in this market.

Family Dollar, for example, suffered its biggest loss in twelve-years dropping 13% because of the 2% increase in payroll tax that hurts the poor more than anyone. Analysts Bloomberg surveyed said that Dollar General was moving into its slowest growth period in three years. They had to cut holiday pricing over Christmas.

While most residents of Williams wait and purchase essentials either through Sam’s Club or Walmart, it appears that Dollar General is hoping to keep customers local in Williams and perhaps take in some of the tourist trade. This might actually be a good time for Dollar General, in fact, since Williams recently lifted the tax on food.

It remains to be seen what form of imaginative pricing that Safeway will have to develop to meet the new threat to their market share.

Mom’s store opens, appropriately, in time for Mother’s Day

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Treats and Treasures - 309 West Route 66

Treats and Treasures – 309 West Route 66


WILLIAMS—Glenn and Linda have been working for several months to open Treats n Treasures at 309 W Route 66 next to the Sultana Theater. They are the friendly managers for the store owned by their mother. Although they have not received all of their stock, they managed to open, appropriately, just before Mother’s Day.

Treats N Treasures carries a varied assortment of candies from the new to the kind that your grandfather used to buy. An interesting item is a cup with a mix of candies from the 60s, 70s or 80s. Something that you usually do not find in a candy store is a variety of fresh fruit for the health crowd. Also in stock is a variety of gourmet popcorn with flavors such as peanut butter cup, white truffle Parmesan and cookies and cream. Beef and pork jerky is also available.

130512-04-TreasuresIn addition they have gourmet ice cream with your choice of waffle, sugar or old fashioned cone. For the morning crowd, they have coffee and gourmet pastries.

The store carries a wide variety of sodas with cane sugar instead of the more dangerous high fructose corn syrup. The selection includes a variety of flavors and brands. It would probably not be too hard to guess where Capone comes from. They also have a brand called Moxie which was sold in the early 1800’s originally as an elixir to cure all ills.

They carry souvenirs, like many of the stores. Their selection is a little bit different from the normal Route 66 fare available at other souvenir shops. The shop carries a limited selection of collectible coins and paper money such as a colorized Grand Canyon park two dollar bill and silver Arizona coin.

Their differing variety of stock should make this store a welcome addition to the Route 66 business community.

Former Klansman tells his story at First Baptist Church

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WILLIAMS—Evangelist Johnny Lee Clary will share his conversion from Imperial Wizard of the Klu Klux Klan to preacher of the gospel at the First Baptist Church across from Safeway in Williams. Clary will explore how God brought him from the depths of hate and a hardened heart to preach the Gospel.

Brother Clary will be speaking on Saturday, May 18th at 7 pm. He will preach the morning service at the church at 10:30 pm on the 19th. He will also speak at a youth rally at the high school on May 19th at 6 p.m.

Everyone is invited to attend the church services and the youth rally.