Monthly Archives: November 2014

Council approves site for Save-MTR

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SMTR-140517WILLIAMS – At the City Council meeting on Thursday, the Council approved a the site on Ellen Way for the future home of the Save-MTR shelter after a presentation by Robyn Eckels. Robyn explained that several groups and businesses, such as Home Depot in Flagstaff, were interested in building the structure, but they needed the approval of the site from the city to proceed. The city approved the site on city property for the shelter, but will have to approve any lease agreements in the future.

The Council also considered the request of Andy and Danielle Worthington of Iron Horse Homes to approve issue of building permits in the area of the golf course with concessions. The concession was to install cisterns in the properties to provide water and approve a hook up at a later date.

The City of Williams is currently in Level 4 water restrictions which prohibits new building permits and hook ups to city water.

Councilman Dent expressed several concerns. He pointed out that whatever the council decided in this case they would have to do for others in the future. He also questioned whether or not the builder would be required to pay water hook up fees up front to be hooked up at a later date.

The council made a motion for Iron Horse Homes and the City Attorney to hold meetings to see if an agreement could be reached on the matter. The council would have to approve any agreement at a future date.

Councilmen Dent, McNally and Payne voted against the measure with the rest of the council and Mayor John Moore voting for the motion.

The Council also approved a recommendation to the AZ Department of Liquor Licenses and Control for a Series #10 liquor license to be issued to the Love’s Travel Stop nearing completion. This license allows them to sell beer and wine. They recommended approval for a Series #12 restaurant license for the Elk Ridge Ski Area. The Ski Area had a Series #7 license as a package store which they sold to a Flagstaff concern. This license will not allow them to sell bottles and other packaged liquors.

City Clerk Susan Kerley reported that both had posted notices for the required twenty-days with no response.

Scott Olson found deceased

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scott-01FLAGSTAFF – Lost hiker Scott Olson was found deceased at about 10:50 a.m. this morning on the north-west side of Humpries Peak. A search team assigned to that area spotted recent dog tracks and followed the tracks to where Faith, his dog, remained in close proximity to his master.

Mr. Olson’s body was located at an elevation greater than 10,000 feed downslope from a landmark know as Philomeno Spring. The cause of death was not readily apparen. Inestigators found no signs of foul play.

Faith was in good condition and taken down the mountain and returned to a member of the Scott family.

On Tuesday, November 11, 2014 Scott Olson left his cabin located in the Hart Prairie area and told his neighbors he was going for a hike in the meadow with his mixed breed dog “Faith.” That was the last time that his friends or family members saw or heard from him. Scott’s relatives reported him as a missing person on Wednesday afternoon.

The Sheriff’s Office initiated a ground and air search late Wednesday evening with searchers on foot and in vehicles looking for Mr. Olson all night.

Early Thursday morning a day time search was initiated that include searchers on foot, in vehicles, with scent dogs and in aircraft. Once again the search continued throughout the night.

On Friday morning the search group consisted of more than 50 individuals serving as searchers or support staff and air support provided by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Department thanked the many friends and relatives of Mr. Olson who assisted in the search or provided valuable information and support.

Scott Olson served as a volunteer in the Coconino County Detention Facility for five years beginning October of 2009 providing ministry services for hundreds of inmates. His dedication and strong sense of community service was greatly appreciated by jail staff and the inmates he served. The investigation will be continued by Sheriff’s Detectives and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Northern Arizona Gazette extends our condolences to the family of Olson Scott.

Great American Appetizers, Inc. Recalls Hyvee Mozzarella Cheese Sticks Due To Undeclared Soy Flour, Yellow #5, And Yellow #6

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640px-ucm423215Great American Appetizers, Inc. of Nampa, Idaho is recalling 662 cases of HyVee Mozzarella Cheese Sticks because they may contain undeclared soy flour, yellow #5 and yellow #6. People who have an allergy or sensitivity to soy, yellow #5 or yellow #6 can run the risk of serious allergic reaction if they consume this product.

The HyVee Mozzarella Sticks were distributed to retailers in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

The HyVee Mozzarella Cheese Sticks affected are in an 8 oz. (227 g) carton (UPC #075450149913). The product date codes are printed on the end of the carton: 14290402 (BEST IF USED BY 4/17/2016) and 14295402 (BEST IF USED BY 4/22/2016). No other date codes are affected by this recall.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

This incident was discovered in-house by the company’s internal packaging review. Great American Appetizers, Inc. staff determined that the new carton did not accurately describe all allergens present in the product during the packaging update.

This recall is being made with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Consumers who have purchased HyVee Mozzarella Cheese Sticks may return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at: 1-800-282-4834 from 8AM – 5PM Mountain Time, or email inquiries to KalaT@appetizer.com.

B&G Foods Issues Allergy Alert On Undeclared Peanut And Almond In Product

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B&G Foods announced today it is voluntarily recalling certain Ortega Taco Seasoning Mix, Ortega Taco Sauce, Ortega Enchilada Sauce and Ortega Taco Kit products and certain Las Palmas Taco Seasoning Mix and Las Palmas Taco Sauce products after learning that one or more of the spice ingredients purchased from a third party supplier contain peanuts and almonds, allergens that are not declared on the products’ ingredient statements. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to peanuts and almonds run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.  There is no health risk associated with these products for individuals without an allergy to peanuts or almonds.

This recall affects the following products:

Consumer UPC # Size Best By Date Range Description
0 39000 00805 1 10oz May 18, 2015 – Feb 10, 2016 Ortega Taco Dinner Kit
0 39000 00818 1 16.7oz May 18, 2015 – Feb 10, 2016 Ortega Taco Dinner Kit
0 39000 00820 4 1.25 oz Feb 18, 2016 – Nov 3, 2016 Ortega Taco Seasoning
0 39000 00821 1 3.75 oz Feb 18, 2016 – Nov 3, 2016 Ortega Taco Seasoning  (3 Pack)
0 39000 00860 0 5 lb. Feb 18, 2016 – Nov 3, 2016 Ortega Taco Meat Seasoning (Foodservice)
0 39000 00861 7 9 oz Feb 18, 2016 – Nov 3, 2016 Ortega Taco Meat Seasoning (Foodservice)
0 39000 00890 7 8 oz Feb 18, 2017  –  Nov 10, 2017 Ortega Taco Sauce – Mild
0 39000 00891 4 8 oz Feb 18, 2017 – Nov 10, 2017 Ortega Taco Sauce – Hot
0 39000 01012 2 15.2oz May 18, 2015 – Feb 10, 2016 Ortega Soft Taco Dinner Kit
0 39000 01892 0 8 oz Feb 18, 2017 – Nov 10, 2017 Ortega Taco Sauce – Medium
0 39000 01893 7 16 oz Feb 18, 2017 – Nov 10, 2017 Ortega Taco Sauce – Mild
0 39000 01894 4 16 oz Feb 18, 2017 – Nov 10, 2017 Ortega Taco Sauce – Medium
0 41501 00806 5 9.15oz May 18, 2015 – Feb 10, 2016 Ortega Whole Grain Taco Kit
0 41501 00824 9 1.25oz Feb 18, 2016-Nov 3, 2016 Ortega 40% Less Sodium Taco Seasoning
0 41501 00832 4 5oz May 18, 2015 – Feb 10, 2016 Ortega “Tacos for Two” Kit
0 41501 00882 9 144 g 15 MA 18- 16 FE 10 Ortega “Tacos for Two” Kit (Canada)
0 41501 00897 3 8 oz Feb 18, 2017 – Nov 10, 2017 Ortega Green Taco Sauce – Mild
0 41501 00898 0 8 oz Feb 18, 2017 – Nov 10, 2017 Ortega Enchilada Sauce
0 41501 00907 9 16 oz Feb 18, 2017-Nov 10, 2017 Ortega Green Taco Sauce  –  Mild
0 41501 01014 3 13.6 oz May 18, 2015-Feb 10, 2016 Ortega Whole Wheat Soft Taco Kit
0 41501 01015 0 21.3oz May 18, 2015 – Feb 10, 2016 Ortega Grande Hard & Soft Taco Dinner Kit
0 41501 01058 7 15.9oz May 18, 2015-Feb 10, 2016 Ortega Whole Grain/Whole Wheat  Hard & Soft Taco Kit
0 41501 01895 8 16 oz Feb 18, 2017 – Nov 10, 2017 Ortega Taco Sauce – Hot
0 41501 08351 2 9.8oz May 18, 2015 – Feb 10, 2016 Ortega Fiesta Flats Kit
0 41501 79811 9 3.75 oz Feb 18, 2016-Nov 3, 2016 Las Palmas Taco Seasoning Packet (3 Pack)
0 41501 79812 6 106 g 16 FE 18 –  16 NO 03 Las Palmas Taco Seasoning Packets (3 Pack) (Canada)
0 41501 79890 4 8 oz Feb 18, 2017-Nov 10, 2017 Las Palmas Taco Sauce (Mild)
0 41501 79990 1 226g 17 FE 18 – 17 NO 10 Las Palmas Taco Sauce (Mild) (Canada)
N/A .33 oz Feb 18, 2016 – Nov 3, 2016 Ortega Taco Sauce Packets (Foodservice)

The recalled products were distributed in retail stores and foodservice outlets nationwide.

This recall does not apply to any other sizes or varieties of Ortega Seasoning Mix or to any Ortega Seasoning Mixes in canisters, all of which are correctly labeled.  For example, this recall does not include Ortega Fajita Seasoning Mix, Ortega Fish Taco Seasoning Mix, Ortega Chili Seasoning Mix, Ortega Chipotle Seasoning Mix or Ortega Burrito Seasoning Mix, all of which are correctly labeled.  This recall also does not include any Las Palmas Enchilada Sauce, which is correctly labeled.

“The safety of our consumers is our number one priority.  We are committed to providing safe, quality products while observing the highest ethical standards in the conduct of our business,” said William Wright, Executive Vice President of Quality Assurance and R&D at B&G Foods.  “The core values that we’ve embodied since the company was founded in the 1800s — honesty, integrity and accountability — guide our actions as we take the appropriate measures to address this issue.”

This recall was initiated in consultation with the FDA after it was discovered that ingredients from a single supplier used in the affected products were contaminated with peanut and almond allergens. B&G Foods has since terminated its relationship with this supplier and is receiving these ingredients from other sources in anticipation of resuming production shortly.

Consumers who have purchased the recalled products are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.  Consumers with questions may contact the company’s recall hotline at 877-929-2576 from 8:00 a.m. ET to 8:00 p.m. ET, or visit www.ortega.com for additional information.

Show Low Second Municipality in State to Complete Work on ADEQ’s Small Communities Compliance Assistance Plan

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ADEQ-2PHOENIX – Arizona Department of Environmental Quality officials announced today that the City of Show Low in Navajo County has become the second municipality in the state to complete a Small Communities Environmental Protection Plan (SCEPP) to help communities and special water and wastewater districts comply with state and federal environmental regulations.

With a plan in place, Show Low is now positioned to identify potential environmental concerns or issues, disclose identified violations and request compliance assistance if needed. The district is eligible for up to a 100 percent penalty reduction if it has future environmental violations.

ADEQ’s Small Communities Environmental Compliance Assistance project assists small towns and special water and wastewater districts in compliance with state and federal environmental laws and reducing the number of violations and enforcement actions.

“We congratulate the City of Show Low for being among the leaders in the state on environmental cooperation and sustainability,” said ADEQ Director Henry Darwin. “Small communities in the state have limited financial resources and we are committed to helping them comply with environmental laws and be good green stewards.”

ADEQ will present the city with a certificate of achievement at the next Show Low City Council meeting next Tuesday, Nov. 18. The Town of Eagar, Pinetop-Lakeside Sanitary District and Naco Sanitary District are the only three other governmental entities to complete the SCEPP process in Arizona.

Guidance materials, including a comprehensive manual, have been prepared to train small communities and water and wastewater districts on environmental requirements and help with SCEPP development. For more information about the program: http://www.azdeq.gov/function/compliance/smallcomm.html.

Male Subject Found Deceased Near Jolly Sink, North Kaibab Forest

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coco-sheriff-300pxFREDONIA – On September 13, 2014 deputies of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Northern District received a report of a suspicious abandoned vehicle near the Jolly Sink area on the North Kaibab National Forest. A deputy from the Fredonia Substation responded and with the help of a local rancher located a deceased male subject at the bottom of a nearby cliff near the vehicle. The Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division responded to investigate the scene. The male subject was identified as a white male in his mid-fifties from out of state. Release of the identity of the male is pending notification of family members. The incident is currently under investigation by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office as well as the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Work continues on State Route 87 north of Sunflower

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Crews continue to make progress on a safety improvement project on State Route 87 between Payson and Phoenix, approximately seven miles north of Sunflower. For the next two months, drivers need to be aware of daytime and nighttime restrictions between mileposts 221 and 228.

Northbound traffic on SR 87 will be narrowed to one lane and a 10-foot width restriction will be in effect until project completion in mid-May 2015.

In addition, northbound SR 87 will be closed through the work zone between 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. Sunday night through Friday mornings for the next two months. Northbound drivers will be shifted to southbound SR 87, which will become a two-way roadway with one lane in each direction. Drivers will be guided through the work zone with the aid of a pilot car with delays of up to 30 minutes.

Some intermittent lane restrictions are possible on southbound SR 87 during daytime work hours. Minimal delays expected.

Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and allow extra time to reach their destinations. The work zone will be clearly marked by temporary barricades and signage. ADOT advises drivers to allow additional time to reach their destinations and to proceed through the work zone with caution, comply with the reduced speed limit, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

Lane restrictions on State Route 260 east of Cottonwood for drainage repair

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PRESCOTT – Motorists traveling on westbound State Route 260, approximately four miles east of Cottonwood at Wilbur Canyon, need to be aware that crews will begin repairs on embankments along the roadway due to recent erosion at between mileposts 209 to 210.

Work is expected to begin on Monday, Nov. 17 and will require a single lane restriction westbound only for the next three months. Work hours are Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

The speed limit through the work zones will be reduced to 45 mph during work hours.

The work zone will be clearly marked by temporary barricades and signage. ADOT advises drivers to allow additional time to reach their destinations and to proceed through the work zone with caution, comply with the reduced speed limit, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

Adopt a Highway program continues to keep Arizona beautiful

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PHOENIX – Nearly 7,000 miles of Arizona highways take motorists on a journey through a variety of environments, from desert landscapes to snow-covered highlands to bustling urban settings. Keeping this wide-ranging system of roadways free of litter is no easy task, yet more than 12,000 volunteers and hundreds of sponsor groups beautify Arizona’s roadways and support the efficient use of state transportation system resources.

Since its inception in 1988, the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Adopt a Highway program has offered an opportunity for individuals, organizations and businesses to perform litter clean-up activities on two-mile sections of the state’s highway system.

Each year, Adopt a Highway volunteers typically collect around 63 tons of litter and provide ADOT with a current statewide labor value of $2.3 million. The Adopt a Highway program is active in all 15 counties in the state along approximately 2,000 miles of roadway.

More than 1,500 volunteer groups and several hundred sponsor groups collect litter. In rural areas, volunteer groups are asked to clean up their designated section of highway at least twice a year. An ADOT acknowledgement sign recognizes the volunteer group’s section after their first cleanup. In the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas, sponsor group organizations pay an ADOT-approved professional landscaping company to remove litter on a section of freeway.

The cost to taxpayers for the program is minimal. ADOT’s costs include vests and trash bags for the volunteers, and the production of the acknowledgement signs. A single ADOT staff member is responsible for managing the statewide program with operational and permitting support by ADOT field offices.

“The Adopt a Highway program promotes civic responsibility and community engagement,” said Patricia Powers-Zermeño, Adopt a Highway program manager. “Picking up litter is a way for someone to have a positive impact on the appearance of their community with just a few hours of effort.”

It is community spirit that attracts volunteers to the Adopt a Highway program in appreciation of Arizona’s natural beauty. Ron Curtis and his family volunteer on a section of the Arizona State Highway System in the Navajo Nation. “It’s a tradition,” said Curtis. “The earth is our mother and nowadays it is up to us to take care of mother earth. It brings us together and we send a message out.”

Richard Martin rides a motorcycle and says it’s important for him to give back. “We use these highways all the time. I encourage motorcyclists to participate,” said Martin.

Barbara Ricca is a 10-year volunteer in southeastern Arizona. She likes being outdoors and began participating in the Adopt a Highway program to introduce her family to community service. “My girls are grown now, but the satisfaction of working in the community is still strong,” said Ricca. “Right before my daughter Amanda moved to Scotland last year, I asked her what she wanted to do and she said volunteer with the Adopt a Highway program one more time.”

Not only do volunteers feel a sense of satisfaction cleaning up the environment, periodically they also find some entertainment in the things they pick up along Arizona’s roadways: a metal sculpture of a roosting bat, articles of clothing from head to toe, cans of food, geocache items and sometimes small bills or coins.

Night work continues on roundabout on US 93 at Wickenburg Ranch

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Overnight work continues on US 93 north of Wickenburg through next Thursday, Nov. 20 as part of the new roundabout being constructed by the Wickenburg Ranch development.

Drivers can expect intermittent single-lane restrictions between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. beginning tonight, and next week Monday, Nov. 17 through Thursday, Nov. 20.

Flaggers will direct traffic in alternating directions using the single lane that is open and with delays of up to 15 minutes. During nighttime work hours, a 12-foot width restriction will be in effect.

To maximize resources and complete the project quickly, crews are working seven days a week with day and night work for the next three months. Work hours during the day are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and a 14-foot width restriction will be in place.

The work zone will be clearly marked by temporary barricades and signage. ADOT advises drivers to allow additional time to reach their destinations and to proceed through the work zone with caution, comply with the reduced speed limit, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.