Utility work scheduled on SR 89A in Jerome for the next three weeks

Utility work is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 23 on southbound State Route 89A in Jerome (milepost 345) as crews replace an existing waterline. The southbound lane will be closed for the next three weeks, through April 10.

Drivers in both directions will be guided through the work zone with flaggers. Work hours are Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Road will be fully open on the weekends. Minimal delays expected.

The work zone will be clearly marked by temporary barricades and signage.

Utility work scheduled on SR 260 east of Camp Verde tomorrow

Utility work is scheduled tomorrow on State Route 260 approximately five miles east of Camp Verde (milepost 225) between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.

SR 260 will be restricted to one lane during work hours and drivers will be guided through the work zone with flaggers. Minimal delays expected.

The work zone will be clearly marked by temporary barricades and signage.

Bison Lake in Bearizona full

Buff-Lake15-03-18-5white-buffalo-01WILLIAMS — Bison Lake at the Bearizona Wildlife Park seems to have filled up due to snow melt.

Actually it is not really a lake. The plain area where the Bison usually love to lay in the snow has filled with water creating a marsh which is difficult, at best, to drive through.

Not to worry, however. The Bison are still hanging around the road for viewing.

Next week visitors will be treated to viewing the newest residents to the park. Three bear cubs were born this spring and will be placed into the walk-through area.
Buff-Lake15-03-18-2

Bridge work starting on I-40 west of Holbrook

NOTE: We noted a lot of bridge work happening between Williams and Flagstaff on I-40. Please remember that ARS provides for double-fines for speeding through a highway construction zone.


The Arizona Department of Transportation will begin a project on Monday, March 23 to make improvements to the Leroux Wash Bridges on Interstate 40 just west of Holbrook.

The $1.2 million dollar project will include removing and replacing both bridges approach slabs and repairing both bridge decks. The project is anticipated to be completed this fall.

Work hours will be 7 a.m.to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Work crews will be working on both the eastbound and westbound bridges at the same time. One of the two lanes in each direction will be closed leaving one lane open for traffic. The speed limit will be reduced through the construction zone and there will be width restrictions.

Drivers are asked to use caution and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

Kraft Foods Group Voluntarily Recalls Select Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Boxed Dinners Due to Possible Metal Pieces

ucm438726NORTHFIELD, Ill. — Kraft Foods Group is voluntarily recalling approximately 242,000 cases of select code dates and manufacturing codes of the Original flavor of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner – due to the possibility that some boxes may contain small pieces of metal. The recalled product is limited to the 7.25-oz. size of the Original flavor of boxed dinner with the “Best When Used By” dates of September 18, 2015 through October 11, 2015, with the code “C2” directly below the date on each individual box. The “C2” refers to a specific production line on which the affected product was made.

Some of these products have also been packed in multi-pack units that have a range of different code dates and manufacturing codes on the external packaging (box or shrink-wrap), depending on the package configuration (see table below).

Recalled product was shipped to customers in the U.S. and several other countries, excluding Canada. The affected dates of this product were sold in only these four configurations:

  • 7.25 oz. box, Original flavor
  • 3-pack box of those 7.25 oz. boxes, Original flavor
  • 4-pack shrink-wrap of those 7.25 oz. boxes, Original flavor
  • 5-pack shrink-wrap of those 7.25 oz. boxes, Original flavor

The following is being recalled:

Product Size Name of Product Sell Unit Best When Used By Code Date & Mfr. Code Individual Box Best When Used By Code Date & Mfr. Code Individual Box UPC Multi-Pack Unit UPC
7.25 oz. each Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Boxed Dinner
Original Flavor
NA 18 SEP 2015 C2
through
11 OCT 2015 C2
0 21000 65883 1 NA
3-Pack Box
(Three 7.25 oz. Boxes)
Net Wt. 21.75 oz.
3-Pack Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Boxed Dinner
Original Flavor
09 SEP 2015 XDG
27 SEP 2015 XDG
01 OCT 2015 XDG
02 OCT 2015 XDG
03 OCT 2015 XDG
20 NOV 2015 XDG
18 SEP 2015 C2
through
11 OCT 2015 C2
0 21000 65883 1 0 21000 05076 5
4-Pack
Shrink–wrap
(Four 7.25 oz. Boxes)
Net Wt. 29 oz.
4-Pack Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Boxed Dinner
Original Flavor
18 SEP 2015 C2
19 SEP 2015 C2
08 OCT 2015 C2
18 SEP 2015 C2
through
11 OCT 2015 C2
0 21000 65883 1 0 21000 72540 3
5-Pack
Shrink-wrap
(Five 7.25 oz. Boxes)
Net Wt. 36.25 oz.
5-Pack Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Boxed Dinner
Original Flavor
18 SEP 2015
through
11 OCT 2015
XAR or C2
18 SEP 2015 C2
through
11 OCT 2015 C2
0 21000 65883 1 0 21000 77436 4

No other sizes, varieties or pasta shapes and no other packaging configurations are included in this recall. And no products with manufacturing codes other than “C2” below the code date on the individual box are included in this recall.

Kraft has received eight consumer contacts about this product from the impacted line within this range of code dates and no injuries have been reported. We deeply regret this situation and apologize to any consumers we have disappointed.

The recalled product was shipped by Kraft to customers nationwide in the U.S. The product was also distributed to Puerto Rico and some Caribbean and South American countries — but not to Canada.

Consumers who purchased this product should not eat it. They should return it to the store where purchased for an exchange or full refund. Consumers also can contact Kraft Foods Consumer Relations at 1-800-816-9432 between 9 am and 6 pm (Eastern) for a full refund.

Bridge work resumes on SR 260 east of Payson next week

adot-logo-03aAfter upgrading five eastbound bridge approaches on State Route 260 last fall, the Arizona Department of Transportation is returning this month to replace and repave the approaches to three westbound bridges between mileposts 272-277, approximately 20 miles east of Payson.

Motorists traveling along SR 260 should allow extra travel time and be aware that westbound traffic will be shifted to the eastbound lanes, which will become a two-way roadway through the five-mile work zone, beginning on Tuesday, March 24. A 10-foot width restriction will be in place throughout construction and drivers should be aware of heavy traffic during peak travel times.

The $2.9 million improvement project, which is expected to be completed in August, includes the removal of the existing bridge approaches and departure slabs, repaving the roadway at the bridge approaches, guardrail reconstruction and the replacement of existing pavement markings.

National Park Service Sitting On Half-A-Billion Dollars Of Concessions Obligations

640-gc-eltovarAcross the National Park System, there is an estimated half-a-billion-dollars of obligations owed concessionaires who run lodges, restaurants, and even some activities, for the National Park Service.

It’s a sum that, while Park Service officials say is manageable, has seemingly stifled concessions competition in some parks and led the agency to divert tens of millions of dollars from some parks to others to reduce the debts.

At Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, the outstanding amount is more than $57 million. At Glacier National Park in Montana, it’s $22 million. At Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, it’s nearly $100 million. At Yellowstone National Park, the sum is $21.5 million.

Read more at National Parks Traveler