In thy mind, place ye in days of yore. In days when communication doth not instantaneous make through plates of glass, yet only the scroll doth reign.
Monthly Archives: March 2015
Methodist Church annual St. Patrick’s Day supper next Tuesday
WILLIAMS – The Community United Methodist Church of Williams will hold it’s annual St. Patrick’s Day corned beef supper next Tuesday. The supper will run from 5 to 7 p.m. or until they run out of food. The church is located on the corner of Sherman and 2nd Street.
This popular event includes potatoes and carrots, rolls and desserts with the traditional corned beef and cabbage. Drinks included.
ADOT’s Tentative Five-Year Construction Program: public comment begins next week
PHOENIX — As the Arizona Department of Transportation begins making plans for improvements to the state highway system over the next five years, the major focus will be on preserving existing infrastructure to ensure that it remains in good condition, while providing a reliable transportation network for drivers. It can be a tough balance, as constrained funding simply cannot meet all the transportation needs around the state.
The 2016-2020 Tentative Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program will be available for public comment beginning next week through ADOT’s website and during the first of three public hearings. The Five-Year Program is a lineup of projects that is updated annually. It serves as a blueprint for future projects and designates how much local, state and federal funding is allocated for those projects over the next five years to improve the state’s transportation infrastructure. This includes highways, bridges, transit and aviation.
Limited funding amid growing statewide transportation needs continues to be the biggest challenge over the next five years. Fewer dollars dedicated to transportation is a result of less revenue from traditional sources of transportation funding, like the state gas tax and vehicle license tax, which support the Five-Year Program. The state gas tax is currently 18 cents per gallon and has not been increased for more than 20 years.
These transportation funding challenges have signaled a shift to a strong focus on the preservation of the state highway system, to protect a system valued at $19.7 billion. If ADOT did not invest in preservation, it would cost approximately $200 billion to replace our existing highway infrastructure, should it fall into disrepair. ADOT is committed to moving major expansion projects forward as well, but with less transportation dollars to stretch, fewer expansion projects make it into the Five-Year Program.
For the 2016-2020 Tentative Five-Year Program, preservation makes up 29 percent of the projects in the combined regions of the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas and Greater Arizona. Expansion accounts for 59 percent and modernization makes up 12 percent. However, when focused just on Greater Arizona (areas of the state excluding Maricopa and Pima counties), preservation makes up 68 percent of the total projects, expansion makes up eight percent, and modernization makes up 24 percent. Both the Maricopa and Pima county regions in the two metropolitan areas have independent revenue streams established through voter-approved sales tax increases that allow for more expansion projects to take place and for more transportation funding overall.
The process for each annual Tentative Five-Year Program always begins with a call to the public, an opportunity to voice comments to the State Transportation Board and let the board know which projects are important to communities around Arizona. The public comment period for the 2016-2020 Tentative Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program will get underway next week with the first of three public hearings. The first public hearing will be held on March 20 in Tucson.
The Tentative Program will be available for public review and comment on March 20 at azdot.gov/fiveyearplan. ADOT has developed a “how to read it” guide and welcomes feedback at fiveyearconstructionprogram@azdot.gov. A phone number is also available for public comments at 1-855-712-8530.
The State Transportation Board will consider all public comments received by May 26. Public hearings will be conducted on March 20 in Tucson, April 17 in Phoenix and May 15 in Chino Valley. The board is expected to adopt the final 2016-2020 Five-Year Program at its June 19 meeting in Pinetop-Lakeside.
Below are the details for each of the public hearings and the June board meeting:
March 20 at 9 a.m.: Public hearing and board meeting in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room in the Pima County Administration Building, 130 W. Congress Street, Tucson, AZ 85701
April 17 at 9 a.m.: Public hearing and board meeting in the ADOT Administration Building Auditorium, 206 S. 17th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85007
May 15 at 9 a.m.: Public hearing and board meeting in the Town of Chino Valley Council Chambers, 202 N. State Route 89, Chino Valley, AZ 86323
June 19 at 9 a.m.: Board meeting at the Pinetop-Lakeside Town Hall, 1360 N. Niels Hansen Lane, Lakeside, AZ 85929
Michael John Poirier concert at St. Joesph the Worker Catholic Church
WILLIAMS — St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church of Williams proudly presents the legendary Michael John Poirier in concert Monday and Tuesday, March 16 and 17. The concerts begin at 7 p.m.
Poirier is a well-known Christian artist whose music is available through Amazon and through the online store on his web site.
St. Joseph the Workder Catholic Church is located at 900 W. Grant behind the Family Dollar store. Call (928)635-2430 for more information.
Water Restrictions lessened
WILLIAMS — The City of Williams announced on their web site that as of yesterday, the City is in Resource Status Level 1.
The announcement cautions, “While there are no specific water use restrictions associated with Level 1, per Code, even under Level 1 Resource Level ‘water users are specifically encouraged to minimize waste in water used for irrigation, vehicle and pavement washing, construction and all other uses’.”
The recent storm seems to be filling the reservoirs and some have reported that tanks around their homes in the forest are filling.
The City of Williams is encouraging all residents and visitors to follow sensible water-saving tips. Examples are:
- When watering plants or yard, use a minimum amount of water. Do not lay out hoses and let them run. Monitor your water use directly.
- For non-food plants, grey water can still be used effectively.
- Utilize available car washes. If you must wash at home, use buckets to monitor how much you use.
- Shut off tap while shaving and brushing teeth.
- Continue to monitor for leaks and get them repaired.
- If you must clean driveways or walkways, you could used the same water you just used to mop kitchen or bathroom floors.
It might even be a good time to calculate the savings you might enjoy by replacing appliances and fixtures with newer, water-saving models.
Links to Water Conservation Tips:
100+ Ways To Conserve
25 ways to conserve water in the home and yard
How to Save Water
Conserving Water
US 89 scheduled to reopen this month following 2013 landslide, weather permitting
PHOENIX — Two years after a landslide ripped apart a 500-foot section of US 89 and split the communities of Bitter Springs and Page, the Arizona Department of Transportation anticipates reopening the highway to traffic on the afternoon of Friday, March 27, barring any potential weather delays or mechanical breakdowns during the paving process, which began today.
Page Unified School District buses are expected to be the first vehicles to pass through newly rebuilt roadway. Students from the Bitter Springs and Marble Canyon areas have been among the most impacted by the US 89 closure, which has remained in place following the Feb. 20, 2013, geologic event approximately two miles north of the US 89/US 89A junction near the community of Bitter Springs.
Following the paving of Temporary US 89 in August 2013, US 89T has served as the detour route for motorists headed to and from the Page and Lake Powell areas, but residents and students in the Bitter Springs and Marble Canyon communities have still had to go out of their way to travel to and from Page and Lake Powell.
“The reopening of Highway 89 is great news for Page Unified School District and the families that we serve in the communities of Marble Canyon, Bitter Springs and Cedar Ridge,” said Page Unified School District Superintendent Jim Walker. “The district will be now be able to re-establish our traditional bus runs to these communities, which will reduce the time that some of these children spend on our buses by up to an hour on a one-way trip. I would like thank our families for their efforts to continue to support their children’s school attendance during this very challenging time.”
Prior to the March 27 reopening, crews will be completing the paving, install rumble strips and guardrail, and add temporary striping and pavement markers along the roadway.
Prior to launching the $25 million repair project last summer, which included removing approximately one million cubic yards of rock material to realign the roadway and construct a downslope rock buttress at the base of the Echo Cliffs to stabilize the area, ADOT had to clear several hurdles to move the project forward.
The ultimate repair of US 89 is the final step in fulfilling ADOT’s three-pronged approach to the US 89 landslide incident, which included providing immediate emergency access, conducting a geotechnical investigation and restoring essential traffic to the area. Paving US 89T (Navajo Route 20) has been the short-term solution for motorists driving to and from Page.
“ADOT recognizes the importance of this corridor and what it means to the communities of Bitter Springs, Cedar Ridge and Marble Canyon,” said ADOT Intermodal Transportation Division Director Steve Boschen. “While the Feb. 20, 2013, landslide event was certainly unexpected and a severe blow to the area, it was a reminder about how critical transportation infrastructure is to the motorists, businesses, local residents and schoolchildren who rely on it every day.”
After an extensive geotechnical assessment identified the necessary repairs in July 2013, ADOT retained an engineering firm and developed plans for the eventual repair; finalized all federally required environmental reviews that included cultural, biological and water quality measures; and completed plans for the required right-of-way easements.
ADOT, along with the Federal Highway Administration, Navajo Nation, Navajo Division of Transportation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, were able to expedite the environmental, utility and right-of-way clearance process, knowing that the use of US 89T was a temporary fix, especially for the Bitter Springs area communities.
The US 89 landslide repair project is eligible for reimbursement through the Federal Highway Administration’s emergency relief program, which provides funding to state and local agencies for the repair or reconstruction of highways, roads and bridges that are damaged in natural disasters and catastrophic failures.
FLAGSTAFF: LEVEL 2 SEX OFFENDER ALERT
COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION
03-11-2015
The Flagstaff Police Department is releasing the following information pursuant to ARS 13-3835, the Community Notification on Sex Offender Law. The offender in this publication is living in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Notification must be made when certain sex offenders are released from the Arizona State Prison, accepted under an interstate compact or released from the county jail back into the community. Offenders are categorized into three levels; Level One (low risk to the community), Level Two (intermediate risk to the community), and Level Three (high risk to the community).
The individual who appears on this notification has been convicted of a sex offense, which allows for community notification. He is not wanted by the Flagstaff Police Department at this time.
This notification is not intended to increase fear: rather, it is our belief that an informed public is a safer public. CITIZEN ABUSE OF THIS INFORMATION TO THREATEN, INTIMIDATE, OR HARASS SEX OFFENDERS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. The Flagstaff Police Department may be reached at 928-774-1414 and is available to help you join or start a neighborhood watch program as well as provide you with useful information on personal safety. If you have information regarding current criminal activity on this or any offender, please call 928-774-1414 or Silent Witness at 928-774-6111.
NAME:. Leon Anderson Slim
AGE: 49 HGT: 147 WGT: 5’09” HAIR: Brown EYES: Brown
ADDRESS: 901 W. Rt. 66 #120
SYNOPSIS: Leon Slim was convicted of sexual abuse of a child under 15 years of age in 2011.
Please contact the Flagstaff Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at 928-556-2201 with any questions or concerns.
Kaibab National Forest Seeks Public Input on Project Proposal
FREDONIA— The Kaibab National Forest is seeking comments from the public on its proposal to implement vegetation management treatments in the Burnt Corral Vegetation Management Project area within 28,060 acres of the North Kaibab Ranger District.
The proposed Burnt Corral project, which lies within the southwest portion of the Kaibab Plateau, will improve forest health and vigor while enhancing habitat conditions by making them more resilient to change in the event of wildfire or other climatic condition changes such as drought. The proposed project calls for mechanical thinning as well as the use of prescribed fire.
The public scoping letter and packet, which contains detailed information about the proposed project activities, was mailed out to the public and stakeholders yesterday. The scoping packet may be obtained electronically from the Kaibab National Forest website at: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=44236.
Participation of interested persons, state and local governments, and Native American tribes in the development of the Burnt Corral project is encouraged now and throughout the National Environmental Policy Act process. Public scoping and gathering public comments on the project’s Proposed Action is just the first step under the NEPA process.
Specific comments on this project will be accepted during the 30-day public review and comment period. Comments can be submitted electronically via fax or e-mail, or can be mailed or hand-delivered to the district office at 430 South Main Street in Fredonia on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information about the Burnt Corral Vegetation Management Project, please contact:
Garry Domis (NKRD Silviculturist – Project Lead)
U.S. Forest Service, Kaibab National Forest – North Kaibab Ranger District
430 S. Main Street, P.O. Box 248
Fredonia, AZ, 86022
(928) 643-8140
Ultra ZX LABS, L.L.C. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Ultra ZX
MIAMI, Fl — UltraZx, Labs, L.L.C. is voluntarily recalling “UltraZx” weight loss supplements. This product has been found to contain undeclared Sibutramine and phenolphthalein.
FDA laboratory analysis of confirmed that UltraZx contains sibutramine and phenolphthalein. Sibutramine is a controlled substance that was removed from the market in October 2010 for safety reasons. The product poses a threat to consumers because sibutramine is known to substantially increase blood pressure and/or pulse rate in some patients and may present a significant risk for patients with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias or stroke. Phenolphthalein is a chemical that is not an active ingredient in any approved drug in the United States. Studies have indicated that it presents a cancer causing risk. This product may also interact, in life-threating ways, with other medications a consumer may be taking.
Ultra ZX LABS, L.L.C. has not received any reports of adverse events related to this recall. UltraZx weight loss supplement is marketed as a dietary supplement used as a weight loss aid and is packaged in bottles of thirty (30) capsules of 300mg. The affected UltraZx weight loss supplement, includes all lots/bottles/packages. The products were distributed from September 2014 until February 2015.
UltraZx Labs, L.L.C. is notifying its distributors and customers by letter and is arranging for return of all recalled products. Consumers and distributors that have product which is being recalled should stop using the product and return the product to UltraZx Labs, L.L.C.
Consumers with questions regarding this recall can contact UltraZx Labs, L.L.C. at (305) 904-9393, Monday through Friday from 9:00am – 5:00pm EST. Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using this product.
This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.
- Complete and submit the report Online: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
- Regular Mail or Fax: Download form www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178.
South Mountain Freeway gains final federal approval
PHOENIX –– The Valley’s Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway, proposed by regional planners since the 1980s, has received final approval from the Federal Highway Administration, paving the way for the Arizona Department of Transportation to move the project forward.
The Record of Decision, signed March 5 by the Federal Highway Administration, grants the final approval necessary for ADOT to begin the process of acquiring right of way, complete the design and begin construction of the 22-mile-long freeway to serve the metro Phoenix region.
The Record of Decision will allow ADOT to begin final design and subsequent construction of the South Mountain Freeway. Acquisition of right of way is expected to begin immediately. ADOT has determined that, pursuant to an unsolicited proposal submitted to construct the freeway, construction will follow a public-private partnership path, helping to speed construction and reduce overall costs. The freeway would not be tolled under any public-private partnership proposal, but would include a private group involved with final design, construction and a 30-year agreement to maintain the freeway.
“The South Mountain Freeway has been approved as a part of two elections that have provided the region with additional transportation funding. Voters recognized the need and the benefits of this project to provide connectivity, travel reliability and route options for a growing region,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “Both ADOT and the Maricopa Association of Governments agree this is a critically needed project, and ADOT is breaking new ground by moving it forward under a public-private partnership agreement to more closely involve the private sector, helping to save money and speed construction.”
The proposed South Mountain Freeway has been a critical part of the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Freeway Program since it was first included in funding through Proposition 300, approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985. The freeway was also part of the Regional Transportation Plan funding passed by Maricopa County voters in 2004 through Proposition 400.
The South Mountain Freeway is the last piece to complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system necessary for high-quality regional mobility, according to regional planners.
“This is a great day and an important milestone in the history of the Valley’s transportation system,” said Maricopa Association of Governments Chair Michael LeVault, mayor of Youngtown. “It has been a long time coming, and we look forward to the improved mobility and economic opportunities that this freeway facility will bring to our region.”
The environmental review process, which included preparing both draft and final environmental impact statements, was conducted in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and identified the preferred route for this freeway corridor – running east and west along Pecos Road and then north and south between 55th and 63rd avenues, connecting with Interstate 10 on each end. The Final Environmental Impact Statement documented the analysis of potential impacts associated with the freeway and the no-build alternative, and addressed comments received on the draft and final Environmental Impact Statements. The draft environmental report was published in 2013, followed by publication of the Final Environmental Impact Statement in 2014.
The Federal Highway Administration has decided to identify the Preferred Alternative (a combination of the W59 and E1 Alternatives) as the Selected Alternative for the South Mountain Freeway project. This decision along with supporting information, including responses to public comments received on the Final Environmental Impact Statement, is documented in the Record of Decision.
The freeway will be constructed with four lanes in each direction – three general-use lanes and one HOV lane – and modern features that have made Arizona freeways stand apart from other states for a generation, including rubberized asphalt and aesthetics designed in partnership with the community. The $1.9 billion project is expected to take about four years to construct.