Monthly Archives: May 2015

Road work starting on SR 264 east of Ganado

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The Arizona Department of Transportation will begin an improvement project on Monday, May 11 to reconstruct nine miles of State Route 264 between Ganado and Window Rock (mileposts 450-459).

The $12.3 million project, which is scheduled for completion this fall, will include the following:

  • Overlaying the existing pavement with new asphalt
  • Widening existing shoulders and installing new guardrail
  • Installing new cattle guards and barbed wire fencing
  • Extending existing drainage pipes for the widened roadway
  • Construction of a new Fish Wash Bridge to replace the existing one

Work days will be Monday through Friday sunrise to sunset. Flaggers and pilot cars will be used to guide vehicles through the work zone in alternating directions and drivers should anticipate delays of up to 30 minutes.

A traffic signal may be used to regulate traffic across Fish Wash Bridge in alternating directions. If the signal is used, motorists will experience short delays as the signal transitions through its cycle. There will be narrow traffic lanes, wide load restrictions and a reduced speed limit through the work zone.

ADOT advises drivers to proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

Kaibab National Forest seeks public input on Town of Tusayan Proposed Roadway Easements

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TUSAYAN — The Kaibab National Forest is seeking comments on a proposal to provide roadway and utility easements across National Forest System lands to the Town of Tusayan. The public scoping period will run for 40 days through June 2.

The easements, if approved, would allow the Town to make improvements to segments of existing forest roads and construct new segments to provide all weather access and utility service to two inholding properties within the Kaibab National Forest that are in the incorporated limits of the Town. The Ten-X Ranch and Kotzin Ranch properties are not owned or managed by the federal government but are surrounded by federal lands administered by the Kaibab National Forest. The only access to the Ten-X and Kotzin properties is through National Forest.

A scoping packet is available at www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=46776 that provides specifics of the project including a description of the proposed action. Additional information on the Town of Tusayan Proposed Roadway Easements project is available at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/TusayanEasement. The following public scoping meetings are scheduled to provide information about the proposed action:

  • May 18, 5 to 8 p.m., Williams Elementary-Middle School, 601 N. 7th St., Williams
  • May 19, 5 to 8 p.m., Grand Canyon Squire Inn, 100 Highway 64, Tusayan
  • May 20, 5 to 8 p.m., Doubletree Hotel, 1175 W. Route 66, Flagstaff

Comments on the proposed action may be provided in the following ways:

Online:
www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=46776  (Click “Comment on Project”)

Email:
comments-southwestern-kaibab@fs.fed.us

Subject Line: Tusayan Roadway Easements

U.S. Mail:       
ATTN: Deirdre McLaughlin
Kaibab National Forest
Williams Ranger District
742 S. Clover Rd.
Williams, AZ 86046

Fax: (928) 635-5680
Subject Line: Tusayan Roadway Easements

Kaibab Lodge hosts annual Star Party

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supermoonGRAND CANYON, NORTH RIM — The Kaibab Lodge will host the 7th Annual Star Party June 13-20 located at the lodge, just five miles from the entrance to the Grand Canyon National Park North Rim.

Astronomers from the Saguaro Astronomy Club (SAC) will be on hand with telescope to help visitors navigate the night sky. SAC is one of the larger amateur astronomy clubs in the Phoenix area.

“The sky here at the Grand Canyon is ideal for observing other planets, stars, nebulas, globular clusters, and many, many other objects in the night sky,” said Ellen Winchester, Kaibab Lodge owner and event host.

The Star Party will begin each evening with a lecture from 7 to 8 p.m. at the DeMotte Campground amphitheater followed by the viewing at 9 p.m.

Opening night will commence with a Star Party cookie party featuring regular and gluten free triple-chocolate “Deep Dark Secrets on a Starry Night” homemade cookies. Each night a pair of “El Winchester” earrings, designed especially for the Star Party, will be given away as a door prize.

“The Star Party is a wonderful educational event for the community. We especially welcome any children interested in astronomy. This is a fun and interesting science field trip, and a great opportunity to spend some quality family time together,” said Winchester.

Additional upcoming outdoor events on the Kaibab Plateau include:

Grand Canyon Ultra Marathon, 100 Mile Race, May 16-17
For more information: www.grandcircletrails.com

Rainbow Rim Trail Extension Volunteer Work Weekend, May 23-25
For more information: www.tinyurl.com/RainbowRim2015

7th Annual Star Party, June 13-20
For more information: www.kaibablodge.com

Grand Canyon Fat Tire Festival, 56 and 100 Mile Mountain Bike Races, June 19-20
For more information: www.gcfattirefestival.com/

Chino Valley to host third public hearing for ADOT’s Tentative Five-Year Program

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PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation is preparing to hold its third and final public hearing next week for the 2016-2020 Tentative Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program. The public comment period began in March and provides ADOT with the opportunity to reach out to the public and communities statewide for their input on the direction of the program over the next five years.

The third public hearing for the Tentative Five-Year Program is scheduled for 9 a.m. on May 15 in Chino Valley. The meeting will be held in the Town of Chino Valley Council Chambers, 202 N. State Route 89. The monthly State Transportation Board meeting will follow the public hearing.

The 2016-2020 Tentative Five-Year Program lays out proposed projects and improvements to the state highway system over the next five years, with a major focus 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 Five-Year Program is updated annually and designates how much local, state and federal funding is allocated for projects. 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.

The 2016-2020 Tentative Five-Year Program is available for public review and comment 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 have been held in Tucson in March and in Phoenix in April. The third and final public hearing will be held on 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 the May public hearing and the June board meeting:

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

Weather may be nasty for this weekend

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WILLIAMS — This afternoon winds of up to 18 mph with gusts as high as 30 mph are expected turning to higher winds with gusts of 34 mph possible.

Tonight there is a 10% chance of rain tonight with a 40% chance of rain and snow tomorrow. There is a 50% chance of rain and snow Friday night before 11 and snow thereafter. Less than a half-inch is expected.

Saturday there is a 40% chance of thunder showers after 11 a.m. with a slight reduction in wind. The chance of rain drops to 20% Saturday overnight.

On Mother’s Day there is a 10% chance of rain during the day with the weather clearing out over Sunday night becoming sunny Monday with temperatures returning to the 60s and lows around 40 at night.

High Country Stand Down for Veterans next Friday

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stand-down-logoFLAGSTAFF — The 3rd Annual High Country Stand Down for Veterans will be held Friday, May 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event provides services to homeless and at-risk veterans and their families.

Along with a hot meal, the volunteers of the event will provide hygiene kits, Haircuts, clothing and survival gear. For pets they will provide pet food and pet care. Legal assistance, notary services will also be available along with dental, vision and medical care.

The High Country Stand Down will be held at the Flagstaff Armory, 320 N. Thorpe Road in Flagstaff next to Thorpe Park.

Multi-Agency Response to a Wild Land Fire Results in the Arrest of Two 13 year-old Suspects

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FLAGSTAFF — On Sunday, May 3, 2015 at about 2:20 pm Coconino County Emergency Dispatchers received multiple reports of suspicious smoke from motorists who were traveling on I-17.

The responding Deputy arrived in an area located north of Tovar Trail in the Kachina Village Community. U.S. Forest Service and the Highlands Fire Department personnel were in the process of suppressing the fire that the deputy estimated to be 150 square feet in size. The deputy observed that the fire appeared to be advancing in a north direction with a burnt structure that appeared to be a child’s fort at the south end.

The Deputy recalled investigating a similar incident that occurred at the same location in 2014 that resulted in the arrest of two 13 year-old boys. He drove to the residence of one of the two boys that had been arrested as the result of the 2014 fire but was unable to make contact with him there.

As he was driving on Tovar Trail he observed two boys riding bicycles in the middle of the street in the opposite direction of the fire. He made contact with the two and identified one of them as being involved with the 2014 fire. The second boy admitted to being in the area when this fire started and identified a second suspect who was not present. The second subject lived in the City of Flagstaff and the Deputy asked that a Flagstaff Police Officer contact and interview him.

As the result of statements made by the two suspects and items of evidence that were discovered and collected by the Deputy, one 13 year-old boy was arrested for the charges of Reckless Burning and Disorderly Conduct and booked into the Coconino County Juvenile Detention Facility; the other 13 year-old boy was referred to Juvenile Court for the same charges.

Forest Service and local communities open Moonset Pit

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WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest, in cooperation with the communities of Parks and Sherwood Forest Estates, is providing the public with access to a cinder pit on Forest Service land on specific Saturdays from May through September in order to encourage local residents to create defensible space around their homes.

Moonset Pit is located just west of the Parks community on a dirt road east of Spitz Springs on the north side of old Route 66. On the following Saturdays, the pit will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the disposal of natural, woody debris such as tree limbs and pine needles:

May 9, 23, June 13, 27, July 11, 25, August 8, 22, September 12 and Sept. 26

“We encourage everyone to take advantage of this community service in order to make their private property more defensible against the threat of wildland fire,” said James Pettit, fire management officer for the Williams Ranger District. “We work with our partners to provide this opportunity each year because a little planning and preparation can make a big difference to community safety. Neighbors are linked by wildfire risk. If one home is inadequately prepared, the risk to the whole neighborhood increases.”

Only natural forest debris will be accepted at Moonset Pit. No garbage, building materials, lumber or other items will be allowed. Items should not be bagged.

This annual service is offered by the Kaibab National Forest and the communities of Parks and Sherwood Forest Estates in coordination with the Rural Communities Fuels Management Partnership.

For more information or to volunteer to staff Moonset Pit on open dates, contact Anne Dudley at (928) 635-0417 or Joanie Raetzel at (928) 635-0059.

North Kaibab Ranger District opens campground sites on May 14

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FREDONIA — Recreational campgrounds on the North Kaibab Ranger District will open May 14 and remain open until Oct. 29.

Both the Jacob Lake campground and the DeMotte campground will be open and available for public recreation and overnight camping. The Jacob Lake campground is situated as roughly 8,000 feet and is located 30 miles southeast of Fredonia, Ariz., on U.S. Route 89A. The DeMotte campground is located about 25 miles south of the Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center on Arizona Highway 67 at roughly 8,700 feet.

A complete list of amenities may be found at Recreation.gov by searching for the specific campground. Campers are reminded to be mindful of any rules associated with the campground and always maintain fire safety when making a campfire. To stay current with any fire restrictions in Arizona go to firerestrictions.us/az.

Additionally, the Kaibab Camper Village, which is privately owned and managed but surrounded by Kaibab National Forest, is also scheduled to be open from May 14 through Oct. 15. Kaibab Camper Village offers full RV hookups and tent sites, and is located just 40 miles from the Grand Canyon National Park North Rim.

For more information on Kaibab Camper Village, please visit kaibabcampervillage.com or call 928-643-7804.

To make reservations at the Jacob Lake campground or the DeMotte campground, please visit Recreation.gov or call 877-444-6777.

For additional information on all of the Kaibab National Forest recreational sites please visit fs.usda.gov/recmain/kaibab/recreation.

Availability of energy-efficient vehicle license plates has ended

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2014-0731-energyPHOENIX – The availability of energy-efficient license plates for owners of qualified vehicles has ended as the maximum number of plate applications has been reached, the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division announced today.

In May 2014, 1,800 energy-efficient license plates became available as previous owners of the plates turned them in due to moving out of state, selling their qualifying vehicle or other reasons.

Plates were available on a first-come, first-served basis and were exclusively distributed through ServiceArizona.com.

The energy-efficient plate program was established by the federal government. The program, which offers a maximum of 10,000 license plates in Arizona, allows owners of qualifying plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to receive a plate and use the HOV lane during rush hours regardless of the number of passengers.

While the energy-efficient plate program is suspended until further notice, ADOT will continue to update the list of eligible vehicles pending resumption of the program. Also, those vehicle owners who already have an energy-efficient plate can still transfer the plate to another currently qualifying vehicle they own while the program is suspended.