Unleashed pit bulls attack and kill small pet

Flagstaff Police Department photo.

Flagstaff Police Department photo.

FLAGSTAFF — At approximately 2:37 today, Flagstaff Police Department responded to a call of gunshots in the 4000 Block of Lake Mary. The caller described a subject shooting at dogs in the open field.

Upon arrival Officers located the subject who had discharged the firearm. Also located at the scene were four pit bull dogs who had been running loose, and an elderly man who was walking two smaller dogs on leashes. Officers discovered the four pit bulls had been running unrestrained in the area and had attacked the smaller dogs described as pugs.

The elderly man had been walking his two dogs in the open field just to the north of the Circle K when two of the pit bulls attacked his dogs.

The pit bulls were clustered together, but only two attacked the leashed animals. The man who did the shooting stated he was parked at the Circle K at Walapai and Lake Mary, and observed the confrontation between the animals.

He then left his truck and attempted to break up the dog fight with a large stick, and noticing this was not working went back to his truck and retrieved a firearm which he used to shoot the attacking two pit bulls. The two pit bulls sustained wounds and were transported to the vet by animal control and were later put down due to their injuries.

One of the elderly man’s dogs also died from the wounds from the attacking pit bull. The other dog on the leash was injured as well and taken to the vet. The elderly man also sustained injuries to his hand from trying to intervene.

The owners of the four pit bulls were identified and stated the dogs had been inside their apartment, although they had left the door unlatched and believed the dogs escaped. The two remaining pit bulls were located and safety restrained at their home.

This incident remains under investigation and we will work with the city attorney and or the county attorney’s office on any applicable charges.

The Flagstaff Police Department would like to remind the public to comply with the City of Flagstaff’s leash law. The Flagstaff Police Department recently issued a warning that it is increasing enforcement of leash laws.

Overnight paving work on SR 89 between Prescott and Chino Valley continues

Overnight paving work resumes tonight and Wednesday, July 8 and 9 on State Route 89 between Prescott and Chino Valley, weather permitting. Work will take place on the south end of the project at the new Deep Well Ranch Road roundabout.

Motorists traveling on SR 89 for the next two nights between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. should allow extra travel time through the work zone. A detour will be in place redirecting traffic in both directions onto the new Deep Well Ranch Road to Ruger Road. Delays of up to 20 minutes at a time are expected. Flaggers and law enforcement will be present to guide motorists through the detour safely.

Beginning Saturday, July 11 through Tuesday, July 14 crews will place rubberized asphalt throughout the project between 4 a.m. and 7 p.m. each day. Access into the businesses along the northbound side of the project will be impacted for up to 20 minutes at a time and motorists will be stopped until the paving crew passes the driveway.

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.

Another short afternoon rain leads to another ten-percent chance

640-Rain15-07-07-8WILLIAMS — Williams received another short duration of intense rain this afternoon. It cleared up leaving a beautiful afternoon. While tomorrow was predicted to be clear, it appears, now, that there is a 10%-chance of rain and thunderstorms after 11 a.m. in Williams and Flagstaff. Friday is predicted to be clear. The chance of rain picks up again Saturday and runs through next week.

Mason Fire expected to grow as drier conditions return to northern Arizona

TUSAYAN — Kaibab National Forest fire managers expect the 450-acre Mason Fire that is being managed to achieve resource objectives on the Tusayan Ranger District to grow more rapidly over the next few days as drier conditions return to northern Arizona.

Mason is one of four lightning-caused wildfires being managed as part of the Jar Complex to improve forest health, allow fire to play its natural role as a disturbance factor in the ecosystem, enhance wildlife habitat, and reduce the potential for future high-intensity fires.

Today, firefighters will conduct management ignitions at strategic locations within the planning area established for the Mason Fire in order to protect fire-sensitive resources, reinforce predefined boundaries to fire spread, and create areas burned at low intensity ahead of the main fire in order to reduce the potential for any rapid, higher-intensity fire progression during windy, dry conditions.

Specifically, firefighters will use drip torches to burn fuels west along Forest Road 304 from the existing fire area to FR 2733 and then potentially south along FR 2733. FR 2733 serves as the western perimeter of the 16,100-acre planning area established for both the Mason and Old fires. The planning area is located about 7 miles southeast of the Town of Tusayan and 4 miles south of Grandview Lookout Tower. The Old Fire, which is also being managed to benefit forest resources, remains at about five acres in size but is also expected to become more active given the local drying trend.

“Prior to human settlement in this area, lightning would have caused fires during monsoon season that would have then spread unimpeded until they were rained out or moved into areas of sparse fuels,” said Tusayan District Ranger James Simino. “Managing these naturally-caused fires helps us mimic those historic conditions, which is critical to preventing high-intensity, potentially destructive fires during months like May and June when rain isn’t typically associated with them.”

A road crew is continuing to haul gravel, blade, and make other improvements to heavily-used roads in the fire area. Motorists using forest roads 301, 301A, 302 and 320 are asked to use caution due to the presence of heavy equipment for the road improvement work and firefighting trucks and personnel.

Smoke from the Mason Fire is becoming more prominent as it continues growing and becoming more active. Due to prevailing winds, smoke will largely be pushed toward the northeast, making it visible from Desert View in Grand Canyon National Park and from Cameron, Ariz. Smoke from the four fires may eventually become more visible from other areas including the Town of Tusayan, Highway 64 and Highway 180.

Oath Keepers plans meeting to organize Community Preparedness Teams

a22de8_7e7df60d14a74d7d8368f167f9729975.jpg_srz_p_271_271_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srzFLAGSTAFF — The Oath Keepers organization is holding a meeting in Flagstaff at the La Quinta Inn at 2015 South Beulah Boulevard tomorrow, July 9, at 6 p.m. The meeting is to introduce the concept of Community Preparedness Teams.

These teams are being organized to train to respond to emergencies that might arise within a community. They are not meant to replace CERT and other search and rescue teams already in place. They are meant to augment them, if desired. When properly trained, they can be used by local law enforcement officials, such as additional security during city festivals and events.

There are several teams concepts designed to respond to respond to natural or man-made disasters. They are also forming teams to respond to possible attacks from terrorist elements such as the drug cartels and groups such as ISIS. The discussion will cover a number of teams preparing to meet community needs in a disaster.

One of the teams, for example, is Emergency Medical. They will train in various levels of medical proficiency. The first is combat lifesaver which is useful for first aid of severe trauma victims, such as at an auto accident. Their next levels are EMT and medic/paramedic. You can find out more at the CPT link of their web site.

Jim Arryo of Chino Valley—Arizona Chapter Vice President and State CPT Director—explained the concept in an interview with Gianluca Zanna on KTOX radio.

(The full interview including an interview with Stewart Rhodes, founder of Oath Keepers here.)

Oath Keepers was originally organized to get military, police and other people who take oaths to keep their oath to the Constitution. Their membership mainly consists of veterans, active duty military, police and sheriffs, and other civilians who have taken an oath to defend the Constitution. It is not limited to those categories, however. It is open to all citizens who feel a need to assist in preparing their community for disaster. Even people with physical limitations are useful. An elder person can cook and a person in a wheelchair can still operate a radio, for example.

If you have never served or feel like you might like to learn new skills, you can learn more and have your questions answered at this meeting.

Hell Canyon bridge replacement to begin this month north of Paulden

hell canyonPAULDEN — While the Arizona Department of Transportation completed interim repairs to the Hell Canyon Bridge in 2013, the agency moved forward with plans to design a new bridge along State Route 89 in Yavapai County that would ultimately replace the aging and narrow bridge that does not meet today’s design standards. Two years later, ADOT will start construction on Tuesday, July 14 on a modernized bridge that will replace the current bridge when completed.

The existing nearly 600-foot-long bridge, which was built in 1954, is located 18 miles north of Chino Valley at milepost 346 and serves as a key connection linking Prescott and northern Arizona (Interstate 40 in Ash Fork).

The $14.4 million improvement project will include constructing a new four-span steel-plate girder bridge to the east of the existing bridge and removing the existing three-span steel deck truss bridge, which has been classified as structurally deficient by bridge inspectors. The current bridge is safe; however, some needed repairs or improvements have been identified during bridge inspections.

The new 665-foot-long two-lane bridge will feature wider travel lanes and will be approximately 47 feet wide, more than 17 feet wider than the current bridge. The bridge will also accommodate heavier loads, ensuring commercial trucks can conveniently carry goods and produce to their final destinations, particularly when I-40 traffic is diverted onto SR 89 during serious crashes.

There will be limited traffic impacts to motorists during construction because traffic will remain on the existing bridge, while work progresses on constructing the new bridge east of the current bridge.

The first phase of the project, which is expected to take up to 12 months to complete, will include construction of the new bridge as well as temporary access roads along the north and south sides of the canyon to assist with bridge construction and removal.

Daytime blasting operations, which will begin at 9 a.m. July 14, will be required for the construction of the access roads and intermittent closures will be necessary during that time. Delays of up to 20 minutes are possible until blasting operations are completed by the end of next month. ADOT will send advance notice to the public when any closure dates are finalized.

After the new bridge is completed, traffic will be switched to the new bridge. The existing Hell Canyon Bridge will then be dismantled and removed, which is expected to take up to three months. Additional road construction/realignment will be necessary to the north and south of the new bridge.

Requesting public records? ADOT simplifies, speeds up process with new online form

adot-logo-03aPHOENIX — If you’re seeking public records from the Arizona Department of Transportation, you can now save time, paper and postage by making your inquiry online.

ADOT launched a new online public records request process this week that eliminates the need for paper forms. Now, filing a request is as simple as completing and submitting a form online, available at www.azdot.gov/media. Previously, those making a request often would need to wait to have a form sent by mail, then return the completed paperwork to ADOT.

The online system allows ADOT to begin researching and completing requests faster.

“Our new public records online request form streamlines the way ADOT does business and creates a more efficient process for the public to access information,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “This reflects Governor Ducey’s continued commitment to open government in Arizona.”

On ADOT’s website, visitors can find links to the form along with instructions, frequently asked questions and fees for copies. Once the request is completed, the requestor can schedule an on-site visit to review the documents or have copies made. Also, the person requesting documents can have them sent by mail.

Those without internet access can contact ADOT Safety and Risk Management by phone at 602.712.7327.

Public Notice – Verrado WRF draft AZPDES permit (AZ0026794)

PROPOSED ARIZONA POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (AZPDES) NEW PERMIT

Pursuant to the Clean Water Act and in accordance with Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R18-9-A907, the Director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) proposes to issue an Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (AZPDES) Permit to discharge pollutants to Waters of the United States to the following applicant, subject to certain effluent limitations and special conditions:

Public Notice No. 16-01 Published on Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Published on the Northern Arizona Gazette

AZPDES Permit No. AZ0026794
EPCOR Water Arizona, Inc.
Verrado Water Reclamation Facility (WRF)
2355 W. Pinnacle Peak Road, Suite 300
Phoenix, Arizona 85027

EPCOR Water Arizona, Inc. applied for a new AZPDES permit for the proposed discharge of up to 0.83 million gallons per day (mgd) of treated domestic wastewater from the Verrado WRF to an unlisted tributary, eventual tributary to the Gila River in the Middle Gila River Basin in Township 2 N, Range 2 W, Section 30, in Maricopa County, Arizona. The Verrado WRF is a privately owned treatment works that receives domestic wastewater from residential and commercial sources in Verrado. Sewage sludge is sent to a municipal solid waste landfill for disposal.

The permit and fact sheet may be viewed online at http://www.azdeq.gov/cgi-bin/vertical.pl by typing the permit number in the box left of “Search Event”. The public notice and related documentation also are available for public review, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the ADEQ Records Center, 1110 W. Washington St., Phoenix, Arizona, 85007. In Phoenix, please call (602) 771-4380 or e-mail recordscenter@azdeq.gov 24 hours in advance to schedule an appointment to review the file.

Persons may submit comments or request a public hearing on the proposed action in writing, to Jacqueline Maye, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division, 1110 W. Washington St., 5415B-3, Phoenix, Arizona 85007. All written comments received by ADEQ by the close of business on the date 30 days after publication of this notice will be considered in the final permit decision. A public hearing request must be in writing and must include the reasons for such request. If there is a significant degree of public interest, the Director will hold a hearing in accordance with A.A.C. R18-9-A908(B).

Coconino County Sheriff’s Office to Conduct OUI Checkpoint at Lake Powell

Coconino County Sheriff Photo.

Coconino County Sheriff Photo.

PAGE — On Saturday, August 1st 2015 law enforcement agencies in Northern Coconino County will be conducting an Operating Under the Influence (OUI) and boating safety checkpoint at Lake Powell from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. In an effort to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol and drug involved boat collisions, OUI checkpoints are conducted to identify offenders and get them off the waterways as well as to inform and educate the public of the dangers of impaired boating.

OUI checkpoints are a proven-effective method for achieving this goal. By publicizing these enforcement and education efforts, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Arizona Game and Fish Department believe boaters can be deterred from operating watercraft while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In addition, members of the boating community are encouraged to ensure their vessels are properly outfitted with required safety equipment to ensure a safe voyage.

Traffic volume and weather permitting, all vessels may be checked for safety equipment and operators who are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs will be arrested. Our objective is to send a clear message to those who are considering operating a watercraft after consuming alcohol or drugs-Boat Safe, Boat Smart, Boat Sober! Deputies of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office will partner with Officers of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, National Park Service, Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the Page Police Department. It is our desire that this two pronged approach of public awareness/education and strict enforcement will allow boating enthusiasts to have an enjoyable and safe recreational experience in Coconino County.

Safe boating recreation is a must, and everyone should take a minute and remember to check your boats, personal watercraft and all equipment before launching at your favorite lake or waterway. Make sure you have all required safety equipment, such as proper fitting life jackets and working fire extinguishers.

Another afternoon of rain for Williams

Rain-15-07-07-7WILLIAMS — A steady rain storm hit Williams again augmented by thunder and hail. The rain began about 1:40 and continued steady for about 40-minutes. It may continue off-and-on throughout the afternoon.

Tomorrow there is a 20%-chance of thunderstorms after 11 a.m. tomorrow dropping to 10% overnight. Otherwise the forecast is mostly clear.

Thursday it is expected to be sunny and breezy and clear on Friday.

The chance of thunderstorms picks up again beginning Saturday.