Monthly Archives: August 2015

Update on missing boy

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JACOB LAKE — The search for five-year-old Jerold Williams at Jacob Lake is still active. The Coconino County Sheriff’s office issued this statement:

The search for missing 5 year old Jerold is still active and ongoing with ground and air resources. There is limited radio/phone communication in the area and we are working on that as well. There has been an outpouring of offers from people throughout Arizona and nearby communities offering to assist. We want to express our gratitude for the offers, but at this time we are not in need of additional searchers. If we need additional resources, we will certainly reach out.

Seeking Assistance in Locating Missing Person Michael Moening

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Michael-Moening1FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives are attempting to locate 44 year old Michael Thomas Moening. Investigators believe that the last time Michael was in contact with his friends or family members was approximately 2 weeks ago. A hiker who was on a dirt road close to the Mountainaire Community reported seeing Mr. Moening’s vehicle abandoned for at least 4 days. Responding Deputies checked Michael’s home located in Mountainaire and it was obvious that he had not been there for quite some time. It is believed Mr. Moening has his two adult Boxer dogs with him. He is a white male, 5’11”, 165 lbs, blue eyes, balding with red/brown hair on the sides.

Anyone with information regarding circumstances leading up to Michael Moening’s disappearance or knowledge of his current whereabouts is asked to call the Coconino County Sherriff’s Office at 928-774-4523 or 1-800-338-7888 or Silent Witness 928-774-6111.

Paving on SR 89 at Road 4 North in Chino Valley next week

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CHINO VALLEY — Crews will be paving at the new roundabout on State Route 89 at Road 4 North on Monday (Aug. 10) and Tuesday (Aug. 11). Work hours are from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Paving activity may require some intermittent delays during work hours and drivers are encouraged to be alert for construction equipment and personnel through the work zone.

This $2.1 million project consists of a new roundabout at the intersection of SR 89 and Road 4 North between mileposts 330.48 and 330.78. Additional work includes removal and replacement of existing pavement, drainage improvements, new pavement markings and lighting.

This project is expected to be complete by the fall.

Search for Jerold Joseph Williams continues

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Jerold WilliamsJACOB LAKE — There has, apparently, been a generous amount of offers by citizens to assist in the search or Jerold Williams, the five-year-old missing since yesterday. With several agencies already on scene, however, the Coconino County Sheriff’s office is requesting that the public only call in any known information to 928-226-5012. They would like to keep the phone line open only for tips and not for general inquires. Any unauthorized search parties risks erasing clues which might lead to the whereabouts of the five-year-old.

Cool-Country Cruise In may expect cool tomorrow

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Cool-Country130809-3WILLIAMS — Rain in the forecast may keep the Cool-Country Cruise In cool tomorrow. There is an 80% chance of rain dropping to 60% overnight and 10% tomorrow. Temperatures are expect to be about 77.

The rain today and through the night will cause difficulty keeping the Spring Fire burning so there should be no problem with smoke.

The problem is that the National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning through midnight on August 8. The flash flood warning covers the Kaibab Plateau and all canyon area, including Oak Creek, Sycamore, Marble Canyons and the Glen Canyon and Grand Canyon country areas.

The flood warning covers the cities of Flagstaff, Williams, Jacob Lake, Fredonia, Page, Lees Ferry, Grand Canyon Village, Supai, Valle, North Rim, Tuba City, Munds Park and Sedona.

People arriving for Cool-Country Cruise In today can take in the movie at the Methodist Church on the corner of 2nd and Sherman at 7 p.m. tonight. The screening of Do You Believe? is free.

The Williams Aquatic Center will be open for a free swim tomorrow from noon until 4 p.m.

Five-Year-Old boy goes missing near Jacobs lake

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UPDATED: 8/7, 9:27: Photo added
Jerold WilliamsJacobs Lake, AZ — The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received the report yesterday at about 5:30 p.m. of a missing 5 year-old boy at an unimproved campsite located approximately 12 miles south of Jacobs Lake in the area of Highway 67 off of Forest Service Road 241. This area lies within the northern portion of the Kaibab National Forest.

Jerold Joseph Williams is described as a white male, 5 years of age, approximately 3’6” in height, and weighing approximately 35 pounds. He has brown eyes and brown hair cut very short. Jerold’s mother described him as having a thin build and a light complexion. Jerold had visible facial abrasions and was last seen wearing a gray or tan shirt size (4) and a pair of blue jean pants size (4) and hiking boots size (12) and white long handled underwear.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies were immediately dispatched to the campsite. Upon their arrival they spoke with the missing child’s mother who identified her son as Jerold Joseph Williams.

According to Mrs. Williams she and her son were with 15 to 20 other friends and family members who were camping in the area. At approximately 1:30 pm Jerold and his mother were approximately 100 to 200 yards from the camp site and Jerold was chasing grasshoppers. Mrs. Williams lost site of the child and for the following 4 hours members of the camping group to include Mrs. Williams searched for Jerold. At approximately 5:30 pm the decision was made to call the Sheriff’s Office.

The search continued through the night with personnel from various agencies, 2 search dogs and two night-vision equipped helicopters from Nellis Air Force Base searched the area where Jerold was believed to be missing.

Anyone with information regarding the possible location of Jerold Williams or the circumstances leading up to his disappearance is urged to call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office.

Bill to allow certain temporary government employees to be eligible to compete for permanent positions in Senate.

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WASHINGTON — H.R.1531, the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, would allow employees serving in the Department of the Interior on a lime-limited basis eligible to compete for permanent positions within the agency. The bill passed the House on July 7 and moved to the Senate on the 8th.

The House bill was submitted to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs without amendments or reports. It was placed on the Senate legislative calendar yesterday.

The measure would allow employees in certain positions of the Department of the Interior to compete for permanent positions if they have served in temporary competitive service in one or more time-limited appointment for more than 24-months without a break of two, or more, years and the employee performance has been acceptable.

Temporary employees who were separated not more than two years who otherwise meets the eligibility of this measure would be allowed to compete for permanent positions if their separation was not for misconduct or poor performance.

The bill would require the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) or other examining agency, in determining the eligibility of a time-limited employee to be examined for or appointed in the competitive service. The person would becomes a career-conditional employee and acquire competitive status upon appointment.

The bill would waive age requirements for appointees under this measure unless the age requirement is essential to the performance of the duties of a particular position.

Heather Provencio selected as new Kaibab National Forest Supervisor

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300pxHeatherProvencioWILLIAMS — Southwestern Regional Forester Cal Joyner recently announced that the new forest supervisor of the Kaibab National Forest will be Heather Provencio, who currently serves as the deputy forest supervisor on the White River National Forest in Colorado.

“We’re excited to have Heather return to the Southwestern Region. She has a people-centered view of the environment that I believe is the proper focus for finding a creative balance that meets the needs of the forest, the surrounding communities and tribes, as well as employees,” Joyner said. “Heather’s strong grounding in northern Arizona will allow her to quickly gather momentum and move ahead on implementing the new Kaibab Forest Plan, Four Forest Restoration Initiative and fire management programs.”

Provencio is no stranger to northern Arizona and its landscape, people, challenges and opportunities, having worked in various jobs on the Coconino National Forest adjacent to the Kaibab from 2001 until 2013, including as the district ranger for the Red Rock Ranger District headquartered in Sedona, Ariz.

“I am excited by the idea of getting back to northern Arizona, which I consider home,” Provencio said. “I am also excited by the challenges that I know await me on the Kaibab and the learning and professional growth that those will bring. I am very much looking forward to being part of and leading a cohesive and exceptional team of employees who take on difficult issues and still find time to do critically important work like connecting the public with their National Forests.”

Provencio was born and raised in southern Illinois and grew up in a Forest Service family. She moved to Arizona in 1982 to attend Northern Arizona University and pursue a bachelor’s degree in anthropology with an emphasis in archaeology. Her first job with the Forest Service was in 1985 as a firefighter on the Chevelon Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, after with she held a variety of positions in archaeology, recreation and business administration until returning to school to pursue her master’s degree in anthropology. She then held positions as an archaeologist and tribal liaison before becoming a district ranger and, subsequently, a deputy forest supervisor. Provencio is scheduled to begin her role as forest supervisor of the Kaibab National Forest Oct. 5.

“I will strive to be an excellent leader for the employees of the Kaibab and our communities and partners. They deserve nothing less, so I will continually work on improving my skills as a leader,” Provencio said. “I hope to create strong connections between our employees, the Forest Service lands we manage, and the public.”

New wildfire on Tusayan Ranger District growing due to dry conditions

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TUSYAN — A lightning-caused wildfire on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National is burning actively and growing in size due to dry weather conditions.

The 50-acre Rock Fire is located near Rock Lake Pothole just south of the Coconino Rim about 15 miles southeast of the Town of Tusayan. The wildfire, which was started by lightning July 31 and discovered by fire managers Aug. 1, is burning at a low-to-moderate level of intensity through an area dominated by ponderosa pine trees. Fire managers plan to allow the wildfire to take its natural course within predefined boundaries in order to help restore ecological balance across the landscape so that the area is more resilient to threats, such as future high-intensity wildfires.

Today firefighters will prepare for the wildfire’s anticipated future growth by lining archaeological sites, range fences, trick tanks, and any other potentially fire-sensitive resources near the fire area. This important work ensures that as the Rock Fire grows, fire managers will be able to allow it to take its natural course without the risk of negatively impacting other values in the area.

Given dry conditions in the forecast for the next few days, the Rock Fire is expected to burn actively, grow significantly in size, and produce smoke that is visible from Cameron, Tuba City, Valle and Highway 64. Smoke may sink overnight into Tappan Wash and potentially move toward Cameron and then rise and dissipate in the morning hours as temperatures increase.

Do You Believe? screening at Methodist Church

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believeWILLIAMS — The United Methodist Church at 127 W Sherman Ave in Williams will host a screening of Do You Believe? this Friday.

The film stars Sean Astin who gained recognition for the inspirational 1993 movie Rudy based on he life of Notre Dame football player Daniel E. ‘Rudy’ Ruettiger. Most recently he stared in The Lord of the Rings movie series.

The movie also features Delroy Lindo who is one of those actors you instantly recognize, but probably do not remember the name. He started in the 1971 television series Police Surgeon and since has played in a host of roles such as in the movie Malcom X, a colonel in Broken Arrow (promoted to General in The Last Castle). He’s played cops and criminals and most recently had a recurring role as Sheriff Tip Harrison in the television series Blood and Oil. He’s even played a Supreme Court Justice on TV (Justice Clarence Thomas). Quite frankly he is one of those actors that deserve better roles.

The movie, from the creators of God’s Not Dead, is also currently in theaters.