Monthly Archives: October 2015

Responders caught in flash flood while recovering body

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FLAGSTAFF — Yesterday around 4:30 p.m., approximately 16 Sheriff’s Deputies, Search and Rescue and US Forest Service responders were forced to higher ground during a flash flood in Oak Creek Canyon.

The responders were conducting a body recovery for a suicide that occurred off Midgely Bridge. Due to a storm cell over the area that produced heavy rain, hail and lightning, rescuers had to delay removal of the body.

After the storm subsided, rescuers entered the canyon for the body recovery. While conducting the recovery, Sheriff’s Office personnel reported a flash flood in Oak Creek Canyon from the heavy rainfall over Wilson Mountain.

Rescuers were in the process of hoisting the body to the bridge when the flash flood occurred. The body was already above flood waters; however, responders below the bridge had to retreat quickly uphill away from rising waters. With several feet of fast moving water going through the canyon, three of the responders became briefly stranded on one side of the canyon.

They were not in danger and waited just under an hour to ensure storm cells had cleared and the water receded before they re-crossed.

Williams City Council meeting Thursday at 7

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640-city-hall-williamsWILLIAMS — The Williams City Council will meet Thursday, October 8 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers on 1st Street.

After public participation period, the council:

  • May recommend approval of issuance of a #12 restaurant liqour license to Olivia Rodriquez for Fiesata Mexican Grill located at 122 W. Route 66.
  • Will review and make an appointment to planning and Zoning Commission.
  • Will consider and may approve a lease with Route 66 Zipline.

Council may not act on items during public participation, but may ask city staff to put the item on a future agenda. People wishing to participate in the public portion should go to the meeting early and fill out the appropriate form.

Plane crash in Marble Canyon on Sunday

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640-plane-151005-96MARBLE CANYON, Arizona — On Sunday, October 4th at 2:50 p.m. the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a plane crash near the Cliff Dwellers Airport in Marble Canyon, Arizona.

A resident in the Cliff Dwellers area reported hearing a plane engine before hearing a loud thud. She looked towards the airport and saw dust.

A 65 year old male and 62 year old female from North Vancouver, British Columbia were attempting to land at the Cliff Dwellers Airport. Upon approach to the landing strip, they experienced a wind gust which caused their experimental Super Bushmaster LS180S Aircraft to lose altitude coming into contact with the sandy terrain prior to reaching the runway.

The female passenger was transported by ambulance to the Page Hospital with minor injuries while the male pilot did not require medical assistance. The aircraft was extensively damaged.

The incident is currently under investigation by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Aviation Administration, and National Transportation Safety Board.

Weather conditions to be severe through Wednesday

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640151005-04WILLIAMS — Severe thunderstorms are possible today and tomorrow easing up on Wednesday. Temperatures in Flagstaff and Williams should return to the lower 70s on Thursday.

Today there is a 100% chance of a severe thunderstorm dropping to 50% tomorrow during the day to 40% Tuesday night. On Wednesday the chance of rain drops to 10% clearing overnight on Wednesday. High winds are expected through Tuesday night.

The temperatures are expected to rise again to the lower 70s through the weekend in time for the Pumpkin Patch Train ride and the Owly, Howly, Growly fun at Bearizona.

ADEQ Awards City of Winslow $86,000 Brownfields Grant for Cleanup at Former LZ Budget Motel along Historic Route 66

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Photo Mean Mister Mustard, Panoramio

Photo Mean Mister Mustard, Panoramio

PHOENIX — Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today an $86,000 brownfields grant to the City of Winslow to remove asbestos and lead-based paint from the former LZ Budget Motel located along historic Route 66 at 1102 E. 2nd St., Winslow in Navajo County. ADEQ’s Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP) will oversee this work.

Owned by the City of Winslow and located within the City’s redevelopment district in the heart of historic downtown, the approximate one-acre parcel former LZ Budget Motel site consists of four vacant structures in a severe state of deterioration due to previous fires, years of weathering and no maintenance. Unoccupied for years and the subject of frequent vandalism and vagrancy, this brownfields grant-funded environmental cleanup work is the next of several steps necessary to eliminate the blight and prepare the property for redevelopment that will emphasize the needs of the community and boost economic vitality.

“Recovering blighted properties by administering non-competitive grants through ADEQ’s brownfields program is just one way we accomplish environmentally responsible economic growth in our state,” ADEQ Waste Programs Division Director Laura Malone said. “Our staff works diligently with grant applicants to create customized solutions that maximize program benefits for each community’s unique needs.”

Brownfields are properties with active redevelopment potential hindered by known or perceived environmental contamination. Since it began in 2003, ADEQ’s brownfields grant program has funded more than 50 projects assisting local governments and nonprofits in completing environmental assessments and cleanup. Currently accepting applications, ADEQ’s brownfields grant program conducts projects through Arizona’s State Response Grant using funds provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

K-9 Kraving Dog Food Has Announced a Voluntary Recall of Their Chicken Patties Dog Food

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k9-cravingBaltimore, MD — K-9 Kraving Dog Food has announced a voluntary recall of their Chicken Patties Dog Food shipped between July 13th – July 17th, 2015 because these products may be contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

The affected product was distributed to retail stores only in Maryland. No other K-9 Kraving Dog Food products are affected.

No illnesses have been reported to date. Even though no illnesses have been reported, consumers should follow the Safe Handling Instructions printed on the K-9 Kraving Dog Food package when disposing of the affected product.

K-9 Kraving Dog Food became aware of a potential issue after receiving notification from the FDA that a routine surveillance sample of Chicken Patties tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.

Consumers feeding the affected product should discontinue use and monitor their pet’s health, and contact their veterinarian if they have concerns. Consumers who purchased the product can obtain a full refund or exchange by either returning the product in its original packaging or bringing a proof of purchase back to their retailer.

Consumers with additional questions can call our Consumer Relations team at 1-800-675-1471 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, EST.

Robert Barrett, Chief Executive Officer of K-9 Kraving Dog Food, stated, “At K-9 Kraving Dog Food we take quality and safety very seriously. We believe that under all circumstances, health and safety comes first, and we are committed to providing the best possible nutrition for pets.”

Vegetation clearing on US 180 to begin tomorrow

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FLAGSTAFF — Travelers heading on US 180 north of Flagstaff should allow for extra travel time while ADOT crews perform vegetation clearing operations for a one-mile stretch just north of Shultz Pass Road (mileposts 219 to 220). This operation will clear out damaged and unwanted trees and requires a lane closure and occasional 10-minute roadway shutdowns during removal activity. The work will take place Monday through Thursdays from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and be in effect during the weeks of October 5th and October 12th.

Drivers are asked to allow for extra travel time to reach their destinations, use caution and observe reduced speeds while maintenance is being performed in the area.

Kaibab National Forest burns through next week

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WILLIAMS — Fire managers with the Kaibab National Forest plan to conduct a series of prescribed burns over the weekend and continuing through next week in three locations on the Williams Ranger District in order to reduce hazardous fuels and increase ecosystem health and forest resiliency.

  • Dutch Kid Prescribed Fire: Over the weekend and continuing through Monday, fire managers will use aerial ignition to treat up to 4,115 acres in the Dutch Kid project area, which is located on and surrounding Dutch Kid Knoll about 7 miles south southwest of the City of Williams. Due to prevailing winds, smoke will likely be visible in Williams, the vicinity of Bill Williams Mountain, the Woods Subdivision, Interstate 40 and Parks.
  • McCracken Prescribed Fire: Weather conditions predicted for early next week may provide a window of opportunity to treat up to 2,531 acres using a combination of hand and aerial ignition techniques in the McCracken project area, which is located between Barney and Kunde knolls about 7 miles south southeast of the City of Williams. Smoke will likely be visible from County Road 71 and Williams and may also drift into Sycamore Canyon during overnight hours.
  • Kendrick Prescribed Fire: Fire managers had hoped to begin treating the Kendrick project area yesterday but had to postpone due to high winds. If weather conditions are appropriate next week, about 2,700 acres could be treated using a combination of hand and aerial ignitions techniques. The area is located west of the Kendrick Mountain Wilderness boundary about 11 miles north of the Parks community. The area has been treated with fire in the recent past, so the scheduled prescribed fire is considered a maintenance burn, which should result in less smoke production than a first-entry burn due to lesser accumulations of forest fuels. Prevailing winds should push smoke north and east across Kendrick Mountain. Smoke is expected to dissipate quickly but could be present in the vicinity of Pumpkin Center. It may also be visible from Highway 180 and from Interstate 40 near Parks.

All prescribed burning on the Kaibab National Forest is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and appropriate weather conditions. For additional information on the Smoke Management Division of the ADEQ and to view prescribed burns authorized on any given day, please visit http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html. Kaibab National Forest fire information is also available through the following resources: InciWeb http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4112/; Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311; Text Message – text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404.

Tusayan Ranger District fire managers announce locations scheduled for prescribed burning starting this fall

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TUSAYAN — Fire managers for the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest are announcing locations where they plan to complete prescribed fire projects starting this month and continuing through much of next year. Up to about 6,000 acres could be treated across the district during that time as long as weather and fuel conditions allow.

Areas that could be treated are as follows:

Tusayan East Prescribed Fire: East of Tusayan, approximately 260 acres
Russell Prescribed Fire: Two burn units southeast of Tusayan, approximately 1,700 acres
Flying J Prescribed Fire: Two burn units west of Tusayan, approximately 300 acres
Reed Prescribed Fire: Four burn units east of Tusayan, approximately 3,700 acres

During prescribed fires, community members and visitors may see fire personnel and vehicles in the vicinity. Smoke may also be present and may result in short-duration impacts to populated areas.

All prescribed burning on the Kaibab National Forest is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and appropriate weather conditions. For additional information on the Smoke Management Division of the ADEQ and to view prescribed burns authorized on any given day, please visit http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html.

Prior to any given prescribed fire, additional information will be released regarding location, timing and anticipated smoke impacts. Kaibab National Forest fire information is also available through the following resources: InciWeb http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4113; Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311; Text Message – text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404.

US 60 east of Superior to close briefly for blasting operations Oct. 6-8

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PHOENIX — Motorists traveling along US 60 between Phoenix and Globe next week need to plan ahead or allow extra time as the Arizona Department of Transportation continues blasting work as part of an improvement project to build a new passing lane and widen roadway shoulders east of Superior, approximately 65 miles east of downtown Phoenix.

The construction of the two-mile-long climbing lane from Devil’s Canyon to Oak Flat (mileposts 231-233) will require four separate full closures of US 60 for up to 90 minutes:

  • Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
  • Thursday, Oct. 8, at 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and again from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Traffic on eastbound US 60 will be stopped east of Superior (milepost 227) and westbound US 60 will be stopped at the Top of the World, west of Miami (milepost 235) until the blasting work is completed and the roadway is reopened after all debris is cleared. Law enforcement officers will be stationed at each closure to assist with traffic control.

Immediately prior to each blast, crews need to set the concrete barrier for that blast and additional delays are possible.

ADOT anticipates the highway will be closed at least once per week for blasting for up to three months. As blasting continues there will be a lesser impact on traffic and delays will be reduced.

Motorists seeking an alternate route can consider state routes 77 and 177, which is approximately 68 miles long. Motorists headed to the White Mountains region, including Show Low and Springerville, can also take State Route 87 through Payson and travel east on State Route 260 as an alternative.

ADOT will work to minimize the traffic impacts as much as possible, including scheduling some nighttime work.

There will be narrow traffic lanes, wide-load restrictions and a reduced speed limit through the work zone. Flaggers and pilot cars will be used at different times throughout the project.

Drivers are asked to use caution, watch for construction equipment and personnel, and allow extra time for your commute.

For more information on the project, please visit azdot.gov/us60oakflat.