Monthly Archives: July 2018

5 life jacket exchanges scheduled for August

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PHOENIX — Nearly 850 life jackets have been exchanged so far this year, but that number will ramp up after the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) holds five more events in August. 2018 is the 10-year anniversary of the life jacket exchange program, and AZGFD is aiming to exchange a record-setting 1,700 life jackets this year.

Anyone who has an old, worn-out or improperly fitting life jacket is welcome to exchange it for a new one in the appropriate size during the events. Type I and Type II life jackets will not be accepted.

The public is invited to join AZGFD and its partner organizations at the following life jacket exchange events:

  • Bullhead City at BCFD Fire Station #2 (1230 Highway 95) on August 4 from 9 a.m. to noon
  • Lake Pleasant at the 4 Lane boat ramp and the 10 Lane boat ramp August 4 from 10 a.m. to noon
  • Lake Havasu at Site Six on August 25 from 10 a.m. to noon
  • Yuma at Martinez Lake on August 25 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

“In addition to exchanging more life jackets than ever before, this year we have been excited to hold the events in new locations throughout Arizona,” said Josh Hoffman, boating safety education coordinator for AZGFD. “This will be our first life jacket exchange in Yuma, and it’s a great opportunity to allow as many Arizonans as possible to ensure they have a new life jacket that fits properly.”

State law requires all passengers 12 years old and younger to wear a life jacket while on board and each passenger must have a properly fitting, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket available.

Another important aspect of safe boating is understanding the laws and regulations for cruising around Arizona’s waterways. AZGFD offers free in-person courses for both boaters and paddlers to ensure that all of Arizona’s residents have access to instruction on the basic skills required to safely and legally operate their boat.

For more information about boating in Arizona or to sign up for a free safety course, visit azgfd.gov/boating.

Bald Fire Update

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WILLIAMS — Thunderstorm outflows with shifting wind patterns are fanning flames and influencing growth on the Bald Fire located on Sitgreaves Mountain on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest.

BALD FIRE OVERVIEW
Start Date: July 22, 2018.
Cause: Lightning.
Location: South slope of Sitgreaves Mountain southwest of Spring Valley.
Current Size: Approximately 40 acres.
Resources: 1-Type 6 Engine, miscellaneous aircraft.

Current Status: Officials have been monitoring the Bald Fire for just over a week and will continue to watch fire behavior using aircraft and from vantage points on the ground below. The Lightning caused Bald Fire now 40 acres in size continues to burn within the 2014 Sitgreaves fire scar about halfway up the south slope. Because there are less control risks associated with this fire, managers are airing on the side of safety by limiting exposure keeping fire personnel off the steep terrain. Growth will likely continue as weather allows.

Smoke: Smoke will continue to be visible from a wide area around the mountain and could occasionally impact the communities of Spring Valley, Pittman Valley, Parks, and the Interstate 40 corridor. Motorists are asked to always use caution when ever driving near the vicinity of a fire.

For additional information the following sources are available:

InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6006/
Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
Twitter: twitter.com/kaibabnf
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF/
Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311.

Zipline takes another hit

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Another RV tries and fails to zip under the Zipline sign.

WILLIAMS – This morning at about 7 a.m., another RV attempted, and failed, to get under the Zipline signage. There is no safety issue with the Zipline ride.According to a witness, the RV attempted to go under the rails and got stuck. It backed up and attempted to go in-between the sign posts and a white van. The witness stopped the vehicle while calling the Williams Police Department. The damage was minimal.

Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop set for September 7 to 9

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PHOENIX — For women who just want to find out what the outdoors experience is all about, signing up for a Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) workshop is a great place to start.

The Arizona Wildlife Federation, in partnership with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, will conduct its next BOW workshop September 7 to 9 at Friendly Pines Camp near Prescott. The workshop introduces like-minded women (18 and older) to outdoor skills in an enjoyable, no-pressure setting with expert instructors.

In addition to being able to select from more than 30 classes, like horsemanship, geocaching, wilderness medicine, birding and hiking, participants also will have an opportunity to fulfill the field-day requirements to earn their Arizona Hunter Education certificate. The online course must be completed prior to the workshop, however, at www.hunter-ed.com/arizona. The evenings will be filled with fun and entertainment, like night hikes and guest speakers.

A pair of new classes also are being offered: a geology class titled “Name That Rock” and a class in primitive skills. Meanwhile, participants will learn how to catch crayfish, then prepare them along with other wild foods to be served at a game-tasting the first night of the workshop.

Participants will stay in rustic cabins equipped with showers and toilets. The workshop fee is $250 and includes all instruction, course materials, use of equipment, meals and lodging. For information, visit www.azwildlife.org, email awf@azwildlife.org or call (480) 644-0077.

Lightning strikes continue, Forest visitors reminded to be weather aware

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GRAND CANYON – For Immediate Release. Monsoonal activity continued to cross portions of both the northern and southern areas of the Kaibab National Forest and Grand Canyon National Park this week, bringing varying amounts of rain and lightning to various areas throughout both the forest and park. Fire resources in both the North Zone and South Zone continue to respond to each lightning-caused fire as it is discovered and reported.

Due to the increased amount of fire activity throughout both the Grand Canyon and the Kaibab National Forest, operations are anticipated to continue throughout the weekend. This means that smoke will likely be visible on both the North and South Rims of the park and all three ranger districts on the Kaibab National Forest: North Kaibab Ranger District, Williams Ranger District, and the Tusayan Ranger District.

At this time there are no road closures within the park or forest; however, motorists traveling within these areas should use caution as fire crews could be present at any time. Motorists are asked to drive with headlights on and drive slow in and around emergency response vehicles.

As a reminder, lightning-caused fires are evaluated by fire management officials for the most appropriate management strategy. Firefighter safety, resources at risk, location of the fire, available resources, regional and national preparedness levels, and weather forecast are taken into consideration when responding to a wildfire ignition.

For more information on the largest and most active of these wildfires, please visit the following:

Obi Fire – https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6030/
Rain Fire – https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6002/

For fire information on the Kaibab National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab or @KaibabNF on Facebook and Twitter or call (928) 635-8311 for recorded fire information.

For fire information at Grand Canyon National Park, please visit https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/management/firemanagement.htm or call 928-638-7819 for recorded fire information.

Arizona conservationists to be honored at 2018 Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet

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PHOENIX – The Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation, together with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, will induct two individuals and three organizations into the Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame on Saturday, August 18.

The Foundation’s 21st Annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place during the annual Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet at the Embassy Suites at 5001 N. Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale.
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The inductees for this year’s event include:

  • Tracy Unmacht, of New River, has dedicated her life to conserving Arizona’s wildlife for future generations through her service to multiple non-governmental organizations. She expanded from participating in the “Becoming an Outdoors Woman” camp to becoming a volunteer, organizer and fundraiser for the group. She’s also served the Arizona Antelope Foundation for 16 years as an administrator, newsletter and magazine editor, clinic organizer and webmaster.
  • Catherine Cimellaro, of Phoenix, has worked for decades to promote hunting, fishing, wildlife conservation and habitat enhancement to benefit Arizona’s wildlife. She has lent her talents to assisting multiple wildlife organizations such as the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, the Antelope Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Council, Arizona Deer Association, and Conserve and Protect Arizona. Her graphic design skills helped to produce a logo for the Arizona Big Game Super Raffle and she redesigned Arizona’s wildlife license plate, which is attached to more than 10,000 vehicles and has raised additional funding for wildlife conservation.
  • Arizona Deer Association, of Mesa, has focused on projects dedicated to improving and expanding Arizona’s mule deer and Coues’ deer populations since the group was originally founded as the Arizona Mule Deer Association in 1995. Although its name changed to the Arizona Deer Association in 2003, its dedication to fundraising to finance projects aimed at growing deer populations and encouraging the next generations of hunters continues to be the bedrock of the group’s mission.
  • Diablo Trust, of Flagstaff, encourages responsible land management practices by gathering a wide range of land managers and stakeholders that are invested in leaving a positive legacy of habitat and wildlife conservation. The trust and its stakeholders have worked to sustain open space (preventing land fragmentation), biological diversity, protect watersheds with stable living soils, restore historic grasslands, enhance wildlife corridors and achieve a community of place.
  • Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, of Scottsdale, rescues and rehabilitates injured, displaced and orphaned wildlife. Rehabilitated animals are then returned to the wild, while sanctuary is provided to animals that cannot be released. SWCC also provides educational and humane scientific research opportunities in the field of conservation medicine. Wildlife education includes advice on living with wildlife and the importance of native wildlife to healthy ecosystems.

The Hall of Fame event will include a social hour and silent auction beginning at 5:30 p.m., with dinner being served at 6:30 p.m., followed by the induction ceremony. The evening will also feature a live auction, exciting raffle prizes, and musical entertainment by the Back Porch Bandits. Suggested attire is business casual or western wear.

Individual tickets are $70. A table for 10 is $700. A table of 10 and a full-page ad in the full-color banquet brochure is $1,200. The options for ordering tickets are:

Download a ticket reservation form at www.wildlifefortomorrow.org, fill in the requested information, and either scan and e-mail to rebeccabouquot@gmail.com or mail Wildlife For Tomorrow, c/o Rebecca Bouquot, 14852 S. Luna Drive, Litchfield Park, AZ 85340

Call Rebecca Bouquot (Wildlife for Tomorrow board member and ticket chairwoman) at (602) 501-4788.

Purchase your tickets on the Wildlife for Tomorrow website at www.wildlifefortomorrow.org.

Wildlife for Tomorrow was created in 1990 to enhance the management, protection and enjoyment of Arizona’s fish and wildlife resources. The foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works closely with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to provide additional support for projects and education activities where traditional resources are not adequate.

The Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame was developed in 1998 by the Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation to honor those who have made significant contributions to Arizona’s wildlife, the welfare of its natural resources and the state’s outdoor heritage.

For more information, visit www.wildlifefortomorrow.org.

Chief Health Officer Dr. Peoples wins Gabe Zimmerman Award

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FLAGSTAFF — The Center for the Future of Arizona awarded Dr. Marie Peoples, Chief Health Officer for the County’s Public Health Services District, the 2018 Gabe Zimmerman Civic Leadership Award.

The award, which is presented annually by the Arizona City/County Management Association (ACMA) and the Center for Arizona’s Future, is named in honor of Gabe Zimmerman, the Community Outreach Director for former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords who lost his life during a 2011 shooting event in Tucson. The award recognizes the commitment and dedication of professional public servants who serve as the link between citizens and the people elected to represent them. The presentation was made on Thursday, July 19 at the ACMA Annual Summer Conference.“To be a civic leader is not only an honor, it’s a responsibility,” said Dr. Peoples. “A leader ensures all people, regardless of background, have a seat at the table and are listened to. I’m proud that I was recognized for these qualities and those that the Gabe Zimmerman award celebrates.”

Dr. Peoples began her career as a substance abuse therapist within Missouri’s correctional system and has worked within several of Missouri’s prisons with a variety of offender demographics and rehabilitative programs. In addition, she has worked for the Missouri Supreme Court and the Missouri Department of Mental Health and served as the director of a county health department in Missouri. Dr. Peoples holds a bachelors’ degree in criminal justice administration, a master’s degree in sociology and criminal justice, a master’s degree in public health, and a PhD in public health epidemiology.

The Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Awards are a statewide competition created to recognize outstanding non-elected public servants in three categories – Community Builder, Emerging Leader and Civic Leader. The Civic Leadership Award recognizes extraordinary leaders who have demonstrated knowledge, skills and commitment to addressing Arizona’s long-term issues and the personal leadership capacity to make Arizona a better place for future generations.

The awards are sponsored by the Arizona Department of Administration, the County Supervisors Association of Arizona, Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. and the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, in conjunction with the Center for the Future of Arizona.

Flagstaff Man Arrested After Barricading in Tent with Children

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Kinnikinick Lake, Coconino County, AZ – Twenty-nine-year-old Jarred A. McMinn (also known as Jarred Parker) of Flagstaff was arrested early this morning after a stand-off lasting several hours.

On July 26, 2018 around 7:50 pm deputies from Coconino County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at Kinnikinick Lake, which is located approximately 30 miles south of Flagstaff. Upon arrival deputies learned that an adult female had been the victim of a domestic assault. The suspect was identified as Jarred McMinn.

When deputies attempted to contact McMinn at his tent campsite, he refused to cooperate and barricaded himself inside the tent. Deputies determined that McMinn was armed with a handgun and had three young children in the tent with him.

Deputies requested assistance from the Flagstaff Police Department Joint Tactical Team. Arizona Department of Public Safety Troopers and Air Rescue also responded and assisted. After around 6 hours of negotiations, McMinn surrendered and exited the tent. He was taken into custody without further incident.

Jarred A. McMinn has been booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility under charges including Aggravated Domestic Violence, Weapons Misconduct, Criminal Damage, and Endangerment.

Paving continues on Interstate 40 in northern Arizona

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Drivers on Interstate 40 in northern Arizona are advised to plan for travel delays because of traffic realignment and ramp closures at Garland Prairie and Pittman Valley roads. Crews are repairing 17 miles of pavement on I-40 between Parks and Williams. The project also includes making bridge deck repairs at Garland Prairie and Pittman Valley roads.

Beginning in August, as crews complete work to rebuild 5 westbound miles between mileposts 167 and 172, all traffic will be moved to the westbound lanes using a temporary crossover in that section. Crews will begin work on the eastbound section of the freeway and will close the eastbound on- and off-ramps at Garland Prairie and Pittman Valley roads for the next few months. Traffic will be detoured onto the Parks and East Williams traffic interchanges.

On July 30, the following ramp closures are scheduled to be in place:

The westbound on- and off-ramps at A-1 Mountain Road will be closed from 7 a.m. to noon. Traffic will be detoured to Bellemont, exit 185, to re-enter eastbound I-40 towards A-1 Mountain Road.
The eastbound on- and off-ramps at A-1 Mountain Road will be closed from noon to 5 p.m. Traffic will be detoured to Business Loop, exit 191, to re-enter westbound I-40 towards A-1 Mountain Road.

On August 3, the eastbound on-ramp and westbound off-ramp at Parks are scheduled to re-open after being closed for a few weeks while crews rebuilt a 1-mile section of I-40 in both directions near the interchange.

Work on this 5-mile section of I-40 is anticipated to wrap up by the fall.

Meanwhile, crews continue to repave other portions of the highway between mileposts 162 and 179 from Cataract Lake to Parks.

Construction will pause for the winter season and is scheduled to resume in spring 2019 for additional paving, bridge and intersection work. The project is scheduled for completion in late 2019.

What to expect:

  • Crews are scheduled to work Mondays through Fridays from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Lane closures, ramp closures and restrictions will be required

For more information, email MKirby@azdot.gov or call Mackenzie Kirby, MPP, Community Relations project manager, ADOT Northcentral District, at 928.525.6494. Information is also available on the project web page.

Schedules are subject to change because of weather and other unforeseen situations. Subscribe to receive traffic alerts and project updates by email. For more information, please call the ADOT Project Information Line at 855.712.8530 or email Projects@azdot.gov. For real-time highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except when driving.

Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen factors. For more information, please call the ADOT Project Information Line at 855.712.8530 or email Projects@azdot.gov. For real-time highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except when driving.

Rain Fire Update

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TUSAYAN — The Rain Fire on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest is showing an increase in activity and will continue to see additional growth over the next few days.

RAIN FIRE OVERVIEW
Start Date: July 21, 2018.
Cause: Lightning.
Location: One mile southeast of the Town of Tusayan .
Current Size: Approximately 165 acres.
Incident Commander: Quentin Johnson ICT3 / Adam Pahl ICT3-T
Resources: 2-20 person Type 2 crews, 3-Type 6 Engines, 1 Type 3 Engine. Total personnel assigned 55.

Current Status: Operations were successful yesterday as fire consumed dead woody fuels from the forest floor. All containment lines held and objectives were successfully achieved. Burn out operations will continue over the next few shifts to protect identified values at risk within the planning area.

Smoke: Fire Managers are utilizing strategies to minimize and reduce smoke exposure and limit the number of days smoke will be in the air. Smoke will be noticeable from Highway 64 and communities of Tusayan, Valle, and the Grand Canyon Village. Favorable northwest winds are transporting smoke away from the community throughout the day. Some overnight residual smoke may linger but is lifting out in the early to mid-morning hours each day.

The Gallo Fire, 4 miles northeast of Red Butte has shown no growth and is currently inactive.

For additional information the following sources are available:

InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6002/ inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6003/
Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
Twitter: twitter.com/kaibabnf
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF/
Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311.