Monthly Archives: December 2018

ADOT detectives nab woman with revoked nursing license for ID fraud

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PHOENIX – Arizona Department of Transportation detectives have arrested a Chandler resident whose nursing license was revoked for insurance fraud after she allegedly used a stolen identity to try and obtain a new nursing license.

Laura Lynn Bell, 40, used a falsified Arizona driver license and a Superior Court name change form to petition her alma mater, the University of South Alabama, to change the name on her official transcripts to another person’s name in an attempt to get a new nursing license.

The university became suspicious of Bell’s request and contacted the Arizona State Board of Nursing, which in turn contacted the Arizona Department of Insurance, which brought the original insurance fraud case against her. Those agencies requested assistance from ADOT’s Office of Inspector General since a forged credential was involved.

When ADOT detectives served a warrant at Bell’s home on Dec. 12, they found forged court documents and other papers listing the other individual’s name. They also obtained a forged driver license created on Bell’s computer.

Bell was arrested and booked at the Fourth Avenue Jail on new counts of forgery and identity fraud in addition to the insurance fraud case previously brought against her.

Man Arrested for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor for Computer Child Pornography

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WILLIAMS – On 12/20/18 Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Detectives and Deputies served a search warrant at a residence in the Red Lake neighborhood, 9 miles north of the city of Williams.

Sheriff’s Office detectives received information that a resident in the Red Lake Neighborhood was possibly in possession of child pornography on a personal computer at his residence. During the investigation the subject turned over a computer, which was examined by a Sheriff’s Office Computer Forensics Investigator. After securing a search warrant to examine the computer, the investigator located several images consistent with child pornography on that computer.

After confirming the presence of the images on the initial computer, another search warrant was obtained to search the residence for additional devices. During the search of the residence, additional computers and electronic devices were seized. Detectives and Investigators are currently reviewing the additional items of evidence seized during the search warrant and additional charges could result. If anyone has information that may assist this investigation they are encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office.

Charles Henry Hightower, 83, was arrested and booked into the Coconino County Jail for 10 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. Hightower was released to Pre-Trial Services on a $50,000 unsecured bond.

Pile Burning on Bill Williams Mountain to Begin Late December

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WILLIAMS — Fuels reduction efforts on Bill Williams Mountain on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest are set to commence next week after the Christmas holiday. Prescribed burning of several units of slash piles along forest road 111 on the north and east slopes of the mountain will begin taking place as weather conditions permit.

Crews will start by treating small blocks each day in order to minimize smoke production and reduce the potential for impacts to the surrounding roadways and adjacent community.
During ignition operations, smoke will be highly visible from the City of Williams and from the Interstate 40 corridor from both the east bound and west bound lanes approaching the city.

Minimal to light smoke impacts may occur, however winds are expected to transport smoke to the south away from the developed areas and be very short in duration.

These pile burns are just one of many ongoing forest restoration projects happening on Bill Williams Mountain that are critical to improving forest health and increasing the protection of vital watershed resources for the city.

Work will also be continuing in the weeks ahead between Parks and Spring Valley on the south side of Government Hill, where crews began pile burns earlier this month.
As with all prescribed burns, weather conditions will determine the day’s most suitable for ignitions that have the least amount of negative effects on air quality and the best possible ventilation.

The public can view approved prescribed fires for any given day on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s website at smoke.azdeq.gov/.

To learn more about smoke and public health, visit bit.ly/SmokeHealthAwareness.

Notifications of upcoming prescribed fire projects are provided regularly throughout the year. Additional information can also be obtained through the following sources:

· Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
· Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF
· Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF
· Fire Information Recorded Hotline: 928-635-8311
· InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5922/

The eagles have landed: AZGFD’s bald eagle nest cam now streaming

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PHOENIX — The camera is set, zoomed in and ready to broadcast the day-to-day life of a pair of bald eagles hoping to raise a family inside their nest at Lake Pleasant Regional Park.

On Tuesday, Dec. 18, the Arizona Game and Fish Department — in partnership with Salt River Project, Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department, Arizona State Land Department and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation — began live-streaming from the camera perched near the bald eagle nest on Lake Pleasant.

Watch the cam

Download b-roll from the nest cam

“We are thrilled to bring this camera to fruition,” said Randy Babb, AZGFD watchable wildlife program manager. “Our goal is to provide opportunities for people to truly appreciate and connect with Arizona’s wildlife, and live-feed wildlife cameras such as this help us to do exactly that. People will be fascinated as they learn from and watch these nesting eagles incubate eggs and rear their young in real-time.”

Records show bald eagles have inhabited Lake Pleasant since at least 1979, with the first documented nesting attempt occurring in 1984. While no young were produced until 1993, 28 birds have since survived to take their first flight, known as fledging.

Two eggs were laid in the nest in early January 2018 and each hatched the following month. The two young successfully fledged in late April.

“Park visitors are always excited to catch a glimpse of these magnificent raptors flying overhead while they’re recreating at Lake Pleasant Regional Park,” said R.J. Cardin, director for the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department. “Now, through the addition of the eagle cam, everyone can enjoy this experience from the comfort of their own home.”

The camera feed was made possible through permitting and coordination with Arizona State Land Department, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Maricopa County Parks and Recreation, and Salt River Project.

“These beautiful birds often nest in and around the state’s rivers and reservoirs, and we are proud to be a part of a program that allows more members of the public to view these majestic raptors,” said Kara Montalvo, SRP Director of Environmental Compliance and Permitting.

The bald eagle cam is the fourth wildlife camera offered by the department, which also provides seasonal views of wintering sandhill cranes in southeastern Arizona, a bat roost at Cluff Ranch Wildlife Area and an underwater pupfish cam. All the live streams can be viewed at www.azgfd.gov/livecams.

Viewers are asked to check the cameras frequently if there is no activity in the nest. Often the birds will leave at multiple times for feeding. If eggs are laid, viewing will be more consistent and predictable.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department Lake Pleasant bald eagle live-streaming camera is funded through Heritage and Pittman Robertson funds, the Southwestern Bald Eagle Management Committee and public donations.

“Viewers wishing to support the Watchable Wildlife program and its wildlife cameras are asked to consider making a donation,” Babb added. “These cameras are very expensive to install and maintain and we appreciate any and all donations.”

Recent Pile Burns Continue Smoldering on Kaibab National Forest

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WILLIAMS – Kaibab National Forest fire officials are alerting the public that recent prescribed fire activities may be visible at several locations across the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts over the next several days and could possibly linger into the approaching Christmas holiday.

Forest visitors may see fire activity from recent pile burning operations that have been occurring over the past two weeks on the Kaibab National Forest. Low intensity surface creeping, smoldering logs, and light smoke in the vicinity of these project areas will continue to be visible as unseasonable warmer and dryer weather continues into the week ahead. All of these active burns are confined within their containment boundaries, and pose no control problems as they continue to consume debris.

Prescribed fire project areas are being monitored daily by fire personnel to ensure public safety and to continue meeting fuels reduction and forest restoration objectives.

As winter weather conditions continue on the Kaibab National Forest, fire managers will look for additional opportunities to treat landscapes whenever appropriate. Additional information will be provided as specific prescribed fire projects are scheduled in the future.

The public can view approved prescribed fires for any given day on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s website at smoke.azdeq.gov/.

To learn more about smoke and public health, visit bit.ly/SmokeHealthAwareness.

Notifications of upcoming prescribed fire projects are provided regularly throughout the year. Additional information can also be obtained through the following sources:

· Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
· Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF
· Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF
· Fire Information Recorded Hotline: 928-635-8311
· InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5922/

County salvages Lowell Observatory water tank

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FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Parks and Recreation has accepted a donation of a water tank from Lowell Observatory. The tank will be located near the Grandstands at Fort Tuthill County Park and used for harvesting rainwater.

The salvaged water tank is expected to be functional this spring. The tank can hold up to 30,000 gallons of water which will be used for preparing arenas for equestrian events, mitigating dust and other special event uses. Further uses for the water are being explored.

“I’m excited that we were able to partner with Lowell Observatory to salvage this water tank,” said Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Art Babbott. “This is a classic win-win for both parties. Lowell gets to safely remove the tank while they begin construction on the Giovale Open Deck Observatory and the County utilizes rain water harvesting to offset its’ potable water consumption at Fort Tuthill. On behalf of the Board of Supervisors, I want to extend our appreciation to Lowell and BEC Incorporated of Flagstaff.”

The water tank was hauled by semi-truck from Lowell to Fort Tuthill County Park on Thursday, December 6.

“Lowell is delighted to be able to help the County by donating our tank, and I look forward to its having many years of use improving Fort Tuthill’s viability and sustainability,” said Dr. Jeff Hall, Director of Lowell Observatory.

BEC Incorporated of Flagstaff, provided site clearing and assisted with the tank removal including draining the tank, cutting bolts and disassembling the plumping and electrical systems.

Governing Board applicants sought for appointment

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FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Risha VanderWey is seeking applicants for appointment for one seat on the Grand Canyon Unified School District Governing Board and two seats on the Maine Consolidated School District Governing Board.

Applicants must be Arizona registered voters and residents of the school district for at least one year prior to the date of appointment. Applicants or their spouses cannot be an employee of the district.

Application information:

An advisory committee may be assembled, consisting of district residents and a current board member to conduct interviews and advise Superintendent VanderWey on the appointments.

For more information, please call the Office of the Coconino County School Superintendent at 928-679-8070 or email: aterhaar@coconino.az.gov.

Lane and ramp restrictions set at State Route 89 and State Route 89A in Prescott beginning December 11

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The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for the following restrictions while electrical-conduit installation work continues on State Route 89 and 89A in Prescott:

  • The southbound SR 89A on-ramp at SR 89 will be reduced to one lane of alternating travel from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, December 11, and Wednesday, December 12. Drivers should consider using Deep Well Ranch Road to Willow Creek Road as an alternate route.
  • Law enforcement will be assisting with traffic control.
  • A 12-foot vehicle-width restriction will be in place.

Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel equipment.

Learn more and sign up to receive project alerts by email on the project webpage azdot.gov/SR89DeepWellRanch

Pile Burning Continues North of Parks on Williams Ranger District

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Persistent wet weather has presented favorable opportunities for fire crews to continue burning piles at numerous locations across the Kaibab National Forest. Fire personnel on the Williams Ranger District will be moving to an area known has Kaufman Springs today approximately 4 miles north of the community of Parks to continue with operations.

Several Units of slash piles on the south side of Government Hill, west of county road 141 are scheduled to be treated over the weeks ahead. 114 acres will be ignited today just west of Wright Hill and crews hope to continue working in this area next week if weather conditions allow.

Other pile burns will probably continue in the Williams and Tusayan areas. On The Williams district, 139 acres of piles off of Forest Road 186 just south of Forest Road 108 near Coleman Lake will be ignited Thursday with an additional 52 acres to be treated on Friday. On The Tusayan district, 19 acres of piles will burned on Thursday approximately 2 miles west of the Grand Canyon Airport.

Objectives for these pile burns include reducing fuels resulting from previous forest restoration projects and improving overall forest health and resiliency. Piles typically burn rapidly and produce far less smoke for shorter durations than larger broadcast burns over the landscape.

Minimal to light smoke impacts are anticipated, however air quality will be monitored closely and actions will be taken as necessary to minimize the effects to residential developed areas.

Heritage Elementary students prepare food bags for community.

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Arrron, of Hope for the World Ministries instructs Heritage 6th graders in sorting food.

WILLIAMS – Students from the Heritage Elementary at 790 Rodeo Road in Williams prepared food bags, today, at Hope for the World Ministries in the downtown mall. This is the second year the students have worked with Hope for the World in the Christmas Season.

Students sort food and hand it to those who are bagging.

Third and Fifth-graders packed 14-bags Thursday morning and Sixth-graders packed ten more in the afternoon. Seventh-graders will pick up the work Friday morning. Some students are packing up other bags at the school for other purposes.

Students bagged about 24-bags, at this point, to distribute in the community.

The students collected over 500 food items at the school . The bags are to be distributed at the Kiwanis community dinner on Sunday.

Children at the Heritage Elementary school collected over 500 pieces of food to distribute this season.

Hope for the World provides food and clothing for the homeless and needy in Williams. This project is with St. Vincent DePaul, but they work with other agencies to help the homeless and Veterans.