WILLIAMS – The Independence day celebration in Williams was filled with activity. The weekly Kiwanis swap meet opened on Friday. The Williams Aquatic Center held a free swim and there was a community event and prayer on Saturday.
Williams was prevented from conducting a fireworks display again, but there was lightning and rain.
The parade this year was held in the evening and was larger than normal. If you missed it, here it is:
WILLIAMS – If you are not on a Hog for the rally, you can take in the Bearizona Drive Through Wildlife Park just to the east of Williams up to an hour later. Bearizona recently extended their hours from 5 to 6 pm for the summer. The gates open at 8 am, though, and unless you are in a rush you should go in early. If you are rushed, you will probably miss much of the park like the walk-through area and petting zoo.
If you are new, here are some tips. The animals are moving earlier in the day when it is cool. They may be moving about later in the afternoon when it cools off. You can go through the drive through portion more than once. So go through once and have your cameras ready. Concentrate on watching the actions of the animals. Go through a second time prepared to get your pictures. Don’t forget to watch for the Kaibab squirrels enjoying lunch with the bears.
You can also enjoy the park by riding the open-air buses which allow you to take pictures without reflection from your windows. So you can drive through once and then take pictures from the bus.
Going earlier will allow you to take in the raptor show and get a closer look at the animals in the walk-through area.
If you are looking for an alternative to the traffic congestion downtown, Bearizona could be your ticket.
WILLIAMS – The appearance of Smokey the Bear at the Memorial Day parade in the City of Williams against a backdrop of smoke was a somber reminder of the result of carelessness. The Slide Rock fire in Oak Creek and Woods Canyon fire near Payson are human-caused fires being fought by fire crews who cannot stop to enjoy the festivities.
975 fire fighters are still on the Slide Rock fire which has consumed nearly 11,000 acres and is still only 5% contained. They are fighting with air craft, as well, and are reporting some positive results with air-dropped fire retardants. Winds have died down—as they usually do around this time—which helps the fire fighters.
With them in mind, the City of Williams went on with the annual parade in honor of those who are fighting, have fought and who died doing their duty for their country.
Members of the American Legion Cordova Post #13 carry the colors followed by the Vietnam Veterans Association.
The parade naturally starts with members of the American Legion Cordova Post #13 carrying the flag. They were followed by the Vietnam Veterans Association.
Entries included the Bill Williams Mountain Men, the First Baptist Church and Saint Joseph Catholic Church and the Shriners. Camp Civitan, The Flagstaff Kennel Club K-9 Drill Team entered and the Cancer Society entered a float for breast cancer awareness.
Of course there were classic cars, politicians, first responders from Junipine, Ponderosa and Williams fire departments and Lifeline Ambulance.
After the parade a concert was held at the community stage. The Williams Aquatic Center was opened thanks to the efforts of the Friends of the Williams Aquatic Center including a pool party.
Attractions such as the Zipline and Bearizona were open for business.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Matthew Broehm post held a fundraising barbeque and sold tickets for their August raffle. They are raffling a Remington Model 870 tactical shotgun to be drawn for during the August Cool-Country Cruise In. Raffle tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. Only 500 tickets will be sold.
Events included the opening of the Williams Aquatic Center and rides on the Zipline.
Photo courtesy of Bearizona Wildlife Drive Through park.
Visitors reported that a bear was “loose” a few feet off the sidewalk in Fort Bearizona. Bearizona staff responded by initiating their Escape and Recapture plan which included evacuating the walk thru area and moving all bears into lock down, while the Recapture Team maintained a visual presence with the bear and prepared for sedation. As visitors calmly left the area, Bearizona staff soon realized that all of the park’s bears were accounted for.
“Even before we began to lock down and count our bears, I took one look at that bear and knew it was not one of ours, ” reported Laura Leinaar, Animal Keeper. “We see our bears every day and can recognize who they are at a glance by their faces and how they walk. This bear didn’t look or walk like any of our bears.”
The bear was sedated while on the ground but immediately climbed a tree and became immobilized about 55 feet in the air nestled among several branches. A team from the Arizona Game and Fish Regional II office in Flagstaff was dispatched and safely removed the bear from the tree. Wildlife managers tagged the male bear and relocated it. “We have a great relationship with the Arizona Game and Fish and are grateful for their help and efficiency while handling this situation,” said Bearizona Chief Operating Officer, Vanessa Stoffel.
After inspecting perimeter fences Stoffel concluded that “The bear likely entered a service entrance gate from the parking lot that borders the Kaibab National forest.” She added, “There are several factors that could have resulted in his visit including the drought and the Slide Fire.”
WILLIAMS – Bearizona Wildlife Drive Through park is holding a job fair on Saturday starting at 10 am and lasting until 2 pm. The fair will be held at Wild West Junction, 321 E Rte 66 in Williams.
They are interviewing for Buster the mascot, car attendant, maintenance, animal staff, and ambassadors. See website for applications and complete job description.
Bearizona also has volunteer opportunities for teenagers over 15 and adults to assist paid staff while developing skills for a full-time job.
Applications available on their website. They will not consider anyone for an interview with an incomplete application.
Bearizona is an equal opportunity employer and drug and alcohol free.
WILLIAMS –The Williams City Council chambers were packed as the Soaring Eagles Zip Line ride passed another hurdle to approval. The Council voted unanimously to approve the special use permit to keep the Zip Line ride in its current location with certain conditions.
Logan Checketts gave his presentation complete with a video from their YouTube channel. Before the video he stated that he has had calls from people who say that they are coming to Williams for the Zip Line ride. He also expressed his desire to be a productive business in the community.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The public participation started with Daniel Robert Watt, co-owner of South Rim Wine Garage, saying with the initial costs of the Zip Line behind, the operating costs would be lower. He said that he understood how difficult it is for new business in the city. He has kept his doors open during the winter to support the community. He also noted that his grandchildren rode the ride and loved it.
Dennis Nelson
“Having said that, I don’t think there’s anything you can do with the Zip Line to make it consistent with the look of what the historic district should be and I think it’s very important to think about as you make this decision,” Nelson said. “It’s not just about the Zip Line now. It’s what you want downtown Williams to look like five, ten, fifteen, twenty-years from now.”
Checketts has repeatedly mentioned the amount of money put into Route 66 theme with the garage look, classic car and antiques. He has not had to theme any of his other rides.
Nelson also noted that whether the Zip Line is taken down this year or later that the city should ensure that funds are available to make repairs to the parking lot and area of the towers.
Dan La Paglia
He was concerned from the beginning when the Zip Line went up without any consultation. He also said that he did not believe it complies with the intent of the historic district. The noise is a concern to La Paglia because it is difficult for him to consult with clients. He complained about the parking situation. He did say that Checketts has been cooperative about the noise by turning the music down and the parking by asking his employees to park elsewhere. When the Zip Line is in operation, however, he has no parking because of the customers.
His other concern was about liability. He said he is not knowledgable about the weather and what would happen if lightning struck the Zip Line with someone on it, but he had to go and ask them to shut it down during a thunderstorm. He said a lady told him the same thing as he was on his way to the site. La Paglia also noted that the chair was occasionally placed over Grand Canyon Boulevard and it could be a distraction to drivers. He said that if he were to sell his property, he would have to disclose about the noise. He also noted that the council was originally only going going to allow it in its present location for one-year and was surprised to learn of the efforts to keep it.
“I believe these guys are cooperative. I believe the city ought to do it. I do not believe that it should remain where it is,” he said ending his comments.
Sean Casey of Bearizona spoke to the council saying that in the 1980s, this town was dying. “The historic district was no such thing. It was storefronts.” What brought it back, he said, was attractions—somehing to do.
“That saved downtown,” he said. “I think we all agree that downtown would not be historic and pretty without an attraction.”
Casey pointed out that we have less than 1.5 day stays in the Williams hotels. “Where I come from there’s fifty attractions and our average stay is four-days or 4-and-a-half.” He said that the Zip Line needs to be where it is for foot traffic.
As for that section being historic, “I think Holst has a nice building. Pancho’s. The Realtor has at least kept up. But in-between there it looks semi-ghettoish and has for apparently a long time.”
He mentioned the Williams Aquatic Center and Dollar General which does not fit into the historic district.
The Grand Canyon attracts 4 million people compared to 2.5 at Mount Rushmore, he noted. He complained about taxes in the city which are among the highest in the country. There are other problems which make business difficult in Williams, such as water and buy-in fees.
John Holst of the Red Garter Bed and Bakery spoke next and stated that after a year of operation it was apparent that this was not going to be a $270,000 a year income to the city. He said that it is interesting that it has split the community. He said that while it may draw some people into Williams, the majority of the riders of the Zip Line are people who are already here. He disagreed with Sean about the ability of the historic district to draw people to this community.
He also said it was a good thing, but in the wrong location. He said it is an impact on the historic downtown. But he did say that a compromise would be to allow one more year to allow them to recoup some more on their investment with a definite ending date in which they would have to move the attraction to another location.
“When the railroad was looking at getting going again, it was the efforts of the efforts in the downtown area, the restoration of the buildings, the sidewalks coming back…, that really encouraged the railroad, I think, to say, ‘Yea. We’re going to sixty-million dollars to be neighbors to this historic district’,” Holst said.
Speaking next, Thomas Ross of I-40 Fleet Rentals said that three people spoke against the project because of its location. He said, though, that he agrees with Casey that it needs to be in that location to be an attraction for foot traffic. He noted that the Zip Line pays a lot of rent to the city and it does not take water. He said that he read a lot of the minutes from the City Council meetings and they generally approve things approved by the Planning and Zoning commission.
He told Dan that he has a lot of pictures of properties for sale, but no one wants to pass to look because of the “ghetto” between where the hooker is in the window and his property. “Nobody wants to walk past there,” he said. He claims that the traffic goes to the Zip Line and then goes back. He added that his kids like to ride.
“That’s [the Zip Line] always going to be just that one other thing. Maybe someday we’ll have a skating rink. Or a movie theater. Or a bowling alley. Or a nice park with a gazebo … and trees. Maybe someday we’ll have something like that, but right now we don’t.”
COUNCIL SESSION
Logan Checketts then faced the council for questions.
Council man Frank McNelly asked about the liability insurance. Checketts said that the insurance was a million-dollar per occurrence and a million-dollars aggregate which is standard throughout the Zip Line industry. There were no injuries or incidents during the operation last year. He said he worked with City Manager Brandon Buchanan on the amount.
McNelly also asked, at the recommendation of Planning and Zoning, that there be a surety bond to ensure that if the Zip Line failed that there would be money to make the repairs on the parking lot and tower area.
Logan said that he felt that the $25,000 that he pays the city before he can open the ride would be surety enough to fix the areas. Later in the session, McNelly said that he was not satisfied with the answer and wanted a separate bond to cover expenses. Logan agreed to a separate bond but City Building Inspector Tim Pettit estimated that the cost of potential repairs would be around $2,000.
Councilman Dr. Jim Wurgler asked about the upfront payment to the city of $25,000. Logan explained that with the $25,000 and the 3% sales tax, the Zip Line paid just over $30,000 to the city. He later explained that the goal this year is to reach $100,000 and grow from there.
Councilman Lee Payne clarified that the Zip Line, according to Checketts, wanted a three-year term contract so that he would not have to go through this process every year. If they cannot arrange a longer-term contract, however, he would be satisfied with another year and re-visit the issue later. He eventually asked for the initial $25,000 plus another $25,000 on top of the sales tax revenues. Checketts said that would be possible.
Payne said, “It was not the cities intent to lease that parking lot.” He said that he supports the work that the Historic Commission did to create the historic district and the parking lot is a big part of that effort. He said that from what he was hearing the only way to determine if the ride would be successful is to remain in that location for a longer period of time.
Logan replied that the longer term contract was best for his business, but he would take a one-year term and go forward from there.
Vice Mayor Don Dent pointed out that the original intent was to give one year to get the attraction going and then move it east to BNSF railroad property that was leased by the city. Dent said because Checketts went to BNSF first, that deal fell through. His issue is the ride takes up room vehicles used to turn around.
Councilman Payne made the motion to approve a special use permit for a term not to exceed two years. This would allow him to operate next year without going through the permitting process if the venue is successful this year. The council unanimously approved the special use permit. For the record, Mayor John Moore said his vote would have been yes.
The city must now negotiate a new lease for approval at a future council meeting.
WILLIAMS—Williams lit the city Christmas tree to highlight its Mountain Village Holiday. The event kicked off with the annual Parade of Lights leading to the lighting by Mayor John Moore and Santa Clause. While the crowd waited they sipped hot chocolate and cokes handed out free by the Grand Canyon Railway which runs the Polar Express.
Mayor John Moore scans the crowd for Santa after the parade no doubt wondering if he is on the “naughty” list.
The parade this year was one of the best. Lasting almost an hour entries can from Flagstaff and Williams. And there were plenty of fire trucks from Williams, Junipine and the forest service. Churches from Williams also came out to celebrate the birth of the Savior.
Mayor John Moore and Santa countdown to the ceremonial lighting of the tree.
We apologize for the delay in our reports. Computer casualties and vacation time interfered with our timely reporting.
WILLIAMS—The dinner by the Grand Canyon Renaissance Experience group at the Sultana theater catered by Anna of the Grand Canyon Coffee and Cafe seems to have been a success.
Crowds shuffled in to dining, music, magic, and song all with a Renaissance flavor.
Mark Worden explained that the original intent was to have a regular renaissance festival, but had a stroke in February. They have had regular renaissance festivals in Flagstaff over the past few years.
This and other fundraising efforts is to build a castle on five-acres provided by Sean Casey of the Bearizona drive through wildlife park for future renaissance affairs.
The Grand Marshal for the parade was Carla Lugo of Williams. Carla is an Army as a logistics readiness officer set to deploy to Afghanistan in July. Leading the Grand Marshal was the American Legion Cordova Post #13 color guard.
The Bearizona shuttle made its debut this week also participating in the parade. The bus makes a run throughout the City of Williams to pick up passengers destined for the park. The bus picks up starting at Denny’s Restaurant at ten-minutes after the hour. At twenty-minutes after the hour the shuttle picks up at the Williams Visitor Center with a pick-up at the Wild West Junction at the half-hour. The shuttle bus allows you to visit the park and take the open-air bus, take in the raptor show and stroll through the walk-through area. The normal park entry fees apply.
Two new businesses opened just in time for the holiday weekend. Glenn and Linda opened Treats N Treasures candy store next to the Sultana for their mother. The store features candy, ice cream, sodas and other great treats and souvenirs you won’t find in other stores. Ivo, with wife Christine, have opened up their beautifully decorated restaurant next to Addicted to Deals.
The free swim signaled the opening of the Williams Aquatic Center for the summer season. The Kiwanis Swap meet brings deals into Williams that cannot be found elsewhere. The swap meet attracts visitors—including a lot foreign tourist. The swap meet also causes less of a blight on the landscape of Williams than the smokers allowed on the sidewalk outside of the bars.
WILLIAMS—The Bearizona drive-through wildlife theme park in Williams celebrates its third year in operation this Wednesday, May 22nd. From its humble beginning, the park grew to include raptor show run by the High Country Raptors. Now they even include an open-air bus tour.
The open windows of the bus allow you to take photographs without interference from the car windows. The cost is $4 for adults, $3 for children 4 to 12 and children under three ride for free.
On the tour you will see goats, donkeys, Bighorn sheep, wolves and the star attraction. In the walk-through area you can take in the free raptor show or some of the smaller animals and juvenile bears.