Category Archives: Flagstaff

Major weather impact predicted through Tuesday

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Northern Arizona – Travel from any point to Flagstaff will be very difficult over the next couple of days. The weather service expects white-out conditions and heavy snow starting Monday morning through to Tuesday morning. High winds and blowing snow could pose a major hazard for travelers along I-40 and especially I-17 around the areas of Kachina Village and Munds Park south of Flagstaff.

According to the weather service, snow levels will be from 4000′ – 5000′ tonight dropping to 2000′ by Tuesday. The possible levels in the area are 15-21″ in Flagstaff, 16-22 in Williams, 6-10″ in Chino Valley and 7-11″ in Seligman. Snow fall could reach 1″ an hour over Monday during the day and Monday night.

Temperatures will drop to the single-digits for the upper elevations to the lower teens for elevations below 4000′. A winter storm warning may be issued by the weather service starting Monday morning.

If you must travel during these periods, remember NOT to get right behind a snowplow on the freeways hoping to get clearer roads. The snowplow stop and change directions frequently and you could be involved in an accident. Stay clear of snow plows.

The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) was activated yesterday and will be monitoring tonight starting about 6 p.m. through the storm. They will be monitoring the repeaters on Bill Williams and in particular the 146.780 (-91.5) repeater and 146.980 (-162.2) repeater on Mount Elden. Should the repeaters fail, they monitor 146.980 simplex.

Northern Arizona to finally get significant snowfall through Monday

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WILLIAMS — According to the National Weather Service, a storm passing through northern Arizona could bring the first significant snowfall since November of 2019. This could, unfortunately, bring traffic problems along I-40 and highway 64.

Two- to four-inches are expected over Friday night. Another six-inches could fall over Saturday night. 2- to 4-inches more could fall over Sunday. Monday through Tuesday during the day, there is about an 80% chance of snow, but levels are not predicted yet. Snow will continue Wednesday through Thursday, but the chances drop to around 20%.

Winds for the period will be moderate execpt for Friday night with gusts up to 28-mph and Monday with gusts to 25-mph.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Office investigating possible kidnapping

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Blue Ridge — On 12/15/2020 the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office was attempting to locate a male suspect and female victim who was reportedly forced into a vehicle south of Flagstaff, Arizona, along Interstate 17 in the late morning hours.

At 1157 hours the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Mustang Gas Station at Clint’s Wells along Hwy 87, reporting the vehicle involved from the incident on I-17 in the area. The caller reported a female passenger strapped/tied to the front passenger seat in a white in colored 4dr Jeep Wrangler with a black top. The reporting party then followed the suspect vehicle south along Highway 87 from Clint’s Wells until the suspect turned off on to Forest Service Road 141 east.

The Reporting party obtained and reporting the vehicle information to the 911 dispatch center. The vehicle returned to a subject out of Scottsdale, Arizona. During the investigation it was learned a Brandon Thomas Stewart of Scottsdale, was in possession of the vehicle in question.

Pings on the phone lead the Sheriff’s Office, Navajo County Sheriff’s Office and Department of Public Safety Helicopter to begin Searching the area east of Highway 87 and north of Forest Service road 300.

Later in the evening the suspect vehicle was located, and a high-risk traffic stop was conducted by DPS and Navajo County Sheriff’s Office at mile post 283 on Interstate 40.

The driver Brandon Stewart was taken into custody without incident and the female victim was located uninjured. Brandon Stewart was transported to the Navajo County Detention facility and booked on charges of Unlawful Imprisonment. Further charges are pending.

This incident is still under investigation and no further information is currently available. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Public Safety for their assistance in this incident.

Fire restrictions lifted in Coconino and Kaibab Forests

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FLAGSTAFF, WILLIAMS — Stage 1 fire restrictions have been lifted for the Kaibab National Forest, and a reduced Bill Williams Mountain closure is anticipated to be issued in the coming days.

Although fire danger has decreased, safety hazards will still exist on Bill Williams Mountain while fuels reduction and forest restoration operations occur on the steep slopes, which is expected to continue through the season as conditions allow. The current closure on Bill Williams Mountain will remain in place at this time; however, the Forest Service is developing a reduced closure that allows as much access as possible while continuing to provide for public safety. Details of this change will be distributed when the closure is updated.

Fire managers have been evaluating conditions regularly since restrictions were implemented earlier this summer. While the forecast for the next several weeks includes dry weather and unseasonably higher temperatures, the recent precipitation and generally colder weather has helped reduce fire danger.

It is important to remember that wildfires could still burn uncharacteristically for this time of year, given the overall conditions of the forest. The public is urged to help prevent human-caused wildfires by ensuring campfires are fully extinguished – cold to the touch – before leaving them unattended. Abandoning a campfire is prohibited all year round.

Fire restrictions and closures can be found on the Kaibab National Forest Alerts and Notices webpage.

Stage 1 fire restrictions are currently lifted across Coconino National Forest, as key components and measurements that fire managers use to determine the implementation of fire restrictions have dropped, which has also decreased fire danger.

However, visitors should be aware of certain areas that have fire restrictions year-round, which can be found on the Coconino NF Forest Orders web page.

Coconino Forest briefly came out of fire restrictions when monsoon arrived in July, but then reentered Stage 1 fire restrictions on August 14 and has been in restrictions up until today.

Coconino NF to sell limited number of Christmas tree permits

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino National Forest began selling a limited number of Christmas tree permits online on October 15, and permit owners will be allowed to begin cutting Nov. 16 through December 24.

A total of 1,050 permits will be available for purchase on the Coconino NF Christmas Tree Recreation.gov webpage, which also lists details about designated cutting areas, maps, dates, and types of trees that may be cut.

Two hundred permits will be designated for the cutting areas within the Flagstaff Ranger District, while 850 permits will be designated for the cutting areas within the Mogollon Rim Ranger District. A small amount of over-the-counter permits may be available in late November, but are not available currently since all permits are being sold online starting tomorrow.

When purchasing a permit online, it is important to carefully read the overview and need-to-know information prior to purchasing. Visitors will also need to set up or login to a Recreation.gov account to complete the transaction. Permits will be issued one per household on a first-come, first-served basis until sold out.

Many other national forests are also selling Christmas tree permits online for their forests. To find out if online Christmas tree permits are available in your neck of the woods, visit www.recreation.gov and search for “Christmas Tree Permits” to pull up a list of all the national forests that are participating.

Route 66 On-The-Air again

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Route 66 is on the air.

FLAGSTAFF — Once again the amateur radio operators along Route 66 take to the air waves for the annual Route 66 On-The-Air event. Amateur radio operators, also known as “Hams,” will try to make contacts with other amateur operators from around the world. The event runs from 5 p.m. this Friday, September 11 until 3 p.m. Sunday, September 20 MST.

Glen Davis, KG7YDJ, on the air in Bellemont in 2019.

Amateur radio operators conduct contests and events throughout the year to test equipment by trying to make as many contacts as possible in a specified amount of time. Operators who make contact with all of the Route 66 stations can receive a “QSL” card from each. When they are put together, they make a map of Route 66.

Ron Gerlack and Andrew Gissel WA7DPS work Route 66 On-The-Air in Bellemont last year.

Some of the stations are stationary at the homes of various amateur radio operators and some are rovers that go to different places along Route 66. In the Flagstaff area, Ron Gerlack KG7OH of the Northern Arizona DX Association—the amateur radio club that works the event—takes the Coconino Amateur Radio Club trailer with various amateur radio equipment to various locations along Route 66. The call sign for this roaming station is W6T.

In the past, Ron has set up at Williams, Bellemont, the Grand Canyon Caverns, Twin Arrows, Seligman and a number of other places. This year he plans to set up at Bellemont, again, and along the “S” curve in Parks, Arizona.

At Twin Arrows in 2018.

Fire restrictions to be implemented Friday for Coconino and Kaibab Forests

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FLAGSTAFF, WILLIAMS –— Due to lack of monsoon precipitation and key criteria being met for restrictions, the Coconino and Kaibab national forests will enter Stage 1 campfire and smoking restrictions Friday, August 14 at 8 a.m. The goal of the fire restrictions is to protect public health by reducing the number of preventable human-caused wildfires.

Under the restrictions, fires, campfires, charcoal, coal and wood stoves are prohibited, except within a developed recreation site. Smoking is also prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or a developed recreation site. Using a device that is solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off is allowed in areas that are barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within three feet of the device. Fireworks are always prohibited on all national forest lands.

Fire officials acknowledge it is rare for restrictions to be applied twice in the same year, however these decisions are based on a combination of factors that are carefully measured. Criteria used to determine when to implement restrictions include things such as current and predicted weather, fuel moisture, a variety of science-based indices, fire activity levels and available firefighting resources.

Fire restrictions are implemented to help prevent unwanted, human-caused fires and to limit the exposure of visitors during periods of potentially dangerous fire conditions. With no significant moisture predicted in the long term forecast, additional restrictions may be applied at any time conditions warrant which could include Stage 2 Fire Restrictions and additional closure areas as needed. Fire restrictions typically remain in effect until the area covered by the restrictions receives significant precipitation, at which time they will be rescinded.

An explanation of the different stages of fire restrictions and what is typically prohibited during those stages can be found online at www.tinyurl.com/firestagesexplained.

The Kaibab National Forest will also temporarily close the Bill Williams Mountain watershed just southwest of the City of Williams due to the area’s susceptibility to uncharacteristically severe wildfire and post-wildfire flooding that could result.

There will be a modified boundary of this closure area on the south side of the mountain reducing the southern closure boundary from FR108 north to FR122.

Forest officials would also like to remind visitors that having a campfire on the national forest while under fire restrictions is a violation that can carry a mandatory appearance in federal court. Visitors should use extra caution when recreating on all public lands during fire season.

Coconino County praises passage of Great American Outdoors Act

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County applauds todays enactment of the Great American Outdoors Act which establishes the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund to address over $507 million deferred maintenance needs in Arizona. This landmark legislation also permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a critical funding tool for Coconino County.

“The Board of Supervisors has tirelessly advocated for many years for the improvement of federal lands within our county and funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund,” said Coconino County Chairwoman Liz Archuleta. “The Great American Outdoors Act will help to revitalize the infrastructure of federal lands and provide more public open space for recreation, a vital component to increasing the economic value of tourism. Thank you to all those in the Arizona delegation that voted for this monumental piece of legislation.”

Coconino County is the second-largest county in the continental United States encompassing more than 18,000 square miles. Coconino County is home to national treasures, including Wupatki National Monument, Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Sunset Crater, Walnut Canyon National Monument and, most notably, the Grand Canyon National Park. The Great American Outdoors Act will provide deferred maintenance funding for these institutions.

Historically, LWCF funds have supported 33 projects in Coconino County totaling $1,955,704. These 33 diverse projects, some dating back to 1966, range from work at Fort Tuthill County
Park and Fort Tuthill Bike Park, to the ballfield at Thorpe Park in the City of Flagstaff. LWCF projects in Coconino County provide a way for people to connect to their environment and with each other, and ensure recreational access for hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities.

The Great American Outdoors Act was supported by Arizona Senators Sinema and McSally and Representatives O’Halleran, Grijalva, Kirkpatrick, Gallego, Stanton and Schweikert.

President Trump signed the legislation into law on August 4. Coconino County is grateful to all those who supported this legislation to protect our natural resources.

2020 Coconino County Fair to be held virtually

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FLAGSTAFF — The 2020 Coconino County Fair will move forward this year as an online event with virtual 4-H shows, pictures of entry winners, streaming entertainment, and a virtual vendor marketplace. A “community connections” portion encourages community members to share favorite recipes, gardening tips and tricks, flower growing advice, and to vote for people’s choice awards in fine arts for photography and other art mediums. While the annual Coconino County Fair will look different this year, the public is encouraged to participate and make it a community-wide celebration.

The Coconino County Parks and Recreation Department and 4-H Cooperative Extension Office decided to move forward virtually, including livestock shows and Clubwork exhibits after over eight weeks of information gathering, planning, and meetings with partners such as Coconino County Health and Human Services, Fair Superintendents, and the Northern Arizona Junior Livestock Association.

The Fair Books, one for 4-H and one for community members, are also online. Community entries are due by Friday, August 21. The County Fair is featuring a select number of entry categories per department, and people will submit a photo of their entry online for judging. Winners will receive cash prizes, provided by sponsors Friends of Coconino County Park, and the Cromer and Heflin families.

Coconino County Parks and Recreation is currently accepting virtual vendor applications for the virtual vendor marketplace that will provide a way for community members to enjoy the County Fair from the comfort of their own home. Food, commercial, and nonprofit vendors are encouraged to apply to be part of the 2020 Vendor Marketplace at CoconinoCountyFair.com. The Fair asks that vendors provide a special item or promotion to be available at least during Labor Day Weekend, September 4 through September 7, 2020.

The Fair Books and vendor application are available on the Coconino County Fair website at CoconinoCountyFair.com.

Coconino NF seeks public comments on extension of SF Peaks mineral withdrawal

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino National Forest has filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to extend a San Francisco Peaks mineral withdraw for an additional 20 years and is seeking public comments regarding the extension.
Public Land Order 7467 withdrew 74,689 acres in the SF Peaks/Mt Elden recreation area in 2000 from settlement, sale, location, or entry under the general land and mining laws, but not from leasing under the mineral leasing laws. The order expires Oct. 15, 2020, but an extension would continue the withdrawal to protect the cultural significance, capital investments and dispersed recreation values in the defined recreation area.
BLM provided notice of application in the Federal Register on June 16, which provides the public the opportunity to comment on the withdrawal extension application.
Coconino NF will be hosting a virtual public meeting August 17 at 5 p.m., and the public can attend this online meeting by sending an email to
comments-southwestern-coconino-flagstaff@usda.gov with “Withdrawal” in the subject line to receive a meeting invite with an online link.
The public can also provide comments to the BLM by mail, fax, or email. All comments should be sent to the BLM Arizona State Office, One North Central, Suite 800, Phoenix, Arizona, 85004; faxed to 602-417-9452; or sent by email to BLM_AZ_Withdrawal_Comments@blm.gov. The BLM will not consider comments received via telephone calls.