Free backpacks with back-to-school shots and sports physicals

FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Public Health Services District (CCPHSD) Clinic is providing free backpacks to students that come in for back-to-school immunizations or sports physicals while supplies last.

Appointments are available at the CCPHSD Clinic, 2625 N. King Street, Flagstaff Monday – Friday from 8 – 11 a.m. and noon – 5 p.m. Call 928-679-7222 to make an appointment.

Immunizations and sports physicals are also available on a walk-in basis on Super Service Saturdays, Aug. 11 & Sept. 8 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Visit www.coconino.az.gov/superservicesaturday for more information.

The cost for a sports physical is $20. Childhood immunizations are available via the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program or through insurance. Individuals seeking vaccinations that have insurance should bring their insurance card and immunizations records. No one will be denied services due to an inability to pay.

Childhood immunizations protect children from 16 serious diseases and are an important step toward ensuring long-term health. Immunizations also help protect the health of others in the community, including those who are unable to be vaccinated. When a high percentage of the population is protected through immunization, it is difficult for an infectious disease to spread because there are fewer susceptible people.

Seeking Public’s Help in Locating Two Suspects in Sexual Assault Case

FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in locating two suspects in a reported sexual assault that occurred this morning in the wooded area by Kachina Village.

The two suspects are described as males, possibly Hispanic, driving an older model, single cab red pickup truck. The truck has signs of rust. At the time of the incident, both males were wearing blue jeans and one had an orange t-shirt, possibly like that worn on construction sites.

The incident occurred around 9:30 am this morning in the area of Forest Service Rd 237 which is a route between Kachina Village area and SR89A.

If anyone has information regarding the identity or location of these individuals or about this crime, please contact the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at 1-800-338-7888 or Silent Witness at 928-774-6111.

CCSO Seeking Public’s Help in Identifying Persons of Interest in Burglaries

Stoneman Lake, AZ – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying two persons of interest in connection with recent residential burglaries in the Stoneman Lake area.

Credit cards stolen during the burglaries were used at a casino on June 15, 2018. The Sheriff’s Office is releasing a video showing two males who were seen at the casino during the time frame that the stolen credit cards were used. The persons of interest are the two men seen walking past the camera. Snapshots from the video also are included.

If anyone has information regarding the identity of these individuals or about these crimes, please contact the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at 1-800-338-7888 or Silent Witness at 928-774-6111.

TRAVEL ALERT: Closure scheduled on eastbound Interstate 40 at Interstate 17 early Saturday, July 21

Flagstaff drivers should plan for delays on eastbound Interstate 40 at Interstate 17 on Saturday, July 21, between 5 and 10 a.m. while crews complete emergency pothole repairs. Eastbound I-40 will be closed at I-17 while repair work is underway. Drivers will be detoured onto southbound I-17 to J.W. Powell Boulevard to exit and re-enter northbound I-17 to eastbound I-40.

Construction crews are currently repairing and replacing bridge decks on four I-40 bridges that carry traffic over I-17 and Beulah Boulevard with a lane closure through the work zone. The potholes developed in the open lane, due in part to recent heavy rains, and require the interstate closure to make the necessary repairs.

Fire restrictions lifted north of the Grand Canyon

FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County will lift fire restrictions above the North Rim of the Grand Canyon effective immediately. This region received significant moisture during the last week, decreasing fire risk.

Currently, there are no fire restrictions in any area of the County. However, several areas in the region may have received less precipitation, causing fire danger to be higher in some locations. Residents and visitors are asked to use caution when using equipment or items that can spark a fire. They are also asked to extinguish all campfires, operate ATVS and motorcycles with spark arrestors and to use caution when operating barbeque grills. Residents and visitors are reminded they can be legally responsible for causing wildfires.

A link to the full Wildfire Defense Ordinance can be found at www.coconino.az.gov/ready.

Heavy rainfall, flooding in Schultz Flood Area causes road closures

FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County has activated an Emergency Operation Center (EOC) to coordinate emergency response operations due to heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding this afternoon in the Schultz Flood area.

County Public Works crews closed Brandis Way due to significant water over the roadway. Debris obstructed one of the culverts, diverting water and debris onto the road and rendering it impassable. Public Works has crews on scene and has begun assessment of the damage and clean-up will commence as soon as it’s safe to enter.

Residents of Brandis Way will not be able to access their homes. The American Red Cross has set-up an evacuation center at Cromer Elementary at 7150 Silver Saddle Rd, Flagstaff.

Several other roads north of Copeland Lane have received flood damage and the County is monitoring that area as well. There is also a report of water in at least one home.

Public Works has a crew on scene and will begin assessment and clean-up of debris as soon as it is safe to enter.

A call center has been opened for people impacted by these closures and in the area to call with questions (928)213-2990.

Multi-Agency Rescue of Injured Hiker at Grand Falls

FLAGSTAFF — On Monday, July 16 at approximately 7:00 pm multiple agencies responded to rescue an injured hiker at Grand Falls. The 18-year-old female hiker from Flagstaff had descended a route on the west side of Grand Falls with a group. While scrambling out, a hand hold that she was using broke loose causing her to fall approximately 30 feet. The hiker sustained non-life-threatening injuries but was unable to climb out of the area on her own.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office-Search and Rescue Unit, Summit Fire District, Flagstaff Fire Department, Navajo Nation Fire Department, Navajo Nation Police Department, and Arizona Department of Public Safety Northern Air Rescue responded. A Heli-Rescue Technician from the Flagstaff Fire Department boarded the Arizona DPS Air Rescue helicopter and flew to the accident site. The helicopter performed a one-skid landing to allow the crew to access the hiker. The crew carried her back to the helicopter for transport to the parking area. DPS Air Rescue with an additional paramedic from Summit Fire District on board flew the hiker to Flagstaff Medical Center for treatment of her injuries.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind visitors to the Grand Falls area that there may be elevated flows due to the monsoon rains that can make hiking to the base of the falls hazardous. Hikers should be prepared for the conditions and be prepared to change their plans if the conditions do not seem conducive to the activity they planned.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all of the agencies that responded to this incident. The team work and relationships between the public safety agencies contributed to the successful outcome of this call.

Interstate 40 and Beulah Boulevard traffic impacts

Flagstaff drivers should prepare for traffic impacts including lane restrictions and full closures while crews continue bridge work at Interstate 40 and Beulah Boulevard. Crews are scheduled to pour a new eastbound I-40 bridge deck over Beulah Boulevard.

One-direction overnight closures of Beulah Boulevard are scheduled for the following times:

Southbound Beulah will be closed from 9 p.m., Friday, July 20, through 1 a.m., Saturday, July 21. The southbound Beulah Boulevard detour route takes drivers north to Forest Meadows Street, east to I-17 and south onto southbound I-17 to the J.W. Powell/I-17 Interchange, then north on Beulah Boulevard.
Northbound Beulah will be closed from 12:01 to 7 a.m., Saturday, July 21. The northbound Beulah Boulevard detour route takes drivers southbound to the J.W. Powell/ I-17 Interchange and then north on I-17 to Forest Meadows Street, then west to Beulah Boulevard.

In addition, the following restrictions are in place:

I-17 is reduced to one lane in both directions through Tuesday, July 17.

Interstate 40 is reduced to one lane in both directions through August.

The northbound I-17 to westbound I-40 ramp remains closed for the duration of the project. Traffic that would normally use this ramp is being detoured onto I-40 eastbound, then exiting at Butler Avenue and heading west on I-40.

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

For more information, visit the project website. For questions or comments, call Mackenzie Kirby, ADOT Community Relations project manager at 928.525.6494 or email mkirby@azdot.gov.

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.

Candidates sought to run for school board

FLAGSTAFF – There are 11 Coconino County School Districts with governing board vacancies for the November 6 election.

Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Risha VanderWey encourages residents to get involved in local education by running as volunteer school board members to help shape policies impacting education.

Governing board seats are open in the following districts:

  • Flagstaff Unified School District (two seats);
  • Williams Unified School District (two seats);
  • Grand Canyon Unified School District (three seats);
  • Chevlon Butte Unified School District (four seats);
  • Fredonia-Moccasin Unified School District (five seats);
  • Page Unified School District (three seats);
  • Maine Consolidated Unified School District (four seats);
  • Tuba City Unified School District (two seats);
  • Coconino Community College District 5 (one seat);
  • Coconino Association for Vocations, Industry and Technology (CAVIAT) Fredonia, Grand Canyon, Williams, and Page; and
  • Northeast Arizona Technological Institute of Vocational Education (NATIVE) Tuba City.

To be eligible, candidates must be Arizona registered voters and residents of the school district for at least one year prior to the Nov. 6 election. Candidates or their spouses may not be an employee of the district.

Nomination packets can be found online at: http://coconino.az.gov/1939/2018-School-Board-Elections

Packets can only be turned in between July 9, 2018 through August 8, 2018.

For more information or to request a packet by mail, please call Elizabeth Sorg at 928-679-8070 or e-mail esorg@coconino.az.gov.

Interstate 40 ramp closures between Parks and Williams in northern Arizona

Drivers on Interstate 40 in northern Arizona are advised to plan for travel delays on Interstate 40 because of traffic realignment and ramp closures at Parks, 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.

As crews complete work to rebuild 5 westbound miles of the freeway between mileposts 167 and 172, traffic moved back to the westbound lanes as the temporary crossover in that section was removed and the westbound on- and off-ramps at Garland Prairie and Pittman Valley roads reopened after being closed since May.

On Thursday, July 12, the eastbound on-ramp and westbound off-ramp at Parks will close for a few weeks to allow crews to continue rebuilding a 1-mile section of I-40 in both directions near the interchange. Traffic for both ramp closures will be detoured to Pittman Valley Road where traffic will exit and re-enter I-40 eastbound towards their destination.

In a few weeks, crews will place concrete barrier on the westbound side of I-40 so both directions of traffic will use one lane in each direction while crews rebuild the eastbound lanes between mileposts 167 and 172. The eastbound on- and off-ramps at Garland Prairie and Pittman Valley roads will close for the next few months. The ramps at the Parks Road interchange at milepost 178 will reopen to help detour traffic.

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.

Crews are completing work on westbound I-40 between Garland Prairie and Pittman Valley roads first, then moving to eastbound I-40 in the same area. 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 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.