Category Archives: Flagstaff

Pioneer Museum in Flagstaff hosts Black History Month presentation Thursday

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FLAGSTAFF – On Thursday, February 23, the National Park Service, Kaibab National Forest, Arizona Historical Society Pioneer Museum and Flagstaff Arts Council are hosting presentations on the history of northern Arizona’s black community titled, Hidden and Revealed: Revisiting the African American Experience in Northern Arizona. Come learn the history of northern Arizona’s black pioneers and their settlement in the Flagstaff, Williams and Grand Canyon area.

Local scholars Margaret Hangan, Kaibab National Forest Heritage Program Manager, Public Lands Historian, Ben Carver, Ph. D and Historian, Jack Reid, Ph. D will present on the early history of African Americans in the southwestern United States, including migration and settlement in Flagstaff and Williams and working on public lands in northern Arizona.

This program is part of the Flagstaff Pioneer Museum, Night at the Museum production, Hidden and Revealed and includes a public reception with appetizers and drinks at 5:30 at the Pioneer Museum (2340 N Fort Valley Rd, Flagstaff), followed at 6:30 by presentations at the Coconino Center for the Arts (2300 N Fort Valley Rd – directly behind Pioneer Museum). This event is free and all ages are welcome.

Winter storm advisory through Sunday afternoon

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WILLIAMS – Rain started sprinkling about 6 a.m. this morning with a quick dump of slush about 6:45 for about fifteen-minutes. A winter weather advisory takes effect at the end of the day running through late Sunday afternoon. There is a chance of up to 5″ of snow through Sunday. 25- to 32-miles of wind are expected today with gusts up to 43. Winds will drop overnight and remain up to 14-mph through Sunday with gusts up to 20. The weather will clear Monday and Tuesday with rising temperatures and breezy. Chance of rain returns by Tuesday night through Thursday clearing up and becoming sunny Friday.

Sheriff’s Office Pleased to Announce First Local Attorney is Advertising Services in Detention Facility

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Commander Figueroa showing Attorney Advertising Program to benefit inmate welfare

FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce that a local attorney, The Kaiser Law Group, is the first to take advantage of our program allowing purchase of ad space in our lobby and also contributing to the Inmate Welfare Fund.

In 2015 the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office developed a unique program giving attorneys the opportunity to advertise their services at the Coconino County Detention Facility. The advertising does two things. First it provides attorneys and law firms a place to inform individuals of their legal services. Second, the advertising purchase costs are put toward important programs in the Coconino County Detention Facility that enhance inmate welfare.

In 2016, in an effort to provide incentive for local attorneys to enter into this mutually beneficial service, the cost of having legal service advertisement displayed in a 14” x 11” space in our detention lobby was reduced from $5,000 to $2,500 per year. This equates to a little more than $200 per month which is far cheaper than many other forms of advertising. The cost includes printing a color poster with and the acrylic display frame with a holder for business cards.

We believe that allowing advertising in our jail lobby can help connect many people coming into the lobby with legal assistance. All moneys generated from renting an advertisement space will go to the Inmate Welfare Fund which supports important programs such as Exodus (our in-custody drug and alcohol treatment program), re-entry programs, and other services that directly benefit our inmate population.

We believe this is a win-win for participating attorneys and the inmates in the detention facility. Interested attorneys may contact Kathleen Levinson at 928-226-5074 or klevinson@coconino.az.gov for details on this program.

Pavement repair continues on Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff

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PHOENIX – After the back-to-back winter storms that took a toll on highways in Arizona’s high country, Arizona Department of Transportation maintenance crews are continuing to repair pavement along Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff.

This week, maintenance crews completed pavement repairs along I-40 and I-17 in the Flagstaff area.

Next week, the work will focus on I-40 westbound between mileposts 108-110, approximately 12 miles west of Seligman, and I-40 eastbound between mileposts 168-170, just a few miles east of Williams. The work includes patching potholes and laying asphalt over the existing pavement in some areas.

Potholes can pop up quickly when moisture seeps into and below asphalt, which in northern Arizona can be stressed by the combination of freezing overnight temperatures and daytime thawing. The Flagstaff area usually experiences more than 200 daily freeze-thaw cycles each year. Add heavy traffic, and this stressed pavement can break away.

ADOT has two projects coming later this year along I-40 between Flagstaff and Williams that will add a new layer of pavement in both directions.

ADOT: Weekend Travel Advisory

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Drivers should be aware of the following restrictions this weekend:

  • Northbound Interstate 17 narrowed to one lane between 19th Avenue and Van Buren Street from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Sunday
  • Eastbound US 60 (Superstition Freeway) closed between Greenfield and Higley roads from 10 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Saturday
  • Eastbound US 60 (Superstition Freeway) closed between Higley and Power roads from 10 p.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday
  • Drivers on I-40 from Flagstaff through Ash Fork should be prepared to dodge potholes. (Our addition)

Filling and spilling: Flagstaff area lakes highest in years

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Kaibab Lake Spillway

FLAGSTAFF – A recent influx of snow and subsequent run-off is giving many Flagstaff area lakes a refill. During the past two years, water levels at Kaibab Lake near Williams had been far too low to stock fish. Thanks to recent heavy rains, the lake is full and spilling. Santa Fe Dam just south of Williams has been overflowing for weeks. Cataract Lake and Buckskinner reservoir in Williams are also full.

All lakes in the Flagstaff region are ice free. The Arizona Game and Fish Department will not be stocking all lakes, and the ones that will be stocked will not get fish until after March 1.

Cataract Lake spillway flows steadily

Some other updates from this region:

  • Dogtown Lake, near Kaibab on the south Williams, should be full. Anglers who can get into Dogtown might catch some of the holdover rainbows and browns since spring fishing can be pretty good. The lake has probably picked up 10 to 11 feet of depth since December and so the fishing might be a little slow, but the trout should be feeding.
  • Ashurst Lake is full. The road to Ashurst Lake remains closed and is very muddy and there are some heavy snow drifts.
  • Upper Lake Mary is about 1 foot from spilling (up 6 inches since Tuesday) and Lower Lake Mary is about 1/3 to 1/2 full. If more moisture comes this weekend, Upper Lake Mary will probably spill into Lower Lake Mary — and so it might fill this year.
  • Frances Short Pond will be stocked with the normal weekly stockings starting in March. Anglers should be able to catch fish at Frances Short right now since they were catching them before it iced over (and since it was full at that time, the fish-to-water ratio is the same.) For all of the other lakes, until we can stock the fishing will probably be somewhat poor.

New I-40 pavement sensors helping ADOT identify and address ice before it forms

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PHOENIX – Sensors installed at three Interstate 40 locations west of Flagstaff are helping the Arizona Department of Transportation forecast the likelihood of ice forming and respond accordingly.

The combination of freezing temperatures and moisture means ice can form overnight in Arizona’s high country. It’s an especially big challenge on I-40 between Ash Fork and Flagstaff, which is above 6,000 feet in most places and sees heavy use by commercial and passenger vehicles.

“Technology can provide us with another way to keep motorists safe as they travel to Arizona’s colder regions,” said Audra Merrick, district engineer for ADOT’s North Central District. “These sensors are another tool in ADOT’s toolbox to help keep the highways clear of snow and ice during winter season.”

The roadway sensors, positioned just west of Flagstaff, just west of Williams and on Ash Fork Hill, are connected to ADOT Road Weather Information System locations, which use cameras and instruments to provide the latest conditions. Each location has one sensor measuring the salt content of road surface moisture, which affects the freezing point, and another measuring the temperature of the ground underneath.

A computer program combines this information with data from the Road Weather Information System and National Weather Service to forecast the likelihood of ice forming, helping ADOT determine whether to send crews out to lay deicing material.

The program can also alert operators if the pavement temperature drops below a certain threshold.

The data provided so far has been so helpful that ADOT plans to install sensors at additional high-country roadway locations over the next few years.

The three sensors on I-40 cost $90,000 and were funded through ADOT maintenance funds.

Vendors wanted for 2017 Coconino County Fair

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FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Parks and Recreation is currently accepting vendor applications for the 2017 Coconino County Fair, to be held September 1 to 4, 2017 at Fort Tuthill County Park. Vendors may submit applications for amusement, food, commercial businesses and non-profits.

First review of applications will take place in March 2017.

To promote local products and services, an early bird rate is being extended to Coconino County-based, commercial vendors. Interested business owners and operators are encouraged to submit a vendor application by May 31 to take advantage of a 50 percent early bird discount for non-premium outdoor locations on the fairgrounds. Non-profit vendors and food vendors are not eligible for early bird rates.

Vendor applications are available on the Coconino County Parks and Recreation’s website at Coconino.az.gov/CountyFair.

Snow today, rain through tomorrow

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WILLIAMS – Williams and Flagstaff may experience some snow before noon, today, turning to rain in the afternoon and through Tuesday. Ash Fork, Valle and the surrounding area can expect rain through the same period.

Winds today will be West southwest wind 18 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. On Tuesday winds will be 15-mph with gusts up to 23. The chill factor will be minimal and temperatures will remain in the mid-40s.

It is expected to clear Wednesday and Thursday with temperatures in the 50s. Chance of rain will return Friday and through the weekend, but temperatures are currently expected to remain in the upper-40s and lower-50s.

No hazardous conditions are predicted for the time frame. The rain should wash away some of the remaining snow and residents can expect muddy conditions. Icy conditions may exist in the early morning hours, so drivers should take caution.

Annual bald eagle event set for Flagstaff

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FLAGSTAFF – Did you know that Arizona is visited by over 200 bald eagles during the winter? To learn more about these amazing birds and to see live eagles, the public is invited to attend the Annual Bald Eagle Celebration on Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Willow Bend Environmental Educational Center at 703 E. Sawmill Road in Flagstaff.

Several programs will be offered during this year’s event, which is hosted by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Willow Bend Environmental Education Center. The cost for the event is $5 per participant for each program or free for Willow Bend Members.

All programs, except field trip, will be held at Willow Bend. The day will also include an opportunity to see live bald eagles up close and a chance to talk with dedicated individuals from Liberty Wildlife Rehabilitation Foundation.

  • 8-10 a.m. – “Early Birds” Field Trip: Join current and retired AZ Game and Fish wildlife biologists for an early morning field trip searching for bald eagles and local waterfowl around Lake Mary. Meet at 8 a.m. at AZ Game and Fish Office at 3500 Lake Mary Road. Personal transportation is required and carpooling is encouraged. The field trip will be cancelled if there is inclement weather.
  • 10-11 a.m. – “Eaglets” Family Presentation: A family-focused interactive program especially designed for families with young children (ages 4-12 years old). Learn about and view live eagles.
  • 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – “Fully Fledged” Community Presentation 1: Learn about the incredible bald eagle from an Arizona Game and Fish biologist and view live eagles up close. Presentation is open to all ages. (Please note this is the same presentation as the 1 p.m. session. Please only sign up for one presentation.)
  • 1-2 p.m. – “Fully Fledged” Community Presentation 2: Learn about the incredible bald eagle from an Arizona Game and Fish biologist and view live eagles up close. Presentation is open to all ages.

“Educating people about wildlife, conservation and management is a goal for Willow Bend and Arizona Game and Fish,” Willow Bend Director Moran Henn said. “We are very excited to be partnering with Game and Fish and Liberty Wildlife again for this year’s event.”

Those going on the early bird field trip should remember to dress appropriately for weather conditions, and bring binoculars and bird field guidebooks. To register for one of the programs offered or for more information, visit www.willowbendcenter.org.