Category Archives: City

Moisture moving in may bring flash floods

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WILLIAMS — A moist airmass over Arizona with the potential of heavy rain producing thunderstorm complexes caused the National Weather service to issue a flash flood watch in portions of east central and west central Arizona. The areas affected are northern Gila County, Oak Creek and Sycamore Canyons, Yavapai County Mountains, and Yavapai County Valleys and Basins. Rainfall rates can result in strong, rapidly rising water in area washes, which may create hazardous conditions at low water crossings. . Localized rainfall amounts could exceed 1 inch in less than an hour, with storm total rainfall possibly above 3 inches. The Flash Flood Watch runs from September 23 at 3:19AM MST until September 24 at 5:00AM MST.

NOAA warns against crossing flooded roads and low-laying areas. No matter how powerful your vehicle, it does not take much water flow to carry it downstream.

In Williams there is an 40% chance of thunderstorms raising to 80% tonight. Thunderstorms are likely through Sunday.

Flu Shots available at County Health and Human Services

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FLAGSTAFF – The seasonal influenza vaccine is available at the Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) Clinic in Flagstaff.

Flu shots are available beginning Monday, Sept. 23 at the CCHHS Clinic, 2625 N. King Street, Flagstaff. Appointments are available Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Walk-ins are accepted as availability permits. Call the CCHHS Clinic at 928-679-7222 to make an appointment.

The cost for a flu vaccination at the CCHHS Clinic is $30. High-dose flu vaccinations are $50. As a courtesy, the CCHHS will bill people’s insurance company, but those seeking a flu shot should check with their insurance provider to determine whether they are covered and are also asked to bring their insurance card. No one will be denied services due to an inability to pay.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a yearly flu vaccination as the first step in protecting against flu viruses. It is strongly recommended that everyone 6-months old and over get a flu shot each year.

Every year a new vaccine is manufactured to combat circulating influenza viruses during each flu season. While it is too early to determine the effectiveness of this season’s vaccine, immunization reduces the chance of influenza-related complications, such as hospitalization, chronic disease and/or death. The immune system will be better prepared to combat the flu the earlier people get their shot.

The following groups of people are encouraged to get a flu vaccination because they are at high – risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications, including:

  • Pregnant women
  • Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
  • Children with special healthcare needs
  • People 50 years of age and older
  • People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
  • People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
  • People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu.
  • Health care workers
  • Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
  • Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

Flu symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, congestion, runny nose, headaches and fatigue. Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. In the most severe cases, flu can lead to death.

Seeking Information on Hunting Incident in Tusayan Area

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TUSAYAN – On September 17, 2019 at approximately 8:30 PM deputies were called to the area of Forest Road 328 for a report of a conflict. Upon investigating it was found that a bowhunter was returning to his vehicle in this area when he was approached by a dark colored truck with three white males. The occupants of the truck confronted the bowhunter and asked what his problem was. The conversation escalated and the bowhunter walked away from the truck. The truck began to follow the bowhunter down a sideroad so the bowhunter ran away from the truck and hid down an embankment. The bowhunter then reported that he heard 6-8 gunshots come from the direction of the truck. After hearing the gunshots, the bowhunter continued to run from the area.

Upon arriving in the area, responding deputies were unable to locate the vehicle or the suspects. The vehicle description is as follows:

  • Black or dark colored full-sized truck (possibly a Chevrolet)
  • 4 door or extended cab
  • A matching in color camper shell with a rack on top of the shell
  • Diesel engine
  • An LED light bar on the cab of the truck
  • Possibly a fog light burnt out on the front of the truck
  • Occupied by three white males

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is requesting that any additional witnesses or anyone with information on the truck or its occupants contact the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at 928-774-4523, option 1 or Coconino County Silent Witness at 928-774-6111.

Inmate dies while incarcerated in the Coconino County Detention Facility

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FLAGSTAFF – On Sunday, September 15, 2019 at approximately 7:16 am, Coconino County Medical Staff were conducting a medical assessment on 63-year old Floyd Jackson when Mr. Jackson became unresponsive in his cell. Detention Medical Staff and Officers began lifesaving measures, including CPR, until paramedics arrived on scene and took over lifesaving efforts. Mr. Jackson was pronounced deceased at approximately 7:46 am.

The cause of death is currently under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division and pending autopsy and review by the Coconino County Medical Examiner. Mr. Jackson was transported from the Maricopa County Jail to the Coconino County Detention Facility on September 12, 2019 and was housed in a cell by himself. Mr. Jackson was in-custody on a $200 bond for an outstanding Failure to Comply Warrant for Driving on a Suspended License out of the Flagstaff Justice Court.

Mr. Jackson’s next of kin has been notified. Further information will be made available as the investigation allows.

ADOT to hold Small and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Conference

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PHOENIX – An Arizona Department of Transportation conference in October will help owners of small businesses and those qualifying for ADOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program to become more competitive within the highway industry.

The ADOT DBE and Small Business Conference, to be held Oct. 22-23 at the Casino Del Sol Resort in Tucson, will include an orientation for new and prospective DBE firms, 15-minute “speed” appointments with agencies and prime contractors, and an opportunity to learn about ADOT programs designed to help you build your business.

The goal: helping small businesses and those owned by members of socially and economically disadvantaged groups compete for transportation projects that receive federal funding.

With a theme of “The Spotlight Is On You,” workshops at the conference will focus on People Power, Smart Transportation and Finding Projects.

Although the conference is geared toward disadvantaged business enterprises and small businesses, it’s open to all businesses, public agencies, vendors and community partners with an interest in transportation.

For more information and to register, please visit the ADOT’s DBE Supportive Services Program page at azdot.gov/DBESupportiveServices.

I-40 to be closed overnights for Bellemont interchange improvements

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BELLEMONT – As progress continues on the Bellemont traffic interchange along Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff, the Arizona Department of Transportation will close the highway under the bridge overnight on Monday, September 16, and Thursday, September 19.Eastbound I-40 will close under the overpass for the Bellemont/Transwestern Road interchange from 7 p.m. to midnight on September 16, and the westbound direction will close from 7 p.m. to midnight on September 19.

Traffic will detour along the off- and on-ramps while the highway is closed. Transwestern Road passing over I-40 will be closed both nights.

The project will improve the bridge deck and pavement and widen on- and off-ramps at the Interstate 40 Bellemont/Transwestern Road interchange. An eight-day closure of Transwestern Road will occur later this fall.

During closures, drivers who ordinarily would use the Bellemont/Transwestern Road interchange can use the I-40 interchanges at Parks and A-1 Mountain Boulevard.

Advance notice will be given with the dates of closures.

To learn more about this project, please visit azdot.gov/projects and click on the North Central District.

Officials to Lift Castle Fire Closure on the North Kaibab Ranger District

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Kaibab Forest Photo

FREDONIA — Effective today, the Kaibab National Forest will lift the area closure around the Castle Fire that has been in place since the lightning caused wildfire started in mid-July.

Members of the public can now access the area, which had been closed due to public safety during ongoing fire operations, including areas of active fire, and the presence of firefighting equipment and personnel. The public Is advised to have heightened awareness about potential safety hazards and exercise increased vigilance regarding personal safety.“The district was very successful at restoring fire into a fire dependent ecosystem, which will greatly reduce the risk of future catastrophic wildfire and improve overall forest health,” said North Kaibab District Ranger Randall Walker. “We now believe it is appropriate to lift the closure and allow the public to resume activities in the area such as hunting and fuelwood gathering, but that doesn’t mean hazards don’t exist. We urge the public to understand the potential hazards and to prepare accordingly. We want them to be able to use their public lands but we want them to do it safely, recognizing that any area recently impacted by wildfire will likely have some greater risk than other areas.”

Potential risks in any area recently burned by wildfire include the following:

  • Burned out stump holes that could cause injury if stepped in;
  • Unstable terrain with potential for rolling debris (boulders, logs, rocks, etc.);
  • Unsound burned trees (snags) that could fall or drop large limbs;
  • Storms resulting in flash flooding that could wash out roads, initiate debris flows, and entrap people at flooded stream courses;
  • Eroded and very rough roads that could result in unsafe driving conditions
  • Blowing dust and ash on roads and hillsides.

Visitors to the Castle Fire area are advised to follow these outdoor safety best practices:

  1. Know the weather forecast and check it frequently as conditions can change in a very short timeframe.
  2. Let someone outside the area know exactly where you are and where you will be going daily.
  3. Do not park vehicles or camp in areas with burned snags or where potential flood waters would prevent escape. Know where you are in relation to drainages.
    During windy conditions remain in open areas that are free of trees (both live and burned) as much as possible.
  4. If an area seems unsafe for any reason, leave.
  5. Have good maps and know where you are at all times.
  6. Keep a well charged cell phone with you and check it frequently so you know when you are in an area where there is no coverage.
  7. Understand that there are many areas on public lands that are remote. It can take a very long time before responders can arrive if a rescue is required. The Castle Fire area is very remote.

Visitors can check with the North Kaibab Ranger District office to get the latest Information regarding current conditions:

North Kaibab Ranger District: 928-643-7395, www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

Jacob Lake Visitor Center: 928-643-7298

For additional information please visit:

Castle Fire Inciweb Page: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6439/
Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF
Flickr: http://bit.ly/CastleFire2019

Northern Arizona drivers should plan for delays during overnight closures of Interstate 40 September 16 and 19

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BELLEMONT – The Arizona Department of Transportation urges northern Arizona drivers on Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff to prepare for delays while crews fully close Interstate 40 and begin work to replace the bridges at Exit 185 near the community of Bellemont.

The work will require the following overnight closures next week:

  • Eastbound I-40 will close at Bellemont (Exit 185) from 7 p.m. to midnight Monday, September 16.
  • Westbound I-40 will close at Bellemont (Exit 185) from 7 p.m. to midnight Thursday, September 19.
  • During these interstate closures, Transwestern Road passing over I-40 will also be closed.

DETOUR: I-40 traffic will be re-routed onto the ramps alongside I-40 through the construction zone.

Forest Service announces cause of Museum Fire

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FLAGSTAFF – The Forest Service is announcing the preliminary results of the investigation regarding the cause of the Museum Fire, a wildfire which began July 21 and burned 1,961 acres on the Coconino National Forest above Flagstaff.

Fire investigators have determined that the human-caused wildfire originated in a steep slope environment associated with critical restoration work and was likely caused by an excavator striking a rock during operations. The resulting spark created a heat source that hibernated until warm, dry, and windy conditions arrived that caused the heat source to grow into a small fire and was subsequently spread by the wind. Rock strikes are possible during operations in steep slope thinning restoration projects such as the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project.

At this time, the investigation has shown that the cause of the fire was not related to negligence and that all proper inspections of equipment were conducted. The investigation also determined that the last piece of equipment was used 14 hours prior to the first report of fire, and the operator had completed a one-hour fire watch before leaving the area.

“It’s unfortunate that the Museum Fire started as the result of ongoing restoration work designed to reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire and improve forest health and resiliency—especially in the Flagstaff area where citizens joined together to invest resources to help fund the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project,” said Coconino National Forest Supervisor Laura Jo West. “Fortunately, some of the restoration work that had been completed previously in and around the wildfire area actually helped stop the fire from becoming larger and more destructive.”

Post-fire analysis show that 50 percent of the wildfire burned at low severity, 38 percent burned at moderate severity, and 12 percent of the area burned at high severity. During the past several years, city and Coconino National Forest personnel have worked diligently to implement planned Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project actions and have made substantial progress.

“While the cause of the fire is unfortunate, it does not take away from the significant mitigating impact the treatment work had on the fire and subsequently the forest and our watershed,” said Flagstaff Mayor Coral Evans. “The restoration work initiated by the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project, in partnership with the Forest Service, is incredibly valuable and we remain committed to continuing this work and further protecting our watershed.”

Deep layers of forest fuels and roots can hold heat for long periods of time, burning and smoldering underground for days, weeks, or months without any sign of a fire. They can surface at a later time when temperatures become warmer and the weather becomes windier, causing a wildfire. As with all investigations, the Forest Service will continue to investigate and provide updates if new information is uncovered.

Input sought from elk hunters to help guide management of state’s herds

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is asking all elk hunters to submit data from their upcoming hunts to assist the department in managing the state’s herds.

AZGFD’s goal is to receive a completed questionnaire from each hunter who was issued a hunt permit-tag, whether or not that hunter harvested an elk or participated in a hunt. AZGFD will use that data to estimate harvest and hunter participation, along with population surveys, to set hunt permit-tag numbers.

A questionnaire will be mailed (or emailed) to each elk hunter, to be completed and returned to the department after the hunt. Other options include using a link or scanning a QR code, which are located on the back of the questionnaire. A questionnaire and link also can be found on the reverse side of the hunt permit-tag.

Meanwhile, hunters who are successful harvesting a bull elk in Game Management Units 1, 9, 10 or 23 are being asked to submit a tooth from the animal. These units are managed under alternative management guidelines to provide higher hunt success and more abundant, older, age-class elk.

In order to manage herds in accordance with these guidelines, it’s important to collect additional data on the age of harvested elk. All successful applicants who received hunt permit-tags in these units will receive a mailing that includes a return envelope in which to send back a tooth.

For more information, email AZGFD’s big game management supervisor, Amber Munig, at amunig@azgfd.gov.