Category Archives: Parks

Drake land grab grows

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PARKS — An email from Steve Dudley of Williams reports Drake Cement, a foreign owned company, has now claimed an additional 1416 acres of Kaibab National Forest land for yet another Pozzolan open pit site.

These most recent claims are called the Spring Valley claims and are located in Parks immediately behind Spring Valley Cabin, west of Spring Valley Road. Any development of this site into an open pit mine will result in loss of some very beautiful habitat and result in an immense increase of mining truck traffic down Spring Valley Road, through Parks.

Mr. Dudley wrote in the email, “If you have any concerns about this potential future development and you live in and around Parks, now is the time to say something. Once the trucks start rolling, it will be far too late.”

The Williams Grand Canyon Newspaper is developing an article on this recent development and would like to hear from and interview interested parties from Parks regarding their feelings about this.

According to Wikipedia, “The general definition of a pozzolan embraces a large number of materials which vary widely in terms of origin, composition and properties. Both natural and artificial (man-made) materials show pozzolanic activity and are used as supplementary cementitious materials. Artificial pozzolans can be produced deliberately, for instance by thermal activation of kaolin-clays to obtain metakaolin, or can be obtained as waste or by-products from high-temperature process such as fly ashes from coal-fired electricity production. The most commonly used pozzolans today are industrial by-products such as fly ash, silica fume from silicon smelting, highly reactive metakaolin, and burned organic matter residues rich in silica such as rice husk ash. Their use has been firmly established and regulated in many countries.”

He wrote, “Please feel free to share and alert the citizens of Parks to this. We need to hear from you! If you live in the Parks area and would like your voice heard please contact the Williams Newspaper at (928) 635-4426; (928) 699-8874 or write whowell@williamsnews.com.”

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.

Deputies arrest Man from Parks during Child Exploitation Investigation

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Bryce W. Huddleston (CCSO Photo)

PARKS -– Detectives with the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the FBI and the Northern Arizona Street Crimes Task Force, served a search warrant on a residence in the Pittman Valley area of Parks, Arizona. During the search warrant detectives took 29-year-old Bryce Huddleston into custody. He was later booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility in Flagstaff for 2 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a minor.

This search warrant and arrest is the result of a multi-month investigation after detectives received a tip indicating Bryce was in possession of child pornography. Information gathered during the investigation allowed detectives to identify Bryce and his place of residence. Several items of evidence belonging to Bryce were seized as evidence in this case.

This case is ongoing and additional charges may be added depending on the outcome of further investigation. No other information is available currently.

Lightning Caused Wildfire on Sitgreaves Mountain Being Monitored

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WILLIAMS – A recent lightning strike on the upper third of the northeast slope of Sitgreaves Mountain is showing a plume of smoke and is visible from the communities of Spring Valley, Bellemont, and Parks. The “Rock Fire” is just over half an acre in size and is burning within the Eagle Rock Fire burn scar of 2010. The fire is located in steep terrain and has been receiving intermittent moisture since it was discovered on Sunday September 1.

Due to its location, Kaibab National Forest Managers have decided to avoid exposing firefighters to the difficult topography and high volume of snags in the area. This incident will be monitored from road systems around the base of the mountain and periodically by aircraft. There is no danger or threat to private property or residences. Firefighters will be on scene daily to observe behavior and plan for future actions as the fire moves naturally on the terrain.

Weather forecasts are predicting more isolated thunderstorms over the area for the week ahead which may influence fire behavior and visibility.

Additional information about the Rock fire will become available as the situation develops.

Information about other fires and the Kaibab National Forest can be obtained through the following sources:

· InciWeb https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
· Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF
· Kaibab Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF

Person Arrested After Firing Multiple Shots from Residence in Parks

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PARKS – On August 6, 2019 around 3:25 am Deputies responded to Archers Road in Parks, Arizona for reports from neighbors of a person yelling and shots being fired.

Upon arrival, deputies saw a male suspect at the residence and the suspect fired at the responding officers. The suspect appeared to be agitated, and deputies attempted to verbally de-escalate him. Law enforcement made contact with neighboring residents to secure the area and ensure public safety.

Throughout the incident, the suspect moved inside and outside the residence, continuing to fire multiple weapons. At one point while the suspect was firing rounds at responding officers, a deputy returned fire. After approximately an hour, the armed suspect came outside again. The suspect was partially compliant and deputies were able to disarm him and take him into custody. The suspect was transported for medical evaluation.

The Northern Arizona Joint Tactical Team had been requested and assisted in clearing the residence. No other persons were inside. Lifeline Medical and Ponderosa Fire also responded.

The suspect, who has been identified as 41-year-old Daniel Cluse of Flagstaff, AZ, will be booked into Coconino County Detention Facility.

The Northern Arizona Officer Involved Shooting Team led by the Flagstaff Police Department will be investigating the incident.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Deputies involved in fatal shooting

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FLAGSTAFF – At approximately 1:13 AM Deputies with the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office were involved in an armed confrontation leading to an Officer-Involved fatal shooting south of Parks on County Road 141.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies out of the Williams Substation were called to the Pine Aire neighborhood near Parks, AZ, after receiving a report of domestic violence. The reporting party had called the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Williams Substation to report that her ex-husband had pulled a gun on her while at their residence during an argument. The reporting party told Deputies that he had fled the house in a white passenger car. Deputies immediately began responding to the residence. While in route to the house, Deputies came across a vehicle matching the description given by the reporting party parked along side of County Road 141, approximately 4 miles from the residence.

Upon contact with the vehicle, the occupant immediately exited with a handgun in his hand. Despite multiple commands to drop the gun the suspect continued to advance on the deputies with the gun in his hand, prompting one Deputy to discharge rounds from his patrol rifle. The suspect was hit by at least one round and fell to the ground. Deputies on scene attempted to render aid to the suspect but he sustained fatal injuries during the altercation.

The suspect was identified as Paul Mcvicker, a 43-year-old Parks resident, was later pronounced deceased on scene. This incident is currently under investigation by the Northern Arizona Officer Involved Shooting Team, with the Flagstaff Police Department taking the lead.

The investigation is ongoing, and updates will be provided as further information is available.
The Deputies involved in the incident were not injured. The deceased was transported to the Coconino County Medical Examiner Office for further investigation.

Governing Board applicants sought for appointment

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FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Risha VanderWey is seeking applicants for appointment for one seat on the Grand Canyon Unified School District Governing Board and two seats on the Maine Consolidated School District Governing Board.

Applicants must be Arizona registered voters and residents of the school district for at least one year prior to the date of appointment. Applicants or their spouses cannot be an employee of the district.

Application information:

An advisory committee may be assembled, consisting of district residents and a current board member to conduct interviews and advise Superintendent VanderWey on the appointments.

For more information, please call the Office of the Coconino County School Superintendent at 928-679-8070 or email: aterhaar@coconino.az.gov.

Pile Burning Continues North of Parks on Williams Ranger District

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Persistent wet weather has presented favorable opportunities for fire crews to continue burning piles at numerous locations across the Kaibab National Forest. Fire personnel on the Williams Ranger District will be moving to an area known has Kaufman Springs today approximately 4 miles north of the community of Parks to continue with operations.

Several Units of slash piles on the south side of Government Hill, west of county road 141 are scheduled to be treated over the weeks ahead. 114 acres will be ignited today just west of Wright Hill and crews hope to continue working in this area next week if weather conditions allow.

Other pile burns will probably continue in the Williams and Tusayan areas. On The Williams district, 139 acres of piles off of Forest Road 186 just south of Forest Road 108 near Coleman Lake will be ignited Thursday with an additional 52 acres to be treated on Friday. On The Tusayan district, 19 acres of piles will burned on Thursday approximately 2 miles west of the Grand Canyon Airport.

Objectives for these pile burns include reducing fuels resulting from previous forest restoration projects and improving overall forest health and resiliency. Piles typically burn rapidly and produce far less smoke for shorter durations than larger broadcast burns over the landscape.

Minimal to light smoke impacts are anticipated, however air quality will be monitored closely and actions will be taken as necessary to minimize the effects to residential developed areas.

Paving continues on Interstate 40 in northern Arizona

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The Arizona Department of Transportation advises northern Arizona drivers to plan for possible travel delays because of a ramp closure on I-40 at Parks on Monday. Crews are repairing 17 miles of pavement on I-40 between Parks and Williams. As crews pave I-40, they plan to close the westbound on-ramp at Parks (milepost 178) from 6 a.m. to noon. Traffic will be detoured to Bellemont (milepost 185) to re-enter westbound I-40.

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

Paving continues on Interstate 40 in northern Arizona

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The Arizona Department of Transportation advises northern Arizona drivers to plan for travel delays because of ramp closures on Interstate 40 at Parks on Monday, October 22, and Tuesday, October 23. Crews are repairing 17 miles of pavement on I-40 between Parks and Williams.

As crews pave Interstate 40, they plan to close the on- and off-ramps at Parks between the following hours:

1. The eastbound off-ramp at Parks (milepost 178) will be closed from noon to 5 p.m. Monday, October 22. Traffic will be detoured to Pittman Valley Road (milepost 171) to re-enter eastbound I-40.
2. The westbound on-ramp at Parks (milepost 178) will be closed from 6 a.m. to noon Tuesday, October 23. Traffic will be detoured to Bellemont (milepost 185) to re-enter westbound I-40.

Drivers are advised to plan for travel delays. Please proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.