Category Archives: Tusayan

Kaibab National Forest to sell Christmas tree permits later this month

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2012 Mountain Village Holiday tree.

2012 Mountain Village Holiday tree.

WILLIAMS – The Kaibab National Forest will sell over-the-counter Christmas tree tags for each of its three ranger districts later this month. The permit will allow the holder to cut a tree of a particular species within a designated area on the Kaibab National Forest until Dec. 24.

The tags will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis until they are gone. Tags are $15 per tree. No refunds will be made, even if weather conditions prevent access to cutting areas. Tags for the North Kaibab Ranger District will be available starting Nov. 20, while tags for the Williams and Tusayan districts will be available starting Nov. 21. Customers will be provided a map that shows the designated cutting areas along with additional Christmas tree cutting instructions. The number of available tags and contact information for each ranger district is as follows:

No. of Permits Available Location Contact Information Hours
800 North Kaibab Ranger District 430 S. Main St., Fredonia, AZ 86022
(928) 643-7395		 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

The office will also be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the following select weekend days: Nov. 29, Dec. 6 and Dec. 13.
500 Tusayan Ranger District 176 Lincoln Log Loop, Tusayan, AZ 86023
(928) 638-2443		 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

The Tusayan office will be open for limited hours on Nov. 17, Nov. 19, Nov. 21, Nov. 24 and Nov. 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Tusayan office will be closed entirely on Nov. 18 and Nov. 20.
200 Williams Ranger District 742 S. Clover Rd., Williams, AZ 86046
(928) 635-5600		 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
Note: The Williams Ranger District office will also have 100 tags available for the Tusayan Ranger District.

Tusayan treatment fires

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640-TusayanTUSAYAN – Fire managers anticipate starting multiple prescribed fire treatment projects on the Tusayan Ranger District as early as Thursday. Officials hope to treat approximately 3,000 acres with fire before wet weather conditions arrive for the winter.

Prescribed fire treatments require that fire managers continuously monitor weather and fuel conditions throughout the treatment process in order to ensure firefighter and visitor safety. The following prescribed treatments are scheduled for the upcoming week but will only be implemented only once conditions are favorable to do so:

Russell Prescribed Fire: The Russell project is comprised of three burn units totaling about 800 acres, and is located adjacent to the Russell Tank area on the east side of the district. This burn unit is mainly comprised of ponderosa pine with oak and juniper. Forest Service Road (FSR) 311 and a section of the Arizona Trail will be within the immediate area to be treated. The trail will remain open to the public but users are asked to avoid active sections of the trail where fire is present and use caution when traveling through the area.

Scott Prescribed Fire: The Scott project is comprised of three burn units totaling about 800 acres, and is located within the vicinity of FSR 310 and west of the Grand View Lookout Tower along FSR 2719. This burn unit is mainly comprised of ponderosa pine. A section of the Arizona Trail falls within one burn unit near the Grand Canyon National Park boundary and will remain open during operations; however, hikers are asked to use caution and follow the direction of fire personnel when moving through the area. Smoke may be visible from State Highway 64 along the east rim drive, but is not expected to significantly hinder the air quality.

Flying J Prescribed Fire: The Flying J project is located just west of the town of Tusayan and is approximately 450 acres. Fire Managers will evaluate conditions closely with this project due to its proximity to developed areas in the vicinity. Smoke mitigation will be a top priority and will influence decisions prior to ignitions taking place and throughout daily operations. Smoke will be visible from rural areas and along State Highway 64.

The real race in Williams

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jop-raceArizona-electsWILLIAMS – The race for Justice of the Peace in Williams is the real local race to watch. The outcome not only effects Williams, but Valle and Tusayan, as well. The Justice of the Peace is also under contract as magistrate for the City of Williams. This has been the only contentious race in the City of Williams.

Jeff Brownlee is vying for the office of Justice of the Peace from incumbent Robert Krombeen. The winner of this race will be on the ballot in November. The only opposition they are likely to face is if another contender, or the candidate failing in this primary, faces a write-in candidate.

Anyone may file as a write-in candidate to be on the ballot for any County Office they qualify for. Candidates must file by September 25th by 5 pm. Write-in candidates must also file financial reports and disclosures and whatever other paperwork is required by any other candidate.

Electors may ONLY vote for write-in candidates who have filed the proper paperwork and whose name appears on the write-in candidates list provided at all of the polling places. If an elector writes in the name of a fictitious or real person as a “protest” vote, that vote will not be counted.

A person desiring to run as a write-in for a state or national office in the General Election in November must file through the office of the Secretary of State.

Lightning caused wildfires burning in the Kaibab

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Managed fires were started yesterday to combat Sitgreaves and Duck fires. View from I-40

Managed fires were started yesterday to combat Sitgreaves and Duck fires. View from I-40

PARKS/TUSAYAN/FREDONIA – The Williams area is experiencing the first fires of the season. The Sitgreaves and Duck fires are located in the area of Parks and the McRae fire is located in the Tusayan Ranger District. The fires are lightning caused. The Quaking fire, reported today, is burning near Fredonia in the North Kaibab Ranger District. The forest service has identified areas in which the fires may spread and are conducting preventative managed burns.

Sitgreaves fire visible from Williams.

Sitgreaves fire visible from Williams.

In the Williams Ranger District, the Sitgreaves Fire is 350 acres located five-miles northwest of Parks. Aerial ignitions are being used to prevent the spread of the fire into areas identified by the forest service. The Duck fire located three-miles northwest of Parks has grown to 324 acres and is being monitored by fire crews. Some beneficial fires may be started to reduce standing densities to reduce the threat of high intensity wildfire. Smoke from both fires are visible from I-40.

“With recent deep moisture, we feel confident in a quick transition from extreme fire danger and the associated full suppression fire management strategies to managing natural fire to benefit our resources” says District Fire Management Officer, James Pettit.

The Tusayan Ranger District is fighting the 1500-acre McRae fire is located about five-miles southeast of Tusayan and smoke may be visible from State Route 64. While varying monsoonal precipitation and winds are likely to change fire behavior and growth over the next several days, general fire behavior is anticipated to be low intensity with 6-12 inch flame lengths. Crews are planning 500-acres of managed ignitions as needed within the planning area.

About eighty fire fighters are engaged in these three fires.

The 27-acre Quaking fire is located approximately 40 miles southeast of Fredonia in the North Kaibab Ranger District. There is no information as to the cause. Today crews are planning managed ignitions as needed along FSRs 271 and 206. No smoke impacts are anticipated at this time.

From the Bench: Justice Krombeen thanks Tusayan.

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rob-krombeen(Grand Canyon Edition) by Justice of the Peace Robert Krombeen

Since entering into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Town of Tusayan just over a year ago, it has been our court’s privilege to partner with the Town to provide your court and judicial services. Now that the council has voted to enter into a longer-term IGA for the next five years, I want to reiterate our court’s commitment to your community.

During the past year, our staff has made administrative changes and improvements which have led to improved customer service in our court. Surveys conducted by the Coconino County Court Administration have shown our court to have amongst the highest ratings for customer service in the county. We are continually striving to find ways to improve the function and services of our court.

It has been my observation that our staff has worked exceptionally well with the Town Prosecutor and Public Defender to provide consistent, designated time on the court calendar to Tusayan customers who appear in our court. The relationship with the Town Prosecutor and Public Defender will only continue to improve, as we find creative ways to provide those services in an efficient manner to reduce drive time for those appearing. As has been demonstrated this past year, it has and will continue to be our court’s desire to be good neighbors to the Town as you develop your community into the future.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your judge. We look forward to providing services to your community for the next five years. Please contact the court at (928) 635-2691 if you have any questions about the IGA or the services provided.