Category Archives: Counties

Coconino lifts fire restriction due to monsoon weather

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Stage 1 fire restrictions remain on US Forest Service property

monsoon-01

FLAGSTAFF—Monsoon rains allowed Coconino County to lift its fire restrictions earlier this month, but stage 1 fire restrictions remain in the Coconino and Kaibab forests. The Williams watershed opened for hiking, but some areas of Coconino may still be dry and present hazardous fire conditions.

Ample monsoonal rainfall throughout Northern Arizona has brought much needed moisture to tinder-dry forests and area landscapes. Fortunately the rainfall lessened the danger of fire from thunder. Careless acts with fire could still start a blaze, however.

Under Stage 1 fire restrictions on federal land:
• Fires, campfires, charcoal, coal and wood stoves are allowed in developed campgrounds only.
• Smoking is allowed only in enclosed vehicles, buildings or in developed campgrounds.
• Using a device that is solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off is allowed in areas that are clear of flammable materials.

This has prompted the Northern Arizona Shooting Range to open again with a clay pigeon shoot scheduled for the weekend of August 10 & 11 and another scheduled for September 7 & 8. Conditions could change, so you should contact the range to see if these activities are still available.

Long range predictions are for excellent chances of precipitation through Wednesday with chances of scattered thunderstorms through next Saturday.

From the Bench: From the ashes…

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rob-krombeenby Justice of the Peace Robert Krombeen

This past month on June 28th, while at the judicial conference in Phoenix, I sat down with Judge Anna Mary Glaab from the Yarnell Justice Court and spoke with her about the fond memories I had of Yarnell while working for Yavapai County back in the 80’s. Neither of us knew at that time that lightning had just struck a mountain and started a fire that would change the community and so many lives forever. Judge Glaab reported this week that two of the four members of her staff lost their homes and possessions. The fire totally caught the community and Judge Glaab’s court by surprise, and now she is working diligently to continue and bring back services to the court. Courts in Baghdad, Prescott, and Mayer are scrambling to provide services for the most pressing and time-sensitive matters at that court. Please continue to keep the community and those families in your thoughts and prayers, as now the challenges of the losses really come to light as families attempt to rebuild their lives.

Because of possibility for that and other types of interruptions at our court, the Williams Municipal and Justice Courts have been working together with Coconino County Court Administration to develop our Continuous Operations (COOP) plan to enable our courts to continue providing services during any unanticipated emergency or contingency. The plan would cover a wide range of possible disruptions including forest fire, winter blizzard, gas leak or other evacuation, court facility structural failure, or other similar events which would cause a major interruption to the operations of our courts. COOP plans are being developed by proactive courts across the state and are being implemented in all of the Coconino County Court facilities. We have two off-site court locations identified and approved for our use in the event of an emergency, and a cache of all court supplies required for continued operations will be stored and maintained at a location outside of our facility.

Court Manager Jennifer Carter has selected Williams High School student Jaiden Pona to be our second high school intern during the upcoming school year. Jaiden joins Devin McNelly in the second year of our internship program at the courts. We applaud Jennifer’s investment of energy and effort in our community’s youth by providing a learning environment and an opportunity for our students to experience the criminal justice system and the operation of our courts.

Car Pedestrian Collision Claims Life of Two Year-Old Child

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Doney Park—Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives are investigating a fatality car pedestrian collision that occurred yesterday on Pioneer Valley Road located in the Doney Park subdivision east of Flagstaff.

On Monday, July 8, 2013 at about 4:41 pm deputies responded to the report of a car pedestrian collision in which the two year-old female victim was described as being in very serious condition. The first deputy arrived before any on-duty firefighters or medical personnel were on scene. The deputy found the child lying in the roadway unconscious, with obvious physical signs of severe head trauma. A retired Summit Fire Department firefighter with prior medical training was knelling over the child and stabilizing her head and neck. The deputy immediately began chest compressions and quickly determined the child had a pulse and very labored breathing. Medical personnel from the Summit Fire Department and Guardian Medical Transport arrived and took over the medical care of the victim. The child was transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center by Guardian ground ambulance.

During an interview with the fifty nine year-old female driver of the vehicle, deputies determined she was driving north on Pioneer Valley road at a speed of about 25 miles per hour when she looked to the west side of Pioneer Valley Road and saw a group of children playing in a residential yard adjacent to the road. According to the driver she slowed her vehicle to about 20 miles per hour. Deputies believe the child was in a yard on the east side of the road when she ran into the street and was struck by the front, passenger side of the car.

The child was pronounced deceased on Monday evening by a physician at the Flagstaff Medical Center. No enforcement action has been taken at this point as the investigation is ongoing.

Woman Dies in Supai Canyon After Being Struck by Falling Tree Branch

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Supai, AZ—Coconino County Sheriff’s Detectives are investigating the death of twenty seven year-old Danielle Marie Harris of Mesa, Arizona who was struck by a falling tree branch in Supai Canyon.

On Saturday July 6, 2013 at about 4:15 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Officers who are assigned to law enforcement duties in Supai Canyon. According to the BIA investigator, Ms. Harris was staying at the designated camp ground in the canyon with nine other people in her group, all from the greater Phoenix area. The victim was seated at a picnic table positioned under a large cottonwood tree located in the campground. BIA investigators believe that as a result of high winds, a large branch that was approximately twelve inches in diameter broke off and struck the victim who sustained multiple injuries to include severe head trauma. A portion of the branch also struck a forty seven year-old male of Peoria, Arizona who was standing in close proximity to the picnic table.

Medical personnel employed by the Havasupai Nation responded and determined that Ms. Harris was deceased. The male who also was struck by the branch was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and flown to the Flagstaff Medical Center by an Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue Helicopter. Coconino County Sheriff’s Detectives are continuing this investigation.

Bullhead City fireworks display; Sima Valley fireworks end unexpectedly

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The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America.

I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.—John Adams in a letter to wife Abigail of July 3rd after the ratification of the Declaration of Independence.

BULLHEAD CITY—Hundreds of people lined the boardwalk in Laughlin to watch the spectacular fireworks display across the Colorado river in Bullhead City. The fireworks set off several small fires along the Colorado, as usual. Still the fireworks continued into the night by private parties to celebrate 237 years of independence.

The fireworks finale set off car alarms at the Pioneer hotel and casino across the waterway.

The fireworks display at Sima Valley, California took a tragic turn, however, where the LA Times reports 36 injuries after the fireworks exploded unexpectedly.

Another daredevil to attempt Grand Canyon crossing.

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GRAND CANYON—On June 23rd, 34-year-old tight rope walker Nik Wallenda will attempt an 8th world record by crossing the Grand Canyon. His last record was crossing Niagra Falls.

A poll by Niagara Bullet News asks readers if they will watch the Grand Canyon attempt. As of this writing 53.6% said they wouldn’t miss it, 36% said they were not interested with the rest not sure what they will be doing June 23rd.

Nik Wallenda was born in Sarasota, Florida as a seventh-generation member of the famous Flying Wallenda family. His parents are Delilah Wallenda and Terry Troffer.

Wallenda credits God for his success, saying that what he does on the high-wire is a gift from God. He grew up in a “a Bible-believing, God-fearing family” and describes himself as a “born-again Christian”. Faith is “the most important part of my life,” he says. Before every wire walk, he joins his family in prayer and he always wears a cross as he performs. He remarks, “The Bible says pray without ceasing and I’m always praying.”

Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the Flagstaff Police Department Offer Woods Watch Training and Orientation

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FLAGSTAFF—As Coconino County has moved into heightened fire danger season and into greater fire related restrictions, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Flagstaff Police Department, and the US Forest Service are offering “Woods Watch” training and orientation. This volunteer program is similar to Neighborhood Watch and is of vital importance in residential areas that interface with forested land. Volunteers are asked to watch for people accessing closed areas of the forest and for people who are using fire carelessly or against current fire restrictions. These volunteers are trained to be especially vigilant for activity that may be occurring on forested lands in the Flagstaff City limits, unincorporated areas of Coconino County, and on US Forest Service land.

Woods Watch has been very successful in years past. In 2002, approximately 300 volunteers attended the training and assisted Northern Arizona law enforcement officers in watching access points to the forest. Teams of volunteers were trained in the greater Flagstaff area, Mormon Lake, Munds Park and other unincorporated areas of Coconino County. The additional sets of eyes on our community helped keep unlawful fire activity under check. With the extremely dry and windy conditions our community experiences, a fire start may spread very quickly endangering lives and property.

This year, we are offering Woods Watch re-certification and new volunteer training on Friday, June 28, 2013 at 6:00 pm at the Law Enforcement Administration Facility located at 911 E. Sawmill Rd. Citizens who have attended this training in previous years are asked to attend again as a review and to receive updated information. Coconino County Sheriff’s Office also will be providing Woods Watch training to its established volunteer groups of Search and Rescue, existing Neighborhood Watch Programs, and CERT during their regular meetings. The training takes approximately one hour.

The Woods Watch Program area a commitment to join local law enforcement officers with community members to keep our communities and our forests beautiful, safe and free of wild land fires.

Arizona Cowboy Artist Dies during Photo Shoot

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FLAGSTAFF—Seventy one year-old John William Owen “Bill Owen” (Facebook Page) of Kirkland, Arizona died on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at about 7 am while photographing cowboys who were conducting ranching activities at Camp 16 off of Indian Route 18 located in the area of Peach Springs, Arizona.

Investigating Deputies learned that the victim identified as Bill Owen who is a well-known western artist arrived at Camp 16 on Thursday, June 14, 2013 with the intention of photographing ranch hands while they conducted their day to day activities. The assumption was that Mr. Owen would later incorporate the images from the photos into his artwork. According to ranch hands, some of whom were in close proximity to Mr. Owen on Saturday morning, he was in the process of disassembling a portable tepee when one of the witnesses saw him fall to the ground. This witness shouted out that there was a “man down.”

Several of the ranch hands who were present rushed to Mr. Owen’s aid and administered CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation) for an extended period of time, possibly as long as thirty minutes. Medical personnel from Peach Springs, Arizona arrived on scene. While one of the medical personnel was speaking on the phone with a physician from Kingman Regional Hospital, the victim was pronounced deceased. The victim’s body was transported to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office in Flagstaff. At this point in the investigation detectives do not suspect foul play.

From his Facebook page, Mrs. Owen informs that a memorial for Bill will be held Saturday, June 29 at 11 am at the Lifepointe Church in Prescott Valley. The church is located at 10100 E State Route 69.

She also requests:

In lieu of flowers I ask that donations be made to the scholarship organization founded by Bill to help young people of the Arizona ranching community further their educations after graduating high school:
The Arizona Cowpuncher’s Scholarship Organization, Inc.
c/o George Vensel, Treasurer
PO Box 55
Patagonia, AZ 85624

Deceased Male Located in Oak Creek Canyon

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FLAGSTAFF—The body of the man who was found deceased in Oak Creek Canyon on May 27,2013 has been identified as forty-seven year old Stephen Buck of Washington state.

On May 27, 2013 at about 4:13 pm an individual who was hiking in Oak Creek Canyon called a Coconino County Sheriff Emergency Dispatcher on his cell phone to report that he and a companion hiker were exploring the canyon when they found a deceased male subject. The caller’s location was determined to be off of State Route 89A in the area of mile post 379.5. Upon their arrival Deputies made contact with the reporting party and found the body to be that of an adult male, that was lying face down behind some trees by a creek. The subject was fully clothed and investigators did not observe any signs of injures or blunt trauma that would be consistent with an assault or some other manner of foul play.

Detectives found several types of controlled substances or narcotics in close proximity to the body. Investigators found a key for a U-Haul vehicle in a pocket of clothing worn by the deceased individual and matched it to a U-Haul van that was parked along SR 89A. The van was reported as stolen by the renting agency and investigators learned that there was an active US Marshal Federal Warrant for the deceased subject that was initiated by the Department of Drug Enforcement in California.

Detectives are considering the possibility that the individual died as the result of a self-induced drug overdose. This investigation is being continued.

Continuing court during emergency situations

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tj-20130412-01WILLIAMS—The weight of snow has just collapsed the roof. The snow has caused a train to derail on Seventh street sparking a horrendous forest fire. The fire is melting the snow causing flooding. The flooding freezes over Railroad Avenue causing a semi to skid out of control into the building. Okay, not all of those things are likely to happen at one time, but something might happen to cause the evacuation of the Williams Justice Center. The staff of the Williams Justice Center will have to have a way to provide important court services after that.

The Williams Municipal and Justice Courts are working together with Coconino County Court Administration to develop our Continuous Operations (COOP) plan to enable our courts to continue providing services during any unanticipated emergency or contingency.

“The court has to be able to issue orders—court orders—and those things 24/7. We have to be able to provide orders of protection and other court orders during business hours and that take precedence in court,” Justice of the Peace Robert Krombeen explained.

“If somebody’s arrested in the city they have to be seen by the JP or a magistrate within twenty-four hours. They have to be. For a felony—a homicide, for example—they would be released in twenty-four hours. That’s required by law and the Arizona Constitution.”

The Flagstaff Court system has their own system as part of the County emergency plan. “They have the specifics of their plan in place where they have other sites in the greater Flagstaff area where they could set up their court, as well, so that they could maintain court within their precinct.”

Krombeen explained that our plan has two alternative sites within our precinct so that we can maintain court in this area. “If something really weird happened where it was going to be a longer term, we could potentially go to Flagstaff. But it’s our goal and our plan to set up to have those services provided right here.”

One of the sites being considered is the Coconino Community College building which is being turned over to the high school. It has facilities to allow video court similar to the facilities in the Williams Justice Center. The other location is the Clark Memorial Airport which has sufficient parking and Internet facilities that could allow the same function.

So if an emergency should occur in any of the areas serviced by the Williams Justice Center, do not try to take advantage of the situation. You will not pass go, you may loose $200 and you may go to jail.