Category Archives: Holiday

No state highway closures over Thanksgiving weekend

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In an effort to help holiday travelers and promote safety, the Arizona Department of Transportation says no construction closures are scheduled along Phoenix-area freeways or state highways over the Thanksgiving weekend. No closures will be scheduled between Wednesday afternoon and early Monday morning, Dec. 1.

Drivers who have plans to travel over the weekend are urged to focus on safety. ADOT and its contractors will hold off on work requiring closures as the busy holiday travel season gets underway. Motorists should focus on staying alert and obeying speed limits, especially in areas where existing work zones are in place.

Last year, 13 people were killed in a total of 10 fatal crashes along Arizona highways and local roads over the Thanksgiving weekend. Three of those fatal crashes were alcohol-related. ADOT, the Department of Public Safety and Governor’s Office of Highway Safety ask motorists to follow these safe-driving tips:

  • Get a good night’s rest before heading out on a trip.
  • Check your vehicle, including tire pressure, fluid levels and the condition of engine belts.
  • Buckle up and double-check child safety seats.
  • Never drive while impaired. Arrange for a designated driver ahead of time.
  • Obey speed limits, be patient and avoid distractions. Don’t text while driving.
  • Be prepared for unscheduled closures due to accidents. Have an emergency preparedness kit that includes extra clothes, blankets, flashlights, snack foods and drinking water.

ADOT also teams up with DPS and the Black Canyon City and Daisy Mountain fire departments to focus on emergency response efforts along Interstate 17 north of Phoenix, especially when heavier traffic is expected on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons. ADOT will position vehicles and equipment in the Anthem and Cordes Junction areas to allow crews to quickly respond to crashes or disabled vehicles and reopen the highway in the event of closures or lane restrictions.

For the latest highway conditions across Arizona, travelers can visit ADOT’s Travel Information site at az511.gov or call 511 (outside Arizona call 1-888-411-ROAD). ADOT’s public information line for state highway conditions is 602-712-6513. You can also track closures and other highway conditions at Twitter.com/ArizonaDOT.

Additional information about winter driving and items to include in an emergency preparedness kit can be found at azdot.gov/KnowSnow.

Williams set up for Mountain Village Holiday festivities.

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City of Williams Christmas tree set up on Second Street.

City of Williams Christmas tree set up on Second Street.

WILLIAMS – The tree is up and decorated for the 2014 Christmas on Route 66 celebration next weekend. The tree will be lit following the annual Parade of Lights. This year and Elf Costume Contest has been added.

300-141122-04Businesses lining Route 66, and beyond, have been decorated for a couple of weeks in preparation for the event.

The Polar Express will begin two nightly runs to the North Pole. Santa has also lent one of his late-model sleighs to the Zip Line located at the Williams Visitor Parking lot.

You can also take a tour around the city to see the decorations of the residents of the City of Williams.
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Other events include:

November 29th

Save-MTR 11th hold their 11th annual Holiday Craft Show at the Sultana Theater at 301 W. Route 66 in downtown Williams from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be over 35 vendors and you can have pictures of your pets, family and friends taken, as well. Benefits building animal shelter.

The Parade of Lights starting around 6:30 p.m.

Elf Costume Contest at the city tree after the parade. Open to young elves to age 13 and elder elves 14 and older.

Lighting of the Christmas tree will occur upon completion of the Parade of Lights.

November 30th

Santa will be at the Spoiled Rotten Pet Boutique at 517 E. Route 66 from 12 to 5 p.m. for photos. The price of photos benefits the Animals in Need fund at the Williams Veterinary Clinic.

December 5

The American Legion Cordova Post #13 will host an Arts and Crafts fair from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The event is co-sponsored by the American Legion and VFW Ladies Auxiliary. Table rental is $10 and all items must be original and home-made. You can get more details or reserve a table by contacting Carolyn Kleck at at 602-677-2561. Spaces are limited so reserve early.

December 6

Restaurants, gift shops and galleries will be offering specials and possibly special treats to

The Mountain Village Holiday continues through New Years Day so events will continue throughout the city.
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You can obtain more information for the time you plan to arrive at the Williams Visitor Center at 200 W. Railroad Avenue (Across from Circle K and the Zip Line) or by visiting the Williams Grand Canyon Chamber site.
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Matthew J. Broehm VFW post collecting Toys for Tots

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300px-toys-for-tots02WILLIAMS – Mike Rioux, Service Officer for the Matthew J. Broehm VFW Post 12128, is assisting the Marine Corp in collecting Toys for Tots. Toys for Tots is an annual effort by the Marines to provide toys and games for children who might otherwise receive nothing on Christmas.

Because the Williams Lions Club is collecting Toys for Kids in Williams, the toys collected by the Matthew J. Broehm post will be delivered to Flagstaff for distribution there.

People wishing to donate may provide an unwrapped toy in boxes located around the city. One is currently located at Safeway and Mike is trying to place them at other locations.

The Matthew J. Broehm post is named for a Lance Corporal from Williams who was killed in action in Helmand province, Afghanistan in November of 2010. He was killed alongside fellow Marine Lance Corporal Brandon W. Pearson of Colorado.

Santa’s Memorandum of Understanding with Williams

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Photo of North Pole taken earlier this year.

WILLIAMS – While Phoenix is trying to promote something called the “North Pole Experience,” Santa’s Memorandum of Understanding with Williams signed over ten-years ago and re-newed yearly is still valid. Williams, Arizona is the only place where you can take the special train to visit the North Pole.

The MOU reads in part:

Whereas, the City of Williams, Arizona desires to run a train, hereafter known as The Polar Express, which shall desire to stop for fuel for a return to Williams, such fuel within the political and economic boundaries of the North Pole,

Therefore Santa Claus shall allow such The Polar Express to arrive nightly as they require with the following provisions:

1. No one may depart the train while refueling so as to

a) Not disturb the work being conducted by the employees of the North Pole, hereafter known as Elves,
b) Maintain security of the naughty/nice database, hereafter known as The List,
c) Not create any other disturbance which might cause a delay in the annual ride of Santa.

2. Santa may, at his option, depart on The Polar Express to ride to Williams to

a) Obtain necessary supplies, or
b) To distribute bells, or
c) To obtain intelligence on what persons who have and exemplary record during the prior year, hereafter known as The Nice, might want to obtain from Santa’s annual ride.
…

In recognition of this MOU, while in good standing, Santa also shall authorize the Mountain Village Holiday of Williams, Arizona as the official ceremony of The Polar Express.

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Hole made for annual City Tree earlier this week with lights decorate the City of Williams for Mountain Village Holiday.

So it is clear that the City of Williams has the only official means of visiting the North Pole.
Williams, as it has for years, has started setting up for the Mountain Village Holiday which begins in earnest next week with the annual Parade of Lights and lighting of the city Christmas Tree downtown on Second Street and Route 66.

The Polar Express will start running nightly with two trains to the North Pole. It is rumored that Santa will make several visits and be available for photos during that weekend, such as to Spoiled Rotten Pet Boutique and Supplies.

Williams Lions Club looking for secret Santas

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Lions-Clube1WILLIAMS – The Williams Lions are again organizing the Toys for Kids project to provide toys for less fortunate children in the Williams area.

If you know of any children 12 or under who should be considered for the Toys for Kids project, please contact Lions member Jackie Haugen at 635-5242 with the child’s name, age, sex, phone contact and address to ensure they are added to the list.

Anyone wishing to provide a toy for a needy child can pick a card from a tree, purchase a toy suitable for the child selected, then return the un-wrapped gift to the location where they were selected. All gifts must be returned by December 17. Williams Lions Club members will deliver the gifts to children’s homes before Christmas.

Trees will be placed on Christmas trees at National Bank of Arizona, North Country Health Center, Canyon Vista Mall and the Williams Ranger District Office within the next week.

If you prefer to contribute a cash donation, contact Lion Jackie Haugen or any other Williams Lions Club member. Unwrapped gifts may be dropped off at any of the Toys for Kids locations.

Help the Williams Lions brighten Christmas for all the local children who might otherwise miss a visit from Santa Claus.

Christmas Tree Tags Available For Kaibab Plateau Nov. 20

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FREDONIA – Christmas tree-cutting tags for the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest will go on sale Nov. 20, and trees may cut as soon as a tag has been purchased.

Tags cost $15 with a limit of one tree per household, and can be purchased at the North Kaibab Ranger District office in Fredonia or by mail. Christmas tree tags will not be sold at the Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center this year.

The North Kaibab Ranger District office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. 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. Cash, check or credit card will be accepted.

Mail requests for Christmas tree tags should include the customer’s name, $15 and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Please do not mail cash. Address mail requests to:  Christmas Tree Coordinator, North Kaibab Ranger District, P.O. Box 248 / 430 South Main Street, Fredonia, Arizona 86022. Expect at least 7 days to receive a permit by mail.

Customers will receive a map that shows what areas are authorized for cutting. Tree species available include: Blue and Engelmann spruce, Douglas fir, Subalpine and White fir, Pinyon and Ponderosa pine, and Utah and Rocky Mountain juniper.

Please be advised that the Arizona Department of Transportation typically closes the winter gate on Highway 67 at Jacob Lake in early December; however, the exact date has not been announced. For the most current information about highway closures and restrictions statewide, visit ADOT’s Travel Information Site at az511.gov, follow us on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 5-1-1. Visitors can access cutting areas via forest roads, and are urged to monitor weather conditions as most roads on the district are not paved.

For more information, please contact the North Kaibab Ranger District at (928) 643-7395.

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.