WILLIAMS – This Veterans Day, Bearizona Wildlife Park invites all active duty and retired military to enjoy a day at the park as a Thank You for their service.
On Sunday, November 11, all veterans and active-duty military personnel will receive free admission into Bearizona Wildlife Park, by presenting a military ID or proof of service.
Another RV tries and fails to zip under the Zipline sign.
According to a witness, the RV attempted to go under the rails and got stuck. It backed up and attempted to go in-between the sign posts and a white van. The witness stopped the vehicle while calling the Williams Police Department. The damage was minimal.
WILLIAMS – An elk calf, appropriately named Lucky, was rescued by Bearizona after her pregnant mother was hit by a vehicle on I-40 June 10. A month later, the one-month-old calf is almost fully recovered from a dramatic entry into the world and is on display in her new home at the wildlife park near the Grand Canyon. Lucky is the twelfth wild animal rescued this year by the popular drive- and walk-through park devoted to providing homes to wild animals in need.
Lucky’s late mom was pregnant with her at the time of the accident, and the newborn elk calf was brought into the world and saved by Flagstaff firefighters and a Prescott family who stopped at the scene and then rushed the calf to Bearizona in their motor home. She is now healthy enough to be on display along with a recently rescued two-month-old pronghorn fawn. Jessie, the pronghorn fawn, was displaced and then unable to be safely reunited with her family by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The public can see the two together in their new home at Bearizona beginning this week.
Lucky and Jessie.
Bearizona’s mission is to rescue wild animals in need of new homes and promote conservation by inviting visitors to view wildlife in spacious, natural environments. The park has rescued four black bear cubs, two elk, one pronghorn and five otters to date in 2018.
Since it was founded in 2010, Bearizona has fast-become a must-see attraction when visiting the Grand Canyon’s South Rim or driving through Northern Arizona. It was voted among the top three wildlife parks by the annual USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards twice in the past two years.
PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation and partner agencies will hold an event Thursday, March 1, offering tips and tools to owners of small businesses and companies qualifying for the agency’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program.
The DBE & Small Business Transportation Expo, scheduled for 7 a.m. to noon at Glendale Civic Center, will allow attendees to learn about project opportunities, network with industry professionals and business owners and hear from transportation leaders including featured speaker ADOT Director John Halikowski. Also participating are the Phoenix Public Transit and Street Transportation departments, Valley Metro and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
ADOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program helps qualifying small businesses compete for contracts. The companies must be owned by individuals from socially and economically disadvantaged groups, including women and minorities.
“ADOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program is critical to helping to reduce barriers to entry and teaching DBEs and small businesses how to fish, thrive and survive in the transportation industry,” said Dr. Vivien Lattibeaudiere, ADOT’S Employee and Business Development Administrator. “With access to project opportunities, they can become a meaningful part of building the transportation infrastructure in our state.”
To register for this free event, visit adotdbeexpo.com.
Although the expo 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 the transportation industry.
For more on the Expo or ADOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, contact the ADOT Business Engagement and Compliance Office at 602.712.7761 or visit azdot.gov/dbe.
WILLIAMS – Bearizona has opened its much anticipated 6,000-square-foot restaurant, Canyonlands. This themed restaurant features soaring canyon walls and ancient ruins that allow diners to immerse themselves in the true spirit of the Southwest. The expansive two-story covered deck includes priceless views of the park’s spectacular jaguar exhibit, which features a 25 foot waterfall.
Canyonlands Restaurant will open its doors at 10:30 a.m. and will close 2 hours after the park’s posted closing time. This restaurant is only accessible to park guests and annual pass holders.
Bearizona is a wildlife park which invites guests to experience a scenic three-mile drive in their own vehicle, witnessing North American animals in their natural environment. In Fort Bearizona, visitors can leisurely stroll along winding walkways through the forest for an up-close view of even more animal antics. Finally, guests are encouraged to catch the complimentary Birds of Prey free flight show, where they will come face to face with hawks, owls and other raptors.
WILLIAMS – The hole in the wall at 126 Railroad Avenue is filled with another business. Everything Arizona brings a new look to the business atmosphere. This business, brought to Williams by Joanne and Virgil is useful to tourists and residents alike.
Everything Arizona can manufacture custom cups, T-shirts and sweatshirts, vinyl window lettering, metal pictures and signs and more. They also carry stuffed TY toys and other trinkets and collectibles. Everything Arizona can use your design or help you make one. They can put your picture on cups and are adding temporary tattoo painting. Most of the work can be completed in a couple of hours. Some may take a little longer to adjust the photos, such as on cups, but it is generally same day service.
Joanne said that many customers have come in to ask for Route 66 T-shirts with Williams, Arizona on them. Something they cannot find in other businesses. Everything Arizona is happy to oblige.
Virgil said they can work with non-profits and groups for special events.
Everything Arizona is located at 126 Railroad Avenue in Williams across the street from the visitor parking lot. If you or your organization has a need for custom-made T-shirts, cups, vinyl lettering or whatever, Check out Everything Arizona and save the shipping.
PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation has begun the process of updating its goal for the percentage value of federal-aid contract dollars won by firms certified for its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program.
To do so, the agency has retained Keen Independent Research to develop a draft study on the availability of disadvantaged business enterprises in Arizona. This availability study will be completed in May and released for public review and comment along with ADOT’s proposed participation goal for disadvantaged business enterprises.
Every three years, ADOT must submit to the Federal Highway Administration an overall annual participation goal for disadvantaged business enterprises, expressed as a percentage of dollars going to certified firms from contracts using U.S. Department of Transportation funds.
Two public meetings on the proposed goal will be held in June, with public comments to be accepted through the end of June. The new goal, which must be submitted this summer, will go into effect on Oct. 1.
As part of this process, ADOT will seek comments on the proposed participation goal, the draft availability study, the conditions for minority- and women-owned firms in the Arizona transportation contracting marketplace, and other topics. All public comments will be reviewed before ADOT submits its final goal request to the Federal Highway Administration.
Through federal fiscal year 2017, ADOT has an overall disadvantaged business enterprise participation goal of 8.9 percent for contracts using Federal Highway Administration funds, setting contract-specific goals on some of its federally funded contracts to help meet the goal. During the past two fiscal years, ADOT has exceeded its goal.
ADOT will also use results of the availability study results to develop new overall disadvantaged business enterprise participation goals for its contracts funded by the Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration.
ADOT is briefing industry groups about the availability study and the goal-setting process and will provide regular updates on the process through the ADOT Business Engagement and Compliance website, azdot.gov/BECO.
TUBA CITY – Coconino County District 5 Supervisor Lena Fowler and the Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) are hosting a series of economic outlook meetings on the Navajo Nation. The meetings will gather input from the public on ways to diversify the economy in northern Arizona due to the potential work reduction at Navajo Generating Station and possible impacts to mining.
All members of the public, especially those affected by the changing economy, are encouraged to attend and participate in the discussions. The meeting schedules are as follows:
For more information, please call Supervisor Fowler’s office at 928-283-4518.
Click on image to view video of Bagheera swimming.
WILLIAMS — This time of year is all about giving, and what better Christmas gift than to help a friend in need. Bearizona Wildlife Park’s resident jaguar Bagheera was able to give a blood transfusion to a Jaguar in dire need from the Reid Park Zoo.
Jaguars are a near threatened species and numbers are rapidly declining in their wild habitats which include the southern regions of the United States, Mexico and Central and South America. The last known wild Jaguars living in the United States were actually last seen in the Tucson Arizona, with the most recent sighting just last week.
Bearizona’s Owner stated “we received a call last week from Reid Park Zoo stating they had a Jaguar who was in need of help. We of course wanted to help, and after some discussions with our veterinary team we decided it was a great opportunity to help out a jaguar in need.
Bearizona’s male jaguar Bagheera is one of the most beloved critters to call Bearizona home and now he can add life saver to his list. They say a cat has nine lives and it looks like that very well may be the case for Reid Park Zoo’s jaguar Nakita, after the successful blood transfusion.
Casey also stated that “We are happy we were able to help and wish Nikita a speedy recovery.”
Bagheera can be seen frolicking in his home at Bearizona, an 11,000 square foot exhibit complete with a 30 foot waterfall.
WILLIAMS — Tonight we went to check out the Wild Wonderland at Bearizona drive-through wild life park. There are a few photo ops and the addition of the pit with s’mores was a great idea. It takes the chill out of the air.
At Bearizona you can conspire, as you dream by the fire.
Some of my photos did not turn out. I should have had some of the friendly staff take the pictures for me.
The lights of Wild Wonderland dance with the beat of Christmas music at the walk-through area. You can still walk through and see the animals roaming at night. The porcupines were even out. We got to see the Bobcats receiving their Christmas presents early.
The gift shop is stocked and open and they even have gloves, wool caps and other warm clothing in case you forgot something.
The upper level of the gift shop is finished and this is where Mrs. Clause tells stories. We did notice her computer there but were not allowed to view the naughty list. Not only does it prevent getting juicy stories, reporters cannot get in to change their marks on the list.
The drive-through portion of the park closes about 3 p.m. to get ready for the Wild Wonderland event. The gates open at 5 p.m. and the light show begins at 5:30. The cost for Winter Wonderland is $12 at the gate. Here is a tip, however, that might help this report get back on the nice list. You can get a hefty discount by getting tickets through Groupon. Your can visit the Bearizona web site to get more details on the park.