Tag Archives: Coconino County

Coconino County appoints Cheryl Mango-Paget as Superintendent of Schools

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Board of Supervisors has appointed Cheryl Mango-Paget as Coconino County Superintendent of Schools effective immediately. Mango-Paget has served as the Associate Superintendent for Coconino County since 2012, holds a certificate to teach in schools in the state of Arizona, and holds Arizona administrator and superintendent certifications.

Mango-Paget has classroom experience as a teacher and administrator, and expertise and passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education (STEM).

“I’m honored to serve Coconino County as the Superintendent of Schools,” said Mango-Paget. “Education is my passion and I look forward to continuing to improve the educational outcomes for our students and training for our teachers. Our future is built on the success we have educating the children and young adults of our county.”

“Coconino County’s educational mission will be well-served by Superintendent Mango-Paget. The Superintendent’s knowledge and
experience, and her passion for serving our children and community are evident. In light of the challenges facing Coconino County due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the board recognizes the need for leadership and continuity in the Office of the Superintendent. We are grateful to have a leader such as Superintendent Mango-Paget to guide this team into a bright future. The Board of Supervisors looks forward to working together with the Superintendent to continue the long history of excellence in education and supporting teachers in our county,”
commented Chairman Matt Ryan.

Mango-Paget earned both a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master of Science in Education from Indiana University. Mango-Paget will serve through December 31, 2022.

Coconino County praises passage of Great American Outdoors Act

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County applauds todays enactment of the Great American Outdoors Act which establishes the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund to address over $507 million deferred maintenance needs in Arizona. This landmark legislation also permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a critical funding tool for Coconino County.

“The Board of Supervisors has tirelessly advocated for many years for the improvement of federal lands within our county and funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund,” said Coconino County Chairwoman Liz Archuleta. “The Great American Outdoors Act will help to revitalize the infrastructure of federal lands and provide more public open space for recreation, a vital component to increasing the economic value of tourism. Thank you to all those in the Arizona delegation that voted for this monumental piece of legislation.”

Coconino County is the second-largest county in the continental United States encompassing more than 18,000 square miles. Coconino County is home to national treasures, including Wupatki National Monument, Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Sunset Crater, Walnut Canyon National Monument and, most notably, the Grand Canyon National Park. The Great American Outdoors Act will provide deferred maintenance funding for these institutions.

Historically, LWCF funds have supported 33 projects in Coconino County totaling $1,955,704. These 33 diverse projects, some dating back to 1966, range from work at Fort Tuthill County
Park and Fort Tuthill Bike Park, to the ballfield at Thorpe Park in the City of Flagstaff. LWCF projects in Coconino County provide a way for people to connect to their environment and with each other, and ensure recreational access for hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities.

The Great American Outdoors Act was supported by Arizona Senators Sinema and McSally and Representatives O’Halleran, Grijalva, Kirkpatrick, Gallego, Stanton and Schweikert.

President Trump signed the legislation into law on August 4. Coconino County is grateful to all those who supported this legislation to protect our natural resources.

2020 Coconino County Fair to be held virtually

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FLAGSTAFF — The 2020 Coconino County Fair will move forward this year as an online event with virtual 4-H shows, pictures of entry winners, streaming entertainment, and a virtual vendor marketplace. A “community connections” portion encourages community members to share favorite recipes, gardening tips and tricks, flower growing advice, and to vote for people’s choice awards in fine arts for photography and other art mediums. While the annual Coconino County Fair will look different this year, the public is encouraged to participate and make it a community-wide celebration.

The Coconino County Parks and Recreation Department and 4-H Cooperative Extension Office decided to move forward virtually, including livestock shows and Clubwork exhibits after over eight weeks of information gathering, planning, and meetings with partners such as Coconino County Health and Human Services, Fair Superintendents, and the Northern Arizona Junior Livestock Association.

The Fair Books, one for 4-H and one for community members, are also online. Community entries are due by Friday, August 21. The County Fair is featuring a select number of entry categories per department, and people will submit a photo of their entry online for judging. Winners will receive cash prizes, provided by sponsors Friends of Coconino County Park, and the Cromer and Heflin families.

Coconino County Parks and Recreation is currently accepting virtual vendor applications for the virtual vendor marketplace that will provide a way for community members to enjoy the County Fair from the comfort of their own home. Food, commercial, and nonprofit vendors are encouraged to apply to be part of the 2020 Vendor Marketplace at CoconinoCountyFair.com. The Fair asks that vendors provide a special item or promotion to be available at least during Labor Day Weekend, September 4 through September 7, 2020.

The Fair Books and vendor application are available on the Coconino County Fair website at CoconinoCountyFair.com.

Coconino NF seeks public comments on extension of SF Peaks mineral withdrawal

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino National Forest has filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to extend a San Francisco Peaks mineral withdraw for an additional 20 years and is seeking public comments regarding the extension.
Public Land Order 7467 withdrew 74,689 acres in the SF Peaks/Mt Elden recreation area in 2000 from settlement, sale, location, or entry under the general land and mining laws, but not from leasing under the mineral leasing laws. The order expires Oct. 15, 2020, but an extension would continue the withdrawal to protect the cultural significance, capital investments and dispersed recreation values in the defined recreation area.
BLM provided notice of application in the Federal Register on June 16, which provides the public the opportunity to comment on the withdrawal extension application.
Coconino NF will be hosting a virtual public meeting August 17 at 5 p.m., and the public can attend this online meeting by sending an email to
comments-southwestern-coconino-flagstaff@usda.gov with “Withdrawal” in the subject line to receive a meeting invite with an online link.
The public can also provide comments to the BLM by mail, fax, or email. All comments should be sent to the BLM Arizona State Office, One North Central, Suite 800, Phoenix, Arizona, 85004; faxed to 602-417-9452; or sent by email to BLM_AZ_Withdrawal_Comments@blm.gov. The BLM will not consider comments received via telephone calls.

Fire Restrictions to be Lifted Tuesday on Entire Kaibab National Forest

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WILLIAMS — Due to significant and widespread precipitation received across much of northern Arizona, the Kaibab National Forest will lift all fire restrictions on all three districts on Tuesday July 28 at 6:00 a.m.

Coconino County has also lifted fire restrictions in the unincorporated areas.

The area closure protecting the Bill Williams Mountain watershed will also be rescinded at this time, and visitors can once again camp, hike, and drive in the popular recreation areas. However, due to the hazardous nature of technical work in the higher elevations where steep slope fuels reduction operations have been occurring, a revised area closure will be forthcoming in September to ensure public safety on that portion of the mountain as work resumes.

The districts have received a substantial amount of rain over the last two weeks relaxing the danger levels across the forest. Each year fire officials closely monitor conditions before decisions are made to implement fire restrictions and area closures designed to protect human life, property and natural resources. These procedures are used to help prevent unwanted, human-caused fires and to limit the exposure of visitors during periods of potentially dangerous fire conditions.

The Kaibab National Forest would like to express appreciation for all those who assisted our firefighters and patrol units with their compliance while under these conditions. When members of the public abide by fire restrictions and closures, they greatly help in protecting their public lands and adjacent communities from the threats posed by human-caused wildfires.

Coconino County Fair modified due to COVID-19

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Parks and Recreation is modifying the 71st Coconino County Fair due to COVID-19 concerns. This decision was reached after months of deliberation, research and consultation with local health officials and the Board of Supervisors. Several county fairs in Arizona have cancelled their events this year due to COVID-19 safety concerns.

During the June 2 meeting, the Board of Supervisors supported a modified event that will incorporate measures to focus on 4-H youth member exhibits, the livestock auction, and online or virtual ways to engage the community in lieu of an in-person event at Fort Tuthill County Park. The safety and health of attendees, exhibitors and staff are very important to the County, as is continued support to area youth with their 4-H and livestock projects.

The Coconino County Fair is held every year over the Labor Day weekend at Fort Tuthill County Park fairgrounds with over 40,000 people attending the event who travel from across the county and the state, making it the largest event in Northern Arizona. The event regularly features a carnival with amusement rides, food and amusement vendors, and live entertainment. The County decided to support a modified event this year because of the event’s large attendance and the distance people travel.

“The Coconino County Fair is a long-standing tradition that residents and visitors look forward to all year. We are excited about the possibilities to come out of the difficult decision to modify this year’s event to focus on the 4-H exhibitors and junior livestock auction,” stated Coconino County Chairwoman Liz Archuleta. “This is an opportunity for innovative thinking, and we can’t wait to see what the Parks and Recreation Department plans for the 2020 Coconino County Fair.”

Planning is currently underway for what components make up a modified county fair. Coconino County Parks & Recreation is asking the public to submit ideas about a modified County Fair at http://www.CoconinoCountyFair.com.

Red Flag Warning 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday

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RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MST FRIDAY DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR WESTERN COCONINO AND YAVAPAI COUNTIES Red Flag Warning issued June 4 at 1:42PM MST until June 5 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ The National Weather Service in Flagstaff has issued a Red Flag Warning due to strong winds and low relative humidity, which is in effect from 11 AM to 8 PM MST Friday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * AFFECTED AREA…Locations near Fredonia, Grand Canyon, Jacob Lake, North Rim, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Seligman and Valle. This includes portions of the Coconino National Forest, Kaibab National Forest and Prescott National Forest. * WINDS…South 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY…As low as 13 percent. * IMPACTS…The combination of strong gusty winds and low relative humidity may create critical fire weather conditions. Isolated thunderstorms are also possible, which could lead to new fire starts.

Transwestern Road changing to Hughes Avenue

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FLAGSTAFF — The name of Transwestern Road in Bellemont is changing to Hughes Avenue. This change is being made in response to concerns expressed by the Ponderosa Fire District and other emergency responders about having two roads in the Bellemont area with very similar names: Transwestern Road, which crosses over Interstate 40 (I-40) at the interchange and Transwestern Pump Station Road, which intersects with Brannigan Park Road a couple of miles west of Bellemont.

The name of Transwestern Road is being changed to Hughes Avenue to help improve
emergency response times and to clarify the road’s name for motorists and residents who might need to report an emergency or accident. Hughes Avenue is the road that already provides access to Camp Navajo on the south side of I-40, so it is logical to extend this road’s name north across I-40 to where it intersects with Brannigan Park Road in order to alleviate any confusion.

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is in the process of replacing the signs along I-40 and at the Transwestern Road bridge (Exit 185) to reflect the name change. This work is expected to be completed by mid-June. During this time frame, Public Works crews will be replacing its affected street name signs on County roads.

The County’s Geographic Information System (GIS) team will update all affected databases (911, etc.) to reflect the name change from Transwestern Road to Hughes Avenue. GIS also will share the updated road name information with FedEx, UPS, USPS, APS, Guardian Medical, Sheriff’s Dispatch and Fire Districts. The name change from Transwestern Road to Hughes Avenue does not affect any physical or mailing addresses.

An area map is available at www.coconino.az.gov/Transwestern2HughesNameChange. If you have any questions about this project, then please email countyroadsinfo@coconino.az.gov.

County Attorney respond to death of George Floyd

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COUNTY ATTORNEY BILL RING’S RESPONSE TO THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD

FLAGSTAFF — ) With regard to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota:

As the County Attorney of Coconino County, a land with great diversity of peoples, I condemn as intolerable the disgusting abuse we see in video and news media coverage of the death of George Floyd. Mr. Floyd should never have lost his life that day. Our shared Constitutional right to due process assured him that he would live through a compliant encounter with law enforcement. Except as we all have seen, trust in the equal application of that promise was tragically broken by
callousness and plain old deplorable meanness.

The fair administration of justice requires that the Minneapolis District Attorney and the Minnesota Attorney General review all the available evidence such as civilian videos, body-worn police cameras, eyewitness statements, statements from the officers if they choose to give them, and a complete forensic autopsy. The weight of the evidence will dictate those who are accused and their charges, along with the course of prosecution in pursuit of justice. The process of criminal justice is deliberate for a reason. We must seek what is true by way of what is correct so that the result is complete and the answers we learn are the basis for the restorative work ahead of us.

And yet there are the many peoples’ collective history of long walks and painful experiences that drive civil protests. Protestation and righteous discontent have been the driver of change in our democracy. I respect the right to grieve. Grievance can be uncomfortably loud at times and nonetheless be completed peacefully. I have always been proud of our community’s abilities in this regard. But like Dr. King, I do not condone violence. Mr. Floyd’s ultimate legacy will be a national commitment to improve our attitudes on race and justice, law enforcement training and performance review, and our commitment to achieve equal justice for all.

County Announces Free Wireless Hotspot in Page

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PAGE — Coconino County has installed a Wi-Fi hotspot allowing residents of Page and the surrounding areas to access internet without charge.

The hotspot is located between the Coconino County Health and Human Services Northern Region Office and Page Magistrate Court buildings at 467 Vista Avenue. A map is attached. Internet access is available throughout the entire parking lot and residents are encouraged to stay in their cars and practice social distancing. The network does not require a password and is named County WIFI.

“Broadband and internet connectivity are crucial to connect residents to work and school,” said Coconino County Supervisor Lena Fowler. “Many parts of our county do not have quality access to a broadband connection. Providing available and free internet access will allow the residents of Page and tribal communities to connect with job-seeking resources and focus on schoolwork during this difficult time.”

Northern Arizona University has also installed Wi-Fi hotspots for students to use throughout the Navajo Nation and Hopi Reservation. For more information on Northern Arizona University’s Wi-Fi hotspots please visit www.nau.edu/access.