2017 pronghorn, elk hunt recommendations to be available for review

elk-hunt-reviewPHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department has scheduled a series of six “open houses” for constituents to review and ask questions about the proposed pronghorn, elk and population management hunt recommendations.

The department annually makes hunt recommendations to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission regarding the management of game species, which establish the seasons, dates, bag limits, open areas and hunt permit-tag allocations based on the framework of the hunt guidelines set by the commission every two years.

The proposed hunt recommendations will be posted Monday, Nov. 21, at www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines. The open houses will be conducted at the following Game and Fish regional offices:

  1. Wednesday, Nov. 23: 6-8 p.m., Flagstaff, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road.
  2. Wednesday, Nov. 23: 3-5 p.m., Yuma, 9140 E. 28th St.
  3. Monday, Nov. 28: 3-5 p.m., Tucson, 555 N. Greasewood Road.
  4. Monday, Nov. 28: 3-5 p.m., Pinetop, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.
  5. Tuesday, Nov. 29: 3-5 p.m., Kingman, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road.
  6. Wednesday, Nov. 30: 4:30-6:30 p.m., Mesa, 7200 E. University Road.​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​Constituents who are interested in particular game management units within those regions will be able to review the hunt recommendations and ask questions. No formal presentations are planned.

The proposed hunt recommendations will be presented to the commission for consideration during its Dec. 3 meeting at department headquarters in Phoenix. The agenda will be posted at www.azgfd.gov/commission.

To learn more about the hunt recommendations and hunt guidelines processes, visit www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines.

Two Deaths Being Investigated as Murder Suicide

Sheriff-Patch005On November 16, 2016 around 11:00 AM, Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received a request for a welfare check at a residence south of Twin Arrows. The reporting party advised dispatch that her co-worker had not shown up for work and was not answering the door.

Deputies responded and made forced entry. They located 55-year-old Mary Smeal and 57-year-old Jeffery Jones both deceased from apparent gunshot wounds. Information was not immediately released until next of kin could be notified. The case is being investigated as a murder-suicide.

The two deceased were in a domestic relationship. The reporting party had driven to the residence and found both Ms. Smeal’s and Mr. Jones’ vehicles in the driveway. She was unable to get anyone to answer the phone or the door. Evidence from the scene indicates that Mr. Jones shot Ms. Smeal and then shot himself.

No further details are available at this time; the case is still under investigation by the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office.

Prepare for cold night tonight

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Clouds blank out the sun in Williams.

High winds are bringing clouds and cold temperatures into Williams and Flagstaff over night tonight and through tomorrow. A warming trend will return through the weekend, but chilly nights will remain and our spring weather during the day are disappearing.800-landsnow161116-03In Williams the temperature is expected to drop to 25 tonight and as low as 16 tomorrow night. The wind chill might make the temperatures seem much lower. There is a 10% chance of snow Thursday morning. The high tomorrow is expected to be around 46. Friday, Saturday and Sunday will warm up with cooler temperatures and chance of showers returning Monday. The weather in Flagstaff is expected to be about the same with slightly higher temperatures.800-port-161116-04

Interstate 40 paving work by Interstate 17 interchange on Monday, Nov. 14

FLAGSTAFF — Motorists traveling eastbound along Interstate 40 just outside of Flagstaff should allow for extra time for travel on Monday, Nov. 14 as crews perform spot-repairs to the roadway near the Interstate 17 junction (milepost 194-197).

Work will begin early in the morning and continue during daylight hours. The speed limit will be reduced through the construction zone.

Drivers should allow extra time for travel, use caution in the work zone and watch for equipment and personnel.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but it’s possible that unscheduled closures or restrictions might occur because of weather or other factors. For the latest highway conditions around the state, visit the ADOT Traveler Information Center at az511.gov, follow us on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511 except while driving.

2016 Unofficial Coconino County results

FLAGSTAFF — With all precincts reported as of about 10:30 p.m. last night, it appears that there were a few upsets in Coconino County.

It is not surprising that Coconino went for the Clinton-Kaine and Ann Kirkpatrick tickets, but it was not enough to carry a victory in Arizona. Democrat Tom O’Halleran won the Congressional District 1 seat vacated by Ann Kirkpatrick with a margin of 60.07% to Paul Babeu’s 33.19%.

Nikki Check Bagley unseated Republican Sylvia Tenney Allen 59.68% to 40.15%. It appears that Democrat Alex Martinez will take the representative seat for District 6 from Brenda Barton. Martinez took 41.09% of the vote, Bob Thorpe took 30.18% and Brenda Barton finished with 28.26%.

Democrats won across the Board of Supervisors with only one apparent Republican win in District 4. Jim Parks beat Janis Crossman with a slim margin of 50.10% to 49.75%. Matt Ryan defeated Republican challenger Christine Gannon by about a 5% margin. Democrat Jim Driscoll won the race for Sheriff of Coconino county beating Independent challenger Danny Thomas 67.58% to 32.13% of the vote.

In Flagstaff, Coral J. Evans beat Republican Jerry Nabours by about 14% of the vote. The results for Flagstaff council member candidates in order of number of votes were Jamie Whelan, Jim McCarthy, Charlie Odegaard, Adam Shimoni, Karla Brewster and Jeff Orvits.

In Williams, George Otero was defeated in a runoff for a council seat by Dawn Trapp 51.29% to 46.77%. In the Town of Tusayan, the council member race in order of votes was Al Montoya, Rebecca Wirth, Robert Gossard with Anavon Harris and David Chavez in a tie with 14.78%.

Proposition 205 to make marijuana legal passed in Coconino county, but was defeated State-wide. 206 passed in both County and State. Propositions 408 through 414 passed with the exception of 410 to raise taxes for Coconino Community College.

Canyon Pet Hospital available for emergency services

800px-20161107-21FLAGSTAFF — I was in the unfortunate circumstance of having to find late night veterinary service for my dog recently. The local veterinarian in Williams was closed. I had to drive to Flagstaff to visit the AAHA accredited Canyon Pet hospital on Old Canyon Court.

The hospital has appointments available from Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to midnight. Urgent care is available 7 days during the same hours. You can walk-in on a first come-first served basis during these hours. You can check out their services and download forms at their web site.

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One of the pictures on the wall of Canyon Pet Hospital.

Emergency care is available from midnight until 8 a.m. every day for an extra charge. A doctor is on call, so you should call ahead so they can alert the doctor that you are coming. Their phone number is 928-774-5197.

Canyon Pet Hospital is not easy to find, especially in the dark. To get to the hospital, you have to go along Butler avenue as if you are going to Warner’s Nursery. If you are coming from the direction of Sam’s Club, start looking to the left when you pass Warner’s Nursery. You need to find River Run Road—the next road past the nursery—and turn left. Drive down River Run Road in it leads to Old Canyon Court. You cannot miss the hospital. There are two veterinary services on Butler Avenue. They are not associated with the Canyon Pet Hospital.

When you arrive, remember to check the doors. Dogs are to be taken in through the door on the left and cats through the door on the right.

I went in late at night before midnight when a doctor was at the hospital. The service turned out to be quite reasonable for the service. I felt comfortable with the treatment my dog received except for the fact that I was not allowed in to the treatment area with him. They set up a follow-up appointment for a few days later. The nurse called the next day to see how Prince was doing.

If you have a late-night emergency, I can recommend the Canyon Pet Hospital with a follow-up with your regular veterinarian if required.

Canyon Pet Hospital
928-774-5197
1054 E. Old Court
Flagstaff 86001

ADEQ Awards a $72,489 Brownfields Grant to Pine Forest Education Association

adeq-1FLAGSTAFF — Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today a Brownfields Grant award of $72,489 to the Pine Forest Education Association (PFEA) to perform an asbestos and lead-based paint abatement at a vacant church located at 2257 E. Cedar Ave in Flagstaff in support of the Pine Forest Charter School (http://pineforestschool.org/) expansion plan to accommodate increased enrollment. Constructed in 1967, the 23,000-square-foot multistory, multi-material building is located on an approximate 3.5-acre property. The charter school plans to modify the existing structure as well as construct new buildings to provide its K–8 curricula to more students.

Redeveloping brownfields has the potential to reduce environmental hazards, mitigate public health threats, create new business opportunities, increase tax revenue and restore habitats and blighted areas to productive use. Program funds are limited and available to eligible applicants in the order that they apply and qualify.

Established in 2003, ADEQ’s BAP conducts projects through Arizona’s State Response Grant using funds provided by the Environmental Protection Agency. The program has funded more than 70 projects, assisting entities from local governments, schools, hospitals and nonprofits to tribes in completing environmental assessments, cleanup and restoration.

Plan for US 180 restrictions north of Flagstaff during controlled burn Tuesday and Wednesday

FLAGSTAFF — Traffic on US 180 will be restricted to one lane on Tuesday and Wednesday, near Kendrick Park, approximately 17 miles north of Flagstaff, as forest crews conduct a controlled burn in the area.

The scheduled burn will begin at 9:30 a.m. and is expected to last throughout the day and potentially through Wednesday if conditions allow.

Fire managers will be coordinating with ADOT, which will provide pilot vehicles to lead traffic through the restricted area and determine when to lift the restriction. ADOT will be on scene during ignitions and monitoring smoke impacts to the highway overnight, if necessary.

Drivers should allow for extra time for travel, slow down and proceed with caution with the potential reduced visibility conditions in the area.

Coconino County to hold hearing on user fee increases

Coconino-County-4FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Board of Supervisors will hold a Regular Meeting and Public Hearing on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 10:00 am in the County Administrative Center First Floor Meeting Room, 219 East Cherry, Flagstaff, Arizona

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors will hold a Regular Meeting and Public Hearing on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 10:00 am in the County Administrative Center First Floor Meeting Room, 219 East Cherry, Flagstaff, Arizona, to hear any taxpayer wishing to comment for or against any proposed fee increase. Following the Public Hearing the Board will consider adoption of a revised fee schedule. Here is a PDF with the proposed changes.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit Solves 22-Year-Old Missing Persons Case

FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit has solved the missing persons case of Brian Nez. Nez, a 19-year-old Native American male from Flagstaff, had been reported missing by his family on October 25, 1994.

The information from the initial investigation found that Nez was believed to have last been seen at a party in Winslow, AZ in August or September of 1994. The case went cold after several people were interviewed and no information developed as to his whereabouts. Nez was entered as missing in the national computer database used by law enforcement.

In Spring 2015, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Cold Case Unit brought on volunteer Jana White, retired from NAU Police and Flagstaff Police Departments, to review unsolved missing person cases. Nez’s case was re-opened in March 2016. Investigator Jana White entered Nez into a new database called NamUS (http://namus.gov/about.htm), a website that has developed largely over the last ten years to improve information sharing on missing and unidentified persons throughout the United States. NamUS responded with information that an unidentified victim of a fatal vehicle-pedestrian traffic accident had a similar description to our missing person case. The vehicle-pedestrian accident had occurred in Navajo County about 2 miles north of Winslow, AZ in August 1994. Based on this, further investigation by the Cold Case Unit found that the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office had performed the autopsy on the unidentified pedestrian victim for Navajo County.
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