Tag Archives: Holiday

Welcome 2017 with sober driving

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PHOENIX — Toast away this New Year’s. Just don’t get behind the wheel toasted.

Continuing its tradition of holiday-themed safety campaigns, starting today ADOT’s highway message boards are encouraging you to make smart decisions when it comes to getting around on a long weekend that many associate with imbibing.

Channeling Christopher Walken’s eternally awesome Saturday Night Live skit as record producer Bruce Dickinson (yes, the Bruce Dickinson), the first message says:

WE’VE GOT A FEVER
& THE ONLY CURE IS
SOBER DRIVERS

(Yes, Bruce Dickson said PRESCRIPTION, but that doesn’t play well with message boards limited to 18 characters per line.)

Look for new messages each day throughout the weekend.

It should go without saying, but driving under the influence, already a factor in many fatal crashes, is an especially big concern over New Year’s weekend.

In 2015, Arizona saw seven people die in crashes over New Year’s weekend. Alcohol was a factor in four of those fatalities.

As you ring in 2017, please designate a driver, take a cab, catch the bus or light rail (if you take public transportation, Bruce Dickinson would want you to explore the space) – whatever it takes to not get behind the wheel impaired.

Each of these options is a sure way to not have to fear the reaper.

Costume meeting for Christmas Nativity Thursday

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WILLIAMS — The costume meeting for the Community Christmas Nativity Pageant will be Thursday, November 17th at 1pm. The meeting will be held at Williams Wear, 117 W. Route 66 in the mall. It is the first suite to the right as you enter from the front. The mall is next to Old Smokey’s Restaurant.

Kerry-Lynn asks that you notify her to let her know if you can make it to the meeting or not.

Tree street closed in Williams

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800-2nd-002WILLIAMS — 2nd Street between Bill Williams Avenue (Route 66) and Grant Street was closed by City of Williams Public Works department apparently in preparation for the annual arrival of the city Christmas tree. The section of 2nd street closed is between Colors of the West and the Grand Canyon Hotel.

Producers of Christmas Pageant seeks equipment.

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300-pageant16-10-18-13WILLIAMS — Producers of the Williams Christmas Nativity Pageant are seeking help from the community for the December 23 show.

The show is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. December 23 which is expected to be cold at the outside venue. Cosette Riggs is asking if anyone has outdoor patio heaters that they can contribute for the event. According to Facebook posts, the pageant seems to be coming together, but other contributions would be appreciated. The pageant could use safety observers, cocoa, cookies and other baked goods, ushers and so-forth.

If you have a patio heater with a full tank of fuel that they can borrow or can contribute in other ways, you can contact the organizers of the pageant at 602-818-6559 or by email jdmoede@aol.com.

Will Haunt for Food

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WILLIAMS — Spooky and fun Halloween events continue through the weekend to the big event on Monday. It is the final weekend for the events Bearizona and Grand Canyon Railway. A haunted house will spook up some food for the Williams Food Bank. Businesses and houses throughout the community are ready to distribute candies.

This weekend is the final chance to visit the Howly, Owly, Growly festival at Bearizona. It is also the final weekend for the Pumpkin Patch train at the Grand Canyon Railway. This special train this weekend features the steam engine.tunneldoom-16-10-19-01
Starting Friday the 29th and running through Halloween you can take a walk through The Tunnel of Doom. The fee is a non-perishable food item to be donated to the Williams Food Bank. The Tunnel of Doom is at 1066 Allston Way in Williams (MAP). We got to visit the “skeleton” of the Tunnel earlier and it looks to be a spooky experience.800-161024_175623Safe Halloween alternatives are planned by Churches on Monday. The Williams First Baptist Church and Family Harvest Church across the street from Safeway will hold their annual Fall Festival. The Methodist Church on 2nd Street will host their Trunk-or-Treat event. Kids can get candy from Halloween-mobiles and get a hotdog or hamburger at the bbq.800-161024_175529Of course the big day is Monday, the 31st. We urge all parents to trick-or-treat with their children or another responsible adult. There are safety tips available here and here. You should check to make sure the house has decorations outside indicating that they are welcoming visitors. Remind your children not to eat any treats until you check them out yourself.800-16-10-19-01On Saturday, you can drive around and check for houses appropriately decorated. Don’t forget that businesses downtown also may be handing out treats.800-16-10-19-03Have a SAFE Halloween.scan10-19

Christmas Nativity pageant meeting held

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Producer Kerry-Lynn Moede (sitting) and Cosette Riggs (standing) explain the vision of the upcoming Christmas Pageant.

Producer Kerry-Lynn Moede (sitting) and Cosette Riggs (standing) explain the vision of the upcoming Christmas Pageant.

WILLIAMS — Organizers for the proposed Christmas Nativity pageant on December 23 held their first meeting with members of the community tonight. The meeting was held at the Babbit-Polson Community Stage where the event will be held.

Director Cosette Riggs said of the ambitious project, “This is an old-fashioned, nativity Christmas pageant. The pastors will be the narrators and the whole town can be shepherds, sheep, angels, and choir and band, and just helpers. We’re all together.

“We need angels, and shepherds and sheep. We need choir singers and we need any musicians that want to join in.

“We also need people that are just with us to be our eyes and our ears for the safety of our children, because we will have some heaters out here.

“Parents and other big people can also be angels and shepherds and it kind of helps kids and encourages them that they are not alone and they won’t be so shy.”

Cosette said that they are going to appoint a costume designer who will organize the help to create the costumes. She said they could use help to dress the participants at the pageant.
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Producer Kerry-lynn Moede, operator of the Historic Yellow House, explained that the rehearsal process will be modular. Each group—eg. choir, musicians, actors—will have to rehearse on their own. The participants will then come together one or two times before the event to rehearse together.

Old Trail’s True Value Hardware has committed to building a nativity set. Other businesses are welcome to donate cookies, cupcakes, doughnuts or other similar food items and coffee, cocoa, hot cider or other drinks.

The pageant will be on December 23 at 6:30 p.m., so Cosette recommends that participants plan on warm clothing underneath the costumes. Of course people planning to come and see the show should heed the same advice.

Anyone desiring to participate in any fashion can contact producer Kerry-Lynn Moede at 602-818-6559 or by email jdmoede@aol.com.

Kaibab National Forest to offer Christmas tree permits starting November 16

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WILLIAMS —The Kaibab National Forest will sell over-the-counter and through-the-mail Christmas tree tags on a first-come, first-served basis for each of its three ranger districts beginning Nov. 16 and continuing until they are sold out.

The $15 permit will allow the holder to cut a tree of a particular species that is not more than 10 feet in height within a designated area on the Kaibab National Forest from Nov. 16 through Dec. 24. The tag is only good for a tree on the ranger district from which it was purchased and can’t be used to cut a tree on a different district unless specifically noted. No refunds will be made, even if weather conditions prevent access to cutting areas.

Individuals who purchase tags will be provided with a map showing their designated cutting area along with additional tree cutting instructions. The number of available tags and tree species, locations and hours for purchasing the permits, and contact information for each ranger district are as follows:

# of Permits Available and Tree Species Location of Designated Cutting Area Contact Information Open Days and Hours
800

Any Species

 North Kaibab Ranger District

Note: The Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Dec. 11 for tag sales. The visitor center is located at the intersection of highways 89 and 67 in Jacob Lake and can be reached at (928) 643-7298.

 

 Physical address:        430 S. Main St., Fredonia, AZ 86022

Mailing address:        P.O. Box 248,    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 two Saturdays, Nov. 26 and Dec. 3, for tag sales.
500

Pinon or Juniper

 Tusayan Ranger District Physical address:        176 Lincoln Log Loop, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023

Mailing address:        P.O. Box 3088,       Grand Canyon, AZ 86023

(928) 638-2443

 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
500

Pinon or Juniper

 

 Williams Ranger District

Note: The Williams Ranger District office will also have 100 tags available for the Tusayan Ranger District.

 

 Physical and mailing address:                      742 S. Clover Rd., Williams, AZ 86046

(928) 635-5600

 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

Individuals can also purchase a Christmas tree tag through the mail by sending information to the mailing address of the ranger district they plan to visit. It is strongly advised to call the desired ranger district office in advance to ensure tags are still available and check on estimated postage or other requirements. Individuals desiring to purchase a Christmas tree tag through the mail should provide ample time for it to arrive. Expect a turnaround time of about 10 business days. Please include the following with any request for a Christmas tree tag through the mail:

  1. A self-addressed, stamped envelope with sufficient postage to cover tag, map and cutting instructions; it is strongly advised to call the desired ranger district in advance for estimated postage or other requirements.
  2. A contact phone number
  3. A check payable to USDA Forest Service

The Kaibab National Forest is also pleased to announce that all fourth graders are eligible for a free Christmas tree permit, while supplies last, through the Every Kid in a Park initiative. Every Kid in a Park is a nationwide call to action to build the next generation of conservationists.

All fourth graders are eligible to receive a fourth grade pass that allows free access to federal lands and waters across the country for a full year. In support of this initiative, the Forest Service is making available a free Christmas tree permit to every interested fourth grader with a fourth grade pass or paper voucher.

For additional information about the initiative and how to obtain a pass, visit www.everykidinapark.gov. To be eligible for a free Christmas tree permit from the Kaibab National Forest, all fourth graders must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and present their fourth grade pass or paper voucher.

Annual Procession of the Cross kicks off Easter weekend

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Rt66 procession 2016-03-25 009WILLIAMS — Williams held its annual Good Friday Procession of the Cross down Route 66 starting about 6 p.m. to kick off the Easter weekend festivities. Members of several churches joined together to carry the cross. The Williams Police Department made the traffic directions look routine to ensure the safety of the event.

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The event started with a prayer of safety by Father Killian of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church. He followed with the announcement that, since this is a leap year, the ladies would have to carry the cross down the near two-mile stretch. The procession started at the Mustang store on the east end of town and traveled west the length of Route 66.

The crowd lifts the cross in preparation for its journey down Route 66

The crowd lifts the cross in preparation for its journey down Route 66


The Good Friday event precedes the annual Easter Eggstravaganza at the Recreation Center on Railroad Avenue across from Circle-K. The event begins at 11 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m.
Rt66 procession 2016-03-25 036

Chance for a White Christmas for Williams

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800weather-rain-01WILLIAMS — The weather this morning was a strange mix of mist, fog and sun. Much of the snow has melted off, but the water is mixing with remaining snow causing slippery conditions. High winds are causing the temperature to remain cooler, but was not cold.

A rainbow even appeared over Williams to the north.
800-Rainbow-01
On South Road, residents experienced a little more rain than in town. Ice formed on the pines along South Road creating a picturesque winter wonderland photo op.
SouthRoad15-12-22-1
The weather prediction for this afternoon is 80% chance of snow turning to 60% chance of rain tonight. Wednesday the chance of snow is 40%with a 30% chance overnight. Thursday morning there is a 30% chance of snow through out the day with a 60% overnight.

If you are dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones you used to know, there is a 60% chance fo that on Christmas day Friday. Friday night and Saturday there is a slight chance of snow clearing Sunday through Monday.

New snow accumulation possible over the period is about 3-inches by Thursday with another half-inch on Christmas day.
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Light snow this morning

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SnowLite15-12-20-03WILLIAMS — Williams received a light dusting of snow this morning matching the NOAA forecast of snow before 11 a.m. By 10 a.m. the sun was out making for a fairly warm morning.

The forecast is for the weather to clear off today through Monday night. Tuesday through Thursday the forecast shows snow and rain which brings the possibility of slick sidewalks and icy roads.

There is a chance of a white Christmas with the chance of snow returning on the 25th.