Law enforcement are asking that the public avoid the area. We will provide further information as it becomes available.
Tag Archives: Williams
Winter Field Day in Williams hailed a Success.
On Saturday January 26 and Sunday January 27, the Coconino Amateur Radio Club (CARC) and Bill Williams Mountain Radio Club (BWMRC) combined talents to conduct the first Winter Field Day in Coconino County. Williams was selected as the location and it was set up in the Williams Visitor Center parking lot.
“Thanks to the City of Williams, our first Winter Field Day was a success,” said Glen Davis KG7YDJ. “It was a short notice operation and they worked with us to get this thing going.”
Jacob Miller KI7WNS, who organized the event said, “Thank you all for a great Winter field day. Over 200 contacts were made and we couldn’t have done it without your help and support setting up, maintaining that generator, and breaking down. ”
“We definitely learned a number of lessons from this winter field day and look forward to more winter field days for years to come,” he added.
During these Field Day exercises, amateur radio operators set up amateur radios and try to make as many contacts as possible through all of the frequency ranges that amateur radio, or Ham, operators are allowed to use. During actual emergencies, amateurs have the capability and latitude to operate outside of their normal frequencies. For example, transmitting on general mobile radio serive (GMRS) frequencies with an amateur radio is illegal during normal conditions. In an emergency situation where there is a possibility of loss of life or property, however, anyone is allowed to use any frequency to summon and respond to a summons for help. Amateur radio emergency communications has existed almost since amateur radio began in the early 1900s. During the cold war, the Federal Communications Commission developed the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) to respond with emergency communications in the event of a nuclear engagement. RACES required special licenses and training and only responded to nuclear war. The Amateur Relay Relay League established the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES Pronounced air-ease) to respond to all emergency situations. The special license requirement for RACES has been dropped over time and their role has expanded. ARES and RACES groups now work together toward the same goal.Coconino ARES members provide emergency communications in a variety of situations. They provide emergency communications for different events, such as the Lion’s Club Route 66 Labor Day run in Williams and the 100 mile Stagecoach race from Flagstaff to Tusayan. At the beginning of the Blueridge Fire, cell communications were unavailable. Amateur radio was used to communicate with the Emergency Operations Center in Flagstaff to relay evacuation notices which was credited with saving lives.
The next ARRL Summer Field Day will be held June 22-23, 2019.
Williams Event Huddle scheduled for Monday
WILLIAMS – The annual Williams Event Huddle will be held again on Monday, January 21 beginning at 5:30 p.m. The event will be held at the Williams Recreation Center at 314 Railroad Avenue across the street from the bank.
The event brings together various non-profit groups and County agencies who have three minutes to speak about the goals and visions for their particlar activity. The groups exhange contact information and assist each other where they can.
This year people may come in to listen to the groups and perhaps learn where they can get help or find organizations of their interest to join. The event lasts about two hours.
Man Arrested for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor for Computer Child Pornography
WILLIAMS – On 12/20/18 Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Detectives and Deputies served a search warrant at a residence in the Red Lake neighborhood, 9 miles north of the city of Williams.
Sheriff’s Office detectives received information that a resident in the Red Lake Neighborhood was possibly in possession of child pornography on a personal computer at his residence. During the investigation the subject turned over a computer, which was examined by a Sheriff’s Office Computer Forensics Investigator. After securing a search warrant to examine the computer, the investigator located several images consistent with child pornography on that computer.
After confirming the presence of the images on the initial computer, another search warrant was obtained to search the residence for additional devices. During the search of the residence, additional computers and electronic devices were seized. Detectives and Investigators are currently reviewing the additional items of evidence seized during the search warrant and additional charges could result. If anyone has information that may assist this investigation they are encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office.
Charles Henry Hightower, 83, was arrested and booked into the Coconino County Jail for 10 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. Hightower was released to Pre-Trial Services on a $50,000 unsecured bond.
Pile Burning on Bill Williams Mountain to Begin Late December
WILLIAMS — Fuels reduction efforts on Bill Williams Mountain on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest are set to commence next week after the Christmas holiday. Prescribed burning of several units of slash piles along forest road 111 on the north and east slopes of the mountain will begin taking place as weather conditions permit.
Crews will start by treating small blocks each day in order to minimize smoke production and reduce the potential for impacts to the surrounding roadways and adjacent community.
During ignition operations, smoke will be highly visible from the City of Williams and from the Interstate 40 corridor from both the east bound and west bound lanes approaching the city.
Minimal to light smoke impacts may occur, however winds are expected to transport smoke to the south away from the developed areas and be very short in duration.
These pile burns are just one of many ongoing forest restoration projects happening on Bill Williams Mountain that are critical to improving forest health and increasing the protection of vital watershed resources for the city.
Work will also be continuing in the weeks ahead between Parks and Spring Valley on the south side of Government Hill, where crews began pile burns earlier this month.
As with all prescribed burns, weather conditions will determine the day’s most suitable for ignitions that have the least amount of negative effects on air quality and the best possible ventilation.
The public can view approved prescribed fires for any given day on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s website at smoke.azdeq.gov/.
To learn more about smoke and public health, visit bit.ly/SmokeHealthAwareness.
Notifications of upcoming prescribed fire projects are provided regularly throughout the year. Additional information can also be obtained through the following sources:
· Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
· Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF
· Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF
· Fire Information Recorded Hotline: 928-635-8311
· InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5922/
Recent Pile Burns Continue Smoldering on Kaibab National Forest
WILLIAMS – Kaibab National Forest fire officials are alerting the public that recent prescribed fire activities may be visible at several locations across the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts over the next several days and could possibly linger into the approaching Christmas holiday.
Forest visitors may see fire activity from recent pile burning operations that have been occurring over the past two weeks on the Kaibab National Forest. Low intensity surface creeping, smoldering logs, and light smoke in the vicinity of these project areas will continue to be visible as unseasonable warmer and dryer weather continues into the week ahead. All of these active burns are confined within their containment boundaries, and pose no control problems as they continue to consume debris.
Prescribed fire project areas are being monitored daily by fire personnel to ensure public safety and to continue meeting fuels reduction and forest restoration objectives.
As winter weather conditions continue on the Kaibab National Forest, fire managers will look for additional opportunities to treat landscapes whenever appropriate. Additional information will be provided as specific prescribed fire projects are scheduled in the future.
The public can view approved prescribed fires for any given day on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s website at smoke.azdeq.gov/.
To learn more about smoke and public health, visit bit.ly/SmokeHealthAwareness.
Notifications of upcoming prescribed fire projects are provided regularly throughout the year. Additional information can also be obtained through the following sources:
· Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
· Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF
· Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF
· Fire Information Recorded Hotline: 928-635-8311
· InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5922/
Heritage Elementary students prepare food bags for community.
UPDATE: Interstate 40 ramp closures at Grand Canyon Boulevard and SR 64
WILLLIAMS – Northern Arizona motorists on Interstate 40 near Williams, west of Flagstaff, should expect ramp closures at Grand Canyon Boulevard (exit 163) and State Route 64 (exit 165) during daytime hours for paving work on December 6 and December 10 to 12.
Work is scheduled between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day.
Drivers are advised to follow the signed detour routes while the following on- and off-ramp closures are in place:
- Thursday, December 6: Westbound on- and off-ramp at State Route 64 (exit 165) closed.
- Monday, December 10: Westbound on- and off- ramp at Grand Canyon Boulevard (exit 163) closed.
- Tuesday, December 11: Eastbound on- and off-ramp at Grand Canyon Boulevard (exit 163) closed.
- Wednesday, December 12: Eastbound off-ramp at State Route 64 (exit 165) closed.
Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.
Interstate 40 ramp closures at Grand Canyon Boulevard, SR 64 set for Dec. 5-6 and Dec. 11-12
Northern Arizona motorists on Interstate 40 near Williams, west of Flagstaff, should expect ramp closures at Grand Canyon Boulevard (exit 164) and State Route 64 (exit 165) during daytime hours for paving work on Dec. 4-5 and Dec. 10-11.
Work is scheduled between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day.
Drivers are advised to follow the signed detour routes while the following on- and off-ramp closures are in place:
Wednesday, Dec. 5: Westbound on-ramp at State Route 64 (exit 165) closed.
Thursday, Dec. 6: Westbound on- and off- ramp at Grand Canyon Boulevard (exit 164) closed.
Tuesday, Dec. 11: Eastbound on- and off-ramp at Grand Canyon Boulevard (exit 164) closed.
Wednesday, Dec. 12: Eastbound off-ramp at State Route 64 (exit 165) closed.
Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.
Kaibab National Forest offices closed today
WILLIAMS – Kaibab National Forest offices will be closed on Wednesday, December 5, in recognition of the National Day of Mourning honoring President George H. W. Bush.
In honor of President George H. W. Bush, President Trump has issued an Executive Order closing federal offices on Wednesday, December 5.
All Kaibab National Forest offices will resume normal business hours on Thursday, December 6.