Tag Archives: Williams

Dangerous bear activity on rise in Arizona

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Arizona Game and Fish Department file photo of a bear eating from a bird feeder.

PHOENIX — Arizona Game and Fish continually warn against feeding wild animals and Arizona residents continually ignore the warning. Human feeding led to a woman being attacked by Javelina in Sedona. Most recently, a bear had to be euthanized in Payson. Not all of the problem stems from people illegally feeding animals, but much of it does. Recent drought conditions only exacerbate the problem as bears seek food in trash receptacles.

Arizona Game and Fish Department wildlife managers have seen an increase of roaming bear activity statewide in their quest for easy sources of food and water. Officers found this cache of food and water when seeking a habituated bear near Pinetop on Sunday.-AZGF Photo

“This season’s extremely dry conditions are making it difficult for bears to find natural food and water sources, increasing the chances of bears coming into neighborhoods,” Wildlife Manager Jarrod McFarlin said. “Bears can become habituated to human-related food sources and quickly lose their fear of humans. People living in bear country should do their part to keep wildlife safe by removing attractants such as bird seed, pet food, hummingbird feeders, and trash from their yards, and by keeping all trash inside a secured area until collection day.”

Visitors and campers to the forests should know that feeding wild animals is dangerous no matter how tame they may seem. A deer or elk can be spooked easily and cause serious injury or death. Bears are not cuddly little teddy bears. Even the Kaibab squirrel can bite and leave a serious injury. Campers should not attempt to feed any animals. It is not only unwise but illegal.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds everyone—once again—to be Bear Aware, following separate incidents where habituated bears became a public safety threat and needed to be humanely euthanized under department policy.

“When a bear becomes habituated to people for food and water, it can become a real threat to public safety,” AZGFD Wildlife Manager Shawn Wagner said. “People feeding wildlife think they’re helping wildlife, but they’re putting everyone’s safety at risk — whether it’s a neighbor out walking their pet or a family out for a jog. When a bear doesn’t get the meal it’s become accustomed to, it can attack whoever is around.”

Under department’s human-wildlife conflict policy, wildlife officers consider the bear’s behavior, age, sex and whether it’s a threat to human safety when determining when to relocate or lethally remove a bear.

The department spends considerable time and resources each year to remove or relocate habituated bears to minimize the risk to people. However, relocating a bear doesn’t always solve the problem. Approximately half of all bears relocated will return to where they were captured, no matter how great the distance.

On Monday May 28, AZGFD wildlife managers removed a sub-adult male bear from the north Phoenix neighborhood of Anthem that had previously been relocated from Prescott. On Sunday May 27, officers in the White Mountains were forced to remove a habituated female bear feeding on large piles of food and water left by a local resident.

The same female bear had been captured in Pinetop in June, 2017 and was relocated to a pre-approved release site near the Mogollon Rim, approximately 55 miles away. In May, it returned to Pinetop with two cubs. A day after euthanizing the bear, neighbors told AZGFD about the bear’s two cubs, which were safely located, evaluated by a local veterinarian and transferred to Bearizona in Williams.

“We have a no-breeding program for bears at Bearizona, so we can help save bears and offer them a new home,” said Bearizona Owner Sean Casey. “Although the circumstances behind this rescue are unfortunate, we are ultimately grateful to be able to provide a safe and loving home for these two little cubs.”

“Habituation of wild animals is happening more now than ever. This is exactly why people shouldn’t feed wild animals,” said Wildlife Advocate Jack Hanna.

The young cubs will be quarantined and closely monitored by veterinarians and animal staff for 30 days before inheriting their own exhibit in the walk-through section of the park, Fort Bearizona. The public will be able to see the cubs in their new home beginning Friday, June 29.

While this had a somewhat happy ending, on May 31 a bear that was aggressively attempting to enter the home of Payson resident Joseph Stapp had to be euthanized. Stapp was asleep Tuesday evening, May 29, when he heard a loud crash on the porch of the home he is building. He went to the door to see what was going on and got an unpleasant surprise.

“I looked out the front door, and the bear and I were face to face,” said Stapp. “He was pushing on the door, and I was pushing back. I was not scared, but I couldn’t shoo him.”

Photo at left: The bear knocked a desk on its side on the porch and pulled out the drawers. Photo at right: Photo quality is poor due to the glare, but the bear is on the back porch tipping a washing machine. -AZGF Photo

It was the third day in a row the bear had visited, causing property damage on the front and back porches. A neighbor was able to scare it off temporarily on Tuesday night by throwing rocks, but the bear returned later that night and again on Wednesday. The homeowner reported to AZGFD that the bear had gotten into a garbage can containing dog food several times earlier in the week, so he secured the can inside his home.

When the bear returned, it attempted to enter his home, and Stapp called 911. Wildlife officers from AZGFD live-trapped the adult male bear at the residence, evaluated it, and according to policy euthanized it because of the bear’s aggressive behavior and lack of fear toward humans.

Do your part to keep bears from posing a threat and needing to be removed. AZGF suggests the following:

  • Keep all trash inside a secured area until collection day. If that’s not possible, keep food waste in a bag in the freezer and place those in the trash as close to collection time as possible.
  • If you’ll be out of town or are a weekend visitor, ask a neighbor to place your trash out on collection day.
  • Take bird feeders down at night.
  • Keep pet food inside or remove all uneaten food.

For a brochure on living with bears and other wildlife, visit any AZGFD office or visit www.azgfd.com/Wildlife/LivingWith.

City Council to hold special meeting to interview prospective City Manager after normal Thursday session

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WILLIAMS — The City Council will meet in normal session on Thursday May 24 at 7 p.m.

Among the items to be discussed, the public has the opportunity to comment on the pending City of Williams Water Master Plan. Then the Council to discuss and may approve Resolution No. 1365 adopting the finalized City of Williams Master Water Plan.

The Council may discuss and make a decision regarding Resolution No. 1366; this is a WIFA water project application.

They will listen to public input in regard to the re-zoning of parcel # 202-22-008D, 1333 W. Route 66, regarding the re-zoning from multifamily to central business district. They may, then they may discuss and have a first reading of Ordinance No. 963 regarding the rezoning.

The Council will hear the third and final reading of Ordinance No. 962 relating to permits required for one story detached accessory structures, and may adopt it.

The Council may discuss and take action on a revised lease extension with SBA Cell Towers.

Council will discuss and may take action with the proposal presented on May 10, 2018 for a new public safety data/communications system for our Police Department
to replace the existing county system.

Council will review and may approve an inter-governmental agreement with Coconino County Elections Department to conduct the 2018 Primary and General Elections.

Council may discuss and provide direction regarding the City’s
legal counsel contract.

The council will then have reservations will be made for each Council member for the August 21st-24th 2018 Annual Arizona League of Cities and Towns Conference on May 31.

On Frday at 10 a.m., the Council will meet in the city chambers and convene to executive session to interview a candidate for the
position of City Manager.

When they reconvene to regular session they may make an offer to the candidate.

NAU study: Post-wildfire flooding to cost hundreds of millions

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Board of Supervisors heard a presentation from the Northern Arizona University (NAU) Alliance Bank Economic Policy Institute (EPI) on the economic impact of post wildfire flooding to the City of Williams resulting from a wildfire on Bill Williams Mountain.

The EPI study, commissioned by the Coconino County Flood Control District, estimates that the economic impact from a catastrophic wildfire and the post-wildfire flooding in the Bill Williams Mountain watershed (City of Williams and downstream) is between $379 million and $694 million. The estimated cost of forest restoration on Bill Williams Mountain is approximately $8 million.

The response to a fire would incur immediate expenses, including suppression, post-fire rehabilitation, evacuation and repair costs. Long-term impacts of a catastrophic fire include the loss of sales tax revenue, tourist revenue, business revenue, and repair costs to railroads, highways and facilities.

Last year, a study conducted by J.E. Fuller Hydrology and Geomorphology, at the direction of the County’s Flood Control District, recommended the development of a pre-disaster plan to identify ways to reduce the impacts of flooding. The City of Williams is working with the County to develop the plan and secure funding.

The Bill Williams Mountain Watershed is located south and uphill from The City of Williams’ cultural, tourist, retail, residential and governmental core. The watershed is heavily used for outdoor recreation including a ski area, residential housing and summer camps. It is also unnaturally dense with ponderosa pine and mixed-conifer forests and characterized by steep slopes, making this area vulnerable to an intense catastrophic wildfire and post-wildfire flooding.

Due to increasing fire danger with warmer and dryer weather conditions in the immediate forecast, the Kaibab National Forest closed the Bill Williams Mountain watershed area last week until the area receives significant precipitation.

Kaibab National Forest temporarily closes Bill Williams Mountain Watershed

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WILLIAMS – Due to increasing fire danger with warmer and dryer weather conditions in the immediate forecast, the Kaibab National Forest will issue a temporary closure for the Bill Williams Mountain watershed area beginning Friday and continuing until the area receives significant precipitation.

This action is necessary to safeguard public health and safety from exposure to the associated hazards of wildland fire, and to directly protect vital watershed resources contributing to the City of Williams water supply. This order only affects national forest areas, roads and trails located within the boundary of the watershed on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest and does not affect private property.

The closure boundary begins at the junction of Interstate 40 and Forest Road (FR) 108, commonly known as the Devil Dog exit, and travels south and east along FR108 to the junction of FR108 and County Road (CR) 73. The boundary then extends north along CR 73 to the junction of Old Route 66 in the city of Williams. From this junction, the boundary travels west to the junction of Old Route 66 and Interstate 40 at the Country Club exit. The boundary then travels west along Interstate 40 to the junction of FR 108 at the Devil Dog exit.

All lands, roads and trails within the perimeter of the closure area will be closed to the public until the area receives significant precipitation and fire danger decreases.The Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts are both currently under Stage II fire restrictions. These restrictions limit the kinds of activities typically allowed on the forest and will remain in effect until significant and widespread moisture arrives.

Due to different weather and fuel conditions, the North Kaibab Ranger District, which is located north of Grand Canyon National Park, has not yet implemented any fire restrictions.

Under the Stage II fire restrictions the following acts are prohibited:

· Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, or wood stove fire, including fires in developed campgrounds and improved sites.
· Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building.
· Discharging a firearm except while engaged in a lawful hunt pursuant to state, federal, or tribal laws and regulations.
· Operating chainsaws or any internal combustion engine between the hours of 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.
· Welding or operating acetylene or other torches with an open flame.
· Using an explosive. (It is always illegal to use any kind of explosives on National Forest lands.)

As a reminder, fireworks and all pyrotechnic devices are always prohibited on National Forest lands.

Exemptions to the Stage II fire restrictions include the following:

· Using a device fueled solely by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off. Such devices can only be used in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet of the device.
· Operating generators with an approved spark arresting device within an enclosed vehicle or building or in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet of the generator.
· Operating motorized vehicles in compliance with the Kaibab National Forest’s Travel Management regulations. Parking off any road must be in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet of the vehicle.

The Forest Service uses fire restrictions and area closures to help prevent unwanted, human-caused fires and to limit the exposure of visitors during periods of potentially dangerous fire conditions. Implementation of fire restrictions and area closures normally occur based on a combination of factors that are carefully measured.

Criteria used to determine when to implement restrictions include things such as current and predicted weather, fuel moisture, a variety of science-based indices, fire activity levels and available firefighting resources. Additional restrictions may be applied any time that conditions warrant. Fire restrictions and area closures typically remain in effect until the area covered receives significant precipitation, at which time they will be rescinded.

Forest officials would also like to remind visitors that having a campfire on the National Forest while under fire restrictions is a violation of law requiring a mandatory appearance in federal court and consequent fines and possible jail time. Visitors should use extra caution when recreating on all public lands during times of the year when fire danger is increased.

Know Before You Go! Members of the public can find additional information through the following sources:

· Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
· Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF (Text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404 to receive text messages.)
· Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF
· Arizona Fire Restrictions: firerestrictions.us/az

Carol Glassburn Clean & Beautiful day successful

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Clean and Beautiful photo – Kerry-Lynn Moede

WILLIAMS – Williams loaded 16-1/2 tons of electronic waste and garbage at the Williams Waste Transfer Station after a morning of cleaning up the city. The event was the Carol Glassburn Clean & Beautiful day named after one of Williams’ prominent citizens who started the event years ago.

Kelly-Lynn Moede took the helm of the event this year. She and her volunteers did a good job of setting up the event. The American Legion Cordova Post #13 ran the barbecue pit, again, distributing cheeseburgers and hot dogs for the volunteers after the clean up. APS provided trash bags for the volunteers to use.

NAG Editor working with Yvette Villeneuve extract a Safeway basket that lay in Cataract Creek for years.

This year they added a You Found What? game for an extra prize along with the regular eggs with cash prizes.

Clean and Beautiful photo – Kerry-Lynn Moede

Clean and Beautiful photo – Kerry-Lynn Moede

Of course it was the individual and service group volunteers that loaded the sixteen-tons of garbage in the bins to be sent to the transfer station.

Kaibab National Forest to offer commercial fuelwood permits for Williams Ranger District

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WILLIAMS – The Kaibab National Forest will offer commercial fuelwood cutting permits for the 2018 season beginning June 11 for the Williams Ranger District. The 2018 commercial fuelwood cutting season will run from June 11 to December 31.

It is considered a commercial use when a permittee intends to sell a product removed from the Kaibab National Forest. All commercial uses of forest products require a paid permit.

There will be a limited number of commercial units available on the Williams Ranger District for the 2018 season. Assignment of these units to individual permittees will be determined through a lottery system.

Entry forms for the lottery will be mailed to prospective commercial fuelwood cutters who have expressed prior interest in the opportunity by contacting Jason Brugh, forester on the Williams Ranger District. To sign up to receive these entry forms, contact Brugh at:

Jason Brugh, email jasonabrugh@fs.fed.us, phone (928) 635-5641

Prospective commercial fuelwood cutters may also visit the Williams Ranger District office at 742 S. Clover Road in Williams.

Once received by interested commercial cutters, the lottery forms must be filled out in their entirety and submitted to Brugh or the Williams Ranger District office no later than June 1. Submissions after this date will not be considered. Notifications of the recipients of the commercial units will occur on June 8. Both those successful in being drawn for a unit and those not will receive notification that day.

Commercial fuelwood cutting permits are sold in 10-cord increments at $5 per cord, for a minimum $50 transaction. Once the commercial lottery winners have been notified of being successfully drawn for a unit, they may purchase their permits at the Williams Ranger District office Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding federal holidays. Associated unit maps and additional information will be provided then.

For additional information on Williams Ranger District commercial fuelwood permits, please contact Brugh using the contact information provided.

Kaibab National Forest to implement additional fire restrictions

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WILLIAMS – The Kaibab National Forest will implement additional fire restrictions, also known as Stage II fire restrictions, across the entire Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts beginning at 8 a.m. this Friday. These new restrictions limit the kinds of activities typically allowed on the forest and will remain in effect until significant and widespread moisture arrives.

Due to different weather and fuel conditions, the North Kaibab Ranger District, which is located north of Grand Canyon National Park, will not yet implement any fire restrictions.

Under the Stage II fire restrictions to be implemented Friday across the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts, the following are prohibited:

  • Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, or wood stove fire, including fires in developed campgrounds and improved sites.
  • Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building.
  • Discharging a firearm except while engaged in a lawful hunt pursuant to state, federal, or tribal laws and regulations.
  • Operating chainsaws or any internal combustion engine between the hours of 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.
  • Welding or operating acetylene or other torches with an open flame.
  • Using an explosive. (It is always illegal to use any kind of explosives on National Forest lands.)

As a reminder, fireworks and all pyrotechnic devices are always prohibited on National Forest lands.

Exemptions to the Stage II fire restrictions include the following:

  • Using a device fueled solely by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off. Such devices can only be used in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet of the device.
  • Operating generators with an approved spark arresting device within an enclosed vehicle or building or in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet of the generator.
  • Operating motorized vehicles in compliance with the Kaibab National Forest’s Travel Management regulations. Parking off any road must be in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet of the vehicle.

The Forest Service uses fire restrictions to help prevent unwanted, human-caused fires and to limit the exposure of visitors during periods of potentially dangerous fire conditions. Implementation of fire restrictions normally occurs based on a combination of factors that are carefully measured.

Criteria used to determine when to implement restrictions include things such as current and predicted weather, fuel moisture, a variety of science-based indices, fire activity levels and available firefighting resources. Additional restrictions may be applied any time that conditions warrant. Fire restrictions typically remain in effect until the area covered by the restrictions receives significant precipitation, at which time they will be rescinded.

Forest officials would also like to remind visitors that having a campfire on the National Forest while under fire restrictions is a violation of law requiring a mandatory appearance in federal court and consequent fines and possible jail time. Visitors should use extra caution when recreating on all public lands during times of the year when fire danger is increased.

These fire restrictions apply only to the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts of the Kaibab National Forest. However, many city, state, and county agencies implement similar restrictions, so members of the public should check with the appropriate agency on any restrictions applying to privately-owned property or other lands not within Kaibab National Forest jurisdictional boundaries.

Know Before You Go! Members of the public can find additional information through the following sources:

  • Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
  • Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF (Text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404 to receive text messages.)
  • Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF
  • Arizona Fire Restrictions: firerestrictions.us/az

Kaylee found alive and well

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WILLIAMS – On April 29th, 2018 at approximately 10:00 a.m., the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office located Kaylee Cook. She was located within 1.5 miles from the home she went missing from at 6:00 p.m. on the 28th.

On April 29th, at approximately 10:00 a.m., Kaylee walked out on to a road near the junction of Buckboard and Espee Road and was spotted by a Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Searching the road in his Patrol Vehicle and 2 residence Devin and Cameron Maebe. A CCSO Deputy and Search and Rescue Trackers responded to the area prior that morning after a tip came in from resident Brandon McDonald. who reported seeing a young Girl matching Kaylee’s description the night before at 7:30 pm.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all those involved in the search, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, Coconino County Sheriff’s Patrol Deputies, Department Of Public Safety Officers, DPS Air Rescue and Civil Air Patrol.

In addition, a special thanks to the community and neighbors for all their efforts and assistance with the Search and rescue efforts.

Coconino County Sheriff Office Searches for Missing 4-year-old girl

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WILLIAMS –– On April 28th, 2018 at approximately 6:41pm, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call for Kalyee Cook, a missing 4-year-old girl. Search efforts have continued throughout the night.

On April 28th, at 6:41 pm, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Deputies from the Williams Substation responded to the report of a missing 4-year-old girl, from 7937 N. Perrin, a residence about 8 to 10 miles north of Williams off of Highway 64.

Family Members last saw the Child playing in front of the residence at 6:00 pm and believed she may have wandered off in an unknown direction.

Search efforts are ongoing, units involved include Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Deputies, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, Junipine Fire Department and Family Members.

Williams Ranger District to Continue Ignitions on Sunflower Rx Fire Project

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WILLIAMS – Fire managers on the south zone of the Kaibab National Forest will resume implementation on the Sunflower prescribed fire project beginning Saturday of this week. With red flag conditions subsiding and a measure of moisture in the immediate forecast, favorable weather conditions have presented an opportunity to continue with treatments in this specific area.

The 15,195 acre Sunflower project is located approximately 7 miles southeast of Williams between County Road 73 and Whitehorse Lake. It began in the fall of 2017 and will likely be ongoing throughout the year as opportunities arise and conditions permit.

Fire plays a beneficial role in maintaining the ecological stability of many landscapes including the Kaibab National Forest. Managers use prescribed fire as a practical means to reduce risks associated with uncharacteristic wildfires that can pose significant threats to public health and safety.

Officials understand that smoke impacts to air quality may be unpleasant at times, however they can significantly reduce the amount and limit the duration more effectively using prescribed methods as opposed to an uncontrolled wildfire situation with long term effects.

During operations, fire personnel and vehicles working in these vicinities will be visible to the public. Motorists are reminded to slow down and drive with heightened caution when passing through active project areas.

All prescribed burning on the Kaibab National Forest is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

For additional information about the Smoke Management Division of the ADEQ and to view prescribed burns authorizations, please visit www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html. Additional fire information for Kaibab National Forest can be obtained through the following sources: InciWeb inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5160/ Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311; Text Message – text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404.