Tag Archives: Williams

Cool Country Cruise In in full swing

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CCCIn-15-08-08-01aWILLIAMS — Lime green, canary yellow, cherry red—all colors of the classic car spectrum are represented today in Williams. Although Williams is visited by classic cars all year, this is the event where they are lined up waiting for your cameras.

The annual Cool Country Cruise In—centered around Arizona Highways award winning restaurant, Twisters—is in full swing. Classic cars from every era of route 66 are packed in for display and some are for sale.

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Today is the day to check out the event because most will be gone tomorrow.

Free car wash at Cool Country Cruise In

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Cool-Country15-08-07-01WILLIAMS — Cool Country Cruise In is on in Williams and the weather is cooperating—or not depending on your view. Heavy rain is expected to continue with flash flood warnings until midnight. There is a slight chance of rain tomorrow which should clear up Saturday and remain clear until Monday when more thunderstorms are expected.

This is the first time in recent memory that the event has experienced this kind of weather. Today there was a short downpour with a couple of thunder cracks over Williams causing scattered tourists downtown. It cleared up by 7 p.m. in time for the gun show.

Generally Williams proper receives short bursts of rain in town while the surrounding areas get doused.

Cool-Country Cruise In may expect cool tomorrow

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Cool-Country130809-3WILLIAMS — Rain in the forecast may keep the Cool-Country Cruise In cool tomorrow. There is an 80% chance of rain dropping to 60% overnight and 10% tomorrow. Temperatures are expect to be about 77.

The rain today and through the night will cause difficulty keeping the Spring Fire burning so there should be no problem with smoke.

The problem is that the National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning through midnight on August 8. The flash flood warning covers the Kaibab Plateau and all canyon area, including Oak Creek, Sycamore, Marble Canyons and the Glen Canyon and Grand Canyon country areas.

The flood warning covers the cities of Flagstaff, Williams, Jacob Lake, Fredonia, Page, Lees Ferry, Grand Canyon Village, Supai, Valle, North Rim, Tuba City, Munds Park and Sedona.

People arriving for Cool-Country Cruise In today can take in the movie at the Methodist Church on the corner of 2nd and Sherman at 7 p.m. tonight. The screening of Do You Believe? is free.

The Williams Aquatic Center will be open for a free swim tomorrow from noon until 4 p.m.

Heather Provencio selected as new Kaibab National Forest Supervisor

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300pxHeatherProvencioWILLIAMS — Southwestern Regional Forester Cal Joyner recently announced that the new forest supervisor of the Kaibab National Forest will be Heather Provencio, who currently serves as the deputy forest supervisor on the White River National Forest in Colorado.

“We’re excited to have Heather return to the Southwestern Region. She has a people-centered view of the environment that I believe is the proper focus for finding a creative balance that meets the needs of the forest, the surrounding communities and tribes, as well as employees,” Joyner said. “Heather’s strong grounding in northern Arizona will allow her to quickly gather momentum and move ahead on implementing the new Kaibab Forest Plan, Four Forest Restoration Initiative and fire management programs.”

Provencio is no stranger to northern Arizona and its landscape, people, challenges and opportunities, having worked in various jobs on the Coconino National Forest adjacent to the Kaibab from 2001 until 2013, including as the district ranger for the Red Rock Ranger District headquartered in Sedona, Ariz.

“I am excited by the idea of getting back to northern Arizona, which I consider home,” Provencio said. “I am also excited by the challenges that I know await me on the Kaibab and the learning and professional growth that those will bring. I am very much looking forward to being part of and leading a cohesive and exceptional team of employees who take on difficult issues and still find time to do critically important work like connecting the public with their National Forests.”

Provencio was born and raised in southern Illinois and grew up in a Forest Service family. She moved to Arizona in 1982 to attend Northern Arizona University and pursue a bachelor’s degree in anthropology with an emphasis in archaeology. Her first job with the Forest Service was in 1985 as a firefighter on the Chevelon Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, after with she held a variety of positions in archaeology, recreation and business administration until returning to school to pursue her master’s degree in anthropology. She then held positions as an archaeologist and tribal liaison before becoming a district ranger and, subsequently, a deputy forest supervisor. Provencio is scheduled to begin her role as forest supervisor of the Kaibab National Forest Oct. 5.

“I will strive to be an excellent leader for the employees of the Kaibab and our communities and partners. They deserve nothing less, so I will continually work on improving my skills as a leader,” Provencio said. “I hope to create strong connections between our employees, the Forest Service lands we manage, and the public.”

Do You Believe? screening at Methodist Church

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believeWILLIAMS — The United Methodist Church at 127 W Sherman Ave in Williams will host a screening of Do You Believe? this Friday.

The film stars Sean Astin who gained recognition for the inspirational 1993 movie Rudy based on he life of Notre Dame football player Daniel E. ‘Rudy’ Ruettiger. Most recently he stared in The Lord of the Rings movie series.

The movie also features Delroy Lindo who is one of those actors you instantly recognize, but probably do not remember the name. He started in the 1971 television series Police Surgeon and since has played in a host of roles such as in the movie Malcom X, a colonel in Broken Arrow (promoted to General in The Last Castle). He’s played cops and criminals and most recently had a recurring role as Sheriff Tip Harrison in the television series Blood and Oil. He’s even played a Supreme Court Justice on TV (Justice Clarence Thomas). Quite frankly he is one of those actors that deserve better roles.

The movie, from the creators of God’s Not Dead, is also currently in theaters.

Spring fire grows slowly

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800-spring-2015-07-25-03WILLIAMS — The residents of Williams, Parks, Sherwood Forest and the areas in between should receive a break from smoke over the next few days. The fire has grown almost 2700-acres, but because of the rains the progress of the Spring fire has slowed.

Today the firefighters continued work on reinforcing the perimeter road boundaries to prevent the fire from spreading beyond when the fire flares up as conditions become drier. They are also lining archaeological sites, private property and other fire-sensitive resources near the fire area.

Smoke is expected to be light and mostly visible in the area of the fire along County Road 73. Summit Mountain Trail 68 is temporarily closed due to the fire activity.

Oath Keeper meeting tomorrow

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WILLIAMS — Our apologies. Our article on the Oath Keeper CPT meeting was incomplete. The meeting is at the American Legion in Williams at 10 a.m. You do not have to be a member of Oath Keepers to participate in this project and it is open to anyone in Coconino County; not just Williams. Veterans, active-duty military and civilian first responders are welcome to attend.

Spring fire smoke reaches Williams area

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WILLIAMS — The smoke in Williams, Garland Prairie, Sherwood Forest and Parks area is originating from the 2554-acre Spring Fire centered about 9 miles south east of Williams. The fire started on July 2 and was converted to a managed fire to burn off excess fire fuels.

On Tuesday the fire could be seen burning atop Davenport Knoll. The smoke is heavy, at times, along County Road 73, also known as South Road or Perkinsville Road. At night, when the temperatures drop, the smoke travels lower to the ground and may become heavy in Williams and the surrounding area.

There is a 60% chance of thundershowers this afternoon and 30-to 40% throughout the weekend. If rains come it could cause problems for fire managers who are trying to keep the fire burning. If the storms bring mostly lightning, we could see more fires starting.

In either case, campers are reminded to take care with their campfires and make sure they are completely out when leaving. Fire managers set boundaries which they hope to keep the fire from crossing. Fires started outside those boundaries cause problems with management efforts.

Oath Keepers meeting at American Legion Saturday

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Updated 7/31
WILLIAMS — There will be a meeting of the Oath Keeper organization to discuss the formation of Community Preparedness Teams (CPT) to be available for emergency situations.

The meeting will be held at the American Legion Cordova Post #13 at 425 W. Grant Street in Williams. The meeting is Saturday at 10 a.m.

Oath Keepers started out as an organization to encourage military and first responders to adhere to their oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States both foreign and domestic. Today anyone who believes in the Constitution may be permitted to join. You do not have to join Oath Keepers to participate in the CPT program.

The program is not just open to Williams residents, but anyone in Coconino County. Teams suggested by the Oath Keeper organization are emergency medical, communications and engineering, Security Teams and General Preparedness. Coconino County would, ultimately, develop teams required for their unique situation.

Get out of town: Explore Route 66

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UPDATED 7/29 4:02 Thanks to Linda Messimer for the correction on Davenport Lake.

WILLIAMS— Williams has the distinction of being the last route 66 town bypassed by interstate 40. The mural on the wall by Circle K is a tribute to that. So while you are here you might want to stay an extra day in Williams to explore the Mother Road.

"On Arizona Highway 87, south of Chandler. Maricopa County, Arizona." by Dorothea Lange - U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

“On Arizona Highway 87, south of Chandler. Maricopa County, Arizona.” by Dorothea Lange – U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Route 66 gained the name of the Mother Road because of its significance to history. During the depression when tragedy struck the Great Plains—in what was called the great Dust Bowl—thousands took to Route 66 to travel west in search of a better life. This was depicted in the book and movie The Grapes of Wrath.

Route 66 was instrumental in winning World War I and World War II. Old-timers told me of the days when they would watch convoys of men and material moving down Route 66 to be shipped off to war. Most people don’t realize that Interstate 40, and all other freeways for that matter, were started by President Eisenhower who brought the idea back from the German autobahn.

Route 66 has seen a resurgence of interest since it was decomissioned. Williams and Flagstaff have a significant amount of Route 66 still available for travel. The stretch we will examine in this article is from Bellmont to Williams.

Of course it goes down to Ash Fork which is another significant Route 66 town, as well as a railroad center in the old west. Ash Fork history can be seen at the Route 66 Museum in Ash Fork on, well… Route 66.
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