Messages focus on turn signals and speedingPhoenix AZ (August 11, 2020) – A mystery person and a husband-and-wife team of a hero hiker and a kindergarten teacher are the winners of ADOT’s Safety Message Contest.More than 5,500 votes were cast by the public for the 12 message finalists. The top two vote-getters and winners are:SIGNAL ANDREADY TO MINGLERED FISHBLUE FISHSPEEDING’S FOOLISH
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Cottonwood AZ (August 11, 2020) – Northern Arizona Hospice has been recognized by Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) as a “Superior Performer” for achieving an overall caregiver and family satisfaction score that ranked in the top 20 percent of all eligible SHP clients for the 2019 calendar year.Northern Arizona Hospice is a hospice partner of Verde Valley Medical Center and part of a joint venture partnership with LHC Group, a national provider of in-home healthcare services with 32,000 employees operating locations in 35 states and the District of Columbia.
Toley Ranz, teacher of kindness, tolerance and self-esteem, is aiming to help even more kids (and parents) by moving entirely online. Brand new “Stuck at Home” program is ready to change some lives in the face of the pandemic.Sedona AZ (August 11, 2020) – Since its momentous launch, the Toley Ranz Foundation and its popular namesake character have helped hundreds of children and families overcome bullying through their unique support program. The world is increasingly digital, and that’s never been more accurate than what we’ve seen the past few months. Online shopping, schooling, entertainment and way of life have become…
By Ted Grussing… reality … especially on the hot days of summer in Arizona unless you are in the higher elevations of the state. So lets use this shot of Humphreys Peak in January to do so … thoughts of heat and air conditioning disappear replaced by thoughts of crackling fireplaces in warm houses and hot coco.
Prescott AZ (August 10, 2020) – David Michael Getzen, 59, of Cottonwood, was sentenced on July 31, 2020, to a total of 1.5 years in the Arizona state prison after pleading guilty to two counts of Impersonating a Peace Officer, both class six felonies.The events occurred on October 4, 2019, when Getzen called the Yavapai County jail claiming to be an FBI Agent. In the call, Getzen said the detention facility needed to “surrender” two sheriff’s deputies. Getzen also threatened to “shoot the place up” and shoot Judges Michael Bluff and Tina Ainley, both Yavapai County Superior Court judges, as…
Cottonwood AZ (August 10, 2020) – On Saturday August 8, 2020, at approximately 12:05 AM, the Verde Valley Fire District responded to the report of a Residential assignment in the 1300 block of Ocotillo Dr.VVFD was dispatched to the report of a residential fire. The fire was located in the rear of the home. Crews had to remove part of the exterior wall to access the fire. The fire was extinguished with the use of hose lines and power tools. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Sedona AZ (August 10, 2020) – The Verde Valley is home to many quality cultural heritage sites and museums. Many of these are struggling to stay open, if they have been able to open at all, and to pay their bills.According to a survey by the American Association for State and Local History, one-third of museums feel there is a “significant risk” of closing permanently, or they “didn’t know” if they would survive this time of crisis. Regional museums are navigating a similar unknown future.
Money raised goes to charitable Arizona causesPhoenix AZ (August 10, 2020) – Arizonans now have more options to show their support for charitable and other worthy causes with five new specialty license plates that debut today.Specialty plates are available online through ServiceArizona.com. Most cost $25 each year, with an additional $25 per year if the plate is personalized.
By Michael Ryan, Sedona Resident(August 10, 2020)The prestige of being a Dark Sky Community comes with responsibilities, lighting regulations, enforcement rules, and community commitment. When the designation was granted, Big Park seemingly had everything in place but, perhaps not.Strike one: The developers of the Element Hotel had no awareness of the Dark Sky ordinance. The County should have been proactive, given the brand’s typical lightbox architecture. They were not.
Clarkdale AZ (August 9, 2020) – On Saturday August 8, 2020, at approximately 12:25 PM, the Verde Valley Fire District responded to the report of a wildland assignment in the area of Cement Plant Road and the Rail Road Tracks.VVFD was dispatched to the report of a fire along the rail road tracks and spreading. On arrival crews deployed hand lines to the fire in order to control the fire’s spread. The fire was controlled and extinguished with the use of hose lines and hand crews. Nearby organizations Cottonwood Fire and Medical, Jerome Fire Department, U.S. Forest Service and Verde…
Camp Verde AZ (August 9, 2020) – The next Music in the Stacks, a free monthly concert series, will take place on Thursday, August 13th at 5:30 pm, “Out of the Stacks”, at Redinger Ramada at the Town Campus on Hollamon Street. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic , special precautions will be taken for everyone’s safety, including sanitizing the existing seating areas. Attendees will need to practice physical distancing and are encouraged to bring their own chairs to assist with this. Face masks are highly encouraged, and there will be some available for those who do not have them.
By Ted Grussing… we’ve all traveled down a road like this either in our lives or on the actual road … it is evening and there is no one else around … for miles and miles. A time when we look at who we are, who we want to be and resolve to make it so.
Drivers should plan for delays and allow extra travel timeClarkdale AZ (August 7, 2020) – The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for daytime rolling lane closures on northbound State Route 89A while shoulder repair work is underway. The work will occur between Robert Road (milepost 324) and Hopewell Mountain Road (milepost 348).Northbound SR 89A will be narrowed to one lane from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, and Wednesday, Aug. 12. Lane closures will be 1 to 2 miles long with delays of approximately 15 minutes. Flaggers and a pilot car will stop and direct…
Deputy’s expertise in Pyrotechnics Aids InvestigationCottonwood AZ (August 7, 2020) – On August 1, 2020, about 1 AM, deputies were dispatched to a reported wildfire near Eastern Drive and Roundup Trail, Cottonwood. Verde Valley Fire personnel were already on scene fighting fires near several homes (see photo) in heavy smoke. Residents told deputies they heard one or more explosions, some shaking their house. Deputies eventually found the likely area where an explosion took place at the intersection of Eastern Drive and Valley Drive and recovered evidence.One of the deputies on scene with extensive training and experience in the pyrotechnics field…
Free, personal accounts make most MVD service available anytime Phoenix AZ (August 7, 2020) – The usage of online Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division services has skyrocketed over the past four months as more than one million Arizonans have activated their free online AZ MVD Now accounts at azmvdnow.gov.“AZ MVD Now couldn’t have come at a better time,” MVD Director Eric Jorgensen said. “With the limitations placed on our in-person office visits due to the public health emergency, providing more services online through AZ MVD Now has meant we can offer more web-based options to customers on their…