Author: Tommy

By Ted Grussing… I have had numerous inquires as to how my resident feline is doing, so it seemed a good idea to send a photo of her out tonight. I took this shot a couple of days ago on her daily supervised outing and she is present as the huntress that she is. She missed on a couple of lizards, but then again she is a little rusty as they are just beginning to make their appearance again this Spring. Lithe, sleek, well groomed and lucky for the lizards she does not need them as food … a miss…

By Robert Albrecht Sedona AZ (April 16, 2020) – As many of us are sitting at home wondering how long the current situation is going to affect our lives; it gives us an opportunity to maybe do a little “reset” on life priorities. Hopefully, many will return to their jobs, but others may search for something new in their life.The Humane Society of Sedona has been deemed an “Essential Community Service Provider” and we are currently functioning with a reduced staff at the shelter to provide care for our animals. Many of us are working from home. Our Thrift stores are…

Leslie HoffmanYavapai County RecorderPrescott AZ (April 16, 2020) – The Yavapai County Recorder, Leslie Hoffman, would like to remind citizens that our lobbies are closed for in person document recording. However, we continue to offer two methods to record your documents.1. Mail to:Yavapai County Recorder 1015 Fair St., Room 228 Prescott, AZ 86305Yavapai County Recorder 10 S. 6th St. Cottonwood, AZ 86326OR2. We have re-purposed the Official Ballot Drop Boxes at the Prescott Office (1015 Fair St.) and Cottonwood Office (10 S. 6th St.) into temporary Recorders Document Drop Boxes

Phoenix AZ (April 16, 2020) – It has long been speculated that bald eagles could utilize saguaro cacti as nesting sites. Now the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has documented proof.     During recent eagle survey flights conducted by the department, officials were delighted to discover a pair of bald eagles with eaglets nesting in the arms of a large saguaro near a central Arizona reservoir.

Arizona continues supporting trucking industry during COVID-19 pandemicPhoenix AZ (April 16, 2020) – To help the long-haul truckers keeping Arizonans supplied with food and essentials, Governor Doug Ducey today issued an Executive Order allowing food trucks to operate at eight Arizona Department of Transportation rest areas. While commercial activity is ordinarily prohibited at federally funded rest areas, the Federal Highway Administration recently permitted states to allow food trucks at rest areas while the national emergency declaration remains in effect.“We want to ensure we’re doing everything we can to support the truck drivers who are working long hours to keep our…

2020 Motor Vehicle Use Map update available today for downloadingFlagstaff AZ (April 16, 2020) – Coconino National Forest personnel are in the process of opening the majority of forest roads across the national forest as warmer weather hardens surfaces and roads become suitable for motorized travel.Even though the majority of forest roads across each district will be open by this weekend, there are still a few that will be closed due to extremely wet and muddy conditions. Drivers should also be aware that forest roads which begin in the desert and climb may still have deep snow at higher elevations…

Clarkdale AZ (April 16, 2020) – The coronavirus pandemic, and the shelter-in-place measures it requires, will impact Yavapai County’s people and businesses long after the COVID-19 pandemic has passed. But Yavapai College’s Regional Economic Development Center (REDC) and a coalition of 34 local municipalities and federal and state agencies have deployed a new website to help county job seekers and businesses find immediate help.Yavapai College has joined forces with Arizona @ Work, the Arizona Commerce Authority, the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG), the U.S. Small Business Administration, local chambers of commerce, cities and towns to create YCAZBUSINESSES.ORG – a…

By Ted Grussing… he saw me and rather than land at my feet this Great Blue Heron stopped his descent and wheeled up and to my right as he climbed out of there. In this photo he is still in landing mode and you can see the feathers on the back of his wings start to curl up as he increases his angle of attack as he is flaring for a landing. due to the increased angle of attack. This is one of the very rare times I have been able to get a shot of a GBH coming directly…

Comment period for 2021-2025 Tentative Program runs through June 2Phoenix AZ (April 15, 2020) – As public safety and health continue to be the top priority in these unprecedented times, the Arizona Department of Transportation will hold a virtual public hearing and board meeting this Friday, April 17, to continue collecting public comments for the 2021-2025 Tentative Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program.The public hearing and board meeting, beginning at 9 a.m. Friday, will be accessible via telephone and web conference. The agenda and directions for participating are available now on the State Transportation Board website at aztransportationboard.gov.

By Darcy HitchcockCo-Founder, Sustainability AllianceSedona AZ (April 15, 2020) – The heavy spring rains have brought a lot of weeds. At the same time, the stores are picked over, thanks to the pandemic panic. So rather than throw edible weeds in the trash or compost pile, serve them for dinner!

Prescott AZ (April 15, 2020) – Two faculty members and the education technology point person at Yavapai College are winners of the 2020 National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development’s Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Leadership Award.The YC NISOD awardees are Business Professor Vikki Bentz, Pre-Engineer Professor Elizabeth “Liz” Peters and Online Learning Manager Thatcher Bohrman.

Even with lighter traffic, slow down around work crewsPhoenix AZ (April 15, 2020) – Freeway construction crews have a message for drivers tempted to speed when they find themselves on freeways that have lighter traffic these days: Slow down.The Arizona Department of Transportation’s workers and contractors are continuing improvement projects on state highways while many people are at home during the current public health situation. Work continues on Interstate 10 in Phoenix and Tucson, on Loop 101 in the Phoenix area and elsewhere across Arizona, with ADOT able to expand the hours of some projects because of the lighter traffic.

Pick up your dinner, enjoy at home and log in online to dineSedona AZ (April 15, 2020) – John and Nikki Ramagli of J Wine Bistro have been involved and supportive of community efforts for years. Now, as we are all on quarantine due to the coronavirus, they again looked for a way to bring people together. Many people miss the ability to socialize and connect, they’ve organized a “virtual dinner party.”

By Ted Grussing… the days are getting sweeter and I cannot remember when I have felt so relaxed. A relatively early bedtime last night of 2AM and at 6AM I woke with a beautiful rainstorm pounding the roof and skylights … a bedroom window was open and the sounds of the storm along with fresh air filled the bedroom. A smile, sip of water, One sleeping at the foot of the bed and I rolled over and went back to sleep relishing the freedom to do nothing else … next waking at 8:30AM and the day got under way. Exercises…

All offices, third party services and ServiceArizona.com affectedPhoenix AZ (April 14, 2020) – The replacement of an obsolete computer system will require a complete shutdown of all Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division services from 5 p.m. Friday, April 17, through Tuesday, April 21. This shutdown is a total interruption to all services provided at MVD offices, through Authorized Third Party providers and online at ServiceArizona.com.