Author: Tommy

Jon TrautweinFire ChiefSedona Fire DistrictSedona AZ (April 21, 2020) – The Sedona Fire District wants to thank this amazing community for partnering with us as we apply measures to help lessen the impact of COVID-19. We believe the steps that we are taking together will help reduce the spread of the virus and flatten the curve. Please remain diligent with us. We are grateful for your support and would like to remind everyone of the following:To be aware of and follow the recommendations by the CDC, Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and County Health DepartmentsTo avoid all non-essential travel…

Office and Third Party services reopening soonPhoenix AZ (April 21, 2020) – A project to modernize the computer system driving services for the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division was successfully implemented over a three-day shutdown, providing better services for customers with a range of new online features. Services at MVD offices and those provided at Authorized Third Party offices remain unavailable for the time being while the computer system transition is finalized and tested.

By Ted Grussing… One and I were enjoying the beautiful day out on the deck this afternoon … not much happening, but then a rather diminutive coopers hawk flew down into the grass and evidently killed a lizard and was eating it when this golfer came up the hill from the tenth green and startled it … he kept the lizard in his talons and headed back to the tree branch from which he came. He actually crossed about ten feet in front of the golf cart, but it looks as though he was on an intercept course to get…

By Tommy AcostaSedona AZ (April 19, 2020) – I noted a strange social distancing phenomena a few days ago while shopping at a local supermarket after having been herded by staff into the store like a compliant sheep.I noticed there were shoppers wearing masks and others who were not and there seemed to be tension building in the air between the two factions.No one was carrying on conversations and people were moving up and down the aisles more or less in silence except for this creepy voice over the intercom warning us to stay socially distanced.I also noted that more…

Arizonans Open Their Hearts, Donate $6.1 MillionPhoenix AZ (April 18, 2020) – In an incredible show of generosity and selflessness at a time of unthinkable challenges, nearly 39,000 Arizonans donated a record-shattering $6,095,007 to 913 nonprofit organizations participating in the seventh annual Arizona Gives Day 2020 on April 7.The final numbers for this year’s event, organized by the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits and Arizona Grantmakers Forum and presented by FirstBank, include $150,757 from the Nonprofit Emergency Relief Fund, prize pool distributions of more than $193,500 and offline donations that came in after the 24-hour online fundraiser had ended.

Science Vortex of the Verde Valley a Certified Sustainable Business at the Conservationist/Bronze level from the Sustainability Alliance.Cottonwood AZ (April 18, 2020) – The Science Vortex  is a new non-profit educational science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) children’s center opening in Cottonwood this summer. Its founder is Laurie Altringer, a former teacher and winner of the Teachers Award for Sustainability Curriculum given out by the Sustainable Economic Development Initiative in Flagstaff, and second place awardee at this year’s VVREO Pioneer Pitch event. Altringer explains, “We’re so proud of the financial and in-kind support we’ve already received from the ACF…

ADOT mourns teammate killed in work zone a month agoPhoenix AZ (April 17, 2020) – For ADOT, National Work Zone Awareness Week is always a big deal. It means more this year.Last month, one of their own, Frank Dorizio, was struck and killed in a work zone on Interstate 10 south of Phoenix. A member of ADOT’s Incident Response Unit, Dorizio was setting up traffic control for a pavement project.

Prescott AZ (April 17, 2020) – Two weeks after Yavapai College’s Matt Mintzmyer reprogrammed the College’s 3D printers to create face shields and PPE for frontline health care workers, the effort has picked up efficiency, enthusiasm and support.“We have printed 220 face shields for PPE now, and yesterday, the big printer was finally set up in the new lab.” John Morgan, Yavapai College’s Dean of Career and Technical Education (CTEC) explained. After a day full of mechanical calibration and software tweaks, CTEC’s industrial-sized 3D printer is now “cranking” out the plastic frames, producing 49 units overnight. “Before, we were printing…

Cottonwood AZ (April 17, 2020) – On April 13, 2020, just before 10 PM, detectives from the Partner’s Against Narcotics Trafficking (PANT) Task Force arrested 19-year-old Dylan Mills from Cottonwood for Possession of Narcotic Drugs for Sale (Fentanyl), Possession of Dangerous Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Resisting Arrest. He was booked into the Camp Verde Detention Center and remains in-custody on a $15,000 bond. 

By Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director Sedona AZ (April 17, 2020) – When Sedona Public Library began planning its now annual Library Giving Day campaign for April 23, it was with excitement and confidence. The goal of $60,000 was set and seemed achievable considering the success of last year’s $40,000 campaign, and that we had secured matching gifts totaling $30,000. We were ready!Special guest poets and other readers had committed to participate in a day of “Pop-up Poetry.” Staff and board members had added Library Giving Day GIFs, logos, and messaging to their emails. Board members had signed up to be…

By John Roberts, Sedona Resident(April 17, 2020)President Trump claims that the Chinese communist leaders are responsible for the COVID-19 attack now present around the world. Two forms of evidence are normally available and used to prove a case like this ; direct and circumstantial.

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.