Author: Tommy

By Anne Marie Mackler, Development DirectorSedona AZ (August 10, 2018) – What better way to spend your hot summer days than finding a cool place to read a great book, or two, or three! That’s exactly what 140 readers did when they participated in “Libraries Rock,” Sedona Public Library’s 2018 summer reading programs for adults and for children. We are grateful to so many members of our community who helped make the program a success. We aim to keep adults and kids cool and engaged in literacy and to build a community of happy readers. So many of you helped us…

By Ted Grussing… seems like it just started, but it’s Thursday and my short four day week of doing the missives is over for the week and the plan is to be back first thing Monday morning. No special plans, no shoots planned, just going to try and wrap a couple of photo projects up. If that goes well and weather permits a trip to Watson Lake is a possibility.

Cottonwood AZ (August 9, 2018) – On the morning of August 8 at approximately 1:45 AM, deputies were dispatched to a house fire in the 1700 block of South Contention Lane, Cottonwood. When the first deputy arrived, Verde Valley Fire district personnel were on scene working to extinguish the fire. The 83-year-old homeowner told deputies she was asleep and awoke to a loud lightning strike. She remained in bed and a few moments later heard someone knocking on her windows saying that her home was on fire. She grabbed her dog and escaped to safety pending the arrival of fire…

Sedona AZ (August 9, 2018) – The Sedona City Clerk will restore an initiative to establish a permanent base adjustment to the city’s expenditure authority to the Nov. 6 ballot.City Attorney Robert Pickels says he erred in advising the city clerk that removing 35 non-residents from an initial review of petition signatures was within her authority.“While these 35 individuals do not live in Sedona and therefore are likely not qualified electors of the city, it was not the role of the city clerk to remove them,” says Pickels. “The role of verifying validity of signatures belongs to the county recorders.” [Stipulation]

Please share warning with Family/FriendsVerde Valley AZ (August 9, 2018) – In the past few weeks, YCSO has received several calls regarding a scam extorting ‘bitcoin’ from victims (aka cryptocurrency) based on a threat to expose alleged viewing of pornography sites.(Note: Bitcoin essentially is a digital or virtual currency that uses peer-to-peer technology to facilitate instant payments. Bitcoin operates outside of any formal banking structure and generally, transactions cannot be traced. Bitcoin can be exchanged for traditional currencies – see attachment.

By Jennifer Perry, Development DirectorVerde Valley SanctuarySedona AZ (August 9, 2018) – The Verde Valley Sanctuary is now accepting applications to join our Board of Directors.  If you are interested in protecting, assisting and empowering victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault we encourage you to apply.

By Kerrie Snyder Clarkdale AZ (August 9, 2018) – Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 6th. This is the day the Clarkdale Downtown Business Alliance along with The Clarkdale Foundation and The Town of Clarkdale bring you our biggest and best party of the year.  Join us from 1-9pm for our Fifth Annual Clarktoberfest on Main Street in Historic Downtown Clarkdale. This event spans the street for two blocks of downtown and includes kid events in the park.

Sedona AZ (August 9, 2018) – Looking for something creative and active for the kids? The Sedona Parks and Recreation Department is partnering with Lena to offer Magical Movement with Lena, an outdoor dance experience for ages 5 to 8 years. This movement class will include dancing, acting, and working on strength, balance and cooperation in creative ways. Children will explore their connection to the natural world while stretching their imaginations and bodies.  Each week will feature a theme, such as balance or rhythm, that will be explored by use of body, voice and minds.  Participants will be developing age-appropriate skills throughout…

By Ted Grussing… I took this shot of an egret at Bubbling Ponds near the end of June and totally love the flare of his wings that he presented on take off as he wheeled away from me … the egrets are one of the most easily spooked of shore birds I have found and even have trouble getting close when on the water at Watson Lake … when they are around. Anyhow, hope you like it as much as I do … shot with the Nikon D850.

By Nazih Hazime, Fire ChiefVerde Valley Fire DistrictCottonwood AZ (August 8, 2018) – Verde Valley Fire District crews from Station 36 spotted a wildland fire from in the area of 89A between Jerome and Clarkdale on August 7, 2018 at approximately 10:45 am.  The crews arrived to find approximately 6 acres of active fire burning through low to medium wildland fuel.Crews were able to control and quickly establish division around the fire before spreading further. There were 2 homes threatened but were protected by fire crews. The cause of the fire is unknown.

By Carson RalstonLibrary Specialist-Adult ProgramsCamp Verde AZ (August 8, 2018) – Join us in the Copper Room at Camp Verde Community Library from 5:30 – 7:30 pm, Tuesday, August 28th for a free 3 week workshop on Positive Self-Talk.  The workshop meets the next 2 Tuesdays at the same time and location, ending on September 11th.

Cornville AZ (August 8, 2018) – Eric and Gayle Glomski of Page Springs Cellars presented a $20,000 check to three regional nonprofits in a ceremony held August 7th at Page Springs Cellars in Cornville. Prescott Creeks Preservation Association, Friends of the Verde River, and Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters were beneficiaries of the 2018 Tilted Earth Festival Silent Auction. Representatives from the three organizations, Michael Byrd, Executive Director for Prescott Creeks, Laura Jones, Community Engagement Coordinator for Friends of the Verde River, and Erin Mabery, Big Brothers Big Sisters Verde Valley Executive Director were on-hand at a check presentation ceremony. The regional nonprofits look forward to putting the…

NEW AUDIO TRACK BY GENE WEEDCottonwood AZ (August 7, 2018) – The League of Women Voters and co-sponsored by the Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce presented a forum of all the Cottonwood Council Candidates. The purpose was to introduce the candidates to the community and to provide a platform for the candidates to answer some audience questions about the issues coming before the Cottonwood community. Present were all candidates: Bill Tinnin, Doug Hulse, Jackie Nairn, Kyla Allen, and Michael Mathews. These five candidates are vying for three seats on Council in the August 28, 2018 election. If a majority is achieved…

By Ted Grussing… I captured a series of shots of the Blue Heron that I sent out last night and this shot is the next in the series, taken approximately .14 seconds after the shot from last night … you can see where he has lifted off with the mighty force of the push from the legs and the forward and downward beat of the wings. The shot that precedes last nights shows our heron just beginning to uncoil into that max stretch we saw last night. Total elapsed time of the three shots is approximately .4 seconds and each…

Coalition of Law Enforcement and Victim Advocacy Agencies join together to provide Sexual Assault Victims Recovery and Reporting resourcesPrescott AZ (August 7, 2018) – “Seek Then Speak” (https://www.seekthenspeak.org/) is a new online resource for sexual assault victims seeking assistance and support. Victims can remain anonymous as long as they would like, because they are in control of the information being shared, who it is shared with, and what they want to happen with it.This service has been brought to Yavapai County through membership with the following agencies: Cottonwood Police Department, Prescott Police Department, Prescott Valley Police Department, Chino Valley Police…