By Steve Segner — SEdona, AZ — I watched the City Council’s annual retreat online on Thursday, December 18, and I appreciate the candid, goal-setting discussion. Seeing the council, the city manager, and staff work through priorities in public is the government doing its job—and doing it well. Late in the afternoon, the discussion turned to the city-owned property in West Sedona commonly referred to as the Western Gateway. It was clear you are weighing competing and consequential ideas—open space, an event facility, commercial uses, and housing. There are no easy answers, and no one ever said serving on the…
Author: Tommy Acosta
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SEDONA, Ariz. – The city of Sedona will accept Christmas trees for recycling from Dec. 26, 2025, through Jan. 31, 2026, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., at the city’s maintenance yard, located at 2070 Contractors Rd. Trees dropped off for recycling must be free of lights, tinsel, ornaments, nails, stands and plastic wrapping. Please do not bring yard debris. The trees will be offered to the U.S. Forest Service to be used as erosion control in the national forest. For more information, call the city’s Public Works Department at 928-203-5063.
Twelve bachelors, twenty-one practical nursing degrees awarded Friday Prescott, Arizona (December 16, 2025) – The future of health care in Northern Arizona took center stage at Yavapai College on Friday afternoon. Thirteen Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates; forty-four Associate of Applied Science in Nursing graduates and twenty-one Practical Nursing graduates received a rock star-reception at the Jim & Linda Lee Performing Arts Center, streaming down the aisle to a soundtrack of “Pomp & Circumstance,” that could barely be heard for all the cheers. “You’ve demonstrated the tenacity and fortitude necessary to be successful in a highly skilled profession.” Yavapai College…
Sedona, AZ — The SAVCO Christmas meeting, held on December 10, 2025 at the Juniper Bar & Grille was a joyful occasion that brought members together in a festive atmosphere. The event fostered camaraderie among attendees and highlighted the spirit of service that defines the SAVCO organization. Members reminisced about the year’s significant achievements while enjoying seasonal refreshments and music, making the gathering a memorable highlight of the holiday season. During the evening, SAVCO demonstrated its commitment to the community by awarding a total of $12,500 to six Sedona-area nonprofit organizations. The recipients were: The Hope House Community Library Sedona…
By David Stephen Sedona, AZ — There is a recent report in The Washington Post, Counterterrorism officials vetted Guard shooting suspect before he entered U.S., stating that, “The Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard members near the White House this week underwent thorough vetting by counterterrorism authorities before entering the United States, according to people with direct knowledge of the case.” If the United States would vet individuals of certain provenance to keep out threats, does the effort cease after they are on the US homeland? There is a recent report on NBC News, Noem says National Guard shooting suspect was ‘radicalized’ in…
Cottonwood, AZSip on a flight of award-winning wine and take in a panoramic view of Old Town Cottonwood with family and friends this holiday season while enjoying a farm-to-table meal at Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria. Merkin Vineyards will be open on Christmas Eve (12-8 pm) and Christmas Day (2-8 pm), as well as New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day (11 am-8 pm), with special holiday menus available (see below). Reservations can be made online at merkintrattoria.com. Additionally, the Caduceus Ventura Room–an intimate 90-minute first-class guided wine and dining experience–will be available on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day…
Sedona, AZ –The Sedona Heritage Museum will host Morgan Leigh as its next speaker in the Sedona Stories Speaker Series. Morgan’s talk will take place at 10 am on Thursday, January 8, in the historic Apple Shed at the Museum. Morgan Leigh is a stroke survivor, author, storyteller, and unshakable believer in second chances. Her new book Stroke Warrior is not just a memoir; it’s a testament to what it means to fight for your future when your body, your brain, and your identity are rewritten overnight. Diagnosed with a brain AVM (arteriovenous malformation) and multiple aneurysms at 18, Morgan lived with uncertainty for years.…
Prescott, Arizona (Dec. 17, 2025) – A group of nine students made history at Yavapai College this month as the first class of graduates of the college’s new Limited X-Ray Machine Operators program. The nine graduates were feted during a pinning ceremony Dec. 12 at the Prescott Campus. “You’ve poured your energy, your intellect, and your hearts into this journey. And today, we recognize you not only for what you’ve achieved, but for who you are: compassionate, highly skilled, unshakable professionals,” Yavapai College President Dr. Lisa Rhine said in her welcoming remarks. “Today, as we pin you and welcome you into…
SEDONA, Ariz. – At approximately 8:15 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, the Sedona Police Department responded to Sedona Red Rock Jr./Sr. High School after school officials received a tip indicating that a student may have brought a weapon to school based on a message posted on social media. After receiving the information, school officials acted immediately by locating the student, separating the student from their belongings and calling the Sedona Police Department. Officers responded within six minutes and conducted a thorough search of the student and their belongings. No weapon was located. The Sedona Police Department arrested the student for threats related…
Sedona, AZ — Love quilting? Got questions? Members of the Red Rock Quilters will be the featured guests for “Monday at the Museum” on January 5, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Perhaps bring a small project to work on and enjoy the fellowship of quilting by getting your questions answered or just talking about the joy of quilting. They welcome all levels of quilters, fabric lovers, guests, and traveling quilters. There is no charge for this demonstration. January 12, Verde Valley Wood Carvers If you have a piece of wood and a wood carving knife, come to “Monday at…
SEdona, AZ — The Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley, located at 100 Meadowlark Drive off Route 179 in Sedona, is a welcoming, egalitarian, inclusive congregation dedicated to building a link from the past to the future by providing religious, educational, social and cultural experiences. The JCSVV offers soul-enriching services, programs, and classes, all listed on the synagogue website, jcsvv.org. Office telephone: 928 204-1286. Visitors are welcome to attend services after a security check. Those who cannot attend in person can access the service through zoom. All are invited to Friday evening Erev Shabbat services led by Rabbi Magal on December…
Yavapai County, AZ – MATFORCE is a primary prevention organization in Yavapai County, AZ, dedicated to preventing youth drug use before it begins. Launching the winter season, MATFORCE is pleased to announce the continuation of its virtual learning series, “MATFORCE Messages.” This series aims to foster healthier communities by featuring presentations from subject matter experts on a variety of topics. Resiliency, Stress Management and Self-Care, presented by Nate Auvenshine, Redeemed Training and Consulting, LLC, is scheduled for Thursday, January 22nd at 11:00 am. The course provides attendees with a foundational understanding of stress, covering its types, identification, and three stages,…
By Amaya Gayle Gregory Sedona, AZ — Rather than spending time discussing whose version is right and whose is wrong, I think I’ll spend the rest of my life with everyday people, those who are simply living, loving, doing their best with the life they’ve been given, and let them show me their secrets. I’d like to know people better, to see what’s important to each one, to give back some of what I’ve been given, not in the sense of spiritual know-it-all platitudes and subtle corrections to their thinking, but in genuine interest, authentic caring, in unconditional friendship. I’ve…
PRESCOTT, Ariz. (December 19, 2025) Yavapai Baseball strengthened its future roster with the commitment of 18 future Roughriders from four states and two countries. All eighteen will join the program on campus in August. First year Recruiting Coordinator/Assistant Coach Chris Jimenez led the efforts that produced this highly anticipated class. “I want to thank Coach Jimenez and Coach Succow for their tireless efforts,” Head Coach Marc MacMillan shared. “As a staff, we set out to identify a large freshman class that valued the opportunity to represent YC, understood the history of Yavapai Baseball, and fully embraced the expectations that come…
Prescott, Arizona (Dec. 19, 2025) – The Yavapai College Police Department attended the 28th annual Shop with a Cop event on Sat. Dec. 13. This event pairs children with local police officers for a holiday shopping spree, aiming to build positive community relations, boost the children’s self-esteem, and provide gifts for their families “I enjoy participating in the annual Shop with a Cop event as it allows me to build relationships with the children within our communities,” Yavapai College Police Department Detective Sergeant Megyn Felton said. “While the Yavapai College Police Department is community-based policing focused, the Shop with a…