Category: News

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Meeting the Challenge of the Delta Variant

by Community Contributor • August 12, 2021 • Comments Off

As the Delta variant causes a surge in new infections and hospitalizations, the public and private sectors are scrambling to keep up with rapidly shifting recommendations on how to deal with the highly transmissible fourth wave of Covid-19.

Coconino County and the City of Flagstaff both reinstated requirements for masks while in City or County buildings, regardless of vaccination status. Yesterday, Northern Arizona University announced that masks will be required in classrooms and labs. Meanwhile, the Flagstaff Unified School District is requiring masks until at least September 29, in spite of current state law forbidding mask mandates in K-12 schools. (Requirements are evolving all the time; check an institution’s website for the latest information on their mask protocols.)

Leading the way in the response to the Delta variant, however, has been the business community. Large companies like Ford Motors, Walmart, United Airlines, and Target have recently enacted mask and/or vaccine requirements for workers. Some are also trying to coax vaccine hesitant workers to get their shots with cash bonuses.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — August 9-13, 2021

by Community Contributor • August 12, 2021 • Comments Off

The number of cases nationally and locally continues to increase.
The rolling 7-day average for Arizona increased to 2,408 new cases per day this week, which is a substantial increase over last week’s average number of cases of 1,825. Arizona has now had seven consecutive days cases with over 2,000 new COVID cases per day.
According to the CDC, Coconino County remains in high community transmission status (while the county is in substantial or high transmission, all individuals, whether vaccinated or not, must wear masks while indoors in all government buildings unless you are in a private office space).

Discover Flagstaff — Saturday-Sunday, August 14-15 12th Annual Flagstaff Hullabaloo Festival, Wheeler Park and more events

by Community Contributor • August 12, 2021 • Comments Off

Hullabaloo is a community festival featuring giant puppets, a bike parade, costume contests, 2 performance stages, a huge kids area, local vendors, craft brews, cocktails, delicious food, lots of vendors and so much more! Sat. 10 a.m., Sun. 11 a.m.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Only one week before start of 2021 CCC&Y Conference: ‘Finding My Strength; Hope in Connection’

by Community Contributor • August 11, 2021 • Comments Off

Only one week left before the start of the 2021 CCC&Y Conference on Wednesday mornings from Aug. 18 through Sept. 8.

Tickets are on sale now!! We are so excited to FINALLY host this highly anticipated and exciting event!! Please see our full program and event details. We our proud to host amazing speakers and content. For example, get to know our opening Keynote speaker by viewing Deanna Singh’s Tedx Talk, We All Have the Power to Build Bridges.

Get your tickets today!! This event supports professional and personal development. We are calling those who are seeking to excel professionally, those who wish to bring healing to themselves and their community, individuals who are engaged and craving change, and to those dedicating their lives and careers to supporting others.

Flagstaff Village Apartment lease extension

by Community Contributor • August 11, 2021 • Comments Off

The city of Flagstaff recently heard from residents of Flagstaff Village Apartments that because the apartment complex was being redeveloped, all month-to-month tenants needed to vacate their units by Sept. 30, 2021 and no other leases would be extended.

The city of Flagstaff reached out to Park 7 Group, the new property owner regarding this change. The property owner listened to the concerns and indicated a desire to be a community partner and provide flexibility where possible.

Education matters: Crum Family Scholarship established at CCC

by Community Contributor • August 11, 2021 • Comments Off

Flagstaff resident Judith Crum knows first-hand how a college education can open doors.

“Education is important, and to many, it’s not affordable without help,” Crum said.

So, she put her money where her mouth is. Not only is she a board member of the Coconino Community College Foundation, she recently established the Crum Family Scholarship at CCC to help CCC students afford an education.

“I felt very strongly about helping out the community college and the students who go there,” Crum said. “I was raised to believe education was important. It was important in my life.”

District 2 Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez — District 2 Newsletter 3rd Edition

by Community Contributor • August 10, 2021 • Comments Off

In this edition…

Message from Sup. Vasquez
Museum Fire Flood Area Update
COVID Update
Redistricting Public Comments
And more!
Message from Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez

District 1 Supervisor Patrice Horstman — District 1 August 2021 Newsletter

by Community Contributor • August 10, 2021 • Comments Off

Hello from Supervisor Horstman
Museum Flood Response and United Way Volunteers
Mt. Elden Estates Flood Mitigation and Exigency Funding
Downtown Movies on the Square
NACo Annual Conference
Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission
COVID-19 Update
County Building Mask Requirement
Vaccine Incentive Program: Be A Big Shot
COVID Information Line and Testing Site
Museum Flood Information Line and Emergency Notifications
Flood Insurance Information
Contact Us

Museum Flood Area August 09 | Evening Media Advisory

by Community Contributor • August 9, 2021 • Comments Off

Below is a summary of today’s activities by the Coconino County Flood Control District and City of Flagstaff related to the Museum Flood Area.

Weather Forecast: The National Weather Service predicts increasing storm chances throughout the week. For up to date, local weather,

Presiding Judge Dan Slayton to Assume Responsibility of Page Justice Court

by Community Contributor • August 9, 2021 • Comments Off

On August 5, 2021, the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court issued Administrative Order No. 2021 – 128 ordering the administrative control and oversight of the day-to-day operations of the Page Justice Court to be assumed by the Honorable Dan Slayton, Presiding Judge of the Arizona Superior Court in Coconino County. Judge Slayton is responsible for assigning judicial officers and administrative resources as needed to conduct court business without interruption.

The Administrative Office of the Courts was made aware of several allegations of irregularities in the Judicial operations of the Page Justice Court prompting this action.

Discover Flagstaff — First Friday Artwalk, Downtown Flagstaff and more events

by Community Contributor • August 4, 2021 • Comments Off

Art galleries and businesses open their doors with special art exhibitions and more. 6-9 p.m.; free.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth receives grant to research causes of negative health outcomes in the county, and more news

by Community Contributor • August 4, 2021 • Comments Off

The Coconino Coalition would like to announce our gratitude to the Vitalyst Health Foundation for CCC&Y’s selection as a Spark Grant Awardee.
We thank the expert partners on this project, who are helping to guide the process: Kevin Campbell, international child welfare and self healing communities expert, Iya Affo, owner of Heal Historical Trauma, Building Community, local community voice organization and Javelina, messaging and communication organization.
We are extremely proud to announce that Northland Family Help Center, Coconino County, Native Americans for Community Action and First Things First all gave their early commitment to help plan, share their expertise, and give their time to help gain community voice.
We invite other organizations to reach out if you would like to participate.
We further extend our gratitude towards, Elevated Advocacy, who will lend their expertise as we explore avenues for policy or system change after community voice has been collected.
Excerpt from the Daily Sun…

Earlier this month, Coconino Coalition for Children and Youth (CCC&Y) received a grant to research the causes of negative health outcomes in the county. The project will explore the Self-Healing Communities Model, with a focus on adverse childhood experiences in Coconino County.

Coconino County Returns to Face Mask Requirement in County Buildings

by Community Contributor • August 4, 2021 • Comments Off

Based on current data and updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) recommends residents wear masks in indoor public places.

In line with this recommendation, Coconino County will reinstate mask requirements in all county buildings effective Wednesday, August 4, at 8 a.m.

On July 27th, the CDC updated its COVID-19 guidance for fully vaccinated people, recommending everyone wear a mask in indoor public settings in geographic areas with substantial and high transmission, regardless of vaccination status. Coconino County COVID-19 case numbers have followed an upward trajectory over the past several weeks and the county is currently in “high” COVID-19 transmission.

Friend of Flagstaff’s Future — The Aura Development & Rezone

by Community Contributor • August 4, 2021 • Comments Off

The Aura development and rezoning project was a complicated but important process for F3 to engage with over the past several months. The project is located at 151 W. High Country Trail (just off of Lake Mary Road) and consists of an 11-acre parcel of land that was rezoned from Estate Residential to Medium Density Residential by City Council on July 6, 2021. The Aura development will consist of 160 one- and two-bedroom apartments, 32 of which will be provided as affordable housing to those earning both 80% and 70% Area Median Income (AMI).

City of Flagstaff facilities require masks

by Community Contributor • August 4, 2021 • Comments Off

Due to the increase in COVID-19 community transmission, mask are now required city facilities. This requirement includes those who are fully vaccinated.

This change is in alignment with recent guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) that vaccinated individuals “wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.” The CDC has designated Coconino County as an area with “substantial transmission.“ Learn more at the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

Coconino County Parks & Recreation — Coconino County Fair Update

by Community Contributor • August 3, 2021 • Comments Off

This year’s Coconino County Fair is Labor Day weekend, Sept. 3-6
at the Fort Tuthill County Park Fairgrounds in Flagstaff, AZ. We return to an in-person Fair this year, complete with live entertainment, community & 4-H exhibits, livestock shows & 4-H auction, fair food, carnival rides, vendors, beer garden, and more!

And speaking of community exhibits, did you learn new skills or pick up new hobbies during COVID? Maybe you joined the sourdough craze or took a deep dive into a new hobby, and whether it was for fun or out of necessity, why not share your creation at the County Fair? Enter your prized possession – in everything from Fine Arts to Open Poultry – through The Fair Book. Some entries deadlines are as soon as Aug. 7.

United Way of Northern Arizona — Neighbor Helping Neighbor

by Community Contributor • August 3, 2021 • Comments Off

As recent history has shown us, we often don’t know when a crisis will happen. Although we can anticipate certain emergencies, they usually strike without warning.

What we do know is that because of your support of the United Way of Northern Arizona Crisis Response Fund, UWNA and its community and partner agencies will be ready to assist.

In the past three years, your generosity has helped your neighbors as we faced at least five crises:
The Tinder wildfire
A month-long government shutdown
The Museum fire
The lingering crisis (both health and economic) from the pandemic
The recent flooding in Flagstaff.

Coconino County Awarded $600,000 in Funds from NRCS for Emergency Watershed Protection

by Community Contributor • July 30, 2021 • Comments Off

During a special session of the Coconino County Flood Control District, the Board authorized the acceptance of financial assistance in the amount of $606,328 from the Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

The grant will be funded by NRCS at 75% and by the Flood Control District at 25%. The funds will be expended on an emergency watershed protection project for implementation of emergency measures.

Museum Flood Area July 30, 2021 update

by Community Contributor • July 30, 2021 • Comments Off

Below is a summary of (July 30’s) activities by the Coconino County Flood Control District and City of Flagstaff related to the Museum Flood Area.

Today’s Storm Events: The Museum Fire burn scar did not experience significant rainfall yesterday or today.

Weather Forecast: The National Weather Service Flagstaff is predicting scattered thunderstorms through the weekend. For up-to-date local weather, please visit https://www.weather.gov/fgz/.   

Flagstaff Urban Trail System to close along Fort Valley Road Aug. 2-6

by Community Contributor • July 30, 2021 • Comments Off

The Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS) pathway and the southbound bike lane along the west side of Fort Valley Road/HWY 180 will close between Deanna Way and Forest Avenue Aug. 2- 6, 24 hours a day.

CCC student aims for nursing career

by Community Contributor • July 30, 2021 • Comments Off

Flagstaff High School graduate Bonnie Kelch left high school with job skills and college credit.

She took advantage of free college courses at CCC with the help of the Coconino Association for Vocations, Industry and Technology and is already a Certified Nursing Assistant, and she also has a certification in Pre-Health Careers.

“I always thought I wanted to be a nurse, and this gave me the opportunity to see what it’s about before I committed to it in college,” Kelch said. “I like that it’s a job where I’m actually helping people. I feel like I can make a difference in people’s lives.”

City of Flagstaff announces Fourth Street Closure

by Community Contributor • July 30, 2021 • Comments Off

Fourth Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from the I-40 bridges south to Warm Springs Trail on August 3, from 3 a.m. to 7 p.m. for ongoing work as part of the Fourth Street Reconstruction project. Soliere Avenue and Sparrow Avenue intersections with Fourth Street will also be closed.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Q&A with Flagstaff City Manager Greg Clifton

by Community Contributor • July 30, 2021 • Comments Off

Two years ago next month, Greg Clifton became Flagstaff’s City Manager after a search that took almost a year and half.

Greg, who also serves as a member of the ECoNA Executive Board, brought more than three decades of experience from several Colorado cities and towns, including stints as the Town Manager of Telluride and Vail.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up for July 26-30, 2021

by Community Contributor • July 29, 2021 • Comments Off

World Ranger Day July 31

On July 31, the park will celebrate World Ranger Day. World Ranger Day is commemorated worldwide on July 31st to commemorate rangers killed or injured in the line of duty and to celebrate the work Rangers do to protect the planet’s natural treasures and cultural heritage. Be on the lookout for NPS-wide messaging on our social media pages.

Be on the lookout for NPS social media posts celebrating World Ranger Day later this week.

CCC’s Metcalf enjoys diversity, backgrounds of students

by Community Contributor • July 29, 2021 • Comments Off

Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and its functions, according to the American Psychological Association.

It is a field that has long held fascination for Michele Metcalf, lead faculty for Social and Behavioral Sciences at Coconino Community College. Along her educational journey, she found that what she had a passion for teaching the subject that fascinated her.

Her students can feel that passion and helped her earn the honor of CCC’s 2021 Full-Time Faculty of the Year.

Museum Flood Area July 28, 2021 update

by Community Contributor • July 29, 2021 • Comments Off

Below is a summary of (Wednesday’s July 28) activities by the Coconino County Flood Control District and City of Flagstaff related to the Museum Flood Area.

Today’s Storm Events: The Museum Fire burn scar did not experience significant rainfall yesterday or today.

Weather Forecast: The National Weather Service predicting an uptick in thunderstorm activity Thursday through Friday. Scattered storms are anticipated throughout this weekend. For up-to-date, local weather, visit https://www.weather.gov/fgz/.   

United Way of Northern Arizona — Please Join Us: Sandbag Filling Shifts Now Through Friday

by Community Contributor • July 28, 2021 • Comments Off

The weather outside is frightful – or at least the predictions for rain are. While today should be mostly sunny, it looks like the monsoons will be returning later this week and sticking around throughout the weekend.

That’s why we are working with the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County to arrange multiple volunteer opportunities to help fill sandbags this week. Each day there are two shifts – from 8 am to Noon and then from 1 to 5 pm. Please note, however, that you don’t have to work all four hours of a shift; any amount of time you can help will be appreciated.

Discover Flagstaff — Friday Night on Heritage Square with Flagstaff Community Band and more events

by Community Contributor • July 28, 2021 • Comments Off

Join the Flagstaff Community Band for an evening of fun music! 6 p.m.; free.

District 5 Supervisor Lena Fowler — Mexico Mobile Consulate in Page on July 24

by Community Contributor • July 22, 2021 • Comments Off

The Mexico Consulate will be available in Page, AZ on Saturday, July 24, 2021 to help people obtain their passports, register with the consul, and request their birth certificates. This will be by appointment only. Please call at 1-877-639-4835 to schedule an appointment.

Grand Canyon National Park Weekly Wrap-up for July 19-23, 2021

by Community Contributor • July 22, 2021 • Comments Off

Flash Floods and Lightning Awareness

As we continue to navigate monsoon season, we would like to take a moment to discuss the dangers of flash floods and lightning within the Grand Canyon. Flash floods are distinguished from regular floods by having a timescale of fewer than six hours between rainfall and the onset of flooding.

Volunteer with the United Way of Northern Arizona

by Community Contributor • July 22, 2021 • Comments Off

Please consider volunteering with your neighbors in the Museum Flood Area! They need help restocking sandbags that keep their homes and families safe from post- wildfire flooding caused by the Museum Fire. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old.

Museum Flood Area July 21, 2021 update

by Community Contributor • July 22, 2021 • Comments Off

Below is a summary of Wednesdays, July 21 activities by the Coconino County Flood Control District and City of Flagstaff related to the Museum Flood Area.

Storm Activity: The National Weather Service is forecasting increased thunderstorm activity with chances of significant rainfall Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Thunderstorm cells were on the edge of the western section of the Museum burn scar today (with approximately 1.2” of rain). As a result, only the western tributary of the Spruce Wash flowed. In contrast to previous events, the channels and mitigation efforts kept waters largely within the channels and storm drain system.

Sandbag Operations: 9,900 sandbags were produced and delivered to both the stations and to supply sandbagging placement operations for the elderly and disabled. Total number of sandbags in the Museum Flood area now exceeds 650,000 (2019 to today).

Sedona Arts Center — SAVE THE DATE! Celebrate Sedona, August 4!

by Community Contributor • July 22, 2021 • Comments Off

Celebrate Sedona was specifically designed for the Arts Center be more connected locally. We are so excited about bringing more people to our campus – those who would not typically attend one or our events, classes or programs. We want to introduce what we do to our entire community in a casual, engaging way that is all about fun. So local musicians, food, wine and beer, artist demos, and more, will be available. Some of our events will be themed to whatever is going on in the community, our programming, or tied to an upcoming holiday. This event is free and open to everyone – so please come take a look. We would love to have you!

The Literacy Center — Our reintroduction to in-person services

by Community Contributor • July 22, 2021 • Comments Off

The Literacy center is officially reopening for in-person classes, drop-ins, and one-on-one tutoring on August 10th!!!! We are so excited to get to meet face-to-face once again. We will be offering several sections of ESL classes, conversation classes, and one pronunciation class at our site. In addition, we will continue our Zoom classes for those of us who are not yet comfortable in an in-person setting. Please check our online schedule at thinkliteracy.org for specific class dates and times beginning August 1st. Please feel free to drop in any time August 10th, 11th, or 12th to say hi! We will have refreshments available to celebrate our reopening.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — 2021 CCC&Y Conference: ‘Finding My Strength; Hope in Connection’ and more news

by Community Contributor • July 21, 2021 • Comments Off

We are back!! 2021 Conference tickets on sale now!! We are so excited to FINALLY host this highly anticipated and exciting event!! Please see our full program and event details. We are proud to host amazing speakers and content. For example, get to know our opening Keynote speaker by viewing Deanna Singh’s Tedx Talk, We All Have the Power to Build Bridges.

100 Events in this year’s Festival of Science!

by Community Contributor • July 21, 2021 • Comments Off

Ten days of events, including in-person guided walks, workshops and demonstrations, along with live-streamed virtual talks and lectures, will showcase science innovation and discovery happening right here in our own backyard!

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future — Join F3’s Community Forum on July 25

by Community Contributor • July 21, 2021 • Comments Off

Interested in how land use, affordability, water, transportation, and climate change are interrelated in Flagstaff?
Come to F3’s Community Forum!

Discover Flagstaff — Heritage Festival of Arts and Culture, Museum of Northern Arizona on July 23-24 and more events

by Community Contributor • July 21, 2021 • Comments Off

Heritage Festival of Arts and Culture, Museum of Northern Arizona. Week four of celebrating of Indigenous cultures. 10 a.m.

CCC, Habitat for Humanity join forces

by Community Contributor • July 20, 2021 • Comments Off

It’s a perfect partnership.

Coconino Community College needs to offer real-world experience to the students in the Construction Technology Management program. Habitat for Humanity of Northern Arizona needs workers to help build affordable homes for Flagstaff.

In late May, leaders for the two organizations got together and made the arrangement formal. CCC CTM students will help HFH build the first of, with hope, many “starter homes” for the Flagstaff community beginning this fall.

“We want to encourage workforce development and retention to keep that talent in the community,” said Eric Wolverton, executive director of HFH. “Starter homes are an asset that keep giving. They will be a community asset serving multiple families.”

Announcing Creative Flagstaff, Viola Recap, PitchNight & More

by Community Contributor • July 19, 2021 • Comments Off

Months in the making, and announced at the 13th Annual Viola Awards, Flagstaff Arts Council is now Creative Flagstaff.

Museum Flood Area July 18 update

by Community Contributor • July 19, 2021 • Comments Off

The following email was sent to Museum Flood Area residents (the evening of July 18):

Below is a summary of today’s activities by the Coconino County Flood Control District and City of Flagstaff related to the Museum Flood Area.

– Storm Activity: The National Weather Service is forecasting increased thunderstorm activity through Thursday with particularly increased chance of significant rainfall between Tuesday and Thursday this week. Although major thunderstorms were expected today, the thunderstorm cells missed the burn scar.

– Sandbags: Residents are reminded NOT to remove sandbags from existing flood mitigation efforts. Removing sandbags from barriers and the other mitigation measures places your home and others at greater risk for flooding.

CCC’s Dorel Meier shares love of math, stats with students

by Community Contributor • July 16, 2021 • Comments Off

Math and statistics are Dorel Meier’s game. She finds it a worthy challenge to take students on a journey to understand how much of what they do in the world revolves around math and that it can be fun.

So, it’s no wonder that Meier was chosen as the Part-Time Faculty of the Year for the 2021-22 school year at Coconino Community College. She was nominated by students and by fellow faculty at the college.

“This award truly means the world to me,” Meier said. “I am so proud of the work I have done with CCC students and this award validates that I am making a difference in their lives.”

One Fatality and Multiple Injured after Flash Flood in Grand Canyon National Park

by Community Contributor • July 16, 2021 • Comments Off

On July 14 at approximately 6:00 p.m., the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report of two individuals missing and multiple parties injured after flash flood activity impacted Tatahatso Camp near River Mile 38 on the Colorado River. Grand Canyon Search and Rescue sent two paramedics to the scene to assess and treat patients. Active monsoonal weather in the area limited access to the scene for overnight search and rescue operations.

At approximately 2:30 a.m., one patient who was in critical condition was flown out via Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) helicopter from the area. Four additional patients were evacuated by air on July 15 to the Flagstaff Medical Center; they are in stable condition at this time.

Museum Flood Area July 15 update

by Community Contributor • July 16, 2021 • Comments Off

The following email was sent to Museum Flood Area residents (the evening of July 15:)

Below is a summary of today’s activities by the Coconino County Flood Control District and City of Flagstaff related to the Museum Flood Area and the nearby neighborhoods susceptible to monsoonal flooding:

– States of Emergency: Today Flagstaff Mayor Paul Deasy and Coconino County Chair of the Board of Supervisors Matt Ryan declared States of Emergency on behalf of the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County due to the impacts of monsoonal flooding to the Museum Flood Area and other parts of Flagstaff, which started July 13, 2021. Declaring a State of Emergency allows the City and County to expend emergency funds from all available sources and request assistance from the State of Arizona.