CCHHS Urges Precautions as COVID-19 Variants Result in Increased Community Transmission

Coconino County is experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant.

If attending an indoor, in-person gathering, masks should be worn.   

As COVID-19 transmission increases, Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) advises evaluating the need for large gatherings and postponing in-person meetings/gatherings/events, when possible, until community transmission declines.

CCHHS recommends the following precautions to minimize COVID-19 risk, keep children in school, and our economy open:  

Coconino County Parks & Recreation — New Recreation Programs and Trends

We will begin offering Culinary Classes in early January through the month of April. There are currently three classes scheduled and available for registration. Each class will cover a different cooking skill including tortillas and tamales, pastries, and candy making.

In the first class on Saturday, January 8th, 2022, you can learn the basics of making both tortillas and tamales. More specifically, participants will learn a brief history of tortillas and tamales, what tools you need, and how to make them! You will see the process unfold, then make some yourself.

The next class to be held on January 29th, 2022, will focus on making pastries at home! Pastries are defined as a dough created with water, flour, and fats (such as butter). This class will teach you the basics of pastry making and provide you with specific instruction as to how to make a few fan favorites. 

Board of Supervisors Appoints Theresa Hatathlie to Fill Vacant Legislative District 7

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors announced the appointment of Theresa Hatathlie to fill the vacant seat in Legislative District 7 during a Special Session on Thursday, January 6, 2022.

The Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to appoint Ms. Hatathlie.

Ms. Hatathlie is a lifelong resident of Coalmine, Arizona. She currently serves as the Logistics Coordinator for Yee Ha’ólníi Doo Navajo and Hopi Families Covid-19 Relief Fund. Hatathlie was previously employed by the Tuba City Unified School District as Human Resources Director. She has also represented the Western Navajo Agency of the Navajo Nation as a Board of Regent for Diné College.

Jan. 11, 18 and 25 Flagstaff City Council meetings to be held virtually

Due to the rapid spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, the Flagstaff City Council has decided that the January 11, 18 and 25 City Council meetings will be held virtually with no in-person attendance at City Hall or Council Chambers. Members of the public can stream these Council meetings at https://www.flagstaff.az.gov/1461/Streaming-City-Council-Meetings.

Members of the public may also give verbal public comment during the meetings using the link posted on the agenda. Agendas can be viewed at http://cityweb.flagstaffaz.gov/agendaquick/agenda_publish.cfm.

The NAU Review — New year, new telescope, elephant neighbors and mapping redwood genomes

On Christmas Day, astronomers and planetary scientists around the world watched as a telescope 20 years in the making was launched into space. NASA called the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope one of the most exciting developments in astronomy in the 21st century. For the astronomers, planetary scientists and students at NAU, the launch of this massive observatory, and the information it will transmit back to Earth, is an important step in advancing our understanding of the solar system.

Voto Latino Reflects on January 6th Insurrection One Year Later and Urges Senate to Pass Voting Rights Legislation

On the one year commemoration of the January 6th Capitol insurrection, Voto Latino President and CEO Maria Teresa Kumar, issued the following statement:

“Today marks one year since insurrectionists stormed the Capitol in an effort to overthrow the results of a verified, fair and free 2020 presidential election, generating unprecedented chaos and resulting in the deaths of five people. They tried to stymie a peaceful transfer of power. The attempted coup at the Capitol was the most anti-democratic visible display in a larger effort to subvert American elections and partisan attempts to stop eligible voters from casting their ballots. 

“The events of January 6th and the profoundly irresponsible actions espoused by twice impeached Donald Trump and his supporters continues to poison faith in American democratic processes and institutions. In the coming days, Congress has an opportunity to safeguard our most precious right to guarantee the thriving American experiment: – equal access to the voting booth for every eligible citizen regardless of color or creed. 

LULAC Warns A Repeat Of The January 6, 2021 Insurrection Is Still Possible

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) issued the following statement on the first anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The protest and violence were carried out in an attempt to stop the ratification of the electoral ballot results from the November 2020 presidential election that defeated Donald Trump. The US Justice Department issued a report six months following the attack and stated that more than 535 people who took part in the insurrection were arrested in all 50 states. Five people died during the incident, a Capitol police officer lost his life the following day of stroke complications from injuries he suffered in the violence, and four other officers on duty during the attack died later from suicide. A full congressional investigation into the insurrection continues.

On Anniversary of U.S. Capitol Attack, Immigrant Rights Groups Urge Congress to Pass Voting Rights Legislation

(Jan. 6, 2022) marks one year since the tragic Jan. 6 attack on the nation’s Capitol and the deadly attempt to overturn the will of the American people.

The National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA), a multi-ethnic coalition of the nation’s largest state-level immigrant advocacy organizations, which includes Promise Arizona, urges Congress to protect the fundamental right to vote and our multicultural democracy by passing the Freedom to Vote Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. 

“A year ago, anti-democracy rioters tried to undermine the electoral results achieved by a record-level turnout of voters of color and others, including newly naturalized citizens,” said Nicole Melaku, NPNA executive director. “These threats to democracy continue, as states across the nation have passed legislation restricting the fundamental right to vote.”

Residents invited to join Climate Advisory Groups to bring community voices into local climate action

The Flagstaff Sustainability Office invites Flagstaff residents to join a Climate Advisory Group to guide the implementation of the City’s Carbon Neutrality Plan and bring community voices into local climate action.

Climate Advisory Groups will bring youth, businesses, and equity leaders together to drive climate solutions. Members of the Climate Advisory Groups will provide advice and recommendations:

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — Jan. 3-7, 2022

Realizing the demand for vaccines is still high in the community, Coconino County Health and Human Services Mobile Vaccine Team is planning two separate events over two days this week. The County event will have all types of vaccines (first, second, third, and boosters for J&J, Moderna, Pfizer) and will have the pediatric Pfizer doses (first and second) for children ages 5-11-years-old.

Coconino Community College Page Center seeking Strengthening Indigenous Student Success (SISS) Retention Advisor

The Strengthening Indigenous Student Success (SISS) Retention Advisor assists the Program Coordinator in the management of the grant-funded Strengthening Indigenous Student Success project. This position will be located on the Page Center in beautiful Page, AZ.   This position is a full-time, 12-month, benefits-eligible position. 

Board of Supervisors Announces Special Session for Arizona Legislative District 7 Vacancy

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors will hold a Special Session on Thursday, January 6, 2022, beginning at 9:00 a.m., to discuss and take possible action on the Legislative District 7 State Senate vacancy.

Democratic Senator Jamescita Peshlakai resigned from the position on December 22, 2021, to take a position with the U.S. Department of Interior. 

Arizona Legislative District 7 spans across Apache, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Mohave, Navajo, and Pinal counties. Nine tribes comprise the district including Hualapai, Havasupai, Kaibab Paiute, San Juan Southern Paiute, Navajo, Hopi, White Mountain Apache, San Carlos Apache, and a small portion of Zuni Pueblo.

Strengthening Native American student success at CCC

One in five students at Coconino Community College is Native American.

Often, the Native American students who arrive at CCC are the first in their family to pursue a college education and may also come from challenging economic situations. As a result, they may face barriers in obtaining a college degree.

In an effort to increase Native American student course success, completion rates and a sense of belonging in the college community, CCC has received a $2.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Called the Native American-Serving Nontribal Institution (NASNTI) grant, the funds will be distributed over a five-year period.

“CCC values the sacred land on which we live and serve and the indigenous peoples who have inhabited it for centuries,” said CCC Provost Dr. Nate Southerland. “One in five students at CCC is Native American, and we look forward to providing these students with culturally responsive teaching, enhanced support, and interpersonal connections to help them be successful in their studies.”

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Remembering our progress in 2021 and celebrating our 50th anniversary in 2022

2021 was an exciting growth year for CCC&Y.  We entered the year with a refreshed Mission and Purpose, welcomed a new logo, gained new database software and had our first ever virtual conference. We expanded our work with Building Community and renewed our commitment to building connections and support in the community. Click here to learn more. We provided training, data and voice to community organizations and groups on topics ranging from trauma-informed care to mindfulness.

Our Coconino Prevention Council and Action and Outreach committees were active throughout the year with activities ranging from monthly connection for organizations and prevention services to legislative and policy review.

A very exciting moment in 2021 was when we received the Vitalyst Health Foundation Spark Grant to collect community voice about root causes of Health Concerns in the County. To date we have engaged numerous partners, groups and individuals and have collected information from over 65 individuals through five questions we are asking the community. These have taken place in one-to-one interviews and very small focus groups across the county. This process was designed to be trusting and relationship-based so as to gain accurate and pertinent information about individual experiences.

Winter Pile Burns Begin on South Rim this Week

Beginning Thursday, January 6, National Park Service (NPS) fire managers will begin pile burning along the Hwy. 64 corridor on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

Hand piles composed of woody debris will be burned along the Hwy. 64 corridor, north of the South Entrance Station from mile marker 238-240. Fire managers plan to continue igniting piles over the next several months when weather conditions are suitable.

Smoke will be visible within the area and traffic signs will be posted along the roadway advising visitors of the operations. If traveling along Hwy. 64, visitors are asked to be prepared for slower traffic and minor delays within the area of the pile burns.

Here’s what’s new at Sedona Arts Center!

Vision & Sound creates an educational experience and environment that broadens the understanding and appreciation of African American art, music, film, and literary works for multigenerational and multicultural audiences. We strive to build supportive relationships to encourage cultural equity throughout Arizona and beyond – recognizing that professional American artists of African descent are too often overlooked.

Seeking Applicants for Fredonia-Moccasin Unified School District #6 Governing Board

Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget is seeking applicants for an appointment to the Fredonia Moccasin Unified School District #6 Governing Board.

Applicants must reside in the school district and be registered to vote in Arizona. Applicants or their spouses cannot be an employee of the district.

Goodwill of Central & Northern Arizona announces training classes on Jan. 4-6, 13-14 and 19

Below is the schedule for all of Goodwill’s classes in January.  As a reminder, Digital Literacy, and now Financial Literacy, can be taken online at your own pace.  For details on signing up, please call 928-556-5096 or come in the Career Center to register.  Select courses and additional career webinars are also offered on My Career Advisor.

I am now taking registration for all classes.  Registration is required beforehand.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y provides a variety of options to help families, community members during 2022

As 2021 comes to an end, families throughout Coconino County have faced and overcome a variety of challenges during this pandemic age.
The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth stands ready in 2022 to help connect families and community members with a number of options, including free educational resources, monthly virtual youth open mic sessions, city resource guides, calendars of upcoming family events and a variety of programs offered by our more than 100 individual and nonprofit members.
in AZ.”

Cancer Support Community AZ, northern Arizona seeking Development and Event Director

Cancer Support Arizona in Flagstaff is seeking to fill a position.

Candidates sought must:

Demonstrated results in designing, launching, expanding, and improving development programs with wide range of support from the community.

Track record of being resourceful to obtain financial and human support.

Able to learn quickly and proficiently to use multiple technology applications to manage projects,