Regional

CLINTS WELL – Coconino National Forest leadership has issued a temporary closure order for public safety for the Coldwater Fire area where interior pockets of unburned fuel will continue to have fire activity.

Smoke from the burnout operations on the Coldwater Fire combined with moisture from a storm cell passing through the area to create dense smoke with low visibility overnight.

Smoke from the fire filled the Verde Valley over the weekend, but “winds should shift” by 11 a.m. Monday from the southwest to the northeast. The shifting direction of the wind “should shift the smoke away from the Verde Valley,” Barnett said.

With its public-safety pension debt pushing $50 million, Yavapai County is mulling a property tax increase to help pay down the unfunded liability.

The Yavapai County Superior Court has selected Gay Lockling as Director of Juvenile Court Services for the vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of Scott Mabery on June 28, 2019.

The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in determining the identity of a male whose skeletal remains were found on March 22, 2018, in the area of the Verde River and White Bluff, about 4 to 5 miles upstream from Sheep’s Bridge in the southern portion of Yavapai County.

PRESCOTT – Fire mangers on the Verde Ranger District are planning to conduct grassland burns sometime between the dates of June 1 and July 30, when the conditions are most favorable for a successful outcome.

A police pursuit through Prescott and Prescott Valley Monday night, May 27, ended when the suspect drove a stolen car off a cliff, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS).

Yavapai College honored a second-generation firefighter, an innovative public safety officer, a distinguished fire academy instructor and a longtime public servant when it selected Yavapai County Emergency Manager Ron Sauntman for its Verde Valley Alumnus of the Year Award at YC’s Evening of Recognition Tuesday night.

The Prescott Police Department (PPD) has been actively investigating a homicide at a Prescott residence in the 600 block of Country Club Drive.

A “reset,” a “renewal,” and a “refreshing” – they were all words that Yavapai County Supervisors used April 3, prior to choosing longtime State Sen. Steve Pierce to replace embattled Rep. David Stringer in the House of Representatives.

Buchanan held the office of Sheriff in Yavapai County for four terms from Jan. 1, 1989 to December 31, 2004, before retiring.

Longtime State Sen. Steve Pierce was the choice of the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors Wednesday morning, April 3, to fill the Arizona House of Representatives seat vacated last week by embattled State Rep. David Stringer.

Sunday, March 31, 2019 the elected Yavapai County Republican Precinct Committeemen from Legislative District 1 met to discuss and then vote on a selection of three nominees to submit to the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors.

Local law enforcement agencies say meth is on the rise again. There have already been several large drug busts in Yavapai County just this year. Thursday, Prescott Valley police officers found 52 pounds of meth during a traffic stop on Interstate 17.

Teaching the CNA program at Valley Academy for the past three years, Karen Amoscato is “passionate about the nursing profession and her students,” says Bob Weir, Valley Academy superintendent.

U.S. Senator Martha McSally visited the Verde Valley Friday as part of her 15-county “two ears, one mouth" tour. The purpose of the tour is for her to get to know as many communities as possible and figure out ways they can be helped at the federal level.

U.S. Senator Martha McSally made a stop in Cottonwood Friday during her 15-county “two ears, one mouth" tour. She met with community leaders and stakeholders at the Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce building to learn about major issues facing the Verde Valley. We got to catch up for a few minutes to talk about what she learned, as well as water policy, the Cottonwood Land Exchange and more.

Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, but scattered outbreaks have occurred in recent years. This year there have been five outbreaks — in New York, Texas, and Washington State for a total of more than 120 cases.

Homeschooled third- grader Aliyah Alpert emerged as champion on during the 73rd annual Yavapai County Spelling Bee, Saturday, March 9, in the historic auditorium at Prescott Mile High Mid School.

Cottonwood Economic Development Director Casey Rooney will be retiring from the city, effective April 1.

Drug dealers and criminal smugglers now have one more thing to worry about when driving through Yavapai County.

The Yavapai College District Governing Board approved a tuition increase for the college Tuesday at its monthly board meeting.

PRESCOTT -- It is out with the old and in with the new for the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.

Motorists fuming in the one-hour-plus traffic jams between the Village of Oak Creek and West Sedona on State Route 179 probably wish they had more information before driving into that weekend traffic quagmire.