Top Sedona News

Commission seeks volunteers

Brian Bergner Jr. — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:00:00 +0000

Recently, the Sedona Historic Preservation Commission has announced the availability of not one but two volunteer positions, both of which they would like to fill immediately.

The Sedona Historic Preservation Commission usually has seven member positions that hold a seat but as of this week, there are only five, thus the

No construction for the July 4 weekend

Reporter — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:50:00 +0000

The Arizona Department of Transportation continues to make improvements to State Route 179, though it will take the July 4 weekend off, much to the relief of Sedona motorists.

ADOT periodically updates residents on the progress of its work on the highway and gives notice about the location and timing of

Fire board deadlocked

Allison Ecklund — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:46:00 +0000

Nearly three years after initial designs were discussed for a new fire station in the Chapel area, the Sedona Fire District Governing Board has butted heads again.

On June 24, the board came to its second impasse on the issue by voting 2-2 to move ahead with the $2.76 million proposed

Faster Internet in store for Sedona?

Trista Steers — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:38:00 +0000

Pipes holding the future head from Phoenix to Flagstaff via Interstate 17 but remain untapped in the Verde Valley.

Those giant pipes hold fibers that provide broadband access to Internet users, a luxury a small group wants to make available for area residents.

Health system fails Sedona couple

Susan Johnson — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:32:00 +0000

Even if President Obama were to accomplish what seems like the impossible — reforming the nation’s health care systems — it will be too late for some people in Sedona who are uninsured, underinsured or thought their high premium insurance would cover catastrophic illness.

West Coast native likes slower pace

Susan Johnson — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:34:00 +0000

Jesse Perez is detailing a Toyota Sienna minivan at the Enterprise car rental agency in West Sedona when this reporter and photographer Michele Bradley Pacheco pounce on him for the weekly @Random column.

Perez was born in Holtville, Calif., in the searing desert near Yuma, living there for two years before

Fire district recall starts

Allison Ecklund — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:10:00 +0000

One month after two members of the Sedona Fire District Governing Board were found guilty of violating open meeting laws, district residents have started a recall on Don Harr and Charles Christensen.

According to Yavapai County Elections Director Lynn Constabile, SFD residents Caroline Johnson and Karen Schmitt pulled packets from her

Budget politics boiling

Allison Ecklund — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:09:00 +0000

Political games at the state level over fiscal year budget 2009-10 are boiling across city lines.

As next year’s state budget remains an unknown, Sedona administrators — who depend on state funds — are trying their best to establish budgets for their governmental entities.

The city of Sedona is set to approve

Sedona-Cottonwood commuter adds trips

Susan Johnson — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:02:00 +0000

Intercity public transportation between Sedona and Cottonwood is slowly coming up to speed with a midafternoon trip starting Monday, July 6, and eight trips slated to begin Thursday, Oct. 1.

The Cottonwood Express, which currently transports commuters from Cottonwood to Sedona in the morning and back to Cottonwood in the evening,

Young Bear Shot Dead

Greg Ruland — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:16:00 +0000

Deputies shot and killed a young black bear in Cornville Monday, June 15, after the bear attacked and killed a goat and spent the weekend

Supervisors affirm freeze

Trista Steers — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:49:00 +0000

Yavapai County supervisors aren’t quite ready to lift the county hiring freeze even though county staff anticipates a balanced fiscal year 2009-10 budget.

Yavapai County Administrator Julie Ayers asked the board Monday, June 15, if it felt comfortable lifting the freeze. She said all departments met the board’s 7.5 percent budget

Meeting on annex canceled

Susan Johnson — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:12:00 +0000

A meeting between Cottonwood and Clarkdale scheduled for June 3 to discuss Cottonwood’s bid to annex a second large parcel of land was abruptly canceled by Cottonwood city staff last week.

In addition to the 10-square mile parcel of Arizona State Trust Land that the city of Cottonwood wants to annex,

Fitch finds foreign investors for park

Allison Ecklund — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:32:00 +0000

The weedy, overgrown remains of the Sedona Cultural Park is guaranteed to get the upscale makeover Fitch Industries promised it nearly three years ago, according to Executive Administrator Monty Fitch, although the group still doesn’t own the land.

On Tuesday, June 9, after almost a year of silence regarding the land

Sedonans help Sedonans

Allison Ecklund — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:35:00 +0000

Acting privately, Sedona City Councilwoman Nancy Scagnelli is asking the community to help her raise $10,000 to provide 1,200 lunches for homebound seniors.

On May 22, council learned March revenues were down 20 percent and decided to cut back funding to outside agencies in fiscal year 2009-10 budget, including cutting $7,500

Boulder narrowly misses woman

Greg Ruland — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:14:00 +0000

A 5-ton boulder rolled off the rim, destroying a pump house and spa, but narrowly missing several residents Thursday, June 5, according to the Sedona Fire District. Sedona Fire District crews responded to a reported rock slide at a aresidence shortly after 5 p.m.

County tax revenue drops 21%

Trista Steers — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:34:00 +0000

Yavapai County faces revenue numbers that took double-digit hits over the last two years as it prepares to set a budget for fiscal year 2009-10.

Yavapai County Administrator Julie Ayers reported to the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors on May 18 county sales tax revenue is down 21 percent in April

Cap set, nonprofits suffer

Administrator — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:33:00 +0000

The city of Sedona’s fiscal year 2009-10 budget will not exceed $44,522,917.

On Tuesday, May 26, Sedona City Council voted 5-1 to set the city’s budget cap after taking roughly $100,000 back from local nonprofits that it proposed giving in early May. Vice Mayor John Bradshaw was the dissenting vote.

After hours deliberating May 4

McCall still going strong after 10 years

Allison Ecklund — Wed, 27 May 2009 09:08:00 +0000

Sitting behind his desk of 10 years at the Sedona Airport, Manager Mac McCall flips through a hefty study he just helped finish for the Federal Aviation Administration.

The FAA already has an Airport Certification Manual that dictates the ins and outs of running an airport, he explained. What he and

Sludge bed design will cost $430,000

Administrator — Wed, 27 May 2009 08:44:00 +0000

The city of Sedona’s wastewater treatment plant will be the benefactor of a $430,000 desig n for new drying beds to get rid of the sludge it produces daily.

On May 12, Sedona City Council agreed, 6-0, in its consent agenda to approve a $430,750 contract with Carollo Engineers to design

IRS clamps down on charity abuses

Administrator — Wed, 27 May 2009 08:39:00 +0000

With financial scandals affecting not just banks and large publicly-traded corporations, but also nonprofits, the U.S. government has turned its spotlight on billions of potential tax dollars lost due to ineptitude or fraud by executives and management of tax-exempt entities.

As a result there are now new and revised forms required by the Internal

Pfeifer says teaching is a learning experience, not work

Administrator — Fri, 22 May 2009 16:37:00 +0000

Yavapai County’s fourth- through eighth-grade Teacher of the Year doesn’t say she goes to work, she says she goes to school.

Fifth-grade teacher, Pat Pfeifer, has spent 30 of her 43 years of teaching at West Sedona School.

After four decades of teaching, Principal Lisa Hirsch describes Pfeifer as “fresh, exciting

VOC school goes solar

Administrator — Fri, 22 May 2009 16:21:00 +0000

Big Park Community School flipped the switch for $41,000 a year savings when it turned on its large scale photovoltaic system Wednesday, May 20.

Big Park is the first of Sedona Oak Creek School District’s three schools to receive solar panels with money from the $73 million bond passed by voters November 2007 and may

Win for city on rentals

Administrator — Fri, 22 May 2009 16:19:00 +0000

A Coconino County Superior Court judge threw out two claims and questioned a third in a lawsuit against Sedona by opponents of the city’s short-term rentals ban.

Barring a successful appeal, the ruling ends a Sedona property management company’s fight against the city in state court.

No construction Memorial Day weekend

Administrator — Wed, 20 May 2009 10:55:00 +0000

All construction activities along State Route 89A and State Route 179 will stop at noon Friday, May 22, and resume at 6 a.m., Tuesday, May 26. Have a fun and safe holiday.

When walking along State Route 89A and State Route 179 through the construction zone, please stay on designated sidewalks. Pedestrians should refrain from

Historic home to open up

Administrator — Wed, 20 May 2009 10:53:00 +0000

“This Place Matters,” the theme of Historic Preservation Month, will be exemplified this Saturday, May 23, when Steven Eilenberg and Marie Tartar open their newly-restored Uptown Sedona home to the public.