See, I’m not just complaining about nothing (see last post). It looks like the city will close the exits off 17 on the west side and let east flag deal with the masses. The roads over there are better equipped anyway.

Responding to Saturday’s traffic jams in the city and on Highway 180, Flagstaff police will suggest a second city route for tourists visiting this weekend.

Here is a map

On another snow-related topic, I was delivering papers yesterday and many businesses were talking about collapsing roofs. All day I saw people shoveling the snow off the top of buildings. Hastings roof collapsed. Does this mean discounted DVDs?

This has got me worried about my own roof - but my neighbors don’t seem concerned. At least nobody is out there on a ladder. It seems like a silly way to get really hurt.

City residents will get a chance to review and comment on a proposed windmill ordinance tonight, more than a month before the Flagstaff City Council does.

If passed, the ordinance could lead to nearly 100-foot-high wind turbines being installed on lots as small as a half-acre in business zones. Currently, the city’s land development code is silent on wind turbines — it doesn’t specifically allow them, nor does it forbid them.

Flagstaff, of course, is a tremendous candidate for both wind and solar. How fantastic would it be if we could produce our own energy right here? We should also take this opportunity to make sure energy needs are addressed on the Navajo and Hopi reservations.

Tonight’s meeting will be held in the City Council Chambers at Flagstaff City Hall from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

An earthen dam broke near the Grand Canyon early Sunday after heavy rains that forced officials to pluck hundreds of residents and campers from the gorge by helicopter. No injuries were immediately reported.

The failure of the Redlands Dam, about 45 miles upstream, caused some flooding in the village of Supai, where about 400 members of the Havasupai tribe live, said Grand Canyon National Park spokeswoman Maureen Oltrogge. She said there was no structural damage, but that some hiking trails and foot bridges had been washed out. The National Weather Service reported that trees had been uprooted.

Will if ever rain? For weeks now, it’s been hot, dry, and windy. I think it’s much more windier this year than last year, and I think it’s the only thing in this town that makes bike riding a drag. I think I’d still rather have a bike lane on Lone Tree though.

Anyway, apparently some kids playing with fireworks on the East side of town started a 5-acre wildfire. I have some friends that live over there who started packing up their car during the later part of the afternoon because the flames were getting closer and closer to their house.

My question is, and I’m sure many people out there are aware of this, why the hell do they sell cheap fireworks at Target? Why is there no law against this? Consider this…

The Coconino National Forest is listing fire danger as very high, or one level below as high as it can get.

The Kaibab National Forest has listed its fire danger as extreme — the highest possible rating.

Windy days and highs in the mid-80s are forecast for the Flagstaff area this weekend, according to the National Weather Service. No rain is forecast through next Friday.

Campfires are banned across the Coconino National Forest and restricted to developed camping grounds in the Kaibab National Forest. Off-road driving is also banned in most of the forest, due to fire danger.

Backyard burning and campfires are banned across private property in Coconino County and in Flagstaff, but enclosed barbecue grilling is still allowed at private residences.


And at any time, anybody can walk into Target and buy fireworks? WTF?

What the crap?

There’s a predator roaming the streets of Flagstaff and he seems to be stalking students.

“Any attacks that happen around here freak me out,” said a Northern Arizona University (NAU) student.

Just last week, only feet from the NAU campus, a man distracted a female with a question before assaulting her.

“A man grabbed her by the arm and tried to pull her close to him,” said a Flagstaff police officer.

Even scarier, the assault happened in broad daylight right in front of South Beaver Elementary School.

“We’ve been having extra teachers out here with an extra eye and finding out what’s going on with people who do and don’t belong,” said a local school official.

One person who definitely doesn’t belong is the suspect, described as a white male, in his mid-50s, wearing glasses with a thin build.

“But only a few days before, a suspect matching a similar description approached a 16-year-old student when she got off the bus right here,” said a Flagstaff police officer. said

“A man approached her in a vehicle and asked her about a lost dog,” said “She said she hadn’t seen one and he asked her to get in his car to find it.” said a Flagstaff police officer.

In both cases, the victims escaped unharmed, but residents are being reminded to be aware of their surroundings.

“I’ve been here for four years and I’ve never had anything like that happen to me,” said a NAU student.