Year in Review, Part II

The Navajo County Public Health Services District released a statement that two cases of rabies were reported within the county.

Sixteen-year-old Jarrett Brooks was reported missing from his family home in Joseph City. Despite searches by law enforcement and area residents, no trace of the boy has been found and no sightings have been reported.

Over 138 participants and their families took part in the annual Arizona Livestock Camp held at the Navajo County Fairgrounds in Holbrook. The camp aims to help children learn the complexities of showmanship and animal care.

Michael Duran of Winslow, was installed as district deputy for the BPO Elks for lodges in the North District of the Arizona Elks Association and to serve a one-year term.

The Holbrook Chamber of Commerce elected new board members including Paul Ortega of Ortega’s West End Liquor, Christen Iguado, Tara Espitia of TK Nail Candy, Pedro Tafoya of Studio 66 LLC, Nicole Young of Shirt Monkey and Roxy Theater, and Marcus Espitia of The Healing Quartz Company. They joined current members Janet Dean of Arizona Public Service, Tyreta Brown of Holbrook Summer Dance Group, Lori Romo of Romo’s Mexican Grill, Lonna Young of Community Bridges Inc., Jennifer Basaldua of Preserve Arizona and Daniella Day of Peak Residential Lending.

The Holbrook City Council appointed Mike Nilsson as vice mayor. The council also debated the process for hiring a new city manager, with a discussion as to whether to select Finance Director Randy Sullivan or to hire a firm to assist in locating one. The decision was to hire Sullivan as an interim manager until a process could be determined.

Leaders from the City of Winslow and the Army Corps of Engineers joined the Navajo County Board of Supervisors in a special meeting held in Winslow to approve and celebrate the approval of the Pre-Construction, Engineering, and Design Agreement for the Winslow Levy. The approval of this agreement began work on the largest public works project in northeastern Arizona, which will help protect thousands of Winslow residents, protect infrastructure, and allow for new industry and construction in the area. This is a monumental endeavor that is the result of years of work and made possible by leveraging federal, state, and local matching funds.

Navajo County Deputy County Attorney Robert “Rob” Edwards has devoted more than 25 years to seeking justice for often the most innocent and helpless victims of our society. For his dedication and exemplary record, the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys’ Advisory Council awarded Edwards the 2023 APAAC Lifetime Achievement Prosecutor Award. The award recognizes an individual who has had a distinguished career as a public prosecutor, making significant contributions to the protection of public safety and the administration of justice, and whose career exemplifies the highest standards of dedication and commitment to the profession. As Navajo County’s lead child and sex crimes prosecutor, Edwards demonstrates a remarkable ability to balance the demands of a complex and emotionally charged caseload with a deep compassion and fierce commitment to victims.

Deputy Navajo County Attorney Devon Hall was presented with the 2023 APAAC Juvenile Prosecutor of the Year Award. The award recognizes the extraordinary achievement of an Arizona juvenile prosecutor on a specific case, or for a series of outstanding prosecutorial accomplishments that demonstrate the prosecutor’s exceptional advocacy. Hall was honored for his deft handling of juvenile cases that resulted in teens being tried as adults in Navajo County Superior Court. Hall is skilled at pursuing prosecution of these difficult cases with consideration of the complexities involved with prosecuting young offenders, and often in the face of intense public pressure.

State officials and local business leaders gathered in Winslow, to celebrate AES’ $267 million investment in the state’s economy as it builds the Chevelon Butte wind farm. According to AES, over 800 people would be impacted by direct and indirect jobs associated with building the project, resulting in a vital source of jobs in Coconino and Navajo counties, which jointly host the wind farm. The location of the wind farm is on the O’Haco family’s Chevelon Butte Ranch. The O’Haco’s are a third-generation ranching family and their Chevelon Butte Ranch is one of the oldest working cattle ranches in Arizona.

The Winslow Historic Preservation Commission, was presented an award for Best Cultural & Historic Preservation by the Arizona Office of Tourism at the Governor’s Conference in Tucson.

The Navajo County Board of Supervisors bid farewell to outgoing County Manager Glenn Kephart. Carlyon spoke about how Kephart led the county through COVID as well as bringing the county to a state of prosperity by adjusting the taxes for the county allowing for employee raises and improved services the residents need and deserve without compromising other services.

The Navajo County Board of Supervisors recognized County Attorney Brad Carlyon for being awarded the distinguished Michael C. Cudahy Criminal Justice Award by the State Bar of Arizona. At its annual convention held in Tucson, the Bar presented Carlyon with the award which recognizes criminal law prosecutors who have worked tirelessly to advance the principles of criminal justice by representing the public’s interest with integrity, fairness, tenacity, creativity, brilliance and, above all, professionalism. The award winner is selected by the Bar’s board of governors.

August

The Winslow Unified School District (WUSD) Governing Board adopted a new grading system centered around the concept of subject mastery. The system aims to provide a fair and transparent evaluation of students’ performance and understanding of course content. Under this new approach, each subject grade will be based on a teacher-established standard for average achievement in the course.

Winslow fourth grader Callum Richards was among the winners of the AZ529 “My Picture-Perfect Career” photo contest. Callum was among the 10 winners honored during a ceremony at the Arizona State Capitol, where Callum was awarded $529 towards an AZ529 Education Savings Account.

Moving into the 2023-24 academic year, Northland Pioneer College (NPC), has added three new academic degree programs to the college’s offerings. The new programs are designed to assist graduates with direct employment opportunities and support students who want to continue their studies at a university. The new offerings include behavioral health studies, health and physical education, and the administration of justice studies.

Employees from Petrified Forest National Park traveled to Argentina to sign a Sister Park Arrangement with Ischigualasto Provincial Park (IPP). The park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Petrified Forest National Park (PEFO) share similar paleontological, geological, biological, and archaeological resources. Though over 5,000 miles apart, both IPP and PEFO are of extraordinary scientific importance, providing complete sequences of fossiliferous continental sediments representing the Triassic Period of geological history (c.250-200 million years before present for IPP and c.225-205 million years before present for PEFO). The sister park arrangement between Ischigualasto and Petrified Forest will promote cooperation through the exchange of professional and technical knowledge and through sharing lessons learned and best practices in the management and administration of both parks.

After more than 40 years in storage, the world’s largest single-loom Navajo rug, the Hubbell-Joe Rug (on loan from the Winslow Arts Trust) was on display at the Affeldt Mion Museum in Winslow. This 21’4”x32’7” masterpiece took Navajo (Diné) artist Julia Joe, her daughters, and the Kin ł ichii’nii clan five years to create, including shearing hundreds of Navajo Churro sheep, washing, carding, dyeing, and spinning the wool, and spending from “sunup to midnight” at the custom-made loom.

With the planned closure by Arizona Public Service of the Cholla Plant in Joseph City to bring economic hardship to the region, Joseph City Unified School District (JCUSD) is seeking funding from the utility to create a financial glidepath and avoid a financial cliff. Tax revenues from large coal power plants provide significant funding for school districts. As state allocations for public schools in Arizona have diminished, this is yet another loss for districts impacted by coal plant closures. While JCUSD has been proactive in efforts to reduce costs and find new revenue sources to mitigate some of the potential loss the district cannot make up the total loss on its own.

Winslow Chief of Police Ken Arend announced his retirement from the department, effective Sept. 1. The city administration extended their gratitude to Chief Arend for his commendable 25-year service with the city.

September

The Winslow Unified School District Governing Board voted to rename the Winslow High School Student Union in honor of Art Griffith. Griffith, a dedicated educator, had devoted an impressive 51 years of service to Winslow High School. His exemplary contributions were acknowledged through inductions into various esteemed halls of fame, including the Arizona High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Arizona Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and the National High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Northland Pioneer College received accreditation approval from the Higher Learning Commission and the Arizona Department of Education for its first bachelor’s degree program, the Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education degree.

Former Holbrook resident and Holbrook High School Class of 2018 graduate Sukie Cheema was recently crowned Miss World America Arizona, a beauty competition that selects the representative for Arizona in the Miss World America pageant.

The First Baptist Church of Winslow unveiled its art car now proudly on the corner of Fourth Street and Warren Avenue, bringing a dash of creativity and spirituality to the town’s streets. This new addition to Winslow’s art car family is a symbol of teamwork and community spirit. The car is a 1941 Hudson Commodore that is a vibrant bluish-green with Bible quotes and words such as “love” and “peace” written on the doors.

Darlene Brinkerhoff of Holbrook was honored as an outstanding avocational archaeologist by the Society of American Archaeology (SAA) with the annual Crabtree Award. Since the 1980’s, Brinkerhoff has been a dedicated avocational archaeologist and has been very active as a volunteer in Northern Arizona, with a focus on the Middle Little Colorado River Valley. She has worked with various agencies including the Arizona State Land Department, the Coconino and at the Apache-Sitgreaves national forests, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Arizona State Parks, the University of Arizona, Arizona State Museum, the Petrified Forest National Park, and the Bureau of Land Management and private landowners. She has directed her own petroglyph recordings at various parks and has assisted other petroglyph recorders with their recordings in forests and national parks throughout the state, and has been an Arizona Site Steward for 34 years, assisting with the protection of cultural landscapes. Brinkerhoff was instrumental, as she worked with the Homolovi State Park manager and park archaeologist, in starting and sustaining the Winslow Homolovi Archaeological Society.

The City of Winslow welcomed two distinguished individuals to its leadership team. Fire Chief Michael Duran, a seasoned veteran in the field, retired from the Sedona Fire District after an illustrious 20-year tenure. In the realm of law enforcement, the City of Winslow has also secured a leader in Police Chief Kevin Treadway. Chief Treadway retired from his position as Chief of Police in Flagstaff in 2020, capping a remarkable 34-year career in law enforcement. In his new role as Director of Police Operations, Chief Treadway will oversee crucial aspects of police operations as the city conducts a nationwide search for a new Chief of Police.

October

The City of Winslow broke ground on its first building in more than half a century. A crowd gathered in the empty lot near the historic Hubble Building on Second Street to break ground on the city’s new library. A quarter of a million dollars in American Rescue Plan funds designated to the county were used to make this project happen and will continue to be of use to visitors and residents for decades to come.

Navajo County Public Health Services presented a community health assessment prepared by the department completed by 2,393 residents and identified five priorities, which are social determinants of health, alcohol use, mental health, communicable disease and chronic diseases. Among the data presented, it was revealed that 27.5% of residents spend over half their income on rent and a significant number, 72.3%, have to travel beyond 40 miles for healthcare services. Additionally, 38.9% of residents had to forgo necessary healthcare within the previous year, primarily due to lack of funding or lack of providers. Regarding income, it was noted that the average household income in Navajo County in 2021 was $46,236 compared to the rest of the state, which is $65,913 and the national average of $70,784. Tied to that is the issue of food insecurity, with 16.7% of residents experiencing food insecurity, as opposed to 10% statewide. Another concern in the county is the battle against opioid use. In 2022, the opioid fatality rate was 27.8 per 100,000 individuals in the county, with the state average being 26.5 per 100,000. Non-fatal overdoses were 47.3 with Arizona at 46.8. Regarding mental health, 42.8% of the respondents reported experiencing or being affected by anxiety or depression. The number one social concern noted by Navajo County residents across all ages and demographics was loneliness. Those seeking help for those conditions will find it challenging in Navajo County. In Arizona there is one mental health care provider for 1,314 individuals, but in Navajo County, there is one for 2,806. Navajo County also has a high rate of sexually transmitted disease (STD) with 990 per 100,000 population while statewide the rate is 822. In Navajo County, the rate congenital syphilis is 886 per 100,000, compared to the state average of 150 and a national average of 57. In all 15 counties in Arizona, Navajo County is ranked number one for STDs and number one for syphilis.

The Arizona Historical Society recognized the Navajo County Historical Society in Holbrook as one of the recipients of the 2023 Al Merito Award. The Navajo County Historical Society works to manage and protect local historical artifacts that have been involved in forming the area. In 1989, local history enthusiasts formed the Navajo County Historical Society, with the goal to display and tell the history of all cultures of people who have played a part in developing Navajo County and the surrounding area. With only one part-time employee, the society of volunteers run the Navajo County Courthouse Museum and Visitor Center, which welcomed 15,000 visitors in 2022.

November

Navajo violinist Kylie Jim played the National Anthem at the Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves game on Nov. 15, in the Footprint Center in Phoenix. Jim, who plays other instruments, is with the contemporary gospel group August Remedy of Leupp Round Cedar Nazarene Church.

Five local veterans were recognized and thanked for their service to their country at the Holbrook Public Library. Members of the Dusty Desert Quilt Guild in Holbrook worked throughout the year hand crafting these stunning quilts to honor the men. Quilt recipients included Matthew Morgan, Michael Henninger, John Hyson, Rodney Fountain and John R. Scott.

In a significant move reflecting a change not seen since 1983, the Winslow City Council has voted to increase the monthly stipends for its council members and the mayor. This decision raises the council members’ stipend from $200 to $400 and the mayor’s from $400 to $800. The last adjustment in stipends was made in the early 1980s when the original amounts set in the 1960s were doubled.

The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office was awarded over $7 million in grants from the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs. This funding, aimed at combating border, immigration, and smuggling issues, marks a crucial step towards addressing the growing concerns about drug trafficking and related crimes in the area, whose implications reach beyond the county lines.

The Navajo County Community College Governing Board approved two new programs for Northland Pioneer College (NPC) including a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education Degree (BAEE) and Bachelor of Applied Management Degree.

The City of Winslow announced the appointment of Jack Fitchett as the city’s new economic development director. Fitchett, who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Arizona, is a certified economic development professional within the state. Fitchett’s career path includes roles in various local government entities. He notably served as a management analyst in the city manager’s office in Flagstaff before transitioning to the role of business attraction manager in Flagstaff’s Economic Vitality Division, a position he held for four years.

Recognizing the vital importance of internet connectivity, Arizona has responded proactively with the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, a key part of a national initiative backed by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). With an impressive allocation of $993.1 million from the IIJA’s $42.45 billion federal fund, the state is poised to make a significant investment in its digital infrastructure. The BEAD program, specifically targeting unserved and underserved communities in counties like Navajo County, represents more than just the physical extension of fiber-optic cables. It’s a strategic initiative to bridge critical gaps in education, healthcare, and economic growth, marking a significant step towards comprehensive digital inclusivity. Financially, this project stands on a strong foundation, thanks to the dedicated backing of both federal and state sources. The financial structure includes a substantial $10 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and an additional $9.7 million from a US Treasury grant.

December

Two community college systems, Northland Pioneer College (NPC), and Maricopa County Community College District, received federal funding from the American Rescue Act, administered by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), to address behavioral health workforce shortages in rural Arizona. House Bill 2691 allocated approximately $9 million in American Rescue Act funds to the two college systems, with another $4.5 million possible, depending on legislative action. NPC will use its $2.2 million allocation to build and strengthen the college’s new Behavioral Health Studies degree program.

Atlas Global Development hosted community meetings discussing its project’s scope and potential outcomes for Winslow. The first phase will start near Southside on the east side of Highway 87 and will involve light industrial work. This phase won’t require many workers and will need lower levels of water, energy and workforce. The first phase will also most likely include the Winslow’s Lindbergh Regional Airport because most of the necessary infrastructure is already in place. AGD is looking to bring in flight schools and industries involved with the maintenance of popular aircraft to meet industry demands. The company secured a nearly $1 million grant for the planning portion of this project that will aid in much of the studies that will be required during that portion of the project such as water, traffic, noise, geological and environmental studies.

Eldon Larsen was presented an award by the Arizona School Boards Association as an acknowledgement of Larsen’s over 10 years of service as a board member, serving the students and community of Joseph City.

Sun Valley received a new water tank thanks to funding received from a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for water improvement from the Arizona Department of Housing. The project was completed by Southwest Tank and Steel and involved the removal and replacement of the 20,000-gallon tank on the north end of Sun Valley. Sun Valley water has long been a source for complaints for the small community of 93 people.

The grant paid for $229,423 of the project, and the remaining $7,560 came from the Water Utility Fund, for a total cost of $236,983.