District 2 Supervisor Liz Archuleta — County Fire Ban Remains in Effect

The Coconino County School Superintendent’s Office announces the 2020 Teacher of the Year, the 2020 Teacher of the Year Ambassadors for Excellence, the 2020 Rookie Teacher of the Year and the 2020 Rookie Teacher of the Year Ambassadors for Excellence.

Teacher of the Year is the countywide event created to celebrate, honor and recognize full-time charter, private and public-school certified teachers from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. This year a total of 14 certified teachers were nominated. Teachers completed and submitted a detailed essay application along with three letters of support to be in the running for the Teacher of the Year title. The Teacher of the Year, the Rookie Teacher of the Year and the Ambassadors for Excellence (runners up) are usually recognized and announced at the annual awards event but due to COVID-19, we were not able to have the event this year. Each of the finalists will receive cash prizes, automatic nomination for the Arizona Teacher of the Year Award and various other prizes. The Teacher of the Year also wins a one-year leased Toyota vehicle from Findlay Toyota dealership. The entire celebration is made possible through our sponsors: Findlay Toyota, APS, Blue Cross, Coconino Association for Vocations, Industry and Technology, Northern Arizona University, Northern Arizona University Foundation, Coconino Federal Credit Union, Coconino Community College, Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce, Northern AZ Healthcare Foundation, Kinney Construction, Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Authority Institute, North Country Healthcare, Wells Fargo, Theatrikos Theatre Co., Bearizona, Starlite Lanes and community members.

Superintendent Dr. Tommy Lewis would like to formally announce the winner of the 2020 Coconino County Teacher of the Year is Kristin Patterson, Flagstaff Junior Academy. The 2020 Teacher of the Year Ambassadors for Excellence winners are Lynn Patton, Mount Elden Middle School and Todd Van Hoesen, Haven Montessori. The 2020 Rookie Teacher of the Year winner is Ashley Curtin, W.F. Killip Elementary. The 2020 Rookie Teacher of the Year Ambassadors for Excellence are Tessa Alexander, Williams High School and Langley Vannoy, Sinagua Middle School.

For more information contact the School Superintendents Office at 928- 679-8070.

Open Fires for Warmth Indoors Allowed

Coconino County’s Wildfire Defense Ordinance remains in effect due to dry conditions throughout the County. The open fire ban has been in place since earlier this spring due to dry conditions and lack of monsoon rains.

The County does wish to clarify that the ordinance and the fire ban do not apply to open fire maintained indoors in a fireplace for providing warmth. As temperatures drop overnight, the open fire ban does not apply to keeping residences warm and safe through controlled open fires in fireplaces or wood stoves.

Persons needing utility assistance for electric, gas, wood, water and propane (100 gallons or more) are asked to call Coconino County Health and Human Services, Community Services at 928-679-7453. Income eligibility requirements apply. Rental assistance is also available. Visit https://coconino.az.gov/149/Social-Services for more information.

There is still time to complete the 2020 Census.

The Census Bureau has received a slight extension for the 2020 Census and will complete their counting efforts on October 5.

Coconino County urges all residents to complete the Census which can be done in less than 10 minutes. The Census can be completed in a variety of ways, including online at https://my2020census.gov/ or by calling 1-844-330-2020.

 The current self-response rate in Coconino County is 45.6% as of today, while the rest of Arizona is at 63.2%.

Information as of 10/05/2020:

The Coconino County Health and Human Services has issued a new weekly report entitled COVID-19 Coconino County Weekly Update.

The report is updated weekly and includes a COVID-19 situation summary, key takeaways, demographic and geographic information, hospitalizations and testing data related to Coconino County residents.

AZDHS just updated their COVID-19 website which now includes race and ethnicity on confirmed cases, location of confirmed cases by zip code, ages & gender of related deaths, and number of hospital beds & ICU beds available.

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