Week in Review: School Financing

Hassle-free landscaping!

Making court work together 

The Prescott Valley Public Library's Virtual Reality Room is undergoing some changes. The library has been awarded a 30 thousand dollar grant that will be used to create a Digital Media Lab. Visitors will be able to edit and post digital videos and photos and film projects online. This will allow people to develop job skills, promote local businesses and to complete school projects. The modified Virtual Reality Room will host individual or group projects from this September through June of next year. The lab will offer software, cameras, professional lighting, training for the public and educational video productions. The library is located on East Civic Circle.

Today is the last day for public comments on ADOT's tentative 5 Year Program. ADOT has come up with 3 scenarios for this transportation construction program, including focuses on highway preservation or programmed major projects, or a combination of the 2. Yavapai County elected officials have raised concerns over funding for the Highway 89 widening being pulled. This section runs from 89A to near Ruger Road in Prescott. The section from Chino Valley town limits to Deep Well Ranch Road is still scheduled to get started by late summer. Officials feel if the second portion isn't completed, it will create a bottleneck in that area. County and City of Prescott officials are partnering to widen Willow Creek Road to relieve traffic near the Airport. The program can be reviewed online at azdot.gov. Callers can also leave their comments by phone. That number is 1-855-712-8530.

The Dewey-Humboldt Town Council is back to 7 full members. Following interviews Tuesday afternoon with 3 applicants for a Council vacancy, Sonya Williams Rowe has been appointed to that position. Rowe has lived in Dewey-Humboldt for 3 years. She will be sworn in at the start of Council's meeting next Tuesday. The other 6 Council members will be busy reviewing the tentative 2014 Budget at 9:30 Monday morning. That review will continue Tuesday morning. During that special meeting at eight thirty, Council will also hear a presentation on a multi-year road maintenance plan. All sessions will be held in Council chambers on South Highway 69.

While Yavapai College bond projects are about done, another master planning process is getting underway. Back in November 2000, voters approved an almost 70 million dollar bond issue for renovations and new construction. College spokesman Mike Lange explains the projects have taken place throughout Yavapai County. The shared electronic board with the Mayer School District is expected to be completed next month. The college is working to create the next campus master plan, which will guide activities for the next 10 years. Lange says public input is important to this process. Two public meetings on the process were held on the Prescott and Verde Valley campuses Wednesday night. The few residents who did attend provided some good ideas to college officials.

A partnership between Yavapai County and the City of Prescott is expected to continue. The City and County currently operate a Consolidated Court system. Supervisor Tom Thurman describes what these operations involve. Judge Arthur Markham serves as County Justice of the Peace as well as City Magistrate. An agreement between the 2 must be reviewed every year. Last year, it had been proposed that the City have its own magistrate operations, but Thurman says that's not an issue for now. Thurman adds this has been a good arrangement. The Board had approved the current agreement last year. Thurman says the 1 year time period gave the new Supervisors a chance to review the new multi-year agreement. The Board will consider a new agreement, which starts July 1st and runs through June 30th, 2018 at 9 Monday morning. The meeting will be held in the Verde Valley Complex on South 6th Street in Cottonwood.

Charter schools, college budgets and road work. 

Dr. Stanton proposes a new approach to education.

Being safe during fire danger is important.

Crashed plane allegedly due to reckless aircraft operations.

Bill gives a quickie review of some of last weeks' key news items.

CYFD Board Chair resigns.

It's time for road improvements in PV.