Just after 2:30 on Tuesday afternoon, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Deputies found the front end of a pickup truck sitting on top of a bridge railing on Crown King Road. Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Dwight D’Evelyn explains below the bridge, the body of 32 year old Clinton Gwinn was discovered. The circumstances leading to Gwinn’s death are not known, but D’Evelyn says hopefully the Medical Examiner will be able to determine that. Liquor is a likely factor. Two passengers escaped uninjured and have been interviewed as part of the investigation.
One of the businesses that suffered smoke and water damage due to the Whiskey Row Fire last May is expected to get some improvements. Architect Bill Otwell wants to remove the existing store front door at Jenny Longhorn’s replace it with a new one. This western boutique is located on South Montezuma Street next to the building that housed the Bird Cage Saloon, Pearl’s BBQ Café and the Prescott Food Store. That building was burned in the fire and crews have finished up demolition and removal of the remains. Last month, the Prescott Preservation Commission approved an architectural design for a new building and construction could get started by the end of the year. As part of the renovations that are taking place at Jenny Longhorn’s, the door to the Grand Highlands Hotel will also be replaced. The Commission will consider the door changes as part of its meeting at 8 tomorrow morning in City Council chambers on South Cortez Street.
It’s could be a sign of things to come as the Dewey-Humboldt Planning and Zoning Commission will be reviewing a Sign Code rewrite. The August rough draft of the Code contains definitions and specifications for certain types of signs, as well as flags and canopies. Additions include provisions that any sign not included in the Code must be brought before the Commission for review and that members reserve the right to act on the status of any sign. You can learn more about the updated Code during the Commission’s meeting, which starts at 6 in Council chambers on South Highway 69.
Prescott Valley sewer customers are expected to see their rates go up. In July, Town Council members approved a Notice of Intent to increase the rates to $4.54 per 1 thousand gallons for residential and commercial sewer customers. This is slightly up from the current rate of $4.58. No increases to the water rates are being proposed at this time. You can share your comments on the adjusted rates before Council adopts them as part of a public hearing. That hearing will be held during Council’s voting session at 5:30 tonight. Council will also consider an arts display policy and an agreement with the Arizona Department of Housing for more than 485 thousand dollars in Community Development Block Grant funding. The meeting will be held in Council chambers on Civic Circle.
An armed robbery suspect is still on the loose, and Cottonwood Police are seeking the public’s help in locating him. Yesterday morning after 10, a male suspect approached an employee of the River Run Car Wash on Highway 89A. The suspect was wearing some type of Halloween mask and holding a wooden club. He demanded money before getting into a fight with the employee and fleeing on foot towards the area of East Dale Street and South 8th Street. The robber is described as a white male, between 30 and 40 years old, 5 feet 8 to 10 inches tall, weighing 200 pounds with dark hair and a moustache. He was last seen wearing blue jeans and a button up shirt with brown and white stripes. If you have any information on this crime or suspect, call the Cottonwood Police Department at 634-4246 or Yavapai Silent Witness at 1-800-932-3232.
Prescott Unified School District voters may be deciding on a bond or override measure next year. Discussions have been ongoing over the past year regarding this election, and Mike LaVallee from the Phoenix financial firm of Stone and Youngberg has presented information to the board on tax rates, bonds and overrides. LaVallee explains how his company would be involved in this process. LaVallee says school district voters understand the importance of a bond. School board members have directed Superintendent David Smucker to form a committee to advise the Board on this possible election. Smucker explains what committee members will be discussing. The committee will be made up of community members. If the election does move forward, it will be held on November 5th, 2013.
