Winter Storm

The National Weather Service is advising heavy snow accumulations by Saturday afternoon above 5000′. Greatest impacts on Friday night and early Saturday. Additional storm due by Monday.

It’s be a while since we had a good snow, so maybe a refresher is in order. Now is the time to get ready in the event we do receive heavy snow. Get your medications filled if possible, check your pantry, maybe go to the store, enough non-perishable food to last 72 hours per person in your household, put gas in the tank of your car, check your heat source, maybe get your propane tank topped off, bring in additional wood for the wood stove etc.

Think of your pets/livestock as well. Check their food and water, and make sure they have shelter. Also, don’t forget to help elderly family, friends and neighbors. Think acts of kindness. Things such as shoveling snow for them, call and check on them so you know they are ok. It will make them, and you, feel good.

If you plan to travel, or need to drive in the snow, please drive according to the road conditions, not what the posted speed limit is. It may not be safe to drive the posted speed limit, so slow down. Allow yourself plenty of travel time, and allow yourself plenty of time to brake. Keep provisions in your car such as a blanket, snacks, water, cell phone charger and a shovel. If you are stuck along the side of the road, these items may come in handy.

Keep checking back with us. We will update with new information as it becomes available.

Lakeside Ranger District Conducting Slash Pile Burning Week of January 17 (Weather Permitting)

Lakeside Ranger District burning slash piles

Lakeside, AZ –January 13, 2016; —The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests’ Lakeside Ranger District will be burning slash piles January 17 through 20, if conditions allow. The ignition area is on Timber Knoll just south of Ojo Bonito Estates. Scattered piles will be burned across roughly 50-75 acres of forest land each day. Ignition is planned for four days only and possible smoke impact is anticipated along Highway 60 and within the Vernon Community. In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to use caution when traveling in the vicinity of the pile burn as smoke may reduce visibility in the area.

Prescribed burning provides many benefits and is essential to maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. It provides habitat diversity, recycles plant nutrients into the soil and encourages new growth for a variety of plants used by wildlife and livestock. Prescribed burning of forest ground fuels also reduces the threat of large scale wildfire impacts to private lands. Crews will be on scene from ignition until there is no longer a threat of escape from the project boundaries. Prescribed fire operations are subject to cancelation due to unfavorable weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstance.

For questions or concerns please contact the Lakeside Ranger District at (928) 368-2100, or dial 311 to reach the Northeastern Arizona Public Information System. Also, check out our website at www.fs.usda.gov/asnf or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs/.

***UPDATE*** NCSO Looking for Two Runaway Juveniles

img_0029 img_0030

*****UDATE*****UPDATE*****UPDATE

1/10/17 – 3:30 PM – Both Ashlyn Maki and Trinity Alsenay have been located and are fine. Thank you for your assistance!

***************************************************

Navajo County Sheriff’s Office is attempting to locate a runaway juvenile female, Ashlyn Maki from New Mexico. Ashlyn is 15 years old, 5’2″ and weighs between 115-125lbs. She was last seen near Pinetop-Lakeside wearing a Grey coat, jeans and grey shoes. Ashlyn has bleached her hair blond from dark brown in an attempt to change her appearance.

She is possibly in the company of Trinity Alsenay, a 16 year old Native American male, who is also listed as a runaway. Trinity is 6’1″ and weighs 180lbs with black hair and brown eyes. Trinity was also last seen near Pinetop-Lakeside, where he lives, wearing jeans, a white hoodie sweatshirt with neon blue and green stripes and purple Nike shoes.

Both may still be in the area. Please contact the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office if you have any information (928) 524-4050