Springerville, AZ; July 17, 2014—The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests are selling personal and commercial fuel wood permits for various types of dead/down and dead standing trees. Permits can be purchased at all five local Forest Service Ranger Stations. There is a limit of 10 cords of personal use fuel wood per year. The number of cords purchased on the spring permit is counted towards your total fuel wood purchase when the fall permits become available. Diameter at Breast Height (DBH): 4-1/2 feet from the base of the tree at ground level.

Visit www.fs.usda.gov/asnf for more information on permits.

                      NEWS RELEASE                    

For Immediate Release

July 15, 2014

Media Contact:  

Forest Service law enforcement searching for individual(s)

who placed rebar in roads

Flagstaff, Ariz. – Forest Service law enforcement is asking the public for any information related to sharpened rebar that was purposely placed on and near forest roads in the Happy Jack area.

             At least five pieces of these spiked rebar placed on a forest road were responsible for slashing at least eight tires over the weekend. It appears the rebar is being placed in areas frequented by off-highway vehicles (OHV).

“The end of the rebar has been flattened and sharpened to a point and the exposed point has been painted to blend in with the road surface,” said Mogollon Rim District Ranger Linda Wadleigh.  “The objects pose a serious threat to everyone, and that doesn’t just mean people recreating on a motorcycle or OHV, it includes people walking, hiking and even wildlife. We are taking this very seriously and asking the public to keep an eye out and report suspicious activity in the area.”

Anyone with information regarding who may be placing these dangerous rebar should contact Forest Service law enforcement at 928-527-3511.

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7/9/14 10:30 – A moist and unstable air mass will remain in place across northern Arizona today. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will develop by late morning over higher terrain and will move into lower elevations this afternoon and eening. Steering winds aloft will guide most storms toward the north today. Expect daily showers and thunderstorms for much of the week with periods of locally heavy rainfall possible.