Prescott Az News and Events ~ Read It News Magazine

The United Christian Youth Camp has contracted with the Settler Valley Ranch to clear brush, grass and low tree branches creating defensible space to protect the camp from fire.

The Settler Valley Ranch uses an approach new to Prescott - 70 goats to clear the target area of over 7 acres in 8 weeks.

According to Ryan Smith, City of Prescott Community Planner, "The goats are surprisingly clean and efficient."

A lightning caused wildland fire was reported on Saturday, November 15. The Yankee Fire is burning along Longfellow Ridge, south of Palace Station. The fire is approximately 28 acres and 80% contained with full containment expected this afternoon. No structures are threatened.

Lighting had been seen in the area on Sunday, November 9, by firefighters monitoring the Ash Creek Prescribed Burn. While suppressing the fire, firefighters did find a tree that was struck by lighting.

As always, public and firefighter safety is our top priority. For current information on prescribed burns, fire restrictions, closures or wildfires on the Prescott National Forest visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott/ or call the Prescott National Forest fire information line at 928-777-5799.

Saturday 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, crews will work on installation of the temporary signal. If the work is not completed during that time, it will continue from 8 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday.

According to Arizona Department of Transportation officials, on Saturday night at about 8 pm, approaches to the Highway 69/89 interchange will begin to see temporary traffic signals that will reroute most legs of the interchange.

• Motorists will encounter the signal on Highway 69 between Heather Heights and Gurley/Sheldon Street. The light will route Highway 69 westbound traffic through the signal, allowing signalized access to northbound Highway 89.
• Northbound Prescott-to-Highway 89 traffic will detour through the traffic signal to get to Highway 89.
• The signal will not affect eastbound Highway 69 traffic.
• Southbound Highway 89-to-downtown Prescott traffic will continue to use the newly constructed Sheldon Street slip ramp.

This weekend's work will route drivers around the section of Highway 89 under the Highway 69 bridge, ADOT plans to shut down Highway 89 under the bridge until about February, to allow crews to demolish the old bridge and work on retaining walls and a new ramp.

ADOT began the $23.6 million interchange overhaul project in December 2007.

Arizona Congressman Rick Renzi faces federal racketeering charges in a new indictment unsealed Thursday in federal court.

Renzi, a three-term Republican congressman who did not seek re-election this year, was originally indicted in February. That 35 count indictment included charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, insurance fraud and extortion.

Specifically, Renzi is accused of embezzling money from insurance premiums to fund campaign and personal expenses. Another allegation is that he engineered a swap of federally owned mining land to benefit himself and a former business partner.