PHOENIX – Several highways carrying significant passenger and freight traffic are targeted for expansion and improvement during the next five years as part of the proposed annual update to the Arizona Department of Transportation’s list of projects that will be available for public comment began Friday, March 18.

The 2023-2027 Tentative Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program allocates $571 million for projects that widen highways or improve interchanges, including:

* Widening Interstate 17 north of Phoenix from Anthem Way to Sunset Point, plus adding flex lanes from Black Canyon City to Sunset Point. The five-year plan contains $83.6 in 2022 for a total project cost of $469 million.

* Widening the Gila River bridges between Phoenix and Casa Grande. Work on the $83 million project is set to begin in 2023 and is a key step toward ADOT’s goal of widening I-10 to three lanes in each direction between Phoenix and Tucson.

* Constructing the first phase of the I-40/US 93 West Kingman interchange. The plan includes $125 million for construction in 2024.

* Widening the last two-lane section of State Route 260 in the Lion Springs area. The plan includes $70 million for construction in 2026 and would complete ADOT’s goal of completing a four-lane divided highway along the entire SR 260 corridor.

Additionally, the tentative plan will invest more than $2.5 billion in pavement preservation projects across Arizona over five years, upgrading 400 lane miles of pavement from fair and poor condition to good condition. 

About $463 million would be invested in projects that improve highway safety, efficiency, and functionality, including smart technology or adding shoulders. One of those projects would involve $68.1 million to expand broadband connectivity along I-40 from Flagstaff to the California state line. 

The I-17 and I-10 widening projects are able to advance through ADOT’s partnership with the Maricopa Association of Governments, the regional planning agency that has committed some of the funds for those improvements.

“Governor Ducey’s mission for ADOT has been clear,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “Focus on the safety of the traveling public, improve our economy by expanding key commerce corridors and meeting critical preservation needs to protect the $23 billion investment that is Arizona’s State Highway System.” 

The 2023-2027 Tentative Five-Year Program also reaches ADOT’s goal of allocating $360 million per year for preservation of bridges and roadways throughout the state highway system. Preservation projects include repaving and repairing highways, along with repairing or reconstructing bridges. The tentative plan includes $445 million over five years for projects that improve highway safety, efficiency, and functionality, such as smart technology or addition of shoulders.  

The public comment period for the 2023-2027 Tentative Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program begins March 18 and ends at 5 p.m. June 2. The State Transportation Board is expected to consider formal action on the program at its June 17 meeting.

The complete report will be available on March 18 at azdot.gov/tentative5year for review and comment. ADOT welcomes feedback via an online form that will be available at azdot.gov/tentative5year, by email at fiveyearconstructionprogram@azdot.gov and by phone at 855.712.8530.

Public comments also may be made at an open public hearing of the State Transportation Board scheduled at 9 a.m. May 20. Meeting information can be found at http://aztransportationboard.gov. 

The post ADOT’s Tentative Five-Year Construction Program seeks public comment first appeared on The Standard Newspaper Online.

BULLHEAD CITY – Mohave Community College is bringing students, community members and businesses together with a focus on building a great future.  

The Connecting the Community event, called ConCom, will be at the Bullhead City campus on Wednesday, March 30 and is free to attend. The atmosphere will be fun and casual with music, food, a job fair, the Show and Shine Car Show and an accident simulation with Bullhead City Fire Department and Tristate CareFlight.  

Residents of the tristate region are invited to join the college, the MCC Foundation and event sponsors ARIZONA@WORK, Don Laughlin’s Riverside Resort & Casino, DOT Foods, Anderson Chrysler, Baron’s Services, Vern Lewis Welding, and many others at ConCom. 

“ConCom is so great because people can talk with employers who will also be joined by college employees who help prepare students for a successful future,” said MCC Campus Dean of Student & Community Engagement Dr. Carolyn Hamblin, who is organizing the event with the MCC Foundation. “This is a win-win opportunity for residents and the community.” 

People will learn about the benefits of higher education and see firsthand how it helps lead to higher paying careers and successful futures.    

There will also be information for those who are interested in non-credit, fun, and informational classes offered by the college Community Education division.  

The college offers more than 80 accredited degrees and certificates, and event attendees have the chance to meet with faculty and staff from those educational programs.  

“We’ll have teams from all of our campuses represented at this one event to show how MCC can help you improve your future earning power,” said Dr. Hamblin.  “You’ll also be able to talk with business owners and find out the education and skills they want you to have, and ARIZONA@WORK will be holding a job fair.”     

Many students who earn an associate degree in the MCC general education programs simultaneously complete the first two years of study toward a bachelor’s degree. Those students end up saving an estimated $15,000 in tuition alone by starting at MCC then transferring to one of the college’s university partners to earn a bachelor’s degree.  

MCC will have a team on hand at ConCom to explain how to get the most benefit from the college’s university transfer partnerships.  

Businesses that would like to participate in MCC ConCom are encouraged to contact the college as soon as possible.  Money raised through sponsorships and vendor fees will support local college students. 

MCC ConCom is March 30 from 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the MCC Bullhead City Campus – 3400 Hwy 95.  Music provided by Radio DJ Loke Lau.   More information is available online at MohaveConCom.com. You may also contact Hamblin at CHamblin@Mohave.edu or 1-866-MOHAVECC.

The post MCC Connecting the Community event 2022 first appeared on The Standard Newspaper Online.

BULLHEAD CITY – The City of Bullhead City and WFW Post 10005 ask you to join them as they honor Vietnam Veterans Day on Tuesday, March 29.

A “Welcome Home” celebration will be held at the VFW Post 1005 located at 1611 E Marble Canyon Rd. from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. to recognize and thank all Veterans, especially Vietnam Veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice to our country. The event will begin promptly at 11 a.m. with an Honor Guard Salute followed by a short ceremony featuring Mike Beard, Past President of the Vietnam Veterans of America, and Bullhead City Mayor Tom Brady. A free hot dog or hamburger lunch will be provided. The event will also feature live entertainment by national recording artist Tyler Halsey.

The City of Bullhead City’s Area Transit will provide transportation to any veteran that may need a ride to and from the event. Please reserve your ride today by calling Bullhead City Transit Dispatch center at (928) 704-2287.

The post The City of BHC and VFW Post 1005 honors Vietnam Veterans first appeared on The Standard Newspaper Online.

No need to worry if you saw smoke billowing from the Hualapai Mountains southeast of Kingman Wednesday and Thursday. It’s a planned activity coordinated by the Bureau of Land Management. It’s part of a program to establish fire breaks to protect Hualapai Mountain communities. Officials say the burning of slash piles also improves the ecosystem for the benefit of wildlife.

The post Planned burn to protect the Hualapai Mountains first appeared on The Standard Newspaper Online.

US Park Rangers of Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Special Agents with the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch (ISB) are seeking information from the public to help locate a missing Reno, Nevada woman. Park officials say 64-year-old Gayle Stewart was last seen on March 14, 2022, in the Bypass Bridge parking area near Hoover Dam. Stewart had traveled to the area to take photographs and did not return to her vehicle.

Stewart has blonde hair, blue eyes, is 5’08” tall, and weighs about 125 pounds. She was last seen wearing a black long sleeve shirt, black leggings, and black shoes. She did not have her phone or any identification on her at the time.

Though no further details for this ongoing missing person investigation are available currently, information from other visitors is often very helpful to investigators. If you have information that could help locate Gayle Stewart, the park asks you to call or text the ISB Tip Line at 888-653-0009, use the online Tip form at go.nps.gov/SubmitATip.

The post Public help requested to find missing woman first appeared on The Standard Newspaper Online.

OATMAN – With the cold winds of Winter fading away, the much-anticipated volume two of the “Walter, the Orphaned Donkey” series has arrived, and a book signing is scheduled for Saturday, April 9 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Burro Flats in Oatman.

The second book, in a series of ten, saw numerous production delays that unfortunately resulted in the cancellation of book signings and the delivery of pre-orders, said Anne Z. Smith, CEO of Armagno Press.

“It is regretful that our fans had to wait this long for this highly anticipated book that promises so many surprises fans will find heartwarming and poignant,” said Smith. “So many problems developed because of COVID and then with the supply shortage. It was out of our hands and all we could do was wait.”

Smith pointed out that midway through the production, some of the content and design had been changed from the original that was submitted, which in turn created a delay in printing, due to it needing to be changed back. Although everything was eventually done as originally submitted, a couple of errors ended up in the final content.

“We decided to leave it rather than delay the release of the book by making another correction at the last minute,” she said. “I am sure when people read the book they will be overwhelmed by the emotions and overlook the problems we encountered.”

In keeping with the true-life adventures of the orphaned burro that continues to capture the hearts of fans world-wide, Walter’s Desert Adventure also expands the story into the Blake family with their four, energized German Shepherd dogs!

In Walter’s whimsical journey throughout the desert, he experiences a special spiritual encounter from his past that promises to be a tearful, but uplifting, moment for Walter that he shares with his fans in this heart-tugging story.

Fans can see Walter in person, Saturday, April at Burro Flats in Oatman. Autographed copies of “Walter Finds a Home” and “Walter’s Desert Adventure” can be purchased online at www.walterthewonderdonkey.com or in person at Jackass Junction and Burro Flats in Oatman.

The post Walter’s Desert Adventure first book signing announced first appeared on The Standard Newspaper Online.

A man allegedly hauling drugs across Interstate 40 reportedly blew through the Inspection Station at the California border, resulting in a traffic stop and drug bust inside Arizona. Mohave County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) spokeswoman Anita Mortensen said MAGNET task force detectives were summoned following the Thursday, March 17 traffic stop about 65 miles west of Kingman.

Mortensen said ADOT requested use of an MCSO K9 to assist with inspection of the commercial vehicle pulled over at mile post 3.

“During the inspection, K9 Grimm alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the tractor,” she said. “Officers searched the commercial vehicle and located duffel bags that contained several bundles of a substance that tested positive for cocaine.”

Mortensen said the 143 pounds of seized cocaine has a $2-million street value. Angel Martinez-Santana, 42, Dominican Republic, was arrested and jailed on drug charges. The investigation continues.

Dave Hawkins

The post 143 pounds of cocaine seized during traffic stop first appeared on The Standard Newspaper Online.

The post The Local Grind celebrates their opening with a ribbon cutting first appeared on The Standard Newspaper Online.

KINGMAN – Two people suffered non-life-threatening injuries when a 2-seat Ultra-Light aircraft crashed during an attempted takeoff from Red Lake north of Kingman. Mohave County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) personnel responded at 9:32 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 19 to the incident about one mile east of mile marker 36 on north Stockton Hill Road.

MCSO spokeswoman Anita Mortensen said it was determined that the aircraft veered left, causing the wing tip to strike the ground in what ended as a nose-first crash. She said the pilot suffered a leg fracture and the passenger sustained a broken arm.

“Both subjects were transported to Kingman Regional Medical Center via Lake Mohave Ranchos ambulance for treatment,” Mortensen said. “Both males were wearing helmets and were properly fastened into the aircraft.”

Dave Hawkins

The post Aircraft crash injures two people first appeared on The Standard Newspaper Online.

KINGMAN – The Jan. 16 discovery of human remains in the area commonly known as the Monolith Gardens (an area southwest of Beale St.) has triggered an investigation by local authorities. The matter has been turned over to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office in an effort to make positive identification and determine a cause of death.

Police Chief Rusty Cooper said hikers who made the discovery led police to the remains that were about a quarter mile from any improved hiking trail.

“It was apparent that the remains were human and had been exposed to the weather for a significant time,” Cooper said. “At this point, the remains do not appear to be related to any recent missing person in Kingman over the past year.”

Dave Hawkins

The post Human remains recovered in Monolith Garden first appeared on The Standard Newspaper Online.