When David and Billy Babbitt stepped off the train on the chilly April 7 morning in 1886, the sight was not inspiring. The town of wood shanties had recently burned to the ground. It felt lifeless. Charred. Deathly quiet. Clutching their bags, they looked around and stared in disbelief, as the heavy scent of fire still hung in the air. Flagstaff, in the Arizona Territory, was an unplanned and final stop on the brothers’ trip West to find suitable land for a cattle ranch – a dream they held … [Read more...] about Babbitt Ranches Community Marks 140 Years in Flagstaff with Major Clean Energy Milestone
Local News
Atria Chef Competes in Reality TV Show ‘America’s Culinary Cup’
Rochelle Daniel of Atria restaurant in Flagstaff is widely considered to be one of Arizona’s top chefs. She’s been twice nominated for a James Beard Award as an “Emerging Chef” in 2022 and as the “Best Chef Southwest” this year. These coveted awards are often compared to the Oscars for the culinary crowd. “Just to be nominated for Best Chef Southwest is amazing,” Daniel said. “I’m going up against some talented chefs, especially in Las Vegas." The Southwest region includes Arizona, Nevada, New … [Read more...] about Atria Chef Competes in Reality TV Show ‘America’s Culinary Cup’
Protecting Flagstaff from Post-Fire Flooding
Wildfire is as much a part of summer in Coconino County as popsicle stains and cannonballs into swimming holes. Fire, almost inevitably, comes with the season. The Northern Arizona county covers so much ground, it clocks in as the second-largest in the country. While part of that land mass is vast desert landscapes, a significant portion includes the largest ponderosa pine stand in the world. And in a dry climate, that can create problems. When catastrophic wildfires sweep through a pine … [Read more...] about Protecting Flagstaff from Post-Fire Flooding
Hiker Draws on Experience for Evolved Supply Co.
Nic Rakestraw and his Evolved Supply Co. may not be well known in Flagstaff yet, but his emergence as an entrepreneur and influencer has earned him a huge online following. Known as “Darwin On the Trail,” Rakestraw has more than 350,000 YouTube followers. They tune in for his outdoor-gear reviews and to hear his experiences of long hikes and cycling across America and around the world. He’s achieved the Triple Crown of thru-hikes — the Appalachian, Pacific Crest and Continental Divide trails — … [Read more...] about Hiker Draws on Experience for Evolved Supply Co.
Understanding the Hidden Trauma of First Responders
Matt Shaw knew it was time to talk to somebody when the boy he had tried to save showed up in his dreams and on the face of his own son. “Our job in the emergency medical services is to be there for a person’s worst day,” said the Guardian Medical Transport battalion chief. “But for us, that’s just Monday.” What first responders experience on the job doesn’t necessarily go away when their shift is over. Often, they carry the trauma from a single horrific call – or the cumulative effect of many … [Read more...] about Understanding the Hidden Trauma of First Responders
Strengthening the Native Vote
Jaynie Parrish is on a mission to register Native American voters and bring awareness to the issues that affect them and the voting process. Parrish, a member of the Navajo Nation, is the founder and director of Arizona Native Vote, a non-partisan nonprofit organization aimed at boosting Native American civic participation. She is proud that the organization is making a difference in voter registration and civic knowledge among the Navajo, Hopi and White Mountain Apache communities. “We … [Read more...] about Strengthening the Native Vote
Heartland Ranch to Host Fundraising Event to Help Children Who Have Been Trafficked
Heartland Ranch works to help children who have suffered from trafficking and abuse. Currently, the nonprofit organization is calling on the community for support in the form of event sponsors, donations for live and silent auctions and table sponsors as it plans the 2nd Annual Hope for Little Hearts Fundraiser, 4-8:30 p.m., Saturday, May 16, at Heartland Ranch in Mayer. Heartland Ranch is a sanctuary dedicated to restoring safety, dignity and hope for children who have endured unimaginable … [Read more...] about Heartland Ranch to Host Fundraising Event to Help Children Who Have Been Trafficked
Bright Future Envisioned for Navajo Nation Students through Educational Opportunities
A landmark moment for education on the Navajo Nation took place on Tuesday, Feb. 24 when representatives from Northland Pioneer College (NPC) gathered with tribal leaders, state officials and community members to break ground on the new NPC Kayenta Campus. The well-attended event united a large, excited crowd celebrating the power of education to shape the future of students. The project, adjacent to Highway 160, will include the development of a two-building complex in Kayenta’s new industrial … [Read more...] about Bright Future Envisioned for Navajo Nation Students through Educational Opportunities
Arizona Traveling Museum Visiting Flagstaff
The Arizona Traveling Museum commemorating America’s 250th anniversary will stop in Flagstaff from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday, April 6, at the Flagstaff Visitor Center, 1 E. Route 66. The event, presented by the Arizona America250 Commission, is free and open to the public. The mobile tour of all 15 Arizona counties began Feb. 14 in Prescott. The Arizona Traveling Museum is designed to generate enthusiasm and civic pride in celebration of the 250th milestone, bringing history, storytelling and … [Read more...] about Arizona Traveling Museum Visiting Flagstaff
A Return to the Rim
When Fabienne Swann’s grandfather accepted a position at the Grand Canyon as an engineer for Fred Harvey in the early 1960s, it was a move that eventually stirred interest in the family to purchase property on the outskirts of this world-renowned chasm. The private land on the southwestern outskirts of the Grand Canyon has been in the family for more than 50 years and was home to Fabienne until she was 18. She attended Grand Canyon School and enjoyed life around the South Rim village. After … [Read more...] about A Return to the Rim