The US Forest Service will be working this year to enlarge the Moonset Pit area that has provided free disposal of woody debris for Sherwood and Parks area residents. Since Moonset Pit will not be available this summer, an alternate site is being made available. This site is north of the Pittman Valley exit, off FSR 74  at the old Williams dump site (FSR 900). Work is still being done on staffing and exact dates the sites will be open. As soon as the flyer with dates and times is available, it will be posted here. The full news release from the USFS is below. 

News Release

Moonset Pit Renovations Begin, But Will Remain Closed For Public Safety

Williams, Ariz., April 3, 2018—For Immediate Release. Officials on the Kaibab National Forest, are alerting local residents in and around the communities of Parks and Sherwood Forest Estates, that Moonset Pit will undergo an expansion project set to begin this month.

The purpose of the project is to open up the space within the pit which will allow for separation between the cinder operations and the woody debris piles ultimately providing for a much safer environment for all users. It will also provide for a larger capacity which in turn will accommodate more users for this popular site in the future.

The work will involve a Forest Service contractor who will clear timber from an additional 5 acres adjacent to the existing area. Once the timber has been safely removed, Coconino County Public Works will continue with the surface expansion creating a larger, safer area between the personal use cinder materials and the debris pit used for public disposal of natural woody materials.

Unfortunately, due to the hazardous nature of the site undergoing construction, the entire pit will remain closed for public use for the remainder of the year to ensure public safety. Kaibab National Forest and Coconino County officials hope to complete the entire project by spring of 2019 and expect the Moonset Pit to be fully operational and open for both uses by the summer of 2019.

In the interim, alternative locations have been designated to provide residents options to access personal use cinders and provide a location for dumping of herbaceous materials from cleanup of private properties.

The W-Triangle Cinder Pit just north of Spring Valley will be available to residents for personal use cinder collection. Personal mineral material permits are available at the William Ranger District office at 742 S Clover road during regular business hours Monday through Friday.

The alternative green waste disposal site will be at the old dump site off Buggy Wheel road on forest road 900 north of Pittman Valley off forest road 74. Scheduled days and hours of operation at this temporary location will be made available by early next week. Access will only be permitted during open hours of operation.

Residents are encouraged to take advantage of these services in order to make their private property more defensible against the threat of wildland fire. No garbage, household trash, building materials, lumber or other items will be allowed. Materials should not be bagged.

The success of this community provision is largely attributed to the volunteers of the Parks Area Connection and Sherwood Forest Fire District who staff these pits during open hours of operation. This annual service is also supported by the Kaibab National Forest and the Rural Communities Fuels Management Partnership.

For more information on the about the Moonset Pit expansion project contact Deirdre McLaughlin at damclaughlin@fs.fed.us 928-635-5662.
For additional information on creating defensible space, visit  www.firewise.org  or fireadapted.org/

Bob Blasi
Fire Information Officer

Forest Service

Kaibab National Forest / South Zone

p: 928-635-5653
c: 928-606-7491
f: 928-635-5690
bobblasi@fs.fed.us

742 S Clover Rd
Williams, AZ 86046
www.fs.fed.us

On the last day of hunting season we happened upon this herd of elk having a great time in the tank just outside SFE.

Due to holiday schedule conflicts, the board has voted to hold the November meeting on Wednesday, 15 November at 7 pm instead of during the Thanksgiving week on the third Tuesday.

This year’s winners of the Chili Cook Off are:

SHERWOOD FOREST ESTATES POA

ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN UP

WHEN:  September 9, 2017   7:30 am

WHERE:  Meet at the Fire House

WHO:  All Sherwood Forest and Mountain Rose Neighbors

Clean Up Coordinators: Walt & Kathie  Krushinsky – 405-919-4363

PROVIDED:  Assorted beverages & donuts.  As well as collection bags, plastic gloves & safety vests.     

Please join us for our annual neighborhood clean up day.  We will meet at the Fire House at 7:30 a.m. for donuts and assorted beverages.  Please make sure you sign the sign up sheet and note all participants you are bringing.  This is very important as we will be getting credit for the number of hours/minutes we each work.  This time is then converted into dollars that go toward grant money for equipment and materials for our fire department.

We are usually done in less than 2 hours. Bring your ATV, UTV or just come. We will find someone for you to ride with. This is a great way for you to get to know your neighbors and catch up with neighbors you haven’t seen in several months.

It helps to make Sherwood Forest Estates a cleaner, nicer place to live. 

Lunch Afterwards @ Walt & Kathie Krushinsky’s

Labor Day Weekend will be busy in Sherwood.

Plan to join your neighbors on Saturday, September 2nd for the semi-annual pancake breakfast at the Sherwood Firehouse. Breakfast is all you can eat pancakes, link sausage, eggs and orange juice for a donation to the SFEFD Auxiliary. You can chow down from 8am until 10am. Take this opportunity to support your fire department and get reacquainted with your neighbors.

Please feel free to join us as a volunteer for the breakfast. We will be setting up on Friday, September 1st at 4pm at the Firehouse. Clean up will commence at 10am on Saturday, with lots of tables and chairs to put away. We also need volunteers to help with cooking and serving.

Join us for the Chili Cook-Off on Sunday, September 3rd. Correct email contact is raechelj123@gmail.com.

Please join us for the

2017

Sherwood Forest Estates &

Mountain Rose Ranch

Firewise Day

Activities planned include:

5:00-6:00 pm

• Firewise Information,

• Demo of safe way to burn pine needles (weather permitting),

• Demo of Fire Departments Mutual Aid Activity,

• Showcasing of New Rescue 9 Vehicle and

• Healthcheck by Sherwood’s newly trained EMTs.

6:00-7:00 pm Build-Your-Own Taco Bar brought to you by the SFE POA (donation to the SFEFD appreciated)

7:00-7:30 pm Reflections on the Slide Fire by Chief Foreman

7:30-8:30 pm Cake Walk brought to you by the SFEFD Auxiliary (tickets $1 to walk once, $5 for 6 tickets)

If you have questions, contact Anne Dudley at annedudley1@gmail.com or 928.707.1680.

Joint News Release

Coconino National Forest: George Jozens, (928) 527-3412 gjozens@fs.fed.us  

Kaibab National Forest: Bob Blasi, (928) 635-5653  bobblasi@fs.fed.us  

Fire restrictions to be lifted today on Coconino and Kaibab National Forests

Williams, Ariz., July 17, 2017, For Immediate Release — Due to significant widespread rain and decreasing fire danger, the entire Coconino and Kaibab National Forests in northern Arizona will begin lifting all campfire and smoking restrictions. The Kaibab National Forest will rescind restrictions today at 12 p.m. (Monday, July 17) and the Coconino National Forest will follow tomorrow morning (Tuesday July 18) at 8 a.m.

Forest managers typically lift fire restrictions when at least a half inch of precipitation has been received over more than two-thirds of the forests. To date, many areas of both forests have received much more than that amount of precipitation.

“With the monsoon moisture we have received, the decreasing fire danger, and the availability of many firefighting resources, fire officials on both forests collaboratively decided it is the appropriate time to lift all fire restrictions for the Coconino and Kaibab,” said Jason Clawson, fire staff officer for the Kaibab National Forest. “Fire restrictions are a great tool for us in preventing unwanted, human-caused fires, and we’d like to thank our visitors for their vigilance in being cautious with potential ignition sources while recreating in the forests.”

The Coconino and Kaibab forests initially implemented campfire and smoking restrictions on June 13, in order to protect public health and reduce preventable, human-caused wildfires. While fire restrictions will be lifted over the next two days, visitors are always expected to use caution with campfires and other potential ignition sources. Campfires should always be completely extinguished and never left unattended or abandoned.

Know Before You Go!  The public can obtain additional fire information via the following:

• Arizona Fire Restrictions firerestrictions.us/az/
• Arizona Fire Prevention & Information wildlandfire.az.gov/
• Fire Restrictions on Public Lands in Arizona and New Mexico 1-877-864-6985

To learn the latest information about the forest you intend to visit, go to its website:

• www.coconinonationalforest.us
• www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

Bob Blasi, Fire Information Officer

Forest Service,Kaibab National Forest, South Zone,Williams & Tusayan Ranger Districts

p: 928-635-5653   c: 928-606-7491   f: 928-635-5690   bobblasi@fs.fed.us

Coconino County News

Poker in the Pines Fun Run

Saturday, July 2nd,    9AM – 2PM

The “Poker in the Pines Fun Run” (PIP) for ATV’s held on Sunday, July 2^nd, was a blast for all who attended! There were twenty-one pre-registered and approximately thirty-seven total fun-loving ‘ATVrs’ who accepted the PIP challenge. The challenge being to follow a prepared map and marked trail (route suggestion; Jan Larson and Elissa Hellwig) through our beautiful forest to locate five stations with items to return to the specified Poker Dealer at the starting location. Upon their return, each

VERY DUSTY PIP player  chose five cards from a standard 52-card deck.  The dealer and PIP player then agreed with the results of the hand. However if the PIP player was close to a better hand, he/she had the option of purchasing up to two additional cards in exchange for two originally selected.

Money’s requested to participate was only $10.00 per hand and $2.00 per card when exchanging. There were two top winners this year with both having a Full House.  Jennifer Holtson WON because she did purchase and exchange two cards thus improving her hand to three Aces’ high. Second place was Steven Carter who had three 5’s high. Jennifer won the “PIP Fun Run Best Hand 2017” trophy and $60.  Steven won $44.00

Side dishes to share, beverages of choice and chairs were requested of all participants with pulled pork and pulled chicken sandwiches being provided. Thanks to everyone sharing their delicious recipes all enjoyed an incredible feast!!!!

The 2017 “Poker in the Pines Fun Run” was hosted by the Cook’s and held at their residence.  In a unanimous vote from all present a second “Poker in the Pines Fun Run” will be held next year over the July 4^th, weekend. Watch for more info and updates on this website, your email, and the sign by Sherwood Forest Estate’s entrance next year.

The “Poker in the Pines Fun Run” is not a charitable event.  Monies collected pay for expenses and awards only.  It is a fun event for our community organized by members of your community.   We look forward to organizing this fun event for you next year and YOU accepting the 2018  “Poker in the Pines Fun Run” challenge!

2017 Event Organizers,

Cathy Cook and Kathie Krushinsky