CCC graduate Evan Burris landed work in his field of information technology even before he finished his studies. “The first IT classes I ever took were the Cisco [computer networking] classes at Fourth Street, and they really sparked a fire in me and made me realize it was something I wanted to do,” Burris said. Now, even though Burris has a bachelor’s degree in Technology Management from Northern Arizona University and a full-time job in CCC’s IT department, he is going back to … [Read more...] about Staying Competitive in IT
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Preserving El Pueblo and Code Talker History
When Jacquie Kellogg of West USA Realty sold the recently demolished Wonderful Hotel, she had no idea that sale would stir her passion for historic buildings in Flagstaff. Soon after, the owner of El Pueblo Motor Inn called her to ask if she would serve as listing agent for the motel. It was then she learned of its historical relevance as the one of the oldest motels along Route 66. “I’ve lived in Flagstaff for 23 years, drove by the El Pueblo Motel hundreds of times and never knew … [Read more...] about Preserving El Pueblo and Code Talker History
Glamping: Communing with Nature in Comfort
Visitors coming to Northern Arizona to experience the Great Outdoors are leaving their tents at home. They have discovered “glamping” and are connecting with nature without sacrificing creature comforts. The term glamping is a combination of the words ‘glamorous’ and ‘camping’ and is a popular way to experience outdoor adventure. Ever since the term was first coined in the United Kingdom in 2005, its meaning has morphed from images of the “Out of Africa” canvas safari tents with four-poster beds … [Read more...] about Glamping: Communing with Nature in Comfort
Twin Arrows Deploys Arizona First Security Robot
The next time you visit Twin Arrows Casino Resort, you may meet “K5” patrolling the Twin Arrows parking lot. Looking and sounding a bit like R2-D2, the Star Wars character, the Knightscope K5 is a 398-pound autonomous robot that provides a commanding, but friendly, physical presence. The security robot, the first in Arizona, acts as a visual deterrent as well as an information gathering machine. “It’s not a one-to-one replacement for a security guard; it’s really just a way of taking their … [Read more...] about Twin Arrows Deploys Arizona First Security Robot
Protecting Flagstaff’s Dark Skies around Naval Observatory
Civilization is creeping up on the U.S. Naval Observatory. At risk, said USNO Director Dr. Paul Shankland, is its dark sky status, which is important to astronomers and astrophysicists, and to national security. “In a general sense, we are responsible for the celestial reference frame,” he said, which is a catalog of about a billion stars and takes many years to build. The stars are still used for navigation purposes, for spacecraft, space probes and satellites. Thousands of satellites are in … [Read more...] about Protecting Flagstaff’s Dark Skies around Naval Observatory
Loven Contracting Recognized for Exceeding Safety Standards
Mike Loven, founder of one of the largest construction companies in Northern Arizona, has recently received one of the most valued safety awards in the Southwest. Loven Contracting was recognized by the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star Award, a very high safety standard earned through the Arizona Industrial Commission and OSHA. “This is very significant for us,” said Loven, who started the contracting company in 1984. “The VPP standard is very hard to obtain and takes a lot of … [Read more...] about Loven Contracting Recognized for Exceeding Safety Standards
Celebrating Northern Arizona’s Lunar Legacy
July 20, 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the first manned mission to the Moon. Well before Neil Armstrong made his giant leap on that day, he and his fellow space travelers took a whole slew of small steps right here in Northern Arizona, where they honed their scientific skills at a variety of locations in the area. Local scientists not only led these training efforts, but also developed instruments specially designed for use on the lunar surface and created detailed maps of the Moon. To … [Read more...] about Celebrating Northern Arizona’s Lunar Legacy
Humming Along the Rim with Buck Wild
Humvees have joined helicopters, airplanes, river rafts and mules as another interesting way to explore the Grand Canyon. Known as the oldest and largest sightseeing company in the world, Papillon Group is extending its services to include Buck Wild Hummer Tours with custom built Humvee excursions. After 50 plus years of serving the Grand Canyon, Jake Tomlin, President of Buck Wild Hummer Tours and Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines (subsidiaries of Papillon Group), wanted to offer service … [Read more...] about Humming Along the Rim with Buck Wild
Tailored Tutoring Changing the Instruction Model
A local entrepreneur is taking the time-honored practice of tutoring back to school with an application that streamlines the process of finding a private instructor and uses a mix of in-person and video services to make tutoring more convenient and affordable for college students. Rob Lokken, a recent Northern Arizona University graduate with a degree in mathematics, said the idea for the business came from providing long-distance tutoring for his sister. "She was in Phoenix struggling … [Read more...] about Tailored Tutoring Changing the Instruction Model
Vacationing Families Borrow Island Dogs for Day Trips
In the lobby of the Kauai Humane Society, nine-year-old Oliver Hopkins can hardly wait to see Dorothy again. Within minutes, the big, lovable pit bull mix is reunited with her new best friend as Oliver wraps his arms around her sturdy neck and mom and dad stand by. For vacationing families missing their pets, or hikers just looking for a pal to join them on an outdoor adventure, the animal shelter has a kennel full of companionship eager to play at the beach, trek through the jungle or hang … [Read more...] about Vacationing Families Borrow Island Dogs for Day Trips