INSIDE THE NOVEMBER 2025 ISSUE: Retiring Builder Mike Loven Leaves Legacy of Excellence p. 13
Gateway Sandwich Shop Tempts Travelers p. 3
Moonshot State Pitch Finalist Plans RV Park Near Holbrook p. 14
PinDrop Trailers Promoting Family Camping p. 4 Audiologist Offers Inner Peace in Book and Podcast p. 8
Moonshot State Pitch Winner Drills Down to Help Arizona Mines Boost Productivity W hile studying how pathogens Crowd Favorite winner move through water systems supports fresh vegetable in hospitals, lakes and wasteaccess for Northeastern water plants for her graduate research at Arizona State University, Ashley Arizonans Heida, Ph.D., had a breakthrough idea. By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
The same mathematical models she
used to simulate disease spread, she realized, could be applied to mining operations to improve efficiency and sustainability. That insight led to the creation of Analytical Mineset, a startup designed to help mining companies
Brandie Wolfe Finds Hope in Field of Dreams p. 20
Fly easy, fly FLG.
turn their existing operational data into actionable intelligence. The concept earned Heida $10,000 as the statewide winner of the Moonshot Rural Arizona Pitch Competition last month in Prescott. Continued on page 35
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to Phoenix & Dallas/Fort Worth FLYFLAGSTAFFAZ.COM
North Rim Recovery Opens Options for New Lodge
A Images like this from the National Park Service show extensive damage to the historic Grand Canyon Lodge. Courtesy photo
November 2025 | Issue 11 Volume 18
By Peter Corbett, FBN
section of the fire-ravaged North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park reopened last month as park officials move to recover from the destructive Dragon Bravo Fire. Public access will continue for daylight hours through Nov. 30 or earlier if a major snowfall hits. The National Park Service opened the roads to Point Imperial and Cape Royal on Oct. 1. “Reopening portions of the North Rim allows visitors to once again experience some of the park’s most scenic areas while we continue to assess post-fire impacts and begin recovery efforts,” said Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Ed Keable. The Dragon Bravo Fire, sparked by lightning July 4, burned more than 145,000 acres. It destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, cabins, residences, offices, a water treatment plant and the visitor center. Nearly 1,000 visitors and staff were evacuated along with 54 mules when the blaze surged starting July 10. A recent tour of reopened areas revealed blackened stands of trees side by side with healthy pines, spruce and neon yellow aspen trees. Deer
sprinted across nearly empty roads. A herd of bison grazed near the entrance station on State Route 67. Park Service photos show the lodge in rubble along with undamaged Adirondack and rocking chairs at Bright Angel Point. The fire halted visitation to the park’s lodging and tourist services just six weeks into the North Rim’s six-month season. Jacob Lake Inn, north of the national park, lost about $1 million in revenue because of the Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires, Manager Melinda Rich Marshall said. Coconino County bed tax collections declined 14.8% in July, August and September over the same period in 2024, reflecting the loss of revenue from North Rim lodging, Jacob Lake Inn and other hotels impacted by the wildfires. Other factors may have contributed to the decline. North Rim Hospitality LLC, a subsidiary of Aramark Destinations that operates North Rim lodging, declined to discuss its losses. The company has a 15-year concession contract for the park through 2038. “Aramark Destinations is working closely Continued on page 34
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