EMDR Therapy in Williams, AZ

New Pistons head coach Monty Williams opened up about dealing with a personal matter while coaching the Phoenix Suns at his introductory press conference Tuesday afternoon in Detroit.

Williams said his wife, Lisa, was diagnosed with breast cancer during the NBA playoffs.

“The reason that I bring it up is to not to talk about my family, but to make it more of an emphasis that women need early detection and testing,” he said. “We had genetic testing done and then scan after scan after scan and then we found it early and that may have saved my wife’s life and it can save others.”

Williams said that played a major role in the process of taking the job as he thanked Pistons team owner Tom Gores and general manager Troy Weaver for their understanding.

“I had a situation in my family that needed personal attention,” Williams said. “I talked to my wife (Tuesday) about whether we should talk about that publicly, but that was a huge part of my decision making and the patience that Troy and Mr. Gores had with me and with us as we navigated that told me a lot.”

Williams, 51, told Weaver and Gores he couldn’t take the job when initially offered because of his wife’s situation.

“As we navigated all of that, in talking to Troy and telling him, man, I couldn’t right now because I got to take care of my family,” Williams said. “And then we got great news that we would find out about her situation a lot earlier than we thought we would and out of the blue, I got a text from Troy after they had their pow wow about me, which I thought was totally off the table.”

Williams said he was at his kid’s tryout when receiving Weaver’s text. Williams lost his first wife, Ingrid, to a car accident in February 2016.

“All of that was on my plate,” Williams said. “Losing a job, family situation and then being dad, traveling with my kids and doing a few things and out of the blue, I get the text from Troy, and then it went quickly after that.”

The Suns fired Williams after losing Game 6 of the West semifinals to the eventual NBA champion Denver Nuggets by 25 points in Phoenix under new team owner Mat Ishbia.

Williams admitted still having a connection with Phoenix.

“I’ll always look at that as a special place in my history as a coach and as a person,” Williams said. “Before I went to Phoenix, I was viewed a certain way. That experience has allowed for me to be here. So for me to sit here and say that I’ve moved on, that’s just not the case. I love those people there. I’m grateful for what they did for me and my family.”

Williams had just agreed to a multiyear contract extension with Phoenix in July 2022 before being let go within a year after that.

“When you get fired, it doesn’t mean it has to be contentious or there has to be silliness that goes with that,” he said. “I don’t believe that and yet, when somebody shows this kind of confidence in you, it gives you confidence to move forward with them in a cool way. That doesn’t mean that I have to diminish that situation or that organization.”

Detroit hired the 2021-22 NBA Coach of the Year, making him the highest-paid head coach in NBA history with a six-year, $78.5-million deal.

“The thing about Monty, obviously he’s very proven and so on, but Monty is hungry, also,” Gores said. “He’s not resting on his laurels. We discussed that. He’s got a lot to prove. Just feel very fortunate to have Monty on board. We’ve got a lot of work to do. It’s an exciting time for us and a big win.”

The salary certainly played a role in his decision as Williams considered taking off a year from coaching.

“The quick answer is Troy, the players and (pause) the money,” Williams said. “That’s something that we don’t talk about. They always say it wasn’t the money. I always laugh at that. I think that’s disrespectful when somebody is that generous to pay me that kind of money, one, that should be applauded and two, that should be talked about.”

The Pistons are coming off their second-worst season in franchise history at 17-65. They last had a winning record in 2015-16 at 44-38, but Williams likes the talent on the current roster and was amazed to see the entire team attend the press conference other than Bojan Bogdanović.

“It messed me up this morning in the meeting when I found out all you guys were here,” Williams said in his opening statement. “You’ll find out that I get emotional over good stuff like that and I’m so grateful to all of you guys being here and I’m grateful to have dogs like you in the fight with me. I hope you understand that.”

The press conference started more than 30 minutes after its 1:30 p.m. PT scheduled start time, but Williams arrived wearing a suit and sounded eager about the start of his third head coaching run with a team that last made the playoffs in 2019 with a 41-41 record under Dwane Casey.

“I could go and on with the gratitude I have in my heart for this opportunity to be in this position,” Williams said. “Across the board, everybody here has embraced me and made me feel like I’ve been here for a while and I thank you for that. This is a true blessing for me and my family and we will make you proud.”

Mark Bryant and Jarrett Jack attended the press conference as they were assistants under Williams in Phoenix. Williams said former Rockets head coach and longtime NBA assistant coach Stephen Silas will be his lead assistant.

“I think he’s someone that will call me up when I get off track,” Williams said about Silas. “I think he’s somebody that can relate to the loneliness of the head coaching position and so he’ll be somebody that I lean on for a lot along with the other members on the staff.”

The Suns hired Williams in May 2019 to turn around a team that had their second-worst season in franchise history at 19-63 in 2018-19 and hadn’t made the playoffs since 2010.

He proceeded to coach them to the 2021 finals off the momentum of an 8-0 bubble run in his first year in Phoenix. The Suns then posted their best record in franchise history at 64-18 in 2021-22, but they fell to the Mavericks in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals by 33 points.

Phoenix entered this year’s postseason a fourth seed, but one of the favorites to win a championship after trading for Kevin Durant right before the Feb. 9 deadline. The Suns instead lost to eventual NBA champion Denver in the West semifinals, dropping elimination Game 6 at home by 25 points. The No. 1-seeded Nuggets were up 81-51 at halftime.

Williams compiled a 194-115 record in his four seasons in Phoenix. The Suns reached the playoffs their last three seasons under him, but went 0-3 in playoff elimination games, losing the last two to Dallas and Denver at home before sellout crowds at Footprint Center by a combined total of 58 points.

So, Williams has great success in Phoenix, but fell short of winning a championship after expectations were raised following the run to the 2021 finals and acquiring Durant during the 2022-23 season.

The Suns traded Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first round picks and a pick swap to Brooklyn for T.J. Warren and Durant midseason.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

WILLIAMS, Ariz. — Traffic is moving again after a freight train carrying cars and vans derailed late Wednesday east of Williams and west of Garland Prairie Road, according to Coconino County Emergency Management.

"BNSF Railway can confirm that at approximately 11:20 pm on June 7th, approximately 20 automobile cars derailed in Williams, AZ (35 miles west of Flagstaff, AZ)," a spokesperson for the freight railroad company told 12News. "No injuries or hazmat involved. Cause is under investigation."

Department of Transportation authorities dispatched an inspector to the scene but do not have any further information.

A spokesperson for Amtrak said Southwest Chief Trains departing Los Angeles and Chicago on Thursday were canceled in their entirety in both directions. Amtrak is adding additional cars to the Southwest Chief departing Friday in anticipation of increased demand.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it won't be investigating the derailment.

Catch up on the latest news and stories on our 12News YouTube playlist here.

You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!

The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.

12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.

Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.

Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."

Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.

Copy This Embed Code:

Ad

Experience Williams- Gateway to the Grand Canyon®!Williams, Arizona is a destination known for things to do for visitors of all ages. From cruising Route 66, planning a visit to the Grand Canyon, riding the rails, getting up close to the wildlife at a drive-thru wildlife park, hitting the trail with some outdoor recreation, or shopping for that perfect souvenir- Williams, Arizona is the place to do it.

Attractions in WilliamsAttractions in Williams come in all different forms. Whether you are looking for a leisurely ride to the Grand Canyon in style, a chance to enjoy nature up close and personal at a wildlife park, or just enjoy what Route 66 has to offer. You’ll find it in Williams.

The Grand Canyon Railway is a perfect way to sit back and enjoy the ride to the Grand Canyon if you are traveling alone, with your partner or in a group. With entertainment on the way, the spectacular view of the Canyon when you arrive, and the chance to reflect on it all on the ride back- it’s an attraction you don’t want to miss. Safety measures are in place for social distancing and limiting occupancy. Make reservations as soon as you know when you want to visit, space fills up fast. Looking for an option with the whole family in one car? They’ve got it. Explore their website for amazing options for your family getaway aboard the Grand Canyon Railway.

Bearizona Drive Thru Wildlife Park is an experience you will not soon forget. Get up close and personal with many different animals in their natural environment and you’ll know why these bears have become an Arizona favorite. Ride in the comfort of your own vehicle as you see deer, elk, bison, wolves, bears, and more. Then, hop out and get some fresh air as you explore the rest of the Park. With three rescued and orphaned Montana grizzly bears, you’ll be entertained for hours. Stop by the gift shop and find your favorite souvenir. You’ll work up and appetite as you stroll through the ponderosa pine shaded park. Stop by Canyonlands Restaurant for a bite to eat in one of the most unique dining experiences in all of Arizona.

Coming winter 2021, Canyon Coaster Adventure Park! Enjoy mountain scenery on your way up, then you control the speed down a mile-long track. Experience a variety of thrill ride features such as steep descents, dips, twists, hairpin turns and 360-degree corkscrews. Canyon Coaster is the first and only mountain coaster in Arizona, and it’ll have you spending another night in Williams.

DiningWilliams has plenty of dining options. If family friendly is your style, quick service, or a chance to take your time, rest your feet and enjoy a glass of wine is- then your choice is where to do it.Downhome style with made from scratch menu items, mile high pies, microbreweries, a wild west saloon, a tasty steak dinner, indoor/outdoor dining: it all awaits you in Williams.

Route 66Route 66 conjures up thoughts of rich history, soda fountains, neon lights, classic cars, and fun! Only in Williams will you find a stretch of Route 66 with shopping, dining, lodging, and cowboy action- fun for the whole family.

Explore the Experience Williams website and find 66 things to do on Route 66, plan your trip, and make plans to visit the Gateway to the Grand Canyon®!

Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Report a typo

Arizona Cardinals veteran tight end Maxx Williams was cut by the team Friday without a corresponding move announced.

Williams appeared in the first four games of the year but topped out at 23 snaps this past Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Williams, a blocking specialist, did not record a catch.

“Maxx is banged up right now and we’re just trying to get him to a point where he can practice and get healthier,” Cardinals general manager Steve Keim told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Friday.

“There’s nobody that we all respect and love more than Maxx. He’s a tremendous guy, a great teammate, obviously been a great part of this organization,” he added. “His whole thing is we just got to get him healthy and ready to play and get that ankle some flexibility and the knee to be able to work in a productive manner for him to get back out there on the field, so we’ll see moving forward.”

However, the GM left the door open for a possible return to the team for Williams.

“We’d like to keep him around for sure,” Keim said. “You have that opportunity with the practice squad and some other opportunities, but he’s such a quality human being. I can’t say enough good things about him.”

The departure leaves the Cardinals with three tight ends on the 53-man roster: Zach Ertz, Trey McBride and Stephen Anderson.

McBride, a rookie second-round pick, was buried on the bench during the first three games but saw a significant uptick in action this past week, playing 32 snaps (42% of those available) and making three catches for 24 yards.

“I think it’s a huge vote of confidence,” Keim said of McBride. “Obviously with Trey McBride stepping up and really coming on, I think that really put us in a position where we’re going to have to get more out of him and use him more obviously in the passing game and some of the stuff Maxx did in the run game as well.

“I think Trey has earned that right to be out there catching passes,” he added.

Ertz remains heavily involved, as he sits second on the team in receptions (22) and targets (31).

Heading into a Week 5 home game against the Philadelphia Eagles, the tight end is also third on the team with 181 receiving yards — behind receivers Marquise Brown and Greg Dortch.

Williams entered the year active but was coming off a significant knee injury suffered last season.

The 28-year-old had been with the Cardinals since 2019 and has 39 receptions for 497 yards and three touchdowns in 34 games.

WILLIAMS Ariz. — Those looking to build a new home or business in Williams may have to wait.

The Williams City Council announced at its meeting May 11 that a building moratorium was needed while the city undertakes construction of a new water treatment plant. While the building moratorium has not been put in place yet, the city is consulting with its attorney and a specialist to determine how and when to do so.

How did we get here?

According to Mayor Don Dent, the city’s treatment plant is operating around 92 percent capacity. And while no one was excited to quell the city’s growth, each councilmember agreed that a moratorium was needed while the sewer capacity issues are addressed.

“I don’t think there’s any way around it, other than to do this,” said Vice Mayor Frank McNelly. “We’re just maxed out. We’ve got to stop building anything that will have an impact on our sewer system.”

When the city built the treatment plant 14 years ago, they were planning for a 30-year solution. No one was expecting a need for an upgrade in the middle of the facility’s lifespan.

To ensure that a new plant was needed, the city looked into whether inflows from an extremely snowy winter were causing a surge in capacity, as would be expected. They found out, however, that the plant was already operating around 90 percent when no inflow events were present.

“We had days in the fall when we were measured in the 90 to 95 percent range when there wasn’t really much inflow,” he said. “The inflows are part of the problem, but they’re not the whole problem. The fact is we’re just at capacity.”

“Back when it was built, our building permits averaged somewhere around 20 to 25 building permits per year, some years less than 10,” Dent said. “Now for the last three years in a row, we’re getting over 90 new permits. We’ve got to put a stop to it because we will go over our capacity and we will be in trouble with ADEQ.”

Dent said the city wanted to avoid the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s involvement because it meant that sewer rates would likely be raised, putting the onus on residents to help pay for a new solution.

The council is also currently researching ways to pay for the new plant, which would be built right alongside the old plant and would double its capacity. But since the city just recently took out a bond for two new water lines, it doesn’t currently have the ability to secure a new bond for the upgrade, which could cost anywhere from $35 to $40 million.

“We know right now that unless we do a lot of changes to sewer rates, we don’t have the financial capacity to borrow 40 million dollars,” Dent said.

Planned homes and approved permits

Some residents, like Jerry Anthony, raised concerns about anticipated homes that hadn’t been approved by the city yet, but were planning to submit building permit application in the near future. If they’re not approved by the time the moratorium goes into effect, they’ll be waiting at least three or four years to begin the process.

“I live in the Escalante subdivision, and we’ve got some homes planned there that haven’t received permits yet,” Anthony said. “We want to build out. It helps raise our property value and the town’s tax base. We’re hoping to have three to four more starts by fall.”

Councilmember Mike Cowan said that permits already approved by the city should be honored, which means some new builds will likely be grandfathered in. Now that the moratorium is on the table, he said he expects the city to get an influx of new permit applications in anticipation of gaining approval before it’s imposed. He also pointed out that building moratoriums aren’t new to Williams.

“A few years ago when we were in that drought, we had a moratorium on building because we didn’t have the water,” said Cowan. “Now we’re on the opposite end of that. We have the water but not the sewer capacity.”

While new homes or businesses likely won’t be approved any time soon, McNelly said not all building had to stop. Garages, additions and anything that won’t impact the sewer system can still go forward.