Joseph K Giddens

Big Park closing date delayed

Maybe the third time is the charm, as the $10 million sale of the former Big Park Community School to buyer Basil Maher was extended for the third time following a unanimous 5-0 vote by the Sedona-Oak Creek School...

Slide Rock reopens for fall

Waters open for swimming, but not recommended by state park officials "Slide Rock State Park is completely open," Arizona State Parks & Trails spokeswoman Michelle Thompson said Friday, Sept. 18. "There's no closures at all." Swimming in Oak Creek at Slide...

Sedona Police Department hosts community event Oct. 3

It's nearly time for the Sedona Police Department to fire up the grill for its Community Outreach Event at the Sedona Posse Grounds Hub, located at 525 Posse Ground Road, on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 3 to 5 p.m. "It...

VSAR’s 2026 mission count as of August surpasses all of 2025

The Verde Search and Rescue Posse, which assists the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office and other first responders in search and rescue operations in Sedona and the Verde Valley, has surpassed its 2025 mission count of 84. ■ Mission 82: Saturday,...

ICE agents arrest 2 in Sedona

The Sedona Police Department was notified at 8:44 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were in the city to arrest two men in West Sedona, city spokeswoman Julie Graham said. ICE agents took both men,...

Sedona residents create a rec center wish list

65 people turned out for the city’s second Community Conversation The general sentiment from the 65 people who came out to Sedona City Council’s second Community Conversation at Community Library Sedona on Wednesday, Sept. 9, is that residents would like...

Old & New World to blend

Ezequiel y Los Conjunto Addictz opens for Kilted Spirit at Red Dirt concert It'll feel like the United Nations but with more clapping in this week's installment of the free Red Dirt Concert Series, Friday, Sept. 18, from 5 to...

Lit lights up Thunder Valley

Thunder Valley Rally returns to Cottonwood’s Riverfront Park on Friday, Sept. 18 and Saturday, Sept. 19, hosted by the city of Cottonwood’s Parks & Recreation Department and local sponsors. Festivities include a bike show, local vendors, the Miss TVR contest...

Council & city staff talks housing strategy

Rent Local, STR deed restriction programs may be discontinued; city has $19 million in fund Sedona City Council heard an updated draft of the city's Balanced Housing Strategy on Sept. 8, from Community Development Director Tony Allender and Housing Coordinator...

Masters deal in Bridge beginners

Club aims to grow membership with mentorship & series for newcomers Mark Ducharme spent years as a software engineer at Hewlett Packard, so he'd know you don't have to be an engineer to enjoy bridge, but it helps when your...

About Me

Joseph K. Giddens grew up in southern Arizona and studied natural resources at the University of Arizona. He later joined the National Park Service in many different roles focusing on geoscience education throughout the West. Drawn to deep time and ancient landscapes he’s worked at: Dinosaur National Monument, Petrified Forest National Park, Badlands National Park and Saguaro National Park among several other public land sites. Prior to joining Sedona Red Rock News, he worked for several Tucson outlets as well as the Williams-Grand Canyon News and the Navajo-Hopi Observer. He frequently is reading historic issues of the Tombstone Epitaph newspaper and daydreaming about rockhounding. Contact him at jgiddens@larsonnewspapers.com or (928) 282-7795 ext. 122.
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