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mesquite | moapa valley | arizona strip | southern utah complimentary issue

March 1 – April 30, 2018 Volume 11 – Issue 2 PUBLISHER & EDITOR Kathy Lee COPY EDITOR Charlene Paul – Proof It Up LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGN Aloree Smith – Aloree Smith Designs GRAPHIC DESIGN Tara Terwiske – Tara Terwiske Designs WRITERS Kent Abegglen Angie Lairmore Jared Barnes Mayor Allan Litman Michelle Brooks Alicia Lockwood Keith Buchhaulter Robin Maughan Deborah Campbell Karen L. Monsen Cassandra Cousineau Judi Moreo Laura Draskovich Nick Neeley Donna Eads Rich O’Brien Linda Faas Charlene Paul Linda Gault Lani Penney Golf Mesquite Dr. Q - Star Nursery Jyl Hall Ashley Quadros Denise Houston Janel Ralat Helen Houston John Roth Mike Jurca Terri Rylander Celece Krieger Kirsten Saterfield Rob Krieger Mary Shurtleff Elspeth Kuta Kris Strauss Susi Lafaele Christine Ward ADVERTISING SALES Kathy Lee ADVERTISING EMAIL ads@ViewOnMagazine.com SUPPORT STAFF Bert Kubica DISTRIBUTION View on Magazine Staff WEB DESIGN Trevor Didriksen PUBLISHED BY View On Magazine, Inc. 742 W. Pioneer Blvd, Suite D Mesquite, NV 89027 Office (702) 346-8439 Fax (702) 346-4955 GENERAL INQUIRIES info@ViewOnMagazine.com ONLINE ViewOnMagazine.com Facebook Twitter 2017-2018 View On Magazine, Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without the express written permission from the publisher, including all ads designed by the View On Magazine staff. All articles submitted by contributing writers are deemed correct at the time of publishing, View On Magazine, Inc. and/or any of its affiliates accept no responsibility for articles submitted with incorrect information.

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Letter from the Dear Readers,

Ah, that four-letter word that elicits excitement in those who participate, causes great stress for those who haven’t mastered it, brings anxiety to those who can’t perform, and evokes massive indifference from those who don’t understand the draw. That’s right, I’m talking about GOLF. The game where the thrill comes from steady putters, high-flying little white balls landing in little cups, low scores, and fresh air. For those who eat, sleep, and drink all that is golf, this issue is tailormade for you. With some of the most beautiful courses in the country, golfers can enjoy year-round fun in the sun. But, don’t worry. This issue isn’t just for golf enthusiasts, it is for anyone who is interested in healthy living, fitness, sports, come-backs, outdoors, and games. Need to get your house in order? There’s an article for that. Want to stock your pantry with delicious, nutritious food? There’s an article for that. Wish you had a sports or fitness room? There’s an article for that. Looking for a new twist on a game of cards? There’s an article for that. Looking for ways to get your body in shape? There’s an article for that. And if you’re looking for proof that miracles still happen, there’s an article for that too.

This season is special for so many reasons. The weather is picture perfect and the atmosphere in our communities is brimming with excitement as arts festivals, open houses, sports tournaments, the Mesquite Senior Games, and so much more await those who believe life is so much more than four walls. Yep, it’s that time of year when that four-letter word – GOLF – gets so much attention, and rightfully so. But it’s also that time of year when words like laughter, amusement, excitement, adventure, motivation, and delight are on the menu. As you turn the pages in our beautiful Golf, Sports, and Fitness issue, we hope you find new ways to enjoy this lovely time of year. We hope you find new ways to be inspired. We hope you find new challenges. We hope you find that with the bloom of spring, there’s a new lease on life. Sincerely, Kathy Lee Editor-in-Chief

frequent CONTRIBUTORS Laura Draskovich is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer. With more than 15 years in the fitness industry, Laura currently teaches a wide variety of group fitness formats and trains clients at the Mesquite Fitness Club. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she attended Central Washington University, majoring in Community Health Education. Mother of three, Laura is a national level NPC figure competitor, who is passionate about living a healthy lifestyle and dedicated to reaching goals. Email Laura at lauradraskovich@yahoo.com or call (702) 600-8953.

Charlene Paul is the owner of Proof It Up, a proofreading, copy editing, and freelance writing company. She lives in southern Nevada with her husband. Their original family of eight has grown into a crew of 25, including 12 of the cutest grandkids on Earth. She loves spending time with family and friends, singing, writing, playing the piano and organ, reading, crocheting, sewing, and talking – a lot! She can be reached at (702) 398-3842 or email her at proofitup58@gmail.com.

Karen L. Monsen is a freelance writer who lives in St. George, Utah. She covers outdoor topics, nature, science, research, and human impacts. She taught French and Social Studies in public schools, served as a technical training coordinator, and designed and delivered business and technical writing seminars for corporate clients.

Celece Krieger is the owner of The Travel Connection, located at 1373 East 170 South in St. George. Travel is her passion and she’s spent the past 24 years planning dream vacations around the world. Her favorite vacation is the South Pacific with her “toes in the sand.” Reach her at (435) 628-3636 or celece@stgeorgetravel.com.

Linda Faas was new to desert living when they arrived in Mesquite in 2004. They started exploring their surroundings and meeting new friends, and love what they found. Linda has immersed herself in arts and outdoor groups, and is a reporter and feature writer for local and regional publications. She volunteers with several community organizations, and is always seeking new adventures.

Donna Eads and her husband moved to Mesquite in 2010 from Palm Desert, California and loves the small town atmosphere. Her writing experience extends from high school and college newspapers to professional manuals as a critical care nurse. Her passion for tennis is evident in her frequent articles for View On Magazine.

frequent CONTRIBUTORS Judi Moreo is one of the most recognized personal growth trainers and coaches in the world. She is the author of 11 books, including 2 international bestsellers, You Are More Than Enough and Conquer the Brain Drain. A self-made success, Judi started her first business with $2,000 and a lot of chutzpah. Judi learned to succeed step-by-step over many years, and now has a worldwide following of clients who are enjoying outstanding success as a result of her guidance. You can reach Judi at judi@judimoreo.com or (702) 283-4567.

Helen Houston is the owner of Hues & Vues — Inspired Walls and Windows. Helen also owns a new business, Staging Spaces & Redesign —Designing Your Home to Sell. She holds certifications as a Drapery and Design Professional, Certified Staging Professional, and Certified Color Consultant. She has been a contributing writer for View On Magazine for the past six years. Her creative writing features articles on home fashion, home staging, and entertaining. Helen is a published author in several national design and trade magazines. She can be reached at helen@huesandvues.com or helen@stagingspaces.biz.

Rob Krieger is a 20 year PGA Member & former Director of Golf in Mesquite & Greensboro, NC. He is currently the Director of Instruction at both his own Red Rock Golf Center and the Southgate Golf Club in St. George, and is experienced in teaching all skill levels from beginners to low handicappers. Rob has been writing for View On Magazine since 2010. For help with your game or to schedule a lesson check out his website www.stgeorgegolflessons.com or email Rob@sgugolf.com.

Janel Ralat is a married mom of three and the founder of One Organized Mama, LLC in Las Vegas, Nevada. Janel found her passion with organization while managing her busy family and realizing the importance between time management and keeping life running smoothly. She currently mentors and trains other professional organizers. You can find Janel and her team at facebook.com/OneOrganizedMama or visit their website at www.OneOrganizedMama.com.

Paul “Dr. Q” Noe has been in the nursery industry for over 50 years, with experience in retail and wholesale sales as well as landscaping, plant maintenance and growing experience. Paul has lived in southern Nevada for 34 years. He became a California Certified Nurseryman in 1968 and a Certified Horticulture Advisor in 1993 by the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Service.

Elspeth Kuta is the Virgin Valley Heritage Museum Coordinator, where it is her privilege to share the local history of Mesquite and surrounding areas with the community and visitors alike. She and the museum strive to bring history to life, and preserve and protect the local tales of yore.

Mesquite

Message from the Mayor

t’s springtime in Mesquite, and along with the beautiful weather we enjoy comes the increase in indoor and outdoor activities. Of course, we can play golf all year in Mesquite, but at this time of the year, with our temperate climate, it’s really busy on the greens. Just as an example, you can play the following courses and be within five minutes of anywhere you live in Mesquite: The Oasis, Falcon Ridge, Palms, Casa Blanca, Wolf Creek, Conestoga, and Coyote Willows. Another few minutes and you are at the Beaver Dam Lodge course.

Not into golf? How about fitness programs for all ages that are available through our City of Mesquite Recreation Center? The city offers Lifelong Fitness Programs especially for our seniors, featuring line dancing, water aerobics, Zumba, Chair Pilates, tap, jazz, clogging, yoga, and so much more. Want even more? Just pick up a copy of the monthly City of Mesquite Community Guide, and you will be amazed at all the offerings from early childhood and up. There is something for everyone, no matter your age or ability. With spring comes Little League. Although fairly new here in Mesquite, it’s growing by leaps and bounds. I’m looking forward to throwing out the first ball again this year. Now, a first for Mesquite, we are the home of the Nevada Desert Dogs, the first professional basketball team to come to our city. You will see professional basketball at its best with a 6

full schedule of games played at the Rising Star Sports Ranch in its beautiful Red Barn, as its field house is nicknamed.

Youth soccer is expanding with the addition of new fields provided by the Rising Star, and will be complemented with Nike Sports Camps. I’m sure there will be much more at the Star as the year progresses. Mesquite Gaming, in addition to sponsoring outstanding car shows, the Balloon Festival, sporting events, and more, has stepped forward to sponsor our annual Senior Games. The games are something special for our more seasoned athletes, and are open to those 50 and over, both male and female. This year’s games run from March through December, and offer everything from basketball, biking, hiking, softball, track and field, tennis, pickleball, target pistol, long drive, and new this year, table tennis. You don’t have to be a pro, you just need to be interested in having fun. Everyone who participates is a winner!

Other outdoor activities you can participate in are skydiving and even camel riding. Mesquite believes very strongly in fitness. In addition to the city and other organized activities, there are first class fitness facilities, such as Anytime Fitness, Mesquite Fitness Club, Mesquite Vista’s Sports Club, and Tough Country CrossFit Club. There are times that I am asked to write about a theme that is difficult to find words for; the theme of this issue is not one of them. Mesquite offers so much in the way of golf, sports, and fitness that I could write a book. With so much to do in our beautiful community, there is no excuse to be bored. Sincerely, Mayor Allan S. Litman

Contents

FEATURES

cover photo by Joe Newman â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Ledges Golf Club

46 108 68

46 68 Mesquite Senior Games view on BUSINESS 76 108 ParaLong Drive Returning to Mesquite in March

"Hey Mom, What's for Summer?"

76 Chloe Garner The Quest to be the Best

Your Time to Shine

Contents

12 ORGANIZATION 15 TRAVEL 22 INSPIRATION 26 PETS 30 OUTDOORS 36 EDUCATION 42 MOTIVATION 52 FITNESS 56 GOLF 66 THE ARTS 74 DESIGN 88 URBAN LEGENDS 92 GARDENING 94 ENERGY 98 STRONG WOMAN Strong Woman of Mesquite Merri Erickson

Organize Your Way to Meal Time

Go Active On Your Next Vacation

Joy in the Imperfect Journey

La de' Paws Doing good for the Community

Dixie Red Hills Golf Course & Sandstone Quarry Pathway Where Persistence Pays Off

New Human Performance Center Changing the Landscape of DSU Mental Fitness and Your Habits

Girls Just Wanna Have Guns

The First Tee

St. George Art Museum Needs Volunteers!

Designing for Fitness Inspiration

The Nevada Triangle

Spring Garden Calendar

VIEW ON

Energy Star Buyers Guide

La Verkin

e love living in La Verkin because of the constant beauty that surrounds us. With all the different national parks, it's hard not to be in awe of the landscapes. Angels Landing in Zion National Park is one of our favorite hikes, and the view from the top is absolutely stunning. We love the weather here. It is constantly changing, but that's why we like it. Another reason we love it here is because of the people and the tight-knit community. Almost everyone is kind and willing to help a stranger in need. The sunsets, the warm rains, and even light snows, all help create the beauty that is where we live. Out of all the places we have been, this is the place that feels the most like home.

Mesquite ~ Beka & James Bennett

few days after I purchased my business in Mesquite, I was running errands around town and came upon a street lined with paw prints. Being the dog lover that I am, I stopped to take a photograph. I thought it was the cutest thing!

When I returned to work and inquired about the street, I found out the paws led to the high school, also known as the home of the Bulldogs. As I spent more time here, I noticed at nearly every business I patronized there was some sign of Bulldog support. Painted windows, vinyl stickers, hats, and shirts, the list goes on. I have found my biggest love of Mesquite is the overwhelming love and support of this community! I have been impressed time and time again at the impact the local Chamber of Commerce and other service-oriented clubs have. With Mesquite being such a small town, it is amazing to see large turnouts at events like the Light Parade that support the local food pantry, and golf tournaments that benefit nonprofits such as, We Care for Animals. I have really enjoyed being a part of the great things here in Mesquite, and look forward to being a part of many more. ~ Sommer Randall 10

Moapa Valley T

o answer this question of why I love Moapa Valley, I pondered many things. I thought of the quiet rides on my bike out to the Valley of Fire as I enjoyed the solitude of the desert. I thought of herds of wild donkeys and desert bighorn sheep that I had encountered on those rides. I thought of the bold wild turkeys that live in the hay fields along Cooper Street, and the wild geese and ducks at the game farm south of town. I thought of the vast openness of the tens of thousands of acres of undeveloped desert that surrounds us. I thought of the time spent with children, grandchildren, and even alone on Lake Mead — less than 40 minutes away — which is always uncrowded and peaceful, even on holiday weekends. I thought of evenings paddle boarding or kayaking on Bowman Reservoir at the edge of town at sunset. I thought of my favorite shooting range, which is just out my back door, and spending time with my family shooting cans and paper targets. Trying to decide what was the best was difficult, until I thought about the people. Moapa Valley is comprised of the kindest group of people I have ever encountered. It is a true community filled with loving and caring people. Above everything else, my neighbors are first and foremost why I love where I live!

Cedar Cit y ~ Jeff Sommers

hen someone questions why I love Cedar City, the words of Elizabeth Barrett Browning come to mind: “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” There are so many reasons making a home in Cedar City makes sense. The proximity to outdoor wonders and great recreational activities, cultural, and educational experiences offered by our university, SUU, and connections with past generations who helped to build this valley are just a few. For me, it’s a conglomerate of all of these and more. Cedar City is big enough to have several shopping options, yet small enough to still enjoy block parties and talk about the good old days with your neighbors. Small businesses thrive here because of their relationships with their clients and customers. Kids grow up in a community that supports them in their educations, athletics, and other activities. And most any night of the year, you can choose between Milt’s Stage Stop or Brody’s Mexican Restaurant for a great dinner. When I asked my wife why she loves living here, she said she feels an emotional connection to family, present and past, who had a hand in contributing to the success of this community. Cedar City, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” ~ Michael Stephenson

view on STRONG WOMEN

Strong Women of Mesquite Later, she moved to the their base, as her family called it, in the Salt Lake City area where she met her husband, Wynn. After they were married, they settled in Salt Lake and raised their son, Wynn, and daughter, Noel. As with most families, it was full of activities like football, dance, boating, camping, and motorcycle riding every weekend. When their kids started activities of their own, Merri and Wynn discovered their love of golf.

erri was born in Denver, Colorado, and shortly thereafter, the family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. Merri's father was in construction, so they moved to various states throughout her childhood. After graduating from high school, she attended a junior college in California where she was residing at the time.

In Merri's job as sales manager and event coordinator for a large trucking company, she had the chance to coordinate a huge fundraiser for Make a Wish Foundation, choosing golf as the vehicle. By having a double shotgun every year, their endeavors raised thousands of dollars for Make A Wish. Merri and Wynnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love for golf continued to grow, and they spent every vacation visiting golf destinations, including Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Palm Springs, courses in California, Idaho, and probably every course in Utah. But in the end, their favorite destination was Mesquite, Nevada. Merri and Wynn came to Mesquite many, many times in the 80s and 90s, golfing on Mesquite and St. George courses. Along with many friends, they fell in love with the area. They decided to buy a townhome in Mesquite and called it a permanent retirement home

Merri Erickson of Commerce where she planned other fundraisers, golf tournaments, and the first annual Wine and Roses dinner dance fundraiser. She is always willing to help. Merri felt honored to help Golf Fore Kids for a few years with Brian Wursten, Rob Wurston, and Mindee West. She has been a guest showgirl for Jean Watkins which has brought her much happiness.

in 2002. Wynn retired, and Merri kept working for her company. Soon after they moved, her sister Mina and her husband moved to Mesquite from Colorado. They also bought a townhome in Mesquite and called it a permanent retirement home in 2001.

For approximately eight years, Merri has been involved with the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce, serving on various board positions. One year she was chosen as the Business Person of the Year. She has been a member of the Exchange Club of

Merri and Wynn quickly became very active in the area, and even though Merri was still working in areas such as Salt Lake, Las Vegas, and St. George, they made time to golf as much as possible. In 2004, after 38 years of marriage, Merriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s husband unexpectedly passed away. With love from the community, her sister, her children, and her close friends, she was able to make it through this very difficult time. It was a blessing that her daughter Noel and her family had also moved to Mesquite. Merri and her sister got more involved with various charities, and with the help of the city, her daughter Noel, and many other great people, she was able to get the Miss Mesquite Pageant reinstated. She felt that the lovely girls here in Mesquite should have something to help further their education. Her first attempt at major fundraising was the first Miss Mesquite Pageant Golf Tournament. All funds from the tournament go toward scholarships for the pageant winners. Needless to say, with the help of the community, it was a major success and thousands of dollars were raised for the contestants. Around this time, Merri and her sister Mina were very active in the Rotary Morning Club, and after a few years, each became Rotarian of the Year. Merri believes it is an honor to help in any way she can. Merri was also very active in the Chamber 13

Mesquite, a member of the Elks Lodge, and is currently working on the board for the Ms. Senior Mesquite Pageant. Merri is currently enjoying watching the growth and triumphs of her five grandkids and six great-grandkids. Even though, thanks to her arthritis, she cannot golf as much as she would like, she is able to work at one of her favorite golf courses, which is a major accomplishment. She has also checked off

an item on her bucket list — getting a hole in one at that same course. Whether you’re watching the sunrise on the 1st hole, or the sunset on 18th hole, the peace and tranquility will capture you. Merri has always told her friends, “If you love to golf, you will love Mesquite.”V We, here at View On Magazine, and the city of Mesquite, are grateful for Merri, her amazingly positive attitude, and the love she shares with everyone she meets.

If you are lucky enough to see her on a course, be sure to stop and thank her for all she does for the community.

organize view on ORGANIZATION

your way to

meal time by Janel Ralat

id you make a New Year’s resolution to eat better? Perhaps to eat at home more for better health or to save money? Here are a few tips on getting your kitchen organized and some timesaving tips to help you achieve your goals. Utilizing our four-step organizing system will get your kitchen in tiptop shape in no time.

Declutter and Sort. Cabinets, pantry, fridge, and freezer. Grab a trash bag, damp cloth, and your phone for its timer (or some great music), and go through your kitchen tossing old and expired items. Start small with one cabinet at a time or 20 minutes on your timer. Begin at one end and work your

way around. Don’t forget to go through your spice cabinet as well. Wipe down shelves as you go and neatly place items back as we like to call, “Grocery Store Style” facing forward with the oldest item in front and the newest one in back. This step will allow you to easily inventory your kitchen’s contents and make it instantly feel better. Create space on shelves to place new ingredients after your next trip to the store.

Create a Zone. This is the second step in our process, and the kitchen is one of the most important spaces to zone. Make your kitchen work for you by creating zones, so that like items are grouped together. Make

frequently-used items more accessible, and store items you occasionally use in higher cabinets or toward the back. The purpose of zoning your kitchen is to save time with meal planning and clean up. Meal Prep Zone — Knives, cutting boards, garlic press, prep bowls, cooking utensils, pots, and pans. Meal Time Zone — Everyday plates, bowls, eating utensils, drinking glasses, and napkins. Other Kitchen Zones to consider: Baking Zone, Coffee/Tea Zone, Kid Zone, even an Entertaining Zone. Label and Contain. Our third step is pretty self-explanatory, but let’s keep things in perspective here. Containers can be pricey, and it's not necessary to have everything in them. Flours, sugars, and rices are a few of the examples of items that are good to keep in airtight containers with a label on the front. Be mindful before removing certain items from their original containers into neat little containers. Baking soda vs. baking powder for instance. Let’s not get crazy and overcomplicate the situation. Teach and Maintain. The final step in our process can apply to meal planning simply by avoiding over-buying foods.

Use a general rule of one being used, one in reserve. As soon as you open your reserve item, add it to your shopping list so that you never run out and avoid over purchasing items.

divine, you'll likely not find the ingredients at your neighborhood grocery store. Keep the ingredient list simple. This is where a neatly organized pantry and spice cabinet become essential.

Here are a few other tips and tidbits for meal planning:

Meal Delivery Kits — Here is where you can get adventurous with your recipe choices. Plus, all the ingredients are provided for you! These are great for foodies who love to cook. Each week you can choose two to four meals for up to four people. This is a great way to try exotic new dishes. All you need are cooking oils, salt, and pepper. The kits provide neatly prepped ingredients, just enough to prepare your meal. There's very little food waste and anything you have extra can be used for a future meal. Plated, Blue Apron, and Hello Fresh are the most well known.

Plan Your Menu — Take 30 minutes once a week with a pen and notepad to jot down favorite or new recipes to try. Google recipe ideas or use Pinterest to find recipes for free. There are a variety of websites that provide a meal planning service, although they do come with a fee. Plate Joy, Relish, and Emeals are a few examples. Prep Once, Eat Twice — Chopping veggies for a salad? Chop a few extra to place in the fridge as a healthy snack or add-in for tomorrow’s dinner. Go the extra step and add these fresh veggies to single serve containers, which are fabulous for portion control meals or to sneak into lunchboxes. Cook extra ground beef or turkey and freeze the extra for a future meal. K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Silly) — It’s great to try new recipes and ingredients, but avoid getting too exotic with your recipe choices. Although that dish calling for pomegranate molasses or Za’atar sounds

Your tried and true friend, the Crock Pot — It's the friend you can always rely on to provide you with minimal effort and delicious results. All you need is a protein, some sturdy veggies (usually potatoes and carrots), great flavoring, and liquid to create a delish and hearty meal. Need a night to Netflix and chill? Put together a quick salad with your pre-cut veggies while pizza delivery is on its way. Happy Organizing!V 17

Dixie Red Hills Golf Club

ixie Red Hills Golf Club opened in the mid-1960s, and because of its spectacular red rock setting and playability, it has been the favorite of recreational golfers ever since. This golfer-friendly course also features hundreds of mature Cottonwoods, Mondale Pines, Mesquite, and other trees that provide ample shade during St. George's warmer months. Each hole is distinct and will leave a lasting memory in the minds of golfers. Golfers often talk about being addicted to the game. Once you play Dixie Red Hills, you, too, will understand the game's allure! The course is a favorite of those who enjoy walking and playing a golf course with a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.V Visit Dixie Red Hills Golf Course at 645 W. 1250 N., St. George, Utah or call (435) 627-4444. Ladies Association Day of Play: Thursday mornings Annual Dues: $30 Weekly Fee: $19.50 with Loyalty Card $2 towards prizes Different format each week

Southgate Golf Club

outhgate Golf Club is a golf course with multiple personalities.

A great walking course, the front nine requires accuracy to successfully negotiate the waterways. Eight out of the nine holes on the front nine feature either a lake or the Santa Clara River as scenic challenges to par. The back nine, slightly longer than the front nine, adds the element of risk and reward which allows the player to recover shots lost on the front nine. Southgate Golf Club is a par-71 layout which is enjoyable for all levels of ability. Fun for everyone, Southgate is a great course for those looking for an pleasant round of golf as opposed to a brutal test of skills. Southgate also features a game improvement center with award-winning PGA professionals and instruction programs.V

Ladies Association Play day: Tuesday morning Annual Dues: $30 Weekly Fee: $36 with Loyalty Card $3 weekly for prizes Different fun format each week involving handicap Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Association Play day: Thursday mornings Annual Dues: $30 Weekly Fee: $36 with Loyalty Card $5 weekly for prizes Different format each week involving handicaps

Visit Southgate Golf Club at 1975 Tonaquint Dr, St. George, Utah, or call (435) 627-4440.

Sunbrook Golf Club

he best golf course in Utah, according to Golf Digest. It is the only golf club in southern Utah to feature 27 championship holes.

The Point Nine The Pointe's number five hole is a short par-4 bordering a desert cliff. Any shot to the left on this hole will end up 100 feet down on the par-5 second hole. The Woodbridge Nine The Woodbridge Nine is also named after its fifth hole. After teeing off from a bluff overlooking the island-green fourth hole, golfers must carry a lake featuring a gorgeous countryâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;style wooden bridge. This is one hole so beautiful you won't mind having to record a bogey on your scorecard. The Black Rock Nine The Black Rock Nine is so named as a result of three holes being carved out of treacherous lava rock. The par-4 seventh is the most remarkable. After hitting your first shot from a tee located amidst a crowd of molten onlookers, your second shot must carry more volcanic remains, plus avoid a small lake strategically placed just to the right of the green. V Visit Sunbrook Golf Club at 2366 Sunbrook Dr., St. George, Utah, or call (435) 627-4400. Ladies Association Play Day: Tuesday mornings Annual Dues: $25 Weekly fee: $19.50 for 9 holes $38 for 18 holes $3 for weekly prizes Different formats each week Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Association Play Day: Wednesday mornings Annual Dues: $30 Weekly Fee: $38 for 18 holes $5 for weekly prizes Different formats each week 20

St. George Golf Club

t. George Golf Club is a municipal course operated by the City of St. George. This course stands strong as the city has grown and new courses have been added. The golf course has been a part of St. George for over thirty years. It has more of a traditional feel to its layout, while maintaining the challenge of a par-73. Those who have played golf in southern Utah for many years have most likely played it before. St. George Golf Club has always been the favorable greens. As with most older courses, the greens are not as tricky, and putts are makeable for longer distances, even for the average player. Big greens and the area around the greens provide players area for their “less than perfect shots.” Another appeal of this course is that of two seasons. During the peak season, November through March, the golf course has the distinct look of other southwest courses where the rough has a brown look while the tees, fairways, and greens are a rich green color.V Visit St. George Golf Club at 2190 S. 1400 E., St. George, Utah, or call (435) 627-4404. Ladies Association Play Day: Wednesday mornings Annual Dues: $30 Weekly Fee: $36 with Loyalty Card $3 weekly for prizes

Men’s Association Play Day: Tuesday mornings Annual Dues: $30 Weekly Fees $36 with Loyalty Card $5 weekly for prizes

view on TRAVEL

ACTIVE

ON YOUR NEXT VACATION

by Celece Krieger hile diet and exercise are very important to our health, most people don't realize that leisure travel can play a key role in our overall wellness. Lessons in history have taught us that Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon searched the globe for the Fountain of Youth. Although he never found it, he discovered what many people consider the key to youth and happiness: Travel!

Over the years, I’ve watched river cruise companies, ocean cruise companies, and tour companies design active vacations around the globe. While some travelers are perfectly happy relaxing on the sun deck, others want to stay active on their vacations. If you want to combine exercise

Rob Krieger golfing in the Dominican Republic.

or your favorite sport into your vacation, consider some of the vacation packages with exercise included: Bicycling: This past summer, on my Bordeaux River Cruise with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, several tours included bicycling. Passengers combined fresh air, gorgeous scenery, and fine wine with a bicycle ride among the prestigious Médoc vineyards. Imagine pedaling through the lush landscapes of historic estates that have remained unchanged for centuries. Luckily, this adventure included a stop at Château Lynch-Bages for wine tasting – a reward for all that exercise! Most of the river cruise companies carry bicycles on board for their guests to use at

their leisure while in port, or for bicycling tours. Of course, there are tour itineraries for serious cyclists. Backroads for example, offers bicycling, hiking, and walking tours around the world. From our own national parks to Holland and everywhere in between, Backroads will take you there. They offer itineraries for adults and families, too. In fact, you may see them passing through town on their way to Zion and Bryce. Golf: This past summer, I had the opportunity to travel with my husband and a small golf group to Ireland and Scotland. Though I am not a golfer, I

enjoyed watching our clients discuss their experiences at historic courses where they had to carry their bags and walk in the footsteps of legends. The icing on the cake was watching The Open at Royal Birkdale. From Scotland to the Caribbean to South Africa, there are cruise vacations and tour packages designed for avid golfers and their guests. Walking: Country Walkers offers walking tours throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, the South Pacific, and North America. Their motto is “Explore the World One Step at a Time®.” They offer itineraries for every level, from easy to challenging. Perhaps one of the most wellknown is the Camino de Santiago, a nineday pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Many say the journey is lifechanging. Yoga: From Costa Rica to Hawaii and India, yoga retreats are very popular. Many luxurious resorts and even river cruises have added yoga packages. Wellness and meditation vacations offer the ultimate relaxing getaway to some of the most scenic destinations around the globe.

Celece Krieger paddle boarding in the South Pacific with Paul Gauguin Cruises. Photo courtesy of Rob Krieger.

We know that exercise is the best thing we can do for our bodies. An active vacation is a great way to get your heart pumping, and you probably won’t realize that you are exercising because you are surrounded by such beautiful scenery. While I am not the most athletic person, I’ve had the opportunity to kayak under a Roman Aqueduct and hike through vineyards in the South of France, paddleboard off the back of our cruise ship in Tahiti, and rappel

down waterfalls in Costa Rica. There are always ways to include sports and exercise in your vacation, no matter where you go. These are just a few of the ways in which travel can enrich your life. Take some time for yourself in the upcoming year and discover the many rewards of active travel. Where in the world will you find your Fountain of Youth in 2018? V

Active Hiking to the Vineyards with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises in France. Photo courtesy of Rob Krieger.

The Legacy of

Moapa Valley

story by Robin Maughan photos courtesy of Virginia Beezy Tobiasson egacy is a word often associated with life in Moapa Valley. It has been said over and over, “What a legacy you have in this valley.” Whether a newcomer or old timer, male or female, or whatever religion, that legacy is here for you to claim.

The valley has had an interesting start and stop existence as settlers from the LDS church were sent to establish a cotton growing area when the west was affected by the Civil War. Plans were made for having steamships work the Colorado River with settlements along the shores and Call’s Landing was formed. In January of 1865, sixteen Utah settlers arrived and christened their settlement St. Thomas in honor of their leader. The cotton industry did not work as expected when not enough cotton could be produced for the mill that was being built. Life was hard for the settlers who were used to a difficult life, but this area took a toll on even the strongest. Dysentery hit the people, and mosquitos were rampant with the marshy land and standing water near the rivers. Swarms of grasshoppers attacked the crops. Heat was unbearable. At night they would wet their

St. Thomas Elementary School circa 1917.

sheets in the creeks and cover themselves in order to sleep. They couldn’t sleep on the ground due to the scorpions and tarantulas. Many little towns have come and gone in this area, most of the names forgotten. Names like Mill Point, Fort Call, St. Joseph, Kaolin, Junctionville, and Rioville. The winds in the St. Joseph area would fill in the canals and trenches so people were glad to move to these other areas, but then they would be hit by summer flooding that wiped out their crops. After facing the natural elements, the governmental ones became too much for most to bear. Since the area was still considered a territory, not having received statehood yet, there were discrepancies on who was actually in charge. Taxes were paid to Arizona as they laid claim to the area. Taxes were paid to Utah as they laid claim to the area. The final survey came back putting the area in Nevada. Having already paid taxes, there was no money for Nevada which had a higher tax base, so Nevada threatened to impound property and livestock. The river port projects had not worked as expected. The crop market had not done well. Petitions

Logandale Elementary School - 1935.

were sent to the United States Congress explaining their plight and asking to remain a part of Arizona, but all to no avail. LDS Church President, Brigham Young, visited the area and found that it was not as desirable a place to settle as he had been led to believe and released the settlers from their commitment to West Point. After receiving no help from Congress, many of the citizens left the area to return to northern Utah or settle areas north of Las Vegas. Only a few would stay. By 1879, there were only a few families left in St. Thomas. There was a large Paiute village near town. Around 1880, newcomers started to trickle into the area. Mrs. Whitmore named her area of the valley Overton as she had established a store there and folks would talk of “going over town” when they went to the store. St. Joseph was Logan for the Logan family, and it would be renamed Logandale when there was confusion with the postal service confusing Logan, Utah for Logan, Nevada.

after the demise of St. Thomas, the Moapa Valley would become known across the country. Produce such as melons, radishes, and onions were all shipped bearing the name of Moapa Valley. Citizens from the valley return from travels around the world and report they met someone who knew of Moapa Valley. Time and hard work truly has paid off as descendants of those early pioneers are still living and raising their families here. You can truly feel that sense of peace and heritage as you come over the hill into the valley. What a legacy they left us. V

By the 1890’s, with the arrival of many new settlers, new problems arose — water. Each would need their fair share. The answer was the creation of the Muddy Valley Irrigation Company. This took some getting used to for these pioneers who had always made due. But most would get on board with this new establishment. Life was hard — lots of work and battling the elements. But life also had its enjoyment. Dances and community get-togethers were held, school plays were put on, and the May Day celebration was held. The May Day tradition continues in the elementary schools today. A few years ago, a celebration of St. Thomas was held in the remains of the town since the water in Lake Mead receded enough for the remains to be seen. Historical plays were performed on the foundation of the school as that was where they were performed in the early days of St. Thomas. The May Poles were taken back there and local children once again danced the May Pole dance in St. Thomas. Freighters and the railroad would bring life to the valley as it became easier to move their crops and industry. In later years, 25

view on INSPIRATION

Joy in the imperfect Journey

pencil ran out of lead, I couldn’t remember all the functions on my scientific calculator, and my hands were sweating profusely. That ninety minutes was one of the longest weeks of my life. And what was the final outcome? I got a D on the final and a D for my overall grade. It was enough to finish my associate’s degree, but not enough to count as a math credit at the next university I would attend where I would have to take not one, but two math classes.

learned when I started college in the fall of 1976, that I wasn’t ready for college. I wasn’t ready for instructors who didn’t know my name and who had better things to do than remind me of impending deadlines. I wasn’t ready to walk from building to building searching for classrooms. I lasted one semester.

As a communications major, I again pled my case that math was not going to play a big part in my career as a writer/ proofreader/speaker. My advisor looked into it and came back with good news. “Instead of taking two math classes, you can take two semesters of a foreign language!” she said. Goody.

by Charlene Paul

By the time I returned to college in 2007, classes were online. That meant I didn’t have to worry about being on time, finding hidden classrooms, or even getting out of my pajamas. I could take the required courses from the comfort of my own home while sitting in front of my own computer. Joy! And then the day came when I realized I had to take a college math course. Math? My skin got clammy, a chill went up my spine, and my eyes clouded over. I’m a word person. Let me write, let me compose, let me read, let me speak. But please don’t make me play with numbers and letters as if they were meant to be

together, along with strange symbols that look like the brainchildren of a seven-year old boy. I pled my case to my advisor, and she said, “Good news! You don’t have to take math; you can take a foreign language.” Good news? For me, math is a foreign language. I finished everything but the math requirement and didn’t receive my associate’s degree. Last year, I decided to complete the goal I set forty-two years earlier to receive my bachelor’s degree. I signed up for a math class at the local community college and the clamminess, spine chills, and cloudy eyes attacked with a vengeance. But I was determined. I struggled throughout the entire course, but did okay on the weekly assignments and quizzes. I didn’t set my sights on an A. I had heard somewhere that Cs earn degrees, so that was my goal. My stomach cramped so bad I thought I was in labor the day of the final exam. My

Before Christmas, the beginning of my first math class brought up all of those old feelings and fears. My GPA at that time was a 4.0 – perfect – and I was certain those two math classes would severely tank my perfect score. I worked, studied, struggled, and almost gave up several times. But as the weeks progressed, my knowledge and abilities to work with numbers, graphs, strange symbols, and even letters mixed with numbers improved. My instructor commented in week three that if I kept on the way I was going, I could possibly earn a top grade in the class. I was gobsmacked, utterly astounded! Never

had any teacher attached those words to my name. I was determined to earn that top grade. I worked, studied, struggled, and shushed negative thoughts. The final project was a PowerPoint presentation that took days to complete. About the time I thought I was finished, I checked the instructions and realized something had been left out. In the end, I had a bang-up presentation I was sure would garner that much hoped for top grade. I uploaded it three days before the due date, e-signed it, and hit the submit button. I was finished with my second math class, and I was so proud. Imagine the sick feeling as I read my instructor’s comments on my final grade. “I was really looking forward to your final Signature Assignment. I hope there is nothing serious that kept you from submitting. You've been a truly excellent student and I expect good things from you going forward. You are more than ready to move onto more advanced math classes.” What?! Wait! How could that be? I emailed him, spent hours on the phone

with technical support, and in the end had to take a big, fat zero on my final project. I was devastated. How badly would that affect my final grade? Not too badly, I ended up with a B+. But that B+ knocked me out of the running for graduating with a perfect 4.0. I told my husband I would have to re-take the class in order to achieve that dream. His response? “Are you crazy? Just be proud of yourself. You hoped for a C, had the chance for an A, and came away with a B+. Let it go.” I glared at him. What was he saying? Had he no empathy? Did he expect me to smile and move on? Couldn’t he call our senator, our congressman, or even the governor of our state and explain I had been cheated out of the top grade in the class? It took a couple of days and a couple of sleepless nights before common sense took over and sunk deeply into the layers of my brain. I received a B+. I passed, I exceeded my original goal, and I couldn’t even enjoy my accomplishment. My pursuit for perfection paralyzed my ability to enjoy the journey of learning something new. I won’t graduate with a perfect 4.0,

but the good Lord willing, I will graduate. How many times have I robbed myself of joy in my journey because I expected perfection with each step? How many times have I compared my worst to someone’s best? How many times have I ceased to progress because of perfectionism paralysis? Why did I refuse to acknowledge perseverance could take me places perfectionism never would? I am now in the middle of my third and final college math class. Yay! I am working like crazy, turning in assignments on time, and taking screenshots of the dates just in case I have to plead my case again. I am striving for that ever-elusive A. I will be happy with a B. In fact, I will be satisfied with a C. And when I finally fulfill my longawaited goal of earning my bachelor’s degree, I will look back at the journey and see potholes, bumps, gullies, and mountains. If I change my focus, I will also see meadows, green forests, mirrored lakes, and brilliant campfires. In other words, I will see that the journey, with all its imperfections, was worth it.V

by Angie Lairmore

oward Ickes, owner of Pedego Henderson/Las Vegas Electric Bikes, founded his electric bike company seven years ago. Howard graduated with a bachelor of science degree in air conditioning/refrigeration engineering from Cal Poly, located in San Luis Obispo, California. Howard was hired by Carrier Air Conditioning Company where he worked for eight years. He and his family moved to Las Vegas in 1972, where Howard started his own company. His business was successful, with final year sales by the business of over 18 million dollars. Howard and his wife Sherry then traveled the globe and played golf for ten years during 2001 through 2011. One day, while in San Diego visiting a Farmer’s Market in Little Italy, they met a vendor selling electric bikes. This was their introduction to the world of electric bikes. He and his wife test-rode the bikes, and thoroughly enjoyed them. Sherry said, “We should get a couple of these.” When they got back to their home in Henderson, Howard called the Pedego Factory. He had no idea he was speaking to Terry Sherry, one of the owners. Howard asked how many electric bikes he would need to buy to become a Pedego dealer. He met the requirement, and has been selling an increasing number of Pedego Electric Bikes ever since. Among his many awards, he was named Mr. Electric Bike at the 2015 Pedego dealer meeting, and was one of the top ten Pedego dealers in the country in 2016. In 2017, Pedego Henderson was named the number two Pedego dealer in the country. Howard’s Pedego Henderson facility is over ten thousand square feet. There are four full-time Pedego Henderson office team members, and a dozen event specialists who add to the fun and are great assets to the corporation. “We pride ourselves in our

unequivocal customer service,” said Howard. “Our elaborate facility, our skillful and enthusiastic team members, our service department, and our huge inventory of electric bikes, parts, and accessories is what makes us special. We’re all about fun, fun, fun! Our building has been named House of Fun!” Howard continues, “That being said, we can only be as good as the manufacturer. Pedego is the number one manufacturer of electric bikes in the country.” Pedego’s Electric Bikes are better built than those of their competitors, with quality, fun, and comfort in mind. Their factory is located in Fountain Valley, California, which means next-day delivery of parts. The versatility of their electric bikes is unmatched, from cruisers and Ridge Rider mountain bikes to Trail Trackers with 4-inch tires for snow, sand, and gravel, from Trikes and the Latch folding bikes to numerous high performance models, from cargo bikes to tandems, there is a bike to fit everyone’s needs. They can even teach people how to use their new electric bikes on their Pedego simulator. Pedego Henderson’s showroom has every Pedego Electric bike model on display ready for a test ride, as well as an indoor track so bikes can be tested indoors when outdoor weather is an issue. Pedego Electric Bikes continues to improve. Howard says, “They are always improving current products and introducing new ones. I just returned from our 2017 dealer meeting, and all attending dealers and distributors were overjoyed at the new colors and products. You’d have to see them to believe it!” Pedego Henderson Electric Bikes has recently joined the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce. They look forward to helping the residents of Mesquite, Moapa Valley, the Arizona Strip, and southern Utah with their electric bike needs. If you are interested in having a meeting or a gathering of ten or more people, they will bring the Pedego Electric Bikes and supply the food and drinks. Call Howard Ickes, Mr. Electric Bike at (702) 429-2386. V

view on PETS

La de' Paws Doing Good for the Community C

arrie was looking for change when she left Washington, D.C. in 2015 and headed west. After spending the better part of two decades in corporate america and completing her MBA, Carrie made the decision to leave the rat race behind and follow her passion — dogs! Carrie knew she wanted her own business, and she wanted it to involve dogs. She bought La de’ Paws Grooming Salon and Boutique in St. George, Utah and in Mesquite, Nevada.

Carrie and Zia

Sommer and Buddy

Within the first week of Carrie taking possession of La de’ Paws, she met one of their loyal customers, Sommer. Sommer’s love for dogs rivaled her own, and Carrie knew right away that they would be great friends. Fast forward to July 2017. Carrie sold the Mesquite location to Sommer.

Sommer is a life-long resident of the area and attended Dixie State University. Having robust business ownership experience, Sommer dove right in and has been a welcome presence at the Mesquite location, as well as in the Mesquite community. The mission of La de’ Paws is to provide a safe and comfortable environment while delivering high-quality grooming that exceeds expectations. Additionally, it is a goal of both locations to give back to the community. Each location consistently partners with local shelters to groom stray and abandoned dogs at no cost. This enables these precious pups to be adopted more quickly and brings down the overhead for the shelters. In December 2017, La de’ Paws Mesquite hosted a fundraiser for the We Care for Animals rescue group. Dogs were able to get their picture with Santa, and were then given a digital copy. All donations went to We Care for Animals. Whether it is through their Rotary Club connections, Habitat for Humanity involvement, or other rescue initiatives, Sommer and Carrie often contribute grooming services and pet supplies for donations. Sommer is currently foster mom to Jasper. Jasper is a sweet boy that was saved by the local rescue group, RSQ DOGS. He underwent extensive surgery to remove cancer tumors, and is on the road to recovery! La de’ Paws and their teams would love to put you in touch with local rescues so you, too, can help save these adorable kids. One of our favorite adoption stories is about a puppy named Olivia Kate. Olivia, formerly Olive, came in to the Saint George location with her owner who was desperate for help. She had just bought Olive the week prior for her aging mother, and realized that she had bit off more than she could chew. Puppies take work, and she underestimated the care and attention Olive would need. She asked Carrie if she could help her find a new home as she didn’t want to have to take Olive to the shelter. She would have to do just that if she couldn’t find a new home for her by the end of the day. Carrie asked to keep Olive for the day so she could try to find her a home. The owner agreed and committed to check in at the end of the day. Carrie sent a 911 text out to her friends, Sommer and Lil, and they came to the rescue. Within 20 minutes, both had showed up to the salon and both went to work with their network. Olive was adopted later that day by Britta. When they realized that both Britta and Olive had the same birthdate, they knew it was fate. That day, Olive became Olivia Kate. They have lived happily ever after. Carrie and Sommer often hear from families that have adopted, “My dog rescued me just as much as I rescued him/her.” They love these stories. You are encouraged to pop in to one of the locations and tell them yours. Sadly, two million animals will be euthanized this year in America’s shelters, and it costs U.S. taxpayers approximately two billion dollars to collect, house, kill, and dispose of these homeless animals. [Animal Shelter Statistics, Statistics Brain (https://www.statisticbrain.com/animal-shelter-statistics/)]

Foster puppy Jasper after being groomed.

It is estimated that 17 million families will add a pet to their home this year. So, as you contemplate growing your pet family, please consider adoption. (https://bestfriends.org/our-work/promotingadoption-vs-buying) Both La de’ Paws locations provide discounts to recently adopted dogs. Carrie and Sommer will even help you with an introduction to the local rescues and shelters. V Mesquite: 742 W. Pioneer Blvd. Ste. E www.ladepawsmesquite.com (702) 345-4085 St George: 140 N. 400 W. Ste. B1 www.ladepaws.com (435) 674-0451

Coyote Willows Golf Course by John Roth & Mary Shurtleff

estled along the Virgin River, Coyote Willows Golf course is located in the southwest part of Mesquite and is within a minute of I-15. It is host to one of the longest holes in town if one chooses to play from the tips. Although with several tee boxes to play from, this little gem is enjoyable for every caliber of golfer. Beautifully designed by William Dale Beddo and constructed in 2003, Coyote Willows’ 9 holes are not overly long or difficult; it is just simply enjoyable to play. Several lakes and other hazards, on the other hand, can test your skills. The course has 2-par 5s, 4-par 4s, and 3-par 3s totaling a 35-par course with 2,748 total yardage.

For another beautiful day in paradise—go to online booking at www.coyotewillowsgolf.com, call (702) 345-3222 or stop in and see us at 426 Hagen Alley (Golf shop entrance off 880 Hafen Lane) Mesquite, Nevada. See you there.

Coyote Willows is fast becoming a local favorite as it shows that a 9-hole course, priced right, can make for a wonderful day in the desert. Coyote Willows Golf Course hours for the spring are 7:00 AM 4:00 PM, seven days a week. Coyote Willows Golf Course has Women’s League play on Monday Mornings at 9:00 AM, Mixed Leagues on Wednesday Mornings at 9:00 AM, Men’s League on Thursday Morning at 8:00 AM, and Mixed League on Saturday at 9:00 AM. As the daylight hours grow longer so do our hours, so please call for all current league information. Coyote Willows Golf Shop carries logoed apparel from Greg Norman, Nike, Pebble Beach, McIlhenny, and more. We also have balls, gloves, repair tools, hats, and rental clubs, as well as used clubs for sale. V

Healthy Living and Eating with Harmons by Ashley Quadros, Registered Dietitian for Harmons

t’s that time again — we are officially two months into our new year’s resolutions. About half of Americans make resolutions, yet just 8% of us report keeping them. Instead of waking in the morning and feeling daunted because the goal you made was so big that it feels unattainable, why not take a different approach this year? At Harmons, we believe in moderation, balance, and self-kindness. Be kind and reasonable with yourself. Choose one or two meaningful resolutions, and instead of overcommitting, pick something you can work on for an hour a week.

Think about that! There are 168 hours in each week. Committing one hour to your resolutions sounds easy, right? The other benefit to setting aside an hour a week is that it’s specific. Let’s say your resolution is to lose weight. What are you going to do for an hour to meet that goal? Maybe it’s exercise, or maybe it’s planning lunches to avoid the fast food drive-thru, or maybe it’s Shopping with a Dietitian at Harmons to learn about delicious alternatives to include in your diet. Have different goals? Here are some ideas from Harmons registered dietitians regarding all aspects of healthy living:

Food: Spend an hour meal planning to get 2.5 cups of vegetables in each day. Soda: Make a batch of infused water or iced tea for sugar-free hydration during the week. Exercise: Sign up for a new weekly exercise class or activity, or take four 15-minute walks. Learn something new: Try a new hobby or skill and work on it for an hour every week. Personal relationships: Commit to a weekly coffee date with your significant other or with a friend. Money: Track your spending each week. Make it easy with a free online service like www.mint.com. Mental health: Practice meditation and mindfulness for 10 minutes a day. Learn how with a free app like Headspace. Personal growth: Spend an hour reading about a topic you are interested in. Volunteer: Call an organization that needs volunteer help. Commit to helping out regularly – an hour a week or two hours every two weeks. Another important aspect of keeping solid resolutions is to ask for support. For many goals, having support is the key to finding success. Let’s say you’d like to take a walk in the mornings. Find a friend who wants to do the same so you have to get up and meet them. You would never leave your friend alone in the cold! Or, going back to the weight loss goal, reach out to your local Harmons dietitian who can shop with you with weight loss in mind. They can also meet with you for nutrition counseling if you would like more frequent support.

Left to right: Ashley Quadros with Sarah Kiel and Genevieve Daly. Harmons now has seven registered dietitians in total, one in every store.

like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, and lean animal proteins. And finally, our registered dietitians are in the store to help you. You can meet with them in person for nutrition counseling or personal shopping to help you address a variety of nutritionrelated topics, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, Celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, cancer prevention, and even shopping and cooking for one or two. V Follow Harmons dietitians on Instagram with #HealthyHarmons, or visit www.harmonsgrocery.com/Dietitians-choice for more information on upcoming classes and tours.

At Harmons, we’re not normal. We like to be loud and proud! In this spirit, tell everyone you know and see regularly about your plan. This keeps you accountable to someone other than yourself – which motivates you to stick to your guns. Once you tell people, they are also likely to ask how everything is going, which is a gentle reminder to stay on track. Finally, ditch the all or nothing mentality. So often, Harmons dietitians hear, “I’m either really good, or I throw it all out the window.” There is no such thing as a perfect diet, perfect exercise regime, or perfect – insert your resolution here. What will you do at a birthday party when it’s time to eat cake? Or if you’re sick for a week and can’t make it out to exercise? Being perfect is an illusion and it just isn’t necessary. Just because you can’t follow the perfect diet or stick to the perfect workout plan doesn’t mean you should give up entirely! Every little bit that you do adds up to positive results. If you are working on eating more healthy, Harmons is here to help. We have Healthy Checkout Lanes at all of our stores. They are always open and stocked with healthier and kid-friendly products. This is so kids are not bugging their parents for candy bars, and so adults aren’t tempted by sugary treats. Our team of registered dietitians also puts Dietitians Choice tags on the healthiest items throughout the entire store. Products with this special tag limit added sugar, saturated fat, and sodium, and no trans fat or hydrogenated oils are allowed. Items that are tagged Dietitians Choice emphasize nutritious and delicious foods 35

view on OUTDOORS

Dixie Red Hills Golf Course

& Sandstone Quarry Pathway:

Where Persistence Pays Off

by Karen L. Monsen wo St. George public projects separated by fifty years share developmental histories driven by unrelenting dedication. The Red Hills Golf Course and the Sandstone Quarry Pathway attest to the organizational, political, and visionary skills of Sid Atkin and Wayne Pace.

Dixie Red Hills Golf Course Sid Atkin, the driving force behind Dixie Red Hills — St. George’s first golf course — acknowledges that in the 1930s, LDS Church President Heber J. Grant declared, “What this town needs is a new hotel and

a golf course.” It wasn’t until the early 1960s, however, when Atkin stepped in that plans moved forward in a town where work routines left little time for diversion and few residents played golf.

tourist business began on Memorial Day and ended on Labor Day, in spite of highway billboards that advertised, 'Stay in St. George where the summer sun spends the winter.'"

Prior to his declining health, Atkin documented, “When I joined the St. George Chamber of Commerce in 1958, I was owner/manager of the Sugar Loaf Cafe, one of the three main restaurants in town. The population of St. George was 4,450, and Highway 91 was what is now St. George Boulevard. There were no traffic lights and no golf courses. The

Atkin described how Ogden golf pro Ernie Snyder Sr. frequently stopped into his cafe to promote the golf course idea. Atkin chaired a golf course committee and kept the project moving forward when it “was beginning to run out of steam.” Eventually, he persuaded the city council to provide public land for a nine-hole course and to finance construction through revenue

“

Here was evidence that sunshine, scenery, and tourism could make things happen in southern Utah.” ~ A History of Washington County from Isolation to Destination

bonds. He obtained private water for the course along with donated labor commitments from the Elks and Lions clubs. The selected site, nestled against red cliffs adjacent to a sandstone quarry on the north side of St. George was a Tonaquint Indian encampment prior to Mormon settlement, and was the West Spring water source for early settlers. Previously, the area contained a copper smelter in the 1890s, Dodge’s Pond, an ice plant in 1907, Civilian Conservation Corps Camp in the 1930s, and a city dump. Years of planning paid off. On July 4, 1965, Dixie Red Hills Golf Course opened with seven holes — two holes were completed a few months later.

and other universities, author of leadership and organizational books, personal history volumes, research reports, over 100 articles, and founding President of Dixie Encampment Chapter of the Sons of Utah Pioneers, mobilized individuals and resources that created the pathway to the dormant quarry. The project began with a trek to the quarry in 2010, and was followed by numerous strategizing and planning meetings with the city of St. George, the Habitat Conservation Program (a portion of the trail crosses tortoise habitat), and golf course administrators. Today, visitors access the pathway at 700 West and Diagonal Street, pass between

R. Wayne Pace’s booklet, Bringing History to Life, may be purchased at the DSU Bookstore and the DASIA Bookstore located in the Public Lands Information Center inside the BLM Riverside Regional Office in St. George.

Atkin claims, “The successful outcome of the Dixie Red Hills Golf Course spawned the development of the Bloomington Country Club when Ellis Ivory and Frank Johnson discovered they couldn’t raise carrots successfully on the big farm they had purchased in Bloomington.” Ultimately, Atkin believed in the golf course “changed St. George from a pass through to a destination city.” By 2010, Dixie Red Hills ranked twentyfourth in Golf Digest’s Best Nine Hole Courses in the Nation. By 2016, St. George’s Tourism Office reported that golfing contributed $55 million in economic impact to the area. Douglas Alder wrote in A History of Washington County from Isolation to Destination, “Though the Red Hills Golf Course was soon surpassed by many other ventures and other courses, its creation served as a turning point for St. George.” Sandstone Quarry Pathway Like the Dixie Red Hills Golf Course, the Sandstone Quarry Pathway, dedicated in 2016, exists mainly due to one man’s unrelenting efforts. Dr. Wayne Pace, a retired professor of organizational leadership and communication from BYU Wayne Pace at Pathway to the Quarry.

two sandstone pillars, and walk along the edge of the Red Hills Golf Course to the old quarry where stone was extracted to build the Tabernacle, the Temple, the Opera House, the old County Courthouse, Woodward School, and other prominent buildings. Plaques with historical references describe the stone removal process, and benches along the way allow visitors to linger and enjoy the panoramic views. Pace’s booklet, Bringing History to Life, depicts the 6-year struggle that “was worth the perilousness, uncertainty, and difficulty involved.” In the booklet, he documents the quarry’s history, stalled planning meetings, debates over location, jurisdictional approvals, design, funding, and construction. In the end, Pace succeeded, he “brought life and visitors back to the quarry.” Dixie Red Hills Golf Course and the Sandstone Quarry Pathway are forever enshrined in St. George’s history owing to the dedication and persistence of two men, Sid Atkin and Wayne Pace who are pioneers in transforming St. George into an outdoor recreation destination.V

Happy Trails, Happy Tales by Christine Ward

y husband and I became empty nesters when our only daughter went away to college last fall. My husband, Stoney’s dream has long been to live full-time in an RV and travel around. Before I would agree to test this out, we took an almost month-long trip from Moapa Valley to Reno to southern California, with a few stops along the way. Before I tell you about the trip, let me tell you his other dream — to be off the grid in the trailer, not having to rely on hookups for water, electric, etc. I was pretty skeptical that this could be achieved, especially since his nickname has NEVER been Mr. Fix-it. He proved me wrong, and did all the work himself to set up the fifth wheel for off-grid, long-term living. He installed solar panels with the whole battery system working with the panels, portable propane heaters, and a compost toilet to avoid wasting tons of gallons of water flushing. And he did a great job!

We set off on our trip late one evening, and hoped to make it at least half way to Reno that first night. We finally stopped for the night in the desert off the highway. The temperature was about 30 degrees. The fifth wheel was freezing when we got in, but it warmed up quickly once he got the heater going. One thing we hadn’t counted on, and were pretty perplexed about, was that memory foam mattresses FREEZE in low temperatures, and instead of functioning as a nice, cushioned extra on top of your bed, became a rock hard sleeping surface. Googling it later, turns out that the polyurethane retains some moisture and WILL freeze in lower temperatures.

stay in Reno, as it was hard to find any good information online about places to boondock there. Stoney’s instincts lead us to the Truckee River, where he found a perfect location right along the river.

Bright and early the next morning, we resumed our trip and stopped at Walker Lake in Hawthorne, Nevada. We enjoyed the beautiful scenery and let the dogs run around for a bit before setting off for Reno. We didn’t have a plan for where to

We visited the local BLM office in Reno, looking for the best place to go kayaking. The helpful employee there told Stoney about actual whitewater on the Truckee River, which of course Stoney had to try out. It is called the Truckee

We spent four lovely nights there, waking up to the sounds of a variety of birds who live around the river, especially large flocks of geese. However, we returned to the trailer Friday afternoon to find a bright red sticker giving us forty-eight hours to vacate the premises. Apparently, it’s illegal to camp along the river. A very nice Sparks police officer visited us the next day to explain the rules, and gave us some suggestions for other locations.

River Whitewater Park, and the website explains, “The Truckee River Whitewater Park at Wingfield opened in 2004 as a Reno redevelopment agency project, and has become a focal point of the Riverwalk. Kayakers of all skill levels (including beginners) can enjoy the one-half mile park which includes, easy access points from all directions, class 2–3 rapids, 11 drop-pools, 7,000 tons of smooth flat-top rocks and boulders along the river banks, and in-stream and convenient pedestrian walkways between both the east and west ends of Wingfield Park.” https://www.reno.gov/government/ departments/parks-recreation-communityservices/parks-trails/whitewater-park Stoney kayaked a total of 10 miles along the river, ending right where our trailer was parked, and said it was quite challenging, very cold, and a total blast. The river was pretty deserted in December, but we talked to a park ranger who said it gets totally crazy in the summer. We ended up in an RV park at the Grand Sierra Resort, and while Stoney really didn’t want to stay in a park, he liked this one because it wasn’t crowded, and we managed to snag the end spot and had no immediate neighbors. We spent the rest of our Reno stay, about another two weeks, in the park. Our plan had been to leave Reno on the Thursday before Christmas, taking our

daughter with us to spend Christmas in southern California at my sister’s house. However, once I saw that snow was forecast for Wednesday in Reno, we hastily changed our plans and left a few days early. We stopped in the south Lake Tahoe area the day we left Reno. Lake Tahoe is huge, beautiful, and very peaceful in the winter. Back on the road again, we made it as far as Lone Pine, California where we stopped for dinner and found a nice campground to spend the night. Lone Pine is located at the base of Mt. Whitney, with great views of the surrounding Sierra Nevada Mountains. Our plan was to maybe spend the day exploring, and possibly another night, but that plan was quickly scrapped when the camp host knocked on our door to tell us they were closing down Highway 395 to high profile vehicles because of the high winds. He said if we planned to get out of town anytime that day, we’d better head out quickly. And that camp host was correct, the winds were unbelievably strong, and a few times we thought we might have to pull over and wait it out. They did close the highway going north, but fortunately it remained open heading south. We arrived in sunny, southern California later that afternoon, relieved to have made it without incident.

We spent eleven days in southern California, and headed back to Moapa Valley on December 30, which was a mistake. Traffic along I-15 heading to Las Vegas was horrific. We ended up spending the night in Baker, California, and heading out early the next morning. All in all, it was a great adventure, with a few mishaps and learning experiences along the way including: • Frozen memory foam mattress topper • A few dead truck batteries • A broken jack on the fifth wheel • Running out of propane faster than we’d anticipated • Keys locked in the truck • Purchase of sweaters for our rat terrier who didn’t enjoy the freezing temperatures in Reno For others who might be looking to boondock in the Reno area, while you can’t camp along the Truckee River in Reno or Sparks, if you head south out of town along Interstate 580 toward Carson City, there looked to be some great places to pull off and camp off the grid. Always check weather conditions along your route because there were a great many routes closed off due to snow from south Lake Tahoe to southern California. V 41

view on EDUCATION

New Human Performance Center Changing the Landscape of Dixie State University, and the Entire Community

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“The Human Performance Center will change the landscape of Dixie State University — not only physically by adding a beautiful building along University Avenue, but also academically by providing state-of-the-art facilities in which the health and human performance professionals of tomorrow can train,” DSU President Richard “Biff” Williams said.

a void in southern Utah and Nevada’s current offerings.

The 155,000-square-foot facility, located in front of the Student Activities Center, will house the specialized classrooms and labs DSU needs to offer health and human performance programs.

Under construction since the end of 2017, the center is set to be completed by late summer 2019. It will house Dixie State’s health and human performance academic

One such program, Recreation & Sport Management, is dedicated to preparing students for rewarding careers in the recreation, sport, fitness, and tourism

by Jyl Hall roviding the space necessary to prepare students to address the community’s growing health, fitness and recreation demands, and catering to the needs of southern Utah’s event-based tourism industry, Dixie State University’s new Human Performance Center will fill

programs and student exercise facilities, as well as host community sporting events, in line with the University’s goal to provide “active learning. active life.” experiences to the student body and community at large.

industries. The degree will provide emphases in Sport Management, Corporate Recreation & Wellness, and Experience Industry Management. Another program, Population Health, will focus on the health outcomes of groups of individuals and how those outcomes are distributed within those groups. The program will offer emphasis in Healthcare Administration and Public Health. The Exercise Science program will provide students with a firm foundation in anatomy, physiology, nutrition, psychology, and biomechanics that can be applied in a variety of ways, including optimizing exercise sessions, increasing ease and productivity in everyday endeavors, preventing and fighting disease, preventing and rehabilitating injury, and training for specific athletic performances. The Human Performance Center will also provide space for Dixie State to partner with the University of Utah to offer Physical and Occupational Therapy programs in southern Utah in another effort to meet the needs of the community and offer students an opportunity to train in the same region they hope to practice one day. Serving as the area’s premier recreation facility, the center will be equipped to host local, regional, and state high school swim meets, Huntsman World Senior Games competitions, and other community-

sponsored athletic events. The center will also feature a 50-meter Olympic-sized swimming pool with deck and spectator space, making it the only pool in southern Utah to meet NCAA requirements to host Division II meets, and only the second in Utah to do so. In addition to housing Dixie State’s Campus Recreation and Intramural programs, the building will include exercise facilities such as basketball courts, an indoor hockey and soccer space, a student fitness center, a massive climbing wall, and an indoor track that connects to an open-air rooftop via a suspended sprint track. Additionally, the roof will provide

space where the University can host special events outside. “The entire Dixie State University community is excited for the Human Performance Center as construction progresses on this project,” Williams said. “We are eager to share this valuable resource with the community and see how it makes Trailblazer Nation an even better place to learn, recreate, and live.”V For more information about Dixie State University’s Department of Health and Human Performance, visit health.dixie.edu/ health-human-performance. 43

Sky Mountain Golf Course by Kent Abegglen - PGA Golf Professional, Sky Mountain Golf Course

ky Mountain Golf Course is a public 18hole golf course operated by the City of Hurricane, Utah. It is located in the scenic southern Utah St. George area surrounded by Zion National Park and the Pine Valley Mountain Range. It is located seven miles east of Interstate 15 off of Highway 9, 1030 North 2600 West, Hurricane, Utah. Sky Mountain is one of the most beautiful and picturesque golf locations anywhere in the world. The red sandstone rock formations and the majestic Pine Valley Mountain are a sight to behold! Sky Mountain Golf Course is famous for great scenery and the golf course being in great condition, along with an affordable price. The southern Utah area has always been a popular golf destination for full-time residents and golf travelers. The mild winter climate, along with many excellent golf courses to choose from, makes southern Utah an excellent choice for year round golf. Retirement couples and families enjoy one of the fastest growing recreation areas in the country. Sky Mountain is the first stop going south on Interstate 15 that is open for golf all year. Golf travelers make Sky Mountain a natural stop as they enjoy a friendly environment and a great golf experience. Sky Mountain is not a long golf course by industry standards, but is very challenging with

narrow fairways and greens. Accuracy is a premium. To shoot a good round of golf here, you need to be precise. Beautiful fairways are surrounded by natural desert habitat and volcanic rock formations. It is always wise to bring an old rock club or borrow a used one from the Pro Shop. There are unlimited opportunities for outdoor recreation in the Hurricane Valley area, hiking (National Parks), biking, golfing, sand dunes, four-wheeling, camping, fishing, and boating are just some of the things outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy. Quality of life, quality air, and peaceful communities are all trademarks of southern Utah. If you love an active lifestyle with year round great weather, be sure to visit or stay in the Hurricane Valley. Zion National Park is only 23 miles away from Sky Mountain Golf Course. Many National Park travelers make Sky Mountain a favorite stop to and from the parks. Come out and enjoy the beauty that is Sky Mountain. And donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to bring your camera. V Visit Sky Mountain at 1030 N. 2600 W., Hurricane, Utah, or schedule your tee time by calling (435) 635-7888 or see their website at www.skymountaingolf.com.

2018 NRPS Goes Beyond the Lights

by Charlene Paul

For those in attendance, they will have a chance to reconnect with colleagues, meet new people, participate in a variety of workshops, listen to speakers, and check out the latest products to assist them in their jobs.

n April 16-19, Nick Montoya and his staff will welcome parks and recreation professionals, including some coaches, from all over the state of Nevada for the NRPS Annual Conference. This year will be the second time the conference has been held in Mesquite. It is generally held in Las Vegas or Henderson when it is the southern region’s turn to host the event. This year, however, the venue will be outside of the glitz and glamour that is associated with southern Nevada. The theme, Beyond the Lights, is a perfect description for their destination.

The Exhibit Hall will be filled with top brand equipment and products for hands-on testing. There will also be a golf tournament and an equipment rodeo. What is an equipment rodeo? Just what it sounds like. Parks and recreation professionals will compete to see who can best operate the different pieces of equipment, large and small, that make their lives easier. Top speakers will present over 25 sessions with topics guaranteed to teach new ideas and concepts and leave the participants inspired to return home and incorporate all they learned at the conference.

“It is a time for all of us to get together and listen to each other’s ideas,” said Montoya. “There is so much more to parks and recreation programs than meets the eye. It takes dedicated professionals to keep these programs fresh, new, and exciting." So, if you are a parks and recreation professional who is looking for new ideas, a good game of golf, or who just wants to get together with old friends while making new friends in the process, mark your calendar for April 16-19. Go to www.nrps.org for registration information. (You can pre-register, or register the day of the event.) Then hop in your vehicle and head Beyond the Lights to the Casablanca Resort & Casino. You are sure to be dazzled and amazed with all that Nevada Parks and Recreation has to offer. V

Returning to Mesquite in March

by Rich Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien

he ParaLong Drive Cup is one of the most awe-inspiring sporting events held anywhere in the world. The event brings together individuals with a wide range of injuries, illnesses, or challenges as they battle it out on the long drive grid to determine which hitters are capable of hitting the longest balls. Now in its sixth year, the ParaLong Drive was originally known as the Amputee Long Drive Championship. The event was founded by Dean Jarvis who had his left

leg amputated above the knee due to osteosarcoma, a deadly form of cancer. Dean is a classic example of the indomitable spirit who did not let his amputation slow him down. He simply turned his attention to golf and began trying to master the game. Always driven by competition, he quickly found that competitive opportunities for golfers with disabilities were few and far between in the United States.

It was then that Dean decided to do something about it by creating events that provide amputee athletes, like himself, with more competitive opportunities. He chose the sport of long drive because it is ideal for those with mobility challenges, and championships can be decided in a manner of hours rather than an entire day. Shortly after the first Amputee Long Drive Championship in 2012, Dean began getting calls from other golfers with blindness, paraplegia, cerebral palsy, PTSD, and TBIs. He decided to give these athletes their chance to compete, and renamed the event the ParaLong Drive Cup. The 2013 ParaLong Drive Cup was held in Mesquite, and featured two lower leg amputees dueling it out in the Canyon with both eclipsing the 400-yard barrier. Jared Brentz won the event with a record drive of 409 yards, but not before Brandon Jacks became the first to eclipse 400 yards. Over the past few years, the competitors have developed tremendous comradery and enjoy the opportunity of competing head-to-head with other golfers with similar challenges in a World Championship event. The event continues to gain in popularity, and this past August over 40 ParaLong Drive competitors teed it up in South Carolina to determine the champions.

The awe-inspiring event returns to Mesquite Sports and Events Complex on March 7-8. The participants are very excited about the opportunity to compete at what is generally considered the ultimate long drive grid. In many ways, this is the Augusta National of the sport of long drive. Many of the top competitors from around the world have already committed to the event. They will be joined by a growing list of challengers vying for the chance at a world championship.

You wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to miss your opportunity to see some of the most awe-inspiring athletes in the world battling it out in the Canyon on March 7-8. V Sponsorship opportunities are still available for the event. For more information contact Dean Jarvis at (865) 748-0771; or email him at l_dean_jarvis@yahoo.com.

Cedar Cit y

The perfect place to exercise your body, your mind, and always with a view by Lani Penney, Cedar City • Brian Head Tourism Bureau

id you know physical activity is just as beneficial to the brain and psychological well-being as it is to the actual physical body, heart, and overall health? Recent studies have shown that engaging in physical activity has a direct impact on the functioning of the brain, and increase stamina in overall cognitive performance. Not only does Cedar City itself have a number of different activities to feed that physical fitness side, but the places and opportunities, all within 100 miles of Cedar City, are unreal. Making sure to get the necessary amount of physical fitness doesn’t have to involve a gym membership, weight-lifting, long distance running, or aerobics. A day spent skiing or snowboarding on the mountain or a hike in Zion National Park both involve a high amount of physical activity, and include an immense amount of fun at the same time. For the ambitious travelers staying in Cedar City, you could quite easily ski at Brian Head Resort one day, and hike Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park the very next day! Cedar City is located right in the heart of some of the most popular attractions in Utah that appeals to millions of visitors each year. It’s the center of so many sought after destinations, including Zion National Park (58 miles), Bryce Canyon National Park (78 miles), Cedar Breaks National Monument (34.5 miles), Brian Head Ski Resort & Town (32 miles), Kolob Canyons – Zion National Park (22

miles), and the list goes on and on. Staying in Cedar City makes for a very well-rounded vacation, The views as you travel the short distances on the scenic byways to these places won’t seem like travel at all, as they are breathtaking all along the way. Of course hiking in the national parks, or a day spent shredding at Brian Head Resort will leave you feeling a sense of accomplishment, both physically and mentally. However, Cedar City has much more to offer when it comes to feeding the outdoor enthusiast’s soul, exercising your body, and your mind – and of course, all with a view. Below we have compiled a list of unique activities in and around Cedar City for those who want to get outside and be creatively active. Cedar City Walking/Mountain Biking Trails Cedar City has five different walking trails, all accessible directly from town, all very well maintained, and all with incredible views of the southern Utah red rocks and more.

• Coal Creek Trail (3.4 miles): This trail runs from Bicentennial

Park, right through the heart of Cedar City, parallel to Coal Creek, and into the mouth of Cedar Canyon. • Cross Hollow Trail (1 mile): This trail begins near the I-15 south Cedar City exit, running alongside Cross Hollow Road to the north.

• East Bench Trail (2.65 miles): This trail connects with Coal

Creek Trail, forking off at East Canyon Park to the south, following a southbound trail just east of Cedar City. • Fiddlers Canyon Trail (.77 miles): Located just north of Fiddlers Canyon Subdivision, accessible from Cottontail Road. • Park Discovery Trail (.5 miles): This trail is great for families with small children, as it is quite short in distance. The trail wraps around the fields next to Park Discovery. Disc Golf Courses You read right, disc golf. Disc Golf courses do exist. Iron County has multiple courses to choose from, and boy is it fun and very family friendly.

• Enoch City Disc Golf Course: Located in Enoch, just north of

Cedar City. The course begins in Old Enoch Park, running through Liberty Park, and ends at Spanish Trail Park. • Ironside Disc Golf Course: This course is located in the Three Peaks Recreation Area, west of Cedar City. This is a moderate course including a decent amount of hiking, and of course, phenomenal views. • Three Peaks Disc Golf Course: This course is for those seeking more of a challenge, as it is located in the high desert of three peaks, including large rocks, trees, sagebrush, and much longer holes. The unique rock formation and juniper trees create some beautiful views. Winter Activities in Cedar Breaks Cedar Breaks is highly populated through the summer months, however, it is just as equally beautiful and worth seeing in the

winter. Beat the crowds by taking a winter adventure to the monument. Be sure to keep in mind the remote area you will be traveling in, and prepare accordingly to assure your safety. Please visit www.nps.gov/cebr for more information.

• Snowshoeing: Venture through the trees with your final

destination being Cedar Breaks National Monument. Guided snowshoe hikes for the public are offered by Cedar Breaks’ interpreters through the months of January through March. • Nordic Skiing: For the adventure-seeking, cross country skier, there are miles of groomed trails that make Cedar Breaks National Monument accessible in the winter months. Mountain Biking at Brian Head Resort Brian Head Resort provides outdoor adventure all year long. Summer and fall, Brian Head Resort has over ten different mountain biking trails providing access to southern Utah’s most scenic backcountry. The trails cover over a 100-mile radius, with new additions coming this year. The trails range from easiest to expert only, which allows something for all levels of mountain bikers. Both Navajo and Giant Steps are accessible for riders. Brian Head Resort also offers chairlift and shuttle service at each mountain. Please visit brianhead.com for biking, ticket pricing and additional information. V For more information on all the activities above, log onto visitcedarcity.com or call (435) 586-5124. 49

The Ledges Golf Club by Mike Jurca - Head Golf Professional

he Ledges Golf Club is coming off a great year in 2017. This spectacular golf course has hosted many corporate events, men’s and women’s leagues, Utah amateur tournaments, and high school and junior golf tournaments. The condition of the golf course continues to be stellar, and the recently remodeled hole 16 is a great addition to this desert beauty that borders the edge of Snow Canyon State Park. This 600 yard par-5 is a signature hole, and is definitely a challenge for any level of golfer. The remodel consisted of widening the fairway and landing area by nearly 50 yards, and leveling the right side of the hole where it dog-legs nearly 90 degrees to the right. Fairway bunkers were removed from the right side, and four new bunkers were placed along the left side, giving golfers a great visual target to aim at off the tee. Additionally, the white, black, and blue tee boxes were rebuilt to provide a nicer area for golfers to tee off from. This hole is one for the memory book, and visiting avid golfers need to find their way to The Ledges Golf Club to challenge this spectacular hole. As the start of 2018 has recently rolled around, The Ledges Golf Club plans to continue its presence in the Utah golf tournament circuit. It will be holding two Utah Golf Association Player Performance Ranking events. The first event was The Ledges Amateur (50 years and younger) on February 16-17. The second event will be The Ledges Senior Amateur on November 9-10.

These two tournaments will attract the best golfers from the state of Utah, as well as golfers from other bordering states. The field size for these events will be 144 players. Sign-ups must be well in advance to claim a spot. The Sunday following each tournament there will be a two man scramble. This gives participants the opportunity to team up with a good friend to challenge other two-man teams. There will be a nice purse for the winners of each event. Additionally, the men’s Club Championship will be held during the month of September for local men’s league participants. Our on-site vacation rentals provide an excellent opportunity for those not from the area to take advantage of our Stay n’ Play packages. With views of the course and Snow Canyon State Park, these vacation rentals are among the best in southern Utah. Finally, if you are looking for a great selection of men’s and women’s apparel, the Pro Shop provides the widest variety in southern Utah. The Pro Shop staff is professionally trained and always willing to answer questions or help you book your next tee time. The Ledges Golf Club also has two highly qualified golf professionals that offer year round private golf lessons for anyone looking to improve their golf game. You can visit the website today at www.ledges.com, stop in at 1585 W. Ledges Parkway, St. George, Utah or call the Pro Shop at (435) 634-4640. V

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view on MOTIVATION

Mental Fitness and Your Habits

by Judi Moreo

o you know that the level of your mental fitness is directly related to your habits? Actually, not many people are aware of this. Instead, they think that being mentally fit is something they are born with. It is not. You can easily develop and improve your mental fitness. How high would you say your mental fitness is? Answer the following: • Do you give up on exercise when it gets tough? • Do you find excuses for everything? • Are you stuck not losing weight regardless of what you do? If you answered yes to any of these, then your mental fitness needs work. When you allow excuses to stop you, you only hurt yourself. It is not really your lack of

motivation or willpower, it is your lack of mental fitness. When you are mentally fit, you don’t allow obstacles or excuses to block your way. Instead you battle through regardless of the circumstance. The easiest way to improve your mental fitness is by developing your habits. (A habit is a routine that you follow each day, almost without thinking. No one has to tell you to brush your teeth each morning, it is a habit.) Pick one thing that you would like to develop as a habit and work on it. If you want to lose those last ten pounds but haven’t given up your daily sodas, stop drinking them. Get tough mentally. It only takes about three weeks for an action to become a habit and to become ingrained in your mind. That really isn't that long, now is it?

Another example is wanting to run in a 5K, but not doing it. Think about how badly you want to do it, and then identify what it is that is stopping you. If you want this with all of your heart and soul, you will achieve it. You will find time to fit in training runs which will fill you with a sense of accomplishment. What it boils down to is your determination. To succeed, all you need is the perseverance to keep going. This means scheduling and planning out your runs and putting tools into place for success. Is Mental Fitness Inherited? You may be wondering if mental fitness is an inherited trait. Is it something you are born with or can mental fitness be developed? The good news is that anyone can improve their mental fitness if they are prepared to take action. Right now, you may be thinking it is impossible. You see plenty of people who seem to get just about everything they desire. For instance, a friend writes a book and gets published right away. You are hoping for the same, but not seeing any opportunities. There is actually a good reason for this, and it has to do with your mental fitness. How would you describe your attitude and the level of your passion towards your goal? Do you want to be an author more than anything else, or is it just a wish? If you are truly passionate about something, then your mindset automatically changes. You have the drive and motivation to make it happen. You are the one who works later or gets up earlier to get additional writing time. Have you ever noticed that some people who don't seem to have much talent become extremely successful? This is because they have the passion and the perseverance to reach their goals. Mental fitness is a factor that separates those who are good from those who are great.

This is such a huge factor that it actually outweighs talent. A talented musician may not get as far as a musician with only average musical skills because the average musician has far more mental fitness to work harder and longer. There are certain traits that are displayed by people with mental fitness. These include: • Motivation • Positive mindset • Self control • Good at handling pressure • Energetic These are the type of people who can turn on a dime and change direction. If things don't go their way, they don't let disappointment stop them. They simply go with the flow, change course, and adapt. So, if you have a goal or a dream that you want to reach, start making plans and taking action in order to achieve it. Map out a plan of attack and don't let anything stand in your way. Be flexible and ready to take action. If something comes up and you miss your writing time, don't let it pass. Just reschedule so you get your next page written. When you do these things, you are well on your way to showing that you have what it takes to achieve your goals and dreams. How Mentally Fit Are You? Many successful people are successful because they possess mental fitness. Some research studies suggest your

intelligence only accounts for 30% of your actual achievements. Mental fitness accounts for the rest. So, what makes a person mentally fit? If you are mentally fit, you have the perseverance to follow through on things. If you are an athlete, your mental fitness is displayed by not missing workouts; a student would not miss assignments; a writer works through the writer's block and puts words on paper anyway. People who are mentally fit are usually surrounded by successful people. They show traits such as being consistent, adhering to schedules, and always approaching things with a positive and professional mindset. In other words, they know what their responsibilities are and they carry them out. If you currently don't feel fit, don’t worry; you can work on developing this trait and increasing your mental fitness. Your first step is to define what the words mental fitness mean for you. There is no one definition that suits everyone. So write down things you can do that will imply you have mental fitness.

Here are a few examples: • Not missing your workouts for the next 2 weeks • Finishing your next project ahead of schedule • Stop drinking soda • Doing that extra rep before quitting • Not missing family night with your kids The only way to demonstrate that you have mental fitness is by taking action and proving it to yourself! Changing your mindset is one of the first steps to

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increasing your fitness. You need to have a positive mindset and be committed to following through with things. If you have decided to commit to a new exercise regimen for a month, you have to think about this in a positive way. This means not giving in to excuses for missing your workouts. It can help to view your mental fitness as one large muscle. Just like any of your other muscles, it needs to be exercised and developed to keep working effectively. When you are confident that you can tackle things head on, your mental fitness muscle is growing nicely. Always keep that positive mindset, and your mental fitness will not shrink when it comes time to face any circumstance. Easy Ways to Improve Mental Fitness Being mentally fit is not that difficult to achieve. Your mind loves to be put to use and the more you stimulate your mind and thoughts, the more your attitude changes. All of these changes combined can really help improve your mental fitness. 1. It is important to stimulate your mind on a regular basis, but you definitely don't want to over tax it. Always be open to taking on a new challenge, but don't take on too many at once. 2. Meditation is another fantastic way to improve your mind and body. It can give you a great boost of mental energy. As you meditate, it is important to focus on what you are doing. Leave any work or personal issues out of your thoughts. Yoga is a great way to get in meditation along with some physical exercise. 3. Are you stuck in the same old routine? When was the last time you tried something new? Challenging your brain by doing

something new is a great stimulation tool. This also helps increase your confidence levels. You may want to try a new sport, pick up a new book, or attempt a crossword puzzle. Get out of your rut by trying new things. 4. Are you the type of person who always offers to help when asked? You just can't seem to say no? This is not great for your mental health at all. Instead, start learning how to say the word no. It can relieve you of a ton of stress. 5. If you really want to increase your mental fitness, then allow yourself to work on those things you are passionate about. Stop putting them off, or waiting for the perfect time to do them. Be flexible and make changes to your schedule so you can follow your passions. 6. Your emotions can play havoc with you and decrease your mental fitness. Learn to stay in control, especially if your emotions often embarrass you. 7. One of the worst things anyone can do is to keep living in the past. This only causes you to think negatively, and can lead to severe depression. Start letting the past go and live in the present. Instead of wishing things were different, grab your mental fitness and make things different! As you can see, many of these tips help you move from being a negative-thinking person into a positive-thinking one. By becoming more positive, your attitude changes, and this in turn, increases your mental fitness. V

view on FITNESS

GIRLS just wanna have

GUNS by Laura Draskovich et Your Best Arms Ever With These Six Arm Exercises.

Shapely arms, including biceps and triceps are an important part of a symmetrical physique. They also look amazing in sleeveless tops when toned and lean! There is no secret when it comes to getting the arms that you want. All it takes is consistency, the right type of exercises, and the right amount of resistance, and you are on your way. Here is a quick guide

of some of the best exercises I have used to get my arms in top shape. Let's get those guns pumping! I prefer to train my arms directly one day a week for 30-45 minutes. You may prefer to train twice a week. However, giving the muscles enough time in between workouts to rest and rebuild is important. You should wait until you are no longer sore from your previous arm workout before working them out again. The Basics: Curls and Extensions Most biceps and triceps routines are based on two exercises: the curl (biceps) and extension (triceps). These exercises work by taking the muscle through their natural function with resistance. Your biceps contract to flex your elbow (bring your hand toward your face) and the triceps contract to extend the elbow (bring your hand back down from your face and straighten your arm). There are many variations of these movements, but the principle is always the same: curls flex the elbow, and extensions extend the elbow. Whoever said that women should do a lot of reps with zero weight needs to be set straight. If your workout is not hard, you are not going to see results. It is important to say before we get started, that in order to see results, you need to administer enough weight or resistance to challenge the muscle above and beyond its normal physical demands. By using this overload principle, you stimulate the muscle to change. Without it, there is no change.

Example Arm Exercises: Biceps • Hammer Curl • Barbell Curl • Incline Curl • Cable Curl

Triceps • Overhead dumbbell extension • Skull crusher • Cable pull-down • Kickback

For each muscle group, I recommend doing a super-set. This is completing two exercises back to back with little rest (30 seconds) in between. The rep range for each exercise is 12-15 for three sets. You should "feel the burn" on your last several repetitions of each set to know you have the right amount of weight. Feel free to add a superset of another two exercises to these which I will describe below. Let's get started! Triceps. The long muscle along the back of the arm.

• Tricep Bench Dips: This exercise utilizes your body weight so

it can be done anywhere, at home or in the gym. The key is to keep your back close to the bench during your set. Keep your chest up and let your elbows bend behind you as you lower part way down. Do not let your shoulders lift towards your ears. Shorten the range of the lift if this happens. • Kickbacks with Dumbbells: This exercise can be done using a bench or standing in a forward tipped position. I will describe the bench option here. Support your body in a neutral spine position so that your core muscles are cinched in. With the free weight in your hand, raise your elbow up past your side and bring the weight to your hip, palm in. This is your Start and End position. Extend your arm straight and return for one rep. Biceps. The shorter muscle group in comparison to the triceps.

• Hammer Curl with dumbbells: Good posture is always

important, so stand tall with abdominals pulled in and your knees slightly bent. With your hand at your sides, palms facing your body, curl the weights to full range, keeping your elbows at your sides. • Barbell Curl: Using an underhand grip on the bar, hands are right below your shoulders. Curl the bar full range, again, keeping your elbows at your sides throughout the repetition. Bonus: Want sexy shoulders? Try these amazing exercises that will be sure to turn heads! (Don't say I didn't warn you!)

• Lateral Raises: Dumbbells. With straight or bent arms, raise your arms from your sides to shoulder height.

• Overhead Press: Barbell or dumbbells. With arms out like a

goal post, elbows shoulder height and palms forward, press the resistance all the way up then return to start. • Upright Row: Barbell or Dumbbell: Palms facing your thighs, lift elbows up, moving the weights up your body. Keep elbows higher than hands during the lift. Have fun with this arm workout and enjoy having fantastic arms! Until Next time, Keep Living the Fit Life.V 57

Green Spring Golf Course by Nick Neeley photo by Steve Gwin - Pro Golf Services, LLC

reen Spring Golf Course is right in the middle of all the action in southern Utah and southern Nevada. We are located about 120 miles north of Las Vegas off I-15, 45 miles north of Mesquite Nevada, and 30 miles south of Zion National Park.

Our course is one of the most scenic venues in Utah. Located and owned by Washington City, we are one of southern Utah’s premiere golf courses, and have been one of the top courses in the state since we opened in 1989. Our beautiful course allows golfers the chance to relax and enjoy a round of golf, or even one of our annual tournaments, some of which include:

• Cotton Days held on the second Friday and Saturday of May. • Green Spring Amateur held on the first Saturday of August. • Two Day Two Man Scramble held on the first Friday and Saturday of December. Affordable rates and great views make Green Spring Golf Course a must-play whenever you are in the St. George area. Washington City is a thriving city funneling golfers from all over the world to the beautiful course. The influx of retired people who have moved to the area have discovered it to be a very attractive and a warm place to spend the winters, and to play golf. V Visit us at 588 North Green Spring Drive, Washington City, Utah, or call (435) 673-7888 to sign up for a tournament or schedule a tee time. You can also visit our website washingtoncity.org/recreation/ golf for our hours and rates. 58

5 Annual Mudd Volleyball th

Tournament Date Set by Linda Gault

ATURDAY, MAY 12 — SAVE THE DATE! You won’t want to miss Rotary Club of Mesquite’s 5th Annual Mudd Volleyball Tournament at the Eureka Casino Resort where participants and spectators alike will spend a fun day in the sun competing to be the BEST. Wind, rain, sleet, or snow will not stop those die-hard teams from competing for a chance to be a first, second, or third place winner and take home a trophy. Plus, Mesquite’s finest law enforcers and EMT/Firemen will continue their tradition of getting down and dirty for the distinction of “Studds of The Mudd” for the coming year. The Mudd Volleyball Tournament is Rotary Club of Mesquite’s first of two fun events held every year. (The Glow Run and Ball Drop are held in the Fall.) Organizers decided to simplify fundraising and give businesses a financial break by offering 2-for-1 sponsorship. New businesses will also be asked to support Rotary’s efforts as well.

Last year, businesses had the opportunity to purchase 3-foot by 5-foot banners which were displayed during the Glow Run & Ball Drop. This year, those businesses will be able to display their banners at both events for one price. The same will hold true for new businesses wishing to support Rotary and both communitywide events this year. Sponsorship packages include banners, t-shirts, and teams. Cost for a team of six is $180. There are many high school students wanting to participate who need a sponsor to cover the team/ individual fees. For more information on sponsorship options, please contact a Rotary member. The fun isn’t just for adults brave enough to get down and dirty. DJ #Juan will again be playing his tunes for everyone’s enjoyment, and those too young to participate will have a bounce house and special play area of their own where they will be wellsupervised. Refreshments will also be available.

Since you never know what Mother Nature has in store, be alert to the weather and prepare accordingly. You should consider a sun shade, sunblock, and even extra clothing. The events have taken place during very warm days as well as cold and windy days. Proceeds from this event have helped Rotary support Beaver Dam High School with much desired beautification to the school’s exterior. “Phase one of enhancements to the school were completed in June 2016 with the addition of trees, berms, and pavers connecting the parking lot to the stairway leading down to the ball field,” noted committee co-chair Keith Buchhalter. “The next phase will add more trees, berms with small plantings, and cement slabs for picnic tables. Our adopted school, ten miles away in Arizona, is very important to us and supporting it and the students is our number one priority.” For more information on our events and sponsorship levels, or to sign up your team(s) online, please go to www.mesquitenvrotary.org. The PayPal option is available for individual and team sign-up and payments. On behalf of the Rotary Club of Mesquite, we hope you will join us on Saturday, May 12 for some fun in the Mudd! Thank You for your support!V Linda Gault (307) 760-9544 Keith Buchhalter (702) 427-6278

More Rep in the gym or one more mile on the trails is just what Zyia is all about!

by Kirsten Saterfield

YIA Active is an active lifestyle brand. It is also a culture that believes in embracing activity with excitement, vigor, and delight. We feel that pushing your body and mind is easier and more fun with friends and family. Our mission is to inspire and uplift by making activity a fun and essential part of life.

As an active wife and mom of two littles, this was a brand I could get behind! Their mission spoke to me, and the discount isn't bad either! Being active has always been an important part of my life. I played sports in high school and have always enjoyed working out. Nine months after having my first baby, I joined Tough Country Crossfit and fell in love! Pushing myself to do One

As a stay-at-home mom and always sporting Athleisure wear, ZYIA seemed to be the perfect fit for me. The quality is amazing and the clothes are so cute, comfortable, and hold up through my toughest workouts or even playing at the park with the kids. ZYIA doesn’t require reps to carry their own inventory, so all sales go through the rep’s own website, and ship directly from the company. Reps collect commission from every sale, but don’t have to go through the hassle of storing products, collecting payment, and shipping to buyers. It’s such an easy process and commissions add up quickly. ZYIA is always keeping up with the current styles, colors, and patterns of today’s market. The fit is phenomenal! Strategic and thoughtful placement of

Play A Round, or Two, in Mesquite!

seams, colors, zippers, and hems create flattering and slimming clothing that women donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to just wear for a workout at the gym. Each item is designed with form and function in mind. New products launch every Wednesday, so the line stays updated with new looks. ZYIA can be purchased through consultants like me. I cover this area and have even been known to travel. I try to keep a good amount of clothing on hand so customers can try on before purchasing. In-home or online parties are a fun way for people to discover the fit and quality of this upcoming brand. ZYIA offers a very generous compensation plan for consultants and party hosts. The party host has the opportunity to earn discounts up to 50% off, plus free items of their choice. If you are interested in hosting a party, call up your friends and plan about an hour for a fun shopping experience. ZYIA offers leggings, bras, tanks, shorts, shirts, jackets, hats, and other accessories. In the last few months, they launched their menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s line with quality shirts and shorts. You are sure to find something you will love, whether you are spending the day on the golf course or grabbing lunch with friends. If you are interested in hosting a party or checking out select styles in person, contact me to schedule a time. Make sure to follow me on Facebook and/or Instagram to keep up-to-date on the latest styles being released weekly. Visit my website myzyia.com/kirstsater or call (702) 205-2979 for information. V 65

view on GOLF

The First Tee

by Rob Krieger — PGA Director of Instruction

he game of golf, like any sport, says its future is in its youth. The First Tee program for kids ages seven to seventeen, takes it to another level for growing the game of golf. It started 20 years ago with a simple question, “Why don’t more kids play golf?” To figure out why, the PGA of America, PGA Tour, USGA, the Masters Tournament, and the LPGA began working together to figure out a way to make junior golf more affordable and also bring the game to economically challenged communities. The First Tee found that by utilizing the many honorable values that the game of golf was based on and relating them to life lessons, not only would this help grow the game of golf but it would also develop community-oriented youth and better citizens. That’s why the First Tee program uses the game of golf as the medium to foster values into life skills that juniors use on the course, at home, and away from the sport. The hope is that they will use these skills for the rest of their lives. Juniors learn the 9 Core Values of:

Energy, Play, Safety, Vision, Mind, Family, Friends, School, and Community

Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship, Perseverance, Respect, Confidence, Courtesy, Judgment, and Responsibility

Locally, the First Tee of Utah at Southgate, has been operating out of Southgate Golf Club. It was brought to southern Utah by several people, including Nathan Fisher, David Hunter, and their law firm, as well as the Caddy Group who started it. They are stalwarts for its continued progress. They have been donating money, time,

In conjunction with the 9 Core Values, children are also taught about the 9 Heathy Habits of:

As the children grow and progress through the program, they must show growth in the game, and knowledge and understanding of the 9 Core Values and Healthy Habits by passing regular assessments. Upon passing, they are rewarded by advancing through the 5 Program Levels: PLAYer, Par, Birdie, Eagle, and Ace. The First Tee program with its 3,900 coaches and 24,000 volunteers, has reached 5.3 million youth across the entire United States, as well as globally. These programs are located at 1,200 golf courses, 1,000 youth centers, and 9,000 elementary schools, with even more growth expected in the coming years. The gender breakdown for the program is about 40% female and 60% male. Regionally, there are chapters close by in Utah and Nevada.

volunteers, and resources to make this program prosper. The executive director for The First Tee Utah, Paul Paugmire says, “Quite frankly, the program would not be here in southern Utah without them taking the lead … to make it happen and succeed. Their contributions and dedication to the program, along with the volunteers that help each week, are getting kids engaged, and the program is thriving in St. George.” The program operates two 10-week sessions on Thursdays from 4:00-5:30 PM in spring and fall. The spring session begins in March and ends in May, just as school will be finishing, and in the fall in August, just after school begins. Parents can sign their kids up by registering online at www.thefirstteeutah.org. For those wondering about the St. George City’s Junior Association of Golfers program (JAG), its focus is mostly golf and tournament play. It runs during the summer months when the kids are out of school. Therefore, between the two, they run independently, but funnel kids to each of the programs. The First Tee and JAG are great assets to our community. The City of St. George sponsors and supports both programs to help kids stay active. Last fall, I took over as the new PGA Professional Lead Instructor/ Director administering the program in our area. It is a great opportunity to not only teach golf, but more importantly, to develop our local youth. I started playing golf at the age of six, and growing up, I learned a lot of life lessons on the course from my father and his friends. This on the course education, and the

people I played with, are memories I cherish to this day. That is why I am excited to be a part of The First Tee which is an amazing way to work with our local youth. This program boasts that “91% of the alumni while in the First Tee engaged in community service, and that 85% of alumni credit the program for making them a better student” (source www.thefirsttee.org). If you would like to donate or volunteer your time to help with The First Tee program, please email rob@sgugolf.com and we will determine how you may help. This program is a lot of fun, and we need volunteers who are interested in helping kids have a positive experience while they gain wisdom and make friends. Remember, golf is an activity that can be played for a lifetime with family and friends. See you on The First Tee. V Fairways & Greens … Rob Krieger

Chloe Garner

The Quest to be the Best

story by Rich Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien photos courtesy of Rich O'Brien and Golf Channel

hloe Garner grew up in South Africa where she compiled an impressive record in junior golf that earned her a golf scholarship to Texas A&M. She helped lead the Aggies to the Big 12 Championship before transferring to East Tennessee State University after two years. She then helped lead ETSU to the 2013 Sun Atlantic Conference Championship. She graduated with a degree in marketing and went on to earn her MBA. She currently serves as the assistant golf coach for ETSU. She was introduced to the sport of long drive when she caught the attention of veteran long driver Brian Lawler while participating in a Pro-Am for the 2016

Tennessee Shootout. Lawler introduced her to Bobby Petterson who became her coach. Her career started with a bang as this phenom won her first two events, The Bash For Cash and The Rockwell Blast. Not only did she win the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s division at the Rockwell Blast with an impressive drive of 370 yards, but she also nearly qualified for the open division. In October, she capped off her rookie season by advancing to the final of the World Long Drive Championship. It was a classic matchup between a former world champion against a phenom. Garner led throughout the final, but on the last ball,

Phillis Meti summoned all of her will and strength and won her second world title. Coming so close to a world title can be a stinging defeat, but she knows that if you want to be the best you have to compete against the best. Her fitness, flexibility, and strength are keys to her ability to hit the long ball. She credits Crossfit for helping her to add nearly 50 yards to her drives in the past few years. Last year, Golf Channel announced it would be televising three events as part of their expanded 2017 WLDA coverage. The Clash in the Canyon held in Mesquite was the first of these historic telecasts and the

Men's Champion Ryan Reisbeck with Chloe Garner.

event did not disappoint as the final foursome included Garner, Troy Mullins, who arguably has the best swing in golf, and two world champions, Sandra Carlborg and Phillis Meti. This time in the final, Garner got a measure of revenge by beating Meti with a drive of 342 yards. The longest foursome in womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s golf history next went head to head in Denver for the Mile High Showdown and the event made history as Chloe became the first woman to hit a ball 400 yards. Amazingly, all four of the women would break the world record that day in a long drive event for the ages. This time Chloe was eliminated in the semi-finals by eventual winner Troy Mullins. Meanwhile, at the World Long Drive Championship in September, Garner dominated qualifying and had the longest drive of the day at 384 yards. She entered match play seeded number one and seemed in good position to win the championship, but had a bad set in the quarterfinals and was eliminated. During her first two seasons in long drive, Chloe Garner has had many accomplishments. She has won 50% of the six events she competed in, she set a world record by becoming the first woman to drive a golf ball 400 yards, and she came within one ball of winning a world championship. In many ways, she is just getting started in the sport of long drive and it will be exciting to see what she can do during the 2018 season. Her season will begin at the Clash in the Canyon when it returns to Mesquite, Nevada from April 21 - 24. You wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to miss any of the action as the defending champion continues her quest to be the best and drive a ball farther than any woman has ever done before. V

Sandra Carlborg with Chloe Garner at Mile High Showdown after they became the first wormen to break 400 yards.

Meet Your

Desert Dogs

Jelan Miguel Kendrick #9 College Park, GA 6’7’'

AJ Gaines #7 Shreveport, LA 6’4’'

Ben Vozzola #8 Las Vegas, NV 6’6’'

Johnathan Loyd #1 Las Vegas, NV 5’8”

Q: Who is your personal inspiration in life? A: God & strong black women

Q: Who is your personal inspiration in life? A: God

Q: Who is your personal inspiration in life? A: My Dad

Q: Who is your personal inspiration in life? A: My family.

Q: Who would you say is your athletic inspiration? A: Maya Moore

Q: Who would you say is your athletic inspiration? A: My Father

Q: Who would you say is your athletic inspiration? A: Jason Williams

Q: Who would you say is your athletic inspiration? A: Once again, my family.

Q: How long have you been playing basketball? A: I honestly can’t remember not playing basketball. I just assume I was born with a basketball in my hands.

Q: How long have you been playing basketball? A: 19 Years

Q: How long have you been playing basketball? A: Since I was 8 years old.

Q: Do you have a favorite song that gets you ready for a game or workout? A: A majority of Gucci Mane songs.

Q: Do you have a favorite song that gets you ready for a game or workout? A: Any song by Future.

Q: How long have you been playing basketball? A: As long as I can remember.

Q: Do you have a favorite song that gets you ready for a game or workout? A: I don’t have one particular song that I listen to, but it’s usually some Atlanta musician that gets me going before games. #culture Q: Do you have a game day ritual or any superstitions? A: Not really. I make sure that I pray and give thanks, but that’s about it. Q: Is there anything else you feel your fans need to know about you? A: I love y’all :)

Q: Do you have a game day ritual or any superstitions? A: I eat candy before every game, Skittles or sour worms. Q: Is there anything else you feel your fans need to know about you? A: I'm the GOAT (greatest of all time) at 2K. Q: What is your social media information so your fans can follow you? A: IG-slamcam7 Twitter- humanwindmill

Q: Do you have a game day ritual or any superstitions? A: I make sure to eat a great meal, hydrate, listen to music, and have a good stretch. Q: What is your social media information so your fans can follow you? A: Instagram- benvozzola Twitter- @ben_vozzola Facebook- Ben Vozzola

Q: Do you have a favorite song that gets you ready for a game or workout? A: Any Wayne song. Q: Do you have a game day ritual or any superstitions? A: I just get ready for the game. Q: What is your social media information so your fans can follow you? A: IG - jloyd10 Twitter- youngloyd24

Q: What is your social media information so your fans can follow you? A: IG- Jalenkendrick 71

St. George Chamber

Fitness

by Susi Lafaele - St. George Area Chamber of Commerce, Director of Operations

id You Know? It has been estimated that the healthiest employees are three times more productive at work than their colleagues. The St. George Area Chamber of Commerce has challenged its members to a three-month Healthy Business Challenge. The hope is that through this challenge, employees will be more productive, have less absenteeism, a decreased frequency and cost of workersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; compensation, improved staff morale, satisfaction and motivation, improved retention, and improved employee engagement and relationships. Studies show that the increase in preventable disease and workplace injury resulting

from unhealthy living is a major cause of workplace absence or disruption. Collaborating with Intermountain LiVe Well Center in St. George, Utah, the Healthy Business Challenge provides the opportunity for participants to kick off 2018 with a fresh start! This challenge is for anyone who is looking for support, education, a plan for improvement, and an increased sense of well-being. Weekly Saturday events and nutritional lectures provide opportunities for people to increase their knowledge and strength. At the end of the challenge, winners will be announced at the April Chamber of

Commerce lunch for participants who lost the most amount of weight, lost the most fat mass, gained the most muscle, and the business that collectively did the best. Besides the Healthy Business Challenge, the Chamber also hosts a spring and fall golf league. With 12 picturesque golf courses in southern Utah, and several more less than an hour away, golf and business go hand-in-hand. Golf isn't merely a leisure sport, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a networking opportunity of the modern workforce, a fluid venue where business gets done. In addition to connecting with business individuals, studies show that exercising

outdoors in the fresh air with others can help you stay calmer and help combat the stresses of work life. Golf can help you get active, stay in shape, lower cholesterol, reduce your risk of heart disease, and research shows it may even help you live longer. The Chamber’s spring league lasts during the peak season of March through June, and teams travel weekly to a different City of St. George course, playing nine holes with a different golf team each week. From the black rock at Sunbrook to St. George’s first golf course at Dixie Red Hills, the views are unparalleled and difficulty levels vary. The fall golf league goes from September to November at Washington City’s Green Spring Golf Course with their signature holes five and six have golfers shooting (and sometimes cursing) across red rock ravines, all set against the stunning backdrop of Pine Valley Mountain. And during the summer months when it’s too hot for outdoor recreation, the St. George Area Chamber of Commerce, in

St. George Area Chamber staff biking to work.

partnership with Dixie Regional Medical Center and Southwest Utah Public Health Department, recognize restaurants that offered healthy entrée options by awarding them the “Good for You Dixie” seal of approval. V

If you are interested in obtaining the award and seal, contact Audrie at afrehner@swuhealth.org for more information. To learn more about the St. George Area Chamber, visit www.joinchamber.com.

view on THE ARTS

St. George Art Museum Needs Volunteers! T by Alicia Lockwood - St. George Art Museum he St. George Art Museum is the leading museum in the St. George area and has been an essential part of the community for 20 years. We feature exhibits of many cultures and times, as

well as the work of local and regional artists. We also have many yearly, monthly, and special events. The St. George Art Museum is in need of volunteers for our Docent-led tour program. A docent

is a person who serves as a guide and educator at the Museum.

We work with the Washington County School District to provide tours for 4th and 5th grade students. This program provides students the exposure to many aspects of art and the rich history of St. George, which some students may never have the chance to experience without these tours. The 5th grade tours begin in September along with the Meet the Artist program, where local professional artists give demonstrations of their work. The 4th grade tours begin in January along with presentations by Historic St. George Live, a separate group of volunteers that dress up as well-known historic pioneer figures and talk about how St. George was settled. The 4th and 5th grade tours are once a day, 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM, generally on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Two classes come at a time. One class will go to the museum and the other to the coordinated presentations, then switch at the 40-minute mark. In the museum, for the Docent-led tours, the students split into four small groups. Each Docent leads their group around and discusses the art on display. Docents can sign up for as many tours as they would like. On occasion, we have additional special tours from varying age groups or other schools that ask for a Docent-led tour of the museum. The special tours are coordinated in advance. It is not necessary to have experience or previous knowledge of art or of being a Docent. We provide Docent training, as well as an information packet to use. This is a great opportunity to learn a new skill and be involved in the community. As part of the Art Museum staff, we have an Education Committee and a Docent Liaison to offer support. Other benefits include, free museum passes, two

luncheons a year, first preview of the new exhibits and invitations to opening exhibit receptions. Here are some comments from some of our Docents: “Now that I've been a docent and experienced the students’ reactions to all the different artists and styles of art, I can honestly say that these exhibits are making an incredible impression on these students” – Sue Harvest, Docent “For a lot of the kids, we are their first experience to the world of art museums. It’s a privilege to be a part of that journey with them. Hopefully, we inspire them with a desire to visit more art museums in their future.” —Stephanie Wheeler, Education Committee Chairperson “I started my volunteer docent journey when I was 19 years old, as it was a great way to jump start my experience on art education. When you are giving tours as a Docent, you engage students to build conversation on what they think, feel, and observe within the artwork.” – Mariah Baumgartle, Docent Join us for the good feelings of volunteer work. Please call St. George Art Museum at (435) 627-4525 or visit the St. George Art Museum at 47 E. 200 N., St. George, Utah for more information. You can also call Stephanie Wheeler, Education Committee Chairperson at (801) 809-2418 and Gwen Shifflet, Docent Coordinator (702) 250-1405. V 75

view on BUSINESS

"Hey Mom, What’s for Summer?" by Cassandra Cousineau

very year, thousands of parents across the country scramble to find ways to keep their children occupied during summer break in a meaningful way. Booking vacations, visits to relatives, and planning extracurricular activities can challenge even the most organized. Families with young athletes especially struggle to identify the right sports camps. The solution comes down to a combination of location, quality of instruction, and value. Mesquite has the answer - again Let’s face it, summer in Nevada is, well, sizzling. Perhaps the only thing hotter than a July day is the opportunity to secure a spot in a high-caliber sports camp with access to an indoor facility. Rising Star Sports Ranch Resort is the place for athletes of all levels to experience training and spend meaningful time at a summer camp. Even better, is the availability of The Barn, Rising Star Ranch’s indoor fieldhouse. Nike Camps, the largest sports camps network in the world, will once again facilitate its basketball, softball, and baseball programs at Rising Star Sports Ranch from June to August 2018. With ratios averaging 10:1, and less in some cases, Nike camps are known for giving individual attention to take young athletes to the next level.

“Overnight sports camps contribute in a unique way to an athlete’s development, and are vital to building leadership skills, confidence, and learning life skills,” said Rising Star Ranch COO Andre Carrier. Highlighted by a host of accomplished coaches, including softball Olympian Lori Harrigan-Mack; former MLB player and scout for the Chicago Cubs, Tom Myers; and Durango High School Boys’ Basketball Head Coach DeShawn Henry, the facility is the official Nevada home for Nike’s overnight camps. Outside of ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, Rising Star Ranch is the only facility in the country to offer both complete sports training and competition facilities, as well as a hotel designed specifically to meet the unique needs of traveling sports teams. Driven by a vision to improve the overall travel experience for athletes, coaches, and parents, Rising Star Ranch COO Andre Carrier has emphasized the need to create an environment where everyone involved in youth sports tournaments and camps can be their best selves. “As parents, we often say how fast the years fly by with our kids and we should make the most of that time. The Ranch was not only built for competition but for fun, laughter, learning and memories.” The full slate of Nike camps is just part of the training and camp programs at Rising Star Sports Ranch Resort this summer. Check the website www.risingstarsportsranch.com. V

7th Annual Mesquite Balloon Festival M photo by Deena Snyder

esquite Gaming, owner of Casablanca Resort and Virgin River Hotel, and the Mesquite Resort Association celebrated the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival during the last weekend of January. The event featured a hot air balloon launch each morning, and a night glow each evening. Balloon launches began each morning, Friday through Sunday at 7:30 AM. Once the balloons were ready for flight, spectators looked up in awe to the Mesquite skies as 35 colorful balloons soared above. Throughout the mornings, visitors walked around, bundled in blankets with coffee in hand to get a closer look at the balloons.

“The festival offers a lot of options for attendees, from morning launches, night glows, and a champagne tasting. Matched with our great entertainment, it makes this festival a must attend for locals and people visiting Mesquite,” said Christian Adderson, corporate sales manager for Mesquite Gaming. The evenings added just as much excitement with the Balloon Night Glow and Candlestick Glow show which began at 6:00 PM on Friday and Saturday. Saturday night also included a champagne tasting inside the CasaBlanca Resort’s Skydome Lounge. Live shows kept the energy high all weekend long with performances by Tyriq & Jamestown, an exciting rhythm and blues, funk and dance band, PyschoBilly, who played a wide variety of country to classic rock, and A Night at the CopaCabana, A Tribute to Barry, starring Mark O’Toole. V

Oasis Golf Club — Mesquite, Nevada by Golf Mesquite

he Oasis Golf Club is home to Mesquite’s only 36-hole facility featuring the Palmer and Canyons golf courses. With two practice greens, a chipping green, and driving range, the Oasis facility has the practice amenities available to work on shaving strokes off your score. Members can enjoy unlimited golfing privileges, merchandise and food benefits, and special guest discounts for friends and family members. The Grille Room is open for casual breakfast and lunch along with a fully-stocked bar. Many locals enjoy the varieties of salads and wraps on the menu in The Grille Room. The Redd Room was designed to accommodate member tournament parties, private dining, weddings, and quinceañeras. Dinners are served at The Grille Room and Redd Room on Fridays and Saturdays only. You can visit The Canyons or the Palmer at 100 Palmer Ln., Mesquite, Nevada. To set up a tee time, see their website at www.theoasisgolfclub.com or call (702) 346-7820.

The Canyons The Canyons course is built in the canyons of North Mesquite and laid out perfectly with what nature has already designed. Originally the Canyons was opened as a 9-hole course that was part of the Palmer design. However, due to growth and demand, designer David Druzisky was brought in to design what would become the front 9 holes of the now, Canyons course. This course is the classic tale of the two nines. The front nine is comprised of shorter, shot placement, golf holes. But the back nine will challenge you with longer, narrower holes that will test anyone’s ability to hit it long and straight.

The Palmer The Palmer course was the first golf course designed and built with the future growth of Mesquite in mind. It was the second golf facility to be opened in what would become one of the fastest growing towns in the country. The design team used the natural landscapes to shape the original 27 holes that were opened as the Palmer and Vistas 9. Each hole will test every club in your golf bag. Hole number six was said to be Mr. Palmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorite desert golf hole. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a challenging short par-four hole that gives the golfer a risk reward option to score well. The Palmer course has been nationally ranked in many golf publications and was selected as the main host course during the popular TV show, Big Break Mesquite. V

Falcon Ridge — Mesquite, Nevada by Golf Mesquite

alcon Ridge is a desert layout with spectacular elevation changes, numerous water hazards, and high mesa views. With multiple tee boxes, the course is a challenge while offering an enjoyable round of golf. Designed by locals, Kelby Hughes and Cresent Hardy, this course is one of the most unique courses in the desert. Visitors and locals alike enjoy the ease and layout of the front nine because it gives them a chance to score well. From the time you drop off your clubs, to the time you get back in your car, you’ll be greeted by friendly staff that will ensure you have a great golfing experience. Scotty’s Bar and Grill is a local’s favorite and is famous for their Falcon Chips and homemade chipotle dressing. When dining at Scotty’s, you’ll find that the Southwest Chicken Salad will be on your repeat list of items to order off the menu. V You can visit Falcon Ridge at 1024 Normandy Ln., Mesquite, Nevada. To set up a tee time, see their website at www.golffalcon.com or call (702) 346-6363.

Sand Hollow — Hurricane, Utah by Golf Mesquite

he Championship Course at Sand Hollow Resort is a master planned golf resort in Hurricane, Utah. The championship course has been voted the #1 resort golf course in Utah several times. The resort’s motto is: “ESCAPE, PLAY, DISCOVER, RELAX.” You can accomplish each one of these descriptive objectives each time you visit Sand Hollow Resort. Sand Hollow Golf Course is as visually stunning as it is challenging. The course moves in and among the distinctive red rock outcroppings of southern Utah. The newly built villas and homes offer respite to all vacationers after a day on the links. Other activities to enjoy nearby include boating, atv rentals, swimming, and hiking. Grab a delicious bite at Sand Hollow Grill. Great Food. Beautiful Views. Comfortable Setting. V You can visit Sand Hollow Golf Course at 5625 W. Clubhouse Dr., Hurricane, Utah. To set up a tee time, see their website at www.sandhollowresorts.com or call (435) 656-4653.

Coyote Springs — Coyote Springs, Nevada by Golf Mesquite

oyote Springs Golf Club is located just 55 minutes from Mesquite. Since opening in 2008, Coyote Springs is considered by most to be Jack’s finest desert creation! Coyote Springs has been rated by Golf Digest in the Top 100 Greatest Public Courses and Golf Magazine’s & Golfweek Magazine’s Top Places You Can Play. The course plays to a par-72 and ranges from 5,349 yards from the forward tees to 7,471 yards from the championship tees. Eleven lakes come into play on the beautiful golf course. Coyote Springs has one of the largest and most diverse practice facilities in the world. The current practice facility measures 19 acres, features more than 100,000 square-feet of tee area, 13 target greens for a variety of club selections, as well as a short game green for pitching, chipping and bunker practice. The practice green measures 10,000 square-feet and offers a multitude of hole locations to prepare you for your golf experience. The facility is anticipated to expand to 32 acres within the next few years. Stay and play packages are available as well as local rates for Clark County residents. The newest addition at Coyote Springs is Mitch’s Bar & Grill. If you ask for one of their mouthwatering burgers, you won’t be disappointed! V

You can visit Coyote Spings Golf Club at 3100 NV-168, Coyote Springs, Nevada. To set up a tee time, see their website at www.coyotesprings.com or call (877) 742-8455.

Coral Canyon — Washington, Utah by Golf Mesquite

oral Canyon works its way around some of the area’s natural land formations that give the course its character and beauty. Opening up with two par-five holes makes this course stand out from others. This championship course is a mix of risk/reward holes with fast, true greens. Hole number six is the short par-three signature hole that requires the golfer to choose which club will best suit them to hit their shot over a deep ravine onto an island green. Another “unknown benefit” that golfers will see during their round are the golden eagles that live year round on the course. Be sure to show up early to enjoy a great meal before your round at Coral Canyon Grille.V You can visit Coral Canyon at 1925 N. Canyon Greens Cir., Washington, Utah. To set up a tee time, see their website at www.coralcanyongolf.com or call (435) 688-1700.

VVHS Automotive Training

Revving Up Career Engines by Linda Faas

ids have been attracted to cars since the invention of the wheel. Virgin Valley High School offers a three-year training program in Automotive Technology that speaks to that attraction and helps kids understand so much more than simply how to change a flat tire. Jeff Hughes has been teaching at VVHS for 15 years. In that time, he has taught hundreds — maybe thousands — of students to deal with everything under the hood of a vehicle. And what makes him the happiest of all? Helping kids learn a concept of complex electronics or how an internal combustion engine actually powers a car. “It’s that aha! moment that I love,” he says. “When a kid really gets it, teaching is all worthwhile. ” Hughes teaches a full schedule of automotive classes to a total of about 150 students. They usually take the beginning class when they are ninth graders. This elective class is the introduction to the nuts and bolts of an engine for most students, and most are interested in the class. They hope to get their driver’s licenses, and many parents want them to understand something about a vehicle before they slide behind the wheel.

CTE director Maury Putnam advises Gavin Walsh and his mother, Jaime Walsh of scholarship possibilities.

Hughes’ students learn that safety is top priority in dealing with cars. Lots of things can go wrong with airbags, batteries, and poorly maintained vehicles. Does automotive class make kids better drivers? Probably so. “With awareness of the danger of low tire pressure, they can prevent accidents,” he says, giving one simple example of how car knowledge can help lead to mature actions.

Now Oﬀering FREE Blind Installation 86

Then there is the fun of driving that most kids crave. Advanced students are given the chance to actually drive at Las Vegas Motor Speedway during Hot Summer Nights, a program run by the US Army. They can drive the quarter mile track and meet pro race car drivers like Antoine Brown and Tony Schumacher who are sponsored by the Army. What could be more fun than that? “This course of study is so important because elements they learn apply to many other skills, including computers, electronics, understanding math and complex systems, and so on. About 20 kids out of 150 who take first year courses may end up in the automotive industry. When they graduate, they already have the skills to handle entry level work in a garage. Many work their way up from there,” Hughes explains. For students who wish to get post-high school training that can launch them into higher paying tech jobs, there are several schools in the area that offer technical certificates. “Students who finish three years in our VVHS program earn dual credits at College of Southern Nevada, Snow College, and other schools. These high school classes are stepping stones to an associate’s degree, saving tuition and time for the graduate who wants to continue his or her education,” says Hughes. Automotive trade schools such as Universal Technical Institute in Phoenix, Arizona provide a certificate for students who complete 12 to 18 months of training. From there, it is time to head out to into the job world. CTE Director Maury Putnam echoes Hughes’ words when she pushes students to take advantage of the college credits they can earn by completing one of the nine three-year career training programs at VVHS. While earning one high school transcript credit, the student’s college transcript will reflect THREE college elective credits, potentially saving up to $500 per college course when the student enrolls in a post-high school course of study.

VVHS automotive student checks the oil.

When an automotive program helps a high school student learn complex skills, drive safer, and earn college credits, it is revving up a career engine that will win the race toward a great future.V

Instructor Jeff Hughes in VVHS auto shop.

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Designing for Fitness Inspiration by Helen Houston

f you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe Mesquite is fitness crazy, consider the numerous fullfacility gyms in town, the yoga classes, swim classes, hiking clubs, bicycle clubs, and letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not forget CrossFit. Just stand in your front yard during the early morning and be amazed at all those out walking or jogging. Maybe going to a gym is intimidating or cost-prohibitive. Or perhaps privacy is important when working out, but having an indoor home gym is not an option. Many fitness-minded individuals are recognizing the emerging trend of personal, customized outdoor fitness gyms. Even a small corner in your backyard can be transformed into a perfect place to

What is the cost? • What about a budget? • Will you be preparing for an entire project or just equipment? • Is this a DIY, or will you be hiring out? What is your fitness area vision? • Do you have a clear vision and objective for the project? • What are the specific pieces of equipment you want to include? • Does your project have special meaning?

stretch, climb, balance, press, push, pull, extend, and even meditate. Enjoy exercise while breathing fresh air in a relaxing, scenic natural environment. When it comes to equipment, there are many options to choose from. There are companies who will design your outdoor gyms with exercise stations personalized with your fitness goals in mind. The equipment can be clustered in confined areas in your backyard with complete effectiveness. Some stations include a leg press, parallel bars, balance beam, dome climber, chest press, hip twist, sit up bench, and treadmills.

Questions to Consider When Designing Your Outdoor Project Who will be using the site? • What age ranges will your fitness areas serve? • How many people should your fitness area be able to serve at one time? • Are there people with special needs to consider? What does the landscape look like? • Does the site have space constraints or unique features – walls, trees, fences? • Will you need to prepare the site – tree removal, leveling, drainage?

Equipment use, maintenance, and safety. • Have you read the instructions and are you thoroughly aware of its proper use? • Set up a regular schedule for equipment maintenance and repair. • Inspect moving parts and tighten hardware connections. • Maintain a level surface. • Correctly position sprinklers and water flow for longer equipment life. Today, we all realize that fitness activities and an active lifestyle are essential to improved health, longevity, and the enjoyment of life. Yet, people become increasingly sedentary. The biggest obstacles remain personal motivation and available opportunities. An outdoor fitness gym could be your first step in the right direction. V

Kanab Utah’s 12th Annual Amazing Earthfest

Celebrates Trails & Rivers; Explores Climate Change

riginally settled by pioneers in the late 19th century, small towns and cities scattered throughout rural Utah are gateways to some of America’s most magnificent public lands. Over the past dozen years, Amazing Earthfest has helped bring awareness to their unique position as desirable places for people who love natural beauty to relocate. By celebrating national and state parks, national forests, monuments, and public lands in a seven day festival of learning, arts, and outdoor adventure featuring over 30 events, one small city, Kanab, Utah, is becoming a destination for people interested in quiet, self-directed exploration, and emerging environmental and sustainability awareness. Themes for the 12th Annual Amazing Earthfest 2018, taking place May 13-19, include commemorating the 50th anniversaries of the National Historic and Scenic Trails Act, and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, along with immersion in some of the darkest night skies to be found anywhere in the lower forty-

eight. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/ nationaltrailssystem/index.htm With adventurous hikes and bike rides, informative lectures, music, and star parties, Earthfest helps re-establish spiritual connections to the natural world that are so essential for holistic fulfillment. Kanab’s bakeries, galleries, and restaurants supply the nourishment, artistic and gastric, to go the distance!

and scenic trails, and districts of public land with world-class cultural, wildlife, geophysical, scenic, and recreational resources. What impacts might America's federally managed estate likely anticipate for animal and plant species, timber and rangelands, water resources, recreation, and rural economies? What would a proactive response look like for Utah? How can we help craft one?

And what may our changing climate hold in store for the beloved red rock landscapes we celebrate at Earthfest? Are our cherished public lands, and all the wild creatures that live on them secure?

Sunday, May 13, volunteers from the worldwide Climate Reality Project, an organization founded by former Vice President Al Gore to inspire and quicken the transition to renewable sources of energy, offer ideas, and perspective at our opening event exploring sustainability concepts for the 21st century. A Climate Reality leader will deliver the keynote address, describing the state of the climate change movement across the world and how you can get involved. Don’t miss southern Utah’s 12th Annual Amazing Earthfest. For info visit: www.AmazingEarthfest.org or www.facebook.com/AmazingEarthfest/ V

Drought, insect damage, wildfire, heavy downpours, and flooding are occurring with greater frequency in the high desert regions of the Intermountain West. The state of Utah forms the heart of this region. What other trends are likely to manifest across the Colorado Plateau in a steadily warming world? The Plateau is home to an astonishing number of parks, forests, monuments, wilderness areas, historic

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The Nevada

by Charlene Paul

Triangle

ost people have heard of the Bermuda Triangle in the Atlantic Ocean where ships and planes have mysteriously gone missing for decades. But if you asked them about a similar place in Nevada, they would probably just shrug their shoulders. The Nevada Triangle lies in an area of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and covers approximately 25,000-square miles of underpopulated wilderness. It is estimated that 2,000 planes, flown by experienced pilots disappeared under mysterious circumstances in the Nevada Triangle in the past 70 years, with many of the crash sites never found.

The Triangle spans from Las Vegas, Nevada in the southeast to Fresno, California in the west, and connects to Reno, Nevada at the top. To intensify the mystery, the militaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top-secret Area 51, with its conspiracy theories of UFOs and paranormal activity lies within this rugged wilderness. Probably one of the most famous planes to go missing was flown by record-setter, sailor, and adventurer Steve Fossett. On September 3, 2007, Fossett set out in a single-engine Bellanca Super Decathlon. His course took him over Nevadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Great Basin

Desert. He took off, but never returned. Four months later, he was declared dead. In September, 2008, Fossett’s identification cards were found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains by a hiker. The crash site, along with two bones belonging to Fossett were discovered a few days later.

happened to his son. That search lasted 14 years. Clinton died of a heart attack in 1959 without finding his son or the missing plane. A year later, a United States Geological survey researcher working in the area found the airplane wreckage in and near an unnamed lake. Today that lake is known as Hester Lake.

One of the earliest stories of planes being lost in the Triangle dates back 70 years when a B-24 bomber crashed in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in 1943. The bomber was piloted by 2nd Lt. Willis Turvey and co-piloted by 2nd Lt. Robert M. Hester. It also carried a four-passenger crew that included 2nd Lt. William Thomas Cronin, navigator, and 2nd Lt. Ellis H. Fish, bombardier. Sgt. Robert Bursey served as engineer, and Sgt. Howard A. Wandtke served as the radio operator. The flight was supposed to be a routine night training flight from Fresno, California’s Hammer Field to Bakersfield, California, on to Tucson, Arizona, and back to Fresno.

In May, 1957, another military plane went missing when Air Force Lt. David Steeves took off from Hamilton Air Force Base near San Francisco in a T-33 training jet. On its way to Arizona, the plane disappeared. After an unsuccessful search, the Air Force declared the 23-year-old pilot officially dead. However, dressed in filthy, tattered clothing, looking gaunt and starved, Steeves reappeared 54 days later.

When the plane didn’t show up the next day, an extensive search was started. Nine B-24 Bombers were sent to find the missing plane. Instead of finding the missing bomber, another bomber went missing. The whereabouts of squadron commander Capt. William Darden, his plane, and the rest of his crew would remain a mystery for 12 years, when Huntington Lake Reservoir was drained in 1955 in order for repairs to be made to the dam.

Charles Ogle, a wealthy real estate developer who took off from Oakland, California in 1964, vanished without a trace on his way to Las Vegas.

According to the investigation, Darden had experienced wind turbulence and lost hydraulic pressure. The two soldiers who parachuted from the crippled plane and survived told investigators that Darden saw a snow-covered clearing and told his crew to jump. The investigators concluded that Darden mistook the frozen lake for a clearing. Statements by the survivors said that the lake wasn’t solidly frozen. When the bomber was finally found, it was 190 feet below the water with five of its crew members still at their stations. Clinton Hester, the father of co-pilot, Robert Hester from the first missing bomber began a private search to find out what

Lt. Leonard C. Lydon safely parachuted after his Army fighter squadron got lost over the Sierra Nevadas in 1941. The plane wreckage was never found.

As you can imagine, the mystery of the Nevada Triangle is ripe with conspiracy theories, especially with its connection to Area 51 where the United States Air Force is known to test all sorts of secret prototype aircraft. Many experts believe, however, that the disappearances can be attributed to the geography and atmospheric conditions. The Sierra Nevada Mountain range runs perpendicular to the Jet Stream which, coupled with sheer, high altitude peaks and a wedge-shaped range create unpredictable winds and downdrafts. Known as the Mountain Wave, this volatile weather condition can rip aircraft from the air, crashing it to the ground. Of course, pilot error, mechanical failure, or inexperience flying over the rugged mountain terrain could also explain the phenomenon that is the Nevada Triangle. But that would take the mystery out of the legend. V

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GARDENING

Spring Garden Calendar by Dr. Q, Star Nursery Staff Horticulturist

pring is in the air and it’s time to get outdoors. Enjoy the beauty of the desert. Below you’ll find a checklist of items to address this season. If you should have any questions, visit your local Star Nursery Garden Center and speak with an associate. We’ll be happy to guide you in the right direction. Reset sprinkler clocks to match requirements of the Southern Nevada Watering Authority Drought Watering Restrictions Guide if drought conditions are in effect. Get a copy from any Star Nursery. Inspect your irrigation system for correct water delivery to all plants. Fertilize your trees and shrubs. Your plants are stirring and will benefit from a

feeding of balanced or complete fertilizer like 15-15-15. An organic-based fertilizer like Dr. Q’s® Tree, Shrub & Vine Food will condition your soil while getting the plants ready for rough weather ahead. For legumes, fertilize with little to no nitrogen. These will require more phosphorus and potassium. Dr. Q’s® Desert Plant and Cactus Food is a good choice. Flowering plants should not be given lower amounts of nitrogen since more phosphorus enhances the quantity and quality of blooms. Dr. Q’s® Rose & Flower Food is a good choice here. Feed desert plants and cacti with Dr. Q’s® Desert Plant and Cactus Food to greatly improve spring flowering and promote vigorous growth in the coming months.

Survey your yard. Clean up debris, tune your irrigation system, and replace parts as necessary. Fertilize lawns with a complete spring fertilizer like Dr. Q’s Straight Flush (16-8-8), Royal Flush (164-8) or Turf Supreme® (16-6-8). Consider replacements for unattractive, ugly, nonproductive or diseased plants. Thin fruit on trees when it’s the size of peas. You’ll have better fruit and protect the tree from breakage due to overproduction. Overseed existing lawns or plant new lawns. See StarNote 800, Planting a New Lawn from Seed, and StarNote 810, Fertilizing and Maintaining Your Lawn for details. If you recently used a pre-

emergent weed preventer, you will need to wait before seeding. When overseeding existing lawns, make an application of Dr. Q’s® Sod & Seed Starter, and cover seeds with a light mulch like Top Dressing or Steer Manure immediately after seeding, to get your new grass off to a quick, healthy start. Aphids, Leaf Hoppers, and Cabbage Loopers. These are major pests on vegetables, bedding plants, and grapes. There are many chemical and organic insecticides that provide effective control. Bayer and Ortho make a variety of effective and reasonably safe insecticide products. For the organic gardener, pick off by hand, wash off with the hose, use Safer Brand Insecticidal Soap, Bacillus Thuringensis (Bio Worm Killer or Thuricide), Neem Oil, or beneficial insects like Lady Bugs or Praying Mantis. Plant tomato starts. An early start ensures a good crop since most varieties won’t set fruit in the heat of summer. Plant different types for a continuous supply since harvest dates vary. Some good choices are Early Girl, Patio, Cherry, Champion,

and Celebrity. Heat tolerant varieties like Heatwave or Hawaiian continue to produce well into the summer and can be planted through April with excellent results.

in the Desert, for a selection of popular varieties successfully grown here. To reduce and control insects, try Cedar Mulch. This will provide control without pesticides. V

Prepare herb gardens in containers or the yard. See StarNote 215, Growing Herbs

*All Star Notes are available at StarNusery.com.

A Woman For Women

Stephanie Nainani, MD – Obstetrician/Gynecologist and Outdoor Sports Enthusiast

“I

f it has wheels, slides or it can be climbed, I’m on it,” said Stephanie Nainani, MD who is the most recent addition to the medical community in Mesquite. She and her family thoroughly enjoy outdoor activities; however there is one thing that she is much more enthusiastic about — providing care to her patients. Mesa View Regional Hospital welcomes Stephanie Nainani, MD, as an independent member of the medical staff. Dr. Nainani is Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and comes to Mesquite from the Las Vegas area. Passionate about Women's Health, Dr. Nainani feels it is never too late and never too early to be your healthiest self. Starting with quality prenatal care and continuing through each season of a woman’s life, a woman deserves attentive

and compassionate care. Our goal is to provide this level of care to each patient we serve. With more than 10 years’ experience in obstetric and gynecologic medicine, she performs major and minor surgery, laparoscopic hysterectomy, and other procedures as well as minimally invasive gynecology. “My philosophy is to listen to people the way I would expect someone to listen to a loved one,” said Dr. Nainani. Dr. Nainani obtained her Master’s degree in Biochemistry from Loma Linda University in California, where she also earned her Doctorate in Medicine. She completed her Internship and residency at Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia. Dr. Nainani has served in a variety of settings including private practice, the

Mayo Clinic Health System, and most recently, Presbyterian Healthcare Service in Albuquerque, New Mexico. When she is not seeing patients, Dr. Nainani enjoys spending time with her husband and two lovely girls, especially in the outdoors, of course! Together they enjoy, mountain biking, snowboarding and hiking. V Dr. Stephanie Nainani is accepting new patients at Mesa View Medical Group, 1301 Bertha Howe Avenue, Suite 1, Mesquite, NV. She can be reached at (702) 346-0800, or visit www.MesaViewMedical.com

view on ENERGY

submitted by Keith Buchhalter, Public Affairs Specialist â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Overton Power District No. 5

2018 VVLL Schedule Overview 12/1/17 – 1/31/18

Early Registration period (save $10/kid)

It's a High School Musical!

n March 15-17, 2018 at 6 p.m., Virgin Valley High School will present their production of Disney’s High School Musical. There will be an opening night gala, complete with hors d’oeuvres and a meet and greet hosted by the 45-member cast. Virgin Valley theater teacher Kelly Zarndt is the director, and Melissa Rebman is the music director. The entire production is choreographed by Tori Goodsell, who, along with Herandy Mejia portrays Taylor. The cast has come together nicely as rehearsals commenced.

2/1/18 – 3/3/18

Registration period

3/3/18

Tryout Day

3/5/18 & 3/6/18

Draft Teams, order uniforms

3/26/18

Spring break week

4/2/18

Opening ceremonies, play begins

5/14/18

Playoff week starts – all games will likely be finished by 5/18/18 but if needed we will carry over to 5/21 or 5/22

5/22/18

All games completed by this night Dates and times subject to change. For questions contact Dan Wright VVLL President at vvllmesquitenv@gmail.com

Rounding out the lead roles, Jeremy Perkins and Braden Bingham share the male lead role of Troy. Rachael Cook plays the role of Gabriella, Ally Wright and Emerald Hall portray Sharpay, and Kade Haviland takes on the role of Ryan. The show encourages students to try new things by stepping out of their comfort zones. The cast motto, We are Truly in this Together, has been evident from the start as new faces and veterans alike have come together to make this a wonderful production for those who attend. So, mark your calendars for March 15-17, and we’ll see you there. Tickets are available from cast members. Tickets for the opening gala start at $15.00, Friday and Saturday shows are $10 each.V

Conestoga Golf Club

A Great Ride

by Kris Strauss

efore the advent of railroads, the Conestoga wagon was used by pioneers to support migration southward. It was large enough to transport loads up to six tons, was drawn by horses, mules, or oxen, and was designed to cross rivers and streams. These days we don’t have to rely on wagons or even railways for transport. And we don’t have to cross rivers and streams in canvas-covered wagons. We can migrate to warm and sunny destinations like Mesquite, Nevada with a quick flight to Las Vegas and a one hour drive up I-15 to one of the most unique golf destinations in the country. Here, wagons are traded for golf cars and golfers traverse the dramatic terrain laid over the moonscape of the rugged high desert. After golf, Mesquite visitors can enjoy the excitement of casino action, steak dinners, and chill-time poolside. For those “Mesquite-savvy travelers” in the know, the course that is always on their must-play list is the Troon Golf-managed Conestoga Golf Club. Voted as the "Best In Mesquite” by area residents and ranked No. 5 among the “Best Courses You Can Play in Nevada” by Golfweek Magazine, this 18-hole masterpiece is artfully interwoven with the character and contours of Mesquite's spectacular landforms. Meandering through canyons with

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gently ascending and descending elevations, rugged rock outcroppings, and tranquil water elements, the integrity of the land is preserved at every opportunity. You will immediately see why Sports Illustrated once stated, “It’s like playing golf on the moon, but with full gravity.” The masterful design and creativity of famed golf course designer Gary Panks gives the appearance of being crafted by nature and forged over time. A round at Conestoga is a like a proverbial rollercoaster ride the way it plays through canyons and rock outcroppings. Much like the way a rollercoaster ride ascends and builds your anticipation, Panks eases you into your round at Conestoga with a mild-mannered, uphill par-four first hole. Then the tee box of the par-three second hole feels like the first extreme drop of the ride, falling more than 100-feet downhill to the green. While almost every hole could be a signature hole, standouts on this desert gem include the parfour third and fourth holes, or the 208-yard par-three fifth hole, or the double dogleg par-five sixth hole that has a jagged ravine crisscrossing the fairway. Locals have named this hole “the three ditch $@#%*” (something that rhymes with witch). The par-four seventh hole is awesome, and so is the risk reward ninth. A stern closing stretch is kicked-off by a desert island on the par-three fourteenth hole. You get the picture. The Conestoga “ride” is

one that you will never forget, and you will be tempted to use your camera phone more than your three-wood. But don’t take our word for it. Golf Magazine’s Travelin’ Joe Passov once said of Conestoga, “For solid value and spectacular scenery, you’ll definitely want to ride this wagon.” After the “golf ride of your life,” you’ll want to allow time to enjoy Conestoga’s 1880 Grille. Enjoy a post-round 1880 burger and some signature 1880 wings, then wash it down with the club’s very own private label draft beer, aptly named 1880 Ale. The 1880 Grille was named to honor the pioneer spirit of not only Conestoga, but also the surrounding Pulte community of Sun City Mesquite. The name and theme honor the first pioneers who came down the Old Spanish Trail and settled this area around 1880. Bring your appetite and enjoy the rustic ambiance with your buddies or your family. For those needing more supplies, the golf shop at Conestoga provides a diverse collection of the latest golf and lifestyle offerings. From the latest Callaway golf equipment to trendy styles from Greg Norman and Under Armour, Conestoga has you covered. No matter your level of pioneering spirit, whether playing golf, dining, or just gathering with loved ones, you are in for a truly great ride at Conestoga Golf Club. See for yourself by planning your next journey, golf buddy trip, or round with friends and family by going to ConestogaGolf.com for the best rates. Visit us at 1499 Falcon Ridge Pkwy, Mesquite, Nevada or call the friendly folks at (702) 346-4292. V

Conestoga Golf Club – At A Glance 18 Holes of stunning golf designed by Gary Panks 1499 Falcon Ridge Pkwy, Mesquite, NV 89034 702.346.4292 www.ConestogaGolf.com Five sets of tees ranging from 5017 yards to 7232 yards Home of the 1880 Grille Premium Callaway Rental Clubs Managed by Troon Golf®

Connect with Conestoga Facebook: Facebook.com/ConestogaGolfClub Twitter: Twitter.com/Conestogagc YouTube: YouTube.com/c/ConestogaGolf Google+ Plus.Google.com/+ConestogaGolf

Key Contacts Ryan Stemsrud: PGA General Manager rstemsrud@troon.com Scott Ballif: Head Golf Professional sballif@troon.com Rick Jackson: Group Sales Manager/Tournament Coordinator rjackson@troon.com Ian Phinney: Executive Chef iphinney@troon.com Kyle Peterson: Golf Course Superintendent kpeterson@troon.com

Housekeepers Window Care Services Home Monitoring Services Handyman Services Personal Care & Life Alert Pendants

Se Serving the St. George Area Starrng December 2017 Oﬃce: (702) 346-0600 Mesquite: (702) 343-4385 St. George: (435) 680-8758

Awards & Accolades Top 5 Best Courses You Can Play in Nevada, Golfweek, 2013 #7 – Best Public Golf Course in Nevada, Golf Magazine, 2014 #9 – Best Courses You Can Play in Nevada, Golfweek, 2016 “It’s like playing golf on the moon, but with full gravity” – Sports Illustrated “For solid value and spectacular scenery, you’ll definitely want to ride this wagon” – Travelin’ Joe Passov, Golf Magazine 101

Tracy Rodgers by Charlene Paul

"Your Tomorrow Starts Today" T

o say that speaking with Tracy Rodgers is inspiring is a gross understatement. She is upbeat, honest, and positive as she speaks about her journey to fulfill her dream of becoming Ms. America International. To understand just how inspiring her journey has been, you have to go back to June 23, 2011. Tracy was the reigning Ms. Nevada State and was preparing to compete in the Ms. America Pageant. In fact, she was on her way to finish last-minute details when she was literally hit by a bus. While driving on I-15, she was struck by a tour bus that crossed into her lane directly in front of her after making an illegal u-turn. She hit it going at freeway speed. She woke up in the demolished car to see bone coming through her white pants. Her right leg was covered with a patch of blood. White powder from the airbag was everywhere. Although she was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, she sustained nine fractures in her neck and four fractures in her lower back. Both arms were broken, and her left wrist was

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snapped off, hanging backwards, totally shattered. Both of her legs were broken, as well as her pelvis. In total, 21 bones were broken. Her left side took most of the impact. It was touch and go for the first couple of days. In the trauma unit, the doctor told her, “You have no idea how lucky you are.” Lucky because she hadn’t sustained more internal damage. The surgeons inserted a big rod in her right femur, plated her left hip, and stabilized her left knee. Her wrist was completely rebuilt with cadaver parts, rods, pins, and screws. Her left knee was also completely rebuilt. She endured 29 surgeries. She says, “At one time I probably had more metal in me than most American-made cars. Whenever I go through the metal detectors at the airport now I set off the alarms one hundred percent of the time.” Not long after the accident, she asked her doctor when she would be able to walk and he replied, “You need eleven weeks of non-weight bearing time for your leg to heal.” She was down, but not beaten. When the doctors told her she probably wouldn’t be able to do something, her answer was always, “Watch me!” Can’t isn’t a word she uses very often. With assistance, she stood for the first time eleven weeks to the day her doctor told her she had to wait. She almost passed out, but slowly started walking from that point in time. After one of her many surgeries, she sustained foot drop where her left foot just dragged. It was sort of like a little flipper, making it necessary to wear a brace, which she hated. The doctors thought the nerve might regenerate, but it didn’t. “That was the first time – almost three years after my accident – that I had a teary breakdown. I was crying so hard that my contacts were bobbing around on my eyeballs,” she explained. She didn’t stay teary long, though. She decided that no amount of crying would fix her leg so she told herself, “You get up, brush yourself off, and just do the daily grind.” She was able to lose the brace after a tendon transfer surgery to heal the foot drop. After an especially long and tiring day, however, she says her foot still drags a bit.

It is so easy to take simple things like flossing your teeth for granted, but after what Tracy has been through, she appreciates even the smallest things. “I wasn’t able to do anything for myself for three weeks,” explains Tracy. “A positive attitude was key in my recovery. If you let yourself go down the path of self-pity and negativity, you will stay there. Always try to find something in your life to be grateful for.” Five years after her accident, a friend challenged her to finish the journey she had started five years earlier to compete

in the Ms. America Pageant. She wasn’t sure she could do it, but decided she had to “finish my race.” It wouldn’t be as easy as explaining that she had already won the Ms. Nevada State title; she would have to start from the very beginning. She once again competed for the Ms. Nevada title. It was hard work and there were grueling days. But with her platform, “Your Tomorrow Starts Today,” she saw each day as a new beginning. She won the Ms. Nevada title for the second time, and began the process of preparing for the national title. 103

At the national pageant, she was surprised when her name was called in the top twelve. When her name was announced as Ms. America International 2017, she was overcome with too many emotions to count. It has been a whirlwind year and a half. She has traveled all over and has been able to finish her race and share her story with thousands of people.

If you ask how she is feeling today, she will smile that award-winning smile and say, “Today, I feel great. Most people don’t know what I’ve been through. At the end of an especially long day, I usually end up with a little bit of a limp on that left side. My left knee and left lower calf are very atrophied. You just find ways to stand a little differently.”

As she prepares to crown the next Ms. America International in March 2018, she is thankful for the opportunity she has had to speak to audiences about her story. She is quick to say that no adverse circumstance gets to define you. In her own words, she shares her feelings about where she has been, where she is, and where she hopes to be:

She still deals with some pain, and says she is a perfect predictor of barometric pressure. “The day before it storms, I can tell you because my left knee and hip will ache and ache.”

“Whenever I find myself doubting how far I can go, I will remember how far I have come. I will remember everything I’ve faced, all the battles I’ve won, and all the fears I’ve overcome. I am walking proof that hard work, dedication, perseverance, with a perfect faith in God, can see you through hard times. Never give up on your dream!”

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To call Tracy Rodgers inspiring is definitely a gross understatement. She is gracious, intelligent, gorgeous, well-spoken, upbeat, honest, and positive. She is a shining example of making the best of what life deals out. Spend a few minutes with her, and you will walk away knowing you, too, can get up, brush yourself off, and just do the daily grind. Your Tomorrow Starts Today. But don’t simply take Tracy’s word for it; get out there and make today your best day yet. V

10th Annual Mesquite Motor Mania M photos by Kris Zurbas

esquite Gaming, owner of Casablanca Resort and Virgin River Hotel, and the Mesquite Resort Association recently held its 10th Annual Mesquite Motor Mania in January. For one weekend, custom and classic vehicles ranging from different styles and decades swarmed the streets of Mesquite. The three-day event brought in record-breaking crowds of over 900 participants from all over the United States. More than 260 total awards were presented. The “Best of Show” $3,000 grand prize was awarded to Kevin and Tamme Merrill of Idaho Falls, Idaho, who showed off their 1940 Ford Pickup Truck. Other awarded vehicles included Steve Whitlock’s 1956 Ford F-100, and Jeff Rexrode’s 1929 Woodie Convertible. Mesquite Gaming also awarded a young artist in the community. Hughes Middle School sixth grader, Gregory Hermosillo took home the $1,000 prize in the 2018 Motor Mania Student Art Contest. Mesquite Gaming CEO, Anthony Toti, also pledged to donate $500 to each art program at participating schools.

In total, $15,000 in prize money was awarded. Spectators cheered as colorful clouds of smoke filled the air during the burnout contests and classic hot rods revved their engines in the slow drag competitions. Casablanca Resort and Virgin River Hotel kept spirits high all weekend long with bands like Sharon & the Chevelles playing a tribute to the ‘50s and ‘60s inside the Skydome Lounge, Marshall Star singing country and classic rock in the River Lounge, and Serpentine Fire, an Earth, Wind & Fire tribute band. “Our tenth annual Mesquite Motor Mania was, by far, our best event yet,” said Christian Adderson, corporate sales manager for Mesquite Gaming. “We were thrilled to kick off 2018 with record crowds, exciting competitions, and a whole lot of fun.” It was truly a weekend of nostalgia, complete with classic cars and timeless music that, for three days, made Mesquite feel like the good ol’ days. V

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Cedar Ridge Golf Course by Jared Barnes

edar Ridge Golf Course is a beautiful 18-hole regulation golf course located against the red hills on the east bench of Cedar City, Utah. The original nine hole course was built in 1964, and the second nine was constructed in 1992. Cedar Ridge is a par-73 with five par-5s offering plenty of birdie and eagle chances. The course has three sets of tee boxes providing a perfect distance for golfers of all different playing abilities. Cedar Ridge features a full practice facility with a driving range, two practice putting greens, and a chipping area, as well as a practice bunker. The Pro Shop at Cedar Ridge is always stocked with the latest in golf equipment, accessories, and golf apparel. Jared Barnes is the PGA Professional at Cedar Ridge, and serves as the director of golf. Golf lessons are available for players of all abilities, both in private and group settings. Cedar Ridge has an extensive junior golf program providing both instruction and playing opportunities to over 200 junior golfers each summer. Steve Carter serves as the golf course superintendent, and provides excellent playing conditions each season. The putting

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greens at Cedar Ridge are the highlight of the course, and are consistently among the best greens in southern Utah. Cedar Ridge is home to Southern Utah University men’s and women’s golf teams, as well as golf teams from Cedar High School and Canyon View High School. The golf course has very active men’s and women’s golf associations who hold weekly, as well as monthly events. The end of year men’s and women’s club championships are the highlight of the season. Cedar Ridge hosts many corporate, as well as charity golf tournaments throughout the season. These events consistently raise more than $100,000 per year for local charities. Cedar Ridge Golf Course does not take tee times. However, during the busy season, a golfer will never have more than a ten-minute wait to get their round started. Calling ahead is suggested to make sure the course doesn’t have a tournament and is available for open play. For more information the Pro Shop can be reached at (435) 586-2970 or stop in for a visit at 200 E. 900 N., Cedar City, Utah.V

Your Time to Shine at the

Mesquite Senior Games by Terri Rylander, Executive Director, Mesquite Senior Games

omething magical is happening, and it happens every spring. No, not the budding leaves – it’s the Mesquite Senior Games! It’s that time of year when those age 50 and better try their hand at a variety of events for both body and mind, sometimes for the competition, but always for the personal satisfaction of challenging themselves, reaching new goals, and making lifelong friends. The Mesquite Senior Games is now in its seventeenth year, and is the second largest senior games in Nevada. Nearly 2,000 people participate in the games, many coming back year after year. Not only do they come back for the fun of the games, but because they enjoy Mesquite.

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The warm sunshine and generous hospitality can’t be beat. For the second year in a row, Mesquite Gaming has partnered with Mesquite Senior Games as their title sponsor. “We are thrilled to, once again, serve as the title sponsor for the Mesquite Senior Games,” said Christian Adderson, Corporate Sales Manager for Mesquite Gaming. “This is a wonderful event that attracts seniors from across the country to revel in their competitive spirit while enjoying everything Mesquite has to offer, and we are proud to be part of it.” This year we’ve added table tennis. There have been many requests for table tennis,

and we now have a passionate event director, Mike Lewis, who stepped up to organize this new event. The event will be held at the Vistas Community Club near the Oasis Golf Course on Saturday, March 10 at 10 AM. There are two tables, and the format is a single’s tournament with selfscoring, although Mike will be available to assist. All of the other favorite games are taking place again in 2018. These include basketball skills, bicycling, bocce ball, bowling, bridge, fitness hike, history tour, long drive, pickleball, poker, shotgun sports, softball, target pistol, tennis, and track and field. Although the games are for those aged 50 and better, younger athletes

Schedule of Events

are welcome to participate in the history tour and free fitness hike. The History Tour is a walking tour around the historic district in Mesquite. It is jointly led by Elspeth Kuta, keeper of the Virgin Valley Heritage Museum, and her expert tour guide who has spent her life in Mesquite. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll learn all about Mesquiteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s past, including fun and personal stories about the characters who lived here. Poker and shotgun sports were new events last year. Both have proven extremely popular. Poker is held at the Pioneer Center in Sun City, and is a fun but competitive event. Shotgun sports are held at the Oasis Gun Club behind the Palms Golf Course. There are three subevents that include skeet, trap, and sporting clays. We anticipate this event may sell out, so sign up early.

Basketball Skills: March 23 Bicycling: April 7 Bocce Ball: April 16-17 Bowling: April 20 Bridge: March 19-20 Fitness Hike (All ages): March 10 History Tour (All ages): March 17 Long Drive: March 8 Pickleball: March 26-28 Poker: March 15 Shotgun Sports: March 24 Softball, Men: April 11-15 Softball, Women: April 7-8 Table Tennis: March 10 Target Pistol: April 7 Tennis: March 5-8 Track & Field/Weight Throws: March 24 Can/Am Softball: October 5-16 Winter Classic Softball: November 28-December 2 Schedule subject to change.

Bicycling is still a relatively new and growing event. Some may fear racing on a bicycle, but this is a safe event. The wide roads are completely blocked from traffic, riders go out every 30 seconds, and are given a finish time that places them in their age categories. Registration opened on January 1, 2018, and sign-ups are already coming in. Participants are advised to check their desired event on the website. Brochures were mailed in early January and are also available in various locations around town. Mesquite Senior Games offers both online and mail-in registration. Both are accessible at www.mesquiteseniorgames. org. The online registration site makes it quick and easy to sign up. There are also two registration forms in the brochure. See you at the games!V 109

The BACK NINE Card Game

h, yes, the elusive albatross. In the game of golf, that's a score of two on a par-5 hole, or a one on a par-4. An albatross is more rare than a hole-inone. But, in the fast paced, competitive card game Back Nine, the albatross, along with holes-in-one, birdies, and eagles appear at every round where all players have the chance to score low. When playing this card game, beware of the plus-8 lightning strike, the duck poop, or the broken window cards. Those can ruin any golf round. All the players, however, hope to draw the most favorite cards of all, the mulligan cards. In real golf, a mulligan is a free shot taken by a player after hitting an errant shot. In this card game, drawing a mulligan card allows the theft of other players’ low cards. The heat rises as the nine rounds go by quickly. The game takes

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Moulton sponsored several disc golf tournaments in Mesquite and St. George from 2004 to 2009 that created lots of fun outdoor interaction between varying age groups. The Moulton family had two art and frame galleries in Mesquite until 2008. He and his wife Brenda now own ARTé Gallery and Framing in St. George from which they market his books, games, and artworks. They have also hosted many fun events, such as wine clubs, game tournaments, birthday parties, fundraisers, and art shows. As an artist, Moulton has also designed and built landscape ponds, decorative concrete floors, and murals. While living in Las Vegas, he taught art at a private school. about 45 minutes for six players. Two to eight players can play, and the rules are very simple; scoring low is the best way to win. Artist, game inventor, and life-long golfer Philip Moulton copyrighted the Back Nine card game in 2016, and it has quickly become one of his best games. “When I observe the competitive fervor, speed of the game, and player interaction, I’m convinced that this is my best game,” Moulton says. The first commercial game he created was the GOFIGURE Math Game in 2001. Then came JUGLBUG, Ano, Spike 1000, and others. “I believe there’s a bit of play in all of us,” he states. “Game playing is a way to laugh, compete, interact, and is valuable for our youth who seem to have migrated away from social connections to the popular electronic connection.”

Back Nine is a game for all, golfers or not. “Kids love to play this game. They get pretty excited and involved as they score lower than the other players. They don’t like it, however, when somebody steals their low cards,” chuckles Moulton. Back Nine has proven a worthy game contender in a rural test market, and is poised to become a challenger in the big tournament of card game competition. The short YouTube video done on the fourth hole of the Dixie Red Hills golf course is a must see. Search for Back Nine Card Game. “Best card game yet!” as stated by former pro golfer Monte Carlo Money, who was the first golfer to shoot a 58, 14 strokes under par at the Las Vegas Golf Club in the 1980s. The game can be purchased from ARTé Gallery and Frame at 415 S. Dixie Dr., St. George, UT 84770, or call (435) 862-0303 for information.V

Losing Weight . . . Easy as 1-2-3!

by Deborah Campbell

here is an easy mathematical formula for losing weight. And, the tracking systems available now take most of the guesswork out of it.

In order to lose one pound of weight per week, you must deficit diet by 3,500 calories per week. 3,500 calories per week divided by seven days equals 500 calories per day. So, 500 calories is the average amount of calories you need to deficit diet per day in order to lose one pound of weight per week. (Note: This model is usually effective if you are healthy and not experiencing hormonal imbalance, sleep deprivation, extreme stress, etc.) Calories In can be tracked using the free application, MyFitnessPal, or other food tracking applications. Calories Out can be tracked using a Fitbit, or other activity tracking device. If you are currently using a fitness tracker and know your daily Calories Out, simply decrease that amount by 500 calories to calculate your Calories In goal. Example: Calories Out (per Fitbit) 2,000 Daily Deficit Amount â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 500 Calories In - Goal = 1,500 So, if you want to lose weight: 1. Set your Calorie Goal in MyFitnessPal to 500 calories less than your current Calories Out amount (1,500 in the example above). 2. Track your food and beverages, being sure not to exceed your Calorie Goal amount. 3. Stick to the formula no matter what your activity level is. There. You are on your way to losing a pound a week. Easy as 1-2-3! P.S. In order for this formula to be effective, you must do the following three things: 4. Be consistent in your food tracking. 5. Be accurate in your weighing and measuring of food and beverages. 6. Be honest with yourself. Deborah is currently a personal trainer at Mesquite Fitness Club in Mesquite, Nevada. For more information on her journey to fitness, nutritional coaching or to schedule a training session, visit her website www.teamfitnessandfun.com or text (209) 815-1987. V

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The Future is Here!

Lithium Powered Golf Carts

by Michelle Brooks, Ready Golf Cars In the past, battery-powered golf cars earned a bad reputation for being slow, losing power on hills, and generally being sub-standard to their gas-powered cousins. E-Z-GO has spent the last many years working to change that. They started with a family of superior electric golf cars, including the RXV model with 48volt AC drivetrain, patented IntelliBrake™ technology, and independent front suspension. This is not your average golf car. These cars don’t get bogged down on hills, the braking system charges the batteries when the brakes are engaged, and the parking brake sets itself so you don’t have to stomp on the break pedal to be sure it’s not going to roll away. It has a superior ride, a host of amazing upgrade choices, and is just generally an all-around awesome golf car.

f you’re a golf cart (technically golf car) enthusiast, you’ve no doubt heard about the breakthrough in technology that E-Z-GO has made with their new lithium powered RXV ELiTE. And, if you haven’t, then may I invite you to stop by our shop and take one for a spin. Or, at least read the rest of this article. In the latter half of 2017, E-Z-GO launched the new RXV ELiTE with zero maintenance, Samsung SDI Lithium Batteries. No, not the kind that blow up. These beauties have been extensively tested by E-Z-GO for over five years with nothing but stellar results. Sometime circa 2011, E-Z-GO rolled out one of their new ELiTE test models, put it on a flatbed, and drove it to Minnesota where they parked it in a cart barn for a year. This pioneering ELiTE patiently waited in a barn for all 365 days without any maintenance whatsoever. No one watered the batteries, drove it, or even so much as started it. I’m not sure if anyone even looked at it! After twelve long months, the E-Z-GO test team went back

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to Minnesota, opened up the barn, put the key in the ignition, and voilà! The trusty E-Z-GO EliTE started up without hesitation. The team was able to drive it right out of that lonely barn and even went on to play 18 holes without any problems at all.

While the lead acid battery-powered car requires much less maintenance, repair work, and upkeep than their gaspowered friends, they do require some TLC. The batteries need to be cleaned and maintained, and they need to be filled with water regularly. They need to be charged, started, and driven every thirty days. None

of which is easy for our snowbird population, unless you hire us for our snowbird service, and it’s kind of a drag for everyone else. Not so with lithium batteries! Remember the Minnesota cart barn story? You can leave for the summer, come back, drive that car right out of the garage, start playing golf, or cruise over to your friend’s house immediately upon your return. Or, if you’re like the rest of us that have too many other chores to do, you will simply enjoy the completely maintenance free, corrosion free freedom of the RXV ELiTE golf car. The ELiTE is 200 pounds lighter than their lead acid brothers, and there are three options in batteries. You can choose from 60-amp, 90-amp, or 120-amp. All this means is how far you get to drive it before you need to charge it with the 120-amp topping out at approximately 55-60 miles. Not only that, but E-Z-GO warranties the lithium batteries for an unprecedented five years.

Just like their lead acid brothers, The RXV ELiTE doesn’t lose power on hills. They come with the patented IntelliBrake™ technology and independent front suspension. They have a superior ride, come with a host of amazing upgrade choices, and are all-around ridiculously awesome golf cars. The future in golf cars is, without a doubt, in lithium batteries. E-Z-GO is the first to manufacture a lithiumpowered car, and Ready Golf Cars is one of the first to carry them. Stop by, test drive one, and let us show you the amazing difference in the E-Z-GO RXV ELiTE Golf Car. V Ready Golf Cars Mesquite: 550 W. Pioneer Blvd. #114, Mesquite, Nevada 89027 (702) 346-2309 www.readygolfcars.com Ready Golf Cars Las Vegas: 9422 Del Webb Blvd., Las Vegas, Nevada 80134 (702) 854-9044

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Tennis TNT

The Evolution of Tennis through the Centuries by Donna Eads

the nature of the game of tennis. In 1924, the tiebreak/no-add system was introduced but not fully accepted by the majority of the tournaments or the various tennis associations until 1970. It is used in all major tournaments in one form or another. The ‘optic-yellow’ ball was developed for better TV viewing in 1968, and the Open Era began for professional players in that same year. In 1967, the evolution of racquets began with the introduction of the first non-wood frame known as the Wilson T2000, and the race was on for the best ‘smart’ racquet to be produced. In 1973, both computer rankings and the creation of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) occurred. This association incorporated several groups, both national and international, within the various women tennis players associations to become one. The same had happened for men players when the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) was created in 1972. The extremely popular sport of wheelchair tennis was introduced in 1976. It is now part of all the major tournaments, as well as the Paralympic Games. This addition to the game of tennis started as a rehabilitation therapy and has grown to 80 countries, involving 160 tournaments. A benefit from this sport are the lightweight wheelchairs.

he game we now refer to simply as tennis evolved from a medieval game termed real tennis which began during the twelfth century in France. It was first played using the palm of the hand, with balls made from leather and stuffed with wool. The first racquet was created during the sixteenth century. It was primarily a game for the royals until the 1800’s. The four major tennis tournaments evolved in the 1800s. Wimbledon was the first in 1872, followed by the U.S. National (now called the U.S. Open) in 1880. The French Open started in 1891, and the Australian Open in 1905. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) was started in 1881. Wimbledon is the only major tournament which is still played on its original surface which is grass. The other three tournaments all started on grass, but have transitioned over the years to their current surface which is clay for the French Open and hard courts for the U.S. and Australian Opens. Major changes in scoring, racquets, computer rankings, wheelchair tennis, the challenge system, player associations, tennis academies/colleges, and tennis balls helped to develop

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Vic Braden is credited with creating the first tennis college. This part of the tennis industry has grown throughout most parts of the world, and plays an integral part in the development of today’s professionals. International academies, which include the completion of the player’s education, exist in multiple countries and are named for companies, coaches, or players. In 1957, the first African-American female tennis player, Althea Gibson, was the Women's Wimbledon Champion. She stated, “I hope that I have accomplished just one thing: that I have been a credit to tennis and my country.” She received a ticker-tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes in New York City after her championship. Another woman who broke the race and gender barrier is Australian Evonne Goolagong who is of Aboriginal descent called ‘Wiradjuri.’ She traveled to South Africa in 1972, and was given the status of honored white so that she could be allowed to play. In her career, she was ranked number one in the world, she won seven major tournaments in singles, and seven doubles titles. One year later, Arthur Ashe followed this same path in South Africa. He was the first "colored/black individual" to play in their national tennis tournament within an apartheid state. He requested that the usual segregated crowd be integrated while

he played. However, even his star status and power could not make this happen at the time. Also in 1973, the infamous Battle of the Sexes was held at the Houston Astrodome where Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs before a sold-out crowd and a TV audience from around the world. This event strengthened the beginning of the current WTA. In 1965, the first edition of Tennis Magazine was published. The main focus of this magazine was to teach their readers how to improve their game. Much like the tennis academies, this open book of instructions was well-received by potential players. Now, there are multiple media platforms for use by everyone from beginner to pro. The newest toys of the sport include smart racquets and courts that provide a playerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s analytics with a push of a button. Will that replace the need for a coach in the future? Tennis at any level is like a chess game. There must be planning, study, and work before play, but every moment must have a reaction plus new thought added. I hear club level players often remark that they are happy to just get the ball across the net. The end message is you must look for patterns and weaknesses from your opponent/s. See you on the courts for the Mesquite Senior Games, March 5-8, and beyond. V

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Frank Pati “Mr. Softball” by Elspeth Kuta

e receive true treasures at the Virgin Valley Heritage Museum, one-of-a-kind gifts that are quite unique to the valley. Frank Pati’s quilt fits this description. It is made from the T-shirts issued yearly to commemorate the Mesquite Senior Games from 2002 through 2013. Frank was president of that organization for all but one of those years. What a little gem of history! The Mesquite Senior Games are now in their 17th year, and are open to athletes 50 years old and better. The competition is generally male and female divisions in five-year age groups starting at ages 50 through 54, giving senior athletes an opportunity to test their skills, compete, and enjoy the companionship of fellow athletes during the month of March. Frank Pati gifted his treasured quilt in memory of his beloved wife Betty Ann. The quilt was made for him by Claire Kirchen to acknowledge and appreciate his years of service to senior athletes when he became the first recipient of the Nevada Senior Citizen Award in 2012. According to the Nevada delegation of the Silver Haired Congress and the Aging Services Directors Organization, Pati was honored for his years of selfless service with the Mesquite Senior Games, Senior Softball, and for promoting physical fitness among older Nevadans. Frank introduced Mesquite to a hundred softball teams

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annually and virtually thousands of softball players have competed. Frank and his wife Betty Ann moved from Palm Springs, California to Mesquite in 1993. Frank said he was working for Si Redd’s Oasis Hotel and Casino on Mesquite Boulevard in 1994 when he suggested senior softball as a way to bring visitors to the city. The first softball games were played later that year. Pati said softball was a hit from day one. “When we first started, we were doing five tournaments a year,” Frank said. “We grew so fast that about 10 years later we brought in the Senior Softball USA Organization. They are the largest in the country. I talked them into coming to Mesquite,” the then 79-year old Pati said in 2014 at his retirement from the Senior Games. "They laughed when I suggested bringing softball to Mesquite as a way to increase visitation. They stopped laughing when all the people started coming and kept coming.” In addition to senior softball, Pati was instrumental in the annual Senior Games in Mesquite that includes not only softball, but also bocce ball, pickleball, basketball, track and field, bowling, long drive for seniors, pistol shooting, poker, bridge, bicycling, shotgun sports, hiking and historical tour, and this year’s new event, table tennis.

Frank’s vision, commitment, and tenacity has seen the program grow and has brought hundreds of senior athletes to our corner of the world, many of whom have made Mesquite their home. Frank has left a rock-solid foundation for the continued growth and development of the the Mesquite Senior Games. At a spry 92, Frank has returned to Palm Springs — their gain, our loss. There are people who no matter where they go, inspire those around them to be a little better version of themselves. Frank and Betty Ann are those kind of people. Thank you, Frank, for making Mesquite part of your journey. V

4-H in Clark County by Denise Houston

ach year during the second week of April, 4-H members prepare to enter the Clark County Fair in Logandale, Nevada. This is an event where 4-H is about more than ribbons and awards; it’s about friendships, experiences, life-long skills, and memories. Being a part of the Clark County Fair is about being a positive role model, giving back, and as the 4-H motto states, “To make the best better.” Youth, ages 9-18, represent themselves and their club in competitions and showcasing livestock projects in the big barn. They learn lessons only their animals could teach them. Steers, lambs, goats, and pigs are trained to show, groomed to shine, and marketed to prospective buyers who attend the auction. Hundreds of hours are spent by the youth as they prepare their livestock for the show ring, where their efforts and hard work are evident. The love they feel for their animals, and the love their animals feel for them is more than obvious. Offered through the Nevada Cooperative Extension, 4-H gives the young people the tools and information to succeed. Throughout the year, they participate in workshops, leadership positions, record book keeping, 4-H Skillathon, and quiz bowl practices. 4-H is volunteer based. Club leaders donate their time for the benefit of the youth. And it isn’t just about livestock. 4-H covers about any area or subject you can think of. The area 4-H coordinator with the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Northeast Clark County, arranges

Lamb show

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interviews for each showman prior to the fair. They discuss and answer questions about the participants’ projects, and provide them with guidance. The youth must also do a presentation and a community service project. All of this must be completed prior to the five-day fair event. Once at the fair, they are judged on market (meat product), and in showmanship (individual presentation technique for themselves and their species). They also compete in knowledge of the multiple species of livestock, tools, grains, and cuts of meat in the Skillathon, and answer random livestock-related questions in a quiz bowl. Another group of volunteers, The Clark County Junior Livestock Board, is to thank for providing the Livestock Show. This board consists of thirty board members and seven associate board members. They provide a weigh-in, pen set-up, and a pre-show in January for the youth to practice and learn from a certified judge (different from the judge at the actual fair). There is a Livestock Judging Contest for youth statewide. The Clark County Junior Livestock Associates (CCJLA) hires a judge from out of state for the actual market and showman competitions. After the auction, CCJLA provides a buyer-sponsor and contestant barbecue. It takes generous sponsors and buyers to put on a successful show. Last year’s auction and add-on money totaled $407,165. All of the proceeds were given to the participants through prizes, cash, or through the production of the show. No board members

receive any compensation for the work they do to put on the show every year. It is truly amazing how many hundreds of hours of service are donated throughout the year. An impressive 31 lambs, 34 steers, 13 goats, and 113 pigs went through the sale at the fair last year. Sponsors provided roughly $12,000 of funding for monetary awards and prizes for the top five winners in a variety of show events. Buckles were awarded to Grand Market, Reserve Market, and Showmanship winners in each species. “Champions aren’t made in the ring. They are just recognized there. If you want to see where a true champion is made, look at their daily routine.” – Unknown This year when you visit the Clark County Fair, April 11-15, wander on over to the Barn. You’ll look at those youth and adults in a whole new light as they work together and do their best “To make the best better!” Who knows? Perhaps you’ll get caught up in the bidding and purchase a healthy steer, lamb, pig, or goat. Or better yet, place some bonus money on your favorite showman in the ring.V Interested in 4-H info and what’s available in the community? Contact Denise Houston (Mesquite 4-H Coordinator) houstond@unce.unr.edu, call (702) 397-8301 or visit www.unce.unr.edu Interested in CCJLA Info (sponsor/bonus money awards, buyer auction information)? Contact Corey Houston (CCJLA President) ccjla@mvdsl.com http://www.ccjla.com/

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Area Senior Centers Mesquite Senior Center 102 W. Old Mill Rd Mesquite, NV 89027 (702) 346-5290 www.mesquitenv.gov St. George Senior Center 245 North 200 West St. George, UT 84770 (435) 634-5743 www.coa.washco.utah.gov Hurricane Senior Center 95 North 300 West Hurricane, UT 84737 (435) 635-2089 www.coa.washco.utah.gov Enterprise Senior Center 165 South 100 East Enterprise, UT 84725 (435) 878-2557 www.coa.washco.utah.gov Springdale Senior Center 126 Lion Boulevard Springdale, UT 84767 (435) 772-0451 www.coa.washco.utah.gov Moapa Valley Senior Center 325 N. Cooper St. Overton, NV 89040 (702) 397-8002 www.clarkcountynv.gov 120

AREA GOLF GUIDE

Area Golf Guide Bloomington - St. George bloomingtoncountryclub.com (435) 673-4687

Dixie Red Hills - St. George stgeorgecitygolf.com/dixieredhills (435) 627-4444

Sky Mountain - Hurricane skymountaingolf.com (435) 635-7888

Canyons (Oasis GC) - Mesquite theoasisgolfclub.com (702) 346-7820

Entrada - St. George golfentrada.com (435) 986-2200

Southgate - St. George stgeorgecitygolf.com/southgate (435) 627-4440

CasaBlanca - Mesquite casablancaresort.com/golf-home (702) 346-6764

Falcon Ridge - Mesquite golffalcon.com (702) 346-6363

St. George Golf Club - St. George stgeorgecitygolf.com/stgeorge (435) 627-4404

Cedar Ridge - Cedar City cedarcity.org/65/Cedar-Ridge-Golf-Course (435) 586-2970

Green Spring - Washington new.washingtoncity.org/golf (435) 673-7888

Sun River - St. George sunrivergolf.com (435) 986-0001

Conestoga - Mesquite conestogagolf.com (702) 346-4292

Historic Beaver Dam - Beaver Dam historicbeaverdamlodge.com (928) 347-2222

Sunbrook - St. George stgeorgecitygolf.com/sunbrook (435) 627-4400

Coral Canyon - Washington coralcanyongolf.com (435) 688-1700

Palmer (Oasis GC) - Mesquite theoasisgolfclub.com (702) 346-7820

The Ledges - St. George ledges.com (435) 634-4640

Coyote Springs - Coyote Springs coyotesprings.com (877) 742-8455

Palms - Mesquite casablancaresort.com/golf-home (702) 346-4067

Thunderbird - Mt. Carmel zionnational-park.com/golf (435) 648-2188

Coyote Willows - Mesquite coyotewillowsgolf.com (702) 345-3222

Sand Hollow Resort - Hurricane sandhollowresorts.com (435) 656-4653

Wolf Creek - Mesquite golfwolfcreek.com (702) 346-1670

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BUSINESS CARD DIRECTORY

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BUSINESS CARD DIRECTORY

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MARCH

of Event s

Nevada Desert Dogs vs. Albany Patroons Mar 1-2 6:30 PM Join the Nevada Desert Dogs as they take on the Albany Patroons at the Rising Star Sports Ranch in what this magazine is hoping may turn out to be a true underdog story. Go Desert Dogs! See their website for their complete game schedule. napbasketball.com | facebook.com/Nevadadesertdogs 14th Annual Fire & Ice Gala Mar 2 5:30-7:00 PM Raising support for Dixie State University needs-based scholarships, the 14th Annual Fire & Ice Gala features dinner, entertainment, and silent and live auction. All of the proceeds from the "There's no place like home" themed gala allow students, who, because of financial constraints, may not otherwise be able to complete or pursue a college education. Hosted by The Dixie Foundation, the Fire & Ice Gala is held on the Dixie State University campus in the M. Anthony Burns Arena. Tickets are $150 per person. dixiefoundation.org | (435) 817-9847 2018 Virgin Valley Little League Tryouts! Mar 3 Is your child a baseball fanatic, or maybe they just want to try a new sport? Then bring them on down to the Virgin Valley Little League tryouts! Registration is required. Contact Dan Wright, VVLL President, for more information. See page 99 | vvllmesquitenv@gmail.com Mesquite Senior Games March 5 Now in their 16th year, the 2018 Mesquite Senior Games invites men and women, age 50 and better, to compete in a variety of events against age-group peers. Events take place in March and April. They also host the CAN/AM and Winter Classic softball tournaments in October and December. Registration is now open on their website. See page 108 | mesquiteseniorgames.org The ParaLong Drive Cup Mar 7-8 The ParaLong Drive Cup is a long drive championship that enables athletes with illnesses, injuries, and challenges to engage in competition and camaraderie with their peers. 126

This championship is open to the public, and spectators are welcome to attend. It will be held at the Mequite Sports & Event Complex, 1635 World Champion Way, Mesquite, Nevada. Call (865) 748-0771 for details. See page 46 | amputeelongdrivechampionship.com Nevada Desert Dogs vs. Ohio Cardinals Mar 9-10 6:30 PM Nevada Desert Dogs take on the Ohio Cardinals at the Rising Star Sports Ranch. Go Desert Dogs! See their website for their complete game schedule. napbasketball.com | facebook.com/Nevadadesertdogs 2nd Annual Desert Color Dash Mar 10 8 AM-12 PM The City of Mesquite, together with the JL Bowler Elementary PTO and Virgin Valley Elementary PTO proudly presents the 2nd Annual Desert Color Dash. The 5k and Fun Run will take place at Hafen Lane Park, Mesquite, Nevada. Register at the Mesquite Recreation Center or online. mesquitenv.gov Virgin Valley High School Presents Disney's High School Musical Mar 15-17 6 PM VVHS hosts an opening night gala in honor of their production of Disney's High School Musical where you can meet the high school's 45-member cast. Tickets to the show are available from cast members. Tickets for the gala start at $15, and Friday-Saturday shows are $10 per person. See page 99 Uniworld Boutique Presentation Mar 20 Special presentation with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises presented by The Travel Connection. Call the number below to RSVP and receive additional details. See page 81 | (435) 628-3636 RRCI Fun Run, Walk & Roll: 5K Mar 24 8 AM RRCI Fun Run, Walk & Roll: 5K is a community fundraising event to support the mission, goals, and services that RRCI, (formerly Red Rock Center for Independence) provides for people with disabilities in southwestern Utah. Admission is

$20 for first applicant, and $10 for each additional applicant. This event will be held at 2099 South Convention Center Drive, St. George, Utah. rrci.org | (435) 673-7501 | allison@rrci.org

and Local Art Show. Enjoy free gifts, door prizes, and refreshments. 748 West Pioneer Boulevard, Mesquite, Nevada. See page 82 | roostercottage.com | (702) 346-5112

Red Rock Rampage Mar 24-25 7-11 PM If you’ve got a mountain bike, love to ride, enjoy competition — and a little good, dirty fun — then come on out to the Red Rock Rampage! Southwestern Utah is known for unique and challenging mountain bike trails and breathtaking scenery. With 30 different categories — ranging from kids to pro — the Red Rock Rampage offers something for every mountain bike enthusiast. ridesouthernutah.com | (435) 674-3185

Clark County Fair & Rodeo Apr 11-15 10 AM-11 PM Dare to Fair at the Clark County Fair & Rodeo in Logandale, Nevada. Enjoy a carnival, rodeo, animal exhibit, live entertainment, vendors, and food! Ticket prices vary and can be purchased on their website, or at their box office. See page 59 | ccfair.com | (888) 876-FAIR

39th Annual St. George Art Festival Mar 30-31 10 AM-6 PM Festival goers enjoy thousands of original works of art, live entertainment on two stages, a vibrant children's area, and foods of all kinds. Over 30,000 residents and visitors from around the west converge in the beautiful town of St. George on Easter weekend, one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. The festival is set in the beautiful Town Square with its carousel, fountains, and water features, flower gardens, and historic buildings. sgartfestival.com | (435) 627-4500

APRIL 2018 Spring Home & Garden Expo Apr 6-7 10 AM-7 PM Come join us in celebrating the 16th Annual Home & Garden show! This expo has been southern Utah's largest and most complete showcase of all the latest products and services in southern Utah. Most importantly, you'll discover ideas, inspiration, information, and experts all designed to help you create the home and garden you've always wanted. Also, don't forget to bring your kids to this fun event, as there will be free face painting! This event will be held at the Dixie Center, 1835 Convention Center Drive, St. George, Utah. Admission is $5. springhomeandgarden.com Nevada Desert Dogs vs. Yakima Sunkings Apr 6-7 6:30 PM Nevada Desert Dogs take on the Yakima Sunkings at the Rising Star Sports Ranch. Go Desert Dogs! See their website for their complete game schedule. napbasketball.com | facebook.com/Nevadadesertdogs

Clash in the Canyons Apr 21-24 The heat is back in Mesquite! A star studded field is set to return to the former host grid of the World Long Drive Championship from 1997–2012. Labeled by hitters as one of the best grids in all of long drive, the Mesquite Sports and Event Complex is famous for launching the careers of iconic champions Joe Miller, Tim Burke, Jamie Sadlowski, and Carl Wolter. Event is open to spectators. worldlongdrive.com Free Entry to the National Parks Apr 21 Come experience the national parks! All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. Mark your calendar! nps.gov Movie in the Park Apr 27 7-11 PM The St. George Area Chamber of Commerce and Staheli Family Farm presents Movies in the Park. Vendors, entertainment, and more! Movie showing starts at dusk. This free event will take place at Washington City Veterans Park, 111 North 100 East, Washington, Utah. (435) 628-1650 | susie@stgeorgechamber.com

SAVE THE DATE Mesquite Days – May 2-6 mesquitenv.gov 5th Annual Mudd Volleyball Tournament – May 12 mesquitenvrotary.org 12th Annual Amazing Earthfest – May 13-19 amazingearthfest.org

Rooster Cottage Spring Open House & Art Show April 7 10 AM-4 PM Rooster Cottage presents their 2nd Annual Open House 127

ADVERTISING DIRECTORY Ace Hardware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 All Secure Storage LLC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Arté Gallery & Framing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Baird Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Bank of Nevada. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Best Western Mesquite Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Bob's Tax Service–Bob Dudley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Bulldog Pest Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 C & K Shutters and Blinds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97 Checks-N-Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Citywide Gold Solutions (Golf Pass) . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Clark County Fair & Rodeo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Conestoga Golf Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Coyote Springs Golf Club. . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover Coyote Willows Golf Course. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Cucina Italiana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Del Webb–SunCity Mesquite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Desert Oasis Spa & Salon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Desert Pain & Spine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Dogtown Acres. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Eagles Landing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 ERA–Patty Brooks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 ERA–Karen Fielding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 ERA–Sharon Szarzi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Enterprise Carpet Care. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Eureka Casino Resort–Gregory's . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Eureka Casino Resort–Say "I DO". . . . Inside Front Cover Farmers Insurance–Bill Mitchell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Fitness & Fun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Friends of Gold Butte. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93 Golden West Restaurant & Casino . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 Great Clips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Grille Room. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91 Guillen–Heating, Cooling & Refrigeration . . . . . . . . . 77 Guns & Guitars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 H&R Block–Mesquite & St. George. . . . . . . . . . . . .77 Hangey's Custom Upholstering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Helping Hands Caregivers, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Heritage Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Iceberg Air Conditioning & Heating. . . . . . . . . . . . 125 It's A Gimme. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 JL Kendrick Company Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Judi Moreo–Speaker, Author, & Coach . . . . . . . . . 125 Kane County Office of Tourism–Amazing Earthfest. . . .38 Keller Williams–Joan Fitton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Keller Williams–Michelle Hampston . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Keller Williams–Tiffani Jacobs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Keller Williams–Deb Parsley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Keller Williams–Beverly Powers Uhlir . . . . . . . . . . .15 Keller Williams–Neil Sullivan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Kitchen Encounters/Classy Closets. . . . . . . . . . . . 102 La dé Paws Grooming Salon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 128

Mei Massage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Mesa View Medical Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Mesquite Department of Athletics & Leisure Services. . 55 Mesquite Fine Arts Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Mesquite Home Theater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Mesquite Massage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Mesquite Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Mesquite Police Department–OHV Registration . . . . . 99 Mesquite Regional Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Mesquite Tile & Flooring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86 Mesquite Veterinary Clinic–Peggy Purner DVM . . . . 125 Mesquite Women's Clinic–Dr. Edward Ofori. . . . . . . .67 Moapa Valley Days. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Mohave Dermatology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85 MVP Productions–Kris Zurbas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 NRC–The Reserve–Shawn & Colleen Glieden. . . . . . .31 Oasis Chiropractic Center–Leigh Roessner, DC. . . . . 124 Oasis Golf Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Odyssey Landscaping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Pedego Electric Bikes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Peggy Sue's Fifties Diner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91 Permanent Makeup Artist–Nicole Rowley. . . . . . . . 122 Pioneer Storage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Pirate's Landing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Polynesian Pools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Premier Properties of Mesquite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Preston’s Shredding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Proof It Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Ready Golf Cars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Red Rock Golf Center–Rob Krieger. . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Reliance Connects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Re/Max Ridge Realty–John Larson. . . . . . . . . . . 62-63 Re/Max Ridge Realty–Cindy Risinger. . . . . . . . . . 62-63 Rooster Cottage Consignment Gallery . . . . . . . . . . .82 Sears Hometown Store. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 Silver Rider. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Southern Nevada Symphony Orchestra . . . . . . . . . .35 St. George Shuttle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Staging Spaces & Redesign. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95 Star Nursery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 State Farm–LaDonna Koeller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Sugar's Home Plate Restaurant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Sun City Realty–Rénald Leduc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89 The Lindi Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 The Perfume Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 The Travel Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 The UPS Store. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover Tuacahn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 VJ's BBQ Sports Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91 Virgin Valley Heritage Museum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Washington Federal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Wedgies Sports Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70