Desert Messenger September 18, 2024 by Desert Messenger

Quartzsite officials gather in Phoenix for Annual Conference

By Shanana Rain Golden-Bear

Quartzsite, Ariz. - More than 1,400 city and town ofﬁcials, legislators, business leaders, guests and youth council leaders from across the state gathered the last week of August for League of Arizona Cities and Towns Annual Conference, held August 27-30 at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix. The League of AZ Cities and Towns supports local self-government and municipal independence and provides professional assistance to municipal governments in the state.

Among those in attendance were Mayor Norm Simpson, Vice Mayor Lynda Goldberg, Town Manager Jim Ferguson, Council Members Starr BearCat, Karey Amon, and Council Member-Elect Nancy Nichols.

SEE CONFERENCE PAGE 15

By Shanana Rain Golden-Bear

On September 6, The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued a press release seeking public input on six draft Recreation Business Plans that would modernize the way recreation fee sites in Arizona are managed and social media response has been wild!

The proposed business plans include changes to the fee structures at some campgrounds and recreation areas, including:

• Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area near Safford

• Long-Term Visitor Areas (LTVAs) and amenity sites near Ehrenberg, Quartzite, Oxbow and Yuma

• Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground near Gila Bend

• San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area near Hereford

• Stateline Campground near Kanab, Utah

The draft business plans include information on the existing and proposed recreation fee sites, proposed fee changes, operation and maintenance costs, and planned expenditures. All recreation fees collected at sites are reinvested directly back into the local recreation program to expand and improve recreational opportunities, as authorized by the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) of 2004.

•

• Mailroom

• Park Model Rentals

• Pet Friendly!

• 8AM-5PM

AWC Quartzsite Campus Reopens!

By Shanana Rain Golden-Bear

“It has been several long years since the AWC Quartzsite Campus has taught classes here in Quartzsite, said Quartzsite Mayor Norm Simpson. After being closed down during the Covid pandemic, the Arizona Western College (AWC) Quartzsite campus ofﬁcially reopened on Monday, September 16. AWC is the community college district for Yuma and La Paz Counties. The Quartzsite Learning Center is located at 695 N. Kofa Avenue.

AWC La Paz Associate Dean Randy Hartless said his team has been working all summer to get things in order for the relaunch, including hiring new staff, upgrading the equipment, and scheduling classes that will begin in October. The ﬁrst 8-week cources scheduled are Introduction to Sociolology and Strategies for Success, 3 credits each.

“We very excited about getting the Quartzsite campus open and we look forward to ramping up our academic and community offerings,” Hartless said. “We recently hired two Quartzsite locals as our front desk clerks, and we think they’ll be a great addition to our AWC La Paz team.”

The Quartzsite campus currently hosts the Yuma Food Bank for community food distribution on the ﬁrst and third Mondays of the month, and Hartless said that will not change.

RV PIT STOP

Along with several academic course offerings in Quartzsite, the campus will also host Adult Education classes for GED and High School Equivalency students, as well as English for Speakers of other Language (ESOL) courses in the evenings. Adult Ed instructor Lisa Rountree will be in Quartzsite twice weekly to register and teach Adult Ed students, thanks to a grant from the Arizona Department of Education. Lisa will be on the Quartzsite campus every Tuesday and Thursday.

Mayor Simpson, who was unaware of the news until contacted by Desert Messenger News said, “I am extremely excited, and thankful, to hear that the Arizona Western College (AWC) Quartzsite Campus is ofﬁcially reopening. Hopefully, they will be able to hold some additional future offerings, such as courses in the training of hospitality workers in areas such as “Proper Customer Greeting,” “Proper Cash Register and Changemaking,” “Proper Workplace Attire,” and “Proper Timeclock Punctuality.” These are important areas of training needed in the Quartzsite Town as it has an economy based on providing service by restaurants, fuel stations, grocery stores, and hotels/motels.”

Mayor Simpson added, “My big THANK YOU goes to Randy Hartless and his team, who have been able to make this reopening happen. Reopenings are worthy of a ribbon cutting ceremony and celebration. Now that the campus is reopening perhaps we should see what classes are available that we could beneﬁt from.”

To learn more visit https://www.azwestern.edu/ or call 928-669-2214.

Changes to Quartzsite Chamber

By Shanana Rain Golden-Bear

During The Quartzsite Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism (QACC&T) General Membership Meeting held Thursday, September 5, 2024 President Larry Lord announced signiﬁcant changes to the organization. One of the major changes is the closure of the Quartzsite Visitor Center located at 1240 W. Main Street by the end of September.

Lord announced they have changed the name of the organization eliminating “Area” and “Tourism” from their name. The new name is Quartzsite Chamber of Commerce. He added the Board of Directors

made this decision to better align the organization’s main focus on supporting local businesses.

According to Arizona Corporation Commission New Articles of Incorporation document for the organization was filed on August 19, 2024 with the 1240 W. Main St. address. However there was no Affidafit of Publication listed as of 9-17-2024.

Quartzsite Area Chamber of Commerce was founded in 2015 as a 501(c6) not-for-proﬁt organization.

The 2015 QACC&T Articles of Incorporation “Character of Affairs” description read to “Promote Commerce, Tourism and Econonic Development.”

Lord said, “We’re focusing more on businesses now than tourism.”

The Chamber Facebook post stated, “After reviewing ﬁnancial reports, it was determined that the Chamber could no longer afford to operate the Visitor Center. The Chamber believes that by closing the Visitor Center, it can redirect funds to more effective advertising and promotional activities that will bring more value to its members and to the town.

“The Quartzsite Chamber of Commerce will relocate to new offices in the Sunwest Silver / Graceland Shed Office building located at 79 W Main Street in Quartzsite by the end of September. The Chamber’s post office box and phone number will remain unchanged during this transition. There is some hope that the

Endorsed by Donald Schlecht

town may take over the current Visitor Center facility. However, if that is not feasible, the current Visitor Center location will be closed, then drastically downsized and moved to the Chamber’s new location.”

Desert Messenger reached out to Lord asking about the ﬁnal day open for the Visitor Center.

He said they have a lot to do, ”but I anticipate to be open at the new lcation by October 1st. We are also looking for volunteers to help us. We will have information for visitors, but we will focus on Quartzsite businesses and local tourism.”

For more information call 928927-5200 or visit them at their new location in the former Sunwest Silver building at 79 W. Main St. Quartzsite.

September 18, 2024 DesertMessenger.com

Food Bank updates

We will be changing to our WINTER hours on October 1st, from 8 AM to 12 PM.

As winter approaches, the need in our community is greater than ever. Starting October 1st, we will be holding a Blanket & Food Drive through December. We urgently need donations of blankets, coats, warm clothing, hygiene supplies, and nonperishable food items. Many of our neighbors are struggling to stay warm and keep food on the table, and we can’t do this without your help. Every single donation can make a critical difference for a family in need. Donations are accepted at the back of the Foodbank at 40 N. Moon Mountain Rd. in Quartzsite.

On October 8th, we will be hosting a **Mobile Clinic** at the foodbank from 8 AM to 1 PM, provided by The Regional Center for Border Health, Inc. - La Paz Ofﬁce. Primary care Service, physicals, preventive health for men and women, general exams, referrals, etc. Appointments are still available— please don’t hesitate to reach out by calling (928) 669-4436.

We are located at 40 N Moon Mountain Rd in Quartzsite. Our current hours of operation are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 AM to 11 AM. Please remember to bring a picture ID when signing up for assistance.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our supporters and hard-working volunteers. If you’re interested in joining our dedicated team, please arrive 30 minutes before opening hours on Tuesdays or Thursdays, enter through the back gate, and ask for Roberto. For more information, call 928-662-7000. Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our cause.

We deeply appreciate the contributions from our community

members and local organizations, as they play a crucial role in sustaining our operations. Your generosity helps us not only survive but thrive, especially during challenging times. As a **privately owned nonproﬁt**, we rely entirely on donations to fulﬁll our mission of supporting the Quartzsite, La Paz County community.

There are various ways to support us: consider donating money, a car or RV, leaving a gift in your will, or designating us as a beneﬁciary for your retirement accounts or stock investments. You can also utilize the AZ Tax Credit program, which allows you to redirect up to $841 in owed taxes to us, providing vital support while also beneﬁting from IRS write-offs. Please make checks out to: FQFB, PO Box 4051, Quartzsite, AZ 85359. To learn more or to make a donation, visitQuartzsiteFoodBank.com.

The Quartzsite Transit bus service offers complimentary rides to the food bank for people 60 and over. For more information, call 928-9274333, option 3.

Additionally, the Yuma Community Food Bank provides Government, TEFAP & Senior boxes at Arizona Western College, 695 Kofa Ave, on the1st and 3rd Mondays of the month. Check for updates at Yumafoodbank. org or call 928-343-1243.

Roberto Salas, Manager

VFW hosts POW/MIA Day

National POW/MIA Recognition Day in 2024 will be on Friday, September 20. This day honors prisoners of war (POW) and those who are still missing in action (MIA), as well as their families.

VFW Post 769 at 305 N Central Quartzsite will honor the day, Sept. 20, 2024 with a short ceremony at 10 am, public is welcome.

President Jimmy Carter established National POW/MIA Recognition Day in 1979, and every president since has issued an annual proclamation to commemorate the day. A national ceremony is usually held at the Pentagon, with participation from highranking ofﬁcials and members of each branch of the military.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency estimates that more than 81,600 Americans are still missing from the Korean War, Vietnam War, WWII, the Cold War, and other conﬂicts. Join the VFW Post 769 September 20th at 10am for a short ceremony.

In 2012, the Department of Veterans Affairs Mental Health Services Suicide Prevention Program determined that 22 veterans commit suicide each day in our country.

VFW Post 769 is hosting a short Memorial at The Heroes Bells at Celia’s Rainbow Gardens at Town Park on September 22nd at 2:22pm to honor Veterans Suicide Awareness Day. If you know a veteran who committed suicide, please get that name and their military branch to Shelley Pool by text at 970-389-0245 by Saturday. We will be honoring them with name signs at the event.

OWNER/EDITOR/PUBLISHER

GRAPHIC DESIGN/ AP AR MARKETING EXECUTIVE/CLASSIFIEDS Shanana “Rain” Golden-Bear

“Please

DesertMessenger.com

EDITORIAL

By Shanana “Rain”

Semiquincentennial events around the state. Hopefully Quartzsite will be participating.

Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Desert Messenger.

Wow! What a couple of crazy weeks! Misinformation has reached epidemic proportions. It’s simply not possible to debunk every false claim that comes our way. Over a decade ago, Quartzsite Mayor Wes Huntley asking me to debunk all the false articles in a particular “patriotic” tabloid. Back then I told him, “If I did that, I wouldn’t have time to focus on all the good things going on in Quartzsite.” I still feel that way and I’m so very grateful for the journalists who DO perform Fact Checking, as we are drowning in misinformation. It feels like an endless game of Whac-A-Mole.

There is so much information I wanted to share that I couldn’t ﬁt it all in this edition. So, be sure to follow Desert Messenger News on Facebook

LETTERS TO EDITOR POLICY

Desert Messenger encourages letters its readers. Letters should be no longer than 300 words, and may be edited for grammar, content and length. OPINIONS EXPRESSED HEREIN DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF THE DESERT MESSENGER.

QUARTZSITE ROCKS!

be responsible for the energy you bring into this space.”-- Jill Bolte

Taylor

for the latest updates. I’ll be adding to my Substack Newsletter, also. It’s free to subscribe! Visit https://sraingoldenbear.substack.com.

Since 2010. I’ve been attending the League of Arizona Cities and Towns Annual Conference. This was another amazing experience, reconnecting with leaders across the state. It started off with AZ Secretary of State Adrian Fontes posing with Humpy, the Quartzsite Camel and then taking him back to the Capitol. We met Laura Terech, the Executive Director of the Arizona America250 Commission, who will be planning some fun

There were many break-out sessions about communicating during this challenging time of partisan politics and division. Mesa Mayor John Giles and Tempe Mayor Corey Woods came together sharing the “Disagree Better Arizona” initiative, a bipartisan effort aimed at elevating civil discourse and fostering constructive dialogue across the state. Learn more at disagreebetteraz.com

The Arizona Voters’ Agenda revealed that voters across all demographics and political afﬁliations AGREE on more than they disagree, countering the narrative of polarization and division.

Every election cycle, Center for the Future of Arizona develops the Arizona Voters’ Agenda from the results of two statewide public opinion surveys of likely Republican, Democratic, and independent/unafﬁliated voters about their perspectives on the election and issues facing the state.

We invite you to not only see a problem, but search for the solution to share with the community, keeping the benefit of all in mind.

Letters considered libelous, in poor taste, on a personal issue, mean spirited or dominated by Scripture quotes will not be published. Third party letters will not be accepted. To avoid confusion over people with common or similar names, writers must provide a full name and indicate the name they are known by. Writers must provide a full street address and phone number. Rvers can provide the location of park/BLM land, etc. Street addresses will not be published. Phone numbers are for verification only and will not be printed.

Send letters to: Desert Messenger, P.O. Box 3185, Quartzsite, AZ 85359 or E-mail to: Editor@DesertMessenger.com 928-916-4235

The Arizona Voters’ Agenda is a reﬂection of what truly matters to our community. It provides a data-driven foundation for issues of the greatest importance, illuminating big questions and big opportunities for anyone participating in our elections. Dive into the data and join the conversation. Discover more: arizonafuture.org/ava. There is always so much more to be grateful for... if we only look for it. So, even during these challenging times, I hope that we can realize how we are more alike than not. I hope we recognize our humanity in each other and see how we are connected.

And...Fact checking is NOT censorship and should NEVER be considered censorship! Fact Checking ADDS to the conversation. Censorship removes information. Let us use our critical thinking skills instead of anger, opening our hearts to each other realizing we’re all in this together!

Laura Terech, AZ Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, Council Member Starr BearCat

The Salvation Army updates

By Lee-Ann Henle, Manager

We are starting the Red Kettle recruitment for volunteers to RING for us. Please come see me. You pick your own schedule of days and times. We provide everything needed, even chairs or stools for you, too. It’s a great way to get a friend and spread the holiday season to all. Yes, you can play an instrument when out with the kettle stand. We are looking into counter kettles and small collection cans for business, too. Let me know if you would like one for your business. We ring the day after Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. 100% of collected funds stay in Quartzsite for outreach services. We continue to respond frequently to so many local ﬁres and other emergency needs in our area. Prayers to all.

We are continuing to collect for our local La Paz County Animal Shelter, located in Parker, at 309 7th Street Parker AZ. We have made three deliveries and our amazing community has now donated 175 items. Thanks, volunteer Sandee who has made these deliveries. Come ﬁll our heart of love to all the fur babies. The excited recipients gave a “bark, bark and a meow, meow!”

Please watch our postings on Facebook for weekly sales and announcements. I try and post on our Salvation Army Thrift Store Group, as well as Quartzsite Chatter, What’s Up Quartzsite Arizona Group and Quartzsite Support Local Businesses Group. We recently have had halfprice sales in different departments. Never know what will be on sale. Remember a red “X” on any price sticker is a half-priced item. We continue to have free shoes, socks, and miscellaneous items out front of the store, and a free clothing rack and food available inside each day.

We have received additional auto-

motive repair books, mostly Chilton’s. Need a pair of wooden nightstands, vintage wooden ironing board, a metal framed large trunk, nice collection of handmade wind chimes? Thanks David, new in the box Sauder large corner shelf, a new in the box entertainment storage unit, four nice reception armed chairs, a large ottoman and many, many, suitcases. Looking for vintage linens or fabric? Racks are full thanks to Sandee. Looking for a guitar? We received two very nice ones that came in last week. Need bicycle wheels? Great for crafts- we have a shopping cart of them. Come see what unique items we have. We have such amazing donors. Halloween items are starting to be displayed We so appreciate all the wonderful donations. Some days we can only take smaller loads as we have fewer volunteers during the summer and the porch area is full of large furniture pieces. We have limited space and our amazing summer volunteers process as quickly as they can. Our motto for what we take, “Would you give it to a friend?” We do NOT accept mattresses, large fatback televisions, printers, broken appliances, ﬂuorescent lights, books that have gotten wet, or tire chains. We receive and sort items inside on the porch area. We ask you to take items out of boxes, bags, tubs, etc. so they can be quickly sorted and sent to the back of the store for processing. Clothing can be brought in on hangers if that works for you. PLEASE do not leave items outside of the store before or after shopping hours. Call if special arrangements are needed. Thanks. We are thankful for several folks that are bringing in ﬂattened bags for Cashier Holly. This is very much appreciated. We also have small at home tasks. Have an extra hour or two, we always have tasks that can

be competed on a drop-in basis, too. Ask if you can help us. THANKS #DoingTheMostGood

A satisﬁed life is better than a successful life. Because our success is measured by others, but our satisfaction is measured by our own soul, mind, and heart.

Quartzsite Salvation Army Thrift Store & Service Center

101 South Moon Mountain Avenue Store 928-927-3636 Cell 360-921-7571

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE…. DONATIONS DURING OPEN HOURS ONLY

Phone for special large donation arrangements.

SHOPPING DAYS:

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

SUMMER SHOPPING HOURS: 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Call for Special Needs on other days. THANK YOU!

Shop Local group

By Becky Johnstone

The Quartzsite Shop Local Facebook Group was originally started to let people know which stores were open in Quartzsite during the summer months along with hosting our Shop Small Business Bingo. It is still here to let people know about new businesses opening, restaurant specials and events in and around Quartzsite. I also post the local weather forecast and other articles I think might be of interest to the people in the area.

Please post pictures of your business, location, hours open and what you have to offer. If you have an event that you would like to bring attention to, this is the place for your announcement.

If you have questions or would like help putting your post together, please contact Becky@secesh.net or 208-634-9304. There is no cost for posting or help. Please join the group if you are looking for this type of information. Thank you.

Letters

to the

EDITOR

Opinions expressed in letters to the editor do not necessarily represent those of the Desert Messenger News.

ARGUMENT FOR PROPOSITION 402

The issue: Due to a cap on municipal expenditures, imposed by the State, Quartzsite, and other towns in Arizona are limited from spending existing funds on needed services for the community. The cap amount is set by Census population data which was severely undercounted in 2020; resulting in otherwise unnecessary cuts in Town services and

personnel. Last year, Quartzsite voters approved a one-year override of the Spending Limit, in order to provide needed services. The purpose of Proposition 402, is to extend the limit for future years.

Example: The impact to the Town’s budget, and ability to provide services, can be demonstrated as if it applied to your household:

Typical Household Expenses

$35,000 annually for:

- Mortgage/Rent

- Home repairs/maintenance

- Food

- Clothing

- School & household supplies

- Insurance

- Auto expense / Fuel

- Utilities, Etc.

Household Income for all of above:

$35,000 (example)

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

What does the World say about Division?

We are the United States of America! But, are we United today?

Political and societal polarization has increased over the past several decades.

On October 15, 2021, the Senior Editor of the Los Angeles Times reported that the nonpartisan Pew Research Center recently surveyed people in 17 countries in Europe, Asia and North America, and Americans were the most likely to say their society was split along partisan, racial and ethnic lines. The U.S. also reported more religious division than almost any other country surveyed. The U.S. was also one of five countries in which more than half the public said their fellow citizens can’t agree on basic facts.

What does the Bible say about Division?

Matthew 12:25 And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand.”

Ephesians 4:4-6 (the Apostle Paul said) “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”

1 Corinthians 1:10,13 (the Apostle Paul said) “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. [13] Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”

Romans 16:17 (the Apostle Paul said) “Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.”

Jude 1:17-19 (Jude said)“But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, [18] that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” [19] These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.”

Dave Fiddament “Dave the Bible Reader”

You have $35,000 to cover the above expenses, but what if there is a Stateimposed limitation on your spending to a maximum of $30,000? You are permitted to keep the additional $5,000 beyond your expenses; but you are limited from spending it on your household needs. What are you going to cut from your household needs to meet the State Expenditure Limitation? [The problem is worse with inﬂation added to the Expenditure Limitation, where your dollar does not go as far].

This is the situation that the Town is faced with…the Town has existing revenue for community needs, which we cannot spend under the State Expenditure Limitation. The Town can put it into savings; but cannot expend it for budgeted services.

A YES vote on Proposition 402 will allow the Town to provide needed services within its existing revenue. I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing information is true and correct and I am the sponsor of this Argument advocating this Proposition.

Mark Goldberg, Quartzsite Full-Time Resident

RE-ELECT SHERIFF PONCE

My husband & I wholeheartedly support Sheriff Will Ponce for reelection as Sheriff of La Paz County. Born & raised here, he is a lifelong resident of La Paz County & has a personal commitment to the safety & security of our citizens. He has worked in law enforcement for 25 years, including 3 years as Chief of Police for Quartzsite & nearly 4 years as Sheriff of La Paz County. He is currently a member of the Western States Sheriff’s Association, the Arizona Sheriff’s Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police, & the Western Arizona Law Enforcement Association. He attended the FBI National Academy, developing his level of education in law enforcement & completed

the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association leadership courses. Sheriff Ponce has a passion & love for the children in our communities & serves on the Quartzsite School Board. He has also obtained grant funds to employ 2 fulltime School Resource Ofﬁcers for 3 years. Sheriff Ponce is always willing to volunteer & participate in helping in local events. During his tenure as our current Sheriff he has applied for & been awarded over 7 million dollars in grants for the Department for equipment, salaries, Dispatcher Server upgrades, enhanced communications equipment, & many more necessities.

Sheriff Ponce has developed a cooperative & team focused relationship with other law enforcement agencies, contributing to excellent safety for our communities. We’ve Known Sheriff Ponce for many years & trust his leadership & capabilities to keep us safe. Your vote to re-elect Sheriff Ponce for La Paz County is positive vote for our future.

With genuine sincerity, Jim & Nancy Nichols, Quartzsite

9/11 THANK YOU

I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who came out to the town park for the annual ceremony to honor the victims and those who worked tirelessly to help the survivors from the horriﬁc events of September, 11 2011.

The ceremony started with the entrance of the color guard by the Brotherhood Rogue Riders from the VFW, carrying the ﬂag and escorted by several law enforcement vehicles and ﬁre trucks.

John McFarland, Chaplain of the VFW, was then introduced to do the opening prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. He also introduced VFW Commander Dennis Sutherland and President of the VFW Auxiliary Marcy Urban who also spoke.

September 18, 2024 DesertMessenger.com

Letters

EDITOR

Continued from Page 8

I explained what the six monuments around the bell arch were built to honor. I then introduced the members of the Fire Department, Police Department, Sheriff’s Department and the dignitaries, Mayor Norm Simpson, Vice Mayor Lynda Goldberg and Council Members Starr BearCat and Karey Amon, Council Member-Elect Nancy Nichols, and Town Manager Jim Ferguson. A member from the Quartzsite Fire Dist., La Paz County Sheriff Will Ponce, and Quartzsite Police Dept. Lt. Burnett also spoke. From the audience, well-known local resident Marilyn McFate spoke about the early volunteer Quartzsite Fire Department. At the conclusion of the ceremony John McFarland invited everyone to hold hands and form a large circle around the archway and led us in closing prayer. Everyone then had a chance to ring the bells and it sounded beautiful!

Special thanks to Marcy at the VFW for the refreshments, Rain from Desert Messenger for getting the word out, Nicci and Christopher from the Parks Department for setting up the chairs and to John McFarland for all of his help. Our next event will be Heroes Appreciation Day on March 1, 2025 at 1pm. Mark your calendars. See you there!

Joanne Winer

TAKE CARE OF OUR SENIORS.

VOTE RUBEN GALLEGO

Kari Lake has made herself clear: if she has it her way, the federal budget will be slashed in half, or more.

That means less help for everyday Arizonans. It means fewer beneﬁts for our brave veterans. And it would mean losing the beneﬁts I’ve paid into for decades through Social Security and Medicare.

Every election cycle, we hear Republican candidates sidestep questions on Medicare and Social Security, but Kari Lake said the quiet part out loud.

She’s proposed slashing the federal budget by 75%, and there’s no way around it: such massive cuts would put our beneﬁts at risk.

Polling shows that these cuts would be wildly unpopular with everyday Arizonans. In our state, we want our seniors taken care of. After paying into these programs for years, they deserve the fruits of their labor.

But Kari Lake doesn’t listen to Arizonans. She’s only in this for herself, and her leadership will be deﬁned entirely by her power-hungry extremism, not what’s best for Arizona.

I refuse to let her anywhere near elected ofﬁce. Instead, I’ll be supporting a proven champion for seniors: Ruben Gallego.

A Marine Corps veteran, Ruben has dedicated his life to service, and as a Congressman, he’s consistently pushed for legislation that will strengthen Medicare and Social Security beneﬁts, not cut them down.

He helped pass the Inﬂation Reduction Act, which capped insulin costs at $35 per month, capped outof-pocket drug costs for seniors at $2,000 per year, and ﬁnally allowed Medcare to negotiate down drug prices. Kari Lake told our Senators to vote against it.

This election year, life-saving programs like Medicare and Social Security are truly on the line. We cannot underestimate Kari Lake’s extremism.

I’m voting for Ruben Gallego to defeat that extremism and preserve Arizona seniors’ hard-earned beneﬁts.

By Monica Timberlake Quartzsite, La Paz County

• Work cooperatively with ALL La Paz County departments

• Create a safe and inclusive working environment for the Assessor staff

• Recruit, Retain and RESPECT department employees

• Take full responsiblity for any and all issues or problems related to the La Paz County Assessor’s Office. The Buck Stops Here!

I’m asking for your support in the general election on November 5, 2024, for the office of La Paz County Assessor. My name is Vivian Hartless and I approve of this message.

Gardening with Dennis

PLANTING TIME!

By Alex Taft

As the weather cools down and planting time begins, deciding what to write about and coming up empty became a challenge. I reviewed Dennis’s paperwork and notebooks looking for inspiration and found a planting chart timeline for vegetables. If you are not entirely worn out from the relentless summer heat, September and October are the months to plant most vegetables. Below is a list of what to plant in September and October taken from Dennis’s Cooperative Extension Chart that was squirreled away in one of his notebooks. The harvest times are also noted.

Asparagus – Plant in October through January. Harvest is after 3 years if planted from seed. Asparagus is a perennial.

Beans, Snap* – Plant in August and September. Harvest in October and November.

Beets* – Plant in September all the way through early March and harvest starting late November.

Broccoli – Plant September through November. Harvest in January through April.

Brussel Sprouts – Plant September through December. Harvest January through early March.

Cabbage – Plant September through early November. Harvest November through February.

Cauliﬂower – Plant September through November. Harvest in December through early February.

that wonderful black dirt the summer heat and produce scraps have created. As the growing season is upon us, it can also help to revive plants exhausted and depleted from the summer heat.

Carrots* – Plant August through November. Harvest October through December.

Chard - Plant

Chard - Plant September through November. Harvest November through February.

Carrots* – Plant August November. Harvest

Cucumbers* – Plant in August and Harvest in Oc-

Cucumbers* – Plant in August and September. Harvest in October and early November.

Leaf Lettuce – Plant September through early December. Harvest from late November through March.

Garlic – Plant Late September through early November. Harvest March through early May.

Green Onions – Plant September through early December. Harvest December through February.

Radishes* – Plant September through November. Harvest November and December.

Spinach – Plant late September through January. Harvest November through early April.

Turnips – Plant late September through January. Harvest late December through early March.

Note: Those plants marked with an asterisk* can be planted for a second crop because the growing time to harvest is so short. The planting chart does not just refer to the general area of the southwest desert, it is for Yuma County, which we were once a part of so the planting and harvest times are more speciﬁc and reliable. Leave it to Dennis to have that information!

One of the positive side effects of the scorching summer is that it has been a great time to cook compost. As the cooler weather comes, utilize

This past summer has claimed its share of cactus, trees, and shrubs, especially since very little rain came. The town lost many saguaros this summer. There isn’t a street that doesn’t have one down. Most that died were the older and very tall saguaros, making their loss harder. Many looked like they were damaged in the heavy storms two years ago and are now no longer able to survive. It has indeed been a hard summer.

Fall is a wonderful time to plant trees and shrubs. Fall planting gives trees and shrubs plenty of time before the heat comes to get established and be better equipped to survive the summer. The more trees you have, the better they are able to survive and thrive in the summer heat. Their shade in turn helps other shrubs and plants to thrive as well. Encouraging nature-planted trees to grow where they sprout – as long as they do not crowd each other- is another option. Shaded areas encourage birds and bunnies and cactus and saguaros to grow also so another cycle of green can begin.

Note: for those who did not know Dennis, he was a part-time employee of the town parks department, a Master Gardener since 1985 and instructor for the Master Gardener Class. He passed away in 2018.

lost many saguaros this

Council vacancy

The Town Council of Quartzsite will be accepting applications until October 8, 2024 from Quartzsite residents for consideration of appointment to one (1) vacant Town Council position. Interested persons can pick up their application for Council position at the front counter of Town Hall, 465 N. Plymouth Ave. The Council vacancy will remain open until filled. Pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes 9-235, the Council shall fill a vacancy until the next regularly scheduled Council election if the vacancy occurs more than thirty days before the nomination petition deadline. Qualifications for Council appointment are found in Arizona Revised Statutes, ARS 9-232(A), which states in pertinent part the following:

“A. A person shall not be a member of a city or town council unless, at the time of election [appointment], the person is eighteen years old, is a qualiﬁed elector residing within the city or town at the time of the election [appointment], and has resided in the city or town for one year next preceding the election [appointment]…”

All completed applications shall be submitted to the Quartzsite Town Clerk and will be accepted until October 8, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

Quartzsite, AZ - During their regular meeting of June 25th, Quartzsite Town Council directed staff to issue the following information regarding the open Council position due to the resignation of Council Member Sam Saxton earlier in June. Questions: 928-927-4333. www.QuartzsiteAZ.org

Council fills vacant seat temporarily

During the regular meeting of Town of Quartzsite Council on Tuesday, September 10th, Nancy Nichols, who won a 4-year council seat in the Primary election was appointed as an Interim Council Member to ﬁll the vacant seat of Sam Saxton until after the General Election. It was announced that she will be sworn in at the next meeting on Sept. 24th. Town Attorney Joe Estes explained that after the General Election, she will then move into the seat she was elected to for the four year term. Council Member Devyn Rosner chose not to run, so she will take his seat. Estes explained Nichols can then participate in choosing someone to ﬁll the vacant seat.

Town Hall is accepting applications to ﬁll the vacant seat until 5pm October 8, 2024. For details see adjacent article to left <<<<.

September 18, 2024 DesertMessenger.com

Logic & Accuracy Testing

La Paz County Elections will test tabulation equipment for Logic and Accuracy for the 2024 General Election. The test is performed before and after every election to certify the accuracy of tabulation equipment and accessible voting devices. Logic and Accuracy testing is a critical process used to verify that voting equipment is properly programmed and capable of accurately tabulating votes. This testing serves as one of several measures implemented by both county and state ofﬁcials to ensure that the voting process is secure and reliable. The Logic & Accuracy (L & A) Testing will take place on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 11:15 am in the Board of Supervisors Meeting Room, 1108 Joshua Avenue, Parker, Arizona.

The test is open to the public, representatives of the political parties, candidates, and the press. Logic and Accuracy Test of the DS200 Precinct Scanner, the DS450 Central Tabulator and the program used during the La Paz County General Election on November 5, 2024.

For more information contact La Paz County Elections, Phone: 928-6696149 or visit https://www.lapaz.gov/162/Elections.

Walking path on N. Kofa

Construction is beginning on a new walking path on N. Kofa Ave. from E. Quail Trail near Arizona Western College to W. Tyson St.

On August 13th Quartzsite Town Council approved the contract to DPE Construction for the amount of $275,000.

Quartzsite Public Works Director Emmett Brinkerhoff explained the bid was $25k under budget. He said the project should be completed by end of October. Drivers should usecaution in the area during the construction zone. For more information contact Town Hall 928-927-4333.

County funding application open

Community Partner Funding - Application Open

La Paz County’s Community Partners Funding Program provides funding to organizations to assist in facilitating programs and providing services that beneﬁt La Paz County residents in a variety of ways. Projects and services that focus on senior citizens, youth, tourism, education / professional development, or economic development will have preference over others.

The completed application, budget form, letters of recommendation, and all supporting documents must be received at the Board of Supervisors by email by 6:00 pm on September 30, 2024. Email all documents in one email to: Tracy McConnell at tmcconnell@lapaz.gov with “Community Partners Application” in the Subject line of email.

Contact Tracy McConnell for more information at 928-669-6115 or tmcconnell@lapaz.gov.

By Maggie Moody

Season is coming up, and we already see a few early birds arriving. It is nice to see people starting to arrive. Tysons Well Stage Station Museum is currently open on Thursdays from 9 until noon. Stop by for a visit, admission is Free as always The ﬁrst Quartzsite Historical Society meeting will be October 9, 2024 at 2:30 pm at the Quartzsite Public Library. We hope to see any members who are in town as well as anyone who likes history and would like to join the Quartzsite Historical Society or volunteer at the museum. Our prospective docents that are in town by then are welcome to come to the meeting.

Quartzsite residents and prior visitors may have noticed the new building on the museum property. We are making room in the museum for a larger gift shop and eventually moving the ofﬁce to the new building.

We are looking forward to a fun and busy season. Follow us on the Quartzsite Historical Society Facebook page to ﬁnd out what is happening. Plan ahead for the 4th Annual Senior Prom at the Senior Center the date is March 22, 2025!

Kindergarten - Juan Zook

Kindergarten - Elizabeth Salcido

1st Grade - Caleb Phillips

1st Grade - Luna Kness

2nd Grade - Mila Lawson

2nd Grade - Jack Richardson

3rd Grade - Lorelei Fultz

4th Grade - Bryce Petry

4th Grade - Aria Del Rial (not pictured)

5th Grade - Cody Ford

5th Grade - Keigan Chad Barnett (not pictured)

6th Grade - Brynn Ray

6th Grade - Brenda Hernandez

7th Grade - Adrianna Petry

8th Grade - Everett Simpson-Ruiz

8th Grade - Hector Molina (not pictured)

AZ America 250 needs logo

PHOENIX – Join the America250 Arizona Commission as they kick off the launch of a state-wide logo competition to craft a visual identity that captures the essence of Arizona’s role in the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. We invite artists, designers, and creative minds to submit their designs that embody the spirit, heritage, and future of Arizona. In 2026, the United States will mark our Semiquincentennial: the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The Arizona America250 Commission is seeking an iconic logo to represent our state’s vibrant spirit, stunning landscapes, and rich heritage...and Arizona needs your help! The Arizona America250 Commission is looking for a design that illuminates Arizona’s untamed spirit of independence. Contestants of all ages are encouraged to apply. Submissions will be narrowed down to top 10 finalists, and those finalists will move on to an online, public vote by the end of the year. The winner’s design will be used as the official Arizona America250 logo for events, merchandising, and branding. Submission Portal Closes: September 30, 2024

Submit your original artwork to the America250AZ Commission’s Logo Contest by September 30, 2024! Questions? Reach out to America250AZ@azsos. gov. or visit https://azsos.gov/about/az250-logo

- Maridel Sato- Ashlee Barnett -

In-person early Satellite Voting

Wednesday, October 23, 10-2

In Person Early Voting will be held at at Quartzsite Community Center, 295 E. Chandler St. on Wednesday, OCTOBER 23, 2024 from 10:00am2:00pm. The La Paz County Recorder will be present to assist with early voting and voter information.

For more information regarding early voting or voter registration, contact La Paz County Recorder’s Ofﬁce at 1101 Joshua Ave. Suite 201, Parker, AZ or call 928-669-6136. Or visit azsos.gov/elecctions

Nov. 5th Ballots will be very long

The General Election is coming up on November 5, 2024! Don’t wait – register to vote, update your voter registration, join the Active Early Voting List (AEVL), or request a one-time-ballot by mail to receive a ballot at your home! You must be registered on or before October 7, 2024 to be eligible to participate in this election.

Arizona’s November ballots will be extremely long. Voters will consider 13 statewide measures and some regions will have additional questions. Eleven of those measures were referred to the ballot by Republican state lawmakers in an attempt to bypass vetoes from Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. Eight of the measures passed on a party-line vote, while two had support from just four Democrats.

Ironically, several of the GOP-introduced measures target the process citizens can use to put measures on the ballot themselves. That’s largely seen as a Republican reaction to the likelihood of the Arizona Abortion Access Act, which would codify a right to abortion in the state constitution, reaching the ballot this fall. The abortion amendment is one of two citizen-led initiatives that will appear on the ballot. The other is a provision to eliminate partisan primary elections, thought it will compete against a contradictory ballot measure referred by GOP lawmak-

ers. A third citizen-led initiative, to raise the minimum wage, was abandoned by its backers on Aug. 9.

Prop. 133 would amend the Arizona Constitution to forbid open primaries and outlaw ranked-choice voting. It was passed to counter Proposition 140, a citizen initiative, which would do away with partisan primaries and instead have primary elections where all candidates are on the same ballot.

Prop. 134 would require citizen initiatives to obtain voter signatures from every legislative district in the state, rather than from anywhere in the state.

Prop. 135 would amend the state constitution to limit a Governor’s authority during a state of emergency.

Prop. 136 would amend the Arizona Constitution to allow lawsuits against citizen ballot initiatives before the initiative goes to the ballot.

Prop. 137 would eliminate most judicial retention elections and retroactively prevent voters from ending the terms of current Supreme Court justices.

Prop. 138 would alter minimum wage laws for tipped workers, allowing a reduced wage if employees make a speciﬁed amount in tips.

Prop 139 would amend the constitution to make abortion legal up to fetal viability; which typically occurs after 23 or 24 weeks of gestation; and prevent the state from enforcing laws that interfere with abortions if the pregnant person’s health is at risk.

Expressly state that every Arizonan has a fundamental right to abortion

Prop 140 Create open primary elections in which all candidates for an office would appear on the primary election ballot, regardless of political party affiliation or nonaffiliation.

Prop. 311 would create a new $20 fee on criminal convictions to fund a $250,000 payment to the families of ﬁrst responders killed in the line of duty.

Prop. 312 would create a process for a property owner to apply for a primary property tax refund from their city, town, or county if they can document expenses that were necessary to mitigate the local government’s policies or failure to enforce laws on speciﬁc “public nuisances,” including the effects of homelessness and public drug or alcohol use.

Prop. 313 would require life imprisonment for someone convicted of sex trafﬁcking of a minor child.

Prop. 314 would establish new crimes for immigration violations, require eligibility veriﬁcation for public beneﬁts, and increase penalties for drug offenses involving fentanyl.

Prop. 315 would expand legislative oversight of state agency rulemaking, requiring state agencies to obtain legislative approval for any proposed rule estimated to increase regulatory costs by more than $500,000 within ﬁve years.

If voters approve both versions of competing measures on elections (Prop. 133 and the Make Elections Fair Act), the Arizona Constitution speciﬁes that the measure earning the most votes in the election will be the law in any areas that conﬂict. Plan ahead and vote early. Voters could experience long lines at the polling centers. Check your voter registration at https://my.arizona. vote.

September 18, 2024

The La Posa Long Term Visitor Area (LTVA) was created in 1983 to fulﬁll the needs of winter visitors and to protect the local desert ecosystem from overuse. The campground is approximately 11,400 acres in size, ﬂat landscape, sparsely vegetated with plants such as creosote bushes, palo verde trees, ironwood trees, mesquite trees and various species of cacti. According the press release, BLM conducted a market analysis of current recreation fees statewide that revealed fee rates were below local market prices.

Currently the LTVA long term permit ($180) allows use of Bureau of Land Management designated LTVAs continuously from September 15th to April 15th (a total of 7 months), or for any length of time between those two dates. The LTVA short-visit permit ($40) allows use of Bureau of Land Management designated LTVAs for any 14 consecutive day period from September 15th

DesertMessenger.com

to April 15th, which begins on the day the permit receipt is exchanged for the ofﬁcial permit and decal. The short-visit permit may be renewed an unlimited number of times for the cost of the permit. LTVA permits are valid at all of the Bureau of Land Management LTVAs.

BLM Proposed fees for LTVA would increase $180 to $600 for up to 7 months. The new Proposed shortterm fees would increase from $40/2 weeks to $200/30 days.

“The BLM has not updated business plans for our recreation sites to reﬂect market conditions in decades,” said Gerald Davis, BLM Arizona Deputy State Director for Resources and Planning. “The updated plans would enable the BLM to improve services and amenities in order to ensure these sites provide the exceptional experiences that visitors to public lands deserve.”

According to BLM, over the past ﬁve years, visitation to public lands in Arizona has increased from 4.9 million to 6.8 million. However, BLM’s bud-

POI SPINNING

get per visitor has not kept up with the increased use and visitation. “Those increases have caused wear and tear,” Davis said. “The BLM is seeking public input on proposed fee increases that would help us keep pace with the rising cost of operations and maintenance.”

Quartzsite Mayor Norm Simpson said, “This increase will drive people away from our community. There is such a need for housing everywhere and many people using the LTVA have found it affordable to stay in Quartzsite and not have to pay rent. Our dry campers out number our residents! This will affect us tremendously and just as the town is starting to grow and attract more visitors. I can see a small increase per year, but over 300% increase is not the correct way.”

Quartzsite Chamber of Commerce President Larry Lord said, “I understand the rates havn’t gone up since 2008, but this increase percentage is outrageous. It needs to be a reasonable increase. The Chamber will be

discussing this in the near future. I’ll do everything I can to publicize this.”

BLM is hosting an in-person meeting Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 1:00-3:00 p.m at La Posa South Pavillion. Please bring your chairs.

Business Plans currently seeking public input can be found at: https://www.blm.gov/arizona/ public-room/strategic-plan/ yuma-field-office-ltva-draftbusiness-plan.

You can provide comment on this draft business plan by emailing BLM_AZ_YFOWEB@blm.gov with the subject line “LTVA Fee Proposal Comment” or by delivering/mailing comments to: BLM Yuma Field Ofﬁce 7341 E 30th St, Suite A Yuma, AZ 85365 COMMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY OCT. 21, 2024.

Why you need dental insurance in

Medicare doesn’t pay for dental care.1 As good as Medicare is, it was never meant to cover everything. If you want protection, you need to purchase individual insurance.

Early detection can prevent small problems from becoming expensive ones. The best way to avoid large dental bills is preventive care. Experts recommend checkups twice a year.

Previous dental work can wear out.

Your odds of having a dental problem only go up as you age.2

Treatment is expensive — especially the services people over 50 often need.

Unexpected bills, like $190 for a filling, or $1,213 for a crown3 can be a real burden, especially if you’re on a fixed income.

Year-Round at small building near Community Bible Church, 375 E. Sunrise St. Randy 928-216-9963

BRENDA: Tues & Sat. 11am Black Rock RV (behind clubhouse)

CONFERENCE FROM PAGE 1

The conference is held annually in late summer and provides a unique opportunity for local officials to gather together to attend training sessions designed to aid in more effective and efficient management of Arizona’s municipalities, to hear from state and legislative officials, as well as share common concerns and ideas for problem solving.

Mayor Simpson said, “Beneﬁts of attending the conference included training in areas of interest to public ofﬁcials, such as establishing networking, roundtable discussions with other municipalities, formal presentations by established leaders and updates of legislation affecting municipalities.”

Highlights included a pre-conference Session with Center for the Future of Arizona. Attendees learned The Arizona Voters’ Agenda revealed voters across all demographics and political afﬁliations AGREE on more than they disagree, countering the narrative of polarization and division.

Mayor Norm Simpson and Council Member-Elect Nancy Nichols represented Quartzsite carrying the Town Flag during the popular Parade of Flags. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego gave a welcome speech. The Keynote speaker was Allison Levine, who has made a career out of breaking boundaries and inspiring others to achieve more than they ever thought possible.

Governor Katie Hobbs addressed the attendees at the Governor and Service Award Luncheon held on Thursday. Local ofﬁcials who have served on municipal councils from 8 to 36 years were recognized. In addition, the League presented their Legislative Friends and Champions Award, honoring local government supporters from the state legislature. More than 30 educational sessions on topics ranging from water to council-manager relations, emergency

preparedness, healthcare, Blue Zones, housing, heat solutions, budgeting, legislation impacting cities and town, clean energy, planning, 2024 elections, and economic development to just name a few.

In addition to the many educational sessions and networking events at the conference, mayors and councilmembers from across the state met during the event to develop resolutions for the League’s Municipal Policy Statement. The policy statement represents the collective interests of cities and towns statewide and will guide the League of Arizona Cities and Town’s lobbying efforts during the upcoming legislative session that begins in January 2025.

The Town had a booth at the ever popular Showcase of cities and towns event giving away lots of goodies. See photos on page 23.

The League of Arizona Cities and Towns is a voluntary association of all the 91 incorporated cities and towns in the state of Arizona. It provides policy and legislative advocacy, information and inquiry services, along with publications and educational programs to strengthen the quality and efﬁciency of municipal government. It was founded in 1937 to serve the interests of cities and towns and to preserve the principles of home rule and local determination.

The 2025 Annual Conference will be held August 19 – 22, 2025 at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Scottsdale, AZ.

For more information, visit www. azleague.org.

Home buyer support

Are you ready to buy the home of your dreams? There’s more to purchasing your ﬁrst home than simply saving for a down payment.

As a HUD-approved Local Housing Counseling Agency, WACOG provides HUD-approved homebuyer education to area individuals and families. Their experienced, HUDcertiﬁed Housing Counselors uphold the highest standards of excellence and ensure that you receive the most up-to-date information available to help you through the process of purchasing a home.

WACOG (Western Arizona Council Of Governments) Ofﬁce of Housing Counseling offer free Educational Workshops in person and via Zoom. Homebuyer Workshop

For individuals considering their readiness to purchase a home, this 8-hour workshop walks you through the entire process for home purchase. From getting your ﬁnances and credit in order, to setting up a saving plan, pre-qualifying for a loan, knowing how much home you can afford, ﬁnding a home, to closing the deal, and protecting your investment through obtaining the right insurance and beyond, area all important steps you need to be aware of before you make that commitment.

Money Matters: Using Money the Smart Way

You will learn ways to plan using and saving your money through easy-tfollow steps and strategies. Being

smart about using your money is the way to grow wealth and increase your opportunities to become a homeowner, send your kids to college, save for retirement, buy your new car, etc.

Money Matters: Good Credit Makes Life Easier

Establishing and maintaining good credit saves you money! Learn how to start your credit history. If you need to repair your credit, come and learn how to do it at no cost! If you need to improve it come and learn how.

All Classes Are Free! In person or via Zoom

Fair Housing-Housing Discrimination Advocacy

If you suspect you might be subject to housing discrimination by your landlord, real estate agent, loan ofﬁcer, or anybody else, you can seek protection under the FAIR HOUSING ACT LAW.

Fair Housing Law protect individuals on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sesual orientation, disability and familial status. For more information, or to make an appointment, contact:

In Yuma or La Paz Counties: Martha Marquez: (928) 217-7126 (martham@wacog.com) https://www.wacog.com/homebuyer-education/

Give us a call at 866-559-2264 or email us at housingcounseling@wacog. com.

DesertMessenger.com

CRAFT

& YARD SALE, Third Saturday of every month. The next show is SATURDAY SEPT. 21ST, 8am til 1pm. Quartzsite Senior Center Come see unique artists, crafters and yard sale vendors. Live music & Hot Food. 2 rooms indoors & outdoors. 40 Moon Mountain Ave. Quartzsite. Questions? Call or text 208-484-1909.

BROWN BAG BINGO

The Quartzsite Senior Center started a new Bingo called Brown Bag Bingo on Fridays at 1pm. Bring a white elephant gift to exchange. Have questions call the Senior Center at 928-927-6496. The Senior Center is located at 40 S. Moon Mountain Ave. Quartzsite.

QUARTZSITE

ROCK PAINTING UPDATES:

Cheri Owen will start up again with my ﬁrst class being September 12th and the 13th. I will begin that week and there after on Thursdays and Fridays. The cost will be $3 at the Senior Center.

ROCK

PAINTING PARTY with Quartzsite Rocks! Help the group provide KINDNESS ROCKS and SMILES for our wonderful community and visitors next season. All supplies provided to paint or dot the rocks. There will be a decorating contest, rafﬂes and potluck. Friday, November 8th 9am-noon. Friday February 14th 9am – noon. Accepting donations for rafﬂe prizes. Please see us at the Senior Center every Thursday 9am –noon or call Cheri at 602-330-7536.

CRAFT MANIA COMING SOON

A Crafting Classroom for all Crafts. Contact Kathy to Teach, Volunteer or Class Schedule fb@ Craft Mania Quartzsite / Kathy @ 503-318-1198

KPIVA DOTS & ROCKS Join the fun of Mandala DOT Painting and meet new friends. Lots of fun, no experience required. Contact Kathy to Save your Spot to Dot @ 503.318.1198 or on fb @Kpiva Dots and Rocks

TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS

Quartzsite Town Council meets the 2nd & 4th Tuesday at 7pm at Town Hall, 465 N. Plymouth Ave. Quartzsite. All meetings are open to the public. www.QuartzsiteAZ.org

TOWN MANAGER MEETINGS

The public is encouraged to attennd the monthly Quartzsite Town Manager’s Meetings, which will be held at-

cil Meeting of every month, usually the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Bring your questions and concerns. The meetings are held at the Quartzsite Library Meeting room, 465 N. Plymouth Ave. For more information contact Town Hall 928-927-4333.

TOWN HALL HOURS

Town of Quartzsite facilities is now on permanent 4-day work week hours. Town Hall including Quartzsite Library, will be open Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Quartzsite Town Hall is located at 465 N. Plymouth Ave. For more details call 928-927-4333. Or visit www.QuartzsiteAZ.org.

QUARTZSITE PLANNING AND

ZONING Commission meets the THIRD Tuesday of each month at 5:00PM at Town Hall, 465 N Plymouth Ave. All meetings are open to the public. www.QuartzsiteAZ.org.

COUNTY SUPERVISORS

La Paz County Board of Supervisors are now Live streaming their meetings! Meetings are the ﬁrst and third Monday of each month, 10am. 1108 S Joshua. Parker, AZ. Check current and past videos at http://co.la-paz. az.us/587/Live-Stream-and-Archived-Meetings.

UPCOMING EVENTS?

Are you planning a Quartzsite area community event, sale, dance, workshop, class, music jam, show, yard sale, meeting, swap meet, fundraiser, seminar, etc. for next season? Check for open dates before scheduling and LIST EVENTS FOR FREE at www. QuartzsiteCalendar.com

It’s easy! Click “Submit Event” tab and just ﬁll in the details. (Sponsored by Desert Messenger News)

Tax Aide Volunteers wanted

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest volunteer-based tax preparation service. In communities across the country, we help people with low to moderate income become more ﬁnancially resilient.

Quartzsite, Arizona is looking for compassionate and friendly people to join our volunteer team. We’ll provide training and support to help you learn new skills.

Quartzsite Tax-Aide volunteers’ days are Monday and Tuesday’s from 7:30 AM-1:00 PM starting in mid-January through April 15th. Tax-Aide volunteers will receive travel reimbursement at the end of the season. To learn about our volunteer opportunities, visit aarpfoundation.org/ TaxaideVolunteer.

“Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty.” ~Doris Day

Election dates

The State General Election in Arizona is on November 5, 2024. Here are some important dates to keep in mind:

Voter Registration Deadline: October 7, 2024

Early Voting Begins: October 9, 2024

Last Day to Request a Mail-in Ballot: October 25, 2024

Mail Back Your Ballot By: October 29, 2024

Last Day to Vote Early In-Person: November 1, 2024

Election Day: November 5, 2024

Senior Scams

By Dakoda Stemen

Hello, my name is Dakoda Stemen, and I’m the founder of InfoTech Guardian™, where I specialize in protecting seniors from online threats. With over 10 years of experience in IT security and degrees in Computer Science, Administration & Information Systems, and Business Administration. I’ve built my career on safeguarding critical systems and sensitive information.

As a U.S. Army veteran, I worked to protect government systems from foreign cyber threats, ensuring that our nation’s most sensitive data stayed secure. I hold multiple certiﬁcations in cybersecurity, and possess a government security clearance.

This background demonstrates the trust placed in me to handle the most sensitive information, and now I use my expertise to help seniors stay safe from online scammers.

This brings me to why I’m here today. I’m launching a 10-part series, called Senior Scams designed specifically to help seniors like you understand the most common scams that target older adults. Each article will break down a different scam, how it works, and, most importantly, how you can protect yourself from it.

Over the next several months, I’ll cover a wide range of scams that often target seniors. This series is my way of giving back and ensuring that you have the tools and knowledge to avoid falling victim to these threats.

From phishing emails to tech support scams, IRS impersonation scams to charity fraud, each article will give you practical, actionable advice that you can use right away.

Why You Need to Protect Your Digital Assets

Your digital life—everything from your email, medical records to your bank login—contains sensitive information that scammers are eager to exploit. Here’s what can happen if they get access to it:

● Financial Devastation: Scammers can drain your bank accounts or max out your credit cards. Worse, when

they use cryptocurrency to move stolen money, it’s nearly impossible to recover the funds.

● Identity Theft: Cybercriminals can use your personal details to open credit cards, apply for loans, or commit fraud in your name.

● Invasion of Privacy: Hackers can access your medical records, personal emails, and even private photos; they will then utilize this information to plan out more sophisticated attacks.

● Emotional Manipulation: Many scams prey on your emotions, creating panic or urgency to get you to act without thinking. Unfortunately, once your money is stolen, it’s almost impossible to get it back because cybercriminals often funnel stolen funds through cryptocurrency, making it difﬁcult to track and recover.

How You Can Start Protecting Yourself NOW!

Here are three simple steps you can take right now to make yourself less vulnerable:

1. Be Skeptical: If you receive an unsolicited phone call or email asking for personal information, don’t respond right away. Take a moment to verify who is contacting you.2. Strengthen Your Passwords: Use strong, unique passwords for your online accounts. Enable two-factor authentication where possible to add an extra layer of security.

3. Stay Informed: Scammers are always evolving their tactics. Keep yourself educated on the latest threats so you can spot them before it’s too late.

Contact me today for a free consultation, and let’s work together to protect your personal and ﬁnancial information from those who want to exploit it.

Phone: +1 (626) 788 - 3656

Stay tuned for the next article in our Senior Scams! series, where we’ll dive into Tech Support Scams and how you can avoid falling victim.

September 18, 2024 DesertMessenger.com

Town Manager holds monthly meetings

The public is encouraged to attennd the monthly Quartzsite Town Manager’s Meetings, which will be held at 1:00pm on the Wednesday immediately following the FIRST Town Council Meeting of every month, which is held the 2nd Tuesday of the month.

Bring your questions and concerns. The meetings are held at the Quartzsite Library Meeting room, 465 N. Plymouth Ave. For more information contact Town Hall 928927-4333.

Early voting

What’s the Deal With Early Voting?

Arizona Secretary of State- Arizona held its Primary Election July 30th. Now the countdown to the general election on Thursday, November 5th begins!

But guess what – you don’t have to wait! In Arizona, we’re lucky to have access to early voting. What’s the point of early voting? Early voting relieves the pressure to vote on a speciﬁc day in the future. Many of us can’t plan a week ahead of time, let alone 13 weeks from now! Who knows what will happen on November 5th – you or your child could get sick, or you could get stuck at work, or simply get distracted by something happening that day- any number of things could happen that would prevent you from making it to the polls.

Plus, it helps poll workers a ton, because it lightens the ﬂood of ballots on election day, helping to ensure that ballots are counted accurately, and election results can be announced sooner.

Early voting allows you to get your ballot early, think about and research your choices and mail it in so that you know your vote will be counted! (just make sure it’s postmarked by November 8th or sooner!)

You can sign up for the Active Early Voting List (AEVL) online at the AZ Secretary of State website. Heads up – you’ll need an AZ Driver’s License or Non-Operating ID number to do it, but it only takes a few minutes!

Learn more by visiting https://www.arizona.vote/

PROP 402

By Shanana Rain Golden-Bear

Town of Quartzsite’s Proposition 402 will be on the ballot for the General Election November 5, 2024.

PROPOSITION 402

Quartzsite voters will be asked to decide the following ballot question, “Shall the Expenditure Base of the Town of Quartzsite be permanently Adjusted by $2,850,000.00?”

□ A “YES” vote shall have the effect of allowing the Town to adjust its base expenditure limit.

□ A “NO” vote shall have the effect of not allowing the Town to adjust its base expenditure limit.

You might think, but wait, didn’t voters approve this last year? Proposition 401 was passed by voters in November 2023. It was a ONE-TIME override of $1,100,000 in excess of the Town’s expenditure limitation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Now the Town will return to the voters for a permanent solution. Expenditure limitation goes back to 1979 when property taxes were increasing at a rapid rate faster than personal incomes. Arizona voters approved amending the constitution to limit local government spending. They limited expenditures to the levels of the fiscal year 1979-80, with adjustments for inflation and population growth.

Arizona Constitution was then amended to provide options to accommodate these growing ﬁnancial needs. This allows voters to authorize the Town Council to adopt an alternative method for setting the Town’s expenditure limit. This is known as the Alternative Expenditure Limitation. A permanent Base adjustments apply to all future years, until new base is adopted by voters. This will allow the Town of Quartzsite to permanently adjust the state’s base expenditure amount based on current

needs, rather than using the stateimposed limitation.

If the ballot measure fails: The Town will be subject to the State-imposed limitation. The Town would not be able to present an additional alternative expenditure limitation to voters for two years. Council will need to make decisions on priorities for operations within that limitation. The Town will not be able to spend the revenue budgeted/received for approved operations. Impact townwide operations including public safety, streets and roads utilities, parks and recreation and administration operations.

Quartzsite’s 1979-80 Base Limit is $974,825.

If the ballot measure passes: The Town will operate under the Permanent Base option for budgeting its expenditures. It allows the town to be able to spend the revenues received (budgeted) rather than limited by the State expenditure limit formula. This does NOT raise or impose taxes, AND it does NOT allow the Town to spend more than it receives in revenue. Quartzsite’s annual budget will continue to be subject to all state laws. Including the requirement that the Town must pass balanced budgets and spend no more than received.

At the Town Manager’s meeting last week, Town Manager Jim Ferguson said, “Since I’ve been here the council has always had a balanced budget. We have to live within our budget. It’s required by law and that’s just the way it is.”

The Town will be mailing a Voter Information pamphlet to all registered Quartzsite voters prior to the General Election with all the information voters need. Be sure to watch for it in your mailbox in October. If you have questions regarding Prop 402, please call Town Hall at 928-9274333 or visit www.QuartzsiteAZ.org. To check the status of your voter registration, visit Arizona.vote.

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See something? Say something!

See something needing attention in Quartzsite? Say something... But...HOW?

The Town of Quartzsite offers citizens an online engagement tool which provides convenient methods for citizens to notify town leadership about issues in the community.

It’s Easy to use from your phone or computer!

From your Phone: TEXT “report” to 928-260-4442 and follow prompts.

Or visit online at: https://portal.iworq.net/ QUARTZSITE/new-request/700/3426

Quartzsite Town Officials at League of AZ Cities & Towns Annual Conference

August 27-30, 2024