Desert Messenger

������ 4, 2010 Did you know that Arizona has more light- ning than any other western state? Sadly, that was brought home on July 13, 2010 for an unlucky golfer in Tucson, AZ who was on the driving range during an intense Monsoon thunderstorm when he was struck and killed. A single stroke of lightning has 125,000,000 volts of electricity. That’s enough power to light a 100-watt light bulb for more than 3 months! Here are 10 safety tips to follow when you see lightning: 1.When you hear the roar of thunder go indoors! The National Weather Service (NWS) recommends “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors.” By counting the sec- onds between the flash and the thunder and dividing it by 5, you can estimate your distance from the strike. In the past the NWS recommended the 30-30 rule: if less than 30 seconds pass between the time you see a flash of light and hear the first roll of thunder, immediately seek shelter in the nearest building. However, they now state that the safest course of action is to go in- doors as soon as you hear thunder. 2.Stay away from ANYTHING that con- ducts electricity. This includes metal pipes, phones, fireplaces, radiators and sinks. Avoid washers and dryers, since they not only have contacts with the plumbing and electrical systems but also contain an electrical path to the outside through the dryer vent. Avoid contact with electrical equipment or cords. If you plan to unplug any electronic equipment, do so in advance of the storm’s arrival. Avoid contact with plumbing fixtures. Do not: wash your hands; take a shower; wash dishes; or do the laundry. 3.Don’t use any plug-in electrical appli- ances like hair dryers, electric toothbrush- es, or electric razors. If lightning strikes your house they can act as an electrical conduit bringing the charge to you. 4.Don’t use the telephone during the storm. Phone use is the leading cause of indoor lightning injuries in the United Desert Messenger DEADLINE for WED. SEPT. 1st issue is WED. AUG. 25 Send your ads, stories, letters to the editor, events and news desertmessenger7@yahoo.com ���.D�����M��������.��� 10 tips for lightning safety States. Lightning can travel long distances in both phone and electrical wires, particu- larly in rural areas. 5.Stay in your automobile if you are trav- eling. Your automobile provides excellent protection in a lightning storm but be sure to keep your hands away from the metal sides. 6.Don’t use metal objects outside. Golf clubs, golfing shoes with metal cleats and fishing rods all made excellent lightning rods. Keep in mind that an umbrella can increase your chances of being struck if it makes you the largest object in the area. 7.Get out of the water. Water is a great con- ductor of electricity so stay away from and out of swimming pools, ponds, rivers and other bodies of water. 8.If you are caught outdoors, seek immedi- ate shelter from lightning! While your best bet when you hear the roar of thunder is to go indoors that isn’t always possible. If you aren’t near a building, find protection in a canyon (provided it isn’t full of water!), cave or ditch. Stay away from tall trees as they attract lightning. 9.If you can’t find shelter, assume the “Lightning Position”. If you are outside and unable to find shelter or a metal topped vehicle then your best course of action is to assume the “lightning position”: crouch down like a baseball catcher on the balls of your feet with your feet together in the low- est spot you can find. Place your hands on your knees with your head between them, cover your ears and close your eyes. The goal is to make yourself as small as you can with as little contact with the ground as possible. If you are surrounded by trees, find an open area, making every effort to stay twice as far away from the trees as the trees are high before assuming the “light- ning position”. 10.When your hair stands on end... If you feel your skin tingle or your hair stands on end — lightning may be about to strike you. Drop to the ground immediately and assume the lightning position. assessor’s corner Now that the appeal period is over, we have been receiving calls “When will we receive an answer to our Ap- peal”? The Assessor has a deadline of Au- gust 15, 2010, to notify all property owners of his decision for the “2011” tax year. The Assessor mails all deci- sions out on the same day. However we plan to answer all of the appeals that our office has received before the August deadline. Within 25 days of the mailing date of the Assessor’s deci- sion. Taxpayers that do not agree with the Assessor’s decision will have the opportunity to file an appeal with the Board of Equalization. Please remember that burden of proof lies on the taxpayer. You must provide information to show that you are NOT being valued the same as other proper- ties in your area. This burden of proof applies to all levels of appeals. If you file an appeal with the Tax Court within 60 days of the administrative decision the administrative appeal process ends pending a determination by the court. Miracle-Ear, The #1 Choice for Hearing Aids Rediscover the Life You’ve Been Missing! FREE Miracle-Ear Hearing Test!* Satisfaction guaranteed and FREE lifetime care** KEEP INFORMED! www.QuartzsiteBlog.com Desert Messenger online at Get updated news from the not to be confused with anonymous blogs ® Friendly reminder that the Tax Bills for “2010” will be coming to you in September, if you need to change your address or make any other changes, now is the time to do it. As always, you can contact out office at your conve- nience, we will be more that happy to assist you. Until next time… George Nault and Staff La Paz County Assessor, 1112 Joshua Avenue, Suite 204, Parker, Arizona 85344. Phone (928) 669-6165. P��� 17 Tuesday Aug. 24 Use this coupon for a comprehensive hearing test with a Local Specialist State-of-the-art technology for clear, crisp sound No cost and no obligation. This coupon is good for one FREE comprehensive hearing test at a Miracle-Ear location. This coupon is only valid for hearing tests scheduled over the phone. Call to schedule your FREE hearing test now! Patrick Duffy, Actor 1-877-828-8940 *Hearing tests are always free. Not a medical exam. Audiometric test to determine proper amplification needs only. Good only from participating Miracle-Ear representatives. **3-Year Warranty on all models. See store for complete warranty details. Adjustments, check-ups, cleaning and demos are always free. Hearing aids do not restore natural hearing. Individual experiences vary depending on severity of hearing loss, accuracy of evaluation, proper fit and ability to adapt to amplification.

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