Desert Messenger

8 www.DesertMessenger.com November 17, 2021 GOLD TOOTH FROM PAGE 1 NOTICE to Advertisers: Please check your ad(s). Errors/corrections must be submitted before deadline, to be published in the next available edition of the Desert Messenger. DEADLINES are S are S printed - in multiple printed - in multiple printed locations - in EVERY issue of the Desert Messenger! For rates and deadlines visit www.DesertMessenger.com 585 N. Central Quartzsite Open Mon-Fri 8-5 928-927-8787 Johnny DelPino, Owner BEST AUTO RV & TRUCK REPAIR SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE YOU CAN DEPEND ON! OU CAN DEPEND ON! OU CAN DEPEND ON! YOU CAN DEPEND ON! Y "In the past, Red Kettles across the country have received gold coins, valuable jewelry and checks of large dollar amounts, but this gold tooth is right up there on the list of un- usual donations." The Red Kettle Campaign is The Salvation Army's largest annual fundraiser, accounting for 12% of gifts to The Salvation Army in Ari- zona for the entire year. The Salvation Army is bracing for another challenging holiday season to meet the increasing needs of our struggling neighbors. This includes putting food on the table, helping families pay bills, sheltering the homeless, providing Christmas toys for children, and giving emotional and spiritual care. The Salvation Army estimates it will need 175 million dollars raised by kettles nationwide to keep Amer- icans in their homes this holiday season and beyond – that's almost 50 percent more than was raised through Red Kettles in 2020. The goal for this year's Red Kettle Campaign in Arizona is to raise 2.5 million dollars. Around 82 cents of every dol- lar donated to The Salvation Army goes directly to fund its programs and services, and your kind-hearted gifts stay in your local community. In addition to donating, people can also help by volunteering to ring the bell at a Red Kettle this holiday sea- son. More volunteers at Red Kettles leaves The Salvation Army more resources to keep "Hope Marching On" for our neighbors in need. Volunteering at a Red Kettle for just one hour can raise enough money to put food on the table for 13 people ... a small amount of time to give for such a large impact. Contact your local Salvation Army or visit SalvationArmySouthwest. org to learn more about joining The Salvation Army's mission to "Do the Most Good." The Salvation Army's signature Red Kettle was introduced in San Francisco in 1891 to provide a free holiday dinner to the poor. By Mark Goldberg The New Quartzsite Off-Road Stag- ing Area is an example of your off- road vehicle registration fees "at work locally." In 2017, Doug Ross initiated discussions with The Unit- ed States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to create a staging area. Later joined by J.C. Sanders, founder of the Ari- zona Peace Trail and Bruce Fuller, President of the Arizona Sunriders OHV Club, they asked Mark Gold- berg, City Planner from Hemet now retired in Quartzsite, and founder of Quartzsite Off-Road, to draw up a plan for an Off-Road Staging area (an area to park vehicles and trailers when trail-riding the Arizona Peace Trail, and The La Paz Travel Man- agement Plan Area) in Quartzsite. The plan was submitted to the Bu- reau of Land Management for con- sideration on a 4.99-acre site on Quail Trail Street on July 24, 2017. Over the next few years, La Paz County District 2 Supervisor, Holly Irwin, and off-road representatives met with BLM offi cials. Several sites were extensively reviewed. On March 11, 2019, BLM approved a Right-of-Way Grant for the current 1.6-acre site west of the original site. In 2009, the site was granted to the town by BLM for a well site. The well was later abandoned in favor of a site to the east. The site was ideal for the OHV use in that the site was fl at, and without sensitive plants or historic sites. Once the site was acquired, Gold- berg asked the Town of Quartzsite to authorize an application to Arizona State Parks and Trails for a Motorized Trail Grant to fund the facility. The Town Council authorized Goldberg to fi le the application as Project Man- ager, on behalf of the Town; Resolu- tion 19-10, dated July 5, 2019. Rick Engineering, of Phoenix, was hired to provide engineering and construction estimates. The application for state parks funds was offi cially fi led and tracked through three review boards. The fi nal grant approval was granted by the Arizona State Parks Board on November 14, 2019. The administration of the grant funds was handled by Assistant Town Manager Cliff O'Neill. The original project grant amount was $463,269, with a Town match of $49,200. The Town match is in- stallation of utilities and site appur- tenances like park benches. The project was put out for bids in October, 2021; and the bids came in ranging from $697,344.96 to $1,046,193.00. The high bids were in part due to few contractors avail- able to work in Quartzsite, the gen- eral distance from urban centers, and the state of the economy. The bids were rejected, and a bid con- ference was held with the bidders to discuss plan modifi cations to re- duce costs. The project was re-bid, and the new bids were: $544.314.98 to $796,178.00. Due to plan modifi ca- tions, the state increased the grant award to $551,947 (with the original Town match amount) for a total cost of $601,147. The bid was granted to low-bidder, Merrill Walker Build- ers. Notice to Proceed with Con- struction was issued to the contrac- tor on March 19, 2021. The offi cial groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 5, 2020. Construction en- sued, and the offi cial ribbon cutting for the dedication of the facility was held on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 (see article in October 20 issue of The Desert Messenger). When you register your Off-Road Ve- hicle in Arizona, or purchase an Out-Of- State registration, the State distributes the revenue as follows: 60% to Arizona State Parks and Trails; 35% to Arizona Game and Fish, 5% to State Land Trust. State Parks can use up to 12% for ad- ministration, and the balance is avail- able through various applications for grants to improve the off-roading expe- rience in Arizona. Your off-road vehicle registration has helped create the local Quartzsite OHV Staging Area. Your Arizona OHV registration at work locally Your Arizona OHV registration at work locally Your Arizona OHV registration

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