Desert Messenger

June 15, 2022 www.DesertMessenger.com 17 POSTMASTER FROM PAGE 1 Monsoon season is observed June 15 through September 30 and is characterized by an increase in thunderstorm and lightning activ- ity, high winds, dust storms and fl ash fl oods. While the severity of weather can vary each season, it is essential that Quartzsite residents have a monsoon safety plan in place and be ready for all possible weath- er-related occurrences. Here are some tips and resources to help you prepare for the upcom- ing Monsoon season: At home: The safest place is indoors during any signifi cant storm. If you are at home, turn off all unnecessary power equipment to prevent dam- age from power surges or outages. Make sure your home is equipped with an emergency preparedness kit that includes fl ashlights, batteries, bottled water, non-perishable food items and fi rst aid supplies. In your car: Dust storms and heavy rain can decrease visibility and increase road hazards when driving. Slow down if you are driving during a storm, and if necessary, pull off to the right side of the road as far as possible, then turn off your engine and lights. Be sure to take your foot off the brake pedal. Never attempt to drive through fl ooded intersections or roadways! Even shallow fl owing water has enough power to sweep your vehicle off the road or stall your engine. If you approach a fl ooded area, safely turn your vehicle around and fi nd an alternate route. Flash fl oods: Monitor weather re- ports and listen for potential fl ood alerts in your area. Knowing where to fi nd sand and sandbags is essen- tial to protecting your home and family when fl ooding is imminent. Sand and bags are provided free of charge to Quartzsite residents at multiple locations throughout the city, but you will need to bring your own shovel to fi ll the bags. Visit quartzsiteaz.org to fi nd your closest sand and bag location. If you are experiencing or encoun- ter an emergency, immediately dial 9-1-1. To report storm issues by phone during regular business hours, please contact the Quartzsite Pub- lic Works Department at 928-927- 43330 x 200. After-hours calls should go to the La Paz County non- emergency line at 928-669-6141. The Town of Quartzsite has set up two sandbag fi lling stations: -Northeast corner of Quail Trail and Moon Mountain. -On Coyote Street East of Quartzsite Police Department at the Public Works stock pile area. Sandbags and shovel are inside the containers on site. Monsoon tips for safety The History of the Postmaster Position Originally, the word Postmaster was referred as the one who provided post horses. According to the Oxford Dictionary, postmaster means "mas- ter of the posts, the offi cer who has charge or direction of the posts." William Penn established Penn- sylvania's fi rst post offi ce in 1683. However, the real beginnings of a postal system in the colonies dates from 1692 when Thomas Neale re- ceived a 21-year grant from the Brit- ish Crown authorizing him to set up post roads in North America. In 1707, the British Government bought the rights to the North American postal service, and, in 1710, consolidated the postal ser- vice into one establishment. The principal offi ces of the new British Postal Service were in London, Eng- land; Edinburgh Scotland; Dublin, Ireland, and New York. In 1737, Benjamin Franklin was appointed Postmaster at Philadel- phia. He laid out new post roads, helped expand mail service from Canada to New York and instituted overnight delivery between Phila- delphia and New York City, a dis- tance of 90 miles. In 1774, Franklin was dismissed from offi ce in 1774 because of his efforts on behalf of the patriots. When the Continental Congress met in May 1775, they named Frank- lin as postmaster general for the 13 American colonies. From 1775 until the early 1800s, Postmasters were appointed by the postmaster general. In 1836, post- masters were appointed by the pres- ident, but this of course changed whenever a new party was elected. It was not until August 1970, with the signing of the Postal Reorgani- zation Act, which to effect in July 1971, that the patronage system was fi nally removed from the postal ser- vice once and for all. Postmasters began being appointed on merit alone. The act also permitted upward mo- bility for line employees, allowing them to be promoted to the position of Postmaster. Along the way, there have been sev- eral famous individuals, who have served as postmasters. In 1833, Abraham Lincoln was appointed postmaster of New Salem, IL. Other notable individuals who served as postmaster somewhere in the U.S. included abolitionist John Brown, businessman Conrad Hilton, novelist William Faulkner, and hu- morists Bill Nye and Mark Twain. The Postal Service generally re- ceives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products, and services to fund its operations. America Fucci is Quartzsite's sev- enth Postmaster since 1952. PUBLISHER'S NOTICE: All real estate advertised herein is sub- ject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise "any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national ori- gin, or intention to make any such pref- erence, limitation, or discrimination."

• Cover