Desert Messenger

18 www.DesertMessenger.com May 17, 2023 Don't dump at the wood chipper Quartzsite Police Dept reminds the public about abusing the wood chipper. The woodchipper located behind the Waste/Water Treat- ment Plant should only be used for dumping tree trimmings and other discarded vegetation. Illegal dump- ing of trash, building/construction material, concrete, and other de- bris are prohibited. BLM [Bureau of Land Management] has graciously allowed us to utilize this land to dis- pose of discarded vegetation. Continuous dumping of prohibited materials will result in the closure of the woodchipper. Please take all other debris and trash to the local or county landfill for proper dispos- al. Illegal dumping could result in a fine of $500 dollars and/or 30 days in jail. If you have any questions contact QPD at 928-927-6444. AA Meetings QUARTZSITE LOCAL SURVIVORS GROUP Mon. 5:30pm Big Book Study Thurs. 5:30pm Topic Sat. 5:30pm 12 Step 12x12 Year-Round at Community Bible Church, 375 E. Sunrise St. Randy 928-216-9963 Marcia 559-553-2643 • ALANO CLUB Texas RV Park 205 W. Main St. "B" Quartzsite Tues 10am Joe & Charlie Meeting 5:30pm Open Meeting Fri. 10am 12 x 12 Meeting 5:30pm Open Meeting Don 928-287-1273 • AL-ANON Texas RV Park 205 W. Main St. "B" Quartzsite Tues & Fri. 5:30pm Bertha 702-465-5137. In Memoriam PAUL BYRON RANGE 1948-2023 Another Green Beret snuck by the guard early Sunday Morning on April 23rd, 2023. This consum- mate troublemaker left his family and friends without saying goodbye in what can only be described as the "final" word an elaborately made- up war story. Paul Range lived an incredible life that would be the subject of an epic award-winning movie if not so unbelievable. He grew up on a Ranch in the Pan- handle of Texas under the thumb of a perfectionist father who was a Dr. of Veterinary medicine, who demanded that his children give 110% in every- thing they do, and then gave them reigns long enough to get into the most outrageous misadventures. From an early age until just days before his untimely escape from this earth, Paul loved old jeeps, and he especially loved driving those pieces of s**t at inordinately slow speeds, irritating other drivers and law enforcement alike. As a Young man Paul earned his Eagle and has told many inappro- priate stories about misadventures he got into as a scout. In fact, the Scouts have never been the same since, and many Scout rules exist today to pre- vent youth from recreating the She- nanigans he pulled as a young man. If you gave Paul a hard time, he would welcome a skirmish with a wry grin, ready to pull a various as- sortment of weapons from his per- son Mad Max style, being willing to take it to the ultimate level if need be. Paul could throw a knife with precision, fight like an angry mule, outshoot the best, and was willing to prove it if needed. He was a man who you did not cross lightly, how- ever he had a heart of gold for those in need and would put the troubled poor of this earth often above his own family. When Paul wasn't reading a favor- ite book, watching a R rated favorite movie, telling a dirty joke, building another damned ugly school bus camper, or drinking coffee with all the old geezers in town at 5am, he was helping those in need. He gave life liberty and soul to feeding the hungry, clothing those without, and helping veterans who suffered through life. Suffering Veterans es- pecially touched Paul's heart, since he too lived through horrors in Viet- nam and lost many a brother, then only to be treated like trash when returning to an America in turmoil. Stories he told of Vietnam would wring the soul out of those who lis- tened, or akin to Lincolnesque ad- dresses, inspire audiences to acts of heroism in everyday life. A prize-winning novel could be written based upon Paul's stories re- counting his adventures. Of course, that novel would have to be able to change its storyline daily, become more embellished every time you read it, and eventually defy the laws of physics to the point of hysterics. Perhaps if someone wanted to write a book of summation for Paul's life, they should write an educational book, because no matter the subject you tried to discuss with him, he knew the most about it, and probably had a doctorate in it from some outrageous online university somewhere. Irritat- ingly, he was usually somewhat right in his thesis arguments on any par- ticular subject, if not so outrageously wrong that proving his wrongness was nearly impossible. Paul lived the double life of a staunch conservative, and a flower power hippy reject from the 70's. He be- lieved in free love and feral children, but also toting guns and Reagan era hands-off Government. Paul would get kicked off Facebook weekly for assaulting some poor clueless liberal with mean words of bitter truth, then when released from Facebook jail, would post heartfelt pictures of his adventures helping those in need. He did everything he could to irritate Karen's and busybodies, and with the same breath show an unparalleled love for humanity in his work to help homeless and those in need. As a father he showed his love, not by attending sports events, demand- ing good grades, or standard boring dad stuff, but by teaching his kids, nieces, and nephews how fight, hunt, camp, survive in a tough world, and prepare for disaster. Paul's claim to fame was being on the first episode of Doomsday Preppers, look it up, he really was. Paul's life was extraordi- nary to say the least and cannot be summated in this mere obituary. His list of survivors cannot be listed because those who survived him were not just living blood rela- tives and family, but countless lives he touched in his everyday she- nanigans and devotion to helping others. Indeed, the loss his family feels will be nothing compared to those homeless trapped in the des- ert praying for help, but never again seeing Paul's ridiculous solar pow- ered cornucopia bus sputtering into camp with much needed love, food, clothing and sleeping bags. Here are just a few of the things that Paul has been in his life: Rancher, Soldier, Mercenary, Assassin, Gold Miner, Log Cabin Maker, Prospec- tor, Mountain Man, Train Brake- man, Computer Engineer, Biologist, Farmer, Hippy, Lover, Story Teller, Machinist, Meat Plant COO, Feed Store Clerk, Veterinary Assistant, Tinker, Bouncer, Chef, Construc- tion Worker, House Builder, Busi- ness Owner, Traveling Salesman, Carpenter, Woodsman, Teacher, Poet, Artist, leatherworker, Pilot, Father, Brother, Husband, Grand- pa, and Son. Paul Range, we will miss you, and probably cuss you for years to come! For donations keep your flowers and send something to Friends of Quartzsite Community Foodbank http://QuartzsiteFoodBank.com.

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