Desert Messenger

WHAT'S INSIDE 4 Hi Jolly Documentary 5 QES Spelling Bee 6 Editorial 6 Desert Messenger 20th Anniversary 7 OHV Decals required 7 Letters to Editor 8 Food Bank Updates 8 Hi Jolly Daze Parade 8 Museum Update 9 Camelpalooza 10 Gardening with Dennis 10 Blood Drive 10 Town Texting 11 The Salvation Army Update 12 CivicPlus Donation 21 Around Town 22 Presidential Election Candidates 23 ADOT Truck parking expansion 24 AA Meetings 24 Local donations 24 Free Fire Alarms 24 Spin Poi Classes 25 Calendar 25 Nancy's Kitchen 26 Parker 400 27 Classifi eds 27 Paul Winer's Cartoon 28 BLM Prescribed Burns 28 AZ Election Training 30 Photos 33-48 ONLINE SPECIAL SECTION DesertMessenger.com "Quartzsite's FREE Community Paper" 928-916-4235 December 20, 2023 VOL. 20 # 365 Alwa y s FREE! N�� �� ��� 20 t h YEAR! ����� | S������ ���� ������-���� December 20 December 20 Pilot Travel Center donates $ 10,000 to QES By Shanana Rain Golden-Bear Quartzsite, AZ - Tuesday, November 28, 2023. As part of its New Horizons initiative, Pilot Travel Cen- ter #328 in Quartzsite, Arizona celebrated its new- ly completed remodel with a $10,000 donation to Quartzsite Elementary School District (QES). As part of New Horizons, Pilot Company is furthering its in- vestment in the communities where its stores are lo- cated through its giving back program. Pilot wants to give back to the community when they do a remodel. QES Superintendent Brad Pico explained the grant they applied for is called, 'Technology in the Fast Lane." The contributions will go towards providing students with equal access to educational technolo- gy, a key focus area of giving back for the company. Pico added, "We're extremely appreciative of this funding as our kids and our staff will benefi t great- ly. One of the biggest needs in our school is tech- nology. We have a lot of dilapidated computers and software, so the grant was geared towards that. " Pilot Travel Center General Manager Kelly Garcia said, "It's important that we give back to the com- munity. We wanted to make sure that, with the re- building of the Quartzsite school, they get some new things once they open back up. We want the money to stay local, for the kids who live in Quartzsite." Earlier this month, Pilot Travel Centers LLC cel- ebrating more than 100 completed remodels under its $1 billion New Horizons initiative. Photo left to right: QES Superintendent Brad Pico, QES Board Member William Ponce, QES Board President Kelly Simpson, Pilot General Manager Kelly Garcia, QES Board Member Monica Timberlake, and Taco Bell Manager Rhiyanna Timberlake.

• Cover