Desert Messenger

P��� 4 BEST ENTERTAINMENT IN TOWN YOUR QUARTZSITE LIBRARY! Editor, Do you need a library card? No prob- lem! Just bring your driver’s license or photo ID. If you want to check out videos, DVDs, or audio books for a week at a time, you’ll need a deposit of $5 for each item, with a limit of 4. Media checks out for one week. The books check out for two weeks at a time. You can call and renew books or media if we have no other reserves for them. Come join us for our Book Sale! We’re having a Buck-a-Bag Sale on Thursday, Sept. 2 from 8am to 5pm in the Quartz- site Library Meeting Room. Watch for our big book sale in November! TOWN SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN Dear Editor, After decades of community infighting and political bickering, it is apparent that the time honored tradition is not about to end any time soon. The divi- sion that has polarized the Quartzsite community has become a tradition that has been handed down from generation to generation and has most recently blossomed into a full-grown war. When we come right down to it, Quartzsite residents, and residents of La Paz County, would be better off if the county or the town had never been incorporated. The passage of time has clearly proven “THE PEOPLE’S VOICE” Letters to Editor Policy Desert Messenger encourages letters from its readers. Letters should be no longer than 300 words, and may be ed- ited for grammar, content and length. We invite you to not only see a problem, but search for the solution to share with the community, keeping the benefit of all in mind. Letters considered libelous, in poor taste, on a personal issue, mean spirited or dominated by Scripture quotes will not be published. Third party letters will not be accepted. To avoid confusion over people with common or similar names, writers must provide a full name and indicate the name they are known by. Writers must provide a full street address and phone number. Rvers can provide the location of park/BLM land, etc. Street addresses will not be published. Phone numbers are for verification only and will not be printed. Mail letters to: The People’s Voice, Desert Messenger, P.O. Box 3185, Quartzsite, AZ 85334 or E-mail to: desertmessenger7@yahoo.com 928-785-7204, 541-218-2560 ���.D�����M��������.��� THE PEOPLE’S VOICE the upstart county has always lacked sufficient tax base and resources to sustain the cost of maintaining and operating the newly formed county. La Paz County has never been able to keep pace with the economic develop- ment enjoyed by other surrounding counties. The recent award of a $9.5 million judgment against the county, which has now grown to over $11 million with unpaid interest and attorney fees, threatens to bankrupt the entire county. There is no clear way that Quartzsite or La Paz County can sustain their current mode of operation. Only the lawyers and politicians and appointed bureaucrats are benefiting from this insane mode of operation. What we are seeing here is the same we are seeing on the national and global scene. The divorce from Yuma County a few years back has proven to be a disaster as has the incorporation of Quartzsite. The people deserve better but the only way that is going to happen is to get rid of the bottom feeder politicians, bureaucrats and attorneys that are bleeding us dry with their self-serving greed disguised as public service. La Paz County inherited former the Quartzsite Town Manager for the sec- ond time and the results quickly gravi- tated to the arrogant lack of respect for county officials and the taxpayers. La Paz County and Quartzsite do not need any more political hacks feeding on the public trough. It is high time to rec- ognize that La Paz County and the town of Quartzsite should have never been. Bob Miller Quartzsite HI JOLLY CEMETERY NEWS The Hi Jolly Cemetery board is heading into its 5th year and has accomplished many projects, implemented higher standards in maintenance and is in the process of three big projects. The first project was wire fencing along the south boarder to keep out the trash from the swapmeet area. This was accomplished along with some new trees, landscaping and signs for dog waste (pick it up or get a ticket!). The second project is for a Veter- ans area – cement slab with a cover for Veteran’s Memorial Days, and other ceremonies at the cemetery. Thanks to donations totaling $1,695.00 ($1,000.00 from VFW); this project is moving forward. The third project - raising the Cemetery fees is still a work in progress. The Cem- etery Board began this project in 2009, going over the fees of other Cemeteries, gathering information regarding actual costs, reworking wording and trying to be fair considering the location, and economic structure of our area. Those that have given donations for the Cremation Wall – Thank you again! We have not given up on the Crema- tion Wall and are still hoping for more donations. The beautification of the Hi Jolly Cemetery is a permanent ongoing project. We are very grateful for the many donations received from the busi- ness and people of Quartzsite who care about your cemetery. Be proud of your cemetery! Come to the Board Meetings the 1st Monday of every month. Give your input! Hi Jolly Cemetery Board Quartzsite MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS? Making decisions in the best interest of the people of Quartzsite involves being honest about what truly IS best for our townsfolk. Is it in our best interest to ignore behavior that ultimately hurts us all? Is it in our best interest to keep our mouths shut when we know that certain activities are dummying us down? DERMATOLOGY NOW OPEN in Quartzsite! Mohs Surgery 375 Joshua Ave., Quartzsite, AZ 85346 Dr. Gerardo C. Brual,M.D. Jocelyn Ramos NP-C 928-916-7898 S�������� 1, 2010 The removal of repetitive, intentional and disrespectful behavior can only occur when we stand up and speak out. Too often I hear people say, “This does not concern you” and “Mind your own business” as if what they are up to has no affect on those around them. The following truth from our local domestic violence prevention pamphlet reminds us that “Domestic violence is not a pri- vate family matter; it is a serious social issue that we all - as a community - must take a stand against.” At home or in school, in the work- place or within town government the acts of deception and/or disrespect hurts us all. Those of us who rise up and report disrespect or deception are labeled trouble makers, but the real trouble makers are those who make every effort to silence our truth. The most common reaction I hear is, “This is a small town and nobody will hire you or have anything to do with you if you say anything.” Quartzsite deserves better than to be black-mailed into silence, black-mail being just another form of bullying behavior. October is National Bully- ing Prevention Month and I dare our townsfolk to gear up by caring enough to stand up and speak truth. THANKS FROM THE LIBRARY The Quartzsite Public Library staff Hygeia Halfmoon Quartzsite wishes to give a heartfelt thanks to Mike and Judy Nacheff for assembling twenty new chairs for the library. They also set up the seven new tables for the library meeting room. The tables and chairs are funded through an Arizona Community Foundation Grant. It is grants like these that help the library to provide better services and create a more comfortable environment for library patrons. Mike and Judy Nacheff are both members of the Quartzsite Library Friends Inc. a non-profit cor- poration established to support the Quartzsite Public Library. It’s Friends like Mike and Judy, our wonderful staff and the grants from the Arizona Com- munity Foundation that helped the Quartzsite Public Library to achieve a four star rating in the country. TO THE EDITOR, My name is James. I brought my fa- ther, Charles, to Quartzsite and moved into Tyson Mobile Home Park where I bought a small home to take care of my father, who is in his mid 80’s. I never knew that a change of “man- agement” would change everything.  SEE LETTERS PAGE 9

• Cover