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P��� 4 SUCCESSFUL CHILI COOK-OFF Arizona Centennial of Quartzsite sponsored the annual Chili cook off this year, chaired by Michelle and Jerry Lukkasson. It was a huge suc- cess and we have a large number of people to thank for this. We could not have done it without our sponsors who donated materials and cash to support this event. We would like to thank Ladder Truck Pizza, Addicted to Deals, Desert Messenger, Hardies, The VFW, Pilot, Best Mexican Restaurant, The General Store, RV Pit Stop, The Des- ert Rose Salon, Grubstake, The GFWC Women’s Club Express LLC, Town of Quartzsite, Dick Cloud, Cary Sharp, and Mike and Michelle Day. Our volunteers contributed so much to make the event go off without a hitch. We would like to thank Monica Timberlake, Starr BearCat, Shanana “Rain” Golden-Bear, Alex Taft, Mike and Judy Nacheff, Billie Fowler, Floyd and Patricia Anderson, Emma Trevor, Dorothy Mallette, and Judge Kimber- lin. The event would not have hap- pened without the dedication of our Chili Cooks, for without them there would not have been this event. Thank you’s go out to Big Sky Chili with Becky Coon as the cook, taking first place, Proud Neighbors of Quartzsite and their cook, Darlene Hein who placed second, Mountain Quail Café and their cook, Michael Hager winning third place, Award Winning Chili with John “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 edited for grammar, content and length. OPINIONS EXPRESSED HERE DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF THE DESERT MESSENGER. We invite you to not only see a problem, but search for the solution to share with the com- munity, 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 Letters considered libelous, in poor taste, on a personal issue, mean spirited or dominated by Scripture quotes will not be published.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 com- mon 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 Street addresses will not be published.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 85359 or E-mail to: desertmessenger7@yahoo.com 541-218-2560 ���.D�����M��������.��� THE PEOPLE’S VOICE & Helen Goudeau and their horse Rusty taking showmanship and Curt Bailey who won the Salsa Challenge. You are all winners to us and you all left winners. We were entertained by “Skyhawk” and “The Next Band”. We appreci- ate their time and commitment to the event. Last but not least, we must thank the residents and winter visitors who came to enjoy. The weather was perfect and the energy was so posi- tive. You continue to make Quartzsite a place that is inviting and enjoyable and for that we thank each and every one of you! We look forward to the event next year and hope to make it even bigger! Michelle and Jerry Lukkasson Quartzsite A SOUTHWEST TRUCK STOP TOWN Quartzsite is full of, according to your last issue, “steady, imaginative, collec- tive body, of right thinking, capable people who care”. Last Saturday, we all smiled under this warm desert sky. The park glowed in the harmony of the combined Rock Auction and Chili Cook-off where music played and peace reigned. Thank you, Alex, for sharing Eleanor Roosevelt’s wisdom, “it isn’t enough to talk about peace; one must believe it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it, one must work for it.” Just Rambling... We have a nesting dove in our Arizona room. Her soul mate was on guard. Today feathers are floating around. Can she hatch the egg, without her support system? I suspect a feral cat that hangs about. The wild kingdom can be cruel, so can the domestic one. I sigh for the egg. Provided by Elmer London & Desert Messenger Kindness and love shine on the faces of our collective body, happy dogs and cats speak for Paw Power, and our new Plymouth Road walkway takes my breath away! Together we will watch these trees grow and visit under them. Hygeia Halfmoon, Quartzsite ELECTION THANK YOU! I would like to extend a big thank you to all the voters and visitors that sup- ported myself and the current council in this past election. Quartzsite is a great community with residents and visitors that really care about us. I saw this first hand during the campaign period prior to the election. I feel that my place of business pro- vides a pretty good perspective as to what the town is experiencing as both residents and large numbers of winter visitors and prospective residents fre- quent our Laundromat. There is excitement in the air and positive attitude and energy towards the Town and what we are trying to ac- complish. Now we need to go about the business of the Town and keep things moving in a positive direction. Thank you to everyone that supported us. Jerry Lukkasson Quartzsite Town Councilman “TRUE VERSION” OF SHELTER CLOSING It appears to me that shelter chairper- son Patty Patton can only come up with half truths about the incident in 2008. Sense she brought it up again, I intend to tell the ‘true version’ of what hap- pened. First I would like to say I have personal knowledge of this as I am the person she was complaining about. M���� 16, 2011 Yes, Steve Bennet did close the shelter. I called him after going out to check on the animals. When I looked through the trailer windows I witnessed 8 cats laid out on the floor, their tongues hanging out, barely breathing. Two dogs were laying outside struggling for breath in their kennels. It was 120 degrees that day and the water in their bowls was boiling hot. I first tried to contact the woman in charge but she could not be reached at either phone number I had. I then called Mr. Bennet because I knew he could save the animals. Within 15 minutes he arrived and found the water cooler running with no water to it. He looked around and found conditions under code. He got the water to the cooler which helped the cats with some movement of the hot air. It would be nice if we could have a kind, caring person like Debbie Metzger as a paid shelter operator. Citizens of Quartzsite, this is the ‘true version’, Mr. Bennet knows it too. When we brought our concerns regard- ing the shelter to Alex Taft, she called us “disgruntled volunteers,” and did noth- ing about the problems. This caused the written resignations of three good, reliable shelter volunteers who are dedicated to the health and welfare of animals, myself, attorney Gwen O’Cull and Frieda Fitzpatrick. Oh! There is more... Bev Zeno Quartzsite Resident & Community Volunteer KUDOS TO TOWN RESIDENTS Now that the election is over, it clearly looks like we will keep our current council, the first council in years that have worked to straighten out our debt, our gossip and all other issues. SEE LETTERS ON PAGE 5