Desert Messenger

4 www.DesertMessenger.com July 16, 2014 LIVE SMOKE-FREE Second-hand smoke kills 53,000 people a year. It's no longer a busi- ness issue; it's a public emergency. Report Smoke-Free Arizona viola- tions anonymously at www.smoke- freearizona.org or call 928-669-5912. Town of Quartzsite NOTICE OF PROPOSED WATER RATE CHANGE The Town Council will hold a public hearing on a proposed water rate change on Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in the Coun- cil Chambers of Town Hall lo- cated at 465 N. Plymouth Avenue, Quartzsite. The Town Council may vote to approve the proposed water rates at that time. The proposed rate structure es- tablishes a fi ve-year planning cycle. The following chart provides a sum- mary of the proposed water rates for the next fi ve years. The pro- posed rate change will take effect on September 1, 2014. For more information contact Quartzsite Town Hall: 928-927-4333. Public hearing planned to raise water rates July 22nd Using botanical names for plants prevents confusion Corner of Moon Mt. & Cowell • Quartzsite • 928-927-5400 QUARTZSITE'S ONLY YEAR ROUND SALON Sandy and Debbie ARE HERE FOR ALL YOUR OPEN YEAR ROUND! Hair, Massage, Manicure and Pedicure Services We have great lunch menus, serving at 12 noon sharp! Suggested donation is only $3.50. There's cards, books, games, puzzles, pool table, Wi-Fi available. Community Services, Volunteers Needed! Come join the fun at Quartzsite SENIOR Center 40 Moon Mountain Ave. For more information call 928-927-6496 Senior Center open all year! Monday - Friday, 10am – 2pm Monsoons cause damage and rattles nerves Special to Desert Messenger By Lyle Browning ~ University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Service Most of us use common names to describe plants. This is OK if we all use the same common name. The confusion happens when we use different common names. Plants can have several common names and different plants can have the same common name. For example, Bird of Paradise. This is a very popular landscape plant along the Lower Colorado River. The botanical name is Caesalpin- ia. This plant is native to Mexico and has fl owers from yellow to red, depending on variety. However, if you go to southern California you will fi nd a very different Bird of Paradise. [Strelitzia] is a far larger plant and looks nothing like the plant we have here. It is native to South Africa, half a world away. Another example is the Smoke tree. The plant we have here is native to this area and we see it most often along washes in our desert. An- other "smoke tree" is native to Asia and looks nothing like the one we know. Another example is the creo- sote bush {Larrea}. Even here in La Paz County it is often referred to as greasewood. Some plants have even more common names, but if we use the Botanical name it will always be the same plant. What- ever name you use for your plant if you have a problem with it or want to know more about it contact us. We will be happy to try to help with any plant questions. Our offi ce is open week days and we are located at 2524 Mutahar road, just off Shay road and our telephone number is 928 669-9843. Quartzsite, AZ - It's been a stormy week around the area. July 5th severe winds tossed a 10' x 40' carport through a fence onto Hwy. 95, near Main St., land- ing right on top of a small vehicle travel- ling the road. The two occupants were not injured. The winds also fl ipped over a 30' travel trailer in La Posa LTVA with 3 occupants inside. They suf- fered minor cuts and bruises, but their RV home was a total loss. Power poles and lines were blown down along Hwy. 95 south of town. Residents at Rice Ranch sustained damage to their windows, as rocks fl ew and "peppered" everything in sight. Folks caught trying to save awnings were hurt by the pebbles. There was major fl ooding there also and over turned storage trail- er. An ATV was jammed between two RVs by the winds and folks were busy for days fi xing broken glass and soggy interiors. Two more storms caused damage all around town. Many fences failed to withstand the forceful winds, signs bent over or completely dis- appeared, shingles on roofs blew off, causing leaks, many awnings were ripped or completely torn off, garage doors were mangled, cars got stuck in the washes, and streets fl ooded in all directions. In La Paz Valley, a mobile home was destroyed when winds fl ipped it on its side. Many RVs were blown and tossed by the powerful gusts and the whole area was fl ooded. Quartzsite Fire & Rescue measured sustained winds of 35 MPH and gusts of 61 MPH. Quartzsite experienced inter- mittent power outages during the storms, but Rainbow Acres residents suffered all night with- out power. Along with the severe winds, the storms produced lots of lightning, thunder, heavy rains, and even some hail. Quartzsite Fire & Rescue reported they were very grateful that there were no signifi - cant injuries in their service area. See more photos on Page 13

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