Desert Messenger

August 3, 2011

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A����� 3, 2011  JULY FROM PAGE 1 Saturday, July 16- New York Times feature story reads, “Mayor Foster loves to create a ruckus”, with a beau- tiful photo attached to the headline of “Kicking up the Dust in an Arizona Desert Town”. Sunday, July 17- Arizona Repub- lic’s lengthy article creates a buzz with many incorrect details. Hundreds of comments on www.AZCentral.com and blogs around the word. Tuesday, July 19- Town Manager Alex Taft releases the much anticipated investigative report on Police Chief Gil- bert. In May, “The Quartzsite 10” po- lice employees fi led complaints against Chief Gilbert. Town hired private out- side fi rm of Jackson Lewis to conduct interviews with the offi cers. The 300 + page report is made available in the library. According to Taft, “There is no fi nding of fault against the Chief for following policies and procedures that were set forth before he was hired.” Re- port recommends Chief Gilbert receive training on management and sensitity, and outdated policies be updated. Wednesday, July 20- Sonya K. Boun of JACKSON LEWIS LLP Analysis and Recommendation is was posted online at the Desert Mes- senger’s up to date news blog, www.QuartzsiteBlog.com. Thursday, July 21- Quartzsite Police Chief Jeff Gilbert announces offi cers were placed on paid admin- istrative leave pending an investi- gation. The list includes all 10 QPD members of Quartzsite Police Offi cers Association who made the initial com- plaint, fi ling the anonymous letter to AZCOPS. Media interviews continue on television and Internet with Foster, Jones, Offi cer Ponce. Friday, July 22- John Gutekunst, of Parker Pioneer wrote about the long history of how things got to be as they are now in Quartzsite. QPD Clerk was terminated . Other offi cers posted their complaints online. Monday, July 25- The full 54-page report of Jackson Lewis, LLP was post- ed online at www.QuartzsiteBlog.com. Tuesday, July 26- 9am Town Council meeting. New metal detectors installed at Town Hall. Mayor Foster again declares the meeting to be ille- gal and walks out. Vice Mayor Barbara Cowell conducts meeting. Parcel re- zoned to allow a gun store with mini- mall and shooting range to be built at N. Plymouth and Mayfl ower, across from the Police Station. Brannan ex- plained the tax that council approved was not a tax increase unless you pur- ���.D�����M��������.��� chase Medical Marijuana bongs and brownies, and you are a corporation and lease to yourself. Council ap- proved to purchase a 50K generator for use during power outages. Wednesday, July 27- QPD Offi cer William Ponce Notice of Intent to Ter- minate Employment based on “making a false allegation and repeated airing of the same false allegation to AZ Post, a Councilmember, Town Manager & Council.” He had the right to a pre-ter- mination hearing on Monday, Aug. 1. The 2-page document was posted on the Internet. One QPD offi cer has been reinstated. Friday, July 29- Attorney General Tom Horne releases press release re- garding the “July 10 meeting, there is reasonable cause to believe that there has been a violation of the Open Meet- ing Law, inasmuch as the public was excluded. The meeting was held under the misconception that an emergency meeting can be conducted without the public present. Independently of the question of whether the Town Coun- cil had a legitimate reason to hold an emergency meeting, even proper emergency meetings must allow the public to be present. The exception is if there is a legitimate basis for an ex- ecutive session, and the City Council did not attempt to hold a proper ex- ecutive session during the emergency meeting. The investigation of this and other alleged violations of Open Meet- ing Laws is ongoing.” Monday, Aug. 1- Council discussed the candidates seeking the vacancy of Just Rambling... When our kids were growing up, we had dogs, cats and a skunk. “Super Cat” had a fight with a German Shepherd and won. “Winkie” the dog, had four retarded pups. I didn’t get along well with the skunk. He treed me on the commode. The pups were Einie, Menie, Minie and Moe. Moe committed suicide. Provided by Elmer London & Desert Messenger Jose Lizarraga’s position. DPS investi- gation on alleged criminal complaints against Police Chief Jeff Gilbert is on- going. Watch the latest events unfold on www.QuartzsiteBlog.com. [Editor’s note: When 10 people sit in a circle looking at an object in the middle, you’re going to get 10 differ- ent perspectives. People may even ar- gue about what they’re seeing, but it doesn’t change facts, just how we see them.] Mercito Gesta at Blue Water! Mexican Independence Day Weekend: Mercito Gesta at BlueWater! PARKER, Ariz. – There are two great Filipino fi ghters in the world today, but only one is undefeated. His name is Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (22-0-1, 12 KOs), and on Saturday, September 17, he will headline “BATTLE AT BLUEWA- TER 2,” a card presented by Show- down Promotions, in association with Top Rank Inc., and televised nationally by Fox Sports. BlueWater Resort & Casino, the entertainment capital of western P��� 17 Arizona, will celebrate its second foray into boxing with an explosive card that also features Arizona box- ing’s top undefeated prospect, Jose Benavidez (12-0, 11 KOs) – fresh off a homecoming knockout win in Phoenix last month. As if that were not enough, unde- feated Tijuana sensation Hanzel “El Tornadito de Tijuana” Marti- nez (12-0, 10 KOs) will return to BlueWater and make a special-at- traction fi ght certain to please his countrymen, as they give “El Grito” and celebrate Mexican Indepen- dence Day Weekend. “Great fi ght card in our return to the BlueWater!” says Showdown Promo- tions’ Gerry Truax about BATTLE AT BLUEWATER 2. “I can’t tell you how excited we are to have prospects like Mercito Gesta and Jose Benavidez on one card. These are two of boxing’s biggest future stars. And on national television! Another undefeated Phoenix prospect, Juanito Gonzalez (2-0, 1 KO), will round-out what promises to be an exceptional lineup in the BlueWater Amphitheater. Blue Water Resort & Casino is lo- cated 11222 Resort Dr., Parker, AZ. (928) 669-7000 The 6 PILLARS OF CHARACTER COUPON FOR Caring : ing children use this Pillar of Character, please sign and date. The student turning in the most coupons to Main St. Eatery by September 1, 2011 wins a prize. Please make copies. Additional coupons for other Pillars of Char- acter will be published in the Desert Messenger throughout the summer. Parents, community partners: when observ- Caring: • Be kind • Be compassionate and show you care • Express gratitude • Forgive others • Help people in need Act of Caring performed: ______________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ Child’s Name: ___________________________ Child’s Age: ________ Date________________ Signature_______________________________

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