Desert Messenger

December 21, 2011

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Page 6 LOCK & KEY Betty Crenshaw CML Owner C & B 37 Years Experience 928-927-6589 MOBILE SERVICE ONLY RVs Autos Residential Commercial Bonded - Insured BLM Approved Serving Quartzsite and Surrounding Areas www.DesertMessenger.com Appoint the mayor? SHALL THE TOWN OF QUARTZSITE REPEAL ITS ORDINANCE PROVID- ING FOR THE DIRECT ELECTION OF THE MAYOR? On the ballot for the election to be held on March 13, 2012, a question will be presented to the voters and they need to make a decision. The question is "Shall the Town of Quartzsite repeal its ordinance providing for the direct election of the Mayor?" When our town was originally incorporated, the seven council positions were appoint- ed by the County Board of Supervisors. That council then appointed the May- or. Through the bylaws of our town, subsequent mayors would also be ap- pointed by the Common Council. At some point in time this changed through an initiative and our may- or is now directly elected. In towns across the state with populations un- der 5500, 18 towns elect their mayor and 18 towns have a mayor that is ap- pointed by the common council. The League of Arizona Cities and Towns strongly suggests that in a town of our size, having an appointed Mayor is recommended. With the history of recalls that our Town has experienced, and the damage that we saw done this past summer, with a Mayor who took his title and abused the powers that he thought he had, it is apparent to me that there is no question. We as the voting public have the opportunity to vote in competent and qualified coun- cil people. Should we repeal the elec- tion of a mayor and allow the council to appoint one of their own to the posi- tion of Mayor, we in essence are doing our part to protect this town and allow for our council/manager form of gov- ernment to work as it should. The Mayor of Quartzsite, whether elected or appointed, has no more power than any other person that sits on the council. Let's put things back the way they were when we first be- came a town and vote yes to repeal the ordinance providing for the direct election of the mayor. Mrs. Pam Finkbeiner's class at Quartz- site Elementary School will participate in the 2012 Walk On! Challenge from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona for fifth-grade students this spring. Stu- dents will track their daily minutes of exercise, how many fruits and vegeta- bles they eat, how much screen time they get and how many sweetened drinks they have every day in the month Michelle Lukkasson, Quartzsite 2012 Walk On! December 21, 2011 of February. The free 2012 program materials from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona will teach children the following four prin- ciples with the 5-2-1-0 formula: 5 – Eat five fruits and vegetables every day 2 – Limit screen time (TV, video games, computers) to two hours or less per day 1 – Get at least one hour of physical ac- tivity each day 0 – Avoid sweetened drinks, filling up on water instead Great prizes will keep them motivat- ed. Every fifth-grader that completes the Challenge (submits a tracking sheet back to their teacher) will re- ceive a popular drawstring backpack. Students who meet the 5-2-1-0 goal at least 15 days of the month will also be entered to win one of five iPod® Nanos complete with a touch screen, pedom- eter and exercise clip, or a $25 gift cer- tificate to Big 5 Sporting Goods. Teach- ers will have a chance to win a $5,000 grant for their school to be used to fur- ther reduce the childhood obesity level in Arizona. In addition to this program, Ms. Erin McCann's second grade class and Mrs. Helen Pianga's 3-4 grade class will be working with Ms. Jan Stiver of Zumba Fitness to increase their activity levels each week. Ms. Stiver teaches classes at AWC and QIA for adults in the com- munity, and is volunteering her time to work with our second through fourth grade students. Other news: Don't forget that your Beauty Salon Nu Vu CUTS, PERMS COLORS, PEDICURES NAIL TECH ARRIVING SOON WALK-INS WELCOME! OPEN MON - FRI. 8-5 500 S. Quartzsite Blvd. Quartzsite 928-927-5201 The Grandpas and Grandma PERFORM MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT Old Standards, Country, Big Band, Rock, Comedy and All-Time Favorites Dec 29 Thursday (Benefit) QIA Jan 20 Friday Holiday Palms RV Jan 21 Saturday (Free Dance) Blythe Fair Grounds 9 PM Jan 28 Saturday JR's RV Feb 10 Friday Holiday Palms RV Feb 18 Saturday JR's RV Mar 2 Friday Holiday Palms RV Mar 7 Wednesday Jr's RV Arizona Tax Credit Donation is due by December 28, 2011 this year for Quartz- site Elementary, Ehrenberg Elemen- tary or the Quartzsite School District. Our offices will be closed on December 29 and 30 for the holidays. This is a great way to support your local schools and keep up to $400 of your state tax payment in your own community. We appreciate your generous donations to support our students' education. Jacquline D. Price, Superintendent Ted, Del, Carol, Chuck, Paul, Frank All shows start at 7 PM Available for dances at your RV park. Call Del @ (928) 927-5011

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