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N�� �� ��� 9th YEAR! Wednesday, ���� 17, 2013 VOL. 9 #177 www.DesertMessenger.com • "Quartzsite's FREE Community Paper" • 928-916-4235 Very Special 4th of July for Quartzsite By Joanne Winer The annual 4th of July celebrations at the Town Park are always a great time for families and friends--great food and lots of fun for everyone, with a spectacular fireworks display every year. This year, even the high temperatures didn't stop the enthusiasm for our country's birthday celebrations, as several hundred people came out to the park and braved the heat. Things started really going around 6 p.m., although many volunteers were there early to set things up for the celebration. There was some great food at the concession stand brought in by the First Assembly of God Church--they had delicious barbecue beef and pork sandwiches with coleslaw and applesauce, also hot dogs. The After School Program also was there with root beer floats, and Operation Hero Comfort offered sodas and water. Free watermelon was given out again this year by Richard Oldham. it brought tears to everyone's eyes when they saw it. Fire Chief Kevin Hess put together a special slide show and video honoring these men also, and everyone in the bleachers and around the screening area looked up as the firefighters who were doing the fireworks display sent up 19 flares as the names of the fallen firefighters were read. It was very moving for everyone who was there, and prayers went out to their families and friends and their fellow firefighters. Then of course, the crowds all gathered together to watch another fantastic fireworks display put on by the Fire Dept. and Town of Quartzsite. You could hear the kids, and adults alike, oohing and aahing all the time it was going on, and when the grand finale came, everyone cheered!!! Special thanks to all who participated and to Yesenia Jackson, of Quartzsite Recreation, for coordinating it this year!! �����| S������ R��� G�����-B��� WHAT'S INSIDE fireworks ê Theup the sky finale lit in the shape of a heart... Kids young & old enjoyed the Frozen T-Shirt contest ê The kids had a great time at the two water features--a huge slide and another smaller feature. They also had a cool off at the Frozen T-shirt Contest!! They didn't seem to mind the heat so much then! There was a special trailer that was brought in by the Police Dept. for everyone to look through--their new Emergency Response Trailer--pretty impressive!! There was also a bit of a solemnity to the celebration, due to the horrible fires that took the lives of 19 of the Granite Mountain Hot Shot crew during the Yarnell Hill Fire last week, and everyone was thinking about it, and talking about it. Jerry Wilcox, a local resident, brought out a flatbed trailer-float honoring their sacrifice and showing everyone there that we are a town that cares. It was a beautiful memorial to these brave men who paid with their lives to help their community, and G���� ������ �� J���� W����� � F������ ��� P��� 2 ������ | S���� B���C�� 3 5 6 7 10 13 14 17 18 20 22 23 24 Council updates QPD v. Sheriff Editorial Letters to Editor Around Town Restaurants Adventures with Rocks In Memorium Churches Puzzles Paul Winer Comic Classifieds 4th of July photos