Desert Messenger

September 20, 2023 www.DesertMessenger.com 33 D����� M�������� P��� 11 CRRAAZY JACK'S REDWOOD SIGNS Redwood & Select Pine Signs! Beautiful Key Holders! Scroll-Sawed Wood Spinners! East of Quartzsite Animal Clinic, 709 W. Main ������� ��������� ������ Native American Music CD's Hand Made Jewelry (Mohican) Native Flute Music Books Children's Items Native American Flute Lessons Available ���������������� ������������� 46751 Hwy. 60 space 1 Brenda, AZ ������������ www.Quailspirit.com Town Council pose for their offi cial photo, Tues. Jan. 13, 2009 "The reality is that changes are coming…They must come. You must share in bringing them." -John Hersey Council Plumbing, Electrical, RV Supplies, Lumber, Fasteners, Guitar Strings & Picks Your Local Hardware Store! 240 N. Central (Hwy. 95) Quartzsite Mon. - Sat. 8a.m. - 5p.m. Closed Sunday 928-927-6587 HERB'S HARDWARE Serving Quartzsite since 1974! THE PINK & PURPLE BUILDING (behind Post Office) OPEN 9 A.M. -5 P.M. MON. - SAT. 928-927-5944 Donna Dae's Crafts 63 W. Cowell, Quartzsite COUPON • SPECIAL "T" GLUE • 15 0 DELICAS • SPIRALS • BUGLES • MAGNETIC CLASPS coupon good for 5% OFF Purchase of $20 or more, excluding sale items (with coupon expires 2-5-09) CHECK OUT OUR FREE CLASSES NEW! Quartzsite (Arizona) Public Library Director Dr. Donna Pierce finished course work to earn a Master of Library Science degree from University of Arizona in December, 2008. Dr. Pierce earned a Master of Science and a Ph.D. from Michigan State Uni- versity in the 1980s. "Going back to school after almost 20 years was quite a challenge," Dr. Pierce said. "Lucky for me, I was able to do most of the course work over the Inter- net. I'm really glad this option was available because the campus is in Tucson – that's almost 400 miles from Quartzsite." Dr. Pierce earned a Rural and Small Library scholarship from the Institute of Museum and Library Science. "I very much enjoy my job as Quartzsite librarian. My staff is wonderful and we have a great time helping our patrons," Dr. Pierce said. The Quartzsite Public Library has around 1,000 visitors daily during the win- ter season. Visit the library at 465 N. Plymouth Avenue in Quartzsite, or online at www.quartzsitelibrary.com . as the Quartzsite Business Chamber will be sponsoring the People's Choice Chili Contest, with cash prises, in or- der to make sure that enough chili is being made for everyone to taste. chili cookoffs per year and raise over $1,000,000.00 annually for local charities. To find out more contact Quartzsite Business Chamber of Commerce at 928-927-9231. Quartzsite Librarian earns Master Degree! January 21, 2009 J������ 21, 2009 D����� M�������� By Cate Mueller From humble beginnings... The first Quartzsite Improvement As- sociation QIA Pow Wow Gem & Mineral Show debuted in Febru- ary 1967 in an old school house the QIA members persuaded county officials into letting them use. There were 22 gem and mineral exhibits inside the building and 52 rockhound vendors selling pretty stones, trinkets and treasure from their pickup truck tailgates. The school-turned-show grounds were "a couple of acres of desert," ac- cording to records. Dusty, gravel desert, but enthusiasm was high. One thousand visitors attended the inaugural Pow Wow and plan- ning for the next gem and mineral show started immediately. The Quartzsite Pow Wow was born! From those humble beginnings... to today, when estimates show some 4 million visitors came through Quartzsite during the 40th Annual QIA Pow Wow Gem & Mineral Show in 2006. The QIA incorporated in March 1965 with 44 members who wished to do good things for their chosen winter community. This all-vol- unteer non-profit organization started Quartzsite's first library, donated money to equip the vol- unteer fire department, donated land for the medical center, took care of the Hi Jolly Monument and Pioneer Cemetery, donated play- ground equipment to the elemen- tary school, uniforms for the ball team, computers to the library and built the television signal booster on Guadalupe Mountain – hand- carrying 80-pound generators to the summit. QIA members wanted to build a community center. Member- ship grew rapidly and the orga- nization quickly outgrew early meeting places like the old school house. Time to buckle down and raise some serious cash! Early fund-raising efforts included pot "It is my humble opinion that Quartzsite deserves to be recognized as an All-American town, for it is here you will find a stellar ex- ample of the true American spirit of helpfulness and cooperation. Look no farther than the QIA for a shining example of what is best in America. The American spirit is alive and well here." — Bob Jones, Senior Consulting Editor,"Inside the Quartzsite Pow Wow" Rock & Gem Magazine, February, 2003 "How the Quartzsite Improvement Association and the world-famous Pow Wow Gem & Mineral Show Started" lucks, swap-and-shop rummage sales, bingo, "Halves for the Hall" where pinochle games cost 50 cents, movies and slide shows, and Tuesday Travelogues. Remember the 60s, setting up a screen in the living room and watching slides of other people's vacations? That was the Tuesday Travelogue tradition! "Bring your own cup and a chair," became standard on invitations. The helpful tradition continues to- day. More than 300 QIA members volunteer to make the Pow Wow a great annual success. Jobs include vendor-relations, event promo- tion, security, cooking, cleaning, food service, dish washing, gar- bage hauling, maintenance, and – of course – potty patrol. The Pow Wow is the QIA's largest fund raising event. Come volunteer and have some fun – wear comfortable shoes! QIA gives back to the communi- ty by donating annually to several scholarships and other non-profit organizations including funds for Willpower Incorporated to have a telephone, wireless Internet ac- cess at the Quartzsite Public Li- brary, disaster relief money to the Red Cross and more. Recipients include Willpower, Inc., KBUX radio, Little Scholars' Pre-School, Celia's Rainbow Gardens; and Quartzsite's chambers of com- merce, library, park & recreation department, elementary school and senior center. Join us! Come to a pancake supper Wednesdays at 5 p.m. and see what all the fun is about. Or, come into the office, at the south east corner of the QIA building – we're open from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. You won't be bored!The Quartzsite Improvement Association – build- ing a better Quartzsite. Cate Mueller, of Bouse, Ariz., is a Web designer, editor, reporter and photographer. Check out her website: www.catemueller.com. J������ 21, 2009 D����� M�������� P��� 33 �������� �� ��������������������������� RV Appliances, Furnaces, Refrigerators, A/C Systems, Electrical Troubleshooting, Welding, Plumbing, Propane $ 125 00 JUST IN TIME FOR WINTER! Truckload of Ceramic Brick Propane Heaters! Vendors enjoyed a "Continental Breakfast" at the Town Hall Thursday, Jan. 17 at 7:00am. Vendors had a chance to ex- press concerns to Mayor Walt Akin, Town Council members and Town Manager, Dan Field. Some vendors were happy to have the chance to be heard Robert Koeppler, age 84, might be slowing down... just a bit....or not! Pow Wow shoppers might miss seeing Bob's jewelry this year, however, after 36 years of displaying and selling, he plans on spending time visiting with other artists and customers. Koeppler's items sold out so quickly last year at the Pow Wow, he just could not keep up with the demand. So this year, he's taking time to have some fun at the QIA! At the age of 84, many folks would give up. Not so in Quartzsite! This town has so many wonderful folks, just like Bob Koeppler, who keeps having fun while producing art and music. Bob's specialty is silversmith- ing. He has slowed down just a little... his eyes are giving him chal- lenges, however, he keeps on-creat- ing! sometimes put them 'on hold' in my sketchook." Countless gem and art shows as well as the Quartzsite Pow Wow had displayed Koeppler's jewelry. Bob has won many awards, including the award for Jewelry in the National Rockhound and Lapidary Hall of Fame, 1993, and the President's Trophy at the 1980 American/Mid- west Federation Show in Lincoln, Nebraska. Koeppler has only one more show planned in Billings, MT. and then looks forward to agate hunting in Montana. Bob will surely be out and about during the Pow Wow visiting with his friends and customers. Catch him if you can! Robert Koeppler is truly a Quartzsite Treasure!!! Robert Koeppler, Nationally Known Master Silversmith "is one of the most innovative of today's silversmiths…" Lapidary Journal, Aug. 1994 Cole Bobbe, of CASA Medical of Paradise Valley, Ariz., fits for diabetics for their free Medi- care-qualified-shoes during a free Footcare Clinic held in Quartzsite, on Jan. 12. Bob has been creating one-of-a-kind masterpieces since Christmas 1960, when a friend gave him some silver and a few tools, telling him, "It's time for you to learn how to make some- thing to put your cabs into." Between Christmas and New Year, he made my first buckle. Only six months later, Bob won first place at the Midwest Rock and Mineral Federation Show! "I never read a book or took a les- son [about silversmithing] because I didn't want to know what everyone else knew. I wanted to do my own thing," Bob said. Koeppler has been featured in many articles in the Lapidary Journal, Rock and Gem, and many other magazines. His unique style of working with silver creates a one-of-a-kind, highly sought-after collector's piece. He layers the silver into intrique scenes, many based on his love of nature. "Ideas came so quickly, that I Vendors enjoyed a "Contental Breakfast" at the Town Hall Thursday, Jan. 17 at 7:00am. Vendors had a chance to express concerns to May- or Walt Akin, Town Council members and Town Manager Dan Field. Some vendors were happy to have the chance to be heard and hope for future communication from the town. Vendors and town officials exchanged some great ideas! Plans are in the works for more! SPECIAL SECTION

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