Desert Messenger

Page 12 www.DesertMessenger.com Bouse Elementary School updates Message from the Principal, Rebecca McClenning Bouse, AZ - School began on Mon- day with smiling faces and excited teachers. It was a great start to a fantastic new year. We had many students celebrating excellence with me on Thursday afternoon, too. Students celebrate excellence by studying hard to get 100% on a test during the week. On Thursday before the students leave to go home, they bring their test to my office for a high five, and a special prize. Please encourage your child to study hard for their tests and celebrate their excellence at home when they bring their work home with them. Beginning in September, I will be teaching Music in grades pre-2nd and Choir for students in grades 3rd and up who are interested in joining. I am hoping that we will have time to perform the song "Firework" at the Open House on September 15th at 6pm. Telephone: 928-851-2213 Website: www.BouseSchool.com Just Rambling... From May through September 1949; I was an engineer, in Alaska, on a boat called Jaguar. I missed five months of my wife and children's lives. The money and duty was awesome but the emotional price far too high to pay. Although I could have, I never went back. One often has to Provided by Elmer London & Desert Messenger The Ride of my life! Congratulations to Bouse Elementary Seventh graders Nick Marlowe and Marcos Lua who were the top winners this summer at the Parker Film Camp. Their award winning ad on drug prevention played at the Blue Water Cinemas in Parker this Summer! Great job guys! NEW THIS SEASON! Desert Messenger introduces a fun way to celebrate what Quartzsite does Right! warm at a rather quick pace. The incline and I struggled with who would conquer who. Val, never far behind me, began to literally dump soaked wet towels on my back, nev- er wringing them out, but they would dry quickly. She fed me iced water bottles and peanut butter sandwiches as we searched for over-passes to rest under. It is true; the day did not go as planned. I became tired early and began to take more breaks with fully soaked tow- els. I changed from my helmet to my bike cap, as it would stay wet. But as the heat and incline took their toll, I thought about the symbolism of this ride – my ride to my last chemo treat- ment. At 80 miles, I called it a good try and climbed into the truck. As I put my bike to rest in the back of the truck the temperature was 113 degrees. There were a few tears, most of them because my goal had not been made, but as we rode to find a hotel (with a pool) I realized that I did not plan to get cancer, either. But I do plan to fight back to knock it out of my sys- tem! This bike ride was my first plan of attack. Submitted by Diane Rowello It was 5:15 am, Tuesday morn- ing as I stepped out of my trailer to see a pilot care with "TEAM DI- ANE" and "GO COACH" on all the windows. This would be my friend, Val Keelin, who would ride behind me for nearly 10 hours as I rode my bike to Phoenix. People, along with Mayor Ed Foster & Jennifer Jones, cheered me on as I started the jour- ney. Gene Rose even rode his bike to accompany me from Rainbow Acres to Loves. The weather seemed to be getting September 7, 2011 lieved and helped me complete as much of my goal as I did. After all, we never saw another bike going to Phoe- nix! Those 80 miles were glorious to complete and I am proud of riding them. Just an added note: I have chosen to have another 16 more chemo treat- ments over taking other medications. At the chemo treatment Thursday, my PET SCAN came back with "signifi- cant decrease in size and markedly im- provement in the metastasized bone cancer"! Now that is worth another bike ride! Diane Rowello, Quartzsite QUARTZSITE, AZ- There's a new feature for the upcoming season of the Desert Messenger, called, "The Best of Quartzsite!" The Reader's Survey will contain a myriad of possible categories; ev- erything from their favorite place to enjoy Biscuits and Gravy to the Best Karaoke. Other categories might include: Favorite Music Jam, Fa- vorite Hairstylist, Best Retailer to purchase an RV, Favorite ATV Trail, Best Restaurant Server, Favorite Swap Meet, Best Fish Fry, Favorite Jeweler, etc. "It's about time we recognize what is Right in Quartzsite, and cel- ebrate the hard working individuals and businesses in our commu- nity," said Publisher Shanana "Rain" Golden-Bear. There is no need to register. Surveys will be printed in the No- vember 2nd and 16th editions. The winners will be announced in the December 7th edition! Please email category suggestions to desertmessenger7@yahooc.om or call 541-218-2560. Andi Maxwell, a lady that I met at the radiation doctor's office, graciously donated gift cards and bought my new Trek bike with matching shoes and helmet! We had talked about goals and how setting them and doing them make a person strong; hence the bike ride to Phoenix was born. I want to thank everyone who be-

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