Parker Live News from the Parker Strip since 2009.

June, 2019

• 5 June

  Biggest day on the river coming Saturday

  

  The biggest day on the Parker Strip calendar is coming this weekend. The 42nd Annual Parker Tube Float will attract thousands of floaters who will run from Buckskin Mountain State Park to La Paz County Park on the Colorado River. The 2019 theme is Float Town, USA. Changes in recent years have established a new float, and this year’s event …

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• 1 June

  Man’s body recovered from Headgate Dam

  

  UPDATE: The body of a man who drowned in the Colorado River in Parker last weekend has been recovered from Headgate Dam. The man’s body was found at the dam at around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday after a weekend of recovery attempts by divers. – ORIGINAL STORY: A man who disappeared into the river and did not resurface was being searched …

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May, 2019

• 28 May

  12 year old suffers “major injuries” from boat prop in tubing accident

  

  Bottom story updated to clarify witness statements. — A 12 year-old boy suffered “major injuries” from a boat propeller on the Parker Strip Saturday and was flown to Phoenix. Reportedly the child was with his family near Emerald Cove Resort tubing late Saturday and was in the water when the boat, driven by his father, moved toward him and the …

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• 26 May

  VFW burns: “We’re going to have to rebuild from the ground up”

  

  The VFW building in Parker, AZ will be a total loss after a fire that started early this morning. The fire reportedly began in the kitchen area of the building. It is not known at this time what caused it. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7061 has been at the location on the corner of 6th Street and Hopi Avenue …

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• 24 May

  Flat-Earther arrested for vandalism

  

  A Parker man has been arrested for more than 30 acts of vandalism, spray paint taggings on federal land near Parker Dam which appear to show support for the flat earth movement. View this post on Instagram #graffiti #flatearth #letterscience #bombingscience A post shared by skyler butts (@skyrydeinc) on Feb 1, 2019 at 8:43am PST Skyler Butts was arrested Thursday …

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• 23 May

  Did this woman con this man out of money for his missing dog?

  

  A man camping in the desert was the victim of an alleged con by a Blythe woman who he says lured him to Parker and took the money for his missing dog. Christopher (left) with Tamara (right) in Parker Christopher Cross, a Palm Springs-based entrepreneur, told Parker Live that his 2 year-old French bulldog Poco went missing on May 10th …

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• 22 May

  COLUMN: A Fallen Friend and Hero

  

  Human beings are amazing creatures when you stop to think about it. Our behavior is often amusing, sometimes amazing and always has a consistent quality of inconsistency about it. We don’t like pain yet often seek out activities that we know will cause pain and discomfort. We all want to be happy yet regularly act in ways that all but …

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• 21 May

  CRIT signs short-term Colorado River drought plan at Hoover Dam

  

  A delegation from the Colorado River Indian Tribes in Parker went to Hoover Dam Monday to sign a short-term drought plan that will better manage the available water in the southwestern United States. The landmark deal will likely prevent the Colorado River reservoirs from being depleted for the next few years, and involved seven western states and the federal government. …

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• 20 May

  Viewfinder: Big Bend Resort new store, eatery now open

  

  A new eatery, market, swimwear boutique, gas station and arcade has opened at Big Bend Resort on the Parker Strip. The California-side store will be a brand new place for boaters to stop on the Colorado River while visiting Parker this summer. It was built after the operator was asked to demolish the concession it operated for decades at Buckskin …

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• 20 May

  Hospital thrift store to close

  

  A thrift store that has been a Parker fixture for 37 years is to close on May 31st. The La Paz Regional Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shop on Kofa Avenue will close after a sale to clear its inventory. “The volunteers of La Paz Regional Hospital Auxiliary have devoted countless hours of service to providing this community service,” the hospital stated …

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• 16 May

  County Attorney has a new Chief Deputy

  

  La Paz County Attorney Tony Rogers has a new Chief Deputy. Ryan Dooley was appointed to the position recently after being hired back in September. Dooley will take over the role from Karen Hobbs, who has worked with Rogers at the County Attorney’s Office for several years. He was originally hired to work as a Civil Deputy to work with …

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• 13 May

  Marina Village to be without water as power goes out

  

  The Marina Village Annex will be without water Monday night as APS conducts a scheduled power outage at the same time, according to Brooke Water. “Operations reports that a water service interruption is necessary for [Marina Village Annex] in order for Arizona Public Service (APS) to make necessary system maintenance,” Brooke Water stated in a notice. “Ops has been advised …

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• 13 May

  Former deputy who groped a coworker takes a plea agreement

  

  A former La Paz County Sheriff’s Deputy has admitted to attempted sexual abuse at a party last summer. John Gomez was with a female deputy in the kitchen area of a residence on Reata Avenue in Parker on August 19th, 2018 when he allegedly made advances on her and inappropriately touched her. The victim told investigators with the Yuma County …

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• 10 May

  12-hour upriver power outage coming Monday

  

  UPDATE: Brooke Water customers in Marina Village Annex will also experience an outage simultaneously with the larger APS outage. For more info go HERE. — APS has scheduled an estimated 12-hour service interruption for customers in the Parker Upriver area for necessary system maintenance. In order to safely repair a damaged power pole and electric equipment, APS will be taking …

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• 9 May

  Federal inmate dies in custody in Parker

  

  An Indian national in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the La Paz County Jail (LPCJ) passed away Friday morning after efforts by medical staff to revive him were unsuccessful, according to a statement by ICE. An autopsy is pending to determine the official cause of death. After posting bond on charges of assault and sexual …

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• 8 May

  Paul Winer, Quartzsite’s ‘naked bookseller’, dies

  

  One of the town of Quartzsite’s most noted residents, Paul Winer, has died in his sleep after a lengthy illness at the age of 75. Winer was well known as the much-loved owner of the Reader’s Oasis bookstore, who would usually be seen in the nude with just a little ‘pouch’ for modesty. As ‘Sweet Pie’, he was also a …

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April, 2019

• 30 April

  Crossroads recreational area improvements completed by BLM

  

  The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Lake Havasu Field Office has completed the infrastructure improvement project to enhance recreational use at Crossroads Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area on the California side of the Parker Strip. The work included repairing, sealing and striping the parking lot and reconstructing an access road. “We are happy this improvement project is complete and that we …

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• 22 April

  COLUMN: Arizona just banned cellphones while driving. Here’s why I’ve changed my mind on it

  

  Things I’ve seen people do while driving: Manage kids in the back seat Eat burritos, burgers, sandwiches Put on makeup Put on clothes Hunt for things in the car Hold animated conversations Brush teeth Have arguments Search through radio stations ‘Dance’ to music Read newspapers …and of course, use handheld cellphones. Out of all these things, only one of them …

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• 17 April

  COLUMN: Reflections on Notre Dame

  

  I’m writing this on the day after the fire that burned down most of Notre Dame Cathedral. It’s been in the news, of course, and even managed to push some of the usual political dreck out of the news for a little while, which is quite an accomplishment. Of course there’s been a lot of talk about what happened and …

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• 17 April

  Update on Harold Smith

  

  A Parker man who stands accused of molesting his grandchild has been offered a plea agreement by the state prosecutor. Harold Smith, 69, attended court last week with his attorney, who asked for a continuance so that he and his client could review the plea offer, which “contemplates significant prison [time].” The court agreed to give Smith time with his …

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• 4 April

  WATER OUTAGE: Area emergency procedures tested

  

  UPDATE FRI, 5pm: “Here is an update on the water main break. If there are any new updates I will make sure to send them to you. The repairs have been made and water is flowing through the system but in abundance of caution tests must be conducted to ensure the water is safe for drinking and food preparation. The …

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• 4 April

  Wrong-way driver’s odd behavior revealed in 911 calls

  

  Turning his lights off and on, stopping in the middle of the highway and then starting again in the wrong direction… the odd behavior of a driver who caused a fiery fatal crash on I-10 last week is revealed in 911 calls from the night of the crash.   Francisco Edward Rebollar, 63, of Murrieta, California, was driving his Nissan …

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March, 2019

• 27 March

  Paul Mosley’s lawyer resigns from legislature after ethics complaints

  

  UPDATE: Stringer was accused in the 1980s of paying two children under 15 years old to have sex with him, according to information released by the House Ethics Committee. Details here. — ORIGINAL STORY: Arizona Representative David Stringer, best-known to the Parker area as former fellow legislator Paul Mosley’s attorney in his excessive speeding case, has resigned following ethics complaints. …

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• 27 March

  Fiery crash kills 4 on I-10

  

  UPDATE: The 3 occupants of the van in this story have been identified as both members of the Liverpool, England-based band Her’s and their tour manager. The band had just finished their show at the Rebel Lounge in Phoenix and we’re headed to a show in Santa Ana. More here. ORIGINAL STORY: Four people died early Wednesday morning after a …

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• 26 March

  Viewfinder: Parker at Dusk

  

  Parker at dusk.

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• 15 March

  Mosley’s traffic ticket to become precedent-setting

  

  Mosley’s case is unique in Arizona history He alleges via his two attorneys “selective prosecution” Blames “media storm” created after Parker Live broke story County Attorney quotes Thomas Jefferson and says Mosley must be held accountable Former state representative Paul Mosley appeared in court Friday with two attorneys arguing that legislative immunity prevents him from being prosecuted for his March …

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• 15 March

  Trump signs La Paz County Land Conveyance Act

  

  President Donald Trump has signed a piece of legislation that will allow the sale of 6,000 acres of federal land to La Paz County, Arizona for solar energy development purposes. The legislation was part of a larger legislative package that had been championed by members of Congress from Arizona, and is intended to pave the way for a solar energy …

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• 14 March

  Girl Scout from Parker sold the most cookies – 4,043

  

  A Girl Scout from Parker has been recognized for selling the most cookies in Central and Northern Arizona. 3TV covered Maddie’s success HERE. Maddie Dunlap, 11, sold 4,043 boxes of Girl Scout cookies between January 21st and March 3rd, making her the top cookie seller. In addition, the Parker troop, Troop 1892, was the top troop in the region. They …

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• 13 March

  COLUMN: The desert is beautiful right now

  

  I’m sitting at my laptop still shaking off some of the rain that’s been falling lately. This year we’ve had quite a lot of rain, and I suspect there’s still more to come. Who knows, maybe even later today? But there’s a wonderful benefit to all this rain, and that’s a very green desert. It’s amazing to look at our …

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• 7 March

  Former County Attorney alleges corruption of former officials

  

  False letters, hidden settlements, personal agendas: it’s all in a notice of claim filed by former La Paz County Attorney Glenn Buckelew, who alleges corruption on the part of his former colleagues. Buckelew filed the notice of claim for what he says was wrongful termination, which he says came after he had been looking into corrupt and illegal practices involving …

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• 5 March

  Freeman case to go to trial

  

  Aaron Freeman is going to trial after he rejected the latest settlement offer in his murder case. He is charged with the murder of his 3 year-old daughter. Freeman, 26, was ready to sign a previous settlement back in December, but Judge Matthew Newman rejected it, calling it a “pretty sweet deal” and ultimately saying it wasn’t a deal he …

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• 1 March

  140 pounds of meth seized on I-10

  

  Quartzsite Police Department and La Paz County Narcotics Task Force K9 seized 140 pounds of methamphetamine on Sunday on Interstate 10. The officer and a K9 handler were working an interdiction detail on the highway together, and conducted a traffic stop on 27 year-old Gabriel Vanier-Pop. According to the La Paz County Sheriff’s Department, the stop was a typical traffic …

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February, 2019

• 28 February

  Man arrested for possession of stolen vehicle

  

  A man was arrested in Big River, CA on Wednesday for possession of a vehicle that had been reported missing from Parker, AZ. At 8:44 a.m., deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Colorado River Station responded to the 6700 block of Rio Vista Drive in Big River to assist fire department personnel with and unconscious male sitting in …

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• 12 February

  Man goes to prison for using video cables to strangle victim to death

  

  A former Parker man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to second degree murder. Larson Namow Burns, 29, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 180 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for strangling a male victim in January 2018 and inflicting “several blows with a blunt object”, according to …

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January, 2019

• 31 January

  BLM to conduct burns during February

  

  The Bureau of Land Management Lake Havasu Field Office will conduct prescribed burning in Parker, during the month of February, as weather conditions allow. The burn area is located seven miles northeast of Parker and a half-mile west of Parker Dam Road near Crossroads, on the California side of the Colorado River. “The removal and controlled burning of vegetation piles …

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• 29 January

  Paul Mosley’s lawyer faces ethics complaints in legislature

  

  A lawyer and politician representing ousted Arizona State Representative Paul Mosley is facing multiple ethics complaints himself this week in the state legislature. Mosley (left), Stringer (right) The complaints against Mosley’s fellow legislator David Stringer, a Republican from Prescott, stem from accusations of racism and the recent revelation that Stringer was apparently charged with possession of child pornography in 1983 …

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• 27 January

  Suspect dead after officer-involved shooting in Ehrenberg

  

  A Yucca Valley man with multiple outstanding felony warrants was shot dead by cops in Ehrenberg Thursday. Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers and a La Paz County deputy shot and killed Christian Albarran, 26, in Ehrenberg on Thursday afternoon. The incident began earlier in the day, when San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies spotted Albarran driving near Dumosa Avenue and …

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• 18 January

  Parker man charged with child molestation, victim alleges preferential treatment

  

  A Parker man was charged last summer with sexual conduct with his grandchild, who is now asking Parker Live why her grandfather is not in jail and why public records of the case are unavailable. Harold Smith, 69, is a former reserve law enforcement officer in Parker and retired employee of the State of Arizona, according to the victim’s dad Micah, …

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• 18 January

  CRIT passes water ordnance

  

  Update: Referendum passed. Original story below. — Members of the Colorado River Indian Tribes will vote Saturday on an ordnance that would open a path to pursuing lucrative water leasing opportunities. Much of CRIT’s substantial rights to Colorado River water are not being used, so even a small portion of its total entitlement would be very valuable, with potentially tens …

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• 10 January

  Town of Wenden celebrates new water plant, eliminates plastic bottles

  

  With accessible clean drinking water a hot global issue, the residents of Wenden, Arizona can now confidently quench their thirst. For many years, residents of the small town in rural La Paz County hesitated to drink the tap water, due to its high fluoride content and spikes in arsenic levels that required further drilling and a state-mandated Fluoride and Arsenic …

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• 9 January

  Sheriff approved for new patrol computers

  

  The La Paz County Board of Supervisors has authorized the Sheriff’s Department to spend $265,000 on new computers for patrol vehicles that will bring the department’s hardware up-to-date. According to the Sheriff’s Department, the existing machines are aging, approaching the end of their product life cycle by the end of the year and unable to perform many of the tasks …

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• 7 January

  Viewfinder: Judges Quickle and Dyer sworn in

  

  Jessica Quickle was sworn in as the new Judge of the La Paz County Superior Court and Tiffany Dyer was sworn in as the new Judge of the Parker Justice Court Monday. District 2 County Supervisor Duce Minor led the oath ceremony for Judge Quickle, and Quickle then led the ceremony for Judge Dyer, along with re-elected Precinct 5 Judge …

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• 3 January

  COLUMN: A funny thing happened on my way to the new year

  

  This is my first column of the new year, or perhaps I should say ‘a’ new year, since they seem to come around quicker and quicker as I get older. But there’s one thing that never seems to get old and that’s the word ‘new’. This makes sense of course, since ‘new’ is the opposite of ‘old’, isn’t it? But …

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• 3 January

  To The Editor: Is this traffic light acting weird?

  

  Happy New Year, everybody! Let’s start 2019 off right, by trying to answer a question from a reader: “One of the green lights was out at the junction of 95 at the Sandbar. Since it was repaired, the default green light has been changed to the traffic that crosses the highway on to the river road! Am I the only …

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December, 2018

• 29 December

  Things you may have missed: Parker Live in 2018

  

  We’ve had lots of big-hitting content on Parker Live in the last year. Our audience keeps growing and it was our largest year ever! So, in case you missed anything, these are just some of the things that we covered in 2018. (Text in blue link to the original stories.) — 1. Justice for Cynthia A Parker man and woman …

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• 17 December

  WATCH: Former Sheriff drives wrong truck away

  

  A former Sheriff of La Paz County, AZ got into the wrong truck and drove it away Wednesday before realizing his mistake and bringing it back. Hal Collett had been visiting Spanky’s RV & Marine retail store in Parker, AZ when he exited the store and got into a truck similar to his own, a silver Ford pickup truck. The …

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• 13 December

  Sheriff’s Department okayed to buy 7 patrol vehicles

  

  The La Paz County Board of Supervisors has authorized the purchase of 7 used Chevy Tahoe patrol vehicles. The vehicles, which are used law enforcement-equipped Chevys, are being sold by the City of Avondale, AZ, which usually rotates vehicles out at around 60,000 to 70,000 miles, according to Lieutenant Richard Epps. “The City of Avondale told me they serviced them …

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• 13 December

  Part-owner of Parker Pioneer engaged in offbeat divorce battle

  

  A part-owner of the Parker Pioneer and Today’s News-Herald is engaged in an offbeat public court battle which involves allegations of poisoning. AP photos According to an Associated Press story, Joseph Soldwedel of Prescott has been using his newspaper to publicize his allegations that his wife of 8 years, Felice, tried to poison him. Prosecutors have cleared Felice of any …

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• 11 December

  Explore La Paz County Wednesday at Casino

  

  Explore La Paz County at the Tourism Expo Wednesday, December 12th from 9am to 3pm at BlueWater Resort & Casino. Admission is free. Learn about all the fun activities across La Paz County. The Tourism Expo is brought to you by the La Paz Regional Tourism team, the Colorado River Indian Tribes and BlueWater Resort & Casino. For more information …

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• 11 December

  Judge rejects child death plea bargain

  

  La Paz County Superior Court Judge Matthew Newman chose not to accept a plea deal offered Tuesday to a man who stands accused of killing his own 3 year-old daughter through child abuse. Aaron Freeman, 25, had a pen in his hand and was about to sign the agreement when Newman interjected from the bench. “Well, let me stop you …

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