Live

News

Video

To the Editor

Viewfinder

John Wright

Parker Stripped

Livecast

Posts in All Categories

September, 2021

  • 24 September

    Detectives investigating possible homicide in Salome

    Detectives are investigating a possible homicide in the town of Salome in eastern La Paz County. On Tuesday morning around 6:24 a.m. a La Paz County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a call of a body discovered on Centennial Road in Salome around half a mile north of the community center there. A 66 year-old white male was found deceased at …

    Read More »
  • 23 September

    Meet CRIT’s new Vice Chairman

    Dwight Lomayesva Jr. has been elected Vice Chairman of the Colorado River Indian Tribes. In a special election held Saturday after the resignation of Keith Moses in July, Lomayesva received by far the most votes out of the four candidates in the race. Lomayesva is a civil engineer and part-time farmer who taught at Cal State Fullerton, University of California …

    Read More »
  • 23 September

    Supervisors meetings go online

    One of the persistent criticisms of the La Paz County Board of Supervisors over the years is that their public meetings are held on a weekday mid-morning when citizens tend to be at work or otherwise busy. This means that people don’t get a chance to attend meetings and see for themselves their local county government in action. Now, one …

    Read More »

August, 2021

  • 11 August

    Sheriff says Beckham homicide case a daily priority

    The La Paz County Sheriff’s Department is working the Johnny Beckham homicide case daily, according to senior officials at the department. “Obviously people are yearning for information on this case,” said Sheriff William Ponce, speaking to Parker Live with Chief Deputy David Gray on Wednesday. “Unfortunately we can’t release everything that’s going on, because it’s an active investigation.” Gray said …

    Read More »

July, 2021

  • 27 July

    Hollie Lucas appointed as new Court Clerk

    Governor Doug Ducey announced the appointment of Hollie Lucas as La Paz County Clerk of the Superior Court on Tuesday. The appointment fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Megan Spielman. Under Arizona law, the vacancy created by the resignation is filled by gubernatorial appointment until the next general election in 2022. “Hollie’s career shows her dedication to La …

    Read More »
  • 20 July

    Man drowns near Havasu Landing, body recovered

    A man drowned on Lake Havasu Saturday amid windy conditions and rough water, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. On Saturday, deputies responded to a report of a drowning victim near the Havasu Landing Resort and Casino, which is directly opposite Lake Havasu City on the California side of the lake. It was discovered the victim, David Radine, 58 …

    Read More »
  • 20 July

    CRIT Vice Chairman Keith Moses resigns, talks joys of progress

    The Vice Chairman of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, Keith Moses, has resigned. In an online video, he talked about the joys of seeing the progress CRIT has made over the past few years. Moses first took office in 2015 after many years in other local roles. During his time as Vice Chairman, the tribal council explored and implemented new …

    Read More »
  • 14 July

    Judge Quickle reprimanded for treatment of colleagues

    La Paz County Superior Court Judge Jessica Quickle was reprimanded by the State of Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct last month for her treatment of colleagues in the workplace. Judge Quickle is sworn in, January 2019 Complaints dating from September and October of last year, along with follow-up interviews with six court employees, alleged improper demeanor both on and off …

    Read More »
  • 14 July

    Over 10,000 fully vaccinated in La Paz County

    Over 10,000 people have now been fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus in La Paz County. It is hard to estimate the precise rate of vaccination for the county, considering that many of the county’s doses were administered to part-time residents and temporary visitors. But we know that 8,423 people have received both doses of the vaccine within the county …

    Read More »
  • 14 July

    UPDATED: Suspect in the murder of Johnny Beckham still not located

    UPDATE, July 21st: The death of Johnny Beckham has been designated a homicide. A warrant has now been issued for Brian Dunnan’s arrest. Original story below. — A person of interest in the June 29th death of Johnny Beckham, identified several days ago as Brian Douglas Dunann, has not yet been located. What we know from official sources Dunann is …

    Read More »
  • 12 July

    Conflict at Town Hall continues over Town Manager

    Conflict continues to swirl around the actions of Parker Town Manager Lori Wedemeyer, with some in the council supporting her and others wanting her out. A dustup involving a recent employee resignation and, now, Wedemeyer’s contract, continue to divide the council. Parker Town Hall is a peaceful place most of the time. As you would expect in a small town …

    Read More »
  • 12 July

    Viewfinder: Wildfire scorches several acres on Parker Strip, fireworks suspected

    A wildfire scorched several acres of riverfront land on Parker Strip opposite Fox’s and Sundance resorts over the weekend. Buckskin Fire Department and San Bernardino Fire responded with both land-based fire engines and a fire boat. Buckskin was called just before 1 a.m. early on Sunday morning. Less than 10 acres of desert brush, mesquite and salt cedar trees were …

    Read More »
  • 6 July

    Local man dies of fatal gunshot, Sheriff’s Department investigating

    UPDATE: A suspect has been identified as Brian Douglas Dunann, who is wanted for questioning but is still not located. More info HERE. — A local man died last week of a fatal gunshot in the Upriver area north of Parker, AZ. La Paz County Sheriff William Ponce says the Department is investigating. The matter is currently assigned to the …

    Read More »
  • 6 July

    Man in critical condition after boating incident near Needles, alcohol involved

    A man is in critical condition after a boating incident over the holiday weekend involving alcohol. He was later arrested for operating a boat under the influence. On Saturday, July 3rd at approximately 5:51 p.m., deputies with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Colorado River Station Marine Enforcement Unit responded to a report of a boating collision on the Colorado …

    Read More »
  • 1 July

    Mike Burke retired as Judge 10 years ago, reflects on his career

    Although it seems like only yesterday, Michael Burke retired as the La Paz County Superior Court Judge almost ten years ago. Parker Live sat down with Burke, a pioneer in the La Paz County legal system, to find out how he is doing in retirement and reflect upon his time as judge. Burke grew up in California and ultimately became …

    Read More »

June, 2021

  • 25 June

    Planet Ranch Fire burning in Bill Williams Refuge

    A wildfire in the area of the Bill Williams National Wildlife Refuge, the Planet Ranch Fire, is continuing to burn, according to Buckskin Fire District. The fuels that are burning are Salt Cedars, Mesquites, Cottonwoods and brush. According to the District, these types of fuels will produce light ashes but not large embers, which means that the closest communities, in …

    Read More »
  • 11 June

    Man dead after his jetski exploded, throwing him into the river

    A Moreno Valley man is dead after his jetski exploded, throwing him into the river. He died in hospital after being transported from the scene. On Friday afternoon at 12:39 p.m., deputies from the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department responded to a call for a boating incident at River Shore Estates in Earp. On arrival, medical staff from the Buckskin Fire …

    Read More »
  • 1 June

    Viewfinder: Boat sinks at Fox’s

    In photos: A boat sank at Fox’s bar on the Parker Strip on Saturday. A group of around 30 people tried to use ropes to pull the boat toward the shore, tug-of-war style, but the boat didn’t move much. No word on what happened later (perhaps some of our readers know?). Memorial Day weekend, 2021.

    Read More »
  • 1 June

    Man saved from drowning on Lake Havasu

    A man’s life was saved after he nearly drowned on Lake Havasu Saturday. Deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff Colorado River Station Marine Enforcement Unit were flagged down by subjects on a boat, on Lake Havasu near Havasu Landing Casino. Deputies were told a male victim fell off his personal watercraft and was drowning in the water. Some good …

    Read More »

May, 2021

  • 20 May

    Tom Simmons retires after 38 years at La Paz County, longest-serving employee

    On February 11th, 2021, the longest serving employee in La Paz County history retired. Tom Simmons, who began his career when the county was first formed in 1983, ended a remarkable 38 years working in the County Public Works Department. When Tom started his career with the county, Ronald Reagan was the President, gas was 96 cents a gallon, the …

    Read More »

April, 2021

  • 20 April

    La Paz County’s General Fund is $3.4m underwater

    La Paz County’s General Fund is $3.4 million in the red, according to a new report by financial consultants, and is poised to get even worse. A presentation by outside accountants Jay Parke and Karen Ziegler paints a grim picture: a negative balance in the General Fund, “virtually no unrestricted cash”, “insolvent” accounts, and banks walking away from the County. …

    Read More »
  • 17 April

    Boat accident near Emerald Cove leaves operator in intensive care

    On April 16, 2021 at approximately 10:23 pm, the San Bernardino County Sheriff Department’s Boat Accident Investigation Team was dispatched to a major injury boat collision that occurred on the California shoreline at Bass Point on the Parker Strip. Through investigation and interviews, it was determined Mark Thene was operating a 19-foot SeaRay southbound on the Colorado River at a …

    Read More »
  • 16 April

    Darla Tilley OUT at Senior Center after dust-up at Town Hall

    Darla Tilley is no longer running the Parker Senior Center after a dust-up at Town Hall led to her resignation “under duress.” Town Manager Lori Wedemeyer says there were valid complaints against Tilley, but Councilman Randy Hartless says Tilley was doing “an incredible job” and thinks it’s Wedemeyer who should be fired. Tilley’s last day at the Senior Center, which …

    Read More »

March, 2021

  • 30 March

    Fatal boating collision north of I-40 being investigated

    A fatal boating collision on Monday is now being investigated north of the I-40 bridge over the Colorado River near Topock. A juvenile male operator of a personal watercraft is okay, but his 45-year-old male passenger died at the scene. On Monday, March 29th at approximately 3:37 pm, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Colorado River Station Marine Enforcement Unit …

    Read More »
  • 22 March

    Rare-earth minerals mining project moves forward

    A company called Western Rare Earths, based in Phoenix, is moving forward with plans to drill into the ground for a set of 17 minerals on public lands near Bouse, Arizona in rural La Paz County. The prize: 17 elements known as ‘rare-earth elements’, which include 15 lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium. These elements are necessary components of more than …

    Read More »
  • 12 March

    CRIT eases restrictions as COVID numbers decrease

    Thanks to a decline in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the CRIT Tribal Council voted Friday to reinstate its ‘Safer At Home’ resolution, which eases some restrictions resulting from the pandemic. The more restrictive ‘Stay At Home’ resolution has been in place since late December. Over the past 14 days there have been only 8 newly reported coronavirus cases on …

    Read More »
  • 12 March

    COLUMN: Pastor Louie gets the vaccine

    Yes, I got the shot. Yesterday as a matter of fact. I want to talk a bit about this in the faint hope that it might help those of you who are still on the fence to think things through about whether or not to get the shot. Please note this is not an article telling you to either get …

    Read More »
  • 10 March

    Mohave Road bridge project won’t close the road completely, detours for larger vehicles

    The Mohave Road bridge project now underway by the CRIT Planning Department will not close the route completely, but there will be detours for larger vehicles and a 12-foot restriction. As the main road through the Colorado River Indian Tribes reservation, Mohave Road (also known as CRIR 1) is a major thoroughfare linking the town of Parker and I-10. In …

    Read More »
  • 10 March

    Accounting error leads to delayed tax filings for County employees

    Employees of La Paz County have had to delay filing their taxes due to an accounting error, which has now been fixed for most employees. According to District 2 Supervisor Duce Minor, the error was made in the process of issuing employees’ initial W2 forms from the County, leading to a review and a process of correction which took around …

    Read More »
  • 1 March

    Nomadland features Quartzsite, real people

    It’s the best drama film of the year, according to the Golden Globes, and it was made right on our doorstep. Nomadland features real people in Quartzsite, Arizona among other places, including one last, brief on-screen stint for Quartzsite’s Paul Winer. Nomadland – directed, written and edited by Chloé Zhao – is the story of a woman who sets off …

    Read More »

February, 2021

  • 18 February

    Famous waterfront Sundance Saloon for sale

    Anybody want to buy a famous bar? The Sundance Saloon on the Parker Strip is for sale with a listing price of $4.5 million. Sundance was best-known for being ‘the’ epic party spot on the river back in the 70s and 80s, with years of successive river rats pulling up their boats and packing it out for drinks, live music, …

    Read More »
  • 9 February

    Sheriff tells state news outlet he did not have sex on duty

    La Paz County Sheriff William Ponce has given an interview to state news outlet 3TV / CBS 5 denying that he had sex while on duty as CRIT Police Chief but acknowledging a relationship with the woman. The outlet reported that Ponce’s name had been mentioned in a review of a “plethora” of cases involving officers having sex on duty. …

    Read More »
  • 4 February

    Megan Spielman named new La Paz County Administrator

    Megan Spielman has been named as the new La Paz County Administrator by the Board of Supervisors. For several years she has been serving as Clerk of the Superior Court. The decision was officially made in a meeting of the Board on Thursday afternoon, in which the Supervisors voted unanimously to hire Spielman for the position. Spielman is a true, …

    Read More »
  • 4 February

    CRIT gets support for leasing its water

    New federal legislation that will enable the Colorado River Indian Tribes to lease a portion of its federal water allocation is gaining broad support from Arizona stakeholders. CRIT PRESS RELEASE: Following the conclusion of a listening session held by the Arizona Department of Water Resources in December, 2020, interested parties were invited to submit public comment on the proposal. Supportive …

    Read More »

January, 2021

  • 29 January

    WATCH: National Guard soliders administer vaccines in Quartzsite

    U.S. Army National Guard soldiers helped to prepare and administer COVID-19 vaccines on Wednesday at a La Paz County Health Department site in Quartzsite. Arizona National Guardsmen are scheduled to continue assisting the administering of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as helping to distribute the vaccination to sites throughout Arizona. Press play above for footage by the National Guard. The La …

    Read More »
  • 21 January

    Vaccine rollout extends to age 75 and older, 1000 available

    The La Paz County COVID-19 vaccine rollout is extending to those age 75 and older, with appointment dates for 1000 vaccines on January 27th and January 28th. 500 vaccines will be available at the Quartzsite clinic on January 27th from 9am until 1pm, and another 500 vaccines available at the Parker clinic on January 28th from 3:30pm until 6:30pm. The …

    Read More »
  • 16 January

    Parker 425: Live

    There are a few ways to follow today’s action at the BlueWater Resort & Casino Parker 425! (1) Listen to KLPZ’s updates periodically throughout the day from our studio in Parker, with the local morning show team and Parker Live. It’s a different broadcast this year, because we’re staying indoors. When we’re not on-air talking about the race, listen to …

    Read More »
  • 11 January

    Man in his 70s falls down mineshaft while riding ATV, airlifted

    A man in his 70s fell down a mineshaft while riding an ATV near Bouse, AZ on Saturday. He was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries after a technical rescue. On Saturday morning at around 11:30 am, emergency personnel were dispatched to the ‘Four Peaks’ area off Plomosa Road near Bouse, AZ for a subject that had fallen into an …

    Read More »
  • 8 January

    New trail proposed for Lake Havasu that would allow access to the water

    The Bureau of Land Management’s Lake Havasu Field Office is seeking public input on a proposed 30-mile trail along the southeastern shore of Lake Havasu. The proposed walking trail would begin at the BLM’s Partners Point facility along the Lake Havasu shoreline and end near Bill Williams National Wildlife Refuge. Public comments will be accepted for 30 days, from January …

    Read More »
  • 8 January

    Parker 425: This year’s race

    With an alternate course starting and finishing on Bureau of Land Management land, the BlueWater Parker 425 is going to be very different this year. Here’s some info from the Best in the Desert racing association on this year’s big race. There are two race days: Friday, January 15th and Saturday, January 16th. The ‘trick truck’ class is scheduled to …

    Read More »
  • 5 January

    First 400 vaccines arrive in La Paz County

    The La Paz County Health Department will be beginning to vaccinate people in La Paz County against COVID-19 on Wednesday, January 6th. The first 400 vaccines will be going to medical professionals and first responders in ‘Phase 1A’ of the distribution. They are from Moderna, which was the second vaccination approved by the federal government for use against the coronavirus. …

    Read More »

December, 2020

  • 29 December

    Parker 425 changes course after COVID decision by CRIT

    ARTICLE UPDATED 12/30/2020 to add CRIT reaction to the race still being on. — The BlueWater Parker 425 off-road race is still on in January, with a slightly different course after a decision by the Colorado River Indian Tribes to cancel the portion of the event that takes place on reservation lands. At 4:26 pm on Tuesday, Parker Live received …

    Read More »
  • 29 December

    Parker 425 changed to run outside CRIT land, after COVID decision

    UPDATE: Despite the decision by CRIT to cancel the Parker 425, the race will run outside of the CRIT reservation, according to Best in the Desert: “We want to let our racers and fans know that the BlueWater Parker 425 Presented by Jimco Racing is on despite the recent announcement by CRIT,” an announcement by Best in the Desert reads. …

    Read More »
  • 29 December

    Is County Administrator Ron Drake getting a ‘golden parachute’?

    La Paz County Administrator Ron Drake has resigned. He has been with the County since 2017. District 2 Supervisor Duce Minor said he had objections to the County giving him a “golden parachute”. In a 2 to 1 vote of the Board of Supervisors, Holly Irwin and DL Wilson voted in favor of accepting Drake’s resignation, with his last day …

    Read More »
  • 28 December

    Woman arrested at Vidal Junction on Christmas Day with meth and kids in car

    A woman was arrested at Vidal Junction on Christmas Day in possession of methamphetamine with two small children in the car. On December 25th at approximately 9:37 pm, deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Colorado River Station and officers with Needles Police Department responded to a report of a child locked in a running vehicle in the area …

    Read More »
  • 22 December

    30 people in La Paz County have now died from the coronavirus

    The coronavirus has now taken the lives of 30 people in La Paz County, with 12 deaths this month alone. Several of those infected had no known underlying health conditions. There are 1,196 cases in the county at the time this article was written. The La Paz County Health Department added 6 additional deaths to the tragic tally on Tuesday, …

    Read More »
  • 9 December

    La Paz County reaches 1000 cases of coronavirus

    Amid a nationwide surge in coronavirus cases, La Paz County has reached its 1000th case, the equivalent of around 1 in 20 people countywide since the pandemic began. Additionally, the county announced its 21st death due to complications of the virus. It can be hard for average people to figure out how to think of the pandemic. On one hand, …

    Read More »
  • 6 December

    Amelia Flores to be new CRIT Tribal Chairman

    Voters of the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) have elected Amelia Flores as Tribal Chairwoman and five members to the Tribal Council. The vote was held December 5th. The results are unofficial until the vote is certified Monday, December 7th. In addition to the Chairman’s post, there were four open seats to serve four year terms on the Tribal Council …

    Read More »
  • 1 December

    KLPZ’s 12 Days of Christmas is back!

    Win a mountain bike, a 55-inch TV, a karaoke machine, some cash, or one of the other great gifts at this year’s 12 Days of Christmas! Just go into one of the participating locations listed below and register your name, or a child’s name. Then, on December 22nd and 23rd, live on KLPZ 1380am, drawings will be made and winners …

    Read More »

November, 2020