Parker Live News from the Parker Strip since 2009.

September, 2020

• 24 September

  1 person injured, 2 homes destroyed in accidental Hillcrest Bay fire

  

  One person was seriously injured and two homes were completely destroyed in a fire last evening in the Hillcrest Bay neighborhood north of Parker. 20 firefighters fought back the blaze. Gasoline exploded in a garage accidentally and was determined to be the cause. Picture: La Paz County Sheriff’s Department “We were pretty concerned when we first got there that we …

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• 21 September

  To The Editor: Do wakesurfing boats belong on the river?

  

  “John, Parker Live needs to address the controversy over wake / surf boats on the river. Many private docks have been damaged by the huge wakes this summer alone. The river isn’t big enough for what they want to do. Everybody likes to have fun but people are really mad at this point. Can you please talk about this? There …

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• 14 September

  Man exposed to mystery substance near courthouse

  

  Avoid the Parker Justice Court, law enforcement say 4:57pm- “At approximately 1400 hours, officers from the Parker Police Department responded to a call of possible exposure to a suspicious substance. The subject was transported by medical to La Paz Regional Hospital as a precaution. Due to the nature and circumstances regarding the incident, Arizona Avenue is closed from Kofa Avenue …

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• 6 September

  High temps for Labor Day weekend in Parker

  

  Temps exceeded 120 degrees on Labor Day weekend in the Parker area, something that only happens officially once every few years on average. The heat wave saw records broken across the region. Woodland Hills reached 121 degrees on Sunday afternoon, the highest ever recorded in Los Angeles County. Paso Robles in San Luis Obispo County hit a record 117 degrees. …

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• 6 September

  Man struck by vessel on Parker Strip flown to hospital in Goodyear

  

  UPDATED with info from GoFundMe — A man was struck by a vessel on the Parker Strip Saturday. He sustained major injuries and was flown to hospital in Goodyear, AZ. On Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at approximately 5:15 pm, deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Colorado River Station Marine Enforcement Unit responded to a boating collision near the …

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• 3 September

  La Paz County passes 500 confirmed cases of COVID-19

  

  Cases are falling, but spreading primarily through families Younger people are spreading it to older family members CRIT has been hit hardest At an average of 100 cases every month for the last 5 months, La Paz County has passed a milestone: the 500th confirmed case of COVID-19. There have been 15 deaths from complications of the virus. The tribal …

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August, 2020

• 29 August

  Body found on California Avenue in Parker

  

  A body was discovered in the 500 block of South California Avenue in Parker last week, according to the Colorado River Indian Tribes. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) was contacted to respond to the location at around 11:53 a.m. on Wednesday, August 19th. A BIA agent arrived an hour later. The body was removed and taken to Parker Funeral …

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• 20 August

  Bars can apply for a new grant from Thursday morning

  

  The Governor’s Office is partnering with Local First Arizona Foundation to launch the Arizona Small Business Rent and Mortgage Relief Grant program and distribute $10 million in grants to small businesses who have had to shutter their doors during this pandemic. The partnership leverages the grantmaking experience and small business expertise of Local First Arizona Foundation, which has already distributed …

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• 17 August

  Brooke Water to become part of EPCOR this week, new rates

  

  The water utility serving the Upriver area north of Parker, AZ changes ownership officially this week, bringing with it improvements and 25 percent higher rates to match. The Arizona Corporation Commission approved the ownership transition on July 22nd, which means Brooke Water is now part of a much larger corporation, EPCOR. The company already owns many water utilities in the …

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• 13 August

  County’s emergency manager Steve Biro has died

  

  Steve Biro, La Paz County Emergency Management Director for the past 18 years, has died. The County released the following obituary. — It is with great sadness that we announce the La Paz County Emergency Management Director, Steve Biro passed away from lung disease on August 9th, 2020. He is survived by his wife, Anita Biro, his daughters, Tiara Biro …

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• 11 August

  Supervisor DL Wilson reverses course, decides to run as write-in candidate

  

  La Paz County District 1 Supervisor DL Wilson, who had earlier decided not to run for re-election and will not be on the ballot in November, has reversed course and decided to run for his seat as a write-in candidate. The only candidate actually on the general election ballot is David Plunkett, a well-known local realtor. Wilson, who was first elected …

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• 5 August

  Primary election upset for Sheriff Risen

  

  UPDATED to correct the general election sheriff candidates for November. — The voters have chosen to replace Bill Risen as Sheriff after primary challenger William Ponce got more votes in Tuesday’s election. According to the unofficial election results posted by La Paz County, Ponce received 934 votes, Sheriff Risen had 582 and Frank Vidrine had 248. The results mean that …

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July, 2020

• 30 July

  CRIT extends stay-at-home order, casino closure until end of August

  

  UPDATE: Parker schools Superintendent Brad Sale responded to a question by Parker Live about how this would affect schools, saying: “We are currently working with tribal officials to determine how the stay-at-home order affects our schools and the ability to attend school in person. We will also be following the benchmarks that AZDHS will release next week. These benchmarks will have schools …

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• 20 July

  COLUMN: Reaching the breaking point

  

  I’ve been thinking about writing this column for quite a while now. But I’ve kept putting it off. In fact I actively looked for reasons not to write it. But it keeps coming up in many of my conversations and I see it all over the place, nearly everywhere I look in fact. So, for better or worse, I decided …

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• 20 July

  $20,000 reward for hay bale arsonist

  

  UPDATED to reflect doubled amount (original $10,000). — A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for burning down several stacks of hay bales in the valley south of Parker last week. Eight stacks in total were burned on July 14th at four locations in the valley, the product of months …

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• 16 July

  Viewfinder: FLOG 2020

  

  Photos by Michael Collins.

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• 13 July

  Parker schools to use distance learning for at least the first 2 weeks

  

  Parker schools will begin the 2020-21 year on August 3rd with at least two weeks of distance learning. The Parker Unified School District Governing Board approved a re-opening plan last Wednesday authorizing Superintendent Brad Sale to proceed with one of three options for learning, depending on the severity of the COVID-19 virus in the community. “Our Number One priority is …

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• 13 July

  Man arrested for allegedly holding woman against her will

  

  A man in Big River was arrested by the SWAT team for allegedly holding a woman against her will. On Thursday, July 9th at 6:35 a.m., deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to a residence in the 7000 block of Yakima Trail in Big River for a call of a disturbance. The Department says its investigation …

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• 8 July

  Sheriff’s Department gets $325,000 in grants

  

  The La Paz County Sheriff’s Department has been awarded $300,000 by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a component of the Department of Homeland Security, and another $25,000 by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. The bigger grant was awarded under Operation Stonegarden, which exists to fund law enforcement agencies in efforts to secure U.S. borders and improve overall border security. …

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• 8 July

  LISTEN: Documentary to depict Quartzsite people and politics

  

  A new documentary film by Cyle O’Donnell is set to depict the town of Quartzsite, AZ and its politics, rivalries and melodrama. O’Donnell describes the film like this: “From allegations of corruption, police harassment and embezzlement, to a murder-for-hire scandal between the first two mayors, the tiny, desert town of Quartzsite, Arizona has seen conflict reserved only for major cities. …

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• 8 July

  7 COVID-related deaths in County, hospital announces same-day testing

  

  Seven people have now died from complications of the coronavirus in La Paz County. La Paz Regional Hospital has announced COVID-19 tests that will give same-day results. The 6th death was reported June 29th by the Colorado River Indian Tribes, the second tribal member to die in connection with the virus. The 7th death was from the Parker service district, …

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• 2 July

  To the Editor: Why are some bars still open after orders to close?

  

  Let’s try to answer this reader question about bars in Parker that are seemingly open during the month of July: “Dear Editor, If all the bars in Arizona were ordered closed, how is it that _________________ is still open?” – Bemused About Rules Thanks for the question, BAR. The answer isn’t as clear as it may seem. On June 29th, …

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June, 2020

• 30 June

  FLOG still on, but Tube Float cancelled

  

  The Flog (Baseball Golf) tournament is still on, but the Parker Tube Float has been cancelled for 2020. Flog (‘golf’ spelled backwards) takes place every July, and involves playing 9 holes of golf with baseball bats in fancy dress. The tournament will be held this year on Saturday, July 11th at Emerald Canyon Golf Course as planned. Some changes are …

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• 29 June

  Bars ordered to close again, school delayed, County cases quadruple during June

  

  Amid a spike in cases of coronavirus, bars are being ordered to close again by state order. A look at the data for La Paz County tells a sobering story: cases quadrupled in the County during the month of June. Total cases of coronavirus in La Paz County over time   At first, La Paz County got off relatively lightly. …

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• 24 June

  WATCH: ‘Meet the Candidates’ live from Parker, AZ

  

      The Parker Regional Chamber of Commerce & Tourism presented ‘Meet the Candidates’ in Parker, AZ Wednesday night. This event was streamed by the Chamber live, and the video replay is available.

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• 19 June

  CRIT requires face masks in public, Town of Parker rejects similar measure

  

  The Colorado River Indian Tribes has implemented a mandate requiring people to wear face masks in public places, the Town of Parker has rejected a similar measure and the County Board of Supervisors meets Monday to decide County policy. CRIT’s requirement applies to the whole CRIT reservation, including popular stores and fast food outlets like Walmart, Safeway, McDonald’s, Subway and …

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• 15 June

  A third and fourth person have died from COVID in La Paz County

  

  A third person and fourth person have died from complications of COVID-19 in La Paz County amid an uptick in cases. The latest was an individual from the Parker service district who was over the age of 65 and hospitalized outside the County. The other was also over 65, hospitalized outside the County. The individual is from the Ehrenberg service …

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May, 2020

• 30 May

  Viewfinder: County tests over 300 people for COVID in testing blitz

  

  UPDATE: 303 people were tested, 5 were positive, and 97 percent tested were asymptomatic. — ORIGINAL STORY: La Paz County has tested over 300 people for COVID-19 in its 2-day testing blitz last weekend. “The results will be available for everyone within 2 to 4 days and we will put out an updated message on any new positive cases,” said …

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• 28 May

  County officially receives title to solar property from BLM

  

  La Paz County has officially received title to 5,939 acres of land from the Bureau of Land Management to further its economic development efforts. The County approved an Economic Development Agreement with a company called 174 Power Global to use the site for solar energy that will produce up to 850 Megawatts of energy. “Our vision is to attract new …

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• 24 May

  Gun store owner dies by suicide after illness, following negotiation with police

  

  UPDATED to add details about Mr. Shepherd’s illness and quotes from his wife Theresa. — An owner of a Parker gun store died by suicide in front of local law enforcement officers after negotiations with police following a long illness. Kevin Shepherd, who ran Gold Pan Dan’s Guns and Gold on California Avenue in Parker, AZ with his wife Theresa …

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• 18 May

  On busy river weekend, 3 boats crash into same dock

  

  Three boats crashed into the same docks at Rio Lindo Shores on an unusually busy weekend on the Parker Strip. Two of the crashes happened on Saturday, the third on Sunday. The docks are located directly between two popular riverfront bars and directly across from a popular beach. UPDATE: Parker Live spoke to La Paz County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Donald Schlect …

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• 15 May

  Parker Tube Float is set for August

  

  The annual Parker Tube Float, normally held in June, is set for August 1st, 2020. “This Float’s For You” is the theme this year for an event that has happened every year since 1977, typically drawing thousands of people floating together down the Parker Strip. The new director of the Chamber of Commerce, Melissa Newton, says it’s been a challenge …

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• 13 May

  Arizona’s stay-at-home order will expire on Friday

  

  The state of Arizona’s stay-at-home order will expire on Friday as the state implements ‘Phase 1’ reopening. The Colorado River Indian Tribes order remains in effect. Dine-in restaurants, pools and gyms, spas, salons and barber shops can all now legally open their doors to the public with CDC guidance around social distancing. This Saturday, major league sports can resume limited …

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• 8 May

  COLUMN: There’s something happening here

  

  I’ve been noticing something lately with a lot of the people I interact with and that I see and hear online. There seems to be a certain feeling they are projecting that I’ve had a hard time putting my finger on. It’s there, it’s real, but what is it? Yesterday I remembered a song from my youth that seems to …

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• 1 May

  First case of COVID-19 on CRIT reservation

  

  CRIT has its first case of COVID-19 on the reservation, according to the Colorado River Indian Tribes Department of Health and Social Services. The first presumptive positive case resulting from an individual seeking medical care at the Parker Indian Health Center was announced Friday night. The individual is a resident of the CRIT reservation. The Department of Health and Social …

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April, 2020

• 29 April

  Most cases of COVID-19 in County are now connected by a single workplace

  

  CORRECTION: The La Paz County Health Department has corrected its previously issued information, saying that the cases discussed in this article linked by workplace contact are in the Quartzsite service district, rather than the McMullen Valley district as previously stated. The article below has been updated to reflect this correction. In addition, there is one new case to add, bringing …

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• 29 April

  Arizona Governor extends modified Arizona stay-at-home order by 2 weeks

  

  Arizona Governor Doug Ducey held a press conference Wednesday in which he announced the extension of the state’s stay-at-home order through May 15th, with some modifications. Ducey said Arizona will be ‘phasing in’ a gradual economic return over the next number of weeks, balancing it with public health. “I have a sense of urgency and I want to reopen,” Ducey …

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• 28 April

  Hobbs fails to submit necessary signatures for County Attorney ballot, decides judge

  

  Karen Hobbs, a former prosecutor for the La Paz County Attorney’s Office who was fired recently after she moved to run in the election for County Attorney, has been excluded from the ballot after a judge decided she had not gathered the necessary signatures. Hobbs needed 82 signatures from La Paz County voters to run as a candidate in the …

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• 27 April

  Viewfinder: Volunteers and essential workers

  

  “In times like this, where would we be without our volunteers and essential workers! St. Vincent de Paul and several amazing people not only prepared hot meals, including handing out fresh vegetables, but also hand delivered meals to shut-ins! We thank them all and I thought you might like to post this “feel good” story. 😊 I have attached a …

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• 27 April

  A second person in La Paz County has died with complications of COVID-19

  

  A second individual who tested positive for COVID-19 has died in La Paz County, according to authorities. The person who died was over the age of 80 and had direct, household contact with the previously announced fatal case in the County, according to the La Paz County Health Department on Monday. The person had been hospitalized and had underlying health …

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• 22 April

  Man arrested on Parker Strip for OUI after boat collision causes injury

  

  A Menifee, CA man has been arrested on the Parker Strip for OUI after he struck another boat and caused head injuries to its operator that required transport to hospital. On Sunday afternoon, April 19th, at approximately 2:25 pm, deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Colorado River Station Marine Enforcement Unit were dispatched to an injury accident just …

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• 22 April

  AWC to offer online summer classes

  

  Arizona Western College will continue offering courses completely online during the upcoming summer semester. Students can begin registering now for summer classes. “We have made the decision that all of our courses for the summer semester will be offered online,” said Arizona Western College President Dr. Daniel Corr. “There will be no face-to-face classes conducted this summer. With all the …

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• 22 April

  CRIT Chairman calls for unity against coronavirus, says casino will not reopen May 1st

  

  Chairman of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, Dennis Patch, called for unity against the coronavirus Wednesday, saying that CRIT’s order comes in “parallel” with the state of Arizona order, and that entities are more effective when they work together. In addition, BlueWater Resort & Casino will not reopen on May 1st, contrary to reports, according to Patch. Patch’s comments come …

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• 16 April

  BBB offers free course on small business coronavirus relief

  

  Small business owners are currently inundated with an overload of financial relief options available to alleviate the detrimental impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. With this influx of crucial information, Better Business Bureau Serving the Pacific Southwest (BBB) finds it vital to help guide companies as they navigate potentially business-saving options. In collaboration with Journeyage, a personalized learning experience platform, …

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• 14 April

  Quartzsite teacher arrested on suspicion of sex with student under 15

  

  A Quartzsite teacher has been arrested on suspicion of having a sexual relationship with a student under 15 years old, according to Quartzsite Police Chief William Ponce. An investigation on April 10th revealed that Garrett Sweetland, 24, and an unnamed minor were having a relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend, according to a release from the Quartzsite Police Department. Garrett is …

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• 9 April

  La Paz Regional Hospital offers telehealth during pandemic

  

  La Paz Regional Hospital has developed a telehealth option for patients who do not want to visit a health provider in person, or who are quarantined during the current pandemic. Telehealth has emerged as a key solution for medicine worldwide in the last number of weeks. It allows people to book a virtual appointment using a device at home and …

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• 8 April

  First COVID-19 related death in La Paz County

  

  A first person in La Paz County has died after being infected by the coronavirus. The La Paz County Health Department was notified yesterday of the fourth positive case in the County. This individual was from the Quartzsite service district area and was admitted to a local hospital. The individual later died. This person was over the age of 65 …

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• 7 April

  CRIT Attorney General hits back at Town of Parker over COVID-19 orders

  

  The Attorney General of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, Rebecca Loudbear, has hit back at the Town of Parker, calling the Town’s statements on the Tribes’ recent COVID-19 order “a complete misstatement”, exposing decades-old jurisdictional complexity. The Town of Parker is located within the CRIT reservation, so CRIT’s strict stay-at-home order does apply to Indians within the Town, according to …

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• 7 April

  Timeline: COVID-19 in La Paz County

  

  La Paz County, Arizona currently has 538 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 (coronavirus) and 15 deaths from complications of the virus. September 24th: 2 additional cases. September 22nd: 1 additional case. September 21st: 3 additional cases. September 18th: 4 additional cases. September 16th: 2 additional cases. September 14th: 1 additional case. September 10th: 7 additional cases. September 9th: 1 additional …

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• 6 April

  County Attorney Rogers fires former Chief Deputy Karen Hobbs

  

  La Paz County Attorney Tony Rogers has ended the employment of his former Chief Deputy, Karen Hobbs, who is alleging wrongful termination saying he fired her because she’s running against him in the election. Speaking to Parker Live on Monday, Hobbs said she got an email on Friday morning from Rogers saying, “Your help is no longer needed,” terminating her …

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