Parker Live News from the Parker Strip since 2009.

April, 2020

• 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 4 confirmed cases of COVID-19. April 8th: The individual named as the 4th case of COVID-19 dies in hospital. April 7th: The La Paz County Health Department is notified of an additional confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Quartzsite service district, making two cases in that area and the 4th in the County. The service …

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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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• 5 April

  3rd case of COVID-19 confirmed in La Paz County

  

  UPDATE: Additional info. The third COVID-19 case in La Paz County was in the Quartzsite area, according to the Health Department. The person is in hospital outside the County. Close contacts have been advised to quarantine for 14 days. — A third individual has tested positive for COVID-19 in La Paz County. The case is currently under investigation by the La …

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• 3 April

  Roughly 33 people have been tested for COVID-19 in La Paz County to date

  

  On the 9th day since news arrived of 2 confirmed cases of coronavirus in La Paz County, roughly 33 people have now been tested for the virus, state numbers show. 11 of those tested for COVID-19 are in the 20-44 years old age bracket. 9 of them are 55-64 years old. 6 of them are over 65 years old and …

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• 3 April

  School district answers questions

  

  Parker Unified School District has answered parent questions relating to the COVID-19 closure, with topics including the continuation of the school nutrition program, distance learning and graduation. See their responses below. How long will school be closed? On March 30, 2020, the Governor of Arizona, Doug Ducey, has ordered all schools in the state closed through the end of the …

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• 3 April

  Mineshaft rescue near Quartzsite

  

  Two individuals were rescued from a mineshaft near Quartzsite, AZ after falling 35 feet, according to law enforcement. “An individual just outside of Quartzsite walked approximately 100 feet back into a mine shaft and then fell 35 feet straight down,” said La Paz County Sheriff’s Captain Curt Bagby. “Another person attempted to save them and was also stuck, unable to …

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• 2 April

  COLUMN: Getting below the surface

  

  This column began way, way back in the good old days of 2013. You remember those times don’t you? When you could hang out in groups and didn’t freak out when someone coughed and weren’t getting emails from every business you know of telling you to stay home and stay safe? Ah, the good old days! This column began as …

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• 1 April

  Here’s what CRIT’s strict new resolution actually says

  

  The Tribal Council of the Colorado River Indian Tribes has passed a strict new resolution in an effort to protect the large number of at-risk tribal members from exposure to the coronavirus. The unprecedented resolution includes strict stay-at-home orders, a curfew from 10pm until 5am, closure of all access to the Colorado River within the reservation, a ban on boating, …

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March, 2020

• 31 March

  Parker food to go: menus from our sponsors

  

  During the social distancing period / lockdown, some Parker restaurants will be continuing to serve your favorite food for pick-up orders. Some are even offering cocktails to go, curbside, and delivery to businesses! Few things in life are a win-win. In this case, you can support local establishments, continue to get your favorite food and avoid having to cook for …

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• 31 March

  JA Johnny’s

  

  JA Johnny’s is open for to-go orders! Call ahead: (928) 667-5952

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• 31 March

  Fox’s

  

  Fox’s is open for restaurant to-go orders from 11:30am to 6pm. Call your order for pick-up: (928) 667-3444.

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• 31 March

  Coffee Ern’s

  

  Coffee Ern’s is open for take-out orders.

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• 31 March

  Big Bellie Subs

  

  Big Bellie Subs is open for take-out from 9am until 3pm.

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• 31 March

  Crossroads

  

  Crossroads Café will be open for take-out orders, curbside orders and deliveries to businesses from 6am until 7:30pm every day except Tuesday (Tuesday hours 6am – 3pm). Call your order in ahead of pick-up to (928) 669-9552. Take-out alcohol available with ID and purchase of food (must be transported in trunk or other unoccupied area of vehicle).

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• 31 March

  Roadrunner

  

  Roadrunner Floating Dock Bar and Restaurant will be open for pick-up orders from 8am until 8pm. You can also order cocktails to go with your food purchase! Bottles of beer, wine and liquor are available anytime.

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• 30 March

  Governor issues stay-at-home order

  

  Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has issued a “Stay home, stay healthy, stay connected” order for the state, starting on Tuesday at 5pm. The new order will instruct Arizonans to limit time away from home except to take care of essential business, including getting food and medicine, and being outdoors getting exercise in a way that respects social distancing guidelines. Ducey …

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• 25 March

  First confirmed COVID-19 cases in La Paz County

  

  IN BRIEF: First 2 cases of COVID-19 identified in La Paz County Bars must now close and restaurants must be dine-out only, by state order DETAILS: In La Paz County, two separate individuals have tested positive for COVID-19. The cases are currently under investigation by the La Paz County Health Department. The individuals are not hospitalized and are recovering at …

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• 24 March

  5 ways to enjoy the outdoors while social distancing

  

  Things are changing quickly. State, national and global responses to the COVID-19 pandemic are coming at us fast, and people are being asked to stay at home except for necessary reasons. Yesterday, we published a widely-shared op-ed on why people should not be congregating in the Parker area or treating it as a vacation, but rather heading home and following …

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• 23 March

  OP-ED: A pandemic isn’t the time for a Parker vacation

  

  Friends, you don’t need me to tell you that we’re having an unprecedented moment in our world. Nobody alive today has seen anything like the crisis we are experiencing across the globe. You know the old saying, ‘Follow the money’? The reaction of every market on earth to the coronavirus pandemic tells us a lot about how serious it is; …

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• 20 March

  Superior Court to remain open but minimize in-person interaction

  

  The La Paz County Superior Court is going to remain open to the public but will implement measures to minimize in-person interactions in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Clerk’s office will not be accepting cash for court-related payments, but rather money orders and credit card payments. No new passport applications will be processed and renewals may be …

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• 19 March

  County declares emergency

  

  The La Paz County Board of Supervisors adopted a proclamation declaring a state of emergency in the County. According to the County, the declaration has nothing to do with a finding of a COVID-19 case in La Paz County, but will allow the County to request additional resources and potential mutual aid from other political sub-divisions and entities. The declaration …

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• 19 March

  Most Parker stores are out of paper supplies and wipes, restocks do happen

  

  According to data from the La Paz County Health Department, most Parker area stores are currently out of paper supplies and wipes, but restocks do happen regularly. Other items are restocked too, but not at a level that keeps up with demand. Walmart does not limit the number of toilet paper items or wipes people can buy, and is partially …

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• 16 March

  County enters solar agreement after BLM purchase announcement

  

  La Paz County, in partnership with a world-renowned solar development firm, announced today an Economic Development Agreement for 4,000 acres of land as a solar energy site that will produce up to 850 megawatts of energy. “This major success is the culmination of over four years of effort by the County,” a press release said. “This effort would not have …

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• 16 March

  DL Wilson to retire as Supervisor, leaves seat open in election

  

  La Paz County District 1 Supervisor D.L. Wilson will retire after his term is up at the end of the year, he told the Board Monday. The announcement leaves his seat open in this year’s election. Wilson had previously ‘pulled papers’ in the election, indicating his intention to run again. But in Monday’s announcement, he told the Board he is …

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• 14 March

  Tribes implements employee work travel ban, declares emergency

  

  UPDATE: The Tribal Council declared an emergency with regard coronavirus in addition to the other things announced this week. — The Colorado River Indian Tribes has implemented a nonessential travel ban for employees in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus. An employee travel ban is now in effect, with a directive issued on March 11th to all tribal …

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• 11 March

  La Paz County has been offered BLM land for solar development

  

  La Paz County announced today that the Bureau of Land Management has provided an “Offer of Conveyance” for the County to purchase 5,889 acres of BLM land for solar development. Upon acceptance of the offer and payment at fair market value the County will receive a patent to the property located near Interstate 10 and Hovatter Road. Calling it a “major …

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• 4 March

  COLUMN: The declutter is worth the mutter

  

  Have you ever thought about doing something for years? You saw the need and felt a certain amount of urgency to do it, yet somehow still kept putting it off? If your answer is yes then I’ve got some bad news for you – you are like me! Frightening, I know. But in the last month or so I actually …

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• 4 March

  Arizona prepares for coronavirus

  

  A press release sent to Parker Live this morning by the La Paz County Health Department is offering some standard, but pertinent, advice to county residents on coronavirus. The Arizona Department of Health Services has been closely monitoring COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by coronavirus, on an international, national and local level. Mitigating the spread of the virus is a …

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• 2 March

  BLM looks for public input on Mohave County burro gather

  

  The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Kingman and Lake Havasu field offices are seeking public input on an environmental assessment analyzing a proposed wild burro gather and use of fertility controls within and near the Black Mountain Herd Management Area (HMA). The area is located in western Mohave County. The estimated wild burro population in the Black Mountain HMA is …

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February, 2020

• 19 February

  Accident closes Highway 95 near Quartzsite turn-off

  

  Includes corrections — A serious accident closed Highway 95 for a period of time at milepost 132 Wednesday afternoon, after a car collided with a motorcycle. Although originally reported on Nixle as fatal, the accident did not involve a fatality. Two people were airlifted to hospital in Phoenix. No word yet on whether one or the other vehicle was trying …

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• 5 February

  Watch: Duce Minor attends Corporation Commission, opposes sale of water utility

  

  La Paz County District 2 Supervisor Duce Minor attended a hearing of the Arizona Corporation Commission at which Brooke Water, the water utility serving the Parker Strip, made its case to be allowed to be acquired by a much larger company called EPCOR. In a letter to the Commission, Minor said he had concerns about the proposed sale, which largely …

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January, 2020

• 27 January

  Lawmakers representing La Paz want to stop water transfer to Queen Creek

  

  Two state lawmakers want to stop the transfer of fourth-priority Colorado River water to cities elsewhere in Arizona. Representative Regina Cobb says the water is supposed to be used for agriculture, but companies who own big areas of farmland in western Arizona are seeing dollar signs in selling their water rights to cities with large demand. GSC Farm LLC is …

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• 25 January

  LIVE COVERAGE: Parker 425

  

  The Saturday race of the Parker 425 went off early this morning live on KLPZ! We’re broadcasting until a few of the race leaders come into the finish line. Join us! LISTEN HERE

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• 15 January

  New urgent care, medical clinics at La Paz Regional – open house

  

  Members of the public can get their first look at a new urgent care and medical clinics facility opening soon at La Paz Regional Hospital. The new 8,125 square-foot facility will house the urgent care, along with new clinics for Parker physicians, medical specialties, x-ray facility, laboratory draw stations and more. Ground was broken for the new building back in …

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• 15 January

  COLUMN: Looking back

  

  How are you doing on your New Year’s resolutions? Did you know that the average person sticks with theirs for about a month (or less?)? So, no resolutions from me this year, but I am planning on being far more regular with this column than I was last year. Having said that, I want to address something I hear a …

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• 15 January

  Another California-side BLM site just got better

  

  The federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has been systematically upgrading and improving its California-side Parker Strip sites on the river, and the latest one was just re-opened. Bass Point Day Use Area has gotten a facelift, with a two-month improvement project giving the simple facility a refresh. They have remodeled a kiosk, repaired fences and cables, painted and repaired …

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• 15 January

  SavingSpot names Buckskin the most underrated state park in Arizona

  

  Based on facilities and environment, Barbara Davidson at SavingSpot has named Buckskin Mountain State Park north of Parker its most underrated state park in Arizona. The website did the same for every state in the union. And check out the great artwork! For the full list, and all the glorious art, go HERE.

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• 6 January

  It’s off-road racing month in Parker!

  

  No fewer than three big days of world-class desert racing will happen in Parker this month. The Best In The Desert racing association will be back to run the Tensor Tire Parker 250 presented by Polaris and the BlueWater Parker 425 presented by JIMCO. What’s the difference? The Parker 425 is traditionally the bigger race, with famous racers in expensive …

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December, 2019

• 6 December

  Zoning commission denies recommendation for smelting plant after hundreds show up to protest it

  

  The La Paz County Planning & Zoning Commission voted unanimously to deny recommendation of a zoning change that would allow Alliance Metals to open an aluminum smelting plant in the town of Wenden. The recommendation to deny will now go to the Board of Supervisors for a binding decision. The Commission had several items on its agenda before the two …

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• 4 December

  Former Rep. Mosley abandons legislative immunity fight, goes to driving school

  

  UPDATE: Mosley’s attorney Jacob Baldridge has replied to Parker Live with specific answers to two questions we asked him: (1) What was the reason behind Mosley’s decision to abandon the ‘legislative immunity’ argument he had been making up until now? (2) Did Mosley fire David Stringer as his attorney? Was that decision due to Stringer’s own public scandal and/or ethical …

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• 2 December

  Viewfinder: Lighted boat parade

  

  Every Thanksgiving weekend, on Saturday after dusk, a group of local volunteers rig their boats with lights and parade up the Parker Strip to celebrate the holiday season. Along the way, they are greeted by riverside neighborhoods, who wave and welcome Santa (who is usually aboard a boat). It’s a fitting way to enter the month of December in Parker, …

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• 2 December

  War of words over smelting plant continues after environmental permit approved

  

  A war of words continues between those who oppose the opening of a new smelting plant in rural La Paz County and the company which plans to open it, Alliance Metals and its supporters, after state environmental regulators signed off on the facility. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) approved the company’s application for an air-quality permit, which the …

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November, 2019

• 18 November

  Brooke Water to be sold, community meeting planned

  

  The water utility serving the Arizona side of the Parker Strip will be sold to a much larger company, if plans for the sale come together, and a community meeting to answer questions about the proposal will be held Thanksgiving week. Brooke Water LLC has been serving 2100 customers in the river communities north of Parker, AZ for many years. …

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• 18 November

  Man arrested for suspected meth and ammo while on probation in Big River

  

  A man who is a convicted felon on probation was arrested for possession of suspected methamphetamine, ammunition and high capacity magazines. On Wednesday at about noon, deputies and detectives from the San Bernardino Sheriff Department’s Parker Dam Resident post conducted a probation compliance check in the 149000 block of Capistrano Way in Big River. Daniel Martinez Jr, 51, who was …

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• 18 November

  Burger King employee robbed at gunpoint, left tied up

  

  A woman who is an employee of Burger King in Parker was robbed at gunpoint and left tied up until she was released by people who heard her yelling early on Saturday morning. The employee, a female, was by herself opening the store for the day when the incident happened around 5 a.m. on Saturday. Burger King opens for breakfast …

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• 12 November

  Supervisors disagree over Economic Development Corporation

  

  County Supervisors disagreed last week in a public meeting over the value of an organization known as the La Paz Economic Development Corporation (EDC). The organization, which is properly called a ‘public-private partnership’, operates independently but in partnership with La Paz County, the Town of Parker, La Paz Regional Hospital and other investors to pursue economic opportunities in the area. …

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• 8 November

  First-generation students make up 60 percent of AWC college population

  

  A majority of the students at Arizona Western College are the first members of their families to have gone to college. First-generation students make up over 60 percent of the population at AWC, and a number of faculty and staff members are first-generation too. One of those faculty members is Yaneli Pasillas-Miller, an English adjunct instructor and Student Success Center …

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