Archive for October, 2011
Headgate Dam
Oct 25th
This is Headgate Dam in Parker, during construction of hydroelectric generators. Does anybody know what year this was? Thanks to Megan and Roger for the photo.
Highway 72 blocked by accident (now open)
Oct 25th
Reports are that all lanes of Highway 72 are blocked by an overturned truck. The truck, carrying almonds, overturned about a mile south of the town of Bouse, AZ, blocking both lanes. All traffic is being asked to turn around and use alternative routes until at least 10am.
Motorists traveling between Parker and I-10 could use Highway 95 through the town of Quartzsite instead.
UPDATE 11:36am– Highway 72 now open. Drive safe.
Parker 425 Bouse Spectator Areas
Oct 24th
At the 2011 Parker 425, two spectator sections in Bouse were closed due to new mandates following the California MDR race casualties. We have some great news that took some effort and a lot of help from the community: These sections will be re-opened for the 2012 Parker 425 race!
First, we had to locate some barriers called K-Rails. K-Rails are concrete with rebar enforcement inside. They are the barriers one would see during road construction, like on our bridge right now. They come in different lengths, most commonly 10′-12′ and weigh approximately 4,500 pounds each. There were 400 linear feet of these to be moved from Salome to the Bouse ”Y” spectator area. Deputy Steve Draper located the barriers in Salome. The owner of the K-Rails, Mr. Bill Sweetland, donated them but we had to move them ourselves.
On Monday, October 17, five truckloads brought 48 pieces to the Bouse “Y.” Barry Drews unloaded and placed K-Rails with his forklift. The Town of Parker sent Daniel Haitt to help with the unloading and placement of the barriers. Steve Draper was on hand with Mike Henderson of the Bureau of Land Management to oversee the project. A Toe Truck, La Paz County and Parker Towing provided the trucks, fuel and employees to transport the heavy loads.
On Wednesday, October 19, the Town of Parker picked up a “reach lift” from Bingham Equipment. Steve Draper operated the machine to place the rest of the K-Rails. 48 concrete barriers (K-rails) were placed providing 570 feet of safety barrier for the “Bouse Y” spectators.
The Bureau of Land Managment had a “camping work crew” in the Bouse spectator area all week. The BLM crews had a tough-go with the hard-pack soil but were able to re-align 2,500 feet of wooden posts (105) and cable to provide a 100 foot safety zone along the 2nd Bouse spectator area 4 miles east from the Bouse Y. Plans next are to paint the K-rails in the next couple months a brown color to blend in with the surrounding natural colors.
In addition to re-opening the Bouse spectator areas, this project will prevent the course from being re-routed and no environmental study will be necessary.
We want to thank all of the people who donated their time, trucks, fuel, labor and employees: La Paz County, La Paz County Sheriff’s Department, the Town of Parker, Mr. Barry Drews, Deputy Steve Draper, Bureau of Land Management, Mike Henderson, A Toe Truck, Parker Towing, Bingham Equipment and Dave Shelton.
Casey Folks, President and Founder of Best in the Desert Racing Association said he wanted to thank everyone involved and include Parker Area Tourism, CRIT, BlueWater Resort & Casino in the group here, that really welcomes this sport and supports it completely. It’s folks like this that make these events possible. Everyone in Parker has been excellent.
The 2012 Parker 425 will take place on February 4th. Festivities begin Thursday, February 2, with the Time Trials and the “Downtown Experience”, a meet and greet street party at Joshua and Arizona Avenues in Downtown Parker. Friday, the BlueWater Resort & Casino will host “Contingency Row and Tech Inspection” and Saturday, the last street start, off-road race in the country.
Race on!
1100 pounds of food for the needy collected by 4H
Oct 21st
Parker 4-H Clubs collected over 1,100 pounds of canned food last night for the annual 4-H Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat event. 4-H wishes to thank the hard work of the youth, leaders, and the generous community.
Photo Brett Stickland.
Meth dealer convicted by La Paz jury
Oct 21st
On October 19, 2011, Jesus Ramiro Torres, 42, of Surprise, AZ, was convicted by a La Paz County jury of selling methamphetamine on two separate occasions. Sentencing is set for November 14, 2011, in front of Judge Michael Burke. Torres will receive a prison term of 5 to 30 years and is not eligible for probation or early release.
On September 19, 2008 and October 27, 2008, Torres sold a combined 5 ounces of methamphetamine to an undercover officer for $6,300. Both sales took place at truck stops located off of interstate 10, at exit 45, near Vickburg, AZ.
The case was investigated by La Paz County Narcotics Task Force Sgt. Steve Frakes and the case was prosecuted by Deputy County Attorney Stephen Lundell of the La Paz County Attorney’s Office.
Aaron & Sherrie Rubin to visit Parker
Oct 21st
I first heard the story of Aaron Rubin late one night last year while watching VH1′s Celebrity Rehab. Aaron had everything going for him, but was addicted to Oxycontin. In his early 20s he overdosed and was in a coma for 2 weeks. During that time his family planned his funeral, expecting the worst. After 2 weeks though, Aaron woke up. Aaron is now a quadriplegic, can’t speak and needs around the clock care BUT he is fully cognitive.
Aaron and Sherrie (his mom) travel around the Southwest speaking to schools and the community about the dangers of prescription drug abuse. It’s a moving story and has such a big impact on the areas they visit.
Aaron and Sherrie will be visiting La Paz County during Red Ribbon Week. They are visiting many of our schools with even more being bussed in from outlying areas to see the presentation.
Monday the 24th of Oct. at 6pm they will have a presentation at Wallace Dome for the entire community. You are welcome and encouraged to bring your children to this presentation as it will be slightly different from the one they hear in school.
Sheriff’s holiday raffles
Oct 21st
The Sheriff’s Department is raffling off a 1″-20″ boy’s bicycle and a 1″-20″ girl’s bicycle. Raffle tickets may be purchased at the La Paz County Sheriff’s Office for $1 or 6 for $5.
Also being raffled is a trip for 2 adults and 2 children on the Polar Express at Grand Canyon Railways, Williams, AZ on Saturday, December 17th, 2011 at 3:30pm. $1 each or 6 for $5.
Winners will be announced on KLPZ Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011 at 9am.
All proceeds benefit the Kids Christmas Program/Committee, who will be holding a pancake breakfast on Saturday, November 19th, 2011 from 7-10am at La Paz County Park Pavilion. Proceeds will be used to purchase Christmas gifts for less fortunate families sponsored by the committee. $5 includes 2 pancakes, 2 bacon, scrambled eggs, beverage.
Red Ribbon Week Business Decorating Contest
Oct 19th
Show the young people in our area that you support their choice to be drug free and violence free! The contest will be judged on Thursday the 27th. The Chamber has prizes for the best decorated business/organization and a prize for the random drawing of all participants. Let us know if you are participating so we can make sure to stop by and have a look!! Rolls of red ribbon and pre-made bows are available at Players 9th Street Youth Center. Call Debbie at the Chamber 669-2174 or Zuky at Players 669-0175 for more info.
4th Annual Chili Cookoff This Saturday
Oct 17th
The Parker Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce their Fourth Annual Colorado River Chili Cookoff & Car Show, October 22, 2010 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. In addition to the Chili Cookoff, there will be a salsa contest, a classic car show, a beer chugging and belching contest and a horseshoe tournament. Trophies and cash prizes will be awarded for first, second and third places for the best chili dishes, best salsas, beer chuggin…g and belching and for the winners of the horseshoe tournament.
This cool event will take place at La Paz County Park, one of the most beautiful settings along the famous Parker Strip. On hand will be two great bands to take us through the day: Highway 95 from Parker, AZ and PUSH from Lake Havasu City, AZ. You may want to enjoy a cold beer or other libation at the “River Diva Bar”. And for the kiddies, there will be an entire section dedicated to them including a balloon bounce and go cart racing!
There will be loads of vendors with tasty food, cool things to buy and prizes and raffles throughout the day. If you want to sample the chili and salsa and be eligible to vote for the “People’s Choice” award, there will be a small fee for the chili bracelet.
Besides the prizes for the contests, this year’s raffle is a wheelbarrel full of swag from local merchants. The contents range from gift certificates to power tools to CASH! The tickets are $5 for one or 6 tickets for $20. The total value is $2500. That is so cool! (See picture below.)
For more information, including vendor applications, chili and salsa team registration and horseshoe tournament sign up, please contact the Parker Area Chamber of Commerce at 928 669-2174.
Thanks to all the sponsors making this event possible. Please note that there were two ways to sponsor this event. Cash sponsorship and donated merchandise and swag including the wheelbarrel.
Please visit: www.parkeraz.org to see the full list of the wonderful sponsors!
