News
Parker student awarded special AWC scholarship
May 3rd
[ AWC Teacher of the Year Steve Lund, Yesenia Melendez and President Glenn Mayle ]
An Arizona Western College student from Parker, Yesenia Melendez, has been named recipient of the Steven P. Lund Presidential Teacher of the Year Scholarship by Steve Lund, who was her English as a Second Language professor during the Fall 2011 semester.
Although it was her first semester at AWC, “It was evident from the beginning that she had clear academic and professional goals,” Lund says. “Her dedication to her studies and success to date at AWC provide inspiration to all our students whose second language is English. These are the reasons why I selected her for this scholarship.”
Melendez is majoring in business and has a GPA of 4.0. though she admits it is somewhat difficult for an ESL student to succeed in a college where English is the primary language. “But it’s not impossible,” she adds. “I think that if someone wants to succeed in life, one has to struggle in order to achieve it. As any student should do, I do my homework, I go to class, and I study for my tests.”
Dr. Glenn Mayle, president at AWC, notified Melendez of her scholarship.
“When I received the e-mail from President Mayle saying that I got this scholarship, I was so happy and excited … because it’s going to be very helpful,” says Melendez.
The scholarship is presented each year in the name of the faculty member selected as the AWC Teacher of the Year either to an outstanding high school student from within the college district who intends to enter AWC the next year, or to a continuing AWC student.
Tribes push back against Quartzsite solar plant
May 3rd
[Photo: Jessica Testa, Cronkite News Online ]
The Quechen Tribes are opposing the Quartzsite Solar Energy Project on La Posa Plain, according to this article from Cronkite News, making it one of many projects that various tribes (including CRIT) are taking issue with.
The article reports:
Like all environmental impact statements, the document for the Quartzite project includes reports of cultural resources found by archaeologists. These resources include anything associated with history or prehistory, from artifacts indicating significant historical events to sacred or religious sites.
As a result of consultation with tribes, the environmental impact statement expanded the distance for consideration of potential harm to views from three miles to 25.
Of the 18 notable viewsheds [open areas between mountains] surrounding the project, tribes are listed as sensitive viewers for seven of them, including the view from the Bouse Fisherman Intaglio.
The final environmental impact statement on the Quartzsite project is expected to be released this summer, with a decision to follow in short order.
Peter Pocklington responds
May 2nd
Canadian entrepreneur and former Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington has written Parker Live to “emphatically deny” the allegations we reported a few days ago were filed with the Arizona Corporation Commission against him.
Pocklington, who resides in Palm Desert, CA, says he is “stunned” that officials are questioning his La Paz County mine’s gold potential:
“The geologists who conducted and reviewed the tests on those sites boast impeccable reputations and have been conscientious and thorough in their testing. We do not tell our investors anything their data is not telling us. These respected geologists — Craig Parkinson, a professional geologist with more than 30 years’ experience; Dr. John Guy-Bray, a Canadian geologist with extensive international mining experience; and Dr. Joseph Balser, one of the most prominent mineralogists and metallurgists in America — stand by their work.”
Court documents allege that Pocklington’s mine could not possibly produce the claimed gold, calling the analysis of his geologists ‘flawed’.
Pocklington went on to defend his associate John McNeill, who was accused of having misled a potential investor, saying:
“He and I have both worked diligently, candidly and honestly with all of the company’s investors and have been conscientious in guiding the company through the necessary regulatory frameworks. We are committed to raising capital in accordance with existing rules and regulations.
I will stand before anyone anywhere and say this: We are not doing anything wrong. Any errors made in the past were born of inexperience and naivete, not malice or avarice, and they were quickly rectified a long time ago. We have nothing to hide and remain confident this, too, will be resolved.”
Pocklington’s attorneys have requested hearings in the case.
Memorial for Taylor Thomas to take place Friday
May 2nd
A Celebration of Life in honor of Taylor Michael Thomas, the Parker teen who was fatally wounded in a collision with a car while riding a scooter last week, is scheduled for Friday.
The memorial will take place at Pop Harvey Park, named after Taylor’s great-grandfather Pop Harvey, who was instrumental in starting the Red Cross Swim Program in Parker and taught many children how to swim.
An after-school celebration will begin with snacks from 2 o’clock, with services at 5:30 p.m. and a pot luck dinner to follow.
La Paz County boys predicted to live shorter lives than their fathers
Apr 30th
A study by the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation says that, despite 20 years of improvements in health care and rising life expectancy elsewhere, males born in La Paz County in 2009 have a shorter average life expectancy than those born in 1989.
In 1989, La Paz County had the best life expectancy in any surrounding county in the southwestern United States (see graphic above; click to enlarge). But, while lifespans have improved in every other Arizona county over the past two decades, La Paz has failed to show any improvement.
Males born in La Paz County in 2009 can expect to live 1.5 fewer years than those born in 1989. The lifespan for La Paz County women improved by nearly a year in that time (which compares to a 5-years improvement in Maricopa County and a massive 9.5 year improvement in Yuma County).
La Paz County males born in 2009 have a life expectancy of 74.5, compared to a state average of 77.6, while La Paz females born in 2009 have a life expectancy of 82.3, compared to a state average of 82.4.
Yuma County women can expect to live to 84, the highest life expectancy for either gender in Arizona. Apache County men had the lowest life expectancy in the state at 70.8 years.
Despite La Paz County’s failure to improve in the past 20 years, it could be worse: hundreds of counties – many of them in the South – showed serious declines in life expectancy in the same period. This trend is seen by some experts as a sign that diets in those places are getting worse, leading to obesity and other illnesses such as diabetes.
The question many in La Paz County will be asking is: what is Yuma County doing right that La Paz County is doing wrong?
Gold claims alleged to have defrauded investors
Apr 30th
The former owner of the Edmonton Oilers has been accused of securities fraud in relation to a gold mine in La Paz County.
Peter Pocklington, who famously ‘sold’ Wayne Gretzky to Los Angeles, is alleged to have misrepresented the amount of recoverable gold in the mine while raising more than $4.8 million from at least 116 investors between July 2010 and September 2011.
In 2009, Pocklington, living in California, started a company called Crystal Pistol Resources with offices in Scottsdale. He wanted to “acquire, own and operate” surface gold mines, known as ‘placer’ mines.
Documents filed with the Arizona Corporation Commission earlier this month say that Pocklington’s website contained videos of a geologist discussing finding gold at all of the locations involved, and suggested that “an initial investment of $10,000 at $1 per unit would pay a return between $25,000 and $40,000 per year” to investors.
In May last year, Pocklington is asserted to have filed a notice with BLM that allows for “surface disturbance of five acres or less to remove up to one thousand tons of presumed ore” for testing purposes only. But Pocklington’s Vice-President of Operations John McNeill is alleged to have told at least one Arizona investor that the company “was processing a thousand tons per month and within a week of their meeting would have cash flow of about $300,000 to $400,000 a week.”
Pocklington and McNeill would sometimes bring interested parties to the mine site in La Paz County.
The documents go on to say that “the analyses related to the quantity of gold held by the CPR mining claims … are flawed” and that they over estimate “the quantity of recoverable gold based upon the flawed analysis.” And, “Further, the estimates of gold resources listed on [Pocklington's] website are not supportable with the methods currently available in the industry.”
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The mining claims involved are unrelated to the large Copperstone Mine north of Quartzsite, which also has Canadian ties. Bonanza, a Canadian company (under its U.S. name American Bonanza), recently started operations at Copperstone and last month reported that they had shipped their first 31 tons of concentrate, containing an estimated 712 ounces of gold (worth over $1.1 million at today’s price). The company aims to reach a production rate of around 3000 ounces per month.
News coverage of Quartzsite school scandal continues
Apr 30th
News outlets nationally are continuing to cover a Quartzsite school after students caught their principal and an administrative assistant on camera kissing in the empty classroom next door and posted it to YouTube. Both were fired after the incident and are reportedly both married to other people.
Outlets that have covered the scandal now include MSNBC, The Huffington Post and even the UK’s biggest selling newspaper the Daily Mail.
Quartzsite has had more than its share of national news coverage in the past year, given that the town is only a few thousand residents much of the year.
Local teen boy remembered
Apr 26th
[ Taylor Thomas, pictured with a friend ]
Shortly after news that local 17 year old Taylor Thomas had been fatally injured Tuesday night, the teen’s friends took to his Facebook page to remember him. Some of his friends and family are gathering at the scene of the accident today at 3:30pm to sign a memorial.
The News-Herald reports today that DPS is looking into the incident, which involved a single vehicle heading northbound on Highway 95 north of Parker, which struck Thomas while he was on a scooter:
DPS spokesman Officer Tim Case said the call on the accident went out at 9:58 p.m. [...] The driver of the car, whose name was not released by DPS, stopped at the scene.
Among the messages on Thomas’ Facebook page were the following:
“its so hard to believe this happened. . i wouldn’t let myself believe it at first . i will never forget you & the great memories we had . you were such a great person . you were always there for anyone who ever needed a friend . i hope you know how loved you were”
“You know, I’m really happy that I stopped yesterday and talked to you. Sure I was about 2 hours late to school, and all sweaty… But I’m glad you talked to me. You asked me how I was, and if I was alright. You were most definitely one of the most kind-hearted people I knew. I’m glad I made our last conversation a meaningful one.”
“Taylor you will be missed by everyone who ever met you!! You are in a better place now!! We all love and miss you!! You were a really good friend I could always talk to! We love and miss you!! Rest in peace.”
More here. News-Herald article here. Tentative arrangements for a memorial on Friday May 4th at Pop Harvey Park, including a block party at 2 p.m. with snacks and music and services at 5:30 p.m.
Detention officer receives Life Saving Award
Apr 26th
On Tuesday, April 24, 2012 Detention Officer Julian Carmona Sr. was awarded a Life Saving Award By Sheriff Don Lowery and Commander Don Davis.
The award reads:
“With special recognition and gratitude you distinguished yourself in an exceptional manner. On March 28, 2012, your quick actions in regards to an inmate’s medical condition saved his life. Your untiring efforts in carrying out your duties reflect the highest level of dedication and professionalism.”
D.O. Carmona has been with the La Paz County Sheriff’s Office Detention Division since December 2006.
CRIT asks Obama to stop solar projects after artifacts found in desert
Apr 24th
(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times / April 11, 2012)
Is there an ancient Indian burial ground near the proposed Genesis solar project site? The Colorado River Indian Tribes is saying there is, and asking the federal government to stop development of some planned solar sites.
The Los Angeles Times reports thus:
The Feb. 27 letter from the chairman of the Colorado River Indian Tribes was pleading and tough. It asked President Obama to slow the federal government’s “frantic pursuit” of massive solar energy projects in the Mojave Desert because of possible damage to Native American cultural resources.
The Obama administration didn’t respond. But four days after Chairman Eldred Enas sent the letter, the Indians say they found an answer, delivered by spirits of the desert.
Howling winds uncovered a human tooth and a handful of burned bone fragments the size of quarters on a sand dune in the shadow of new solar power transmission towers. Indians say the discovery is evidence of a Native American cremation site not detected in Southern California Edison’s archaeological survey before the towers were built.
Solar projects of this sort are increasingly being relied upon to provide for the future of our energy needs, prompting one executive involved in the project to ask if the desert should remain unused for these purposes because of ”a diffuse scatter of artifacts?”
The question then remains as to how we use America’s public lands, and to what claim Native Americans have on them. If tribes declared the whole desert to be sacred and untouchable, would all development and other uses of the land need to be scuttled? And what should be done with high value ancient tribal artifacts?
See the rest of the article HERE.
