Drivers encouraged to allow extra travel time for trips home at end of holiday weekend

PHOENIX — Travelers heading home on state highways to wrap up the holiday weekend are encouraged to allow extra travel time and get an earlier start due to anticipated heavy traffic Sunday afternoon and evening (November 28). The Arizona Department of Transportation says traffic backups can be expected approaching some existing work zones, although construction work will not resume until next week. Among the safety improvement locations where delays should be anticipated:

Interstate 10 approximately 11 miles west of the State Route 85 junction west of the Phoenix area: A major bridge repair project at the Hassayampa River has required the closure of the westbound I-10 bridge. I-10 is limited to one lane in each direction on the eastbound bridge. Drivers are encouraged to allow at least 90 minutes of extra travel time in the area Sunday afternoon and evening due to busy traffic conditions. Travelers also can consider alternate routes, including US 60 through Wickenburg and Salome to travel beyond the bridge repair site. The US 60 junction with I-10 is east of Quartzsite in western Arizona.

State Route 87 between the Phoenix area and Payson: A highway widening and shoulder improvement project five miles north of the Bush Highway/Saguaro Lake turnoff (south of Sunflower) limits travel to one lane in each direction. Heavier traffic, especially in the southbound direction, should be expected.

Grand Avenue (US 60) in the Phoenix region: New lanes were opened Wednesday (November 24) between 83rd Avenue and Loop 101. However, an existing work zone with limited lanes remains in place between Loop 101 and Loop 303.

Interstate 17 between Flagstaff and Phoenix: Although no major lane restrictions are in place this weekend, drivers are encouraged to allow extra travel time Sunday due to anticipated heavier traffic.

ADOT reminds drivers to remember the following safe driving tips: Be patient, do not follow other vehicles too closely; obey speed limits; buckle up and never drive while impaired. Information about highway conditions is available on ADOT's Travel Information site at www.az511.gov or by calling 5-1-1.

Cronkite News releases video on Quartzsite

Cronkite News came to Quartzsite recently and produced a very nice video. Cronkite News provides dozens of original news, feature and investigative stories each week on issues critical to Arizonans. Launched in September 2010 as a service to Arizona citizens. Cronkite News combines professionally edited content produced by Cronkite News Service, Cronkite NewsWatch and other professional experiences offered to advanced students in Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Mayor Ed Foster spoke about how all signs point toward a better season for winter visitors now that the Great Recession is officially over. David Rookhuyzen interviewed two hopeful vendors also. Glad to finally see postive video and news article about Quartzsite posted on the Internet!

The link to the story and video is below:
http://cronkitenewsonline.com/2010/11/with-recession-officially-over-quartzsites-vendors-ready-for-snowbirds/

Cronkite News is available free online at http://www.cronkitenewsonline.com/.

Quartzsite: Two arrested at Council meeting last night

Quartzsite, AZ- Recently declared council candidate, Jennifer "Jade" Harris-Jones was arrested as she approached Quartzsite Town Hall on Tuesday evening, November 23, 2010. She was arrested on two charges: Obstructing Governmental Operations; a Class 1 misdemeanor; and False Reporting to Law Enforcement Agencies; a Class 1 misdemeanor. The charges were pertaining to an incident on Friday, November 19, 2010, when Quartzsite Building Official, Al Johnson, went to 645 N. Central Blvd., Quartzsite on official Town Business.

The property consists of J & S Covers, a year-round business owned by Jim and Stephanie Aaron, and A Fur Salon, a seasonal dog grooming vending business owned by Jennifer "Jade" Harris-Jones. To view the video of the incident taken by John "Jack" L. Jones, visit http://www.quartzsitearizona.blogspot.com/.

During the Quartzsite Town Council meeting, Mr. Russell Sias, Manager of Crawford's RV Park and a previous candidate for council, presented manilla envelopes to each council member, Town Manager Alex Taft, and asked Town Attorny Pamela Walsma to give an envelope to Al Johnson, who was not present. Sias proceeded to the back of the room where Police Chief Jeff Gilbert stood, with crossed arms. Sias slammed the envelope into his chest and face, creating outcries from the crowd. Sargeant Javier Frausto took Sias into custody on a misdemeanor charge of assault.

Mayor Ed Foster posted bail for Harris-Jones during the night, while Sias was unable to secure bail and will appear before the judge this morning in Parker.

ADOT annouces no construction over holiday weekend

ADOT: No closures scheduled along state highways

over Thanksgiving weekend; please drive safely

PHOENIX – Travelers who will be using state highways over the Thanksgiving weekend will not encounter any construction-related closures.

The Arizona Department of Transportation is holding off on projects requiring closures to ease travel and promote safety as the holiday travel season gets under way.

Drivers are still urged to prepare for trips ahead of time and to use caution when out on the road, especially when traveling through existing work zones.

Travel to and from Las Vegas is improved with the recent opening of the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge along US 93. ADOT also is completing fifteen miles of new lanes south of the dam this week, creating a safer divided four-lane section of US 93 in the area.

Closer to the Phoenix area, ADOT plans to open new third lanes in each direction along Grand Avenue (US 60) between 88rd Avenue and Loop 101 in the Peoria area on Wednesday (Nov. 24). A Grand Avenue work zone remains in place between Loop 101 and Loop 303.

If traveling between the Phoenix area and Payson, please allow extra travel time along State Route 87 north of the Saguaro Lake Turnoff. SR 87 is narrowed to one lane in each direction for approximately six-miles (mileposts 208-214) until spring 2011. That’s when crews will open a new southbound passing lane and complete other safety-based work, including shoulder improvements.

ADOT urges drivers to be prepared in the event of any unscheduled highway restrictions. Information about driving in winter weather conditions is available on ADOT’s Web page at www.azdot.gov (click on Know Snow).

Twelve people were killed in 11 fatal crashes along state highways and local roads over the Thanksgiving weekend a year ago (2009). Drivers are asked to follow these safety tips before and during any road trips:

•Buckle Up
•Be Patient and Don’t Speed
•Never Drink and Drive; Use a Designated Driver
•Check Your Vehicle, Including Tire Pressure
•Get Some Rest Before Your Trip
•Check Highway Conditions at www.az511.gov
ADOT has joined with the State Department of Public Safety and Governor’s Office of Highway Safety in asking drivers to focus on safe driving over the Thanksgiving weekend and throughout the holiday driving season.

Update: Paving project on I-10 near Harquahala Valley Road to start on Monday

Drivers can expect ten miles of one-lane traffic

YUMA - Paving is scheduled to begin Monday, Nov. 29 along 10 miles of Interstate 10 between the Maricopa county line and Harquahala Valley Road near Salome.

Beginning Nov. 29, commuters can expect the following:

•One westbound and one eastbound lane will be closed between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday to allow crews to access the roadway safely.

•The speed limit through the work zone will be reduced to 45 mph.

•Drivers can expect delays of up to 15 minutes.

•Loads wider than 14 feet will be allowed to travel through the area on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, when paving operations are not taking place.

Message boards will be displayed to inform commuters of construction. Law enforcement officers will be present along the work zone to control traffic and monitor speeds.

Paving is expected to be completed by December 16.

ADOT will fill cracks and apply material to protect the roadway on I-10 near Harquahala Valley Road. Over time, varying temperatures, along with traffic, have worn down the roadway surface, creating small cracks. This project will seal the highway surface, preventing water from seeping into the cracks and damaging the base layer of pavement. Performing preventative maintenance is a cost-effective method for extending the life of the roadway.
As always, drivers are reminded to proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.
ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule. To stay up-to-date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit the ADOT Traveler Information Center at www.az511.gov or call 5-1-1.

For more information regarding this project, please contact Gaby Gonzalez at (928) 699-8983 or e-mail ggonzalez@azdot.gov.

Quartzsite Scholars' Academy Football Team State Champions!

In Triple Overtime, the

#1 ranked Quartzsite Scholars' Academy Stars

beat

#2 ranked Scottsdale Prep Spartans

in the Charter Athletic Association's

Championship Game!

The final score was Stars 40 - Spartans 38.

Fans from Quartzsite, including Quartzsite Town Council Member Joe Winslow attended the game held in Phoenix, on Saturday, November 20, 2010. Quartzsite will be celebrating the wins of our youth!

Congratulations to the State Champions

Quartzsite Scholar's Academy Stars!

Go Big Blue!

Great job, coaches, players, parents, cheerleaders, teachers, & supporters!

Darvon pulled from US market

On Friday, Nov. 19, 2010 the FDA pulled a 53 year old pain killer from the US market.

Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals Inc. makers of Darvon and Darvocet, the brand version of the prescription pain medication propoxyphene, has agreed to withdraw the medication from the U.S. market at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Generic manufacturers of products that contain propoxyphene have been requested to remove those as well.

Clinical data shows that the drug puts patients at risk of potentially serious or even fatal heart abnormalities.

Darvon and Darvocet users are urged to contact their physicians as soon as possible to discuss their options. For more information visit the website below.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-11-19/darvon-darvocet-withdrawn-in-u-s-over-heart-risks.html

Quartzsite Town Council meeting agenda online

Quartzsite Town Council will be meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 23rd at 7pm, Town Hall. The agenda is now available online at:

http://www.ci.quartzsite.az.us/government/council-meetings/

The Town Council meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month. The agenda is in a PDF, and takes awhile to download the large file.

If you missed a council meeting recently, now you can watch them online. Videos from meetings held from June through present are online at www.youtube.com/user/qwatchingeyes

FREE Movie at Quartzsite Town Hall Sat. 7:30pm

The Quartzsite Community Prevention Coalition is sponsoring a free movie night, Saturday, Nov. 20th! The movie starts at 7:30pm. The group will be selling popcorn, soda and candy. The movie is "August Rush". The plot is about:

After cellist Lyla (Keri Russell) and guitarist Louis (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) share an enchanted night together, circumstances rip them apart, and the child (Freddie Highmore) produced by the union is raised by an opportunistic stranger (Robin Williams) who nurtures the boy's musical talent. Determined to find his parents, the boy -- known as August Rush -- relies on music to draw his mother and father to him. Terrence Howard co-stars.

Quartzsite Townwide Cleanup today and tomorrow!

It's that time to clean up around your home!

The Town of Quartzsite is sponsoring the annual Townwide Cleanup day today and tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 19 & Sat. Nov. 20th.

Dumpsters are available on the Town Lot just east of Scholars' Academy, 560 E. Coyote (just around the corner from the Police Station, off Plymouth).

Free trash and household goods disposal, however NO TIRES OR WHITE GOODS (nothing with freon, such as air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers).

If you need some help with and cannot get to the dumpsters, call Quartzsite Town Hall at 928-927-4333.

Quartzsite, AZ Football team going to state championship

Scholars' Academy Football team is going to the State Championship Game! 

The game will be this Saturday, Nov. 20th at 4pm in Phoenix.

Ride the FAN BUS for FREE!

Call the school at 928-927-9420. Come out and support your team!

The school has 115 students and 27 students on the football team.

They also have a large cheerleader squad, and a flag team! Awesome job everyone!

You have so much to be proud of!

GO BIG BLUE!

Quartzsite, AZ Desert Messenger newspaper latest issue online!

Today's issue of the Desert Messenger, Quartzsite's FREE Community Paper, is now available online. The papers will be delivered today in over 70 locations in and around Quartzsite, AZ.

CLICK HERE for the current issue of the Desert Messenger

For the latest news, visit http://www.desertmessenger.com/

ADOT announces new license plates for organizations

New, revised specialty license plates offered by ADOT

Adds character and supports charitable organizations

 

PHOENIX – Authorized under legislation and individually approved by the Arizona Department of Transportation, the range and style of specialty license plates continues to expand, providing drivers with a way to make a statement while supporting a cause, achievement or movement.

 

From a sunrise over the Grand Canyon to a fighting Cardinal, a Sun Devil to a Wildcat to a Lumberjack, desert vistas and wildlife, service and sacrifice, ADOT offers more than 45 special license plates that allow owners to support a local cause or as a form or recognition, like those for former POWs or Gold Star families.

 

Arizona ’s standard license plate is among the most attractive in the nation – purple mountain majesty, saguaros, and a postcard view of the desert. The unique artwork and design of the specialty plates further enhances the attractiveness of the Arizona license plate and provides options to drivers. All of the specialty plate designs undergo a review, which includes law enforcement professionals.

 

ADOT has just released the redesigned Arizona State University collegiate plate. The redesigned Sparky plate was unveiled by the ASU Alumni Association during homecoming weekend on Oct. 29. The first ASU plate was released in 1989 and there have been almost 11,000 issued.

 

“The bold redesign of ASU’s collegiate license plate allows university supporters and Sun Devil fans to demonstrate their school spirit while at the same time contributing to scholarships for deserving students,” said Christine K. Wilkinson, president of the ASU Alumni Association. The specialty plate provides financial support for the ASU Medallion Scholarship Fund, designated to support deserving students with the awarding of scholarships focused on academic, leadership and personal development.

 

Other specialty plates have also been recently redesigned, including Northern Arizona University , Families for Fallen Police Officers and Arizona Sportsman for Wildlife Conservation. Newer plates to the specialty lineup include those for Arizona Agriculture, Masonic Fraternity, Arizona Cardinals, Phoenix Suns and Arizona Highways Magazine.

 

In addition to regular vehicle registration fees, specialty plates cost an additional $25 – with $17 returned to the sponsoring organization. Personalization can be added for another $25 each year.

 

To view available specialty plates, or place an order, visit any ADOT Motor Vehicle Division office statewide or visit www.ServiceArizona.com (click on Personalized/Specialty Plates). There are more than 45 choices that are available, several requiring special authorization, like those for amateur radio operators, Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, Pearl Harbor survivors and street rods.

 

BLM Announces “Fee-Free” Day at Recreation Sites for Veterans

Yuma, AZ – In celebration of Veterans Day, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Arizona State Director Jim Kenna has announced that all United States (U.S.) military veterans and current members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families will be admitted free-of-charge on Veterans Day to public lands managed by the BLM Arizona. The fee-free designation applies only to Thursday, November 11, 2010.

Recreation areas in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Yuma Field Office that will be free include Squaw Lake Campground and Boat Launch, Senator Wash Boat Ramp and Day Use Area, Senator Wash North Shore Campground, Senator Wash South Shore Campground, Betty’s Kitchen Watchable Wildlife Area, Oxbow Recreation and Wildlife Area, and Ehrenberg Sandbowl Off-Highway Vehicle Area.

Free admission will NOT be granted at Imperial Dam Long-Term Visitor Area, La Posa Long-Term Visitor Area, Walters Camp, and Hidden Shores RV Village.
BLM would like to thank all U.S. military veterans and current members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families for their service and hope they enjoy their visit to public lands!
The BLM manages more land – more than 245 million acres – than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.

Quartzsite Club Fair Thurs. Nov. 4, 10-2

Public Invited to get involved!


Quartzsite- On Thurs. Nov. 4, from 10-2 clubs and organizations will be set up at the Quartzsite Senior Center. Everyone is invited to meet and greet the many service organizations in town.

Quartzsite is a unique community that appeals to people from every walk of life. It is also a town that relies on its many volunteer clubs and organizations to make things happen. Our service organizations depend on volunteers whose desire is to help in any way they can.

Every club and organization in town could use a jolt of new blood- new ideas, new energy, and new volunteers to help share they load. Most people who belong to a club or organizations also belong to more than one, and it spreads them pretty thin sometimes. We need to get more people involved in our community to help keep these valuable organizations and clubs active!

We hope you will participate and join in helping to rejuvenate these much needed clubs and organizations. For more infomation, or to reserve a table for your organization, please call the Quartzsite Business Chamber of Commerce at 928-927-9321 or email quartzsitebusinesscoc@tds.net.

Quartzsite, La Paz County election results- unofficial

The unofficial election results for Quartzsite and La Paz County can be found on the link below. As of 9:30pm All 12 precincts have reported in. Unofficial results show that 3 new faces will be joining the Quartzsite District 4 School Board. Congratulations to Tracey Richardson, Christina Carter, and Monica Timberlake.

http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/AZ/La_Paz/22341/39101/en/summary.html

Quartzsite youth in running for $50K Pepsi grant

Pepsi is giving away millions each month to fund refreshing ideas that change the world.

Linda Ward, Quartzsite Elementary School, was notified today that her grant proposal was approved. The grant proposals with the most votes will win!


"Inspire Dreams of Art for the Quartzsite Elementary School Students" is a proposal for an art program in Quartzsite Elementary School. Quartzsite is the Rock Capital of the World and this program combines rocks, art, and entrepreneural spirit, perfect for Quartzsite! So spread the word and get the votes out! Learn more and vote:

So vote today and everyday!

Inspire Dreams of Art for the
Quartzsite Elementary School students.