Quartzsite Police assist BLM with arrest

In a Press Release issued today, January 23, 2012, Quartzsite Police Chief Jeff Gilbert states,

"On January 21, the Quartzsite Police Department assisted the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) law enforcement division with the arrest and investigation of several subjects staying in the La Posa North camp grounds.

One person was arrested and booked into the La Paz County jail for possession of a large quantity of marijuana. While the person in question may have possessed a medical marijuana card, the BLM camping area is on federal land and the “legal possession” of marijuana does not apply.

In fact, the amount of marijuana seized was over the legal threshold for personal possession by Arizona’s new laws, and if not charged federally, would have been charged under state statutes.

Numerous anti-Quartzsite Facebook sites have “posted” the following information which is far from the truth.

Demand Justice in Quartzsite AZ:
Demand Justice in Quartzsite has received several reports this morning from people camped in the North La Posa LTVA that various law enforcement agencies have been doing massive sweeps arresting and citing "undesirables". We talked to Jack Silent Eagle a Navajo Silversmith last night who said he was "chased by cowboys on ATV's" and injured his arm falling in a wash. "I thought they were gonna kill me" he said. The timing seems to be an indication that the town fears "traveling vagrants" may be registering to vote in the upcoming election. Zeke (who did not give his last name), a vendor camping in the LTVA said "They came into our camp and began searching everybody's RV's without warrants or probable cause. One retired guy was arrested for Marijuana possession even though he's a medical patient in California. They gave us all tickets."

The information being published on these sites regarding this incident is obviously intended to mislead and scare the public. “Law enforcement agencies” are not conducting “massive sweeps” and arresting “undesirables”.

The Quartzsite Police Department will, and always has, support other agencies in their law enforcement efforts within the jurisdiction of Quartzsite. Being a medical marijuana patient in California does not exclude you from other state and federal laws.

Other individuals were cited and released for possession of marijuana by BLM Rangers on the scene. One individual involved is being investigated by the Quartzsite Police Department for the possession of materials that may be associated with child pornography.

These arrests have nothing to do with any “upcoming election” as their propaganda alleges."

Quartzsite, Arizona Swap Meet and Show Map 2012

Need to get around while visiting Quartzsite this next few weeks?

Here's a map of the Shows and Swap Meets in Quartzsite.

TYSON WELLS MARKET SQUARE
Oct 1, 2011 - March 30, 2012

QUARTZSITE SHOWGROUNDS
Oct. 1, 2011 - April 31, 2012

Annual RICE RANCH “Yawl Come” SHOW
Nov 1, 2011 - Feb 28, 2012

MAIN STREET TRADERS OPEN YEAR ROUND
Nov 1, 2011 - Feb 28, 2012

HI ALI SWAPMEET
Nov 1, 2011 - Mar 28, 2012

MARKET PLACE SHOWGROUNDS
Nov 1, 2011 - Feb 28, 2012

PROSPECTOR’S PANORAMA
Nov 1, 2011 - Feb 28, 2012

GREASEWOOD SWAP
Nov. 1, 2011 - April 1 2012

8th ANNUAL Christmas Light Parade
Dec. 3, 2011

DESERT GARDENS 10th. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL GEM, MINERAL & JEWELRY SHOW
Jan. 1, 2012 - Feb. 28, 2012

The Main Event
Jan. 7, 2012 - Jan. 22, 2012

21st Annual Hi Jolly Daze parade
Jan. 7, 2012

TYSON WELLS ROCK & GEM SHOW
Jan. 6 - Jan. 15, 2012

TYSON WELLS SELL-A-RAMA
Jan. 20 - Jan. 29, 2012

BIG TENT SPORTS, VACATION & R.V. SHOW
Jan. 21 - Jan. 29, 2012

45th Annual Q I. A. POW WOW
Jan. 18 - Jan. 22, 2012

BIG TENT HOBBY CRAFT & GEM SHOW
Feb. 1 - Feb. 5, 2012

TYSON WELLS ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR
Feb. 3 - Feb. 12, 2012

QUARTZSITE QUILTERS QUILT SHOW
Feb. 3 & 4, 2012 Senior Center

BIG TENT CLASSIC CAR SHOW
Feb. 4 - Feb. 5, 2012

Annual ATV Parade & Arizona Centennial finale
Feb. 11, 2012, town Park

QUARTZSITE MASTERS TUFF GOLF
Feb. 18, 2012

Gospel Bluegrass in the Desert
Feb. 24-25, 2012

ROCKIN’ IN QUARTZSITE!
CHILI COOK-OFF
and Rock Auction March 3, 2012

Scam Alert from Better Business Bureau

The Better Business Bureau released a Scam Alert Today:





Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes' envelopes began hitting mailboxes this week. This means scam phone calls and fake mail are soon to follow. The scams that always trail the famous sweepstakes involves a phone call or lookalike letter claiming a big check awaits the recipient.

The Scam
The scam goes as follows: a caller tells the person answering the phone that he/she has won a prize from Publisher's Clearing House. But first, the person must pay a fee to retrieve the money they have allegedly won.

Publishers Clearing House awards its prizes by a personal visit to the winners' homes and does not charge winners to collect their prize.

What to do
If you receive any phone calls or emails from Publishers Clearing House indicating you have won a prize and need to send money ... don't do it!

Contact Publishers Clearing House directly for information at 1-800-459-4724, Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. EST or visit their website at http://www.pch.com/.

For up-to-date information on scams visit the Better Business Bureau online at:
http://www.bbb.org/us/scams

Quartzsite Candidate flies flag upside down on Federal Lands

Quartzsite, AZ - The photo to the left was taken on Federal BLM (Bureau of Land Management) lands, located at the La Posa Long Term Visitor Area (LTVA) just south of Quartzsite, Arizona.

Jennifer “Jade” Jones, a candidate for Quartzsite town council and self proclaimed Public Persona, along with her husband John “Jack” Jones have been camping at that site in the LTVA since early fall. Mrs. Jones became famous during the summer when the video of her arrest at the June 28th council meeting went “viral” on the Internet.

United States Code Title 4 Chapter 1 §8. Respect for Flag states “The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.”

The International Code of Signals 2005 Edition, Appendix 1, contains no reference to an upside down national flag as a possible distress signal. However, a German Merchant Captain once explained , “If a crew abandons a ship in distress to save their life, the last thing to do (if they have time to do so) is to turn the flag upside down. This means that they give up any right on the vessel or cargo and anybody who manages to rescue the ship afterwards could keep it.” In court, a company would lose claim of property on an abandoned ship, but if the flag was upright it would indicate that the crew did not leave in distress, and the company would have a stronger case in court to claim the right on the vessel.

Local veterans and their wives interviewed for this story consider the act of flying the flag upside down to be very disrespectful, but a right of expression that they fought for, and many died for.

While the federal government does not prohibit hanging the U.S. flag upside down, many believe the only acceptable reason to hang the flag upside down is in cases of dire distress. However, political activists are taking to flying the upside down flag as an expression of their frustration over government issues. Activists are using the upside down flag as a “symbol of a nation in distress”.

Desert Messenger reached out to Mrs. Jones for comment. Her reply was simply, “Don’t you have any real news to report?”

However, Jones, publisher of The Desert Freedom Press, dedicated almost a half page to her editorial, focusing solely on the upside down flag flying at her campsite. She suggests that her 5 "false" arrests in 13 months, coupled with other public comments and events, would lead a reasonable person to conclude her life and property are in "extreme danger in a country whose leaders have chosen to suspend provisions of the very document that defines us as a nation." She encourages "everyone across the country to do so as well".

Snowbirds from Canada, expressed their shock, as they considered Jones' actions to be "disrespect of a nation's flag". One veteran's widow stated, "It's a slap in the face to those who fought for our country."

[Editor’s note: This article was originally slated for the front page of the January 4, 2012 issue. Out of respect for the family of Council Member Bob Kelley, whose death on December 31, 2011 became front page news, the decision was made to move the story to page 7. Kelley was a proud veteran with very strong convictions for the flag and his country.]

Pavement Improvement work along Interstate 10 east of Quartzsite continues next week

Motorists traveling between Quartzsite and Phoenix should expect minor delays

The Arizona Department of Transportation will continue its pavement improvement project on an 11-mile stretch of Interstate 10 east of Quartzsite beginning Monday (Jan.9). Crews will be working on I-10 weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Intermittent lane closures will take place as crews prepare to remove and replace sections of pavement. Motorists traveling between Quartzsite and Phoenix should plan ahead and plan for minor delays.

What to expect next week:

•Work is scheduled to take place from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. each work day.•Intermittent lane closures are planned during work hours.•The speed limit will be reduced to 55 mph in the construction zone.•Law enforcement will be on-site to monitor speeds.•Message boards will advise drivers of lane restrictions.

This project is scheduled to be completed by April 2012.

ADOT advises drivers 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.

Hi Jolly Daze Parade to have live camel; Quartzsite, Sat. Jan. 7th

This year's Hi Jolly Daze Parade will be more exciting than ever, thanks to the donation of a generous, caring resident. Mrs. Joanne Robinson has donated the expense of the renting the live camel for parade as well as the 2011 Christmas Parade.

Lineup begins at 10:30am at the Firestation on Tyson, north end of town. The parade will travel east on Tyson, turn south on Plymouth and end up at the Pavilion at Town Park for the after parade party!

Enjoy food from Quartzsite Fire Dept., and First Assembly of God, along with deserts from the Museum, and other vendors. Organizations will have fudraising booths, and fun for the whole family!

Come out and see the camel! Thank you Joanne Robinson for your generous support of Quartzsite!

Quartzsite Town Council Member Bob Kelley dies

Quartzsite, AZ- Family, friends and colleagues of Quartzsite Council Member Bob Kelley were saddened by the news of his passing Saturday, December 31, 2011.

Kelley, whose death at 77, followed a prolonged illness, came to Quartzsite almost 30 years ago as a snowbird and vendor. He and his wife, Carol, settled down 20 years ago and became active in the community. Kelley has served on the council from 2008.

Date for a memorial service has not yet been determined.