I-10 delays tonight and Friday between Ehrenberg & Quartzsite

Westbound I-10 to close briefly overnight for rock removal 

near Arizona-California state line

Motorists traveling between Quartzsite and Ehrenberg 

should allow extra travel time

The Arizona Department of Transportation is advising motorists traveling on Interstate 10 near the California-Arizona state line to allow extra travel time due to the start of a three-week project to remove large rocks alongside the highway between Ehrenberg and Quartzsite this week.

Drivers traveling late at night on westbound I-10 (mileposts 10-11) on Thursday, March 27 and Friday, March 28 need to be prepared for intermittent closures up to 20 minutes for blasting and rock removal. Work will take place between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Additionally, I-10 will be narrowed to one lane in each direction through the work zone until the project is completed in mid-April.

Message boards will be in place to inform motorists of lane restrictions and speed reductions. Law enforcement will be in place to monitor traffic and enforce the speed limit. Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time through the area.

For more information, please contact the Project Hotline at 1.855.712.8530, or email atProjects@azdot.gov.To stay up to date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit the ADOT Traveler Information Center at az511.gov or call 5-1-1.

ASBA offers free webinars for school board candidates La Paz County

By TRACY BENSON
ASBA Director of Communications

PHOENIX—Hundreds of school board seats in Arizona will be up for election this November, and the deadline for submitting materials necessary to run is just a few months away. To assist those who are interested in running for a seat on their local governing board, the Arizona School Boards Association, a non-partisan, non-profit organization that provides leadership and assistance to public school governing boards statewide, is hosting free informational webinars in March and April on the basics of board service and what it takes to run.

Individuals who are considering running are encouraged to participate in one of the three webinars. They are scheduled for Tuesday, March 25, 12 to 1 p.m., Monday, March 31, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 26, from 10 to 11 a.m.

Topics to be covered in each webinar will include:

• Why Serve?

• What School Board Members Do (and What They Don’t Do)

• Eligibility and the Basics of Running for Office

• Commonly Asked Questions about Board Service

• Support Available to Board Members Once Elected

Participants will also have the opportunity to submit questions to be answered live during the webinar.

Karen Loftus, director of leadership development for the Arizona School Boards Association, and Chris Thomas, ASBA’s general counsel and director of legal and policy services, will lead the webinars.

Thomas is a former school board member. ASBA Director of Communications Tracey Benson will host the webinars.

Those interested in participating can register online at www.azsba.org/becoming-a-board-member <http://www.azsba.org/becoming-a-board-member> .

ASBA offers additional resources for those considering running for school board. A 20-page publication titled “School Board Service in Arizona” will be available in late March through the offices of most county school superintendents and also by contacting ASBA at 602-254-1100.

The information contained in the booklet also is available online on the Becoming a Board Member page of the ASBA’s web site (www.azsba.org/becoming-a-board-member).

The following La Paz County district governing board positions up for election in the fall General Election

Bicentennial Union High School District: Three four-year terms;

Bouse Elementary School District: One two-year term and one four-year term;

Parker Unified School District: One two-year term and three four-year terms;

Quartzsite Elementary School District: Three four-year terms;

Salome Consolidated Elementary School District: One two-year term and three four-year terms; and Wenden Elementary School District: Three four-year terms.

Quartzsite Organizers: World's Largest Human Letter "Q" attempt was huge success

Photo by Bernie Martin

Quartzsite, Arizona- Organizers of The GRAND Gathering reported 631 people participated in Sunday's Record Attempt of the World's Largest Human Letter "Q" held at Quartzsite Improvement Association (QIA). Guinness told the group they needed 501 participants to be considered for the record. The attempt was held on the final day of The GRAND Gathering, Sunday, March 9th, 2014. Grandmas and Grandpas braved the heat to form the letter "Q" in the QIA parking lot. The organizers originally hoped for 550 participants, but was surprised with the huge amount of pre-registrations over the weekend. They cut off the registration at just over 650 to make sure everyone could fit in the designated area, but allowed others to join in after the official photo. 

The Grand Gathering was a brand new exciting four-day event held this past weekend, March 6th – 9th, 2014, in Quartzsite, Arizona. The GRAND Gathering was a joint venture of Quartzsite's oldest and youngest non-profit organizations (the QIA and Proud Neighbors of Quartzsite "PNQ"), both dedicated to the betterment of the Community of Quartzsite and the region. 

In true community spirit, cooperation between Town of Quartzsite officials, administration and many local organizations produced an exceptional event for the community and visitors alike with four full days of GRAND fun, entertainment and town-wide events. Events were geared for GRAND Parents and Great GRANDS and their families to create memorable moments together.

Photo by Mark Goldberg

The American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT) Vietnam Wall arrived in Quartzsite on Wednesday, March 5th escorted by La Paz County Sheriff and Quartzsite Police Dept. Over 70 VFW Riders accompanied the Wall down Main Street, looping around town to its destination at Desert Gardens Show Grounds on Kuehn. Opening ceremony was held Friday, March 7th and closing ceremony was on Sunday March 9th. 

At 360 feet in length, the AVTT Wall is the largest traveling replica of the original Vietnam Memorial Wall located in Washington, D.C. It is an 80 percent scale reproduction which stands eight feet tall at its apex and does not leave out a single name featured on the original memorial wall. 

Bob Braa, VFW Post 769 Commander welcomed the crowd 

during Friday's Opening Ceremony.

Rex Allen Jr. performed at the QIA on Thursday afternoon

Senior Fair and Craft Fair was held Thursday - Sunday at the QIA

Auctioneer Richard McBride (left) and PNQ's Mark Goldberg (right) scan the crowd during the 5th Annual Rockin' in Quartzsite Rock Art Auction by Proud Neighbors of Quartzsite. The auction drew hundreds of art lovers vying for one of 22 Rock Art pieces 

by local and regional artists, including our local elementary and high school students. 

The huge crowd Saturday enjoying the warm weather and wonderful music 

at the Outdoor Stage at the Quartzsite Improvement Association (QIA)

Paul Winer and Ralph Martin entertained the crowds Saturday afternoon with their fun Boogie Woogie Blues music and laughter. 

 Award Winning Beyond the Ashes Gospel Group gave a free concert 

Sunday morning during the Community Service 

Check in for the Guinness Attempt started early Sunday morning

Participants filling the Main Hall at QIA 

Volunteers cut the participants wrist-bands for documentation of the count. 

Videographers and photographers documented the whole event for Guinness.

Photo by Mark Goldberg

It's the big wave at the helicopter. 

Guinness required participants to hold their positions for a minimum of 5 minutes. 

This group of grandmas and grandpas stayed for over 7 minutes!

TriState CareFlight helicopter donated their time and pilot Jennifer Arink 

for the aerial photos to be taken by Bernie Martin

The mass exodus was orderly and everyone brought out their chairs to awaiting carts. Countless volunteers made The GRAND Gathering a huge success! Organizers wish to thank all the people who helped make this memorable event for Quartzsite. 

Organizers will submit the required documentation to Guinness for verification, which may take up to 6 weeks. Participants will be eligible for the official Certificate of Participation from Guinness. For more information visit www.TheGrandGathering.com

For more photos visit www.Facebook.com/TheGrandGathering