BLM extends comment period on proposed trail closures near Quartzsite

La Posa Travel Management Plan 

Comment Period Extended

Yuma, Ariz. - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Yuma Field Office La Posa Travel Management Plan (TMP) comment period has been extended for an extra 30 days to Monday, March 23, 2015. 

“The original closing date for comments is February 19, 2015, however, we have decided to extend the comment period so the public can have sufficient time to review the route designations and make their comments,” said BLM Yuma Field Manager John MacDonald. 

Written comments about the preliminary EA for the La Posa TMP will be accepted through March 23, 2015.  

Comments postmarked by this date will be considered in making the final decision.  The comments should be specific to be most effective.  Comments should be mailed to BLM Yuma Field Office, Attention:  Ray Castro; 2555 E. Gila Ridge Road; Yuma, Arizona  85365; or through email to blm_az_ym_trails@blm.gov.

The La Posa Travel Management Area surrounds Quartzsite, Arizona, and encompasses over 380,000 acres of public land in La Paz and Yuma Counties.

For more information, please contact Ray Castro at 928-317-3251.

Quartzsite activities this weekend! Parade, Crafts, Soup, BBQ, Dances, Jams, more!

Lots of activities in Quartzsite this weekend!

It's going to be a great Yard Sale Weekend- all over town including 

Lutheran Church, RV Parks and multi-families. 

Check this week's Desert Messenger, www.MyQuartzsite.com ,for list on page 37.

Some events this weekend include QIA Craft Show, VFW Chiknik fundraiser at Fire Station, Soup & Chowder Festival fundraiser for Food Bank at QIA, and the Annual Christmas Light Parade down Main St. ending at Town Hall. Music Jams, Bingo at QIA, Dances at Senior Center and QIA, and lots more happening in Quartzsite!

For Quartzsite news, events & entertainment

 visit Desert Messenger online at www.MyQuartzsite.com

http://www.MyQuartzsite.com

Quartzsite Welcomes Snowbirds 2013

Quartzsite, Arizona  welcomes Snowbirds back 

for another great winter! 

The weather is warming just in time for all the shows opening! 

Vendors are lining the streets, shows and swap meets, displaying their wares.

RVers are filling the RV Parks and BLM lands.

Restaurants had their busiest night of the season last night!

RV Rallies are having their gatherings in the Sonoran Desert!

RV dealers are ready with specials this year!

Tyson Wells Sell-a-rama opened today and runs thru JAN. 27th.

Hundreds of volunteers are gearing up for the largest Rock Show of its Kind:

The QIA Pow Wow begins WED. JAN. 23 - SUN. JAN. 27

The Big Tent opens SAT. JAN. 19 and runs thru SUN. JAN. 27

For a full listing of shows, events, music jams, restaurants, and more...

 visit www.VisitQuartzsite.com 

Drive careful out there, folks! There's plenty of time to see it all!

Have fun and come see us again!

Check us out on Facebook:  LIKE www.facebook.com/DesertMessengerNews

Follow @QuartzsiteRain on Twitter 

Confusion in Quartzsite? Really?

Quartzsite, AZ - Evidently, once again, there is confusion between the two free papers in Quartzsite, Arizona. 

After receiving multiple phone calls and complaints about a certain cartoon published in Jennifer Jones' tabloid, Desert Freedom Press, I felt it necessary to clarify the situation.

Desert Messenger is not affiliated in any way with the tabloid Desert Freedom Press (AKA DFP). Desert Messenger is proud to maintain a Quartzsite business license. DFP does not, and has not since she began publishing over two years ago.

Jones publishes Richard Abbey's self-described "poorly drawn cartoons" in her tabloid. The recent uproar and complaints surround the latest cartoon Jones published on Page 5 of the Jan. 5, 2013 issue, which depicts a hamster holding a shotgun surrounded by dead birds on the ground. 

The headline reads, "HAMster" welcomes "snow birds" to Quartzfest

Amateur Radio Operators are fondly called HAMs. There is a Ham gathering in Quartzsite this week, called "Quartzfest" with already over 200 check ins for the 11 day event, however over 600 attended last year's famous event. 

According to Jacob C. Herman on www.VoiceNation.com: 

"Ham radios are also known as amateur radios, and they are becoming more popular among those who need a powerful communication device as well as computer hobbyists. They enable people to communicate with other amateur radio users in their countries and around the world. In fact, they are the most powerful wireless communication tools that are available to ordinary people, and they can even help connect users with astronauts in space.

Those who use ham radios are called “hams”, and there are presently millions of regular hams around the world. People from all walks of life use ham radios, ranging from movie stars and politicians to missionaries and students. They make use of different types of radio communication devices to participate in ham radio communication. While ham radios are mostly used for personal communication, there are communities of hams who use their radios to provide important information in their localities, such as emergency and disaster alerts. Ham radios offer a great way for users to make friends with people around the world." 

To learn more visit http://www.voicenation.com/resources/article-library/all-about-ham-radios.shtml

Local Hams are well known for helping our local Quartzsite Police Officers during parades and other events and are well respected within the community. Amateur Radio Operators go through rigorous training and are licensed by the FCC.

Jones is famous for her support of our constitutional right of "Freedom of Speech." However, Freedom of speech does not include the right to incite actions that would harm others (e.g. shouting "fire" in a crowded theater. (Schenck v. United States, 249 U.S. 47 (1919)

If anyone else finds this cartoon offensive, I suggest you express your "Freedom of Speech" directly to the publisher, Jennifer Jones, at thedesertfreedompress@yahoo.com or call 928-785-6318. If no response, you can visit her at her Dog Grooming business located at Hassler's RV Park on Main Street, Quartzsite.

Abbey is not so publicly accessible. However if you'd like to directly complain and express your right to free speech to the cartoonist, he is on Facebook at http://facebook.com/richard.abbey1

Needless to say, Jones DOES NOT speak for the majority of Quartzsite residents or snowbirds!

To learn more about Quartzfest 2013 events happening now, visit http://quartzfest.org/.

Shanana "Rain" Golden-Bear,
Publisher/Editor
Desert Messenger, now in our 9th Year in Quartzsite!

Quartzsite, Arizona: America's largest parking lot NEW VIDEO!

Suli Yi, a photojournalist from Voice of America, Chinese branch in Washington, DC visited Quartzsite during the peak of tourism in mid January, 2011. I spent a couple of hours with him, as I prepared for the Feb. 2nd issue. What a wonderful gentle man. There are some great scenes of the desert RVers, the Hams, entertainment at the QIA, Paul Winer, and me. The announcer speaks in Chinese, so I really don't know what she all is saying. It is funny to hear my name spoken in Chinese, tho. I believe this is just the first installment. Enjoy!

Set your Sights on Quartzsite!

Quartzsite, Arizona is featured on the cover of the AZ Tourist quarterly magazine this month with beautiful photos of the Hi Jolly Daze Parade, the shows, tourist areas,  Proud Neighbors of Quartzsite's Rock Auction, and Paul Winer's Readers Oasis Bookstore.

Using the title of the catchy and fun original song played each year when the New Christy Minstrels visit Quartziste, the article focuses on the world famous shows happening in Quartzsite and fun things to do in and around Quartzsite.

The Quartzsite Business Chamber of Commerce did a wonderful job of coordinating with other organizations in town to make the front page at this most important time of year!

Thousands of copies will be hitting the streets as an invitation to visit Quartzsite, Arizona, the Rock Capital of the World!

Come see what all the excitment is about! Quartzsite is open for business and welcomes you! It's going to be another exciting season! Set Your Sights on Quartzsite!



Check out AZ Tourist News Online at http://www.aztourist.com/component/content/article/24-front-page/79-set-your-sights-on-quartzsite-

Quartzsite gets ready for new year of success!

Quartzsite, Arizona

is the Rock Capital of the World!

Come on down and see for yourself why!

Check out on the southwest side of Quartzsite, on W. Kuehn, where Desert Gardens is filling up with vendors. This is one show specializing in ROCKS!  Rough and tumbled stone, minerals and jewelry!

"Buy" the piece, "buy" the pound, "buy" the kilo, "buy" the pallet or how about "buy" the whole truck load?

Everywhere you go in Quartzsite, you'll find rough or polished rocks, slabs, gemstones, minerals, beads, lapidary equipment, tools and supplies, jewelry, and amazing wonders of nature for sale! While searching for your "treasures", there are many food vendors supplying delightful treats and meals all over town, along with our year round restaurants and businesses!

Wholesale buyers are on their way to Quartzsite. Visit Tyson Wells Rock and Gem Show at the corner of Hwy. 95 and W. Kuehn. The wholesale preview days for Village Originals starts Jan. 5th. Show dates for Tyson Wells Rock and Gem Show is Jan. 7 - 16, 2011.

The famous QIA Pow Wow begins on January 19, 2011 with over 400 spaces!

Here are the shows and events for the upcoming season:

TYSON WELLS MARKET SQUARE
Oct 1, 2009 - March 30, 2011

QUARTZSITE SHOWGROUNDS
Oct. 1, 2010 - April 31, 2011

Annual RICE RANCH “Yawl Come” SHOW
Nov 1, 2009 - Feb 28, 2010

MAIN STREET TRADERS OPEN YEAR ROUND
Nov 1, 2010 - Feb 28, 2011

HI ALI SWAPMEET
Nov 1, 2010 - Mar 28, 2011

MARKET PLACE SHOWGROUNDS
Nov 1, 2010 - Feb 28, 2011

PROSPECTOR’S PANORAMA
Nov 1, 2010 - Feb 28, 2011

GREASEWOOD SWAP
Nov. 1, 2010 - April 1 2011

DESERT GARDENS ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL GEM, MINERAL & JEWELRY SHOW
Jan. 1, 2011 - Feb. 28, 2011

THE MAIN EVENT
Jan. 8, 2011 - Jan. 23, 2011

ANNUAL HI JOLLY DAZE PARADE
Jan. 8, 2011 ends at Town Park
TYSON WELLS ROCK & GEM SHOW
Jan. 7 - Jan. 16, 2011

TYSON WELLS SELL-A-RAMA
Jan. 21 - Jan. 30, 2011

45th ANNUAL Q I. A. POW WOW
Jan. 19 - Jan. 23, 2011

BIG TENT SPORTS, VACATION & R.V. SHOW
Jan. 22 - Jan. 30, 2011

ART GUILD ART SHOW
Jan. 28 - 29, 2011

BIG TENT HOBBY CRAFT & GEM SHOW
Feb. 2 - Feb. 6, 2011

TYSON WELLS ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR
Feb. 4 - Feb. 13, 2011

BIG TENT CLASSIC CAR SHOW
Feb. 5 - Feb. 6, 2011

5th ANNUAL WILLPOWER/PAWPOWER ATV PARADE
AND ARIZONA CENTENNIAL KICKOFF
Feb. 12, 2011, Quartzsite Town Park

QUARTZSITE QUILTERS QUILT SHOW
Feb. 11 & 12, 2011 Senior Center

QUARTZSITE MASTERS TUFF GOLF- TBA

QUARTZSITE CHILI COOK-OFF
Feb. 26, 2011 Town Park

ROCKIN’ IN QUARTZSITE!
Rock Auction March 5, 2011