Police beat the Firemen in softball fundraiser

In a game full of twists and turns, and a ton of laughs, the Quartzsite Enforcers beat the Quartzsite Firefighters in a very close game. The final score was 21-20 as the Police celebrated their win! This season, the two groups have come together three times for Quartzsite Elementary School Fundraisers. The Booster Club sold snacks and The Desert Cafe provided hamburgers and polish sausage and donated the proceeds to the Booster Club.

Quartzsite -Mountain Quail Cafe new owner

As of today, Norman Simpson, of Bouse, Arizona is the new owner of Mountain Quail Cafe, located at the corner of Moon Mountain and Quail Trail. Karen is the new manager and told me that things will remain the same for now.

The restaurant is open, however the credit card machine is temporarily down during the transition. Karen expects it to be up soon. Breakfast was great as usual. Dianne also returned as server, today. Keep posted for updates.

Ehrenberg Fire Sat. April 11

Here are some photos of the fire near Ehrenberg, Sat. April 11, 2009. Firefighters arrived from Ehrenberg, Buckskin, Riverside County, Indio, and Quartzsite. Strong winds fueled the fire driving it southward toward the Copper State Mobile Home & RV Park located on Sourdough Rd. Crews worked hard for many hours to protect the park.

Some photos of the Fort McDowell Pow Wow, northeast of Phoenix. Sat. & Sun. April 4 & 5.

Lots of fun and thousands turned out! Fireworks concluded Saturday night!

What a great weekend!

World Champion Hoop Dancer

Grand Entry on Sat. began as the sun set in the west.

Gourd dancing took place from 1-5. I loved the drums in the center of the arena.

AWC opens Learning Center

Quartzsite - Thursday, March 26, Arizona Western College welcomed the community into the new Learning Center. Kindergarten children from Quartzsite Elementary opened the festivities with a sweet rendition of "America the Beautiful". Local dignitaries present for the ribbon cutting ceremony included AWC Director of College Services Jim Brouillette, Quartzsite Mayor Walt Akin, AWC District Governing Board Member, Randy Hartless, La Paz County Supervisor Holly Irwin, and AWC President Dr. Don Schoening.

Students from Quartzsite Elementary presented presented a skit, "There’s Good Money", and K-3rd graders presented, "How Special I am". Alicia Coen, Quartzsite 7th grader, read her original poem and Victora Demara & Ashley Gepson, 7th & 8th graders presented an original rap, "AWC is Best for Me". Each member of the audience was given scizzors and invited to help in the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Following the ribbon cutting, the public enjoyed a self-guided tour and refreshments. Many signed the community banner in the foyer of the Quartsite Learning Center.
Located on 695 N. Kofa Ave., Quartzsite’s new 5,886 sq. ft. sustainable designed building has a low carbon footprint, with energy-efficient exterior, high-tech low-e glass windows, state-of-the-art air conditioning.

There is Wireless Internet available throughout the facility, a computer lab, study rooms (open to public), fitness center with showers (available to students in Fitness for Life classes), Interactive Television Classroom, small conference/classroom. In addition, there is a Multipurpose Conference room available for community groups to reserve.

For additional information on classes, services, or if interested in teaching academic or personal interest courses, please call the Parker Campus at (928) 669-2214, or visit them during business hours at the Quartzsite Center.

Quartzsite People to People Ambassador

The Quartzsite Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a "Quartzsite Grouch" Contest to benefit seventh grader, Zach Behrendt and other local students. Zach has been chosen to be a a Student Ambassador for People to People with plans on going to China this summer! People to People Ambassadors Program was founded in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The following is provided by the Chamber: Grouch Nominees – are nominated by at least 3 Grouch Sponsors (ensuring a consensus of three citizens) with the express permission of the nominee and a $50 Entry Fee – which 100% goes to the 2009 Scholastic Award – Zachary Behrendt’s trip to China. Voting – Voting will occur - at an event to be announced in advance before April 10th – where Grouch Sponsors will collect Pledge Votes ($1 Dollar Per Vote). ALL VOTES will be cast at the Event with Dollars collected, including Individual donations and credit card charges which will also be accepted. Grouch Garb – Groups and clubs will be encouraged to prepare and submit "Grouch Garb" to include a Crown, a Rod, a Cape and such other "presentable" accessories. A $25 Entry Fee will accompany all Grouch Garb submittals, and VOTES will be cast in Quarters (US $.25). Reigning Grouch Duties – The winning Grouch will be invited to participate at most events and other selected appearances throughout the year. Alternate Grouches may participate should the Reigning Grouch nominate substitute Grouches to appear in the grouch’s place. If you have any questions, concerns, suggestions or suggested Grouches, please call the Quartzsite Chamber of Commerce Event Info line 928-927-4416. All suggestions will be considered and decided by consensus. The Grouch Contest is proposed "all in fun… in good humor and jest", and we would hope the FUN can be shared by all – always. There is no personal offense, diminishment or derogatory inferences intended and we expect that mature adults can share some fun for the benefit of our Quartzsite students.

Testimonials for Free Paper Week

National Free Paper Week, March 15-21, 2009 was a great success in Quartzsite! On page 13 of March 18 issue, the following letters were published. What a wonderful response from this community! Also the first Desert Messenger newspaper box was place right in front of Town Hall. We are woking on a few more to be place in key locations around town. Watch for them soon!
Here are the sweet letters from advertisers and readers:


Dear Rain,
After being a Real Estate Broker for in access of 30 years and spending thousands and thousands of dollars in advertising with radio, TV and newspaper, I must say for dollar spent and dollar returned your paper is the best. Not only do you do excellent work on your layout and publishing, you are very conscientious and a joy to work with. Thank you. Keep up the good work.
Hank Covey
Broker for AZ Properties
Unlimited, LLC


Dear Editor,
Thank you for wonderful newspaper. It has been a rewarding experience to write the column, Thoughtbuster.com for your paper.
I have gained wonderful feedback and new clients from my articles. Just goes to show people do like good news. Thank you, Coach Louise


Dear Rain,
I want to send this letter to you in appreciation for your wonderful help in publicizing my cardio vascular screening business! I have met a number of people who have read your paper and responded to my advertising. You have been so creative and helpful. I appreciate your willingness to "brainstorm with me about my ads."
I look forward to a continuing warm relationship with you and this great community newspaper! And now with the confirmation that Medicare will cover this screening, there will be many more who see my ad and will come to see me.
THANKS!
Vern L. McNally, Ph.D.



I would like to thank Rain and the Desert Messenger for all the help they have provided to assist me in reaching out to people to help make my business successful. Arizona Westcoast Realty became Quartzsite’s newest Real Estate Company a year ago this month. In these difficult economic times we have remained successful thru hardwork and the help of the Desert Messenger. This print advertisement has been our best mode of advertisement. It has benefited us by bringing in people inquiring about property and sellers who want us to market their property, in part to our full page colored advertisement in the Messenger. I selected the Desert Messenger for our marketing purpose because of its circulation, "neutral" articles and information it provides. I also think it helps by being a "free" newspaper. People won’t hesitate to pick it up if it doesn’t cost anything. I like "free".
It has also been a pleasure to work with Rain. She has been very professional and well organized. She has always communicated and responded when I need her help. She has made the advertisement process easy and simple, but yet I think she still makes me work too hard. I will continue to support Rain and her endeavor with the Desert
Messenger and wish her continued
success, as her success will also be
mine. Thank you,
John Yackley
Arizona Westcoast Realty
Owner/Broker


I’d like to thank the "Desert Messenger" for always having a free newspaper. While I was the Director of the Quartzsite Chamber of Commerce, one of the best items we gave to all of the visiotrs who came into our office was a copy of the "Desert Messenger".
This paper gave the visitors helpful information for their visit to our community. I would like to thank "Rain" for keeping this paper professional and informative. Rain, you are an asset to our community as well as to our visitors. Keep up the great work, we really do appreciate you.
Angie Masales, 5 year resident of this community

Those three little Donna Dae’s Crafts ad have done more for our business than any before. Customers are commenting on how they now see our ads in the paper. It’s always fun to look for our ads, because you never know where they will pop up! As soon as we get our deliver [of the Desert Messenger] they go out the same day! Everyone enjoys the "Good news only" concept of your newspaper. We suffer through enough bad news in this day and age, so pleasant news is a welcome reprieve!
Donna Fowler, Donna Dae’s Crafts


To the editor,
Desert Messenger,
Dear Rain,
Thank you for offering a kinder, considerate, more thoughtful editorial approach to Quartzsite news. It is refreshing and interesting to see a no-nonsense, non- rancorous policy. We can understand the support you enjoy from your advertisers as well as the reading public. On behalf of, National Free Paper Week, we salute your efforts and offer our thanks to your advertisers.
Margaret and Elmer London
Quartzsite