Category Archives: Mohave

California couple drowns at Lake Havasu

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PHOENIX — The drowning of two adults at Lake Havasu on Friday, July 21, is a sad reminder that everyone—regardless of age—should wear a life jacket when out on the water. Although Arizona requires that children 12 and younger must wear a properly fitting life jacket any time a boat is underway, everyone should wear a life jacket at all times while on the water.

The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) reported that 41-year-old Esmeralda Gonzalez of Monrovia, Calif., jumped from a boat in an area near Crazy Horse Cove to go for a swim. She was not wearing a life jacket and began to panic in the water. Her husband, Raul Gonzalez, 44, jumped into the water to rescue her but he also was not wearing a life jacket. They were seen struggling in the water, according to the MCSO, prior to both going under and not resurfacing.

Esmeralda was pulled from the water at about 3:25 p.m. and brought to the Crazy Horse Docks where off-duty Los Angeles County deputy sheriffs administered CPR. She was pronounced dead by Lake Havasu City Fire Department personnel.

At about 3:45 p.m., Raul was located in 12 feet of water by the Lake Havasu City Police Department and the San Bernardino County, Calif., Sheriff’s Department marine units. He was transported to the Crazy Horse Docks and pronounced dead.

The MCSO reported that the accident remains under investigation and alcohol may have been a factor.

U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that drowning was the reported cause of death in 80 percent of recreational boating fatalities in 2016 and that 83 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.

“Wearing a life jacket is a critical and simple step that people can take in order to stay safe when out on the water,” said Josh Hoffman, boating safety education coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “Don’t just keep life jackets onboard for everyone — take the next step and wear them.”

The Arizona Game and Fish Department recommends that watercraft operators and their passengers take a free boating safety course in Phoenix or Lake Havasu City to learn the information and tips needed to stay safe while on the water.

For more information on boating safety or to register for a hands-on or online safety course, visit www.azgfd.com/Education/Boating.

ADEQ Announces $16,635 Brownfield Grant Award to the Desert Hills Fire District, Mohave County, AZ

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PHOENIX – Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today two Brownfields Grant awards totaling $16,635 to the Desert Hills Fire District in Lake Havasu to support redevelopment of Fire Station No. 1. The redevelopment will bring the aging structure up to building code and remove harmful contaminants such as mold, asbestos and lead-based paint.

Funds will be used to perform a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) and asbestos and lead-based paint survey. The ESA and survey will address both the underlying land and physical improvements to the property by identifying potential or existing environmental contamination and the presence, type and amount of building materials that contain asbestos and lead-based paint, which require cleanup or abatement to protect public health and the environment. The ESA and survey are expected to be completed by the end of March.

Redeveloping brownfields has the potential to reduce environmental hazards, mitigate public health threats, create new business opportunities, increase tax revenue and restore habitats and blighted areas to productive use. Program funds are limited and available to eligible applicants.

Learn more about the ADEQ Brownfields Assistance Program and apply for a grant at azdeq.gov/brownfields.

Fatal ATV rollover a reminder to practice OHV safety

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DSC_4103_-_reduced_flippedPHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds all off-highway vehicle (OHV) drivers and passengers to ride safely by remembering to always wear a helmet.

The reminder comes after an 81-year-old man died when the ATV he was driving rolled end-over-end while attempting to climb a 70-percent incline hill southeast of Meadview early Friday afternoon, according to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office. Neither the man nor another rider on a separate ATV were wearing helmets.

“Our condolences go out to the family,” said Kim Jackson, AZGFD OHV Safety Education program manager. “It is absolutely imperative that everyone wears a helmet whenever they head out on an OHV. Many of these tragic accidents are survivable, but only if you wear a helmet.”

There were 28 OHV-related deaths in Arizona last year, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Helmets are required by law for all riders under the age of 18 regardless of the off-highway vehicle type. They are also strongly recommended for all riders, regardless of age. In addition, riders should remember to:

  • Wear a seat belt at all times, if equipped.
  • Wear riding goggles, a long-sleeved shirt, pants, riding gloves and over-the-ankle boots.
  • Never ride alone.
  • Be prepared and equipped with a map, a first aid kit, whistle and have basic tools on hand.
  • Stay on designated trails.
  • Take an OHV safety education course designed to teach off-road motorists how to ride safely and responsibly.

For more information about the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s OHV program and safety course options, visit www.azgfd.gov/ohv.

Mohave County storing MRAP vehicles

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No stranger to controversy, Arizona Representative Brenda Barton posted this picture of a mine-resistant ambush protection vehicle being stored in a county yard on Vanderslice in Mohave Valley on her Facebook page.

The heavily armored 4×4 “Cougar” manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems carries 2 crew and 4 troops. It can be outfitted with M240 7.62mm machine gun or M2 .50 cal machine gun. It has a top speed of 65 mph and an approximate range of 420 miles.

Since it is unclear what threat of invasion Nevada and California pose, the question Representative Barton directed to State Senator Kelli Ward was:

Just ask’n what’s this doing in the Mojave County road yard (right next door to the Sheriff’s compound)?

Senator Ward responded:

I have sent this picture to County personnel who would have the answer about what this is and I expect to know by Monday.

Some comments echoed the concern over the controversial move of militarizing police and Sheriff departments across the country.

Katie Miller Militarization of our police and sheriff depts??

Roy Hagemyer So, which one of our elected officials is going to stand up and do something about this??????????

Frank Costigan Intimidating the public. I was a Cop for over 35 years, never once saw a need for military war equipment. This is beyond a police state mentality. The public is not the enemy, it’s the cops employer’s.

Some of the comments were supportive of the vehicle.

David Lipinski Mohave. ..no J. Brenda, this is my neck of the State. Consider some of the issues we have in rural mohave county, and this peice of equipment might come in handy. Better to have it than not.

Don Alexander Navajo County Search and Rescue could use one.

One person commented

Roy Hagemyer This vehicle is sitting in the County yard on Vanderslice in Mohave Valley. I talked with an elected official, whom I will not name at this time, and he said it might belong to FEMA for monitoring a dam breakage…… But why this type of vehicle???

In a video published in April of this year, singer/songwriter and freedom advocate Gianaluca Zanna asked the same question. The video shows two armored vehicles stored by the Kingman Police Department.

Charles Black, veteran of Afghanistan and resident of Kingman, alleges that David Lux, Chief of Police of Kingman is, “…siding with federal agencies.”

Mr. Black said, “He’s fighting State bills going through right now that keep the feds out of our area, and out of our counties, our cities, our State. He wants money from the federal government and he wants federal support.”

He said that the city does not even own the vehicles, but are required to pay for maintenance on it. They are on loan from the federal government which can seize them at any time for their own operations. He mentioned the close proximity of Mohave County to the Bundy Ranch.

Bundy Ranch is in Nevada and the site on which the Bureau of Land Management sent in heavily armored troops to save the desert tortoise.

Gianluca Zanna is a legal immigrant from Italy. His rock music videos can be seen on YouTube. His music can be purchased through his web site.

Bullhead City fireworks display; Sima Valley fireworks end unexpectedly

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The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America.

I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.—John Adams in a letter to wife Abigail of July 3rd after the ratification of the Declaration of Independence.

BULLHEAD CITY—Hundreds of people lined the boardwalk in Laughlin to watch the spectacular fireworks display across the Colorado river in Bullhead City. The fireworks set off several small fires along the Colorado, as usual. Still the fireworks continued into the night by private parties to celebrate 237 years of independence.

The fireworks finale set off car alarms at the Pioneer hotel and casino across the waterway.

The fireworks display at Sima Valley, California took a tragic turn, however, where the LA Times reports 36 injuries after the fireworks exploded unexpectedly.

K-Mart sign change in Bullhead City will not happen until owls are gone.

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BULLHEAD CITY, ARIZONA—A pair of Great Horned owls have apparently built a nest in the Big K-Mart sign at 2250 Arizona 95 in Bullhead City. Some residents expressed concern because of a proposed sign change that might impact the owls nest. Beverley Craig of the K-Mart location, however, said emphatically that the sign will not be changed until the owls are gone. “Even the sign guy says they won’t touch it while they’re there,” she said.

bhc-owl-20130409-02“There is a plan to change the sign, but it’s like a month or so away,” Craig said. She added, “They won’t touch it with the owls up there anyway.”

Beverley verified that there is a male and female owl and they believe that there are babies. “There’s a mommy and daddy and we believe there’s a couple of babies up there. They’re up there every night. And, of course, momma sits out every afternoon on the sign.”

Beverley also pointed out that there is a benefit to having the owls move in. “We were happy to see them arrive because we used to be infested with pigeons. Now the pigeons are all gone. I want to put an owl box in my backyard,” she laughed.

The High Country Raptors program is a non-profit organization that does educational programs about birds of prey at Bearizona in Williams. They have three shows a day at the wild life drive-through park.

Susan Ruble of the High Country Raptors program said that seeing owls in store signs is not a rare sight. “It’s not uncommon. It just depends on if there is game in that area. They’ve got one nesting down at the Home Depot in Prescott. Great Horns don’t seem to be real picky.”

She explained that owls, like other predatory birds, maintain a population equilibrium of rodents and other small animals. The babies should start leaving the nest at about eight-weeks, but generally stay near the nest for sometime. “They should keep the sign up as long as possible,” Susan advised.

K-Mart is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Sears company. The Sears Holding Company received recognition in March from the EPA for being an ENERGY STAR partner for 2013. Their press release reads:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized Sears Holdings with a 2013 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award for its continued leadership in protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency. This year, Sears Holdings is being awarded for both its role as a retailer of ENERGY STAR certified products and for energy management in its stores. Sears Holdings’ accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on March 26, 2013.

Toll proposal puts the brakes on economic recovery

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By BUSTER JOHNSON
Chairman
Mohave County Board of Supervisors

During the January 10 meeting of the Mohave County Board of Supervisors, we unanimously voted to oppose the state’s proposal to turn a 30-mile segment of Interstate 15 into a toll road. Now, Arizona State Rep. Karen Fann (R-District 1, kfann@azleg.gov, co-sponsored by Republican Russ Jones rjones@azleg.gov) has launched legislation that would open the gates to toll roads throughout the state.

Fann’s House Bill 2358, titled Public-Private Partnership; Toll Facilities, creates regulations for collection of tolls and a variety of punishments for those who do not pay them. Specifically, it allows the suspending or revoking of vehicle registrations and driver’s licenses.

This long-winded bill sets up procedures for toll agencies to track and nail anyone who has “liability for toll nonpayment” throughout the state. HB 2358 is the legal foundation that will be used for the furtherance of toll roads, toll bridges and other toll transportation facilities (read rest stops) in Arizona.

I understand the traditional toll facility proposals. A major bridge or road is built through bonded indebtedness and, when it opens for use, customers pay a toll that eventually pays off the cost of construction. But to establish a precedent of charging tolls to use pre-existing roads and bridges is a terrible wrong turn that Arizona does not need to make.

If our State Legislature passes HB 2358, the gates will be opened for many toll proposals leading to costly trips. Driving Arizona highways will no longer be enjoying the open road. It will be more like traversing a board game with costly detours and, if you avoid a toll booth, an expensive Get Out Of Jail fee. The state slogan will become, “You can’t get there from here.”

Okay, that was a bit facetious, but in an age where we are trying to get business back to health and America back to work, HB 2358 sets up roadblocks to prosperity. Truckers who have to take the highways and interstates will be hit the hardest with new fees. At the end of the line, those costs will be passed on to retail customers. Those same customers will have to pay tolls on the roads bringing their more-expensive purchases home.

We will bring more prosperity and transportation funds to Arizona by removing roadblocks to economic development; not by adding them. This Board of Supervisors opposed the state’s proposal of putting a toll on I-15 and I oppose HB 2358, which would drive more toll proposals and bring economic recovery to a screeching halt.

Mohave County moves forward with lawsuit against Arizona

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MOHAVE COUNTY—The Mohave County Board of Supervisors voted today to proceed with hiring legal counsel to move forward with litigation regarding the illegal taking of $1.4 million from Mohave County taxpayers. Also to be included in the lawsuit is the failure of the State to have a balanced budget. The State’s budget has not been balanced since 2006.

A recently released analysis has tagged Arizona as having one of the lowest credit ratings in the country. That would seem to be the result of a variety of poor fiscal policies, not the least of which would be the state not adhering to the constitutional (Article 9, Sections 4 and 5) requirement for a balanced budget.

Mohave County believes that the State has no authority to require mandatory contributions of our taxpayers’ property taxes. The State has shifted millions of dollars from the cities and counties to try to cover their inability to pay their bills. They have used roll-overs, the rainy-day fund and the mortgaging of their assets and still can’t balance the books. They have incurred long term debt, which eats up a good portion of their revenues. They owe our schools over a billion dollars.

Their taking from counties and cities is pushing the limits of local governments to furnish basic necessities.