News

The Governor’s Office is partnering with Local First Arizona Foundation to launch the Arizona Small Business Rent and Mortgage Relief Grant program and distribute $10 million in grants to small businesses who have had to shutter their doors during this pandemic. The partnership leverages the grantmaking experience and small business expertise of Local First Arizona Foundation, which has already distributed …

The water utility serving the Upriver area north of Parker, AZ changes ownership officially this week, bringing with it improvements and 25 percent higher rates to match. The Arizona Corporation Commission approved the ownership transition on July 22nd, which means Brooke Water is now part of a much larger corporation, EPCOR. The company already owns many water utilities in the …

Steve Biro, La Paz County Emergency Management Director for the past 18 years, has died. The County released the following obituary. — It is with great sadness that we announce the La Paz County Emergency Management Director, Steve Biro passed away from lung disease on August 9th, 2020. He is survived by his wife, Anita Biro, his daughters, Tiara Biro …

La Paz County District 1 Supervisor DL Wilson, who had earlier decided not to run for re-election and will not be on the ballot in November, has reversed course and decided to run for his seat as a write-in candidate. The only candidate actually on the general election ballot is David Plunkett, a well-known local realtor. Wilson, who was first elected …

UPDATED to correct the general election sheriff candidates for November. — The voters have chosen to replace Bill Risen as Sheriff after primary challenger William Ponce got more votes in Tuesday’s election. According to the unofficial election results posted by La Paz County, Ponce received 934 votes, Sheriff Risen had 582 and Frank Vidrine had 248. The results mean that …

UPDATE: Parker schools Superintendent Brad Sale responded to a question by Parker Live about how this would affect schools, saying: “We are currently working with tribal officials to determine how the stay-at-home order affects our schools and the ability to attend school in person. We will also be following the benchmarks that AZDHS will release next week. These benchmarks will have schools …

UPDATED to reflect doubled amount (original $10,000). — A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for burning down several stacks of hay bales in the valley south of Parker last week. Eight stacks in total were burned on July 14th at four locations in the valley, the product of months …

Photos by Michael Collins.

Parker schools will begin the 2020-21 year on August 3rd with at least two weeks of distance learning. The Parker Unified School District Governing Board approved a re-opening plan last Wednesday authorizing Superintendent Brad Sale to proceed with one of three options for learning, depending on the severity of the COVID-19 virus in the community. “Our Number One priority is …

A man in Big River was arrested by the SWAT team for allegedly holding a woman against her will. On Thursday, July 9th at 6:35 a.m., deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to a residence in the 7000 block of Yakima Trail in Big River for a call of a disturbance. The Department says its investigation …