News

The “world’s toughest bicycle race” began Tuesday in Oceanside, CA and some of the cyclists are already showing up in Parker, AZ in the middle of a heat wave. The Race Across America is a highly competitive endurance event which began in 1982. The route takes cyclists 3,000 miles from Oceanside to Annapolis, MD, crossing 12 states and climbing over …

With an estimated 10,000 people and over 4500 registered floaters, this year’s Parker Tube Float was heralded as a big success for the Parker Area Chamber of Commerce, Parker Area Tourism and law enforcement. According to vehicle counts at Vidal Junction Inspection Station, on CA-62 as it approaches Parker, the traffic into the area on Tube Float weekend vastly exceeded …

Arizona Western College President Dr. Glenn Mayle says the college’s impact on the local economy by educating the workforce makes it worth the $216-per-$100,000 property tax you’ll pay next year for it. As the state of Arizona continues to pull funding out of education statewide, AWC is recommending its maximum allowed 2% tax increase for the first time in years to compensate. …

The La Paz County Sheriff’s Office has recently added some new programs to its law enforcement efforts, which include a new helicopter program and K-9 unit. According to statements by Sheriff’s Lieutenant Curt Bagby, the helicopter program depends on R.I.C.O funds (“Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations”), the process of using money seized from organized crime operations to aid in enforcement …

Miss La Paz County Hailey Ferris and Miss La Paz County Outstanding Teen Victoria Ferris will be heading to the Miss Arizona competition in Mesa, AZ later this month. The sisters, aged 18 and 16, will compete in interview, fitness, talent, evening gown and on-stage question against others from around the state of Arizona. Hailey’s talent will be a character …

The victim of a burglary is offering $1000 reward to whoever can provide information about the theft. On Memorial Day weekend, a residence in the Parker Valley was burglarized with a “large amount of cash” taken, along with two electric guitars and some jewelry, according to an investigator with CRIT Police Department. The owner of the residence, at 24125 Indian …

The Pop Harvey Aquatics Association held an event Thursday to honor young people who chose to be trained as lifeguards in this years Red Cross Learn to Swim program in Parker. Program organizer Buni Hooper said the 4-week program, which teaches children to swim and emphasizes safety, may be extended to 6 weeks this time, if the funding allows. Lifeguards …

Need to register for the 2015 Parker Tube Float and missed the on-line registration? Don’t worry happy floaters! Here are the locations to purchase wristbands for the next two days: Parker Area Chamber of Commerce, 1217 S California Avenue, Parker, AZ 8 am – 5 pm today and tomorrow. (Accepting credit cards, cash.) Spanky’s RV & Marine, 1012 S. Joshua Ave., Parker, …

The temps shot up last weekend to 106 degrees on Saturday after a cool May, signaling the start of summer here in Parker just in time for Tube Float. The average afternoon high in the month of May 2015 was just 87 degrees in the Parker area, compared with an average of 96 degrees in May the previous year. The …

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. Certainly, no one could have predicted that Parker would be the center of a worldwide media story centered around fake skeletons at the bottom of the river. I’m not sure if it was the unexpected nature of the story in that it was strange to find a fake skeleton tea party at the bottom …