Jennifer Harris-Jones has announced her candidacy for Barbara Cowell's council seat as Quartzsite's six recalled councilmen face contenders in the spring election. In spite of directives from both Mayor Foster and special attorney Bill Sims of the League of Cities and Towns, the council voted to have Cowell as Vice Mayor sign into law those  items Foster refused to sign. Foster has promised to file criminal charges against the council for their activities, some of which he has charged are illegal.

The recall of all Quartzsite's sitting councilmen is quickly moving forward with only one [Robert Kelly's] removed over a technical issue -- an issue before the Superior Counrt in Parker. Citizens promised a blanket recall effort over the treatment of Quartzsite's  first elected Mayor in over two years -- and they were quick to provide it, easily obtaining the required numbers of signatures on all councilmen -- including Kelly.



Jennifer Harris-Jones operates a blog online that addresses some of Quartzsite's 'political issues.' [She recently announced her decision to run for the town's council seat against one of the councilpeople under recall.] When she wrote things that angered the authors of 'Desert Messenger' they took her to court.  They did not, however, prevail...       READ MORE   

IS QUARTZSITE'S TAX STRUCTURE PROPER? IS ARIZONA'S P.O.S. TAX CONSTITUTIONAL? DO TAXPAYERS HAVE  TO PRESENT THEIR RECORDS TO AUDITOR?                 READ MORE
 RURAL AIRPORT AT CENTER OF NEW CONTROVERSY

Quartzsite's ex-Mayor Richard Oldham is no stranger to controversy -- but he's frustrated by the number of problems plaguing Quartzsite and seems to be the focus of efforts to damage him personally...                      READ MORE
COUNCIL CONSIDERS SALE OF WATER & SEWER SYSTEM
The council is considering the privatization of Quartzsite's utilities and residents will be affected by the change. Should the water and sewer systems be sold?     STORY COMING SOON
CITIZEN TAKES ON MAYOR'S CRITICS  IN  SPECIAL  LETTER
TOWN OFFICIALS DISAVOW   QUARTZSITE'S  AIRPORT
Richard Oldham's runway at the Main Event West location in Quartzsite has drawn the ire of Quartzsite officials -- but Oldham didn't build the airport -- Howard Armstrong did. Armstrong also donated the property to the town that officials hope to use to prevent the airport from being utilized.
 VOTERS WEIGH IN: ENTIRE COUNCIL FACES RECALL OVER ACTIONS AGAINST MAYOR
                                               READ MORE

Cibola burros are scheduled to be rounded up and critics charge that most burros -- and wild horses -- will ultimately face death, many in slaughter houses. Must see report. READ MORE

THERE IS ONE GROUP SET TO WIN BIG IN QUARTZSITE:
THE LAWYERS   READ MORE
IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE NOW
BEGINNING TO CRUMBLE?
BELL COUNCIL ORDERED TO REFUND ILLEGAL TAXES     MORE
75,000 DOG TREATS RECALLED
FOOD RESTRICTIONS DEEMED 'OVER THE TOP'                 READ MORE

By anyone's standards, Pat Tillman was a hero. His life, his beliefs centered around 'doing the right thing.' Narrated by Josh Brolin, the Pat Tillman Story documents the death of a man that trusted in America's leaders only to experience the ultimate betrayal. How did this happen? And what needs to be done to ensure that it never happens again?          READ MORE


John McCain is under fire again -- this time for his stand on three key issues that effect virtually all Americans. Has McCain lost all credibility among his constituents?   READ MORE
McCLUNG CAMPAIGNS TO REPLACE GRAVILJA: 51% PUTS McCLUNG ON EVEN GROUND
WITH EMBATTLED CONGRESSMAN
WHAT IS CODEX ALIMENTARIUS?
THE INSIDE STORY ON TOXIC EGGS

PET FOOD RECALLS UNDERWAY MORE EFFORTS TO UNSEAT FOSTER: AD HOC LATEST WEAPON TO BE UTILIZED

Foster's Response Letter HERE Three Quartzsite councilmen are attempting to oust popular Mayor Ed Foster -- this time using an obscure 'solution' for 'general, unspecific problems.' Indicative by definition of 'makeshift solutions, inadequate planning or improvised events,' the Ad Hoc effort, supporters say,  is the latest to be utilized in an unwavering effort to rid themselves of a retired Marine that doesn't seem to take 'no' as an answer...

"The more they balk and refuse to provide Foster with the documents he has legally requested, the guiltier they look," said one lawyer concerning the legal battle set to ensue. "Now they are not only facing a difficult and nearly hopeless, uphill battle, they will likely be required to pay his [Foster's] legal bills."

"It's just one more in a series of errors for the litigation challenged municipality that has so many legal battles currently underway that it's position in a pool for the uninsurable is likely to remain in place well into the future," said a Citizens Coalition member who asked not to be identified. "They are constantly coming for us, accusing us of everything under the sun, not realizing that the inexplicable efforts by these various officials are raising more eyebrows than they are supporters. The man was elected -- let him do his job!"

These individuals may have a point. Foster is holding a handful of requests for public appearances that now extend well  beyond Quartzsite and is in the process of becoming  known for his staunch opposition of 'cronyism' and 'corruption' in local government, working with others that are coming to him based upon information he has published in his newspaper, the QUARTZSITEMINESHAFT.COM. Among those interested in Foster's writings are similarly challenged political candidates, those who have worked on various political campaigns and been attacked for their positions on key issues, and attorneys -- some of whom have expressed an interest in becoming involved as the battles reach an ever  widening audience.        READ MORE

ACCUSATIONS CONTINUE UNABATED AS MORE PEOPLE  ARE ATTACKED/MALIGNED:
Those who are participating in the defamation of character efforts in Quartzsite should do a fast review of the legal fallout of such a move. Lawsuits are expensive to defend when innocent people are attacked simply because they hold a different opinion or refuse to align themselves with the attackers, as the Town, already inundated with suits, can attest...
                                                       READ MORE

LA PAZ COUNTY HIRES BANKRUPTCY ATTORNEY IN LAST DITCH EFFORT TO DEFLECT $12.3 MILLION DOLLAR JUDGEMENT DEBT

The La Paz County Board of Supervisors have just announced their intent to investigate filing bankruptcy with the hiring of a bankruptcy attorney.  This would reject Willett's request to own the landfill in exchange for relief from the debt owed him. County officials can face more problems than they might suspect as bankruptcy limits even further their ability to pay -- as evidenced by this case against Orange County for failing in their duties will attest.

Quartzsite businessman Richard Oldham had offered to pay off Willett, without the risk of bringing sludge through the area -- but that offer was effectively prevented from even being heard, and misrepresentations of Oldham's offer were erroneously published and openly discussed -- all without interviewing Oldham concerning the details...            READ  MORE

LESSON IN JOURNALISM: THE REAL THING
Professional journalism involves reporting real facts: not paraphrasing announcements or providing information simply on the basis of 'hearsay.' It is for this reason there must be a place for the free press, for First Amendment Rights which are designed to hold our leaders accountable, as well as laws in place to demand they provide substantiating documentation upon demand...                               READ MORE

PINAL COUNTY SHERIFF PAUL BABEU TURNS TO ALTERNATIVE MEDIA TO WARN OF ESCALATING DANGER ON ARIZONA'S BORDER   VIDEO  WATCH MORE

Sheriff Babeu has discovered he's been tar-geted by Mexico's drug cartels and has taken a position along side Jan Brewer to warn Arizonans of risks they may not have realized existed this side of the border...

FOSTER SUCCEEDS IN FORCING THE
TOWN COUNCIL TO FACE REFERENDUM
IN EFFORT TO DISEMPOWER MAYOR...

Once more, town officials have publicly failed in efforts to withhold power -- and documents -- from Quartzsite's new Mayor, Ed Foster. In an unprecedented move to again carry the issues before voters, Foster's supporters easily obtained the number of signatures required to force a referendum, effectively preventing the proposals to undermine Foster's Mayoral authority from even  taking effect... READ MORE

 RECALL EFFORT MOVES AHEAD: BOTH COWELL AND WINSLOW'S COMPLETE

A series of decisions unpopular with voters have now resulted in Petitions for Recall on Joe Winslow and Barbara Cowell. Both councilmen's petitions needed at least 61 signatures to succeed -- and circulators reported that both petitions contained over 100 signatures, due to voter discontent over issues with the two.
                                                  READ MORE




Recall workers gather petition signatures. Enough signers are already in on Cowell & Winslow's recalls.

Once a peaceful small town known for tourists and an unparalleled rock vending trade, Quartzsite is now embattled, embittered and fighting for solvency amidst a series of controversial moves  by Town Manager Alex Taft while new Mayor Ed Foster seeks advice from those more than familiar with Quartzsite's reputation for  it's  volatile political climate...

Two weeks ago, the Town Hall meeting during which Foster was sworn in deteriorated into virtual mayhem when Taft's proposals to disempower the new Mayor were passed by four council members in spite of strong public outcry demanding the new Mayor have a chance to prove himself before officials sought to withdraw his powers.

Four of them [Winslow, Anderson, Cowell and Lukkasson] immediately went ahead with the decision to vote for the withdrawal of powers from Foster --and without a single word of discussion between them during the meeting. But the move wasn't without a swift and strong backlash from Quartzsite's voters, who promptly began requesting and signing recall papers against those that challenged Foster's rights as Mayor.

Both Winslow and Cowell's positions were already under fire from previous activities undertaken by the two who are not newly elected and, thus, accessible under recall.

The remainder of the officials have just now taken their seats. Lizarraga abstained, and Kelley voted against the measures to limit Foster's powers.

Foster's Mayoral rights are stipulated under Arizona Law and this week the battle lines are being drawn between those that would challenge Foster -- and may soon discover they have problems they've not even considered. Councilmen that choose to  break the law in order to do what they wish -- or what they are ordered to do by another official -- are not protected against suits brought by those effected by those choices.

Quartzsite is already in an insurance pool [provided insurance only because an insurer is forced to take them] through the Arizona branch of the League of Cities and Towns.

Because of a series of poor choices, the town is virtually 'uninsurable.' Were Foster to challenge those individuals that comprise the sitting council in court, anything they've done that resulted in the breaking of a law would leave those individuals at risk of a suit against them personally, with their personal assets at risk.

Some of the officials with oversight responsibilities concerning Quartzsite have already expressed concern over these pending issues.
                                             READ MORE

A political battle has ensued since four sitting councilmen sought to disempower Quartzsite's newly elected Mayor Tuesday, in spite of strong public outcry...   
                  SEE: DISEMPOWERED       READ MORE

Foster has addressed the issue of Tuesday's council meeting here, in The MINESHAFT, his local publication.


The already established and required emergency protocol communities are to have in place in the event of an emergency [CLICK FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH SECURITY AND BIOTERRORISM PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE ACT] that would have prevented the problems that resulted in Quartzsite's dilemma... Citizens, in fact, have the RIGHT to know [Click for the RIGHT TO KNOW ACT] if there is a problem that may effect the safety of their drinking water. [Click for the SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT.] Read here for UNDERSTANDING THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT.]                              READ MORE


Steve Bennett's pool [shown here] was the focus of concerns about drinking water over the weekend. ADEQ will arrive Monday to test the water for contaminants and see what, exactly, is in the water.   

The 'public' meeting of the town's incumbents has already created a flap: attendees have indicated that the acting Mayor stated that the town would have to learn to get along without vendors... and he now denies he made that statement.