Needles Desert Star: Local

Housing authority accepts applications until May 21

NEEDLES - The Housing Authority of the city of Needles is accepting applications for placement on the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program waiting list. This program provides monetary rental assistance to eligible families.

Applications must be obtained at and returned to 908 Sycamore Drive in Needles on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday between 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m. The closing date has been extended to Thursday, May 21. No late returns will be accepted.

Current public housing residents must submit a new application. Call 760-326-3222.

Give input on wind-powered electricity

NEEDLES - Local residents can become involved in determining what, where and when alternative energy generation will be allowed here.

The Needles Planning Commission will hear a request for a special use permit to install and use a wind turbine, about 350 feet tall, at 1705 Eagle Pass Rd. The public can comment during the hearing that will begin at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, in city council chamber at 1111 Bailey Ave.; or address written correspondence to the Planning Commission, 817 Third St., Needles, CA 92363.

Summer day camp offered

NEEDLES - Sign-ups are under way for the Needles Recreation Department's Summer Day Camp. The camp offers games, crafts, theme weeks, one hour of swimming a day at the Needles Aquatic Center and visits to the Needles Library. Snack bar and vending machines will be available.

Registration is at the Needles Recreation Center, 1705 J St. The program will begin June 15 and continue through Aug. 13, Mondays-Thursdays from 1-5 p.m. The camp cost is $3 a day per participant. All children age 5 and up are welcome. Call the Needles Recreation Center at 760-326-2814.

El Garces public hearing will be May 26

NEEDLES - The City Council will hold a public hearing in the Council Chamber at the Needles Civic Center on Tuesday, May 26, at 6 p.m. on the request by El Garces, LLC for approval of a tentative parcel map consisting of an acquisition of Santa Fe Park with the vacant parcel (old hospital site) to be a part of the property located at 950 Front Street, including the abandonment of a segment of Route 66-Front St. between H Street and G. Street.

Written correspondence should be addressed to the City Clerk, 817 Third Street, Needles, CA. 92363. Prior to the May 26 meeting questions can be answered by City Planner Laura Zingg at the Needles Customer Service Center, 760-326-5740.

May 19 deadline to return ballots

SAN BERNARDINO - County Registrar of Voters Kari Verjil reminds voters casting ballots by mail for the May 19 statewide special election that the deadline for returning the ballot is 8 p.m. on election day, Tuesday, May 19.

A special ballot pickup from the main post office will be made at 8 p.m. on election night. Any ballots received after then will not be counted.

The ballot can be dropped off at any polling place on election day or at the Registrar of Voters' Office from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. election day.

The Registrar of Voters will also be open on Saturday, May 16, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. for early voting and mail ballot drop-off.

The ballot must be returned personally; the voter, if unable to return the ballot personally, must authorize a specific family member to do so, in the space provided, on the mail ballot return envelope.

For further assistance, contact the Registrar of Voters at 909-387-8300 or toll free at 800-881-VOTE or TDD 909-387-2788.

Recreation-parks commission meets today

NEEDLES - The city's recreation and parks commission is now meeting on the second Wednesday of each month at 4 p.m. in city council chambers.

The next commission meeting will be held on May 13. Council chambers are at 1111 Bailey Ave.

Toastmasters meet Tuesday nights

BULLHEAD CITY - Colorado River Toastmasters, a speaking and leadership club, meets Tuesdays at 6 p.m. downstairs at Hope United Methodist Church, 1325 Ramar Road.

Everyone is welcome to drop by and observe a meeting or two or three. Visit www.crtoastmasters.com.

High school grads benefit from donations to Needles Scholarship Committee

NEEDLES - The Needles Community Scholarship Committee is an organization to aid high school graduates in the community of Needles in furthering their educational goals, and wishes to support graduates in realizing their full potential.

The Needles Community Scholarship Committee pledges to support high school graduates, value donors and award scholarships fairly through an unbiased application process.

Everyone's support is needed to complete this mission. Tax-deductible donations will be given to a deserving graduate. All donations should be made to the Needles Youth Education Development Foundation (NYEF), P.O. Box 47, Needles, CA 92363.

City Planning and Zoning Commission to hear River Palms liquor store request on June 3

NEEDLES - The Needles City Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing in council chambers at the Needles Civic Center at 1111 Bailey Ave. on Wednesday, June 3, at 5:30 p.m. to consider all evidence and testimony for or against approval of a conditional use permit for a retail store selling beer and wine to the public at 4170 Wetmore Way, also known as The River Palms.

Written correspondence should be addressed to the Community Development Dept., 817 Third Street, Needles, CA 92363. Prior to the meeting questions can be answered by City Planner Laura Zingg at the Needles Customer Service Center at 760-326-3805.

Fund-raiser set

KINGMAN - The Mohave County Sheriff's Office will hold an American Cancer Society fund-raiser from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, May 16, with an Italian dinner buffet and a demonstration of robots at the North Campus of Kingman High School.

The event is in honor of Krista Dix, a safety dispatcher who died at age 36 five months after being diagnosed with stage 4 cervical cancer.

Tickets, at $5 each or $15 for a family of four, are available at the sheriff's office.

Five chosen for summer work

NEEDLES - Matthew White, Amanda Mote, Joseph Ortiz, and Aprill McGee, all of Needles, and Ralph Esposito of Mohave Valley, were selected for the Mojave National Preserve summer Youth Conservation Corps program.

They will work from June 11-Aug. 7 on a variety of maintenance and resource management projects. Dan Coales, a college student from Ohio, will lead the teenagers as a Student Conservation Association intern, earning a tuition grant for college expenses. Chris Mills, Piute District interpreter at the preserve, will oversee the program.

VFW plans events

MOHAVE VALLEY - Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 404 offers a variety of special activities for members and guests. The post is at 10287 Barrackman Rd. in Mohave Valley. Call 928-788-3202. The lineup:

On Wednesday, May 13, the Ladies Auxiliary will serve hot dogs and homemade chili from 1-3 p.m.

The Post and the Ladies and Men's Auxiliaries will hold their installation of new officers at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 16. A barbecue pork sandwich lunch will follow.

On Sunday, May 17, there will be a doggie birthday party for Harley and Gidget at 10 a.m. in the back yard of the Post.

Mojave Max emergence winner announced

LAS VEGAS - Brian Garcia, third-grader at Staton Elementary School, was announced as the winner of the 2009 Mojave Max Emergence Contest when he guessed the famous desert tortoise would wake from his winter brumation on April 7 at 3:19 p.m.

Max emerged on that day at 2:37 p.m.

Garcia's prediction was closer than that of any of the other 5,200 students who entered the contest this year.

The next contest will begin Sunday, Nov. 1, and will end when Mojave Max emerges in the spring of 2010.

For more information go to www.mojavemax.com or www.accessclarkcounty.com.

After-school tutoring available at NHS

NEEDLES - A free after-school tutoring program offers several options for students of Needles High School. Students do homework, ask for assistance, do make-up work, use computers, play chess or checkers and wind down after a day of school.

The program is available Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:45 to 4 p.m. at the Needles High School library.

Needles High School Class of 2012 holding fund-raiser spaghetti dinner tonight at Elks

NEEDLES - The Needles High School class of 2012 invites the community to a spaghetti dinner fund-raiser at the Needles Elk's Lodge at 1000 Lilyhill Dr. on Wednesday, May 13, from 5-8 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door. For more information contact Chandler McCorkle at NHS at 760-326-2191.

Tacos offered Mondays, dinners Tuesdays

NEEDLES - The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge 1608 invites all Elks and their guests to enjoy Monday night dollar tacos from 5-6:30, followed by Tuesday night dinners from 5:30-7 p.m.

The menu: May 19 - Chefs' choice. May 26 - Cook your own steak, with baked potato, salad and roll.

Visit the lodge at 1000 Lilyhill Drive; call 760-326-3412.

Attend high school concert

NEEDLES - The annual spring “Show Off” concert of Needles High School will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 28, in the NHS auditorium along Washington.

Admission will be free. The concert will feature performances by the high school band, choir, select choir and the Blue Notes community jazz band.

Church to hold rummage sale

NEEDLES - The Seventh Day Adventist Church will hold a rummage sale at the church at 1405 Lilyhill Drive all day Friday, May 15, and Sunday, May 17. There will be furniture, clothing, kitchen gadgets and much more, according to Jenny Beasley, the rummage sale coordinator.

Observe Memorial Day, 11 a.m. May 25

NEEDLES - A Memorial Day ceremony will be held to commemorate the fallen military and law enforcement men and women killed in action. The ceremony will take place Monday, May 25, at 11 a.m. at the Needles Riverview Cemetery, 1101 E. Broadway.

Donations will go towards purchasing trees and are being accepted at the Needles Four Seasons Nursery, 1150 W. Broadway.

Needles High School sports event passes not accepted during NIAA league tournaments

NEEDLES - Needles High School passes will not be valid for entry to NIAA Class 2A league baseball and softball tournaments, being hosted by NHS this weekend.

Attendance revenue for post-season play goes to the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association. Admission will be $7 for adults, $5 for students.

Join Flip Mendez Youth Golf Tournament

Saturday at River's Edge Golf Course

NEEDLES - The 11th annual Flip Mendez Youth Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, May 16, at River's Edge Golf Course in Needles.

The tournament has become one of the area's largest, with proceeds supporting youth and youth services in the community. This past year player and sponsor contributions provided 50 sports scholarships for all branches of youth sports; donations to youth basketball, football, softball, baseball and soccer; five $750 college tuition scholarships to NHS graduates and a NAU music scholarship.

Tee time will be 7 a.m. with a 3-man scramble shotgun start. A deep pit barbecue luncheon will follow at the Needles Elks Lodge. For more information or to register call J.C. Bacon at River's Edge Golf Course at 760-326-3931, Rhonda Brashear at 760-326-3300 or Jennifer Valenzuela at Needles Recreation Center at 760-326-2814.

Join swimming team

NEEDLES - The Needles Sandsharks Swim Team is accepting sign-ups for all swimmers interested in being a part of the 2009 Needles Swim Team.

Signups started May 4 at the Needles Aquatic Center, 1101 Civic Center Dr. New swimmers must try out and have a parent present at first sign-up. A birth certificate also is required.

First time swimmers must be able to swim the length of the pool. All ages up to 18 years old before Aug. 1, 2009, are accepted. Swim team practice is at 4 p.m. Monday-Friday at the Needles Aquatic Center.

For more information call Tanice Richards at 760-326-5305.

Rotary golf tourney will be June 20

NEEDLES - The annual Needles Rotary Club Golf Tournament, to raise money for local charities, will be held Saturday, June 20, at River's Edge Golf Course.

Check-in will be at 6:30 a.m., with the first tee off at 7 a.m.

Prices will be $60 per golfer, which will include lunch; $180 per three-golfer team. Tee sponsorships will go for $100 each.

There also will be raffles and prizes with a raffle ticket to be included in each goodie bag. Prizes will be awarded for the longest drive, closest shot to the pin and holes-in-one.

Anyone wanting to donate, sponsor or enter should contact Bill Hunter at 760-326-3220 or mail their check to the Needles Rotary Club, P.O. Box 535, Needles, CA 92363.

Handicaps must be listed with the golfer's name.

The international service club, the grandfather of the river cities Rotary Clubs, is committed to youth development and leadership programs for kids in the Tri-state area.

Learn to swim

NEEDLES - Sign up for swimming lessons through June 6 at the Needles Recreation Center. Registration will be held at the Needles Aquatics Center, 1101 Civic Center Dr., after June 6.

Swimming lessons will begin on June 15 and continue through Aug. 6. The cost will be $23 for eight half-hour sessions. Private lessons will be $10 for each half-hour session.

For more information call 760-326-3866.

Mustangs raffle for Diamondbacks MLB game

NEEDLES - The Needles High School Mustang baseball team is raffling four Major League Baseball tickets to see the Arizona Diamondbacks play the Florida Marlins on Saturday, July 11, at Chase Field in Phoenix.

Tickets are on sale for $5. The winner will be chosen and announced on May 16 and need not be present.

For more information contact Lori at 928-303-1125.

Pee Wee basketball sign-ups begin June 1

NEEDLES - Pee Wee Basketball registration will start June 1 at the Needles Recreation Center, 1705 J St.

The program will be for children ages three to eight. Three-year-olds will be allowed to participate with a parent holding a coaching position.

The cost will be $30 per child. The season will begin in July and end in August.