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BEST OF MESQUITE It’s that time again to cast your ballot for the Best of Mesquite. The ballot will run for the next three weeks in Mesquite Local MESQUITE News. Make sure to follow the rules as only original copies of the newspaper will be accepted. Voting closes on Feb. 15. Page 6-7A LOCATHE WEEK OF JAN. 18, 2018 L NEWSVol. 14, No. 14 water districT MOTOR MANIA Board hears Wolf Creek water lease proposal By Linda Faas MLN After months-long exchange of let- ters, Jeff Sylvester, attorney for Wolf Creek Golf Course, attended the Jan. 16 meeting of Virgin Valley Water District to present the golf course’s counter of- fer to VVWD’s request for return of un- used water shares that are under lease agreement with VVWD until 2019. In 2011, VVWD agreed to extend an Kris Zurbas photos agreement allowing Wolf Creek to lease This 1957 Chevrolet was one of nearly 900 vehicles on displat the Mesquite Motor Mania. 150 water shares from VVWD at $250 per share per year. A VVWD irrigation water share equals 7.18 acre feet of wa- ter, or 2,339,000 gallons of water. Subse- Record crowds attend car show quently, VVWD determined that Wolf Creek actually uses only about 100 of Last weekend, the streets of Mesquite were filled with the nostalgic those shares, while declining use of City sounds of roaring engines, the sights of custom vehicles and classic fa- of Mesquite effluent water. vorites and the feelings of the “good old days” during the 10th annual By city contract and VVWD contract, Mesquite Motor Mania. Wolf Creek is required to use effluent, Mesquite Gaming, owner of Casablanca Resort and Virgin River Ho- costing $608 for equivalent amount of tel, and the Las Vegas Cruisin’ Association, once again, partnered up water, for golf course irrigation before for a rousing three days of non-stop fun and entertainment with nearly using VVWD irrigation water. 900 participants and the largest crowds in the event’s history. Since 2014, VVWD has twice request- More than 260 total awards were presented along with $15,000 in ed renegotiation of the lease contract to cash and prizes with Kevin and Tamme Merrill of Idaho Falls, Idaho return the unused water shares so the taking home the top honors with “Best of Show” with a1940 Ford Pick- district could lease that water to South- up Truck. ern Nevada Water Authority for $1,256 “Our 10th annual Mesquite Motor Mania was, by far, our best event per share, the amount it pays VVWD yet,” said Christian Adderson, corporate sales manager for Mesquite for other leased water. Gaming. “We were thrilled to kick off 2018 with record crowds, exciting Sylvester, asserting Wolf Creek’s goal competitions and a whole lot of fun.” is to be a good community partner, stat- Other top award winners for the 2018 Mesquite Motor Mania include: ed that the golf course does not disagree • Participant’s Pick ($2,000): Steve Whitlock, Provo Utah; 1956 Ford with return of the unused shares, but F-100 • People’s Choice ($1,000): Jeff Rexrode, Cedar City, Utah; 1929 Woodie > See VVwd, Page 7A Fans gather around to view this 1937 Ford. Convertible business Chamber reports successful year By Barbara Ellestad fund-raising golf tournament to a home MLN and garden expo and customer service seminars. Small Business Saturday, Let’s It was a very good year for the Mes- Talk About Marijuana and What’s Hap- quite Chamber of Commerce in 2017 ac- pening Mesquite were other events the cording to Jeff Powell, the Chamber’s chamber sponsored for local businesses. Board of Directors chairman, at the or- Powell reported that chamber mem- ganization’s January luncheon when he bers also participated in community- provided a State of the Chamber update. wide events like the Sun City Business “I think you’ll find we accomplished a Expo, Mesquite Police Department’s lot of our goals and met our vision of ad- Night Out and the Mesquite Days Pa- vocate, communicate, educate, and sup- rade. port businesses in the Mesquite area,” He also said that the chamber had tak- Powell said. en a much more active role in events out- The chamber added 24 new business side of Mesquite as a way to promote the members in 2017 bringing the member- city. That included the Taste of Dixie in ship number to 272. Of that, 19 are premi- St. George, Utah, League of Cities annual um members, up seven. Powell reported conference, the Council of Chambers that the retention rate of chamber mem- under Las Vegas Global Economic Alli- bers is 84 percent, increasing 2.4 percent ance and the Southern Utah Coalition of from the previous year. “We want to Chambers. Barbara Ellestad. work to increase the retention rate in the “We have a seat at the table, a voice that Mesquite Chamber of Commerce Board of directors Chairman Jeff Powell, left, next year though,” he said. is heard, and a way to be recognized out- reviews the organization’s successes with Board Treasurer Jayne Kendrick at The chamber hosted about a dozen ma- the January luncheon. jor events in 2017 ranging from its annual > See CHAMBER, Page 7A Get your daily news in our newsletter! Sign up at MesquiteLocalNews.com 2A MESQUITE LOCAL NEWS The week of Jan. 18, 2018 In wake of case dismissal, Bundy vows to continue ranching, setting up a potential conflict with feds By Daniel Rothberg The Nevada Independent sity who studies public lands. Zinke has to figure out if he wants to move this in The grazing will continue, Bunkerville a positive way. If he doesn’t, he will just rancher Cliven Bundy vowed in front of stir it up more. I think they…know that the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police De- they don’t want a big federal blowout out partment’s headquarters Wednesday, there.” Jan. 10, two days after a federal judge Even after the standoff, Cliven Bundy dismissed a sweeping case against him continued to ranch undisturbed and in Submitted photo and two sons due to prosecutorial mis- defiance of the federal government. Bun- Laurie Gable, center, manager of the Mesquite Branch of washington Federal conduct. dy was not arrested until 2016, when he Bank, presented a check for $500 to Chairman George Gault, left, and Treasurer The Bundy family attracted national flew to Portland en route to Malheur Na- Rich Green, right, of Mesquite works on Jan. 8 as a part of their commitment to attention in 2014 after an armed standoff tional Wildlife Refuge, the southeastern giving back to the community. between Bundy’s network of supporters Oregon site of another armed standoff. and law enforcement agents who had A jury acquitted Ammon Bundy, Ryan come to impound Bundy Ranch cattle. Bundy and other defendants in the trial In 2016, charges were brought against involving the Malheur refuge, a move several defendants in connection with that raised the stakes for prosecutors in Washington Federal branch the faceoff at the Bundy Ranch near the Nevada case. Mesquite, about 80 miles from Las Ve- At the press conference, it was unclear donates to Mesquite Works gas. But conflict between the Bureau of what action, if any, Bundy would take Land Management (BLM) and Bundy after his release. He criticized the gover- The Mesquite Branch of Washington well as many job fairs. had been brewing since the early 90s, nor, the County Commission, the sheriff Federal Bank presented a check for $500 “We always appreciate the support when Bundy stopped paying grazing and the state brand inspector for capitu- to Chairman George Gault and Treasur- from the community,” Gault said. “And fees to the federal agency that manages lating to the federal government when er Rich Green of Mesquite Works on Jan. we are especially thankful for busi- large swaths of Western land. BLM sent law enforcement to his ranch 8 as a part of their commitment to giving nesses like Washington Federal who see “One thing is for sure: I’m going to go in 2014. back to the community. the benefits we provide our workforce back and ranch,” Bundy said to cheers “They aided and abetted with the fed- “We are excited to be able to help with and choose to invest in our cause. We from supporters. eral government to steal my cattle and an organization that does so much for wouldn’t be here without them.” And if the ranching continues, so too then imprisoned Bundy,” he said. “I our community,” said Laurie Gable, Mesquite Works will be partnering with will a decades-long dispute between either have to forgive these people, or I manager of the branch. “We are working the Eureka Casino Resort and the Ris- Bundy and the U.S. government. For have to hold them accountable.” on being more involved with our cus- ing Star Sports Ranch again this year for conservationists and Bundy support- When asked what he would do, he tomers and our local businesses. This each of their job fairs. With the next event ers alike, the case became a proxy for said: “I’m not sure. I’m considering my is just the first step of many that we are scheduled for Feb. 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the highly-contentious issue of which options.” planning on making.” at the Rising Star Sports Ranch Grand groups get to make decisions about But the thought of another armed con- The money donated will assist Mes- Ballroom, many local companies will be BLM’s open ranges.

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