SPORTS VVHS baseball in big tourney Page 1B OPINION Panel drops weapons restriction Page 4A THE WEEK OF MARCH 29, 2018 Vol. 14, No. 24 RecReaTION Council hears need for more sports fields By Barbara Ellestad MLN Saying that his company is “not asking you to do anything we haven’t already done,” Eureka Chief Operating Officer Andre Carrier addressed the Mesquite City Council at its Tuesday, March 27, meet- ing about the need for more sports fields in the community as a way to grow the local economy. While Las Vegas is focusing on large major league sports events, Carrier said Mesquite needs to look at mid-size sports events to help Barbara Ellestad Andre carrier, COO of Eureka casino and Rising Star Sports Ranch, left, was accompanied by Eric fill off-season gaps in tourism. “Sports have been the center of the Sullivan, Sports facility Advisory and Management, as they addressed the Mesquite city council evolving story of the economy and culture. Mesquite is not immune on the need for the city to build more softball and baseball fields and soccer fields as a way to > See COUNcil, Page 2A expand the tourism economy. littlefIeld, aRIzONa An old school house with a brand new purpose By Teri Nehrenz MLN It was built in 1924 and served as the school in Littlefield, Beaver Dam, Desert Springs and Scenic, Arizona, until 1999. Since 1999 the school house has been sit- ting, a ghostly and lonely reminder of the history of the community. The schoolhouse was built by Patri- cia Schoppman’s grandfather, a Reber, one of the area’s first successful settlers. Schoppman’s other side of the family Shelly Stoiber were the Leavitts so her family history is The Virgin Valley high School precision team led off Spring fling entertainment. deeply engrained in the walls of the Old Littlefield Schoolhouse and most of her family members, including herself, were vIRgIN valley HIgH ScHOOl educated there. Schoppman and her husband John don’t want to see that history fade away and have already taken drastic steps to F undraiser for grads is fun for guests form a non-profit organization to reno- By Linda Faas vate the schoolhouse while preserving MLN A Japanese bridge festooned in flow- evening to $6,000. its historical integrity. ers and lights cast a colorful glow on the “We can’t forget to thank the many stu- The first step was to gather a board The key to a great “fundraiser” is FUN. evening. dents who helped sell Spring Fling tick- of trustees; Gail Frehner, Christie Ann The Mesquite Community Education The VVHS pep team led off the eve- ets,” said Darlene Nelson, MCEF presi- Lindbergh, Ken Peterson, Christine Re- Fund and Virgin Valley High School stu- ning’s entertainment with a precision dent. “These young people gave up their ber and Schoppman took on those roles dents certainly lived up to that idea as fan, parasol and ribbon dance routine Saturday mornings to help raise scholar- and the non-profit organization ‘Old Lit- they welcomed guests to the 2018 Spring that delighted the crowd. ship funds for their schoolmates.” tlefield Schoolhouse’ was born. Fling “Cherry Blossom Time” on March Then, under the direction of Kendra Tickets sales assistance was also pro- Restoration plans call for turning the 21. Graf and Marie Palmer, student musi- vided by Danielle’s Chocolates, the schoolhouse into a historical museum Chef Chris Noone’s Culinary Arts stu- cians presented flawless renditions of Chamber of Commerce, and Mesquite and meeting place for the community. dents laid out a sumptuous buffet feast old favorites and Asian classic songs Rec and Senior Centers. The schoolhouse also contains a small of teriyaki chicken, egg rolls, noodles, that carried the theme for the evening. Much of the credit for fundraising suc- stage that is expected to be kept for green beans with water chestnuts, and The choir, guitarists, band and orchestra cess goes to local business owners who speakers and possibly some small the- heavenly strawberry layer cake for a sell- learned new numbers specially for the so generously provided raffle prizes and ater productions in the future. out crowd of more than 150 guests. event. support for the student benefit. Bank of Of course no plan of this enormity can Arriving diners were transported to Crowd reaction to the student perfor- Nevada, a perennial donor to student happen without funding and they are off to an Asian fantasyland with tables deco- mances was displayed through loud ap- causes, has shown exceptional support a good start but need help from the commu- rated with colored lanterns, peonies, and plause and abundant donations. Raffle to MCEF’s scholarship efforts since the nity to see this project through to fruition. individual placemats featuring brush- tickets sales donations to the MCEF painted scenes. fund boosted profits for the Spring Fling > See fliNg, Page 6A > See School, Page 6A Get your daily news in our newsletter! Sign up at MesquiteLocalNews.com 2A MESQUITE LOCAL NEWS The Week of March 29, 2018 Crime Victims’ Rights Week Following Carrier’s presentation, the council council discussed the possibility of issuing continued from Page 1A bonds that would pay for expanding the city’s sports fields. Councilman George to the changing spending patterns of the Rapson said he was in favor of bonding Nevada visitor. Finding new ways to at- for new facilities but wanted a solid set tract more visitors is essential to long-term of data that would clearly outline needs success of our family-owned business,” and potential revenues from adding more Carrier said. fields. “We can get our economic develop- One of the keys, Carrier said, is to attract ment team to distribute the information to new events to Mesquite and not cannibal- potential hoteliers who might be interest- ize existing events and high-traffic week- ed in building more hotels. Yes, we could ends. But, he added, that local businesses use eight or 12 more fields but without the and the city are leaving revenues “on the hotel rooms we’re sending a lot of the eco- table” because of the lack of hotel facilities nomic benefit up the road. How do we pull and sports fields. these two things together? We all have the Carrier said Mesquite is now a con- same goal.” tender as a national destination for sport- “We pulled together a lot of data before ing events and tournaments “more than we built the Rising Star,” Carrier said. we ever considered because of favorable “The city is welcome to all that data. We’d Barbara Ellestad weather, existing hotel rooms and more rather be the center of the hotel rooms than Marsy’s law was celebrated at the Mesquite city council meeting on Tuesday, importantly, because of our past invest- the ‘bedroom community’ to St. George’s March 27 with Mesquite Mayor Al litman proclaiming April 8 – 14 as “go Purple- ment in sports fields and diamonds that hotel capacity.” crime Victims’ Rights Week.” from left, lynda Tache, Political Director, Mayor have been expertly maintained.” Carrier explained that with low aver- litman, Will Batista, State Director, and Sean flignor, field Director of the office He used that as a launching pad to re- age daily rates (ADR) that Mesquite hotels for Marsy’s law for Nevada as they call for support for victims of all crimes. quest the city expand its existing facilities now get, it’s difficult to attract national ho- and add more softball and baseball dia- tel chains to come into the city. Mesquite’s monds and soccer fields. With that, he in- ADR is around $50 to $60 while most troduced Eric Sullivan from Sports Facili- chains look for $90 to $100. ty Advisory and Management, who spoke Councilman Brian Wursten expressed Chamber hosting first Health & Wellness Expo about the economic impact the city could concerns about any possible expansion realize from expanding its sporting facili- of sports fields taking hotel rooms away The Mesquite Chamber of Commerce obstetrician and gynecologist, is new to ties to accommodate more national events. from existing events on peak weekends. would like to invite you to our first Mesquite and is taking new patients. Sullivan explained that Mesquite al- “People are sleeping in their cars when Health & Wellness Expo to be held at the Dr. Mekdelawit Aschenaki, a cardi- ready has a solid base of sports events they come to the events in Mesquite be- Mesquite Recreational Center, 100 W. ologist, who practices full-time and is upon which to build that includes adult cause there aren’t enough rooms avail- Old Mill Road from 3 to 6 p.m. taking new patients will give a presen- sport and social clubs, senior games, semi- able,” he said. Stop by and visit the wide variety of tation at 4:30 p.m. Deborah Campbell pro tournaments, distance runs and ob- Wursten, director of Golf for Mesquite exhibits from acupuncture to eye care. of Fitness & Fun at 5 p.m. and Dr. Joyce stacle challenges, adult field day events, Gaming, added that he and other golf Electric bikes to public transit. Health Brown of Stress & Grief Relief at 5:30 and college club sports and intramurals. course directors are becoming increasing- insurance to retirement planning. Hear- p.m. According to Sullivan’s economic im- ly concerned that sports tournaments are ing to healthy living information. Stop by the Mesquite Chamber of pact analysis, eight multi-purpose sports taking available rooms away from golfers Presentations will be offered by Dr. Commerce booth for a list of exhibitors fields could yield a low revenue of $587,810 who then are forced to stay in St.