2013 Desert Life Archive Stories

As we honor those men and women who have valiantly served the cause for freedom this Memorial Day, may we also express gratitude to other brave people who made a difference in the world around them.We can appreciate the examples of bright scientists who have discovered cures for supposedly incurable diseases, inspiring teachers who h

Jehovah's Witness conventionLocal Jehovah's Witnesses invite neighbors to a convention in San Diego today and Sunday. The convention will begin at 9:20 a.m. at Qualcomm Stadium, 9449 Friars Road. The Bible teaching program, “What is Truth?” will be presented in English and Spanish. Two dramatic plays will bring Bib

Nine high school seniors have been nominated by their school counselors or teachers to be recognized by the Yuma Sun Scholars program for outstanding achievements in the field of math. They are among nearly 50 students chosen to be honored this year. Every area high school can nominate one student for each category: technical studies, arts, fore

Twelve high school seniors have been nominated by their school counselors or teachers to be recognized by the Yuma Sun Scholars program for outstanding achievements in the field of language arts. They are among nearly 50 students chosen to be honored this year. Every area high school can nominate one student for each category: technical studies,

Yuma dancers recently represented Arizona at a prestigious festival, where they leapt and twirled their way to earning major scholarships and a special honor for their ballet company.The dancers from Ballet Yuma were the only Arizona performers who participated during Regional Dance America's (RDA) festival for the Pacific Region. Al

WHERE TO BE• La Vida Loca — 8 p.m. Fridays — Cocopah Casino's River Room • To the Desert We Shall Return — 8 p.m. Friday — Strummer's Village Tavern • DJ Sloe — 9 p.m. Fridays — LZ Bar and Grill • DJ Rudy — 9:30 p.m. Friday — Paradise Casino, Sharky's Lounge • E

• Holiday closures — All east county post offices, banks and the Wellton town hall will close Monday for Memorial Day.• Town of Wellton — Pool hours will be 4-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and will change to 1-5 p.m. every day Friday. Lifeguard classes will be 8-11 a.m. Saturday through June 6, Mondays-Thursdays. You mus

END-OF-YEAR ACTIVITIESWHERE: AmeriSchools Academy NorthGOING ON: Sixth-level promotion ceremony and dance today; readiness graduation FridayRISE, SING CONCERTWHEN: Doors open 6:15 p.m.; concert 7 p.m. todayWHERE: St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1550 S. 14th Ave.GO

Conor Davis is a Competent Communicator, and he has the ribbon to prove it.The 15-year-old member of the Yuma Youth Command Gavel Club, the official young adult offshoot for Toastmasters International, became the first local “Gavelier” to reach the milestone when he completed the 10th and final speech needed to earn the C

Eight high school seniors have been nominated by their school counselors or teachers to be recognized by the Yuma Sun Scholars program for outstanding achievements in the field of foreign language. They are among nearly 50 students chosen to be honored this year. Every area high school can nominate one student for each category: technical studie

For the second year in a row, the Tierra del Sol Sun Dragon Band and Choir has earned significant awards at a competition sponsored by Disneyland.For the 2013 contest, 34 fourth- and fifth-grade students from Tierra del Sol Elementary School traveled to Disneyland to participate in Disney's Music in the Parks Festival.The

Nine high school seniors have been nominated by their school counselors or teachers to be recognized by the Yuma Sun Scholars program for outstanding achievements in the field of career/technical. They are among nearly 50 students chosen to be honored this year. Every area high school can nominate one student for each category: technical studies

Both speakers for the recent 2013 commencement at Arizona Western College and Northern Arizona University-Yuma share a love for higher education and the possibilities it provides. AWC commencement speaker Stephanie Rivas had her start at the local community college at the age of 5 in the original Child Development Learning Lab, as th

Vacation Bible school fundraiserCalvary Baptist Church, 101 W. 26th St., will have a fundraiser for Vacation Bible school from 2 to 7 p.m. today at Panda Express in Yuma Palms.You must have a flyer for the restaurant to donate 20 percent of your meal. Call 726-5655 or come by the church office.Benefi

A young man found a $2 bill on the road. From that time on, he never lifted his eyes from the ground while walking. In the course of 40 years, he accumulated an interesting collection. This treasure comprised 29,516 buttons, 54,172 pens, 7 pennies, a bent back and a miserable disposition. He lost the glory of sunrise. Beautiful sunse

The indigenous people of Mexico are being shown in a different light, held within a black-and-white landscape, unable to speak but having so much to say.They are the people of photographer Alejandra Platt's exhibit that is currently visiting the Yuma Art Center, 254 S. Main St. In her exhibit called “En el Nombre de Dios,&rdquo

Marine Corps Air Station Yuma recently hosted the inaugural children’s tour Intro to Devil Dogs 101, with the help of Marines, volunteers, teachers and parents from the local community. Children from a handful of local elementary schools participated in the tour, which began on Ramada Field and finished on the flight line with a co

WHERE TO BE• La Vida Loca — 8 p.m. Fridays — Cocopah Casino's River Room • Gruuve Masters — 9 p.m. Friday — Paradise Casino's Sharky's Lounge • DJ Sloe — 9 p.m. Fridays — LZ Bar and Grill • Ernie Shoemaker — 5 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays — AmVets • Volumes, Glass Clo

MOTHERS'S DAY PROGRAMWHEN: 6 p.m. todayWHERE: San Luis High School, 1250 N. 8th Ave.GOING ON: The Gadsden Elementary School District music department will have its annual Mother's Day program celebration with the performances of the district marching band, mariachi, jazz and folkloric dancers; free

• Wellton Elementary School — Kindergarten Child Find for the 2013-14 school year will be from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through May 23. If you have children who will be 5 by Aug. 31, call 785-3311 to make an appointment. If you know of a child from birth to 5 with a disability or suspect disability, bring the child to Child Find.

Artist Shaun Sosinski buys his paint in the hardware department and uses a paintbrush he has to shake between each use.For this Sosinski, inspiration lands on the canvas with a colorful hiss.The Yuma man has mastered making art with pencil. He also knows how to paint in the traditional style, using everything from waterco

It takes a special event to turn a whole section of town into a giant art gallery.That's the magic of the North End Art Walk. This year's event is slated for 5 to 9 p.m. Friday.Businesses ranging from beauty salons to bars will open their doors to artists who will be showing off their works and eager to meet a

Many students are getting ready to graduate and some are asking what do I do next? Here are a few steps to help you along the way.Find your passion. What did you love doing while you were in school? This question can be for students graduating from high school or college. Finding your passion gives you power. The power to select the

We may not be able to grow raspberries in Yuma, but blackberries certainly enjoy our hot climate. By the beginning of April, white flowers are popping out all over blackberry bushes, and by May, delicious berries are ready for picking.Sandy Silvas, owner of Silvas Farm, has grown blackberry bushes for many years.“I

Growing up Yuman, Justin Marks always seemed to be around garages and tools, so it wasn't a surprise when he and a friend spent hundreds of hours last year in a mechanic shop on his family's farm restoring an antique tractor, making sure it looked and ran as it did 67 years ago.Marks said his stepfather gave him the 1946 Farmall H-mo