Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce

It’s A Dry Heat

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 20:49:00 GMT

A few months of high temperatures is the price we pay for living in the desert oasis of Bullhead City along the Colorado River. But it is a dry heat, just like the oven. And our fall, winter and spring temperatures are far more enjoyable than Duluth, Billings, or Fargo.

On a more serious note, yes, it is hot come July and August. But with a bit of perspective, and a history lesson, summer becomes much more tolerable.

Case in point, a few days ago it was 102 degress in Denver, Colorado, the “Mile High City.” And the humidity was nearly 50%, a dramatic difference from the 11% humidity in Bullhead City.

And of course air conditioning in our homes, offices and cars make even the hottest day bearable. But how did people survive the desert heat before air conditioning.

According to the accounts of early explorers, the Mohave that called the river valley home for centuries spent a lot of time swimming in the river during the months of summer. Hardy pioneers that settled Hardyville, built Fort Mohave, and developed mining camps in the rugged Black Mountains used time honored desert construction methods.

The used adobe and stone, built places with thick walls, added wide shaded porticos, and widows positioned to catch evening breezes. And they spent a lot of time swimming in the river, endured the heat, and counted the days until winter.

Martha Summerhayes, the wife of an Army lieutenant, wrote extensively of her life in the Arizona Territory in the 1870s. In her journals that were the basis for the book Vanished Arizona , she wrote about hot dresses, “indescribably” smelly rotten food and swimming in the Verde River.

She and her family, and generations of Arizonans well into the WWII years, slept outdoors on porches. The legs of their beds were placed in cans of water to ward off ants, scorpions and other pests.

In the summer of 1915, then 21-year old Edsel Ford and some friends from college followed the National Old Trails Road west to California on a grand adventure. In his journal entry dated July 16 he noted, “Arrived at Needles 8:30 P.M., slept on porch of hotel on account of heat.”

Centuries of simply surviving the desert heat during the months of summer gave way to the modern technologies of HVAC systems and air conditioning with a slow evolution that started in 1908. That was the year that Oscar Palmer of Phoenix built the first drip type evaporative cooler in Arizona.

The concept was ancient. There are records that in ancient Egypt and Persia, the wealthy hired servants to fan over clay water jugs or basins of water. According to legend Leonardo de Vinci experimented with a fan-driven cooling system. Early Spanish pioneeers learned from native populations that a mesh of cactus fibers or grass hung with hte bottom acting as a wick in clay water jars, ollas, could make a room tolerable with the slightest breeze.

Early American pioneers took the idea a step further and hung wet burlap or cotton sheets over doors and windows. The advent of electric fans made the process somewhat more efficient.

So, a few months of heat made tolerable with air conditioning, or half a year spent scrapping the windshield in the morning, shoveling snow, and of course road salt that turns your car into Swiss cheese, which do you prefer? To learn more about Bullhead City, and why it was recently rated as one of the top ten small cities for remote workers, contact the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce today.

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America .

Greener Pastures

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 20:31:00 GMT

In the literal sense of the words Bullhead City, Arizona on the Colorado River is not an ideal place to look for greener pastures. After all, it is located on the edge of the vast Mojave Desert.

However, if you consider the term in the context of opportunity, Bullhead City is ideally suited for people in search of greener pastures. Measurable snowfall is such a rarity that it is considered an historical event. Bullhead City is centrally located. And it has a progressive business climate.

The COVID 19 pandemic sparked a seismic societal shift. Remote work became a viable option for many people. Business owners were forced to evaluate alternative options based on tax incentives and long term sustainability.

A series of studies reveal that in general business owners cite several main reasons for relocation. These include work force related issues, proximity to new and growing markets, the deisre to curtail operating costs, a need to upgrade facilities, and quality of life issues for emplyoees.

Quality of life is a difficult item to quantity. Essentially factors include educational opportunities and quality, diversity of recreational opportunities, and health care access. Climate, crime rates, and infrastructure related issues such as traffic and high speed internet access are also factors.

In general Bullhead City checks evey box. There are an array of edcuational opportunities including Mohave Community College. Health care access. High speed internet. And when evaluating operating costs in comparison to major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, Phoenix or Las Vegas, Bullhead City is a bargain.

For several years Chief Executive Magazine has consistently ranked Arizona as one of the Top Ten Best States for Business. And, increasingly, the state is favorably rated for remote work opportunities. As the favorable business climate in southern California continues to decline, Arizona will remain a popular and viable option.

Exemplifying Bullhead City’s suitability for business relocation, or business expansion, is Dot Foods. In early 2020 the largest foodservice redistribution company in North America invested heavily in expansion of its operations hub. The nearly 70,000 square feet expansion represented a nearly $12 million investment.

But relocation is not without its challenges, especially if you are moving from an urban area or if you are not accustomed to life in the desert. A slower pace of life is not always easy to adjust to, especially if you are accustomed to spending hours in gridlock on the daily commute.

If you are giving though to relocation, we are hear to assist. Contact the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce and discover the strength of networking. And, perhaps, it might be advantageous to visit for a week or so, and to discover why this desert oasis is increasingly a destination for entrepreneurs and business owners with vision.

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

River Boats, Railroads & Highways

Tue, 10 May 2022 16:42:00 GMT

In the modern era Bullhead City, Arizona is known for many things. It is a recreational desert oasis on the Colorado River. It is a top rated location for remote workers. It is ideally suited for retirement. It has a friendly business climate that is ideally suited for the entrepreneur with vision. And, of course, we are known for hot summers and very mild winters.

Even though Bullhead City is not located along a major interstate transportation corridor, river boats, railroads and highways have played an important role in the areas development. And transportation will also be playing an important role in its future.

Key to Arizona’s early development was steamboats on the Colorado River and river ports that connected to a network of trails such as the Mohave Prescott Road. Hardyville and Mohave City near present day Bullhead City were crucial riverpoints in northwest Arizona. As an historic footnote, both towns also served as the county seat.

In the early 1880s construction of the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad and the bridging of the Colorado River marked the beginning of the end for riverboat traffic. It also fueled development of river valley agriculture and mining on the west slope of the Black Mountains.

An almost forgotten chapter of railroad history in the Colorado River Valley is the short lived Mohave Milltown Railroad. With materials shipped across the river from Needles, California, this narrow gauge railroad was built in 1903 primarily to service the Leland Gold Mine near Oatman.

The seventeen mile line required a number of bridges to span deep arroyos and was completed before the end of the year. From a point on the Arizona side of the Colorado River across from Needles, the railway connected Milltown with the Leland Mine, Vivian Mine and the Midnight Mine.

It operated for just one year. Monsoon rains in September, and then torrential rains in October 1904, washed out bridges and sections of track. Repairs were never made, and the rails were removed in 1912. Seven miles of the railbed is maintained by the Bureau of Land Management as a scenic hiking and mountain bike trail.

A glimpse of the future is found in a recent announcement by Tami Ursenbach, Director Mohave County Economic Development. In the May newsletter she noted, “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will invest billions of dollars in rural communities across the country. Supporting Americans living in rural areas remains a top priority for the Biden Administration, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivers on the President’s promises to work toward delivering affordable, high-speed internet, safe roads and bridges, modern wastewater systems, clean drinking water, reliable and affordable electricity, and good paying jobs in every rural community. In an effort to deliver on these promises, the Biden Administration is committed to improving transparency into the availability of federal infrastructure resources to support rural communities’ ability to access these critical funds.”

Bullhead City is a great place to live, to retire, to open a business and to raise a family. It is a city with a bright and shining future. If you would like more information about opportunity in Bullhead City contact the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce.

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

The Oasis

Sat, 09 Apr 2022 21:52:00 GMT

Bullhead City, Arizona on the banks of the Colorao River is often referenced as a desert oasis. And rightly so. This dynamic, vibrant mini city that is firmly rooted in a colorful history is fast becoming a destination for people lookinig for a new place to call home.

Counted among the many gems that make Bullhead City special is Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, a desert oasis in the literal sense of the world. It was established with an Executive Order issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941 to preserve migratory bird habitat on the middle Colorado River.

These riparian areas were being increasingly threatened with construction of dams on the Colorado River. These included Parker Dam completed in 1938, Boulder Dam, now Hoover Dam, dedicated on September 30, 1935 and Davis Dam completed in 1951.

The refuge consists of 37,515 acres along the river in Arizona and California. Even though it only protects thrity miles of river it encompasses nearly 300 miles of shoreline from near Needles, California and Topock, Arizona to Lake Havasu City. This is one of the last remaining natural riparian areas on the river and it includes the majestic twenty mile long Topock Gorge, and a rugged section of mountains known as the Needles.

As it is within the Pacific Flyway, a major north-south North American migratory route, it is a haven for an array of birds such as geese, quail, cranes, yellow-billed cuckoo, ducks, egrets, roadrunner, bald eagle, falcons, herons, falcons, and numerous endangered species. It is also a breeding ground for many species. To date more than 315 species have been identified!

The 17,801 acre Havasu Wilderness designated in 1990 lies within the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge. The area abounds with wildlife. In the gorge bighorn sheep are a common sight. Observant hikers and boaters, especially during early morning hours, will often see coyotes, bobcats, foxes, and porcupines. The endangered desert tortoise as well as Gila monsters, lizards and a variety of snakes also inhabit the area.

The refuge office is located at 317 Mesquite Avenue in Needles, California. On holidays, after hours, or on weekends and holidays, a self-serve kiosk with pertinent brochures is front of the administrative office.

Ranger guided tours in Havasu National Wildlife Refuge are offered on the second Tuesday of each month, from October thru April, 8 to 10 a.m. MST. This is an excellent opporutnity to learn about the plants and animals in the refuge, and conservation efforts.

The tours begin at the North Dike parking lot. The follow the dike road from the North Dike parking lot. Contact the visitor center in Needles for directions and infromation. And for more information about area attractions and day trips contact the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce .

And after a morning of exploring the refuge with hiking or by boat, Topock66 Marina and Riverstore is another desert oasis worthy a visit. Cold drinks and a good lunch are always a great way to round out a desert adventure.

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

Silver & Gold

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 20:44:00 GMT

Bullhead City is ideally suited for the outdoor enthusiast. We are at the heart of a fishing and boating paradise. There are miles of fascinating hiking or moutain bike trails such as the old railbed for the historic Mohave Mill Town Railroad between Oatman and the Colorado River. And if you are a fan of off road and back country trips, there are a coutless number of scenic old mining roads that range from moderate to challenging.

A great loop drive that presents the illusion of a backcountry adventure begins at Bullhead City Community Park, a delightful desert oasis with beach and boat launch. Continue south on highway 95 through Fort Mohave to Boundary Cone Road, county road 153. To set the mood for your odyssey, be sure to stop and read the monument at the junction.

As you drive east toward the foothills of the rugged Black Mountains and the easily identified Elephants Tooth rock formation, suburbia quickly gives way to rugged desert wilderness with stunning views of the Colorado River Valley. The next highway junction is with iconic Route 66. Continue into Oatman, an old mining town transformed into the romanticised image of a village on the western frontier complete with burros roaming free in the streets, stage gunfights, and buffalo burgers at the historic Oatman Hotel saloon.

If you make the drive on March 19, internationally acclaimed author Jim Hinckley, creator of the Jim Hinckley’s America network, will be signing books at Jackass Junction that afternoon. He will also be answering questions about Route 66, and assist with Route 66 travel planning as he will have an array of promotional materials available.

The return drive to the park is less than twenty miles via picturesque Silver Creek Road. A four wheel drive is not needed on this rutted, rocky, occasionally graded road but ground clearance is recommended.

Vestiges of the areas rich mining history abound. Long before the last gold rush in Arizona that gave rise to Oatman and Gioldroad, prospectors pulled a bit of color from Silver Creek wash, and the tent camps of Vivian and Snowball were home to a few dozen hardy souls.

This is a dusty but picturesque drive that offers endless opportunities for great photographs. And so do amazing vistas, picturesque valleys, and endless oppoortunities for getting some great photographs. Chollas locally referred to as jumping cactus, yuccas and towering spires of stone dominate the roadside.

A few miles from the junctionof Route 66 and Silver Creek Road find a safe pullout and look to the right side. The multicolored buttes mark the beginning of the incredibly beautiful 28,000 acre Mount Nutt Wilderness in the Black Mountains. Bighorn sheep are often spotted on the mountan sides early in the morning.

On the left side of the road is 3,143 foot Hardy Mountain. Named for Captain William Harrison Hardy, an earlypioneer and namesake for Hardyville, the former county seat near present day Bullhead City, the mountain cast long shadows over the desert landscpae in the late afternoon hours.

Views of the Colorado River Valley are quite spectacular. On the far side of the river, the skyline is dominated by Spirit Mountain in Nevada. There is an excellent scenic overlook about seven and one half miles from the Route 66 junction. This is just a few miles from where Silver Creek road becomes a paved road that joins with the Bullhead Parkway.

If you would like more information about wonderful outdoor recreation oppportunities, or exciting day trips, conact the Bullhead Chamber of Commerce .

Ghosts of The Past

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 21:02:00 GMT

Ghost towns. Just the mere mention of these words conjures visions of dusty streets, blowing tumbleweeds, and weathered old buildings adorned with faded signs. As with many things in life the reality is often quite different from the dream.

Some towns , such as Oatman, stretch the very definition of ghost town. This old mining town has been transformed into a tourists Mecca. As a result the line between historic tangible link to the western frontier and the romanticized perception of that time are blurred.

Goffs located west of Needles, California on state highway 66 is less than a wide spot in the road. But there was a time when this was a bustling railroad center with an economy fueled by traffic on the Arrowhead Highway, National Old Trails Road, and later, Route 66.

As what remains of Goffs is mostly windswept ruins and sun faded relics the first time visitor is surprised to discover the Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association that is housed in the renovated historic 1914 schoolhouse. The diverse array of exhibits inside as well as outside at this museum complex are on par with what you would find in a major metropolitan area.

Nelson, Nevada, just off U.S. 95 north of Searchlight on state highway 165 better fits the traditional descriptor of ghost town even though there is still a small population of 40 people. There is a rich and colorful history associated with this remote desert community.

The first reports about the rich mineral deposits in nearby Eldorado Canyon on the Colorado River date to Spanish explorations in the area during the late 18th century. Actual mining developed in earnest in the 1860s and continued intermittently through WWII.

The town has a colorful and dark history. Counted among the victims during the towns violent years was Charles Nelson, the towns namesake. Facts are intertwined with myth and legend but it is known that it was an argument over a woman that led Ahvote, a Paiute miner, to Nelson.

Tours of the historic Techatticup Mine are counted among the highlights of a visit to Nelson. In formation about these tours is available at the general store.

After exploring Nelson, follow the highway to its end overlooking the Colorado River. The scenic drive is an adventure in itself. But it should be noted that aside from cold drinks and snacks sold at the general store there are no services in Nelson or on highway 165.

Aside from being an ideal place to start a business, raise a family or to retire, or to just enjoy recreational activities on the Colorado River, Bullhead City is at the heart of an adventurers paradise. Even without a Jeep or off road vehicle there are more than enough fascinating day trips to fill years of fun filled weekends.

For more information about Bullhead City, relocation, or area attractions, contact the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce .

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

Past, Present and Future

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 20:48:00 GMT

Bullhead City on the Colorado River is a progressive, modern community with an eye fixed on the future. It is centrally located to major metropolitan areas and a diverse array of outdoor recreational sites. This as well as a mild winter climate and a business friendly climate make it an ideal location to open or relocate a business, to retire, and to raise a family.

The world is taking notice. The COVID 19 pandemic dramatically transformed employment and escalated a shift to companies hiring remote workers. A recent report noted that 62 % of employed Americans worked remotely for at least several weeks in either 2020 or 2021.

In January 2021, InMyArea released a study of the best communities for remote workers. Bullhead City, Arizona rated number six in the top communities recommended. And it was the only community in the southwest to make the list.

In 2018 and in 2019, Bullhead was listed as one of the most affordable cities in the state of Arizona. This was based a the formula that constitutes a city’s composite index comprised of six components; housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, health care and miscellaneous goods and services.

More recently a study found that Bullhead City was one of the best places to retire in the state of Arizona. In this study one of the city’s asset that received particular attention was “a peaceful river walk lined with friendly restaurants.”

It is rather fitting that Bullhead City is facing a very bright future. It is deeply rooted in the state’s history, and the area is linked to key moments in the development of northwest Arizona.

The first Mohave County seat was established in 1864 at Mohave City. Surprisingly its post office remained open until October 31, 1938.

Mohave City was a small but important river port. It was located approximately one mile north of Fort Mohave in Mohave Valley. In 1867 the county seat was related to Hardyville a short distance north of present day Bullhead City.

Named for Captain William Harrison Hardy, the post office at this river port was established on January 17, 1865. It closed in February 1883 as completion of the railroad to the river dramatically curtailed the riverboat and ferry trade, and the population of Hardyville rapidly declined. The fade from prominence had commenced with relocation of the county seat to Cerbat in the Cerbat Mountains.

Hardyville and Fort Mohave were the western terminus of the Mohave Prescott. This territorial era road connected the river port to Prescott, territorial capital, and Forth Whipple. Until completion of the railroad this was a vital trade corridor.

Bullhead City is firmly grounded in Arizona’s earliest history. But it is a modern community that strives to ensure a welcoming environment for families, retirees, or business owners. If you would like more information about Bullhead City relocation, contact the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce .

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

A Time For Discovery

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 18:20:00 GMT

The months of winter in Bullhead City, Arizona and the Colorado River Valley are ideally suited for adventure and exploration. And with family arriving for the Christmas holiday from the snow country of the north and east, a shared desert adventure will make memories that last a lifetime.

The quirky, fun, almost ghost town of Oatman is nestled along iconic Route 66 against the picturesque Black Mountains just fifteen miles from Bullhead City. Dating to the dawn of the 20th century Oatman, and the nearby communities of Goldroad and Old Trails purportedly had a population of more than 5,000 people during the teens.

Today the burros roam wild in the streets. And what visit to a frontier era western mining town could be considered complete without a shoot out in the street? The colorful and fun reenactments are performed daily.

The old Durlin Hotel, now the Oatman Hotel, is the oldest and tallest adobe building in Mohave County. There is an urban legend that Clark Gable and Carol Lombard stayed at the hotel on their return trip to California after their March 1939 wedding in Kingman.

There is also a legend about miners leaving money at the hotel bar to ensure they could drink between paydays. That legend has manifested in walls and ceilings adorned with dollar bills that travelers from throughout the world have personalized with greetings. And the delicious buffalo burgers are a treat that seem to taste even better in such an historic setting.

Mohave Community College offers an array of interesting classes at their campuses in Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City, and Kingman. Beginning in January the Kingman campus will begin offering a series of classes on area history with internationally acclaimed author Jim Hinckley, developer of the Jim Hinckley’s America travel network, as the instructor.

These classes will include a series of walking tours. One will be along the Route 66 corridor in the historic business district of Kingman. Another will highlight historic roads on a three mile hike through Coyote Pass between Kingman and Golden Valley. Remnants of a pre Columbian Native American trade route, and the mid 19th century Mohave Prescott Road that connected Hardyville and Fort Mohave on the Colorado River with Fort Whipple at Prescott will be followed. A part of the hike will also be along an abandoned alignment of U.S. 466.

Havasu National Wildlife Area near Golden Shores, a few miles south of Fort Mohave, makes for a fascinating and unique desert adventure. This rare Colorado River riparian area is a stop on the Pacific Flyway, a major north-south migratory route along the western coast of the United States. And so this is one of the best places in Arizona for bird watchers.

Bullhead City is at the heart of an array of desert adventure opportunities. But there is also fine dining in the pine forested Hualapai Mountains, festivals and events on as well as along the river, and interesting museums. For more day trip ideas stop by the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce .

Hidden Arizona History

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 21:08:00 GMT

Union Pass marks the summit after the long climb from the Colorado River Valley on highway 68. For the observant remnants of the areas rich mining history are seen from the highway.

Some of the earliest mining activity in Mohave County took place on the western slopes of the Black Mountains in the area of Union Pass. The first recorded gold discoveries in the Oatman and Union Pass Mining Districts date to 1863 and a mine established by John Moss.

Hidden amongst the rocks, the brush, and shadowy canyons in Union Pass is decades of Arizona history. In 1851, Captain Lorenzo Sitgreaves and a contingent of topographers, naturalists, artists, and military personnel left the Zuni Pueblo in western New Mexico. Their assignment was to explore and map the Zuni and Colorado Rivers, evaluate their navigability, and determine the feasibility of a wagon road across what is now northern Arizona.

The expedition was led along a Native American trade route across what is northern Arizona. They followed a route that bypassed the depths of Canyon Diablo, north of the San Francisco Peaks, and then around the south side of Bill Williams Mountain.

Much of the route traveled would later be followed by the railroad, the national Old Trails Road and U.S. 66. From Beale Springs near Kingman they deviated from the course of these modern transportation corridors, crossed Coyote Pass and the Sacramento Valley to Union Pass.

In the expedition journals Sitgreaves wrote:

“November 5, Camp No. 32.– The approach to the mountains, before alluded to, was by a gradual ascent, so that when we arrived at their base, there did not remain much to be overcome. The pass was nevertheless exceedingly rough, and bordered by overhanging crags, which it was deemed prudent to occupy before advancing with the atajo. We passed through, however, unmolested, and were at length cheered by the view of the Colorado, winding far below through a broad valley, its course for many miles being apparent from the large trees upon its banks. The smoke of numerous fires in the valley gave evidence of a large Indian population, and the sight brought a spontaneous cheer from the men, who believed that this was to be the end of their privations and the labors and anxieties of the journey.”

Reaching the Colorado River and the villages of the Mohave near modern Bullhead City, the expedition continued south to Yuma.

In 1857, Lieutenant Edward Fitzgerald Beale accepted an assignment to survey and build a wagon road across New Mexico and Arizona, and to test the viability of camels for use in military transport in the desert southwest. To a large degree he followed in the footsteps of the Sitgreaves expedition.

But rather than continue south along the river, the Beale expedition swam his camels, horses, and mules across the Colorado River, and built crude rafts to transport supplies. Shortly afterwards a ferry was established at a site know as Beale’s Crossing to accommodate wagon trains. The site of Beale’s Crossing is near the point where Mohave Valley Drive curves south along the Colorado River.

The Bullhead City area is rich in Arizona history. It is a city rooted in the past, with a very bright future. If you are relocating to the area, and would like more information about all that Bullhead City has to offer, contact the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce.

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

Make the most of the season by following these simple guidelines

richard@membermomentum.com (Richard Scully) — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 00:28:50 GMT

The new season is a great reason to make and keep resolutions. Whether it’s eating right or cleaning out the garage, here are some tips for making and keeping resolutions.

Make a list

Lists are great ways to stay on track. Write down some big things you want to accomplish and some smaller things, too.

Check the list regularly

Don’t forget to check in and see how you’re doing. Just because you don’t achieve the big goals right away doesn’t mean you’re not making progress.

Reward yourself

When you succeed in achieving a goal, be it a big one or a small one, make sure to pat yourself on the back.

Think positively

Positive thinking is a major factor in success. So instead of mulling over things that didn’t go quite right, remind yourself of things that did.

Keep in touch with site visitors and boost loyalty

richard@membermomentum.com (Richard Scully) — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 00:28:50 GMT

There are so many good reasons to communicate with site visitors. Tell them about sales and new products or update them with tips and information.

Here are some reasons to make blogging part of your regular routine.

Blogging is an easy way to engage with site visitors

Writing a blog post is easy once you get the hang of it. Posts don’t need to be long or complicated. Just write about what you know, and do your best to write well.

Show customers your personality

When you write a blog post, you can really let your personality shine through. This can be a great tool for showing your distinct personality.

Blogging is a terrific form of communication

Blogs are a great communication tool. They tend to be longer than social media posts, which gives you plenty of space for sharing insights, handy tips and more.

It’s a great way to support and boost SEO

Search engines like sites that regularly post fresh content, and a blog is a great way of doing this. With relevant metadata for every post so search engines can find your content.

Drive traffic to your site

Every time you add a new post, people who have subscribed to it will have a reason to come back to your site. If the post is a good read, they’ll share it with others, bringing even more traffic!

Blogging is free

Maintaining a blog on your site is absolutely free. You can hire bloggers if you like or assign regularly blogging tasks to everyone in your company.

A natural way to build your brand

A blog is a wonderful way to build your brand’s distinct voice. Write about issues that are related to your industry and your customers.

Tips for writing great posts that increase your site traffic

richard@membermomentum.com (Richard Scully) — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 00:28:50 GMT

Write about something you know. If you don’t know much about a specific topic that will interest your readers, invite an expert to write about it.

Speak to your audience

You know your audience better than anyone else, so keep them in mind as you write your blog posts. Write about things they care about. If you have a company Facebook page, look here to find topics to write about

Take a few moments to plan your post

Once you have a great idea for a post, write the first draft. Some people like to start with the title and then work on the paragraphs. Other people like to start with subtitles and go from there. Choose the method that works for you.

Don’t forget to add images

Be sure to include a few high-quality images in your blog. Images break up the text and make it more readable. They can also convey emotions or ideas that are hard to put into words.

Edit carefully before posting

Once you’re happy with the text, put it aside for a day or two, and then re-read it. You’ll probably find a few things you want to add, and a couple more that you want to remove. Have a friend or colleague look it over to make sure there are no mistakes. When your post is error-free, set it up in your blog and publish.

Walkabout

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 22:04:00 GMT

The recent rains in the Black, Cerbat and Hualapai Mountains, and the downward slide in temperatures, means that walkabout season is upon us. For those fortunate enough to live in the Bullhead City area and Colorado River valley opportunities for such adventures abound.

Bullhead City is at the heart of a well developed extensive and diverse trail system. Add old roads to the mix and there is an almost endless amount of opportunity.

There are two trail systems of particular note in the colorful but imposing Black Mountains that cast long morning shadows over the Colorado River Valley. The Mount Nutt Wilderness is one of the areas best kept secrets.

Dominating the wild and rugged wilderness area is 5,216 feet Mount Nutt. Desert bighorn sheep roam free in this land of mesas, deep canyons and desert oasis shaded by towering cottonwood trees. Adding colorful contrasts is volcanic plugs and ancient tone weathered into twisted shapes that cast long shadows.

Secret Pass is another gem. While many parts are accessible with an ATV or sturdy 4×4, the best way to experience this scenic desert wonderland is on foot. From the west entrance to the east entrance is a hike of nearly twenty miles, so it is best to make the journey on two visits.

A natural arch, scenic wonders, waterholes and tales of lost treasure are just part of the allure. It is a rugged hike in places but the reward is stunning desert mountain landscapes.

Wrapped around the north and west perimeters of Kingman is the extensive trail system of the Cerbat Foothills Recreation Area. Another trail system is being developed with the historic 19th century Stockton Hill Road as the focal point. Long term plans call to link the two trail systems. Both present the illusion of wilderness and yet the trail heads and most of the trails are less than five miles from downtown Kingman.

Coyote Pass, bisected by U.S. 93, and soon I 11, is at the center of the recreation area. It is also rich in history.

Beale Springs, a desert oasis is the site of Camp Beale Springs, a military encampment established in the 1870s to protect the Mohave Prescott Road. It was also the site of the Hualapai internment camp after the Hualapai War, and the starting part for the Hualapai trail of tears.

For centuries this was a camp ground for travelers following a trade route that linked Cerbat Mountain turquoise mines to Hopi and Zuni Villages in the east and the Chumash and other tribes on the California coast. During his expeditions in 1776, Father Garces followed this trail and camped at Beale Springs. In the pass are also vestiges of a highway built in 1914 and U.S. 466.

To learn more about the hiking trails in Mohave County and western Arizona, and the great Mojave Desert, contact the local Bureau of Land Management , or visit their website. You can also learn about outdoor recreation opportunities through the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce .

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

Destination Bullhead City

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 21:24:00 GMT

Designed by Domingo Marcucci the side wheeler steamboat Uncle Sam was delivered in pieces to the Colorado River Delta by James Turnbull, a contractor who provided supplies to Yuma, in 1852. It marked the dawning of a new era on the Colorado River.

The 65-foot long steam boat with its 20-horsepower engine could carry 35 tons of supplies on a 15 day, 120 mile trip up the river. But its contributions to the opening of the Arizona Territory was short lived. In the spring of 1853 after an accident it sank at its dock below Fort Yuma and was washed away by a flood.

Within a few short years there were five steamers transporting supplies and people along the Colorado River below the confluence of the Virgin River. The largest was the Cocopah launched in 1859.

Built in San Francisco specifically for use on the Colorado River and launched in August 1859, this steamboat was 140 feet long, 29 feet wide, and had a shallow draft of 19 inches. It was ideally suited for the muddy Colorado River with its ever shifting sand bars. It was capable of carrying 100 tons of cargo.

As steamboats began plying the river as far north as El Dorado Canyon, to protect the ever increasing Colorado River traffic as well as overland routes into the territory, in 1859 Fort Mohave was established a few miles down river from the present site of Bullhead City. The assurance of safety provided by the military presence led the California Volunteers to establish Mohave City in 1863.

Mohave City served as the first Mohave County seat. But the small village had already began to fade by the time Fort Mohave was expanded in 1869 and all civilians were ordered to leave within 30 days.

Many of these people moved about five miles north to the steamboat landing and crossroads town of Hardyville that had been established in 1864. This frontier outpost had eclipsed Mohave City with establishment of a ferry that linked the Mojave Road and Mohave Prescott Road, a primary overland route that connected Los Angeles with the territorial capital of Arizona.

The town had also been given a boost when the George A. Johnson & Company, a major steamboat company on the Colorado River, established a landing to serve the rapidly developing mines in the San Francisco Mining District. Exemplifying its prominence Hardyville was designated the county seat on on January 21, 1867.

For more than 150 years this oasis on the Colorado River in western Arizona has been a destination for visionaries as well as those in search of opportunity. With the recent announcement that Bullhead City is counted among the top 10 medium-sized cities for remote work according to an InMyArea study the city will continue to be a destination for years to come.

For more information about relocation and recreation in Bullhead City contact the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce .

Written by Jim Hinckley of Ji m Hinckley’s America

The Cornerstone

Sun, 15 Aug 2021 19:26:00 GMT

Aside from the advent of air conditioning, it was the construction of Bullhead Dam, now Davis Dam, and the creation of Lake Mohave that are the foundation for the oasis that is Bullhead City. It and the construction of other dams along the Colorado River transformed the American southwest.

The first successful project to harness the Colorado River was in 1892. In that year the Grand Ditch to transport water across the Continental Divide into eastern Colorado was completed.

The modern era of Colorado River containment occurred in 1902 with establishment of the U.S. Reclamation Service (Bureau of Reclamation). This was just three years before a major flood on the lower Colorado River breeched an irrigation ditch and retaining walls. The water poured into the Salton Sink creating the Salton Sea.

The first decades of the 20th century was an era of transition in the southwest. Before completion of the railroad across western Arizona and the Mojave Desert of California, the Colorado River was an artery of commerce. Riverboats offloaded everything needed to transform rough and tumble mining camps into oasis of civilization in the Arizona wilderness.

Largely replaced by the railroad, riverboats remained a key component of commerce, especially in the upper Colorado River basin near the confluence of the Virgin River into the first years of the 20th century. It was completion of the Laguna Dam near Yuma in 1909 that marked the end of that chapter in southwest history.

Arthur Powell Davis, the director of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation from 1914 to 1923 and namesake for Davis Dam, was a visionary. He was uniquely qualified to lead efforts to transform the Colorado River Valley.

He had intimate first hand knowledge of the Colorado Basin. Numerous trips had been made along the river with his uncle, John Wesley Powell, the one armed Civil War veteran that that had been the first person to traverse the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River.

In 1922 he delivered to Congress with a comprehensive study of the Colorado Basin with detailed plans to harness the river as a means of transforming the desert southwest into an agricultural paradise. In the study he also outlined plans for staged construction of a series of dams for hydroelectric use.

Boulder Dam, now Hoover dam, was the first and the largest of he projects undertaken. Parker Dam was built between 1934 and 1938.

Initial work on Davis Dam commenced in late 1941. WWII brought the project to a standstill. It also almost resulted in cancellation of the endeavor.

After completion of surveys, in May of 1942 the United States Army Air Corps Army Air Force authorized construction of one of six aerial gunnery schools at Kingman, Arizona. To expedite construction of the Kingman Army Airfield work on Davis Dam was temporarily suspended. Crews and equipment were assigned to the Kingman project and the new base officially opened on August 4, 1942.

An array of issues including funding and a shortage of materials prevented resumption of dam construction immediately after the war. Further delay was resultant of congressional hearings and a review of Colorado River Valley development projects. In spite of these issues Davis Dam was completed in 1951.

The creation of Lake Mohave served as a cornerstone for Bullhead City to develop as a recreational oasis in the desert. And the dam also curtailed flooding that had plagued river valley development for a century.

To learn more about Bullhead City as a vacation destination, or a place to call home, contact the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce .

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

Monsoon!

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 17:21:00 GMT

In August 1959, at the height of the monsoon season, a torrential downpour in the barren Sacramento Mountains west of Needles, California became a disaster of epic proportions. As often happens with monsoon storms, the deluge in the mountains transformed dry stream beds in the desert into raging rivers. Then, as the storm swept into the Colorado River Valley, the roaring waters overflowed banks and the normally dry desert plains were transformed into small lakes.

There was extensive flooding with property damage in Needles. But the real disaster unfolded west of town between Essex and the junction of Route 66 and U.S. 95. The waters undercut the road bed and washed out trestles of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad causing suspension of rail service.

Sections of Route 66 were erased or inundated by flood waters. Bridges were damaged. The highway was closed at Needles and at Essex. Traffic backed up into Arizona, and as far west as Ludlow.

The trucks of an eight member Santa Fe Railroad track crew sent to evaluate conditions west of Needles were swept from the road. Two were never found. Two survived. Eight passenger vehicles and two tractor trailers were swept from Route 66 but miraculously there were no fatalities.

It was not only transportation infrastructure that was severely damaged. More than 100 telephone poles were washed away crippling communication in the area for weeks.

Route 66 was closed for more than 12 hours. This was at a time when state highway department estimates were that more than 2,800 vehicles per day were counted at state line agricultural inspection stations.

The construction of detours created traffic bottlenecks and rerouting traffic of detours of more than 100 miles. It would be more than six months before normalcy returned to Route 66.

Monsoon storms are as much a part of life in the Colorado River communities as triple digit heat. They offer respite from drought and provide life giving water in the desert. And they provide opportunity for stunning photographs when storms build over the Hualapai, Black, Cerbat and Castle Mountains.

The summer of 2021 marks the return of what is shaping up to be a rather dramatic monsoon season in the Colorado River Valley. There is a possibility that an active monsoon season can provide some respite to the current southwest drought.

But the monsoon season also poses very serious risks. The episode in August 1959 was an example of monsoon power. Destruction of the Mohave Milltown Railroad line near Topock in 1904 is another. Seldom, however, do monsoons cause such damage.

The primary risk from monsoon storms is flooded roadways. But today we have advisory systems in place. We have response teams as well as a proactive Mohave County Road Department and well engineered roads.

If you would like more information about monsoon season in Bullhead City, or are planning to relocate to the area and have questions about the weather, available amenities, and the city’s business friendly climate contact the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce.

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

A Forgotten Chapter

Sun, 04 Jul 2021 21:57:00 GMT

There is a desert trail for hiking or a mountain bike challenge that runs from the Colorado River to the a point near the old mining town of Oatman. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management the trail is a tangible link to a nearly forgotten chapter in Arizona territorial history. Information about the trailheads is on their website. And for more information about historic sites and attractions in the Bullhead City area contact the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce .

Shortly after the discovery of large gold deposits on the western slopes of the Black Mountains in western Arizona mine owners in the San Francisco Mining District initiated discussions with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. They were hoping the railroad would build a spur line to mining camps that would curtail the cost of shipping.

In the closing months of 1902, the railroad initiated a survey for a proposed line. It was determined that in spite of the grade from the Colorado River, a railroad was feasible. But resultant of an extensive financial study the Santa Fe Railroad terminated the project.

The owners of the Mohave Gold Mining Company would not accept no as an answer. They then initiated discussions with the developers of the Tonopah Tidewater Railroad that operated a line from the Ludlow, California junction to mining camps in Nevada. They also negotiated a pledge of support from owners of the Snowball, Swiss American and Vivian Mines.

Linked with railroad development was a project to alleviate the water shortage at the 40 stamp mill near the present townsite of Oatman. In addition to a steam powered pumping station on the Colorado River an 8″ pipe line was built along the surveyed route for the rail line.

With adequate funding secured construction on the Mohave Milltown Railroad commenced in July 1903. With a work crew numbering in the hundreds, progress was swift. With the exception of a few trestles and water diversion systems at washes, the railroad was complete by November. On Monday, December 28, the Mohave Miner published an article under a banner headline proclaiming that regular service was now available.

In its first weeks of operation the mill produced $40,000 in gold. And the railroad was showing such promise that the owners purchased two additional locomotives. They also initiated discussions with the owners of other mines in the area, the first stage in the planned extension of the railroad.

As it turned out the entire project was little more than a dream built on shifting sands, literally. Issues with the Mill at Milltown forced investment in an expensive cyanide processing plant. Still, by November of 1904 milling operations were suspended. A notice published in the Mohave Miner that the Mohave Mining & Milling Company properties were to be sold at auction.

The western terminus of the railroad was at Riverside, elevation 470-feet, opposite Needles California. The eastern terminus was at the mill, elevation 1,700 feet. It crossed the “bottoms” or the flood plain of the Colorado River where it ran on a berm more than five feet high. Trestles spanned he numerous washes.

But almost from its inception the railroad was plagued by flooding. Four months after operations commenced, the line was closed for weeks to repair a washed out trestle. Then in September, and again in October, 1904 floods inundated much of the track along the river. It proved to be a fatal blow and at the end of November 1904 it was announced that the Mohave Gold Mining Company and the Mohave Milltown were entering receivership.

Shortly after this date railroad service resumed. But several times in 1905 and 1906 flash floods washed out the rail bed, damaged trestles, and flooded tracks along the Colorado River. Further complicating operations was destruction of the ferry that connected the rail line of the Santa Fe railroad at Needles.

In July of 1906, the courts intervened on the behalf of investors. As a result there was no money in the budget to repair flood damages. after the courts refused to fund repairs to that years flood damage. The line remained dormant until about 1910 when the rails were pulled.

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

Summer Has Arrived!

Sat, 19 Jun 2021 22:54:00 GMT

Heat is as much a part of summer in Bullhead City, Arizona and the Colorado River Valley as snow and sub zero temperatures are in Duluth. Both heat and cold pose serious risks. Both, however, can be mediated with applied knowledge and a bit of common sense.

The current heat wave gripping the southwest is an ideal opportunity to discuss heat stroke and dehydration. It is also an ideal time to discuss prevention and the recognition of symptoms.

The relatively low humidity of the desert southwest can speed up the dehydration process. Under normal conditions, we all lose body water daily.

If, however, an individual is overexposed to the sun, to heat exceeding body temperature, and does not drink enough water, the body looses excessive amounts of water. Also lost are vital body salts, such as sodium and potassium.

Heat exhaustion is a heat-related illness that can occur after exposure to high temperatures. It is often accompanied by dehydration.

There are two types of heat exhaustion to be aware of. Water depletion signs include excessive thirst, weakness, headache, and in extreme cases, loss of consciousness. Signs of salt depletion include nausea and vomiting, muscle cramps, and dizziness.

Heat exhaustion is not as serious or as dangerous as heat stroke. But neither one should be taken lightly. Without proper intervention, heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke, which can damage the brain and other vital organs. Death becomes a very real possibility.

Heat exhaustion is strongly related to the heat index, which is a measurement of how hot you feel when the effects of relative humidity and air temperature are combined. A relative humidity of 60% or more hampers sweat evaporation, which hinders your body’s ability to cool itself.

The risk of heat-related illness dramatically increases when the heat index climbs to 90 degrees or more. So, here in the deserts of western Arizona, especially during heat waves such as is being experienced at this time, it is important to pay attention too the heat index.

It is even more important to be aware of symptoms. These include mental confusion, dizziness, fatigue, cramping of muscles, rapid heartbeat, profuse sweating, severe headache, and pale skin. Be particularly aware of dark urine as this is also a sign of extreme dehydration.

Knowing how to deal with symptoms is equally as important. It is essential to immediately get the affected person out of the heat, preferably indoors in an an air-conditioned or cooled room. A shaded place is better than being in the sun.

Drink plenty of fluids. Water is important but sports drinks that replace lost salts, minerals and electrolytes is best. Always avoid caffeine and alcohol. If possible remove tight or unnecessary clothing, soak remaining clothes with water or take a cool shower. Make use of fans and iced towels if possible. If these measures fail to provide relief within 15 minutes, immediately seek emergency medical help.

Don’t fear the heat anymore than you fear the cold in the north country. Common sense, and applied knowledge is key. For more information about beating he heat, contact the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce .

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

Apples & Oranges

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 23:34:00 GMT

If you are in search of a new place to call home, have you considered Bullhead City on the banks of the desert oasis that is the Colorado River? Yes, summers are warm. In fact there are a couple of months when it gets downright hot.

But in Bullhead City you can beat the heat with a forty five mile drive to Hualapai Mountain Park. This pine forested oasis in a sea of desert is laced with miles of scenic hiking trails, and there is an excellent RV Park. And there is Hualapai Mountain Lodge with an event center and rustic stone cabins built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Unlike Minneapolis, Duluth, or Schenectady, New York, it seldom snows. In fact snow in measurable amounts is so rare it is deemed an historic event. Still, if you happen to miss the white stuff, again, Hualapai Mountain Park is just forty five miles away.

And unlike Seattle or San Francisco there are seldom cloudy or rainy days. The United States average is 205 sunny days per year. With an average of more than 345 days of sunshine annually Bullhead City is ideally suited for a home that taps into the power of the sun. It is also perfect for the sun lover that enjoys time on the lake or the river.

Even with home prices and building materials soaring in cost, Bullhead City is still a bargain. In fact, in almost every category Bullhead City will save you money.

The cost of housing is 14.5% less than the national average. Transportation in Bullhead City is 9.41% lower on average. Groceries are 14.5% lower than the national average.

And as a bonus, Bullhead City is centrally located. It is a mere 102 miles, one hour and forty-five minutes, to the excitement of Las Vegas, and a major international airport. Even closer is Laughlin, just across the river, with Las Vegas style gaming and world class entertainment.

Los Angeles is 280 miles to the west. Phoenix is 235 miles to the south. How about skiing? Lee Canyon Ski and Snowboard Resort is only 35 miles from Las Vegas. From Bullhead City to the Arizona Snowbowl near Flagstaff is a mere 200 miles to the east.

If hiking or mountain biking is the recreation of interest, the expansive Cerbat Foothills Recreation Area with miles of trails that link scenic wonders and historic sites such as Beale Springs is just 35 miles away in Kingman. There are also a network of scenic trails in the Black Mountains that cast morning shadows over the Colorado River Valley.

A wide array of educational and business services are available through the Bullhead City campus of Mohave Community College. This and a proactive business climate make Bullhead City ideal to open or relocate a business.

If you are looking for a place to retire, to raise a family, or to build a successful business, look no further. Bullhead City is a city on the move, a progressive community at the heart of recreational, all season paradise. For more information contact the Bullhead City Chamber of Commerce .

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

A Visit To The Land Down Under

Sun, 23 May 2021 19:46:00 GMT

Visitors or residents know that when it comes to recreational fun on the Colorado River, Bullhead City is the place to be. Few, however, know that Bullhead City is centrally located to a vast and diverse array of all season outdoor recreational opportunities.

But one of Bullhead City’s best kept secrets is that with a short scenic drive it is possible to beat the heat with an adventure in the land down under. Mitchell Caverns in the Providence Mountains State Recreation Area is less than 85 miles to the west.

Mitchell Caverns had been used by the Chemehuevi Indians used for ceremonies and food storage before the arrival of Spanish and American explorers. Bones of a Pleistocene-age ground sloth found near the entrance indicate that the caverns had provided shelter to people more than a thousand years ago.

Mitchell Caverns is actually a system that consists of three caves. They are “El Pakiva,” or the Devil’s House, and “Tecopa” named for a Shoshone chief. The deep and nearly vertical “Winding Stair Cave” is deemed to dangerous for general public admission. It is off limits except for previously approved and authorized scientific explorations.

In the 19th century prospectors visited the caverns in search of silver, or treasure, and found respite from the desert heat. In 1932, Ida and Jack Mitchell moved from Los Angeles to the Providence Mountains in the Mojave Desert. A small home was built, Jack purchased the property with the caverns and began prospecting in the surrounding desert.

As the caverns were located near U.S. 66, Jack decided that there might be more money in the pockets of tourists than in prospecting. He built a road to the site and built rustic stone cabins for overnight guests.

The venture was moderately successful, but this was during the Great Depression and so a steady income stream was a rarity. Using kerosene lanterns and then flashlights Jack provided tours into the cool, dark depths with its natural wonders.

The state bought the caves in 1954. The caverns became the focal point of the 6,540-acre Providence Mountains State Recreation Area. Electric lights and paved trails were added to ease access. The Mitchell’s home was expanded and renovated to serve as the visitors’ center. The access road was paved.

Located west of Needles, California the caverns are easily accessed from I40. At the Essex Road exit turn north and follow the Mitchell Caverns/Providence Mountain signs. Near the highway is a kiosk that provides information about the 1.5-million-acre East Mojave National Scenic Area. As a side note there are legislative initiatives to have the are designated as Mojave National Park.

The drive to the caverns is about sixteen scenic miles. At the parking area where the road ends near the visitor center, there are unhindered panoramic desert views. It is a photographers paradise.

Resultant of COVID 19 closures, the caverns is reopening with limited hours and reservations for turs are required. For more information contact Mitchell Caverns at 760-928-2586 on Mondays between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

And for more information about recreational opportunities in the Bullhead City area, contact the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce .

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

In All Seasons

Wed, 05 May 2021 23:24:00 GMT

The weeks of early spring are an ideal time to explore the scenic wonders of northwestern Arizona. Mornings are cool, even in the Colorado River Valley, with a touch of rain the harsh desert is transformed by the bright colors of wildflowers.

But even in the midst of summer with soaring temperatures the opportunity for outdoor adventures abound. Bullhead City is centrally located in an adventurers paradise for all seasons.

As an example, the Mohave & Milltown Railroad Trail near Fort Mohave follows seven miles of an historic railbed from the foothills of the Black Mountains to the Colorado River Valley. The Bureau of Land management lists this as a motorized and non motorized trail system

With the exception of washouts, hikers and mountain bikers travel along the actual railroad grade for most of the way. OHV and equestrian users follow a route which does not lie on the grade, but parallels and frequently crosses the railroad bed. The BLM notes that the best season is anytime from September through May.

The railbed is a tangible link to an obscure chapter in Mohave County history. The narrow gauge was built in 1903. But the seventeen miles railroad was short lived. A series of torrential storms in September and October 1904 severally damaged more than six miles of track. Repairs were never made and in 1912 the rails were removed.

Ideally suited for a summer getaway are the hiking trail system in Hualapai Mountain Park, a scenic twelve mile drive south of Kingman. The Aspen Springs Trail is counted among the most popular in the park for the views from the summits, the wildlife, and the diverse topography. There is also an RV park if you choose to transform a visit into a summer weekend getaway.

Initial construction of the trail system and the rustic stone cabins was the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Most of the trail system is suitable for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians to enjoy. The Aspen Trail, however, is for hiking only.

All of the shade dappled trails provide wonderful views of the desert far below. September through June is the recommended hiking season as these trails climb to elevations above 7,500-feet.

The hiking trails in the Hualapai Mountains also lead to historic sites such as the old Silver Bell Mine. Mining for silver at this site commenced in the early 1870’s. As the round is unstable, it has caved in on numerous occasions. This has left a depression on the hillside above the mine entrance.

On the opposite side of the trail is noticeable flat spot. A blacksmith shop and equipment storehouse stood at this site. Initial mining was done by Jesse Martin and David Echols. They had the high-grade silver ore shipped down the Colorado River and to Swansea Wales for processing.

For more information hiking in northwest Arizona, contact the Bullhead City Chamber of Commerce , the BLM or Hualapai Mountain Park .

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

In The Beginning

Sun, 25 Apr 2021 19:25:00 GMT

Before there was a Davis or Bullhead City, before Hardyville, the Colorado River Valley was the home of the Pipa Aha Macav — “The People By The River.” Today our neighbors are better known as Mojave.

The Mojave are the most northern of the Yuman tribes. The traditional homeland stretched along the Colorado River from Black Canyon near the present site of Hoover Dam to the Picacho Mountains below Parker Dam. The tribe lived in three groups or clans.

The northern Matha lyathum clan lived along the river from Black Canyon to near the present site of Mojave Valley. The central Hutto-pah inhabited the central Mojave Valley. The southern clan, Kavi lyathum, lived in villages between the Mojave Valley to a point below Needles Peaks.

The Mojave masterfully used the the regular overflow of the Colorado River to irrigate crops planted along the banks. Foods grown were supplemented with wild seeds, roots, mesquite beans, fish taken from the river with nets and traps, and game hunted in the mountains along the river.

There is increasing evidence that the Mojave, and tribes in northwestern Arizona, were prolific traders. A trade route that was later incorporated into the Mojave Road across the Mojave Desert connected with tribes living along the Pacific coast and in the Los Angeles basin.

The Mojave developed a unique style of pottery used for pots, dishes, ladles, bowels and other items decorated with distinctive geometric designs. Pottery was also used to make dolls for children that even had human hair.

Early European and American explorers noted that the Mojave were adept tattoo artists that used dots, lines and other markings on their faces as a fashionable cosmetic adornment. Olive Oatman who spent time with the Mojave was famous for the tattoo on her chin.

The first European references to the Mojave were made during the expedition led New Mexico governor Don Juan Onate in 1604. But the first European to spend with the Mojave and document their culture was Fray Francisco Garces that led expeditions in the area and across northern Arizona in 1775 and 1776.

He noted that the Mojave were friendly even though they had a reputation among the Hualapai for being fierce warriors. He noted in his travel journal that “the female sex is the most comely along the river, the males very healthy and robust.” He also noted that the men walked naked, the woman wore rabbits and beaver skin capes. He called them Jamajab.

The clash of cultures commenced in earnest with the arrival of American mountain men led by Jedediah Smith in 1826. Initially the Mojave welcomed the trappers. In 1827, James Ohio Pattie and a party of trappers were working their way along the Colorado River collecting beaver pelts. They ignored the Mojave demand in exchange for the beaver. There may have been a resultant assault on a Mojave elder. Four days later several men in the Pattie party and more than a dozen Mojave were killed in a battle.

Later that year Jedediah Smith returned with a party of trappers and was attacked. For more than thirty years afterward there would be clashes between the Mojave, explorers, trappers, immigrants and settlers.

In May 1854, Heinrich Balduin Möllhausen, a German artist, was hired as a topographer and draftsman for the Lt. Amiel Whipple expedition. While charting surveying a possible route for a proposed transcontinental railway he documented Native Americans, including the Mojave people, and scenes of the southwest.

You can learn more about the Mojave people and the Bullhead City area at the Colorado River Museum. Housed in a building built in 1947 to serve the population of workers who were building Davis Dam. The Museum is located a few miles south of the Laughlin Bridge at Bullhead Community Park.

To learn more about area attractions contact the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce .

Picture by Heinrich Balduin Möllhausen courtesy the Library of Congress

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

Driving U Bananaz Escape Room

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 22:42:00 GMT

Bullhead City, AZ –The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce and the Laughlin Chamber of Commerce helped commemorate the grand opening of Driving U Bananaz Escape Room in Bullhead City this week. Owner Juan Lizarraga has been in the area for many years running Thunderbird Taxi and has now been able to open a second business that will bring entertainment to the tristate. Driving U Bananaz Escape Room want players to know the satisfaction of escaping that can be achieved by teamwork and participation in a safe and sanitized environment. Each Session is 45 minutes with two rooms to choose from. Among those attending and pictured are Lizarraga, City Mayor Tom Brady and Chamber Ambassadors, Board Members and staff including George Smith, Carey Fearing, Terri Sponder, John Hassett, Ellen Brown, Yvette Pursley, Tristan Johnson, Todd Levitt, Nicole Diaz, Mary Schramm and Jeanette McCartney and Laughlin Chamber staff members Jackie Mazzeo and Val Gabaldon. Also pictured are Rosa Sandoval, Maria Adams, Amalia Guerrero, Bianca Bedoya, Mathew Najera, Seth Najera, Vanessa Sandoval, Charisma Silvestre, Ximena Perez and DJ Loki. The business is located at 2160 Hwy 95 Suite 6, Bullhead City, AZ 86442 and is open 1 pm – 9 pm on Thursday and 2 pm – 10 pm Friday and Saturday.

For more information, please call 928-201-7416 or visit the website at www.DrivingUBananaz.com

Day Trip

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 21:58:00 GMT

There is never a dull weekend for visitors or residents of Bullhead City on the Colorado River in western Arizona. Day trip, and even half day trip, options abound. Each is unique and fascinating. Each has a special charm. Each is a memory making odyssey.

As an example the historic community of Needles, California is only a short drive south on highway 95. At a Colorado River crossing for a Native American trade route the survey expedition of Lieutenant Amiel Weeks Whipple of 1854 labeled the jagged peaks along the river as “The Needles.” The Atlantic & Pacific Railroad established a station and small construction camp on what is now the Arizona side of the river at this crossing in 1883.

A post office under the name Needles opened there in February of that year. In conjunction with plans for construction of a division point, the railroad relocated the tent city to the California side of the river On October 11, 1883.

In the early 20th century, the National Old Trails Road, and then Route 66 added a new chapter to the city’s history as a transportation hub. Both of these early highways followed Front Street parallel to the railroad tracks and then around Santa Fe Park, in front of the stylish El Garces, a Harvey House hotel and restaurant.

The El Garces Harvey House dates to 1908 and was the replacement for an older wooden depot that burned. The namesake for the establishment was Father Garces, a Franciscan priest that led several expeditions in the area during 1775 and 1776.

The hotel closed in 1949. Shortly after this date, the Santa Fe Railroad tore down the north wing and converted the remaining structure into offices. Only extensive lobbying from the city of Needles saved it from the wrecker’s ball after centralization of operations by the railroad led to its abandonment and scheduled demolition. Part of the campaign to save this historic structure was its designation to the National Registry of Historic Places. The El Garces with its stylish fountain in the courtyard was renovated as a conference center.

It is but one of the the gems and treasures found in the historic heart of Needles. In addition to the El Garces, the Directory of Motor Courts and Cottages, an AAA publication from 1940, lists the Robinson’s Bungalow Hotel & Motor Inn as recommended lodging. This time capsule has also survived into the modern era as an apartment complex.

A clearer picture of the importance of this desert oasis to travelers on Route 66 is found in A Guide Book To Highway 66 by Jack Rittenhouse published in 1946. In addition to the El Garces he lists three other hotels, California, Gateway, and Monarch. Auto courts and motels listed include West End, Gray’s, Swain’s, The Palms, Havasu Court & Trailer Camp, and Motor Inn Motel. He also notes three garages, numerous cafes, and stores.

A surprising number of early motels are still existent although they now serve as apartments with rooms rented by the week or the month. The two most notable are the 66 Motel and The Palms, a facility with origins dating to the late 1920s.

Another location with association to Route 66 and Hollywood history is Carty’s Camp. Bill Carty established the facility in 1925 with tent-cabins similar to ones he had experienced during a stay at the Grand Canyon. Expansion during the 1930s included a gas station, garage, campground, and cottages advertised as Havasu Court. The complex appears in a scene of the 1940 film adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath.

Picturesque historic structures and tarnished treasures abound in Needles. Located at W. Broadway Street and F Street is the Needles Theater built in 1929 with a Masonic Temple on the second floor. It is being renovated. The Art Deco masterpiece that opened as Claypool & Company in 1930 is now used by Palo Verde Community College. Valenzuela’s Café at 224 Chestnut Street with its colorful murals is a one family owned restaurant that opened in 1952.

Needles is but one many fun filled day trips near Bullhead City. If you are looking for more day trip ideas contact the Bullhead City Chamber of Commerce.

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

Pick Your Season

Sat, 20 Mar 2021 17:14:00 GMT

Before the COVID 19 pandemic an increase in opportunities for remote work was transforming American migration trends. Often these new migrants abandoned large metropolitan areas and relocated to progressive rural communities. And communities that could offer a diverse array of recreational opportunities became a primary focus.

Bullhead City, Arizona on the Colorado River is ideally suited to capitalize on this trend. It is at the center of recreational opportunities for every season and interest. And it is also conveniently located in proximity to major cities such as Las Vegas, Nevada, Phoenix, Arizona and the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area.

With Bullhead City on the Colorado River as the center point, within a radius of 100 miles are a diverse array of attractions, recreational opportunities and cultural activities. As a bonus, a resident of the upper Colorado River Valley can literally pick their season with a relatively short drive.

As an example, during the months of winter when the temperatures along the Colorado River are moderate or even warm, it is a drive of less than seventy miles to Hualapai Mountain Park. Snow is common on the peaks around Hualapai Mountain Resort that offers fine dining, an event center and motel. Elk are a common site in the parking lot.

And in the months of summer the park offers a respite from desert heat. There are miles of shade dappled hiking trails under towering pines. Rustic cabins, an RV park and other amenities make it an ideal weekend getaway.

The scenic wonderland that is Grand Canyon Caverns is only a ninety mile drive to the east. This includes miles and miles of scenic driving on historic Route 66. The renovated motel built in the mid 1960s is a living time capsule. Within the caverns there is an opportunity for a unique overnight experience that is promoted as the world’s darkest and deepest motel room.

There are an array of caverns tours including a short hike along paved trails, wheelchair accessible tours, and spelunking adventures. And you can dine above or below ground.

Located at 5,300 feet in elevation, the award winning RV park is an ideal summer getaway. But in any season the caverns is a delight. After all, summer or winter the 57 degree temperature in the caverns remains consistent

The scenic wonders of the Mojave National Preserve is a ninety mile to the west. The 1.6 million acre park includes the Kelso sand dunes, stark cinder cone volcanoes, a large Joshua tree forest, and often during the months of spring, carpets of spring wildflowers that add colorful contrast to the harsh landscapes.

Originally opened in 1924 as a train station, Kelso Depot was renovated and reopened in 2005 as the Visitor Center for Mojave National Preserve. The former dormitory rooms contain exhibits about the cultural and natural history of the surrounding desert. A gallery features rotating fine art collections by local artists that showcase the natural splendors of Mojave National Preserve. The baggage room, ticket office, and two dormitory rooms have been historically furnished to illustrate life in the mining and railroad town of Kelso.

There are an array of picturesque remnants of the old town established in 1905 as a railroad water stop on the route from Los Angeles to Salt Lake. At its peak almost 2,000 people lived in the town that included a roundhouse and other railroad maintenance facilities. Many worked at the large iron mine nearby.

If your looking for a new place to call home, a place that offers unlimited opportunity for recreational opportunities and memorable weekend getaways, contact the Bullhead City Chamber of Commerce . Discover what makes this desert oasis one of America’s top places to live.

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

Choose Our Charities RatherThan State General Fund, Chamber Urges

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 14:06:00 GMT

Bullhead City, AZ – “Giving the money to a deserving local charityrather than to State to use on anything in its general fund is the best way to invest in our quality of life,” said JoElle Hurns, Executive Director of the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce. “Look, if you owe the state taxes, they will get it one way or another. If you donate to the charity of your choice – a number of nonprofits from bridge to bridge – you decide to how to meet the needs of ourof residents at risk, our youth programs and our population with disabilities. You get a dollar-for-dollar deduction on your tax bill, even if you don’t itemize.”

Hurns is referring to the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit, aunique and straight forward way to direct tax dollars back to local communities. Between 2011 and 2016, Arizona donated upwards of $35 million to nonprofits and foster care programs through this allowance.

The Arizona Charitable Tax Credit is intended to spur donations to charitable organizations that provide a significant number of services for Arizona residents experiencing financial insecurity.

For most Americans preparing federal taxes, donations made to charitable organizations offer minimal financial benefits, tax-wise. That is because of the higher standard deduction implemented through the 2018 Congressional changes to the tax code. Charitable giving is not gone from the tax code, but it has been rendered almost useless for all but the wealthiest or most generous taxpayers. With no reason to itemize, charitable giving was down by an estimated $15 billion nationwide last year.

So it is no wonder that a dozen other states are now looking at modeling programs after the Grand Canyon State’s. Charitable and nonprofit organizations make up one of the largest membership segments of the Bullhead Area Chamber. There are a number of local charities that residents can give to including the Colorado River Boys and Girls Club, Bullhead City Lions Club, the Salvation Army and the Jerry Ambrose Veterans Council of Mohave County.

If a giver isn’t sure which to choose, Hurns said that the River Fund is a great option because it provides a variety of programs that direct emergency and crisis services to individuals and families in the region. It replaced a once thriving, local United Way that ultimately become too large geographically and spent too much on administrative expenses to be effective in the very area where most of its funding was raised. The River Fund has assisted more than 75,000 people with hardships, using $2.7 million in donations and grants over the past ten years.

The Arizona Charitable Tax Credit is recorded on Form 321 forQualifying Charitable Organizations (QCOs). The maximum credit allowed is $800 for married filing joint filers and $400 for single, heads of household, and married filing separate filers. These tax credits provide dollar-for-dollar tax benefits, allowing taxpayers to reduce their state tax liabilities for each dollar donated to charities, up to the maximum allowable limits. For a list of all of the State’s worthy organization that provide basic needs and immediate assistance log to:

www.azdor.gov/tax-credits/contributions-qcos-and-qfcos

Hurns said making a donation to one of the local organizations and filling out the form should take five minutes. “People have about 3 weeks to do that still. Then file it with your State taxes. It shifts some control away from the State and gives us the power to determine which services are of value to us.”

Please contact the Arizona Department of Revenue for more information or log onto www.azdor.com .

Ribbon Cutting

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 21:45:00 GMT

Traditional Thai Massage welcomed the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce this week to celebrate its grand opening. The benefits of a variety of massages offered at Traditional Thai Massage are based in the idea that energy moves through your body along predictable lines or pathways known as sense, according to Manager Tammy Dandurand. She uses a combination of stretching, movement, and pressure to help relieve your pain and stress. Among those attending and pictured are Dandurand, Chamber Ambassadors Mary Schramm, Nicole Diaz, Ellen Brown, Yvette Pursley, Tristan Johnsonand Chris Barton. Also pictured are Greg Dandurand, Mijung Lombardi and Steve Fajardo. Traditional Thai Massage is located at 1051 Hancock Rd, Ste 1, Bullhead City, AZ 86442. Office hours are 9 am to 5 pm, Tuesdaythrough Saturday. For more information, call 928-421-4004 or email Traditionalthai@att.net.

Adventurers Paradise

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 16:11:00 GMT

Bullhead City, Arizona is more than a modern, progressive community with an eye on the future. It is at the heart of an adventurers paradise. And there are several organizations that are actively working to expand on recreational opportunities.

The Arizona Peace Trail is a nearly 700 mile off-highway vehicle route that spans 3 counties in western Arizona and along the Colorado River. It is a loop drive from Yuma to Kingman to Bullhead City and then south along the river. It offers an array of challenges for the off road enthusiast. And resultant of changes in elevation there are a variety of climates regardless of season.

The trail was created by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in 2013 through a partnership with the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), along with assistance from more than a dozen off-road vehicle clubs in Western Arizona. The trail is fast become a destination for off road enthusiasts.

It is one of the most expansive and diverse off road trail systems in the southwest. Highlights include the forested Hualapai Mountains, a pine forested oasis in a sea of desert, historic mining camps and breathtaking desert landscapes that are in stark contrast to the Colorado River Valley.

The Sun Corridor Trail system is being developed for the hiking and mountain bike enthusiast. It will connect and expand on several existent trails. The trail system will begin in the border town of Douglas, Arizona. It will then wind its way through a desert wilderness to historic Tombstone before continuing on to Tucson, Phoenix, Prescott, Jerome, Sedona, and Flagstaff. It then turns west and continues to Kingman and Bullhead City before ending at Las Vegas, Nevada.

Portions of the trail in southern will incorporate historic rail corridors that one connected Benson, the ghost towns of Fairbank and Pearce, Sierra Vista, Tombstone, Sonoita, Patagonia, and Bisbee. In northwestern Arizona tentative plans include the use of historic roads. This would include the Beale Wagon Road and territorial era Mohave Prescott Road. The latter was an important trade and military road that linked Hardyville and Fort Mohave on the Colorado River with the territorial capital of Prescott and Fort Whipple.

Segments of the trail system are already existent in the Bullhead City and Kingman area. This includes the Cerbat Foothills Recreation Area and Secret Pass Trail in the Black Mountains.

Ecotourism has become big business in recent years as evidenced by the economic impact on rural communities along the Pacific Coast Trail. The COVID 19 pandemic dramatically fueled an increase in hiking and mountain biking. Evidence indicates that these activities will remain popular for the foreseeable future.

This places Bullhead City in a very unique position. It is at the heart of an adventurers paradise that is about to be greatly enhanced.

Interested to know more about outdoor recreational opportunities in the Bullhead City area? Contact the Bullhead City Chamber of Commerce today!

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

Land of Sunshine & Opportunity

Sun, 21 Feb 2021 22:42:00 GMT

While much of the country is being battered with record low temperatures and a wave of snow storms, here on the shores of the Colorado River we are enjoying sunny days. During times such as these I am reminded of a story told about Ed Edgerton of Ed’s Camp on Route 66 near Oatman. When asked why he had immigrated from Michigan to Arizona, purportedly he simply said that at least I will be warm when I starve to death.

I have little information about the employment situation in the area during the post WWI economic recession. However, I do know that today Bullhead City is the land of opportunity. And I also know that it is a modern, progressive community with an eye on the future.

In the pre COVID world several companies had begun experimenting with the concept of employees working from home. Some employees were even working from city’s far from their office. GIG workers and independent contractors were also becoming an integral part of the work force.

COVID and the resultant quarantine measures dramatically escalated the evolutionary speed of work place transformation. The United States Department of Labor estimates that last year an astounding 62 percent of employed Americans were working remotely for at least a portion of the pandemic.

The pandemic seems to be waning. This is not the case with remote work. The trend toward remote work is expected to grow during the rest of 2021. There are estimates that by 2025, seventy percent of the workforce will be working remotely for at least one week each month.

San Francisco based Twitter informed employees in May 2020 that they could work from home indefinitely. Square, which is also led by Twitter’s Jack Dorsey, has adopted a similar policy. And Mark Zuckerberg recently told Facebook employees in late that many would work remotely indefinitely and is developing plans to keep staff remote through mid 2021.

With the increasing interest in remote work and the dramatic transformation of employment that this movement represents, it is not surprising to learn that numerous studies have been initiated. Nor is it surprising to learn that communities large and small are now actively promoting themselves as ideal locations for remote workers.

InMyArea recently compared data across four areas: the percentage of a city’s residents with access to high-speed wired internet, the percentage of a city’s residents with access to affordable basic wired broadband internet plans, monthly rent costs, and housing cost per square foot. After compiling the information they published a list of the ten best U.S. cities suitable for working from home in 2021.

Bullhead City was deemed the best city for working remotely in the state of Arizona. An even more prestigious accolade came with the pronouncement that the city placed sixth overall for best medium sized cities to work from home.

Tired of long grey winters, cold, and snow? Perhaps you should consider relocating to Bullhead City, Arizona. Contact the Bullhead Chamber of Commerce for more information about the land of opportunity and sunshine.

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

There Is Gold In Those Hills

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 21:42:00 GMT

Before there was a Davis Dam, a Bullhead City or a Bullhead City Chamber of Commerce , prospectors, speculators and investors were discovering that there was gold in the hills above the Colorado River Valley. Soldiers stationed at Fort Mohave often passed off duty time by prospecting the hills along the river. They would return from their prospecting trips with tantalizing traces of gold.

Organized mining operations in the area of Union Pass as well as modern day Katherine’s Landing and South Telephone Cove commenced in the 1860s. High grade ore from the Pyramid and Gold Cycle mines near South Telephone Cove, the Homestake Mine across the river in Nevada and the Sheeptrails Mine in Union Pass initially was shipped by paddle wheeler down the river on the first leg of a long trip to processing at a smelter in Swansea, Wales. A small mill for the processing of ore was built at the Sheeptrails Mine in an effort to curtail costs and make the mining of low grade ores feasible.

A road built to the Sheeptrails Mine from the river landing passed by a distinctive granite knob that protruded from a flat rocky desert plain. Acting on a hunch in September 1900, S.C. Bagg, a teamster, panned some samples broken from the outcropping. His discovery led to establishment of the Catherine Mine, the original spelling.

Within three years more than 1,000 tons of ore had been mined from the Catherine and processed at the Sheeptrails Mill. By 1903 the increasing depths of the shaft as well as the expanding network of tunnels and stopes led Bagg to lease the property. The consortium of investors, however, were unable to establish a viable mining company and so operations ceased in 1904.

But a mine known for veins of high grade gold ore would not be closed for long. In early 1905 the mine was sold to the Arizona Pyramid Mining Company. After extensive modernization and improvements, the company resumed mining operations in 1907. Flooding was a persistent problem that led the company to close the mine in early 1910.

Mining activity also waned in Union Pass as well as along the Nevada side of the river. The focus had shifted to the Oatman Mining District as the boom that had commenced with a particularly rich discovery in the area of Goldroad in 1903 was in full swing. Modern methods and equipment employed in the Oatman and Goldroad mines made it economically feasible for companies to extract low grade ores, and tosink even deeper shafts.

And so the old mines in the Union Pass-Catherine District were given a new lease on life. Hoping to attract investors, mining companies and speculators linked new mines to the Catherine Mine as it had a reputation for being a producer. As an example new claim filings included the Catherine Extension, Catherine Midway, Catherine Treasure Vault and Catherine Producer.

In 1919 operators of the Catherine Mine, now being operated by the Katherine Gold Mining Company, sunk a new vertical shaft to 950 feet. A cyanide mill that could process more than eighty tons of ore a day was completed in June 1925.

With the new boom a Catherine town site was established about two miles east of the Catherine Mine. A post office operated under the Catherine name from 1925 to 1929. As a bit of trivia one of the miners working the Catherine during this period was Louis Dearborn Lamoore, better know as the prolific writer of western novels Louis L’Amour.

At its best mining is a hit or miss operation. The mines in Union Pass, Oatman, Goldroad and the Catherine were no exception. The mill operated intermittently until December 1929 when the Katherine Gold Mining Company declared bankruptcy. A mining company based in New Mexico acquired the mill and began processing ore from area mines until 1932. With the price of gold depressed, the mine remained inactive.

By 1934, with the price of gold increasing. it was again feasible to operate the mines at Goldroad, Oatman and the Katherine. The Gold Standard Gold Mining Company that had acquired acquired the Katherine mill and mine was plagued with issues. In September 1934 a swept through the mill and decimated other structures. In 1937 pump failure led to extensive flooding at the lower levels. The on April 15, 1943, it was closed by the War Production Board.

The Katherine never reopened. To avoid tax liabilities all structures were razed and most equipment was either sold or relocated to other mining operations. With abandonment a rich and colorful chapter in Colorado River Valley history drew to a close.

If you would like to learn more about life at the Katherine Mine, or Goldroad, I suggest reading Goldroad Arizona: The Golden Years 1937 to 1942 by Norma Jean Richards Yount.

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

What’s In A Name.

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 16:53:00 GMT

There is general agreement that the town of Oatman is named for Olive Oatman, but only conjecture about why it was named after this amazing woman. Olive survived the massacre of her family, adapted to life among the tribes of the Arizona Territory, and successfully transitioned into a celebrity.

In 1850, the Oatman family, including 14-year old Olive, joined a California bound wagon train led by James Brewster. They left Independence, Missouri on August 5, 1850. When it became evident that Brewster was not as familiar with the route as he had claimed, and the immigrants suffered deprivations of hunger, a lack of water, and other issues, dissensions arose. At Santa Fe the Oatman’s and other families made the decision to leave the wagon train and continue to California following the southern route through Socorro and Tucson.

When they reached Maricopa Wells, in the Arizona Territory the other families decided to rest. Royce Oatman and his family decided to press on. On the fourth day of their solo journey across the desert they were approached a band of Yavapai that asked for tobacco and food. On February 18, 1851, the Oatman’s were attacked on the banks of the Gila River. This site would be later named Oatman Flats and in 1879, Oatman Station was built here on the Yma-Tucson Road.

Royce, his wife Mary and four of their children were killed at the scene, and their son Lorenzo was badly injured and left for dead. Lorenzo later regained consciousness and traveled across the desert to a small settlement where he reported the massacre and that his sisters Olive and Mary Ann were missing.

Olive, age 14 and Mary Ann, age 7 were captured and held at a Yavapai village near the site of Congress, Arizona. Months later when a group of Mohave traders arrived at the village the girls were traded for vegetables, blankets, and other trade goods. Olive and Mary Ann followed their new captors across the desert to a Mohave Village on the Colorado River near what is now Needles, California.

The true story of Olive’s life among the Mohave is difficult to unravel even though she later became a famous lecturer sharing stories of her life in captivity. As per tribal custom, the girls were given indelible blue tattoos on their chins. It is thought that Espianola, a tribal leader, and his family adopted Mary Ann and Olive. Olive expressed her deep affection for this family numerous times after her release.

In 1855 a severe drought plagued the Colorado River Valley and surrounding deserts. As a result the Mohave villages were ravaged by starvation. Mary Ann Oatman was counted among the dead.

Meanwhile, Lorenzo Oatman had never given up the search for his sisters, and in the winter of 1855 he found Olive living among the Mohave, and negotiated her release. This was the closing of one chapter in Olive’s life, and the beginning of another.

In 1857, the Reverend Royal Stratton wrote Olive’s story: Life Among the Indians: Captivity of the Oatman Girls , one of the few published accounts of Indian captivity at that time. It was incredibly successful and sold out three editions in one year, a best-seller in that era. Much of the books sales success can be attributed to Lorenzo and Olive who had moved to New York City with Stratton in 1858. This was the beginning of Olive’s national speaking tour about her life among the Mohave. These appearances were among the few occasions on which she appeared in public without wearing a veil to cover her tattooed face.

The Oatman’s share of royalties from Stratton’s book was used to obtain degrees from University of the Pacific. In November 1865, Olive married John Fairchild. They lived in Detroit, Michigan for seven years before moving to Sherman, Texas, where Fairchild made a fortune in cattle ranching, banking, and real estate investment. Olive died of a heart attack on March 20, 1903.

The first post office opened in a Black Mountains mining camp above the Colorado River Valley with the name Vivian on March 1, 1904. On June 24, 1909, the post office application was amended and the town was renamed Oatman. The reasons for the change or why it was renamed in honor of Oatman remain a mystery.

Oatman and the Oatman story are but one example of what makes Bullhead City and the surrounding area such a fascinating place. For more information about area attractions, or relocation, contact the Bullhead City Chamber of Commerce .

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

Ribbon Cutting

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 17:20:00 GMT

Bullhead City, AZ – The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce helped commemorate the grand opening of TWN Communications this week. The internet provider has joined forces with Mohave Electric Cooperative to build broadband infrastructure for the area within 5 years. This aggressive timeline cannotcome soon enough for residents and businesses who need reliable service at high speeds. Leaders of both TWN and MEC say that a variety of plans will be available for the light-surfing consumer to the complex enterprise customers that need custom solutions. Among those attending the ribbon cutting event include Bullhead City Manager Toby Cotter and City Councilperson Kathy Bruck. From the Bullhead Area Chamber are Executive Director JoElle Hurns, Board Members Carey Fearing, Terri Sponder and Ambassadors Ellen Brown, Larry Tunsforss, Juan Lizarraga and Ckloey Frazer. Also pictured are TWN Communications representatives Spencer Laney, Jeremy Brunk, Adam Leprich, Owen Smith, Jonathan Sulger and Michela Caproni-Kraetz. MEC staff Rick Campos, Tyler Carlson and Regina Wymbs are also pictured. TWN Communications is located at 2020 Silver Creek Rd, Suite 110D, Bullhead City, AZ 86442. For more information, call 928-965-7144 or go to www.twncomm.com .

Ribbon Cutting for Laughlin Community Church

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 17:59:00 GMT

Nurse Practitioner Donna Kelly MSN, APRN, CEN has a couple of advantages when it comes to providing care to area residents and she has parlayed those into the new Laughlin Community Clinic. The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce was on hand for the ribbon cutting of the spotless offices and exam rooms. NP Kelly knows from her experience in the Fort Mohave, AZ area that medical professionals should not only see patients but provide more like handling labs, monitoring blood sugar, collecting urinalysis, and giving patients less work to do themselves. While they have contracted with United Health Care, HPN, Sierra and Medicaid, they are pursuing more agreements so they can care for Arizona residents But, a $50 cash price is likely going to bring many in need to the clinic, which also will take kids. NP Kelly and her husband Daniel were joined by Janet Pesek, Paula Zamora and Jennifer Cox. Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce representatives included Executive Director JoElle Hurns and Ambassadors Juan Lizarraga and Larry Tuna.

Laughlin Chamber of Commerce representatives included Claudia Lambert and volunteers Daring, Judy and Joyce.
The Laughlin Community Clinic is located at 3650 S. Pointe Circle, #101 in Laughlin, NV. The clinic will be open Monday through Thursday from 7 am to 5 pm and for walk ins on Friday from 8 am to noon. You can reach the clinic at 702-299-4252 or go to its website at www.laughlinCHC.com

Now Hiring!

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 16:36:00 GMT

Job Title: Office Manager
Supervisor: Executive Director
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Summary:
The Office Manager ensures the smooth running of the office on a day-to-day basis and liaises closely with the Executive Director and other staff. They develop a comprehensive and easy-to-follow filing system for invoices, receipts, client information, and other important documents. The position calls for the professional handling of incoming and outgoing funds of the nonprofit organization. Preparing monthly and annual financial reports and working with the CPA and Board Treasurer would be a regular part of the job duties. Being able to communicate effectively with personnel, the volunteer board of directors and with residents, visitors and members of the community is a must.

Essential Experience, Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

Bookkeeping – requires an understanding of QuickBooks and at least 2 years of experience with the program.

Collaboration – work with business members, staff, suppliers,business clients and government representatives on varied Chamber programs and events

Office Management – • Implement and maintaining procedures/office administrative systems and have proven administrative or office assistant experience• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills• Have strong organizational and planning skills• Possess working knowledge of Microsoft Office and other software as needed. • Possess a working knowledge of the internet and web skills are needed.• Express attention to detail and the ability to problem solve• Have excellent time management skills and the ability to multi-task and prioritize work

Meeting and event planning: Assist staff with on- and off-site meeting arrangements, as well as helping plan events such as monthly mixers or annual events. Oversee the rentals of two areas of the facility for 7 months of the year, including payment and arranging clean up following use.

HR management: Assist with any new employee paperwork, onboarding and employee files. Work with the payroll company to submit time cards or other necessary information relative to payroll on time each period.

Community – Be thoroughly familiar with the community, local events, attractions, points of interest and facilities. Be accessible and friendly.

Professional Development – Remain updated on technical and professional knowledge by attending educational workshops, joining professional associations and building networks with fellow professionals and reviewing of industry publications

Education and/or Experience: High school diploma or general education degree (GED); and a minimum of two years of administrative experience.

Other competencies for Chamber staff members include:

Teamwork – Balance team and individual responsibilities; exhibit objectivity and openness to others’ views; give and welcome feedback; contribute to building a positive team spirit; put success of team above own interests; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; support everyone’s efforts to succeed.

Organizational Support – Follow policies and procedures; complete administrative tasks correctly and on time; support organization’s goals and values; benefit organization through outside activities.

Physical Expectations: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and climb or balance. The employee must occasionally lift and or move up to 25 to 35 pounds.

Job Type: Full-time 36+ hours per week – 8 AM to 5 PM Monday-Friday and a few weekends, if needed, for events.

Pay: From $18 an hr, depending upon experience.

The Chamber is an equal opportunity employer.

Los Lagos Ribbon Cutting

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 22:19:00 GMT

The Los Lagos Banquet an Events Center recently added the Drifting Bistro to its culinary offerings. Collectively, the partnership with the renowned golf course and housing development will rival any others in the business of events and meetings in the tristate the communities. From hosting a Chamber mixer to a big wedding or convention, the property in Mohave Valley will quickly solidify its reputation as an “amazing gem,” according to Los Lagos Food and Banquet Manager Robert Hazlegrove. It is simply a matter of people finding the facilities – after that, the business is secure.

“All one has to do is come out and look around and you will be booking with us,” he said.

To be sure, the Los Lagos Golf Course is gorgeous and real estate offerings there are equally impressive. Bunker 19 is the name of the restaurant and it will feature Tuesday and Thursday night dinners and specials from pulled pork to loaded nachos for affordable prices. The restaurant is participating in the Chamber’s Annual Taste of Bullhead City promotion in February. Those attending the Chamber’s ribbon cutting include Los Lagos General Manager Greg Sekura, Pro J.C. Bacon, Beverage Manager Lynni Hicks and Hazlegrove. Also pictured are Chamber Ambassadors Larry Tuna, Yvette Pursley, Dominick Dragone and George Smith. Bullhead Area Chamber Ambassadors and Board of Directors members Terri Sponder and Carey Fearing. Joining the event from the Laughlin Chamber are Val Gabaldon, Michelle Crider, Joyce Morena and several volunteers.

Los Lagos is located at 6365 S. Entrada Via Verdes in Fort Mohave, AZ 86426. For more information about the restaurant, event planning, golf and home buying, please call 928-768-7778 or visit the website at www.loslagoslinks.com

Cornerstone

Wed, 30 Dec 2020 15:31:00 GMT

From the Mojave villages to Fort Mohave and Hardyville, Laughlin and Bullhead City, the Colorado River was the cornerstone. Originally the river served as an artery of commerce, and the communities on its banks thrived. With completion of Davis Dam, new communities were built on electrical generation, recreation, and warm sunny winters prospered.

With passage of the Reclamation Project Act in 1939, a new era dawned in the desert southwest. To harness the power of the lower Colorado River, on April 26, 1941, the Bullhead Dam project was authorized. It would later be renamed Davis Dam, an honorarium for Arthur Powell Davis, the director of the Bureau of Reclamation from 1914 to 1923. In comparison to the mighty Hoover Dam, it was a relatively small project and as a result, when the contract for construction of the dam and powerhouse was awarded in June of 1942 the estimated time for completion was forty-eight months. This included construction of Davis Camp on the Arizona side of the river. The mess hall and dormitories were deemed crucial to the project as the dam was being built in a relatively remote part of Arizona with Kingman and Needles both being more than thirty miles away. Access roads to Kingman and Needles were also a part of the project.

As an historic footnote, shortly before WWII options were being evaluated to bypass the Route 66 bottleneck that was Sitgreaves Pass in the Black Mountains. In 1949 a preliminary survey was completed for a Route 66 realignment. If built this storied highway would have roughly followed modern state highway 68 from the U.S. 93 junction, U.S. 466 in the 1940s, to the Colorado River. It would then cut west across the desert to connect with U.S. 466 near the Nevada/California state line.

In 1952 the highway was instead rerouted to follow the 1914 National Old Trails Road Valley Cutoff west from Kingman through Yucca. In the late 1950s the earlier Route 66 survey was dusted off and updated for a proposal that called for I40 to connect Kingman with I15 at Bishop, California. This would have resulted in a bypass of Yucca, Needles, Essex, Amboy, and Ludlow.

In the spring of 1943, the Davis Dam project was suspended as it was not deemed a vital war asset. Workers, equipment and building materials were transferred to Kingman for use in the construction of the Kingman Army Airfield. Auxiliary fields were also constructed in Yucca, near Red Lake north of Kingman, and at Site Six, now the island in Lake Havasu City.

On September 2, 1945, the Bureau of Reclamation initiated revaluation of projects in the desert southwest including Davis Dam and Bridge Canyon Dam. In April 1946, Utah Construction was awarded the primary contract for construction of the dam. A primary change in the project was in regard to Davis Camp. Instead of a rough construction camp, this was now to be a small town for workers, most of whom were veterans, as well as their families. The original plan called for construction of one hundred homes, a recreation center with swimming pool, general merchandise and grocery store, several churches, various service facilities for storage and repair of equipment, post office and service station.

With the completion of Davis Dam in 1953, Davis Camp faded from prominence. In the spring of 1959, the Bureau of Reclamation initiated the sale, demolition, and removal of buildings. Many of the buildings, however, were given a second lease on life as homes, store fronts or storage facilities in Bullhead, Topock, Needles and Kingman. By 1970, less than thirty-five original buildings remained.

In this year, a new chapter in Davis Camp commenced. As many employees began purchasing homes in the area, the Bureau of Reclamation solicited National Park Service and Arizona Department of Public Safety employees to rent the remaining homes. Then in 1982 the Bureau of Reclamation changed the status of Davis Camp, suspended all rental leases, and deemed the property as surplus. As a result, most of the remaining houses were sold and moved, or razed. The Catholic Church building remained and was later used to house the Colorado River Historical Society Museum.

In 1982, a joint initiative between Mohave County, National Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, and the Arizona State Parks Board launched a project to transform the site regional river side park. Six small garages, original buildings, were retained to serve as the park’s maintenance yard and a former house was remodeled to serve as the ranger station. In 1988, two of the original 1946 houses were renovated and offered as rentals for park guests.

Over the years the park evolved to meet the needs of the growing community of Bullhead City. A combination restroom and shower building were added along with expanded parking areas, a concession stand, and in 2010, and amphitheater.

Bullhead City is a modern progressive community. It is also a community with a rich and colorful history that has a common thread, the waters of the Colorado River.

Joint Ribbon Cutting – Laughlin Teen Center

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 21:38:00 GMT

Joint Ribbon Cutting with the Laughlin Chamber of Commerce

Laughlin, NV The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce helped commemorate the grand opening of the Teen Center at the Laughlin branch of the Colorado River Boys and Girls Club this week. Executive Director Autumn Boyle-Robinson has been in the tristate for many years and oversees eight locations of the nonprofit. The Teen Center offers a safe place for kids, ages 13 through 18, to enjoy enrichment programs including life and communication skills and work development programs like STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

Among those attending and pictured are Boyle-Robinson, City Council Members Kathy Bruck and Norma Brummett, Bullhead Chamber Ambassadors and Board Members Carey Fearing, Ellen Brown and Tristan Johnson, Laughlin Chamber staff members Jackie Mazzeo, Val Gabaldon and Claudia Lambert. Also pictured are Boys and Girls Club staff members Erica Jones, Kristin Williams, Kelsey Lozano, Vanessa Gonzalez and Jose Tejeda.

The Teen Center is located in the Laughlin Outlet Mall at 1955 S Casino Dr. Laughlin, NV, 89029 and is open from 12 pm – 6 pm seven days a week. For more information please call 702-299-7207 or email at www.clubriver.org.
#BullheadChamber | www.BullheadAreaChamber.com

Bullhead City Shop with a Cop Receives Donation!

Thu, 26 Nov 2020 00:40:00 GMT

Andy Sevillano (Left) President of Los Matadores de Bullhead City and Shop with a Cop, Trevor Chodini (Center), owner/operator of Laughlin River Tours and Troy Steiner (Right) a local entrepreneur display the $2,000 cash donation to benefit the Shop with a Cop program at the Los Matadores de Bullhead City 24th annual charity golf event earlier this month.

The Los Matadores de Bullhead City benefits the community throughout the year with a variety of philanthropic projects. They enhance economic growth, perform community improvement projects and expand the public knowledge and awareness of the values and benefits of the River Valley communities. Over 100 underprivileged children will share the spirit of Christmas with law enforcement personnel December 5th, for the 25th annual Shop with a Cop program.

Relfections of the Colorado River

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 01:29:00 GMT

Watching the lights of Laughlin reflected in the waters of the Colorado River, and driving the parkway or highway 95, it is easy to forget that this valley was once at the heart of a thriving mining district and was the gateway to the western frontier. Only Oatman, a caricature of the old west mining town, and Chloride provide a tangible link to this rich history.

Before the coming of the railroad it was the Colorado River and three roads that served as the vital arteries of commerce that fueled the growth of the Territory of Arizona. Steamboats plied the river ferrying supplies and people upriver from the Gulf of California, and mineral wealth south to mills in California and even England. The Beale Wagon Road connected the Colorado River, and Arizona, to the eastern states. Two toll roads served as the primary transportation corridors that connected Fort Whipple and the territorial capital of Prescott with the river. Each of the toll roads road crossed nearly 150-miles of rough, inhospitable terrain dominated by increasingly hostile tribal factions. Each also served as vital military roads. One of these roads started at the river port of La Paz and the other at Fort Mohave and Hardyville.

One of the earliest river ports established in the Bullhead City area was Polhamus Landing located near the site of Davis Dam. Named in honor of Captain Isaac Polhamus, a legendary steamboat captain that worked for a Yuma based shipping company, Polhamus had a warehouse, saloons, a rough tent-cabin hotel, blacksmith shop and other businesses. Eclipsed by Hardyville, the rough and tumble town held on until about 1882, and then after abandonment was cannibalized for scarce building materials.

Hardyville’s post office was established January 17, 1865 and discontinued February 19, 1883. Indicative of the town’s prominence was its designation as the first Mohave County seat. Named for William Harrison Hardy, the town survived two devastating fires. With completion of the Colorado River crossing for the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad in 1883 Colorado River traffic was decimated, and the Mohave Prescott Toll Road faded from prominence. As a result, Hardyville entered a period of precipitous decline as Topock and Needles gained in prominence. By 1900 only a few weathered adobe ruins marked the site.

Surprisingly Oatman, Goldroad, Silver Creek, Vivian and Old Trails on the west slopes of the Black Mountains marked the last goldrush in Arizona even though one of the first major gold discoveries in those mountains was the Moss gold-silver mine discovered in 1863. Except for mining in Silver Creek and the surrounding Hardy Mountains, exploration in the Oatman district waned with closure of the Moss Mine in 1866 as the discoveries of rich ore bodies in the Cerbat Mountains sparked a boom.

Then in 1902 a major discovery near Goldroad sparked the last goldrush in Arizona. Within a few short years the population of Goldroad, Vivian, Silver Creek, Old Trails and Oatman soared. It may be hard to imagine today but some historic estimates claim more than 10,000 people were living and working in the mining camps.

Exploring this rich and colorful history is as easy as visiting the Colorado River Museum in Bullhead City, a drive along scenic Route 66 in the Black Mountains, or a day trip to Chloride. For the more adventuresome there are miles of old roads to explore in the Black and Cerbat Mountains, and hiking trails such as those near Kingman in the Cerbat Foothills Recreation area, site of historic Camp Beale at Beale Springs.

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

Ribbon Cutting

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 20:05:00 GMT

Fort Mohave, AZ – The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce helped commemorate the opening of I Sharpen Shears in Fort Mohave this week. Owner GeorgeSmith has been sharpening shears for over 9 years, 3 of those years have been in the Tri-State area providingsales and service of shears, scissors and clippers to stylists, barbers and groomers. He is now a Certified Service Technician for Bernina Sewing Machines. Among those attending and picture are Chamber Ambassadors, Board Members and staff including Smith, Janice Berkenheger, Carey Fearing, John Hassett, and TerriSponder. The Business is located at 5221 Az-95 #6, Fort Mohave, Az 86426 and is open from 12 pm-5 pm, Tuesday-Thursday and by appointment on Friday-Saturday. For more information please call 928-577-1007 or email George@isharpenshears.com.

Hardyville to Bullhead City

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 01:25:00 GMT

The historic importance of the forlorn old cemetery at 1776 highway 95 in Bullhead City, Arizona can not be overstated. It is the last vestige of a territorial era community that played a crucial role in the development of northwestern Arizona, and a tangible link to a frontier era pioneer that made innumerable contributions to the State of Arizona.

William Harrison Hardy was born in Allegany County, New York on April 25, 1823. As with many young men of the era he succumbed to the allure of the west fueled by countless tales of riches, of boundless opportunity and of adventure. It was the gold rush that served as incentive for his trip to California. Elected captain of the wagon train, Hardy made that arduous trip in 1849.

In 1849 he traveled west to California with a wagon train in 1849 and became “Captain Hardy” when elected captain of the company. Captain Hardy, as he was known for the rest of his life, made a small fortune through various pursuits in California and then turned his attention toward the Arizona Territory. In an interview given in 1888, Hardy said, “I crossed the Colorado River near Fort Mohave on January 20th, 1864. At that time there was no real settler in Mohave County. A company of California Volunteers under Capt. Charles Atchison was stationed at Fort Mohave, as a road had been partly worked from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Los Angeles, California, via Fort Mohave, and the Indians were found to be hostile and required the presence of United States troops to keep them in check, as when permanent settlers began to settle upon land, the Indians soon broke out in general warfare. I came to Arizona seeking adventure. I brought with me some money and a stock of merchandise, including mining tools.”

In 1865 he established the town of Hardyville to capitalize on the increasing steamboat traffic on the Colorado River and the road connecting Fort Mohave with Fort Whipple at Prescott. Hardy operated the mercantile store as well as a hotel and saloon. He also established a ferry service and shortened and improved the military road as the Mohave-Prescott Toll Road, and a stage line. He also represented Mohave County in the territorial legislature from 1867 to 1873 and was a member of the first board of prison commissioners that supervised the construction of the Arizona Territorial Prison in Yuma, Arizona. Hardy died at his sister’s house in Whittier, California in June of 1909.

With completion of the railroad to the Colorado River in 1883, and the crossing established at Topock and Needles, Hardyville quickly became little more than a faded relic. The weathered adobe ruins remained a popular attraction into the first decades of the 20 ^th century.

There is little information about the cemetery, or the people buried there. The University of Arizona completed a tentative study and documented eleven burials, ten with tentative identification. They provide a glimpse into Arizona territorial life. These included Adelida Amaro who was born in California 1854 and died in childbirth at age 16. Born in Mexico in 1835, Edwardo Bernol was a blacksmith shot and killed in 1870. Born in Scotland in 1845, Robert Keffin drowned in the river in 1845. John Killian or John Gillian was from Davenport, Iowa was ambushed by Indians and was “buried in October 1866.” William J. Tuttle, a stagecoach driver, died May 1867. According to the legend, when he arrived across the river from Hardyville, he was supposed to fire a shot to summon the ferry. Instead, a passenger fired a shot, hitting the back of his head and killing him.

The Hardyville Cemetery is well worth a visit. It is a tangible link to the Bullhead City’s earliest history.

Written By Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

SmartStyle New Ownership, Same Great Service

Sat, 26 Sep 2020 18:59:00 GMT

Bullhead City, AZ – The clean and modern hair salon that has long been frequented by residents and visitors inside the local Walmart has a new owner. But, it has retained over a half a dozen employees that new owner Robert Gilardoni estimates have over 100 years of hair styling experience among them. A ribbon cutting commemorating the new ownership and franchise agreement was originally planned for March but delayed due to the Corona Virus. Several Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, local media and community representatives joined Gilardoni and his staff to host the event on September 24th. He has salons in Prescott and Cottonwood, AZ as well. For more information or to make an appointment, call 928-763-6343.

Bullhead City, heart of an adventurer’s paradise

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 04:54:00 GMT

Never judge a book by its cover is an old adage that aptly applies to Bullhead City nestled on the
banks of the Colorado River. A simple drive along the parkway or through town provides but a
glimpse of all the amenities enjoyed by the people who call this desert oasis home.
Activities and opportunity for adventure abound. People travel for miles to enjoy water sports on
the river and the lake, and world class entertainment at the casinos in Laughlin. And they travel
from throughout the world to drive the scenic 160 Miles of Smiles that is the longest
uninterrupted segment of Route 66 remaining. Imagine being a vintage car or hot rod enthusiast
and having this treasure at your doorstep!

There is a cinematic connection to where this storied highway crossed the Colorado River a few
miles south of Bullhead City near the resort at Topock. Located immediately to the south of I40
is the Old Trails Bridge that opened in 1916 as the river crossing for the National Old Trails
Road, and that carried Route 66 traffic until 1947. In the 1940 film adaptation of John
Steinbeck’s award-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath, Henry Fonda drives onto the bridge as
the Joad family crosses into California. In the classic film Easy Rider, Peter Fonda crosses the
river on the last bridge to carry Route 66 traffic.

From I40 the pre 1952 alignment of Route 66 courses past the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge,
more than 17,000 acres of designated wilderness and one of the last natural riparian areas on the
lower Colorado River. Consistently this is rated as one of the top birding areas in the southwest.
It is also the habit for an array of native species including desert bighorn sheep, coyote, and
badger.

As the old highway twists and turns into the foothills of the picturesque Black Mountains there
are ever more spectacular views of the Colorado River Valley. But the real gem on this side of
the mountains is the charming village of Oatman that is one part quintessential movie set, one
part quirky roadside attraction and one part historic territorial era mining camp.
Oatman that dates to 1903 was at the center of the largest gold producing district in the state in
the years bracketing WWI. Traffic on the National Old Trails Highway, and then Route 66,
further contributed to the booming economy. As you walk the narrow main street congested with
traffic, parked vehicles and wild burros that roam free, imagine what it must have been like in

1939 when the state highway department noted that one million vehicles traveled Route 66 that
year!

Among legions of international Route 66 enthusiasts, the drive into the Black Mountains and
over Sitgreaves Pass rates as the most scenic section of this highway. Here you will find the
sharpest curves and the steepest grades found anywhere on Route 66, and spectacular vistas as
well as remnants of the old mining camp of Goldroad and long abandoned relics such as Ed’s
Camp that is a tangible link to the highways glory days. It is a photographers paradise.
From the summit of Sitgreaves Pass, looking west, you can see the stark beauty of the California
and Nevada deserts. You can also see Bullhead City and other communities nestled along the
river that adds a sharp splash of color. To the east the highway drops precipitously toward the
wide Sacramento Valley that sweeps toward the towering Hualapai Mountains that are often
dappled with snow during the months of winter.

Never judge a book by its cover. Bullhead City may give the impression that it is a modern
community with a unique charm, but it is also a very special place at the heart of an adventurer’s
paradise.

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce thanks Congressman Paul Gosar For His Help In Our Community

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 19:12:00 GMT

Congressman Paul Gosar recently visited the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce to see in person the chamber’s new digital messaging sign that would not be operating without his help.

Joe Keunen, chamber executive board member said, “We invited Congressman Gosar to thank him for clearing the way in dealing with multi-jurisdictional entities so the chamber and the City of Bullhead City could come to an agreement.”

Keunen said the messaging sign is important to the chamber as a significant source of revenue from advertising and helps chamber members as a low-cost way to publicize business and community information.

“The chamber directors also thank Mohave Electric Cooperative for their assistance with a low interest loan to finance the sign purchase,” said Keunen.

The new digital messaging sign replaces a 35-year-old single message hand-lettered sign. The sign can display up to 7,650 advertisements each day per side, viewed by north and southbound traffic on HWY 95 and chamber visitors.

March 27 | Announcement

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 23:31:00 GMT

March 17 | Announcement

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 08:00:00 GMT

JROTC Receives Donation From Bullhead Chamber For Their Hard Work

Thu, 23 Jan 2020 03:10:00 GMT

On Wednesday, January 22, 2020 the JROTC received a donation on for their hard work and dedication to making the Bullhead Area Chamber Of Commerce 2nd Annual Oktoberfest a success. JROTC were some of the first volunteers to arrive that Saturday morning on September 28, 2019. JROTC has now participated in both Oktoberfests and play a key roll. While all hands are on deck, they help with not only setup but as well as break down.

While John Pynakker, Exectuvie Director/CEO of the Bullhead Chamber gave the check to the JROTC, he invited them to participate in the 2020 Country Fest. The Bullhead Chamber is pleased to have such a great group of young leaders partake in so many community events. On behalf of our Board of Directors, Ambassadors, staff and 600 plus members, The Bullhead Area Chamber Of Commerce thanks you once again!

MCC Surgical Technology Graduates Ace National Boards

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 20:57:00 GMT

Mohave Community College is pleased to announce that for the third year
in a row, 100% of the graduates from the Surgical Technology program passed the national

board exam on the first attempt.

"This is a great accomplishment and we’re very proud of the students, our program director
and her team," said MCC President Dr. Stacy Klippenstein. "The national board exams are not

easy, so to have every student pass on the first attempt speaks volumes about the quality of
education you get at MCC."

The Surgical Technology program at Mohave Community College graduated seven students in
2019, and those graduates are now beginning their careers at hospitals and surgery centers

A surgical technologist is a key member of the surgery team and ensures the operating room
sterile field is prepared, assists with patient positioning and prepares the operation site.
Technologists also assist surgeons with medical equipment during surgery.

“We’ve worked really hard to create an environment for the students that mimics the
operating room so that when they get to their clinical sites they’re well trained and they’re well
prepared for what they are going to be dealing with in the operating room,” said Michelle Diaz,

Director of Surgical Technology.

According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, students graduating from the MCC program are
entering a career field in which they can earn up to $72,810 annually. Students can also finish
the program debt free by receiving Pell Grants, scholarships and other forms of college financial

aid.

The program is based at the MCC – Lake Havasu City campus, and draws students from as far
away as Prescott and Yuma. For the first two semesters students are required to be in class two
days a week. In the summer students will have an online class and two weeks of observation at
their clinical sites. During the last two semesters the students will be at clinical sites for four

days a week, almost always based in the city where they live.

The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education
Programs in cooperation with the Accreditation Review Committee on Education in Surgical
Technology. The program provides the knowledge necessary to take the national certification
examination for surgical technology.

MCC Surgical Technology students Samantha Engels (left) and Yolanda Penry (right) using high
tech equipment in the operating room classroom at MCC. Both graduated from the college and

are currently enjoying careers as surgical technologists.

For more information on the program visit, www. m o ha v e . e du/ s ur g te c h , or email Michelle Diaz

atmd .

MCC Kingman Campus Librarian Earns Spot in 2020 Emerging Leaders Program

Fri, 03 Jan 2020 16:46:00 GMT

Mohave Community College’s Kingman campus librarian, Erin Roper, has recently been accepted into the American Library Association Emerging Leaders program for 2020.

The program is for librarians who have no more than five years of experience in the field. The
goal for Roper is to work for six months on a project that she can later present at a conference.

“It’s a great opportunity to work with other people and learn about library advocacy on the
national level because there’s a myth that libraries are going extinct or that they are not going to

exist in a couple of years,” she said. “I am confident that libraries will exist but that they will
change.”

Roper will attend an ALA midwinter meeting and meet the other participants, work online with a
small group of other participants on an issue facing libraries or librarianship, and then present the
findings at the ALA annual conference.

She will also expand her knowledge of leadership skills and learn what other libraries across the
country are doing, and bring ideas back to Mohave County. She decided to apply for the ALA
Emerging Leaders program because she wanted the voice of rural libraries to be heard on the
national level.

In order for Roper to attend the conference she had to go through a competitive application
process to be selected as one of the 50 participants. The Association of College and Research
Libraries (ACRL) Junior and Community College Libraries Section, and the ACRL Instruction
Section are paying for her to participate in the national program.

Mohave Community College is currently enrolling students for the spring semester, which
begins on January 21. Apply for free online at w w w .M oha ve .e du , or call 1-866-MOHAVECC

for assistance.

The Chamber Welcomes BHC Tobacco to the Bullhead Area Business Community!

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 23:10:00 GMT

The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated the grand opening of BHC Tobacco, 2071 HWY 95, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Dec. 11.

Mayor Tom Brady presided over the celebration with owner, Fabiola. Others attending included chamber ambassadors and members, Bullhead Rotarians , Fellow Bullhead Area business owners and of course, shoppers.

Shop BHC Tobacco for the freshest cigars in town, which are stored in a true humidor. The shop is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Arizona Time. Look for photos and information about the products and services they offer at https://www.facebook.com/bhctobacco928/. For information, call (928)-299-5015

Joint Mixer And Twice The Fun!

Fri, 15 Nov 2019 22:19:00 GMT

Thursday, November 14th The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce gathered at Eagle Motorcycle’s Laughlin location to hold a Joint Mixer with the Laughlin Chamber. We had the opportunity to check out all of their latest models and new toys.

Both Chambers came together to have a celebration at an even bigger level. Many gifts were raffled off from members of both chambers. Live music was being played by Billy Kay. Our President John Pynakker and Laughlin Chamber’s Executive Assistant, Val Gabaldo helped host an amazing event with lots of new faces!

Once again, thank you for helping us serve our members bridge to bridge.

The Pinnacle At Laughlin Ranch

Fri, 15 Nov 2019 21:59:00 GMT

On Thursday, November 14th, the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed the Pinnacle At Laughlin Ranch in Bullhead City with a ribbon cutting.

City Manager Toby Cotter, City Councilmembers Kathy Bruck and Tami Ring all joined in with Chamber President John Pynakker and several of the Ambassadors and Chamber staff in welcoming the Pinnacle at Laughlin Ranch.

The Pinnacle at Laughlin Ranch is located just north of Laughlin Ranch BLVD on The Parkway. Ken Parrillo, owner of Laughlin Bullhead investments expressed his gratitude for all who attended and his excitement for the development.

Welcome to the community and we wish you good luck.

Proceeds from the Drive In Movie Go To Help The Homeless

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 17:09:00 GMT

Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce President/CEO John Pynakker joined with Jessica McGuire of Anderson Ford and Maria Pynakker of the Kiwanis Club of the Colorado River, as well as Chamber Social Media Manager Tina Paden to present Bullhead City Elementary School District #15 Homeless Liaison Lupe Torres a check for $1,840.

The $1,840 are the proceeds from the recent Drive-In Movie event that Anderson and the Chamber put on with the help of the Anderson Fieldhouse and the Kiwanis Club of the Colorado River.

Maria Pynakker brought nearly a dozen Kiwanians to help park for the event which featured a huge 30′ x 40′ screen on the back of the Fieldhouse building for the showing of Toy Story 4. Thank you to Ed Catalfamo and Jolene Stein at the Anderson Fieldhouse for their help.

Torres, who has just a budget of $300 annually through a grant, will use the money to help provide food and clothing for the more than 100 homeless students in the district. For more information, or to donate, please contact Torres at 928-234-2089.

Wings of An Angel Spreads Their Love

Mon, 21 Oct 2019 23:52:00 GMT

The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce was pleased to welcome Wings of Angel In-Home Care to our community. Wings of An Angel is a locally ran company that offers 24/7 in-home care for seniors. The owners, Trisha and Kevin Hollar have been helping seniors for over 25 years. Trisha expressed her longtime love for patients and the elderly. Mayor Brady welcomed the company to the City of Bullhead City and thanked them for their amazing work. The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce wants to thank all who are involved in this amazing company and all of the love they spread to our community.

The Zen Den Holistic Healing Center Celebrates Grand Opening With Ribbon Cutting

Fri, 18 Oct 2019 21:40:00 GMT

The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome The Zen Den Holistic Healing Center to our Chamber family. We gathered on Thursday, October 17th to hold a ribbon cutting and tour the areas. The Zen Den is a completed studio with all the bells and whistles leading into holistic healing. They allowed members to attempt the art of trapeze, such as Tristan Johnson with Horizon Community Bank. Amiee Lovelace Miller and Christie Ball encourage anyone to give their space a try and fall in love with what they do! Thank you so much ladies for a great event.

Glam RN Mixer Kept It Cool While Sculpting

Fri, 11 Oct 2019 20:55:00 GMT

The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce and Glam RN had a packed house at their mixer this Thursday. All who attended received more information on all of their services offered. Each guest received a goodie bag with some of Glam RN’s top products! We want to thank everyone who constantly comes out and supports the Bullhead Chamber. A huge thank you to John and Whitney Hassett for such an amazing event. Also, a big thank you so all at Glam RN for making this happen

Stylish Lighting and Home Decor Ribbon Cutting

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 17:21:00 GMT

Welcome to Kat O’Brien and the crew at Stylish Lighting and Home Decor, one of our newest members. The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for them on Wednesday 10/9/2019 at their location at 1595 Mohave Dr. Suite 2 (next to Black Mountain Bistro).

Ambassador Larry Pence did the ribbon cutting which included Mayor Tom Brady, Vice-Mayor Annette Wegmann and Katie Ward from Congressman Gosar’s office among many ambassadors, community members and friends.

The new business includes higher end lighting as well as paintings and other home decor. Please go check them out and tell them the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce sent you!

Congrats to Dr. Coyle and Stylish Lighting and Home Decor

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 17:01:00 GMT

The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate Chamber Ambassador Dr. Terry Coyle and the Stylish Lighting and Home Decor center for each receiving special recognition from Katie Ward – the Business Liaison for Congressman Paul Gosar’s office at our ribbon cutting on 10/9/2019.

Dr. Coyle won an award for his contribution to the business community and the citizens of the area, while Stylish Lighting and Home Decor won an award for starting their new business and its contribution to our business community.

Congratulations to both of you! It is well deserved, and thank you to Katie and Congressman Gosar for recognizing the contributions of our businesses in the Bullhead Area!

Join Us For The Grand Re-Opening

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 21:19:00 GMT

The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the grand re-opening of Southwest Behavioral and Health Services. We ask the public to join us as we welcome them into the community once more. The re-opening will be on October 17th from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM. The event will showcase member projects and also have raffle prizes! We hope to see you all there!

2019 Bullhead Chamber Oktoberfest

Thu, 26 Sep 2019 00:01:00 GMT

The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce wants to welcome the public to attend our free Oktoberfest event. The gates will open at 10 AM on Saturday September 28th, 2019. There will be music by numerous of our local djs, food, beer, Kid Zone, and contests. Along with all the fun, there will be vendors from our community. We hope to see you all there!

Prost!

JP’s Mixer a Big Hit

Fri, 13 Sep 2019 18:04:00 GMT

The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce had a mixer on Thursday, September 12th at JP’s Irish Pub and it was a big success.Cathy Stearns and her crew did a fantastic job getting the restaurant ready including a great menu of food and drinks. Thank you to all those who attended and especially to those who brought so many great raffle prizes. Look for us at our next mixer on September 26th at Sunridge Village for a Pirate themed mixer. If you’ve never attended one of our mixers, you don’t have to be a chamber member, just come out, check it out and make some new connections.

Meet and Greet with Senator McSally

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 23:46:00 GMT

The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce was proud to host Arizona Senator Martha McSally during a Tri-City Mayor Ice Cream Social Hour on Wednesday, August 7th. During the social hour, guests got the chance to meet, and take pictures with, Senator McSally. Senator McSally came to Bullhead city to meet with residences from Kingman, Lake Havasu, and Bullhead City to talk about recreation in the community.

During the event, Terri Sponder, Executive Board Member of the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce, had the pleasure of greeting the Senator and welcoming her to our community. Mayor Brady gave an opening speech, thanking the community for their support. and awarding Senator McSally a key to the City before she took the floor and shared her views on various topics of our community. Following McSally’s discussion, Lake Havasu Mayor Sheehy asked Senator McSally questions submitted from the crowd.

The social hour was a huge success, with over 140 attendees. Thanks to the hard work of Desert Star Teacher Frank Sagasta along with Chamber Social Media Manager Tina Paden and Thunderbird Taxi’s Juan Lizarraga and Rosa Icela Sandoval, Desert Star Academy’s Leadership Program had the opportunity to meet with the Senator and ask questions during the Q&A portion of the hour. Once the Q&A portion was over, Kingman Mayor Miles did a closing speech, thanking the Senator and everyone who attended, for coming.

Senator McSally then stayed and met with each person, along with taking pictures. Each individual that approached her showed nothing but glee towards her presence. The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce would like to thank Both Kingman’s and Lake Havasu’s Chamber, City, and elected officials who attended.

Your Chance to Acknowledge Local Businesses

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 17:17:00 GMT

We are very excited to announce that Congressman Gosar’s office has begun a new program named Gosar’s Game Changers!

This is a new program that will recognize businesses around the state (1 a month) who has gone above and beyond and shown their commitment to their community and the state of Arizona.

Please see the attachments, download them and fill them out to recognize any businesses that you think deserve it. You can then return it to Congressman Gosar’s Business Liaison Katelynn Ward at Katelyn.Ward

Thank you Congressman Gosar for your continued backing and recognition of our state’s businesses. Your policies are a big reason why we are seeing the huge economic growth (3rd in the county).

Business Spotlight Questionaire .docx

Gosar’s Game Changers!.pdf

Laughlin Ranch Continues Progress In Their Development

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 03:50:00 GMT

Today we had the opportunity to welcome a newly extended road in Bullhead City. Laughlin Ranch Boulevard now has an additional 3/4th of a mile and will provide residents a new way home. During the ribbon-cutting, Mayor Brady mentioned the ability to build more homes and in return will create more jobs for Bullhead City. The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce is eager to see the opportunities that the new road will bring. We would also like to congratulate Laughlin Ranch for their success. We are proud to be able to call you Chamber members.

End of an Era

Tue, 23 Jul 2019 16:55:00 GMT

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered here today to say goodbye to our beloved Chamber of Commerce Marquee. This marquee has served us well for over 30 years, but eventually all good things must come to an end.

The great folks over at Mohave Signs began the dismantling and removal of our old manual sign today and began making way for our new State of the Art LED Electronic Sign. This sign is available to Chamber Members only for advertising. Proceeds from the sign will go to promote Bullhead City through our tourism department as well as make much needed improvements to the Chamber of Commerce facility.

So thank you Marquee for all you have done, but your services are no longer needed. If you are interested in advertising on our new sign, please contact Tina at Tina.

Town Hall Meeting

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 17:22:00 GMT

Join the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce and the Arizona Republican Party for the July 18th 2019 Town Hall Meeting. State Senator Sonny Borrelli, State Representative Leo Biasiucci, and many other local dignitaries will be speaking at the meeting. See you there!

Nothing But Smiles At The Family Fun Festival

Thu, 11 Jul 2019 20:17:00 GMT

The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce teamed up with the Anderson Auto Group Fieldhouse to co-sponsor the Family Fun Festival put on by the The Anderson Auto Group on July 10th. The main objective for the event was to be able to provide the families of our community a day of fun that was affordable, safe and air-conditioned. With over 2,000 attendees, the community’s response was positive and showed their interest in seeing the new Fieldhouse.

While working the event, we spoke with numerous children of all ages, who expressed how much they were enjoying themselves. Surprise appearances were made by Scoopie, the Mascot from Culver’s. Community clubs such as the Kiwanis Club of the Colorado River, Sunrise Rotary, and Mohave High School’s Student Council volunteered in the event while interacting with the children. The event included major sponsors Living Waters Hospice and Walmart. Living Waters Hospice’s Outreach Coordinator, Maria Pynakker said: "The gift of seeing kids enjoying their time with their parents warmed my heart."

The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce wants to thank everyone who came out in support of such an amazing event. Thank you to all of our sponsors, who donated time, raffle baskets, and much more! We look forward to the next event.

Nothing But Smiles At The Family Fun Festival

Thu, 11 Jul 2019 19:50:00 GMT

Colorado River Women’s Council, Leadership Program Show Cases Their End Of Year Project

Tue, 18 Jun 2019 21:25:00 GMT

The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce gathered on June 18th to congratulate the 2019 graduating class of The Colorado River Women’s Council, Leadership Program. As their end of year project, the Leadership Program choose to build a playground for local business Milemarkers Therapy. The Leadership Program wanted to give the children and adults interactive equipment to play with while attending MileMarkers Therapy.

After the unveiling of the playground to the participants of Milemarkers Therapy, guests were welcomed to take a look at the final project. The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting to celebrate such an act of kindness in our community. Local dignitaries, such as Mayor Brady, Councilwoman Kathy Bruck and Mohave County Supervisor Hildy Angius spoke at the event, expressing their pride and gratitude towards the Leadership Program and their accomplishment. Milemarkers Therapy offered free tours of their facilities and recreational rooms.

The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce wants to thank all who attended the event and showed their support. Congratulations to the Leadership Program and the Colorado River Women’s Council on their accomplishments!

AMVETS Post 19 Host Ribbon Cutting in Honor of Flag Day

Fri, 14 Jun 2019 21:27:00 GMT

Taking care of our Veterans should always be at the top of our list of priorities, and for the Fort Mohave AMVETS Post 19, it is. June 14th, the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce was lucky enough to be invited to Post 19. We celebrated their opening, as well as joining the Chamber Community with a ceremonial red ribbon cutting. The AMVETS Post 19 is here in our area to provide a safe space to all Veterans and their guest, not only war Veterans. AMVETS Post 19 wants to get the message out that they are there, and someone is there for you. Stop in the AMVETS Post 19, say hello, and welcome them to our community. They are located at 4310 S Highway 95 Ste A, Fort Mohave, AZ 86426.

VVMC Celebrates 20th Anniversary of LifePoint Health with Donationfor Bullhead City Shelter

Thu, 13 Jun 2019 23:36:00 GMT

Contribution supports hospital’s mission of Making Communities Healthier®

Fort Mohave, Arizona – (June 13, 2019) – This month, Valley View Medical Center is celebrating the 20th anniversary of LifePoint Health, the health system of which it is a part, with a donation to Catholic Charities Community Services. This donation is part of a national anniversary celebration in which LifePoint has contributed $2,000 to causes in each of the 89 communities it serves nationwide. The Catholic Charities Emergency Shelter was chosen by the hospital team in Fort Mohave because it reflects LifePoint’s and VVMC’s mission of Making Communities Healthier®.

“We are celebrating LifePoint Health’s 20th anniversary in our community with a donation to Catholic Charities to be used to help bring the Center for Help & Hope to fruition,” said Feliciano Jiron, chief executive officer (CEO) of Valley View Medical Center. “Making Communities Healthier® is the mission of LifePoint and this donation helps meet the basic needs within our community. We are proud to be part of the LifePoint family and excited to continue our legacy of high quality, community-based care in the Fort Mohave/Bullhead area for years to come.”

LifePoint was founded in May 1999 as LifePoint Hospitals with 23 community hospitals in nine states. The company changed its name to LifePoint Health in 2015 as a reflection of its evolution from a hospital operator to a healthcare leader providing a range of services across the communities it serves. Today, LifePoint has 89 hospital campuses, 45+ post-acute service providers and facilities and 50+ outpatient facilities across 30 states. It has nearly 60,000 dedicated employees from coast to coast, including more than 3,000 employed providers and more than 8,600 affiliated providers.

“LifePoint is dedicated to creating places where people choose to come for healthcare, physicians want to practice and employees want to work,” said David Dill, president and CEO of LifePoint Health. “We are thrilled to be celebrating a 20-year legacy of Making Communities Healthier with our employees, physicians, board members and volunteers across the nation. We are proud of how far we have come in the last two decades and are excited to continue to collaborate with the talented team at Valley View Medical Center to advance our mission in the years ahead.”

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“We are excited to have LifePoint Health and Valley View Medical Center help us make a difference in the lives of those experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness in our community,” said Catholic Charities Executive Director of Northern Arizona Catherine Peterson. “Together, we can change lives for the better, and provide much-needed assistance for this vulnerable population, something the community has needed for a long time.”

For more information about VVMC visit www.valleyviewmedicalcenter.net . For more information about LifePoint Health, visit: lifepointhealth.net .

ABOUT Valley View Medical Center

Opened in 2005, Valley View Medical Center is an 84-bed acute care facility with multiple adjoining medical office buildings and offsite physician offices. The hospital provides 24-hour emergency service with full-time board certified emergency physicians on duty. The state-of-the-art main campus features 100% private rooms for labor and delivery, acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, and intensive care. Valley View offers a full complement of community and regional referral services in all of the major medical disciplines with a medical staff that represents a broad cross section of specialty areas. Valley View Medical Center has been named one of America’s Best Hospitals for Patient Safety by the Women’s Choice Award ®, America’s trusted referral source for the best in healthcare. The award signifies that Valley View Medical Center is in the top 15% of 3,179 U.S. hospitals for patient safety. Visit http://www.valleyviewmedicalcenter.net to learn more.

ABOUT the Catholic Charities, Legacy Foundation Emergency Shelter:

The aim of the shelter is to provide temporary residence while ensuring a permanent solution for men and women experiencing homelessness. The site will offer a variety of support services, including assistance finding employment, housing, a medical clinic and treatment referrals:

The project began as a 12-bed facility and fortunately grew into a project more suited to the needs of the community. Catholic Charities anticipates opening the shelter in 2020.

# # #

PHOTO CAPTION:

VVMC executives present Cathy Peterson of Catholic Charities a donation to help bring the Bullhead Center for Help & Hope closer to fruition.

Sport Clips Brings New Life To City Square

Tue, 04 Jun 2019 18:55:00 GMT

As the city gathered together on June 1st, we celebrated the grand re-opening of City Square. With the party in full swing, the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed their newest members into the community, Sport Clips. Kandra Hines and a number of Sport Clips employees cut the ceremonial red ribbon to officially open the new Sport Clips located at 2250 HWY 95 Suite A536, Bullhead City AZ. Mayor Brady, Ambassadors, and City Dignitaries gathered to show their support for this new up and coming business! City Square’s Free to the public event offered food from Subway and I Heart Tacos. They also had a Kids Zone, with bounce houses from Suzi’s Bounce House Rentals and snow cones! We welcome all new and existing businesses to our community, and wish them nothing but the best of luck!

Check Out Our Facelift

Tue, 28 May 2019 21:21:00 GMT

The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce wants to give a special thanks to Baron Landscape & Pool. Baron took on the huge task of renovating our area and has put out beautiful work! Here at the Chamber, we can not express our gratitude enough. Thank you once again to Matt, Ryan and all the people who have made our dream become a reality. Also, a huge thank you to Toby Cotter, Dave Heath, Angie Johnson and the City Council for helping us with this project. The end result is amazing! We are so pleased to have such a breathtaking entrance and it compliments all of the great work the City has done to Section 12. Come and check us out!

Your City and Chamber Representatives Are Here At ICSC Recon 2019Trying To Get More Business To Town

Mon, 20 May 2019 19:36:00 GMT

Pass The Custard Please!

Fri, 17 May 2019 21:05:00 GMT

Chamber of Commerce got to experience Thursday night! Your local Culver’s hosted their first mixer, which also happened to be a "Members Only Event." With over 50 attendees and a packed house from their business as well, things got exciting. All of the Chamber members had an opportunity to meet with the owners, the crew members, as well as Scoopie, their mascot! Culver’s gave our Chamber members the luxury of a full buffet from their menu, as well as a Yeti cooler full of their daily custard. Lori Deschene, owner, and operator of Culver’s spoke about Culver’s Foundation and the impact on the community it makes. All Chamber members left full and satisfied to meet Lori Deschene personally.

Valley View Medical Center Mercy Award Winner!

Fri, 10 May 2019 18:18:00 GMT

Congratulations to Louie Carranza! Thank you so much for being such an important part of our community.

Bullhead Chamber Welcomes Ellie’s With Ribbon Cutting At Music Festival

Mon, 06 May 2019 19:34:00 GMT

Saturday, May 4th, 2019 the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed Ellie’s Boutique to our community. The Bullhead Chamber held a public ribbon cutting for Ellie’s at the Bullhead City Taco, Beer, and Music Festival. Ellie’s Boutique went all out when it came to bringing the goods for the festival! Ellie’s offers several products including eyebrow threading, henna tattoos, custom bathing suits, and the latest trends in women’s fashion. As an up and coming local business, we are eager to be a part of their future success.

Holocaust Survivor Speaks At Bullhead Chamber

Fri, 03 May 2019 21:44:00 GMT

This week has been nothing less than busy for the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce. In between all of the crazy and hectic, we had the privilege of meeting Mike Schwartz. Mike is one of the few Holocaust survivors left. While honored with Mikes’ presence, we got the chance to hear his story, and the obstacles he faced. Mike went into depth of the experiences he had endured, and what exactly he had to do to stay alive. As Mike spoke, not an eye stayed dry, or soul remained untouched. Mike stated, "his biggest accomplishment was being able to save his younger brother Teds’ life." While he fought off starvation, dehydration, beatings and a large amount of wear and tear from traveling; he managed to make it. Mike travels have stretched him from Romania To Canada, and he ended up in the beautiful Bullhead City. Being able to meet Mike Schwarts was a humbling opportunity. The world is a better place, thanks to courageous people like Mike Schwartz. Thank you to Living Waters Hospice for bringing Mike and his grandson to come and put on this presentation. None of us will ever forget it.

Fiesta Like There’s No Manana!

Fri, 03 May 2019 20:34:00 GMT

Living Waters Hospice, Mountain View Homes, and Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce threw the fiesta of the year! With over 100 people from local businesses and the community joining in on the fun, it was easy to say the mixer was a success! The three sponsors provided drinks, entertainment, and delicious food catered by Drifting Bistro. Drifting Bistro provided a full taco bar, including an elote making station! The mixers’ 50/50 raffle climbed to a whopping $400. The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce, Mountain View Homes, and Living Waters Hospice want to thank everyone for coming out, showing your support, and taking part in the fun!

B.B.B. Mixer Was A Homerun Hit!

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 00:05:00 GMT

Thursday, April 25th, the Bullhead Business Builders hosted a public mixer and raffle at the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce. All proceeds from the raffle went to the Mohave Valley Little league. The grand prize raffled off was a signed baseball from the Texas Rangers pitcher, Shelby Miller. The B.B.B. raised a grand total of $436.00 from raffle tickets and donations! The B.B.B. donated all of their proceeds in hopes to help the Mohave Valley Little League with all of their needs for the season. The original winner of the signed baseball put the baseball back up for auction. The baseball auctioned for $100 on top of the $336.00 already made! Many other prizes were raffled off, thanks to local businesses and members of the B.B.B.

Census is Hiring Field Representatives

Mon, 29 Apr 2019 17:55:00 GMT

You may be eligible to qualify if:

You are at least 18 years old

You have a valid Social Security Number

You are a U.S. Citizen

You pass a background check

Additional requirements may apply and vary by position

All qualifying applicants apply at: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USCENSUS/bulletins/241231f#.XMc4I2RLyZA.email

Apply to Census is Hiring Field Representatives

Mon, 29 Apr 2019 17:46:00 GMT

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USCENSUS/bulletins/241231f#.XMc4I2RLyZA.email

Kingman Chamber of Commerce Announces An Interim President/CEO

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 17:46:00 GMT

MCC Holds Meeting and Greet With Final Four Running For College President

Fri, 19 Apr 2019 17:18:00 GMT

The Mohave Community College Board of Governors would like to invite all staff, students, and members of the community to come to meet the four finalists in a nationwide search for the next college President. The four finalists will be at three Mohave Community College campuses over the course of two days. A schedule of the four finalists appearances will be posted at https://www.mohave.edu/2019/04/03/meet-and-greet-the-candidates-for-mcc-president/# The link will provide the four finalists’ information as well. Attendees of the North Campus meeting will be able to meet the candidates and ask them questions via interactive web feed. A feedback form will be available online, so you are able to submit comments of your thoughts on each candidate. The MCC Governing Board will be provided the feedback. If you are unable to attend the MCC event, a video of each candidate will be posted at https://www.youtube.com/user/mohaveccvideos

Anderson Ford Makes Huge Contribution to Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce Event

Fri, 19 Apr 2019 00:14:00 GMT

Thank you to Anderson Ford of Bullhead City who signed on to be the major sponsor for the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce’s Bullhead Taco, Beer and Music Festival on May 4th. The event will feature live music, delicious food, a variety of beer, henna art, and eyebrow threading. Local bands such as Savagekat, DJ Naked Truth, and Leonard Interior will appear at the event along with headliner Safety Orange. Food will be available for purchase from local businesses including River Dogs Bar and Grill and Big Stein’s Food Truck. Anderson Fords’ sponsorship will go to help offset the Chamber’s costs to take this Cinco De Mayo to the next level. The Bullhead Chamber of Commerce invites the community to come out, enjoy the party, and have a muy Bueno Cinco De Mayo!

The Mohave Valley Contractors Association and Mohave Shred Make Big Donations to AOBI

Wed, 17 Apr 2019 22:11:00 GMT

Today the Academy of Building Industries invited Mohave Shred, The Mohave Valley Contractors Association, and other local businesses to view their recently finished Steam Garden. The Steam Garden was produced from a recycled school bus and cared for by the students and teachers of A.O.B.I. The Steam Garden received an award for "Green Business of The Year" for 2019 from The Laughlin Chamber of Commerce. The principle of A.O.B.I., Jean Thomas, wanted to get the children of our community involved in positive habits. She views that eating clean, recycling and gaining knowledge, will encourage the kids to do great things. While attending the Steam Garden Benefactor Lunch, Jean Thomas was presented with two large donations, from Mohave Shred and the Mohave Valley Contractors Association. These generous donations totaled out to over sixty-five hundred dollars to help to continue the growth of their garden.

The children attending the benefactor lunch seemed so eager to engage with the community, and proud to show off their hard work. Darlene Hiltner, who worked side by side with Jean Thomas to complete the project, seemed to overflow with joy for the success the Steam Garden has produced. Donations from numerous local businesses were contributed for the project such as John Pynakker from the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce, Mohave Electric Cooperative and Home Depot. Jean Thomas strives to create an outdoor classroom for her next project. Jean wants to continue providing education at a new level!

Our Newest Chamber Staff Member

Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:40:00 GMT

Hello! My name is Tina Paden and I am the newest Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce employee. I was born and raised in beautiful Bullhead City. I went to high school at River Valley graduating in 2012. Shortly after, I started going to college at Mohave Community College. As college students do, I switched my major a few times because I was afraid of being bored or sad at my job. Which eventually led me to take communication and psychology classes. I found my passion for engaging and experiencing people and I knew needed to do something about it. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to come work for the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce, I will be responsible for all of our social media, including building our website, Facebook and Instagram presence as well as advertising sales. I look forward to the journey I will take with the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce!

My significant other Mark, and I, have a one-year old daughter named Rhiannon, and when I’m not working, we enjoy going to the river or going shopping at Target. Rhiannon has four pet chickens, which can be a handful sometimes! When I have personal time, I play in a local billiards league. My biggest goal in life is to be extra loving to the people close to me. My biggest professional goal is to make an impact on the Bullhead area, so my daughter can have a brighter future.

2nd Annual Reentry Employer Forum

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 20:15:00 GMT

Arizona’s 2nd Annual Reentry Employer Forum! May 6th from 8 AM to 12 PM at the Phoenix College Bulpitt Auditorium. Employer Forum will Feature Governor Doug Ducey and Cardinals CEO Michael Bidwell. No cost to attend the event!

Space is Limited!

Arizona Affordable Cremations Has Ribbon Cutting and Mixer

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 17:19:00 GMT

The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce had a combined Ribbon Cutting and Mixer at the Arizona Affordable Cremations offices on Thursday, April 11th.

The event welcomed AZ Affordable into the Chamber as well as gave those in attendance a chance to learn about their history as well as make new friends and business acquaintances. The event was very well attended by the Chamber Staff, Ambassadors and guests including Vice Mayor Tami Ring and City Councilwoman Annette Wegmann.

The mixer included a taco bar, margaritas and other drinks as well as raffle gifts. Thank you to everyone who attended and we hope to see you at the next mixer on April 25th as the Bullhead Business Builders will have a "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" mixer here in the Chambers Conference Room.

Chamber Welcomes the Human Bean With A Ribbon Cutting

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 23:08:00 GMT

On Wednesday, April 10th, the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed the Human Bean in Bullhead City with a ribbon cutting.

Mayor Tom Brady, City Manager Toby Cotter, City Councilmembers Annette Wegmann and Sheila Shutts all joined in with Chamber President John Pynakker and several of the Ambassadors and Chamber staff in welcoming the Human Bean and owners Brian and Juls Baumkirchner.

It was the second Human Bean the Baumkirchner’s have built in Bullhead City and Brian spoke about building another one soon in Fort Mohave!

The Human Bean is located just north of Community Park on Hwy 95 and the Mayor and Mr. Cotter each expressed their happiness with a new business being built in old Bullhead and the hope that others fall suit.

Welcome to the Human Bean and we wish you good luck.

BHCFD and Tristate Careflight Practice

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 22:00:00 GMT

Don’t worry. The Tristate Careflight Helicopter that landed in the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce parking lot was simply there as part of a training mission with the Bullhead City Fire Department.

According to the Fire Department, they try to coordinate with both Tri-State and Classic Air every six months to be sure that all channels are operating correctly in the case that someone needs to be Medically evacuated from a scene.

Everything worked to perfection and the Helicopter left the scene.

MCC Meet and Greet With The President Candidates

Thu, 04 Apr 2019 22:17:00 GMT

Mohave Community College will be having several Meet and Greets for the final four candidates for President.

Please see the attached fliers for dates, times and locations.

Meet and greet MCC President Candidates.docx

Hobby Lobby Finally Open

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 19:10:00 GMT

The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce joined community leaders, dignitaries, Chamber Ambassadors and a long line of patient shoppers on Monday, April 1st to have a ribbon cutting for the new Hobby Lobby in Bullhead City.

Store Manager Lee Hollandsworth opened up the festivities with some kind remarks about the city, his staff and the Hobby Lobby Organization, before introducing Chamber President/CEO John C. Pynakker. John thanked Hobby Lobby and the many in attendance before speaking on the tremendous job that the City of Bullhead City, including Mayor Brady, City Manager Cotter and the City Council members have done in recruiting and helping new business to come to Bullhead City.

Mayor Brady spoke for a couple of minutes on the importance of stores like Hobby Lobby before everyone gathered to cut the ribbon and open the store!

Congratulations again to the entire Hobby Lobby organization and to the City of Bullhead City for another major score.