NEEDLES HOSPITAL CLOSING?
 Needles - The owners of Needles hospital, Colorado River Medical Center, have decided to close the hospital. However, the City of Needles has a contract with the hospital that it can't close down for at least another two years. Most likely that even when they build the new facility next to the Fort Mohave clinic, the Needles Hospital will serve pretty much like the Fort Mohave Unit is now doing. Needles won't close its hospital doors completely.
Officials with Province Health Care Systems have released their plans on the new hospital facility planned for Ft. Mohave. The new facility, to be located adjoining the existing Colorado River Medical Complex campus on the 5300 block of Highway 95, will feature four operating rooms, 50 medical, surgical and rehabilitation beds, a 10 bed emergency department, four-bed labor and delivery unit and a six-bed intensive care unit. Groundbreaking is slated for May 2004 and cost of the project is estimated at about $30 million.

BOBGULLEY.com

RAIN BRINGS PESTS, WEEDS
 G.S. - The unusual amount of rain the area has seen recently will do more than make the roadways wet. The whole food chain will explode. We are likely to have a huge termite swarm this year. We'll see a lot of homes with termites and the general pests as well. Weeds, especially scorpion weed, should see a large bloom as well. Scorpion weed is characterized by a deep purple row of flowers, curled like a scorpion’s tale, and creates a several allergic reaction to most people who come in contact with it.
This has been a nice slow rain. It’s great for the area; the impact is pretty minor. It will create some work for some people as soon as the sun comes out and the weeds start popping up. The desert will turn green again as it did 3 years ago. Then there will be a huge population of weeds and bugs of all kinds. Oh well, most of us need to get out and work in the yard anyway.

DONATIONS FOR DILLONS
 G.S. - The house that burned on Thursday of last week in Golden Shores was the home of the Dillons'. They lost just about everything. Some people have asked if they could donate to help. The Golden Shores Civic Association president, Bob Ericson, said if you want to make a donation, make your check payable to the Golden Shores Civic Association and mail it to P.O. Box 65, 86436. Be sure to mark on your check that it is for the Dillons. We will see that they get the money.

TOPOCK SCHOOL
G.S. - Mohave County Spelling Bee The Mohave County Spelling Bee was held in Kingman on Friday, February 6, 2004. Thirty-three of the best spellers in grades four through eight throughout the county competed to earn the opportunity to advance to the state level. Topock’s spelling bee coordinator and teacher Mrs. Lorraine Wait, who helped the spellers line up, commented, “I was so impressed with how polite, respectful, and conscientious the spellers were.” Topock speller, eighth grader Bobbie Stiles, made it to the second round before spelling out. By round six, there were only eight spellers left. The battle of letters was valiantly fought until a victor emerged in round twelve. The worthy winner was Leigh Becker of Valentine School District who triumphed with the correct spelling of ‘chivalry’. Every speller went home with a trophy in recognition of having proudly represented his or her school at the County Spelling Bee.
TEACHER RETURNS
Fifth grade teacher Mrs. Andrea Dow has successfully recuperated from her bout with thyroid cancer and returned to school on Monday February 9th. She states that she was a little tired the first week but happy to be back. The staff and students of Topock School are thrilled to have Mrs. Dow healthy and back at school! Thanks to all of our community members support of Mrs. Dow's recovery! Golden Shores-you're the best!

MARRIAGE - ONE MAN, ONE WOMAN
National - President Bush spoke strongly in support of a constitutional amendment preserving marriage as the legal union of one man and one woman. Combined with the unlawful actions of one Massachusetts court and local officials in San Francisco and New Mexico, along with growing percentages of Americans who oppose same sex marriage, the announcement by the President will help this cause reach critical mass. We have gathered nearly 20,000 signatures in support of the Federal Marriage Amendment already, but we need your help to gather more! Forward this e-mail to everyone you know who supports the traditional family! Urge them to go to the front page of our website at www.azpolicy.org, where you can read President Bush’s statement, and can sign our on-line petition in support of the FMA. You can also read a letter I signed thanking President Bush for his leadership on this issue. Seventy national leaders signed this letter, including Dr. James Dobson, Chuck Colson, Franklin Graham, Rev. D. James Kennedy, Michael Novak and Richard Land. Please help us continue gathering signatures to present to our Congressmen and Senators in support of the Federal Marriage Amendment!
Len Munsil, The Center for Arizona Policy (CAP)

POLYGAMY A CRIME IN AZ
Phoenix - A bill that would make it a crime to marry more than one person has passed the state Senate and is now on the way to the House. Under the bill, it would be a felony to be married to more than one person, as well as to marry or cohabitate with a minor. It would also be a crime to arrange such a marriage or living arrangement. The Senate voted unanimously to pass the bill, which is modeled after a Utah law and is a direct reaction to the polygamous community of Colorado City.

THE PASSION
Mel Gibson's movie, "The Passion of the Christ," Opened nationwide on Wednesday, February 25th. Those who have already seen it are in awe, to say the least.

OPINIONS
Response to 911 call - Regarding the fire on Shore Pkwy last week 2/19/04, a lot of people are rather upset including myself about the response time for the Fire Dept to arrive after the call to 911. It is my information that it took 17 minutes to arrive 3 blocks from the fire station which I'm almost positive that was not due to our Fire Dept. I used to live down at 5 Mile Landing and have had occasions to use the Fire Dept and Ambulance several times when we could call the Dept. Even down there it only took them 5 minutes to arrive. Another time I came upon an accident about 1/2 mile up the road with two cars hitting head on and people trapped in the cars. I rushed back home here and called the fire dept., gave them the location and rushed back out to help control traffic to prevent further accidents. On the way back out I could already hear the sirens which now makes me believe that the FIRE MARSHAL should be notified to investigate the 911 personnel and make some changes. This house could probably been saved had the Fire Dept been notified direct instead of having to go thru who knows where all before the word got back to them. We are fortunate in this community to have the BEST fire and ambulance crews in the area so why not give them a chance. I personally dont know where to pursue this matter any further.
Lee Johnson

OPINIONS - are not necessarily the opinion of the Golden Shores eXtra or it's staff. If you have an opinion you would like to put in this publication, please email news@goldenshores.net.

FOOD CARE SIGNUP
G.S. - Next week is the week to signup for your Food Care Club boxes. You can go to the church office during the week or to the Community Center on Saturday morning.