Bullhead City - Santa was wrapping up his journey while three people were apparently pursuing a more criminal Christmas wish in Bullhead City. According to Bullhead City Police, a witness saw three people leave the 99 Cent Store in a dark colored four door vehicle on Christmas Eve. Police said the store showed signs of forced entry. Stereo equipment and $500 in change was reported missing. A forensics team was able to recover fingerprints and other evidence from the scene, but it is still not known if there are any suspects in the case.

Kingman - Kingman Police got a deal when they arrested a man Christmas Day for auto theft. According to police, officers observed Brandon Dennis Davis, age 24 of Kingman, trying to load a quad off road vehicle into a pickup truck. When the subject made eye contact with the officer the subject ran through a wooden gate breaking it down. When Davis was contacted it was determined the truck was stolen. He was transported to Mohave County Jail where officers got a surprise. A report came in while Davis was in custody that the quad he was loading on the stolen truck was also stolen.

G. S. - As I watched from my patio on Christmas Eve, I saw the Golden Shores Fire Department pass.
First, the Medics, then the fire engine, and then a truck pulling an enclosed trailor I knew was filled with gifts for the less fortunate children of our community.
It made me feel so good that we have such a fantastic community (that has donated gifts) and our Golden Shores Fire Department that also have donated gifts and taken their time and effort on Christmas Eve to bring smiles to the faces of the little children.
Santa and his helpers were on the fire engine that would sound their siren (which I heard) in front of a home that had the little ones not expecting this to happen.
It is such a fantastic feeling to see their faces light up as Santa and his elves come in laden with presents in their bags. It's a feeling that is so over whelming and hard to describe.
I am very thankful that our Fire Department would take time out of their Christmas Eve to bring such happiness to this children and I sincerely hope this tradition will continue for many, many years to come.
I highly commend them for their time and their effort to bring happiness to our little ones in the Golden Shores Community.
Thank you guys and gals for being you, and a job well done, and for all the things you do for us.
Submitted by:Pearl Ritter

Lake Havasu City - Lake Havasu's Sean Valdez has completed an e-Bay auction selling a contract binding his ghost to haunt the winner upon his death. The ghostly deal fetched brought a whopping $20.50 on the online auction site. Valdez is only 32 years-old and not willing to give a specific time when the haunting would begin, but agreed to make the contract transferable, assuring a haunting would be received for the $20.50.

HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? - 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 gsnews@goldenshores.net.

G.S. - As the rains have come again to the area and spilled another ˝ inch or so onto our already moist soil, the Sacramento wash has again overflowed and the road has been closed. Early Thursday afternoon 12/30 as trucks headed for I-40 from Golden Shores found the "Road Closed" sign near Topock School. As some of the trucks attempted to turn around in the soft soil, a couple of them got stuck. A wrecker truck came and assisted in getting them back on the road.
More rain is expected this weekend and up thru Wednesday of next week.

G.S. - Sometimes the only way we can get news is if someone calls or emails to tell us about it. Anytime you know about news, please call 768-1400 or email news@goldenshores.net so we can follow up. We would love to have some articles written by local people as well. Thanks. The Editor.

Bullhead City - A Bullhead City Police officer is recovering from numerous dog bites received Sunday. Officer Sonny Gerber was involved in a vehicle pursuit with Anthony Terrigino Jr. ending with Terrigino crashing through a gate in his yard. According to police, when the officer tackled the suspect, Terrigino ordered his dog to attack. The dog jumped on the officer and bit him. Gerber was able to pepper spray Terrigino and the dog after which Terrigino ran into his house. He was found hiding in a closet. He was booked into Mohave County Jail on charges including aggravated assault on an officer.

Lake Havasu City - Volunteers at the Lake Havasu City visitor information center found the Christmas spirit and passed it on. The volunteers at the center had a tip jar in place and collected roughly $300.00 in gratuities over the past six-months. When the time came to divide the loot a decision was made by these retired, unpaid workers. They decided they would donate that money to help the adopt-a-family program. The volunteers originally planed to use part of the money to adopt one family for the holidays, but finally decided to turn over all the money to help those less fortunate.

Kingman - A man pled guilty Tuesday in an ambush style attack that killed his estranged wife and wounded her boyfriend the day after last Christmas. Steven Cook, 42, is convicted of first-degree murder and aggravated assault through a plea agreement in Mohave County Superior Court. Cook shot and killed his wife Bonnie, 36, and wounded her boyfriend David Thompson, 37.
Superior Court Judge Steven F. Conn said he had no discretion regarding jail time. Cook will have to serve 25 years before he is eligible for parole.

Hoover Dam - The Bureau of Reclamation warns travelers of traditionally heavy traffic delays over the Hoover Dam during the holiday weekend. 12/26-01/02 is projected to be the busiest traffic days over the Dam. Dam officials encourage people to schedule their travel so they can cross the Dam during the off hours. Off-hours are generally before 10am and after 4pm. The traffic heading home following the holidays is generally later and therefore people not wanting to be delayed should plan on crossing earlier in the morning. Construction work is not scheduled over the holidays, but security check-points are still operating at the Dam, and all post-911 restrictions are in place.

Phoenix - A federal judge has lifted the restraining order preventing the implementation of the immigration reform law that was approved by Arizona voters in November. Prop 200, for the time being, will be the law of the state. Prop 200 calls for proof of legal residency before some state benefits are provided and proof of citizenship when registering to vote.
Senator-Elect Ron Gould (R-Lake Havasu City) said he hopes Prop 200 provides a clear message to Washington that Arizona will not be the gateway for illegal immigration into the United States. He also said he doesn't accept arguments that illegal immigrants only want the jobs Americans don't.
Attorneys opposed to prop 200 have vowed an appeal to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Lake Havasu City - Eleven organizers called The Committee for Recall obtained four-recall packets from the Lake Havasu City clerk’s office Thursday afternoon in an effort to recall three council members and the mayor. The Committee is calling for the recall of Robert Whelan, mayor; Don Clark, vice-mayor; Carolyn Bruce, council member and Kristin Lietz-Aldridge, council member, for secrecy in executive sessions; financial interests in shoreline and handling of city manager termination.
The group has 120 days to secure about 3,200 signatures to recall the mayor and over 3,800 signatures for the other three members. The committee seems to have a great deal of support from former supporters of Marie Meahl, including her husband Brad.
Lietz-Aldridge said she would face the recall effort head-on. She said she consistently asks why there is a need for so many executive sessions. She claims she did not participate in the firing of the city manager and has no personal financial interest in shoreline property.

Arizona - The coming of the holidays signals the start of the breeding season for America’s symbol. Bald Eagles in Arizona have begun their breeding season, which runs through the end of June, and officials from the Arizona Game and Fish Department have announced a list of seasonal breeding ground closures. Bald Eagle Management Coordinator James Driscoll said seasonal closures have become an essential tool for protecting the eagles when they are most sensitive. He said that activity near a nest can cause a pair of eagles to leave eggs uncovered, ruining the breeding attempt.
For a list of closures and more information on Bald Eagle breeding log onto the department's web site at
http://www.azgfd.com/artman/publish/article_39.shtml.

Arizona - The American Legislative Exchange Council published their 2004 report card on public education and Arizona earned a solid "C", ranking 22 out of 50 in Academic Achievement. The report said that the student teacher ratio was the most important aspect effecting academic achievement.
According to the report, Arizona actually rated among the highest states in the area of Scholastic Aptitude Tests or SATs, the state also suffered the highest percentage drop in scores – with the average SAT score in Arizona dropping 6-percent between 1983 and 2003.
Education promises to be a major issue for the governor and legislature when they convene in mid-January.

Dear Heavenly Father, We welcome You to take our lives to use us for Your Glory. We pray You will use us in a greater measure than You ever have before in this coming year. We choose Your Will for our lives knowing You have a better way than we do. We choose life in You with hope that You will be glorified in us throughout this coming year.
We pray and ask these things in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
If you are reading the printed version and this is your first time to pray this or similar prayer, please contact or attend your local church.
To learn more about your future: Click Here.

As we wrap up the year, we should reflect on the good things that have happened in state government in 2004. With the help of the business community and others, we successfully secured funding to pay for the first of a five-year phase-in of voluntary full-day kindergarten. Our corporate friends, Southwest Gas and Phelps Dodge Corporation, have contributed some $150,000 to pay for the printing of 90,000 copies of books that will be distributed to first graders statewide, and we were able to protect K-12 education from budget cuts, all without raising taxes. Please join me in 2005 in this fight to build a stronger education system for our state’s families. Contact your legislators to voice your support for voluntary full-day kindergarten, and for better education in our state.

Please don't hesitate to contact my office at (800) 253-0883 or visit my website at www.governor.state.az.us.