The Virgin Valley Water District has embarked upon a mission.
That mission: a statement.
VVWD has been kicking around several suggestions for the district's official Mission Statement, which would be the guiding principle for the board and staff of the local agency.
New general manager Kenneth Rock floated six potential statements at the Aug. 17 VVWD board meeting.
While the board has not reached a decision on which mission statement they prefer, local residents got a chance to pick their favorite last week in a MesquiteLocalNews.com poll.
Of the 123 people who voted, it appears the community favorite is "Reliable, safe, and plentiful water for desert life today and tomorrow," which received 43.1% of the tally with 53 votes. [Read full story]

Crime Rate Still Low Despite Recession

One of the items rolled out during the four hour city offsite meeting held on Aug. 27 was the annual report from the Mesquite Police Department.
The report, presented by Chief Doug Law, detailed crime statistics over the last fiscal year ending June 30.
As part of the written report, Chief Law offered some observations as well as some positive stats about his department and the city.
"With a struggling, if not failing economy leaving the horizon and taking residence on main street USA, keeping our budgetary heads above water while trying to decrease an already very low crime rate became the task of the day in 2009/2010," Law wrote in the introduction.
"Unfortunately, for the first time in my law enforcement career and as Chief of Police, I had to inform one full-time employee and five dedicated part-time employees they no longer had jobs. "This was no fault of their own, but because of failing economic conditions. I did, however, find a resurgence of hope and energy with the sacrifices offered by the other co-workers so that no other full time employees would be separated from their employment nor from their ability to provide for their families.  [Read full story]

Paper To Offer Free Classified Ads In Print And Online

Stephens Media, the company which owns both Mesquite Local News and the Las Vegas Review-Journal, has hired a new classified ads specialist for the Mesquite office.
Local resident Stephanie Frehner has agreed to take over the classified ads section for both the weekly print edition and the daily online version of the newspaper.
Frehner, 29, took over the Mesquite seat effective Aug. 23.
Since then, she has been busy evaluating the classified operations and getting comfortable with her new office digs at 114 Sandhill Blvd., #C.
Originally from Las Vegas, Frehner and her 8-year-old daughter lived in central Oregon for several years before moving to Mesquite in September of 2009.
At the University of Oregon, she studied political science and philosophy.
She also enjoys bowling and golf.
But she is just as comfortable on the computer, where she is an accomplished web surfer and Facebook aficionado. [Read full story]

In years past, the annual city council retreat was a dynamic exchange of ideas between council members and city employees, with an exciting focus on future projects, growth, and a cornucopia of innovative plans and dreams for the burgeoning community.
The meetings were held over two days at upscale resorts in Las Vegas and other locales around Nevada.
Now, it has been distilled down to four hours at a fire house.
On Friday, Aug. 27, the session was relatively short, and not particularly sweet.
City department heads took turns explaining how they are surviving with fewer staff members and smaller budgets, and what measures they are taking to save even more money for the city.
From a new phone answering system to reduced use of printers, the retreat repackaged as the city's "offsite meeting" was a testament to doing more with less in nearly every department. [Read full story]

Senator Visits Primex, Founding Fathers Meeting

U.S. Senator John Ensign made a low-key visit to Mesquite on Thursday.
Like his senatorial colleague Harry Reid, who came to Mesquite earlier in the week, Ensign's trip to Mesquite came with little fanfare and even less advance notice.
However, unlike Reid's carefully orchestrated and unheralded swing through town which included a meeting and off-limits luncheon with members of the Mesquite Democratic Club, Ensign met with employees at the Primex Plastics plant and spoke at a meeting of the Friends of the Founding Fathers.
While the organization is staunchly conservative, a favorable environment for the Republican senator, the meeting was open to the public.
He also spent time with Mesquite mayor Susan Holecheck, and held some private meetings with local businesses such as Loadtec, an electronics manufacturing plant in the Mesquite Technology and Commerce Center.
Ensign, who is not technically running for election since his term doesn't end until 2012, faced and handled some hard questions during his two public appearances. [Read full story]

The Virgin Valley High School Boys Soccer team split two games on Friday night at the first annual Mesquite Cup Invitational.
The Bulldog boys lost to Faith Lutheran High School out of Las Vegas 3-1 before gaining a split, defeating Coronado High School’s junior varsity team 2-1. Saturday morning the Bulldogs faced a strong Coronado varsity squad.
“We will be facing a strong well coached 4A team in Coronado High School who hasn’t given up a goal in regulation so far in the tournament,” said Bulldog coach Bob Snell.
“We lost a good player to grades yesterday before our first start which set us back," said Snell. “We were short handed before the game and it’s not going to help us with stronger and faster 4A teams like Coronado. These games give us the opportunity to get to know each other, adjust positions prior to the game and get ready for league to start. By the end of the day we will know if we're in condition and what areas we need to concentrate on.” [Read full story]

To say that Merle Whitebook is constantly on-the-run is a definite understatement.
An accomplished cook in his own right, he is also a certified BBQ judge and highly-respected member of the Kansas City Barbeque Society who teaches classes about judging used on the KCBS’s schedule which includes 335 events each year.
One event – the second annual Smokin’ in Mesquite BBQ Championship at the CasaBlanca Resort on Labor Day Weekend – will feature Whitebook teaching a class on judging techniques.
The class, which is open to the public, will be Thursday, Sept. 2 at the CasaBlanca, with check in set for 5:30 p.m.
The class is scheduled from 6-10 p.m.
There will be a charge of $50 for KCBS members and $85 for non-KCBS members.
“He is an incredibly passionate contest representative and board member of the KCBS,” praised KCBS executive director Carolyn Wells when speaking about Whitebook. [Read full story]

The Virgin Valley Theatre Group is holding auditions for their next musical play, "The Spitfire Grill."
Director Larry LeMieux is looking for adults who can both sing and act for the parts of four women and two men.
The VVTG welcomes any talented people who are willing to work hard and commit to this genre.
Please come prepared with a song to be sung a capella.
Performers will also read from a script during the audition.
The play is scheduled for Nov. 5, 6, 12, and 13 at 7 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Nov. 13.
The auditions will be held Friday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 11 at noon. [Read full story]