Mesquite Distinguished Citizen nomination deadline is Friday, Jan. 14

Monday, January 10, 2011

Mesquite Distinguished Citizen Recognition award nomination forms are available in the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall and on the City website. The deadline is this Friday for the return of completed applications to the City Clerk’s Office and they must be received by 11:30 a.m.

Residents can nominate a citizen who has most significantly contributed to the development and quality of life in the City of Mesquite. Those nominated may be a current or former resident or businessperson, living or deceased.

Previous honorees include: William Abbott, John Pulsipher, Joseph L. Bowler, William ‘Si’ Redd, Jimmie Hughes, David & Collette Price, Cresent Hardy, Melanie Giarratana, Lex Hall, Sherman & Susan Bennett, Heide H. Smith, Sue Conley, Bob Shivley and 2009 inductee Bill Lilienthal.

A committee of local residents will select an honoree and the individual chosen will be announced on Feb. 8 at the City Council meeting.

The Desert Tortoise

Like many desert creatures, desert tortoises spend most of their lives "holed up." In spring and summer, they roam grazing on grasses and wildflowers, then head for their burrows when it gets too hot. In fall and winter, when it is cold and there is not much to eat, they stay burrowed in for six months or more at a time.

If you see a desert tortoise, you are seeing an endangered species. Please watch out for them on the roads. Tortoises live in washes and valleys where the soil is soft enough for them to burrow into, yet stable enough so they do not collapse. Remember, desert tortoises are protected under the Endangered Species Act and may not be handled or removed.

Golf in the Desert

The city of Mesquite combines calm, small-town flavour with big-city attractions and championship golf. The Palms and the Oasis Golf Clubs are only two of the half-dozen challenging courses in the area.

Golf Highlights in Mesquite

Golf built on the dramatic Virgin Foothills of Nevada makes for a unique landscape and golf setting.
Enjoy a spa treatment at the Spa at Casablanca or the Spa at the Oasis.
Mesquite serves as a gateway to the national parks of Southern Utah and Zion National Park, which is less than two hours away.

View more information about golf courses in Mesquite

The Speedy RoadRunner

Called paisano in Mexico, the roadrunner is a well-known desert resident that only superficially resembles its popular cartoon portrayal. The greater roadrunner has adapted to life on the run. Though it can fly well, it prefers to use its strong legs and X- shaped toes to run rapidly over the desert landscape. Active predators, roadrunners aggressively chase insects, lizards, snakes, small birds and mammals.

Tolerant of humans, they sometimes nest in protected eaves and garages when they are not building large stick nests in desert trees. Their vocalizations include bill clicking noises and a mournful cooing made during breeding seasons. They do not meep-meep.