Mesquite Police gearing up for “Shop with a Cop”

Monday, November 28, 2011

Mesquite Police Officers are preparing to visit with many of the local business owners’ and citizens asking for donations to assist with the annual “Shop with a Cop” program.

“In the previous years our community has been very generous with making donations to make this program such a success,” said Chief Troy Tanner. “I have a feeling this year will be no different because Mesquite is a little city with a big heart.”

The “Shop wit a Cop” program pairs police officers and volunteers with children who are selected by staff members at Virgin Valley and J. L. Bowler Elementary schools who will go shopping at participating businesses to buy gifts for the students and their families.

After shopping the children and their partner will enjoy lunch provided by the local Elks Lodge (#2811) and get their pictures taken with Santa Clause.

If anyone would like to make a donation please contact Officer Jeffrey Smith (PIO) at (702) 346-5262 Ext#6134. Or you can drop off donations at the Mesquite Police Department located at 695 Mayan Cir. Checks should be made payable to the Mesquite Police Department.

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.