B2  PALO VERDE VALLEY TIMES, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2018
LEFT: COMPLETING HIS PROJECT  on “Not [being] Afraid of the Dark,” Michael Robinson won a trophy for having the best 4th grade project in the district and a bronze medal for being the only
fourth grader to place 1st with an individual projects. With so many distinguished awards, Robinson will be moving on to county to compete in Riverisde. RIGHT: On last Thursday, nine students from
the Palo Verde Unified School District advanced to the county’s science fair for entering outstanding science projects. Pictured left to right are: Karla Phelps, Douglas Meeks, Brock Peterson, Evan
Striplin, Lorena Tribby, Jacob Mojica and Michael Robinson.
PVUSD science fair sends nine
students to county competition
BY CATHYLEEN RICE
TIMES REPORTER
The Palo Verde Uni-
fied School District held
its annual science fair
at the St. Joan Catholic
Church Annex Building
Thursday, where more
than 60 students entered
projects, won ribbons,
medals and even some
won trophies, with a to-
tal of nine students ad-
vancing on to the Coun-
ty level.
Reading the names
of students and award-
ing them with honor-
ary bronze medals for
their creative hard
work, teachers from
Ruth Brown Elemen-
tary School, Mrs. Lo-
rena Tribby and Karla
Phelps shook the hands
of students and congrat-
ulated them for doing a
job well done.
As individual schools
held their own science
fair earlier this month,
the top winners from
grades fourth through
eighth from each school
were selected to par-
ticipate in the district
science fair, where fam-
FIFTH GRADE STUDENT, DOUGLAS MEEKS  is quite known at
both the school, district and the county level for always placing
1st when it comes to science fair. Heading back to county again
this year, Meeks said he is very excited to have placed 1st again
this year and given the opportunity to display his “Hack Your
Hygiene” project in Riverside for 2018.
ily members and friends
applauded all those in
attendance.
Likewise, PVUSD
school board members
and other administra-
tive staff were there to
praise every student for
achieving such accom-
plishment.
However, only one
student from each grade
level was chosen to ad-
vance to the county,
wherein, those students
were also selected as
having the best projects
in their grades.
Those students includ-
ed: 4th grader Michael
Robinson, 5th grader
Chloe Jung and Doug-
las Meeks, 6th grader
Jacob Mojica, 7th grade
student Nicholas Mojica
and 8th graders Brock
Peterson, Wyatt Palmer,
Evan Striplin and Na-
than Jung.
Recognized for hav-
ing the best science fair
overall in the district,
Nicholas Mojica, who
researched “Battery
Life Time,” was given
the tallest trophy on
the award table and ap-
plauded for his success.
In agreement with
Principal Cintia Rob-
inson’s statement to
the Times on last week,
“Congratulations to all
the students, who partic-
ipated and best of luck
to those who moved on
to the [County] level!”
Council approves community
health fair fee waiver
BY CATHYLEEN RICE
TIMES REPORTER
The Soroptimist Inter-
national of Blythe will
have their annual Health
and Wellness Fair at the
Blythe Community Cen-
ter on April 28.
Submitting a request
to the City of Blythe to
waive fees for this free
community event at last
Tuesday’s Council meet-
ing, council members
unanimously approved
the organization’s appli-
cation.
With a recommenda-
tion from staff to waive
all fees except the $75
labor fee, which is a di-
rect cost to the City and
the refundable deposit
of $125, the organization
saved a total of $315.
Sharing how extreme-
ly excited she was to
speak before Council
and to receive their ap-
proval for using the
building to host the com-
munity health fair, Vice
President of Soropti-
mist, Amy Daniel shared
with the Times, just
how happy it made her
to have her community
support the organization
in bringing wellness and
health to residents.
She said, “This was my
first time attending, ad-
dressing and requesting
something at our Coun-
cil meeting, and I am so
happy that our council
members see this as a
benefit to so many in our
community.”
Seeing this event being
of great service to those
in need of accessing and
evaluating their overall
wellbeing, community
leaders like Councilman
Joey DeConinck and the
State Farm Insurance
Branch Manager, Les-
lie Jessop-Watkins each
stepped in and offered
to help pay the remain-
ing $75 the organization
owed.
PHOTO BY URIEL AVENDANO/PALO VERDE VALLEY TIMES
AMY DANIEL, VICE PRESIDENT OF SOROPTIMIST
INTERNATIONAL OF BLYTHE  came before City Council on last
Tuesday to ask that fees be waived for the organization’s annual
spring health and wellness fair.
Daniel said, it is only
because of those in-
volved, the club is able
to continue carrying out
their giving nature and
offering this program to
help people.
She stated, “As Coun-
cilman Deconinck and
Leslie Jessop-Watkins
further agreed to help
the club with the labor
fees, I was elated know-
ing others were willing
to help Soroptimist con-
tinue with this public
service program, that
has helped so many
people in the past. Their
generosity is what gives
our non-profit the ability
to continue to help oth-
ers and serve our com-
munity!”
Holding their first an-
nual Health and Well-
ness Fair back in 1992,
Soroptimist Internation-
al of Blythe has worked
dutifully to fulfill their
purpose of giving back
generously while help-
ing those in need.
Bringing this ben-
eficial fair to promote,
motivate and maintain
wellness, the local orga-
nization is happy to pro-
vide the life changing
services and informa-
tion needed for residents
ABOVE, LEFT:
PROJECTS
FEATURED
AT  PVUSD’s
science fair held
at the St. Joan
Catholic Church
Annex Building
Thursday.
PHOTOS BY
CATHYLEEN RICE/
PALO VERDE
VALLEY TIMES
that will help detect
chronic conditions, pre-
vent diseases and pro-
vide tips on ways to stay
healthy.
Daniel said, one of the
essential benefits to host-
ing the health and well-
ness event is dedicated
to saving lives through
the health screening
program, which “has
provided critically need-
ed help to residents with
health care issues and
needs.
On more than one oc-
casion, attendees of the
Health and Wellness
Fair were apprised of se-
rious issues and referred
to medical professionals
for treatment, includ-
ing conditions that were
life threatening. It is be-
cause of this, our club
finds this service pro-
gram to be of the utmost
importance to our local
community.”
As this is a no cost
event to community
members, the organiza-
tion estimates that at
least 150 should be in
attendance and Daniel
said, “We will be work-
ing vigorously to get as
many free services to
those that attend.”