A True Inspiration

It is not an uncommon site to see one particular Golden Valley resident on litter patrol before the break of day. 72 year old Chuck Speir retired to Golden Valley ten years ago after a long career as a cross country truck driver.  Mr. Speir seemed somewhat uncomfortable receiving any attention for his volunteerism when Assistant Chief O’Donohue of the Golden Valley Fire Department made Mr. Speir an honorary fire department member of sorts providing a department issued reflective vest to this inspirational man.  “This is how I choose to give back to my community” says Mr. Speir.  Chuck says he generally performs his self prescribed community service between the hours of 5 and 7:30 in the morning six days a week.  “I take either Saturday or Sunday off to attend mass but other than that I am out here” says Chuck.  Mr. Speir’s wife of 41 years worries for her husband’s safety being out before the break of day.  Chief Hewitt of the Golden Valley Fire Department:  “Mr. Speir is truly an unsung hero, providing an inspirational example for all of us”.  Chief Hewitt cautions all motorists to give pedestrians the right of way and to remain aware at all times of citizens walking alongside roads without sidewalks.  It is the hope of Mr. Speir to inspire other Golden Valley citizens to join in this litter free cause.

Hwy. 93 MVA

The drivers of two vehicles were transported to Kingman Regional Medical Center after a van with a single occupant plowed into the back of a car that was reportedly stopped in one lane of Northbound Hwy-93.  The vehicle that was struck came to rest on the shoulder of the highway after the impact spread debris for over 100 feet down the highway.  Both drivers were treated at the scene by Golden Valley Firefighters and Paramedics and transported to evaluate the extent of their injuries. 

DPS assisted with lane closures for over an hour.

Golden Valley man killed in rollover

A 56-year-old Golden Valley man was killed over the weekend after his truck left the roadway and rolled several times.

Deputies with the Mohave County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene off of Jurassic Drive west of Egar Road around 12:30 a.m. Sunday morning, although spokeswoman Trish Carter said it appeared the accident occurred several hours earlier.
The driver was identified as Golden Valley resident Cristobal Cabello Martin. Officials speculated that he lost control of his 1997 Mazda pickup for an unknown reason before rolling several times. He was thrown from the truck. The accident was called in by a passing motorist.


 The Sheriff's Office is investigating the accident.

From Firefighter to food server

Golden Valley firefighters traded professions last week and raised more than $1,800 for an organization serving families of children with special needs.
The firefighters served as waiters for two hours over the course of three evenings at Denny's in Kingman to benefit Mentally Ill Kids In Distress. The firefighters donated all of their tips and Denny's donated 10 percent of each bill to the organization, which started out in 1987 as a support group and has since evolved to provide a number of services to families of children with special needs.
Golden Valley resident Nancy Osborn serves as a local liaison for the group. Everyone who works for the organization has either a child or grandchild with special needs.
"We have empathy," she said. "We've been there."
MIKID serves a number of families around the state, including 17 in Golden Valley and Kingman. They also provide support groups for both communities.
Nearly all of the department's 20-some firefighters as well as Chief Paul Hewitt and Assistant Chief Tom O'Donohue served as waiters while being shadowed by Denny's employees. O'Donohue said the crew at Denny's was fantastic to work with, but he's not quitting his day job.
"We discovered we would much rather run into a burning building than wait tables," he joked.