John Rudolph reports it's no secret to anglers that the bass are booming in Lake Havasu. Locals, out-of-towners and particularly tournament anglers have been flocking to the lake in recent years and finding some of the best bass fishing in the state.
But only a few years ago, fishing on the lake was rotten, even for a local expert like Mike Goodwin, who won the $125,000 FLW Series Bass Tournament this past winter."It was brutal fishing," Goodwin said. "You'd come over here and fish a tournament, spend four days here and get three or four bites in four days.
"Those bad old days are no more, thanks to a multimillion-dollar fisheries restoration program instituted in 1992 by a coalition of federal and state agencies. Goodwin said the program has paid off richly for anglers."Without a doubt, it saved this lake," he said. "It turned this lake into one of the best in the southwestern United States."
A recent study of fishing on Lake Havasu commissioned by the Lake Havasu chapter of Anglers United, among other groups, concluded that the fisheries program has been a huge economic boost to the city.The study found the boost from nonresident visitors created 650 jobs and added about $33 million per year to the local economy, while resident anglers added an additional 639 jobs and $17 million to the economy.
In a survey also completed as part of the study, 98 percent of anglers said fishing quality had improved.The cornerstone of the restoration project was to create habitats where fish could safely grow to size and reproduce. The artificial habitats were mainly made out of PVC pipe and drift net, which became covered in algae and merged with the underwater environment, creating hiding places for baby fish, known as fry. Dozens of the structures were placed in 42 coves around the lake. Additional smaller structures, such as pipes, were laid to encourage specific species of fish, such as catfish.
All indications are that the structures worked as advertised."The catch is up, the size is up, and all the tournament fishermen are pleased. That's the first indication that things are going well," said Brad Jacobson, a fisheries program manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Lake Havasu now hosts several fishing tournaments, including the prestigious FLW Series, one of the biggest in the county.Another indication that the fish are in good shape is the fact that as the number of fishing days has tripled in recent years, the size or numbers of fish caught has not yet decreased."If we can triple the fishing pressure and still maintain the fishery without a decline, that's great," Jacobson said.
While the fishery is in good shape now, it took a huge effort to make it that way, Jacobson said."It took a lot of manpower and effort to get it started," he said of the restoration project.That effort included a big push by local volunteers. Volunteer workers donated more than 170,000 hours of service to the program, Jacobson said, not only laying down the structures, but working on other aspects of the fisheries program aimed more at encouraging the recreational fishing industry, such as improving access to fishing locations.
"If you weren't a boat fisherman, there was very little access," before the program, Jacobson said.Fishing piers were placed at Mesquite Cove, Havasu Springs, the Bill Williams refuge and other locations.Another aspect of the fisheries restoration is the attempt to revive the populations of two fish native to the original Colorado River that once flowed through the area: the razorback sucker and the bonytail chub.
To promote the fish, the program has released tens of thousands of 12-inch juveniles. Both fish are considered endangered."They're not in as big of numbers as we'd like to see, but they're there," Jacobson said.Anyone who catches a bonytail chub or a razorback sucker must immediately throw it back. Those interested in seeing a specimen of either fish can view them at the small zoo and aquarium at the Bureau of Land Management office in Lake Havasu City.
Friday, August 24, 2007
New Mall tenants and 4-year University moves forward
Great headlines in Today's New-Herald! Two new major tenants have committed to open in our new Mall. Agreements have been signed with Petco and Ultra-Star Cinemas. Two two plan for footings to be started in 30 days. Petco will occupy a 17,835 square foot store stocked with over 13,000 products for the family bow-wow. It will feature a grooming salon, training classes for to guarantee a well- behaved family pooch and best of all, an adoption center space donated to Western Arizona Humane Society. They will be looking for 30-40 full time and part-time employees.
Ultra-Star Cinemas will host 40,000 square feet of entertainment! They will start with 10 auditoriums and have the ability to expand to 14 theatres. The theatres will feature Dolby Surround Sound and DLP Cinema technology. DLP technology uses a digital signal delivered to theatre projectors via satellite. This produces a picture with more than 35 trillion colors that doesn't fade or scratch like traditional film. I am picturing this quality to be akin to HDTV. If that's the case get ready for sensory-overload! I am personally mesmerized by some of the HD shows, I find myself staring at the boob-tube with paralyzed jaw-dropping, wide-eyed wonder !
Of course the seating will be ultra-cushy and spacious- the better to enjoy your gourmet popcorn.
Work is underway at The Shops at LHRLC (Lake Havasu Regional Lifestyle Center). Anchors will include, Dillards, J.C.Penny, and a Super Wall-Mart.
A Major amendment to the city's general plan is needed to make Lake Havasu the location of a four-year University. This was the second of three hearings mandated before the P&Z can make its recommendation to the City Council. The final meeting is scheduled for September 5th. If the recommendation is a positive one, the Council will then hold a binding vote or an amendment to the general plan. This change would significantly move forward the city's plan to acquire land from the Bureau of Land Management. An ecological and archaeological study has been completed for a significant portion of the 320 acre site, as well as on a large private development adjacent to the BLM land. The study shows no barriers to the development. It will be available to the public soon.
Opposition (we always have to have some) to the proposed University, which also includes a municipal golf course, a performing arts center and a nearby marina, was almost exclusively limited to nearby residents whose properties would bear the brunt of traffic flow to the site. Overall it is good that the entire community is behind this effort. The University will bring a better quality of life for Havasu residents, including a better educated population,an increase in artistic and cultural activities (Yea!!!!) ans opportunities for older residents to finish degrees through night classes or part-time studies. Also to be considered is the partnership with Mohave Community College. Our MCC campus offers students who cannot afford tuition at a four-year university to complete two years at MCC and then finish their degree at the four-year institute. This is a win-win for everyone involved, the city, the citizens, and the students.
Ultra-Star Cinemas will host 40,000 square feet of entertainment! They will start with 10 auditoriums and have the ability to expand to 14 theatres. The theatres will feature Dolby Surround Sound and DLP Cinema technology. DLP technology uses a digital signal delivered to theatre projectors via satellite. This produces a picture with more than 35 trillion colors that doesn't fade or scratch like traditional film. I am picturing this quality to be akin to HDTV. If that's the case get ready for sensory-overload! I am personally mesmerized by some of the HD shows, I find myself staring at the boob-tube with paralyzed jaw-dropping, wide-eyed wonder !
Of course the seating will be ultra-cushy and spacious- the better to enjoy your gourmet popcorn.
Work is underway at The Shops at LHRLC (Lake Havasu Regional Lifestyle Center). Anchors will include, Dillards, J.C.Penny, and a Super Wall-Mart.
A Major amendment to the city's general plan is needed to make Lake Havasu the location of a four-year University. This was the second of three hearings mandated before the P&Z can make its recommendation to the City Council. The final meeting is scheduled for September 5th. If the recommendation is a positive one, the Council will then hold a binding vote or an amendment to the general plan. This change would significantly move forward the city's plan to acquire land from the Bureau of Land Management. An ecological and archaeological study has been completed for a significant portion of the 320 acre site, as well as on a large private development adjacent to the BLM land. The study shows no barriers to the development. It will be available to the public soon.
Opposition (we always have to have some) to the proposed University, which also includes a municipal golf course, a performing arts center and a nearby marina, was almost exclusively limited to nearby residents whose properties would bear the brunt of traffic flow to the site. Overall it is good that the entire community is behind this effort. The University will bring a better quality of life for Havasu residents, including a better educated population,an increase in artistic and cultural activities (Yea!!!!) ans opportunities for older residents to finish degrees through night classes or part-time studies. Also to be considered is the partnership with Mohave Community College. Our MCC campus offers students who cannot afford tuition at a four-year university to complete two years at MCC and then finish their degree at the four-year institute. This is a win-win for everyone involved, the city, the citizens, and the students.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
August 22, 2007 - "Low Offer" Expertise
Home sellers are not automatically turning up their noses at offers that come in far below their asking price these days as prices stagnate and the inventory of homes for sale remains elevated in many markets.But buyers who do ask for deep discounts still risk offending sellers to the point where they quash any deal. So before making an aggressive offer, some homework is in order, real-estate professionals say. Further, buyers need to effectively explain why the price of a home should be lower.
That’s what Pat O’Heron did recently when buying a home in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was able to negotiate a steep discount with a seller who relocated for a job, in a neighborhood that had two year’s worth of inventory on the market.
Before he even made an offer, the asking price had already dropped by about $80,000, he said. After O’Heron made his case why the cost should be even lower, he eventually bought the home for $270,400, with about $11,000 in other credits. The net price ended up being $115,000 below the initial asking price.
O’Heron was able to take advantage of a market in which buyers decidedly hold the upper hand, with its excessive for-sale inventory due in large part to job losses in the area. Even though housing is in a slump in many parts of the U.S., those tactics won’t work in markets that remain healthy.
And in any location in which an aggressive offer is attempted, there is always an inherent danger in going too low. There’s a real risk the offer will insult the seller to the point that they’ll refuse to counter, Realtors say, and the seller could easily make the assumption that the buyer isn’t committed to making a deal.
“There’s a danger of them taking it too personally,” said Jon Boyd, O’Heron’s agent and president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents. “When you’re making the offer, if you justify that offer with outside data, then it’s much less likely to be perceived as being an insult or (the buyer) not as serious,” he added.
Heed these three guidelines on how — and when — to make an aggressive bid for a home:
1. Learn how motivated the seller is to make a deal
Certain sellers are going to be more willing than others to negotiate a low offer, and there are several giveaways that might indicate more leeway on the issue of price.
For instance, if the sellers have already purchased another home and that sale has closed, they’re likely to be more willing to make a deal, said Dick Gaylord, president elect of the National Association of Realtors and a broker with Re/Max Real Estate Specialists based in Long Beach, Calif. And certainly if the property has been on the market for a long time, sellers will be interested in entertaining any offers, he added.
To get at as many seller details as possible, Gaylord gets in the ear of his or her listing agent. The nuggets of information he gets can be clues as to what kind of offers they’ll consider.
Overall local market conditions also play a role. The housing market in which O’Heron bought, for example, was sluggish, and the home he bought had been on the market for about a year. Because of the job relocation, the seller needed to move and wasn’t in the position to take the home off the market until conditions were more favorable, O’Heron said.
2. Make your case with hard facts
When putting together an aggressive offer for a client, Boyd doesn’t just hand the seller a purchase agreement with the price the buyer is willing to pay — he creates a cover letter explaining exactly where that number came from.
In addition to citing comparable sales in making the offer, it also could be important to include details regarding the amount of inventory in the immediate surrounding area, he said.
“If we just looked at the relative values of the houses that sold, we would end up paying too much for that house because we know that the values are going to fall,” he said. “If we see two years’ worth of inventory, we should be buying five percent, potentially 10 percent less than what houses have sold for in the past year in the neighborhood.”
Buyers may even personally write a letter to the sellers to make their point, as they did when the market was hot and they aimed to stand out from the crowd, Gaylord said. That way, they can detail what they like about the house but express their fear of future dropping values.
That’s still not to say the seller will respond positively.
“The difficulty we’re having in my market right now… sale prices are not dropping, things are staying on the market longer,” Gaylord said. “Buyers read about how terrible the market is; sellers don’t want to budge because they’re reading that prices aren’t falling.”
3. Prepare for the possibility of rejection, or negotiation
Ultimately, a real-estate agent working on behalf of a buyer needs to honor and facilitate the offer that the buyer wishes to make — even if it seems to be too low.
Gaylord offers a word of warning to buyers making very low offers, pointing out that the seller might refuse to negotiate. On a “super aggressive offer,” Boyd might tell a client “there’s a one in five chance there will be a positive response.”
Still, there’s that potential for a seller to counter-offer, especially if there hasn’t been many other bids. Danielle Kennedy, a real-estate sales coach and author based in Pacific Palisades, Calif., advises sellers not to think of a low offer as an insult but as “a sign of interest.”
“And it begins the dialogue regarding the purchase of your house,” she said in an e-mail interview. “They should make every effort to be grateful that an offer has come in.”Also, not all hope is lost even if a seller doesn’t bite immediately.
Sometimes after time elapses, the seller comes around and decides to negotiate, Boyd said. Or new information — such as the sale of a comparable home at a lower price — can nudge a seller to give an aggressive offer a second look and open the negotiation process.
That’s what Pat O’Heron did recently when buying a home in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was able to negotiate a steep discount with a seller who relocated for a job, in a neighborhood that had two year’s worth of inventory on the market.
Before he even made an offer, the asking price had already dropped by about $80,000, he said. After O’Heron made his case why the cost should be even lower, he eventually bought the home for $270,400, with about $11,000 in other credits. The net price ended up being $115,000 below the initial asking price.
O’Heron was able to take advantage of a market in which buyers decidedly hold the upper hand, with its excessive for-sale inventory due in large part to job losses in the area. Even though housing is in a slump in many parts of the U.S., those tactics won’t work in markets that remain healthy.
And in any location in which an aggressive offer is attempted, there is always an inherent danger in going too low. There’s a real risk the offer will insult the seller to the point that they’ll refuse to counter, Realtors say, and the seller could easily make the assumption that the buyer isn’t committed to making a deal.
“There’s a danger of them taking it too personally,” said Jon Boyd, O’Heron’s agent and president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents. “When you’re making the offer, if you justify that offer with outside data, then it’s much less likely to be perceived as being an insult or (the buyer) not as serious,” he added.
Heed these three guidelines on how — and when — to make an aggressive bid for a home:
1. Learn how motivated the seller is to make a deal
Certain sellers are going to be more willing than others to negotiate a low offer, and there are several giveaways that might indicate more leeway on the issue of price.
For instance, if the sellers have already purchased another home and that sale has closed, they’re likely to be more willing to make a deal, said Dick Gaylord, president elect of the National Association of Realtors and a broker with Re/Max Real Estate Specialists based in Long Beach, Calif. And certainly if the property has been on the market for a long time, sellers will be interested in entertaining any offers, he added.
To get at as many seller details as possible, Gaylord gets in the ear of his or her listing agent. The nuggets of information he gets can be clues as to what kind of offers they’ll consider.
Overall local market conditions also play a role. The housing market in which O’Heron bought, for example, was sluggish, and the home he bought had been on the market for about a year. Because of the job relocation, the seller needed to move and wasn’t in the position to take the home off the market until conditions were more favorable, O’Heron said.
2. Make your case with hard facts
When putting together an aggressive offer for a client, Boyd doesn’t just hand the seller a purchase agreement with the price the buyer is willing to pay — he creates a cover letter explaining exactly where that number came from.
In addition to citing comparable sales in making the offer, it also could be important to include details regarding the amount of inventory in the immediate surrounding area, he said.
“If we just looked at the relative values of the houses that sold, we would end up paying too much for that house because we know that the values are going to fall,” he said. “If we see two years’ worth of inventory, we should be buying five percent, potentially 10 percent less than what houses have sold for in the past year in the neighborhood.”
Buyers may even personally write a letter to the sellers to make their point, as they did when the market was hot and they aimed to stand out from the crowd, Gaylord said. That way, they can detail what they like about the house but express their fear of future dropping values.
That’s still not to say the seller will respond positively.
“The difficulty we’re having in my market right now… sale prices are not dropping, things are staying on the market longer,” Gaylord said. “Buyers read about how terrible the market is; sellers don’t want to budge because they’re reading that prices aren’t falling.”
3. Prepare for the possibility of rejection, or negotiation
Ultimately, a real-estate agent working on behalf of a buyer needs to honor and facilitate the offer that the buyer wishes to make — even if it seems to be too low.
Gaylord offers a word of warning to buyers making very low offers, pointing out that the seller might refuse to negotiate. On a “super aggressive offer,” Boyd might tell a client “there’s a one in five chance there will be a positive response.”
Still, there’s that potential for a seller to counter-offer, especially if there hasn’t been many other bids. Danielle Kennedy, a real-estate sales coach and author based in Pacific Palisades, Calif., advises sellers not to think of a low offer as an insult but as “a sign of interest.”
“And it begins the dialogue regarding the purchase of your house,” she said in an e-mail interview. “They should make every effort to be grateful that an offer has come in.”Also, not all hope is lost even if a seller doesn’t bite immediately.
Sometimes after time elapses, the seller comes around and decides to negotiate, Boyd said. Or new information — such as the sale of a comparable home at a lower price — can nudge a seller to give an aggressive offer a second look and open the negotiation process.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
August 22,2007 Winophiles!
Attention all winophiles!
Don't forget their annual LOBSTERFEST on September 14th. There will be live entertainment, 8-oz lobstertails, a giant seafood and shellfish station along with a prime rib carving station and a bevy of fabulous deserts. Yum. It's always a great evning so mark you calendar now so you don't forget. Call Shugrues for more info or reservations... 928-453-1400.
Friday, August 17, 2007
August 17,2007 - Job stats looking good in AZ
Arizona’s most recent employment figures are in and the state’s unemployment level went up in July to 3.7% below the national average, which is 4.6%. The state's July rate compares to 3.4 % in June and 4.1% in July, 2006. That’s the word from the Arizona Workforce report issued by the Arizona Department of Economic Security. In May, the rate was 3.6%, the lowest percentage of unemployed Arizonans since 1969. The state also lost 18,800 non-farm jobs in July, slightly less than expected. The private sector lost 5,700 jobs, while government lost 13,100. Four of eleven major industries reported employment gains in July -- natural resources and mining gained 300; construction, 900; trade, transportation and utilities, 1,800; and information, 100.
"Good Sunday" Visits With Tony Winner It’s off to New York and onto 42nd Street as "Good Sunday" and Roger Galloway join up with “Mr. Broadway,” Stewart Lane. The Broadway producer has three Tony Awards ("Thoroughly Modern Millie," "The Will Rogers Follies" and "La Cage Aux Folles") to his credit. is owner of the historic Palace Theatre; and co-owner (with Robert DeNiro) of the the very popular Tribeca Grill. He talks about the Tonys, theatre legends, and what makes a successful musical. Next, Paul LaVoie joins Roger on the latest from the Michael Vick saga.Then, celebrity reporters - Jack Russell (New York,) Andre Fortin (Hollywood,) and Don Hinson (Nashville) talk about Willie Nelson calling for far more liberal laws on marijuana; Britney Spears’ latest train wreck; and the wild wheeling and dealings of multi-million-dollar properties off the streets of Park Avenue. All on a super entertaining "Good Sunday."Times for the one-hour show airing on all four Murphy Broadcasting stations are listed below. Also tune to 980AM KNTR for "Good Sunday" at 6am.KADD (K-Hits) - Good Sunday 5am-6amKRRK (K-Rock) - Good Sunday 6am-7amKRCY (Krazy) - Good Sunday 7am-8amKZUL (Kazual) - Good Sunday 8am-9am
"Good Sunday" Visits With Tony Winner It’s off to New York and onto 42nd Street as "Good Sunday" and Roger Galloway join up with “Mr. Broadway,” Stewart Lane. The Broadway producer has three Tony Awards ("Thoroughly Modern Millie," "The Will Rogers Follies" and "La Cage Aux Folles") to his credit. is owner of the historic Palace Theatre; and co-owner (with Robert DeNiro) of the the very popular Tribeca Grill. He talks about the Tonys, theatre legends, and what makes a successful musical. Next, Paul LaVoie joins Roger on the latest from the Michael Vick saga.Then, celebrity reporters - Jack Russell (New York,) Andre Fortin (Hollywood,) and Don Hinson (Nashville) talk about Willie Nelson calling for far more liberal laws on marijuana; Britney Spears’ latest train wreck; and the wild wheeling and dealings of multi-million-dollar properties off the streets of Park Avenue. All on a super entertaining "Good Sunday."Times for the one-hour show airing on all four Murphy Broadcasting stations are listed below. Also tune to 980AM KNTR for "Good Sunday" at 6am.KADD (K-Hits) - Good Sunday 5am-6amKRRK (K-Rock) - Good Sunday 6am-7amKRCY (Krazy) - Good Sunday 7am-8amKZUL (Kazual) - Good Sunday 8am-9am
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
August 14,2007
Golfers! Get ready!
August 25th is the Havasu Iron Man Extreme Golf Tournament - at the
London Bridge Golf Courses $150. registration fee. Call 928-412-1166 or go to www.ironmanhavasu.com for more information.
OR if you're feeling a little wimpy how about the Tin Man Golf Tournament ? At the beautiful Refuge Golf Course. Check-in at 6:30 AM Shotgun 7:30AM. $60.00 fee includes, lunch and cart! Can't beat that! Entries by August 18th so don't delay. Call 486-5549.
August 25th is the Havasu Iron Man Extreme Golf Tournament - at the
London Bridge Golf Courses $150. registration fee. Call 928-412-1166 or go to www.ironmanhavasu.com for more information.
OR if you're feeling a little wimpy how about the Tin Man Golf Tournament ? At the beautiful Refuge Golf Course. Check-in at 6:30 AM Shotgun 7:30AM. $60.00 fee includes, lunch and cart! Can't beat that! Entries by August 18th so don't delay. Call 486-5549.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Havasu Heat wins World Series Title!
The Havasu Heat won the National Baseball Congress Worl Series Sunday night at Lawerence Stadium in Wichita, Kansas. The Heat consluded the season with a 53-2 mark!
Tomorrow night, the City Council will consider switching to biodiesel fuel in all city diesel-fueled vehicles. The savings could mean a savings of $12,000. per year. Most importantly though, it shows a concern for clean air and the environment. Working on being a little "greener" impacts us all. Kudos to our Council!
Tomorrow night, the City Council will consider switching to biodiesel fuel in all city diesel-fueled vehicles. The savings could mean a savings of $12,000. per year. Most importantly though, it shows a concern for clean air and the environment. Working on being a little "greener" impacts us all. Kudos to our Council!
Friday, August 10, 2007
August 10, 2007
Today's News-Herald reports that there is a surge in commercial development in Lake Havasu City. In the most recent permitting data released by the city, there was $24 million in commercial construction proposed for Lake Havasu City in June.
There were $218.3 million in new commercial construction projects permitted in Lake Havasu this past fiscal year, 24% more than new home constructioin during the same time period. A new auto mall that will house 11 car dealerships, anchored by Anderson Toyota, recently won preliminary plat approval for the Lake Havasu City Planning and Zoning Commission.
The old FireHouse Bar, on 66 Capri Lane, has a new lease on life! It has been reopened by former chef, Michael Mears with a Route 66 theme. The local spot , featuring memorabilia of local fire and police has long been a local favorite. We wish him well.
The long awaited re-opening of the Sugar Brook Bakery and Restaurant on Mesquite has finally happened! Open for breakfast and lunch, the new location features the yummiest fresh baked goods and homemade fare by owner, Valerie Dockey. Get a table early- we predict a jammed house by locals who have been waiting for the return of Val's chicken salad and chocolate chip cookies! We wish her great success.
There were $218.3 million in new commercial construction projects permitted in Lake Havasu this past fiscal year, 24% more than new home constructioin during the same time period. A new auto mall that will house 11 car dealerships, anchored by Anderson Toyota, recently won preliminary plat approval for the Lake Havasu City Planning and Zoning Commission.
The old FireHouse Bar, on 66 Capri Lane, has a new lease on life! It has been reopened by former chef, Michael Mears with a Route 66 theme. The local spot , featuring memorabilia of local fire and police has long been a local favorite. We wish him well.
The long awaited re-opening of the Sugar Brook Bakery and Restaurant on Mesquite has finally happened! Open for breakfast and lunch, the new location features the yummiest fresh baked goods and homemade fare by owner, Valerie Dockey. Get a table early- we predict a jammed house by locals who have been waiting for the return of Val's chicken salad and chocolate chip cookies! We wish her great success.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Beautiful Lake Havasu City, AZ
Welcome to our site and our blog on Lake Havasu. These are exciting times for our community. Our population is approaching 60,000 and the signs of a robust and brisk economy are everywhere you look. We hope to post regularly with all the news events and developments in our city, with the hopes that you will get to know our community a little better with each new post. Enjoy! Kim and Denna
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