Lest you think I only write glamorous stories about our lovely desert community, here is an interesting news item that The Desert Sun newspaper reported yesterday:Following up on a tip, apparently local authorities discovered some 13,000 marijuana plants growing on a parcel of government land management property and a local ranch just outside of Palm Springs. It was reported that no one was arrested and whoever was growing the crops must have recently abandoned the grounds. The growers were stealing water from a creek to provide the necessary half gallon of water needed each day per plant, for a total of 6,500 gallons of water per day, which is a lot considering we live in the desert. The newspaper said the law enforcement officials ripped the plants out of the ground to destroy them. I briefly wondered why they didn't just burn the crops, but I quickly came to my senses.
Here's the amazing part: There were more than 13,000 pot plants growing, at a rate of $3,500 per plant, the street value was $45 million! Can you even imagine? Who knew that the stuff was so expensive. Since I've never used marijuana (nor do I wish to do so) I was baffled by this number. I guess I live a sheltered life when it comes to illegal contraband. Anyway, so there is another side of our desert community for you. Do you have any interesting stories about your community, city or town? C'mon, spill the beans and fess up here with a comment.
-Rick Rockhill
On a similar note, cops found a meth lab in a home near here. The home is in a neighborhood where they sell for roughly $400-500K, which is probably equivalent to your homes that sell for $1-2 million. The way they found it is that a guy driving a car erratically (with a small child in it) was stopped by a cop, and the cop smelled meth emanating from the car. The guy took off, resulting in a high-speed chase. They eventually found him at that home. Meighbors were shocked!!
ReplyDeleteThat is a lot of water anywhere but in the desert it's craziness! I always wonder how many of them sneak some. It's bound to happen, right?
ReplyDeleteI have no stories about my home town. It's a sleepy little place in the CT River Valley. Not much happens. (And we like it that way).
Wow! Who'd have thought it would be worth that much money? ... I have an idea for a stimulus package...
ReplyDeleteSimilar to Kenju. Gramps had several rental homes, one had a detached tool shed. The renter was renting the shed out to a meth cook. Gramps found out when the police raided. buckets upon buckets of rock tossed on the earth and hosed down. no idea as to the value. this is a SMALL town. rentals since sold off!
ReplyDeletethe cops found a rolling meth lab in a pickup truck in the square downtown podunk. and in south florida??? naw... we have no crime here! bwahahahahahha
ReplyDeletesmiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxooxxo
it's not where i live now but where i grew up was famous for its casket factory.
ReplyDeleteLEGALIZE POT NOW.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much.
Well, gee... if they had burned the crop, everyone would've gotten the munchies and think how much the local restaurants would've made!
ReplyDeleteOne of my friends was a BMAT (big man around town). Gave to all sorts of local organizations, got along by going along even though he hated much of what was going on with the city gov't. One day, he had enough, just decided to speak his mind. So he started this really funny/awful/nasty/puerile blog exposing all sorts of city redevelopment scams. One good thing he did: He pointed out the city had spent 3 million on buying six homes across from the high school to build a parking lot for the MacDonalds which they wanted to move 700 feet! Then the city decided they were going to spend another 3 million to build the new McD's...right across the high school...I mean you could toss a big mac from the McD's to the classrooms! My friend got everyone so mad that the city council re-voted and decided not to go through with the deal!
How in the world were 13,000 plants hidden in the desert? Wow! I like Kathy's stimulus idea.
ReplyDeleteThe Biggest Little State in the Union shares a legal industry with only one other state - Nevada. Legalized prostitution; as long as it is "conducted" behind closed doors. Please note, that the solicitation of prostitution is still very ILLEGAL...and of course the working girls must be of legal age and citizenship. Maybe the state could balance the budget on the backs of these prostitutes by taxing their services...wouldn't that be a hoot, the whores in the State House collecting "taxes" from prostitutes downtown. That's "Big Pimpin".
ReplyDelete