Off the I-15

He’s not as well-known as Yertle, Dr. Seuss’ fictional turtle who sat atop a towering turtle throne, but he’s a distinguished High Desert resident. Desert tortoise Zeus is 100 years old, according to Art Basulto of the Bureau of Land Management. Zeus made an appearance at Barstow’s Fourth of July event, where he feasted on watermelon near the BLM table.

Zeus, who had been living under a house, was found after the tenant died, Basulto said, along with six others. Because of his calm temperament, Zeus was the one enlisted into education. He travels to schools with Basulto to teach kids about the desert tortoise.

— Stevie St. John

Newberry Springs:

Newberry Springs firefighters prepare for the flag ceremony before Tuesday night fireworks. Oscar Alvarez, an Army veteran, conceived of a special ceremony he said was meant to honor the country as well as fallen firefighters.

A float ready for the Newberry Springs parade. The community’s fireworks show was on July 3 as usual; the parade, however, was moved to the Fourth of July.

Angie Infante, almost 2, plays ball with Timothy Lindsay, 5, before the Newberry Springs fireworks show on Tuesday night. About 30 children played on the slide, swings and jungle gym near the community center before the show started.

Barstow:

Loren Bernal, 9, plays water tag at Barstow’s holiday celebration on Wednesday.

Hason Bell, 8, prepares for the plunge down the Thunder Rapids water slide at Barstow’s Fireworks Spectacular event.

— Stevie St. John

As I wandered around the Sportspark during the Fourth of July event, I remembered the poll question that circulated the newsroom on Tuesday night and thought it would be interesting to pose it to a few people at the event. Here’s what they had to say.

What’s your favorite American icon?

Tim Silva: Abraham Lincoln.Why: He was honest and stayed with his vision when the country was split.

Terri Peralta: The troops.

Why? Because of “what they do for us to keep us safe and free.”

John Rader: The bald eagle.

Why? It represents freedom.

Jeanette Hayhurst: The American flag.

Why: “It represents this country through and through. Men and women have died for that flag.”

What do you think best represents what America stands for?

— Stevie St. John

A question posed to the Desert Dispatch newsroom: What is your favorite American icon?

David Heldreth: The bald eagle.
Why? “I like animals.”

Matthew Peters: The 1980 Gold Medal United States Hockey Team, aka “The Miracle on Ice.”
Why? “They beat the Soviets, and plus, it was a cool movie.”

Stevie St. John: The First Amendment, which is often displayed in newspaper offices.
Why? One of her favorite quotations is from Voltaire: “I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and religion, Stevie said, and that’s “the key to what makes America great.”

Jason Smith: Apple pie.
Why? “It’s the icon you can eat.”

Aaron Aupperlee: The Statue of Liberty
Why: When Aaron was a child, he used to don his green foam Statue of Liberty hat, the one with the spikes and stuff, wad up a newspaper into a torch shape, stand on top of things and say, “I am the statue of wiberwee.”

What’s your favorite American icon?