Cost douses ‘eternal’ fire

BULLHEAD CITY, ARIZ. -- — An “eternal” flame at Bullhead City’s new veterans memorial park that only lasted until city officials received a $961 gas bill has been relighted after complaints by veterans groups.

The Medal of Honor Memorial at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Park alongside the Colorado River was lighted on Veterans Day in November. When the bill arrived in late December, city officials were stunned.

The flame was extinguished Monday but was reignited by midmorning Friday after a meeting of city officials.

“What happened was really a miscommunication,” city spokesman Steve Johnson said. “The issue came up one day and it was never intended to be shut off. We’re looking at alternatives, because $1,000 a month in these economic times is certainly a consideration.”