THE SECOND IN OUR SERIES ON THE MANAGEMENT IMPASSE AT HI-DESERT MEDICAL CENTER
HOSPITAL BOARD CALLS SPECIAL MEETING TONIGHT
FIREFIGHTERS WANT A DEFENSIBLE SPACE AROUND YOUR HOME
RESOURCE FAIR FOR VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK THIS SATURDAY*
YOUTH SAFETY AWARENESS EVENT IN 29 PALMS SATURDAY*
JOSHUA TREE KIDS CLUB IN NEED OF SUMMER PROGRAM FUNDING
JOSHUA TREE MAC WILL HEAR STATE WATER UPDATE TONIGHT*
VOTERS REGISTRATION TABLES IN Y.V. THIS WEEKEND*
HI-DESERT WATER LOOKS AT RESTRICTING PUBLIC COMMENT
HI-DESERT WATER DRILLING NEW WELL AT CHEROKEE AND COYOTE*
YUCCA VALLEY CHAMBER ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS*
COPPER MOUNTAIN COLLEGE GOLF TOURNAMENT THIS WEEKEND
THE LATEST FROM YUCCA VALLEY AND 29 PALMS HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL


 

THE SECOND IN OUR SERIES ON THE MANAGEMENT IMPASSE AT HI DESERT MEDICAL CENTER
THIS IS THE SECOND IN A SERIES OF STORIES ABOUT A MANAGEMENT IMPASSE AT HI-DESERT MEDICAL CENTER. APRIL 10, THE ELECTED BOARD VOTED TO "SEPARATE" FROM BRIM HEALTHCARE, CONTRACTED TO PROVIDE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INCLUDING THE CEO/ADMINISTRATOR TO THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT. THE PROBLEM IS THE $260,000.00 A YEAR CONTRACT WITH BRIM RUNS THOUGH MAY OF 2011. A TERMINATION CLAUSE DOES SAY EITHER PARTY COULD END THE CONTRACT IN MAY OF 2009, BUT THAT IS STILL MORE THAN A YEAR AWAY. QUESTIONED ABOUT WHETHER THE BRIM CONTRACT IS BINDING, THE BOARD REFERRED US TO DISTRICT LEGAL COUNSEL, JEFFREY SCOTT, HE HAS NOT RETURNED CALLS. BOARD VICE-PRESIDENT LESLIE MOODY TOLD Z107.7 NEWS THE DECISION TO SEPARATE FROM BRIM WAS MADE BECAUSE OF "LONG TIME DISSATISFACTION WITH THEIR SERVICES" AND WHAT SHE DESCRIBED AS "CONTINUED FINANCIAL DETERIORATION" OF THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT UNDER BRIM’S MANAGEMENT. SHE SAID THE BOARD FELT IT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE DISTRICT TO LEAVE BRIM. MOODY SAID PART OF THE DISSATISFACTION IS THE INABILITY OF BRIM TO KEEP A CEO ADMINISTRATOR IN OFFICE, THE LAST CEO, KEITH MESSMER, WHO RESIGNED IN DECEMBER, TOLD Z107-7 THAT HE WAS LEAVING PARTLY BECAUSE OF MICROMANAGEMENT BY THE HOSPITAL’S ELECTED BOARD. BRIM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SEPARATION, AND CONTINUES TO SEND INTERIM CEO ADMINISTRATOR MICHAEL BARRY, TO WORK EVERY DAY. EACH MORNING HE IS ESCORTED OFF THE HOSPITAL GROUNDS AND TOLD HIS SERVICES ARE NOT NEEDED. AS FAR AS THE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION TO BRIM, MOODY SAID IT IS A "SENSITIVE LEGAL ISSUE" WHICH SHE SAID THEY ARE TRYING TO "WORK THROUGH" WITH BRIM AND THE HOSPITAL’S LEGAL COUNSEL "IS WORKING ON IT". THE IMPASSE WAS SPARKED BY FRUSTRATION WITH BRIM’S UNSUCCESSFUL SEARCH FOR AN ADMINISTRATOR WITH MOODY SAYING THE ELECTED BOARD FELT IT WAS BEST THEY CONDUCT THEIR OWN SEARCH.

HOSPITAL BOARD CALLS SPECIAL MEETING TONIGHT
THE HI-DESERT MEDICAL CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAVE CALLED A SPECIAL MEETING FOR 6:00 TONIGHT. BOARD PRESIDENT ADAM CRITES IS TOO ILL TO BE AT THE HOSPITAL FOR THE MEETING SO HE WILL PARTICIPATE THROUGH A TELECONFERENCE HOOK-UP FROM HIS HOME AT 74031 CASITA DRIVE IN 29 PALMS. THE PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT TO ATTEND THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE MEETING AT THE HELEN GRAY CENTER IN JOSHUA TREE OR AT CRITES’ HOME. AFTER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND BRIEF BUSINESS INVOLVING THE LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION, THE BOARD WILL GO TO A CLOSED SESSION. THE CLOSED SESSION WILL ALLOW THEM TO DISCUSS THE MANAGEMENT SITUATION, POTENTIAL LITIGATION AND PROPERTY MATTERS.

FIREFIGHTERS WANT A DEFENSIBLE SPACE AROUND YOUR HOME
WITH THE NEW GROWTH OF SPRING COMES A REMINDER FROM FIRE AGENCIES TO THINK ABOUT MAKING A DEFENSIBLE SPACE AROUND YOUR HOME. REPORTER KARL GARDNER SAYS ONLY YOU CAN HELP FIREFIGHTERS PROTECT YOUR HOME... THEIR GORGEOUS NOW, BUT AS THE WEATHER BEGINS TO WARM, FIELDS, HILLS AND YARDS COVERED IN BRILLIANT WILDFLOWERS WILL SOON BECOME BROWN, DRY AND FUEL FOR WILDLAND FIRES. YOU CAN DRAMATICALLY INCREASE YOUR HOME’S SURVIVABILITY DURING WILD FIRES BY REMOVING DEAD VEGETATION WITHIN 100 FEET OF YOUR HOME. THIS CLEARANCE WILL NOT ONLY PROTECT YOUR HOUSE, IT GIVES FIREFIGHTERS A SAFE AREA TO FIGHT APPROACHING FLAMES. HERE ARE THE STEPS FIREFIGHTERS SAY YOU SHOULD TAKE: FIRST REMOVE ALL FLAMMABLE VEGETATION 30 FEET FROM ALL STRUCTURES. IN THE NEXT 70 FEET FROM YOUR HOME, CREATE A REDUCED FUEL ZONE, BY SPACING TREES AND PLANTS FROM EACH OTHER AND TRIM BRANCHES 6 FEET FROM THE GROUND. CONTINUE BY CLEANING DERBIES FROM GUTTERS AND ROOFS, CUTTING BRANCHES 10 FEET FROM CHIMNEYS, AND ENSURE YOUR ADDRESS IS CLEARLY MARKED. AS I WITNESSED DURING THE SAWTOOTH FIRES, A DEFENSIBLE SPACE AROUND YOU’RE HOUSE CAN AND DOES WORK. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON DEFENSIBLE SPACE AND THE 100-FOOT CLEARANCE, VISIT CAL FIRE ON THE WEB AT WWW.FIRE.CA.GOV.

RESOURCE FAIR FOR VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK THIS SATURDAY*

YOUTH SAFETY AWARENESS EVENT IN 29 PALMS SATURDAY*

JOSHUA TREE KIDS CLUB IN NEED OF SUMMER PROGRAM FUNDING
THE JOSHUA TREE KIDS CLUB IS TRYING VERY HARD TO RAISE FUNDS TO OFFER A SUMMER SESSION THIS YEAR. REPORTER DAN STORK SAYS A SPECIAL EVENT TOMORROW WILL HELP.... THE JOSHUA TREE KID’S CLUB IS IN DIRE NEED OF FUNDING FOR ITS SUMMER PROGRAMS. TO SUPPORT THE CLUB, COME TO A MOVIE & PIZZA NIGHT ON FRIDAY APRIL 18^TH, FROM 6 TO 8:30, AT THE JOSHUA TREE COMMUNITY CENTER, 6171 SUNBURST AVENUE. THE SUGGESTED DONATION IS ONLY $5, AND YOU’LL GET 2 PIECES OF PIZZA, A SODA, AND THE MOVIES. THE CLUB WOULD ALSO APPRECIATE DONATIONS OF POPCORN AND OTHER GOODIES. IF YOU’D LIKE TO MAKE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CASH CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE CLUB’S GOAL OF $20,000 FOR THE SUMMER PROGRAMS, CONTACT THE JOSHUA TREE KID’S CLUB AT 366-0378. HELP THE CLUB GIVE LOCAL CHILDREN A SAFE, FUN, AND EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AFTER SCHOOL GETS OUT.

JOSHUA TREE MAC WILL HEAR STATE WATER UPDATE TONIGHT*

VOTERS REGISTRATION TABLES IN YUCCA VALLEY THIS WEEKEND*

HI-DESERT WATER LOOKS AT RESTRICTING PUBLIC COMMENT
THE HI-DESERT WATER DISTRICT MET IN REGULAR SESSION LAST NIGHT. RESTRICTIONS ON COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC AND INTERIM SEPTIC REGULATIONS WERE DISCUSSED. REPORTER KARL GARDNER JOINS US AGAIN WITH HIS REPORT... GUIDANCE ON WHEN AND TO WHAT EXTENT PUBLIC COMMENT WOULD BE TAKEN, WAS MET OUT BY DISTRICT LEGAL COUNCIL JOHN BROWN, AT THE START OF LAST EVENING’S HI DESERT WATER DISTRICT BOARD MEETING. BROWN SUMMARIZED THAT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT AN APPOINTED TIME DURING THE MEETING, RELIEVES THE BOARD FROM TAKING PUBLIC COMMENTS ON EACH AGENDA ITEM. WHILE MOST BOARD MEMBERS FELT THE DISTRICT MEETS OR EXCEEDS THE PUBLIC COMMENT STANDARDS OF THE BROWN ACT, THE STATE’S OPEN MEETING LAW, DIRECTOR BOB STADUM CONCURRED WITH COUNCIL’S EXPLANATION. IN THE END, THE BOARD AGREED TO BRING THE ISSUE BACK AS AN AGENDA ITEM. IN OTHER ACTIONS, THE BOARD APPROVED A $118,000 TASK AUTHORIZATION FOR A WASTEWATER PHASING AND RECLAMATION STUDY, AND HEARD AND UPDATE ON INTERIM SEPTIC SYSTEM REGULATIONS. DURING COMMENTS, DIRECTOR SHELDON HOUGH OPINED THAT SOME FORM OF REGULATIONS BE DEVELOPED FOR PERIODIC INSPECTION AND PUMPING OF SEPTIC TANKS, AN IDEA ECHOED BY DIRECTOR WADE WHITE.

HI-DESERT WATER DRILLING NEW WELL AT CHEROKEE AND COYOTE*

YUCCA VALLEY CHAMBER ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS*

COPPER MOUNTAIN COLLEGE GOLF TOURNAMENT THIS WEEKEND
LOCAL DUFFERS CAN HAVE A CHANCE FOR A BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND OF GOLF WHILE SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE. REPORTER TAMMI ROLEFF GETS OUT HER 9 IRON... LOCAL GOLFERS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE, CHIP, AND PUTT FOR TWO DAYS TO SUPPORT THE COPPER MOUNTAIN COLLEGE FOUNDATION DURING ITS 24^TH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT APRIL 19 AND 20^TH AT THE ROADRUNNER DUNES GOLF COURSE IN 29 PALMS.

TROPHIES WILL BE AWARDED FOR CLOSEST TO THE PIN, AND FOR CHAMPIONSHIP, HANDICAP FLIGHTS, CALLAWAY, AND LADIES FLIGHT. THE ENTRY FEE IS $125 WITH A CART, OR $100 WITHOUT A CART, AND INCLUDES 2 DAYS OF GOLF WITH CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND THE AWARDS DINNER. TICKETS TO JUST THE AWARDS DINNER ARE $20.

EARLY REGISTRATION IS ENCOURAGED, AS SPACE AND GOLF CARTS ARE LIMITED. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.THECMCF.ORG OR CALL SYNDEE SLAYTON AT 366-3791.

* AVAILABLE ON DAILY AUDIO FILE ONLY

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