29 PALMS CITY COUNCILMAN COMPARES THE PRESIDENT TO HITLER

YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL HEARS FROM STATE ASSEMBLYMAN, DENIES HERBEL REQUEST

THOUSANDS OF MOTORCYCLES ON OUR HIGHWAY THIS WEEKEND
A VERY MYSTERIOUS FIND IN THE DESERT EAST OF JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
ROCKIN’ FOR JOSHUA TREE EVENT RAISES OVER $20,000.00

9TH ANNUAL ROTARY BIKE RIDE THROUGH JTNP BUYS SHOES THAT FIT *

COMMUNITY BLOOD BANK CLOSING YUCCA VALLEY OFFICE

NEW COMMANDING GENERAL COMING TO THE MARINE BASE

OLD CAR CLUB CRUISE-IN TOMORROW *

KNITTING OFFERED AT THE JOSHUA TREE LIBRARY

WEEKEND DOUBLE TREAT AT THE JT VFW *

SANDBLAST ‘08 AT THE WONDER VALLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH *

TWENTYNINE PALMS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM INVITED TO PLAY IN ALASKA

YUCCA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL BOYS VARSITY TENNIS LOSES BY A HAIR

29 PALMS CITY COUNCILMAN COMPARES THE PRESIDENT TO HITLER
A 29 PALMS ELECTED OFFICIAL IS RAISING EYEBROWS IN A CITY COMPRISED OF 15,000 ACTIVE DUTY MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES, MANY OF THEM IN HARM’S WAY IN IRAQ. THE MAYOR PRO-TEM OF THE CITY OF TWENTYNINE PALMS, STEVE SPEAR, POSTED A NOTICE ON A LOCAL BLOG COMPARING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO ADOLPH HITLER. IN HIS POST, ACCOMPANIED BY A PHOTO OF HIMSELF POSING IN FRONT OF AN AMERICAN FLAG, COUNCILMAN SPEAR, SAYS, QUOTE - "MR. BUSH WILL FACE THE JUDGMENT OF APPROACHING A MAN THAT KILLED MORE PEOPLE IN MODERN HISTORY - ADOLPH HITLER" UNQUOTE. IN STRONG ANTI-WAR RHETORIC SPEAR REFERS TO THE WAR IN IRAQ AS QUOTE "AN ILLEGAL, NON-CONSTITUTIONAL WAR", SPEAR ALSO SAYS QUOTE "HUMAN BEINGS ARE BEING KILLED NOW THAT HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH 9/11 UNTIL BUSH AND THE GOP SPUN A TALE THAT WOULD EVEN HAVE LINCOLN TURNING IN HIS GRAVE AS A MASTER YARN OF ENORMOUS PROPORTIONS". COUNCILMAN SPEAR’S COMMENTS WERE POSTED WEDNESDAY AS PART OF AN ONGOING DIALOGUE REGARDING REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PARTY DIFFERENCES. COUNCILMAN SPEAR IS A FORMER U.S. MARINE OFFICER.

YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL HEARS FROM STATE ASSEMBLYMAN, DENIES HERBEL REQUEST

THE YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL MET IN REGULAR SESSION LAST NIGHT, A SURPRISE VISIT FROM STATE ASSEMBLYMAN COOK AND A DENIAL FOR COUNCILWOMAN HERBEL HIGHLIGHTED THE PROCEDURES. REPORTER TAMMI ROLEFF WAS THERE AND FILES THIS REPORT... ASSEMBLYMAN PAUL COOK WAS A SURPRISE VISITOR AT LAST NIGHT’S YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL MEETING. COOK GAVE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS A SHORT UPDATE ON THE STATE’S BUDGET CRISIS. HE TOLD THEM THE STATE WILL BE LOOKING EVERYWHERE FOR MONEY TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. WHILE THE STATE’S MONEY GRAB PROBABLY WON’T AFFECT YUCCA VALLEY THAT MUCH, IT PROBABLY WILL HAVE AN EFFECT ON WATER DISTRICTS AND ON THE ABILITY OF COUNTIES TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE OF EARLY RELEASE OF PRISONERS. HE SAID THE STATE IS USING BAND-AIDS AND BALING WIRE TO PASS A BUDGET WHEN WHAT IS NEEDED IS MAJOR STRUCTURAL REFORM. BACK TO THE AGENDA, COUNCIL MEMBER LORI HERBEL REQUESTED THE COUNCIL RECONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE THE FEES CHARGED FOR SWIM LESSONS. FEES WILL BE INCREASED TO $36, UP $4 FROM LAST YEAR. COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR JIM SCHOOLER EXPLAINED THAT THE FEE WORKS OUT TO ONLY 40 CENTS PER SWIM LESSON, AND THE CHILDREN ARE GETTING A BETTER VALUE, AS THE CLASS SIZE WILL BE REDUCED FROM 8 CHILDREN PER INSTRUCTOR TO 6 CHILDREN PER INSTRUCTOR. THE COUNCIL PASSED THE INCREASE WITH HERBEL OPPOSED. IN OTHER BUSINESS, THE COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE FINAL PARCEL MAP FOR THE HOME DEPOT CENTER. IT ALSO APPROVED THE RELINQUISHMENT OF ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY OF MOBILE HOME PARKS TO THE STATE. THIS RELIEVES THE TOWN OF PERMITTING, INSPECTION, AND ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES FOR THE PLACEMENT OF MOBILE HOMES AND IMPROVEMENTS IN MOBILE HOME PARKS. THE COUNTY WAS FORMERLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE ACTIVITIES, AND THE COUNTY RECENTLY DECIDED TO CANCEL ITS ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITY. THE COUNCIL ADJOURNED THE HEARING WITHOUT GOING INTO CLOSED SESSION TO CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL ABOUT EXISTING LITIGATION.

THOUSANDS OF MOTORCYCLES ON OUR HIGHWAY THIS WEEKEND

THE ROAR OF POWERFUL MOTORCYCLES WILL FILL THE AIR THIS WEEKEND AS THOUSANDS OF MOTORCYCLE ENTHUSIASTS TRAVEL THROUGH THE MORONGO BASIN ON THEIR WAY TO AND FROM THE 26TH ANNUAL LAUGHLIN, NEVADA, RIVER RUN. MOTORISTS SHOULD TRY TO BE EXTRA AWARE OF THE BIKES, CHECK YOUR BLIND SPOTS CAREFULLY BEFORE CHANGING LANES AND BE SURE YOUR LEFT TURNS AREN’T IN FRONT OF A MOTORCYCLE. COMMON ROAD COURTESY WILL MAKE THIS A SAFE WEEKEND FOR LOCAL DRIVERS AND THE TRAVELING TWO-WHEELERS. REST STOPS FOR THE BIKERS ARE BEING ORGANIZED BY THE 29 PALMS ABATE CHAPTER AND WONDER VALLEY CHURCH. A FRIENDLY WAVE AND SMILE GOES A LONG WAY TOWARDS WELCOMING THE MOTORCYCLE RIDERS TO OUR LOCAL GAS STATIONS AND RESTAURANTS. IN A RELATED STORY...THE PUMPS ARE RUNNING IN AMBOY. ALMOST THREE YEARS AFTER RESTAURANT CHAIN OWNER ALBERT OKURA BOUGHT THE DESERT WAY STATION BETWEEN BARSTOW AND NEEDLES ON OLD ROUTE 66, THE GASOLINE PUMPS WENT TO WORK YESTERDAY. HUNDREDS OF MOTORCYCLISTS ON THE ANNUAL LAUGHLIN RIVER RUN, STOPPED IN TO COOL OFF WITH SODAS AND WATER AND TO FUEL THEIR VEHICLES.


A VERY MYSTERIOUS FIND IN THE DESERT EAST OF JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK

VOLUNTEERS WORKING TO PROTECT DESERT LANDS EAST OF JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK HAVE DISCOVERED A MYSTERY. REPORTER DAN STORK GIVES THE CLUES, MAYBE YOU KNOW THE ANSWER... VOLUNTEERS WORKING IN A REMOTE AREA TO THE EAST OF JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK UNCOVERED A BURIED TREASURE LAST WEEK. HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED: THE PALEN-MCCOY WILDERNESS IS A HUGE TRACT OF LAND – OVER 200,000 ACRES – MOSTLY UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, WHICH LIES TO THE EAST OF THE PARK. THE MOJAVE DESERT LAND TRUST IS A LOCALLY-BASED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO PROTECT THE MOJAVE DESERT ECOSYSTEM. WHEN AN AERIAL SURVEY LOCATED SOME OLD STRUCTURAL DEBRIS AND A STRANGE PLYWOOD-COVERED HOLE IN THE WILDERNESS, THE TRUST TOOK ON THE PROJECT OF CLEANING UP THE SITE. A PRELIMINARY SURVEY INDICATED THAT THE SITE CONTAINED SOME PLASTIC BOTTLES OF WHAT APPEARED TO BE WATER, AND NO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. SO A TEAM OF VOLUNTEER LAND STEWARDS BACKPACKED IN TO THE AREA, SO RUGGED THAT 4-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES COULD ONLY BRING THEM TO WITHIN 3 MILES, AND BEGAN EXCAVATING. THEY FOUND, UNDER THE PLYWOOD, TWO NEATLY ARRANGED LAYERS OF VINTAGE 1970S 2-LITER PEPSI BOTTLES, 650 BOTTLES IN ALL, AND ALL FILLED WITH – WATER! THE EMPTIED AND CRUSHED BOTTLES, AND ALL OTHER DEBRIS ON THE SITE, WERE AIRLIFTED OUT. BUT WHO BUILT THE SITE AND BURIED THE WATER, AND WHY, WHEN, AND HOW THEY DID IT, REMAINS UNKNOWN. IF YOU’D LIKE TO LEARN ABOUT ADVENTURES IN LAND STEWARDSHIP IN THE MOJAVE, VISIT MOJAVEDESERTLANDTRUST.ORG, OR CALL THE TRUST AT 366-5440.

ROCKIN’ FOR JOSHUA TREE EVENT RAISES OVER $20,000.00

WHILE THE ATTENDANCE WAS SPARSE, THE FUND-RAISING EFFORTS OF LAST WEEKEND’S, "ROCKIN’ FOR JOSHUA TREE EVENT WERE NOT. ORGANIZERS LARRY AND DONNA CHARPIED SAID THE EVENT, HELD IN PIONEERTOWN, RAISED JUST OVER $20,000.00. THE MONEY WILL BE USED IN THE CONTINUING EFFORT TO PREVENT THE WORLD'S LARGEST GARBAGE DUMP FROM BEING CONSTRUCTED IN THE VERY ARMS OF THE PRISTINE JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK. THE CHARPEIDS , OF THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ACTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, SAY THE IMPACTS TO OUR MAJESTIC PARK AND DESERT COMMUNITIES WOULD BE ENORMOUS. ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO SUPPORT THE EFFORT TO STOP THE MEGADUMP, WHICH WOULD SEE 20,000 TONS OF LOS ANGELES’ GARBAGE BROUGHT TO OUR DESERT BY TRAIN EVERYDAY, CAN SEND DONATIONS TO CCAEJ, P.O. BOX 397, DESERT CENTER CA 92239. FOR INFORMATION CALL (760) 574-1887. OR GO TO WWW.CCAEJ.ORG


9TH ANNUAL ROTARY BIKE RIDE THROUGH JTNP BUYS SHOES THAT FIT *


KNITTING OFFERED AT THE JOSHUA TREE LIBRARY

REDISCOVER THE ART OF KNITTING AT THE JOSHUA TREE LIBRARY. REPORTER TAMMI ROLEFF GETS OUT HER KNITTING NEEDLES... HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO LEARN HOW TO KNIT OR CROCHET BUT DON’T KNOW ANYONE WHO COULD TEACH YOU? DID SOMEONE TEACH YOU YEARS AGO AND YOU JUST NEED A LITTLE HELP REMEMBERING HOW TO GET STARTED? IF SO, COME TO THE JOSHUA TREE LIBRARY SATURDAY AT 1 PM WHERE EXPERIENCED KNITTERS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO TEACH THE BASICS OF KNITTING AND CROCHETING. SOME SUPPLIES WILL BE AVAILABLE, BUT PARTICIPANTS ARE ASKED TO BRING KNITTING OR CROCHET NEEDLES AND YARN, IF YOU HAVE THEM. LIGHT REFRESHMENTS WILL BE PROVIDED. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 366-8615.

NEW COMMANDING GENERAL COMING TO THE MARINE BASE

THERE IS A NEW COMMANDING GENERAL COMING TO THE 29 PALMS MARINE CORPS AIR-GROUND COMBAT CENTER. BRIGADIER GENERAL MELVIN SPIESE WILL RELINQUISH COMMAND TO BRIGADIER GENERAL CHARLES GURGANUS ON THURSDAY, MAY 22, IN A CEREMONY SET FOR 9AM. SPIESE HAS BEEN THE COMMANDING GENERAL FOR JUST OVER A YEAR, HAVING TAKEN COMMAND APRIL 5, 2007. GURGANUS IS CURRENTLY THE ASSISTANT DIVISION COMMANDER, 2D MARINE DIVISION. GENERAL GURGANUS IS NO STRANGER TO 29 PALMS, HAVING SERVED AS THE MAGTF STAFF TRAINING PROGRAM INSTRUCTOR FROM 1992-1995.

OLD CAR CLUB CRUISE-IN TOMORROW *

COMMUNITY BLOOD BANK CLOSING YUCCA VALLEY OFFICE


THE COMMUNITY BLOOD BANK IS CLOSING ITS YUCCA VALLEY OFFICE. REPORTER DAN STORK SAYS THE BLOOD MOBILE WILL STILL BE AVAILABLE... THE COMMUNITY BLOOD BANK WILL CLOSE ITS HI-DESERT DONOR ROOM ON AIRWAY IN YUCCA VALLEY AT THE END OF APRIL. THE LAST SCHEDULED BLOOD DRIVE AT THAT LOCATION WILL BE MONDAY, APRIL 28TH. THE BLOOD BANK WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE A REGULAR SCHEDULE IN YUCCA VALLEY, FROM A BLOODMOBILE. IT WILL BE PARKED IN THE VON’S PARKING LOT ON TUESDAY AFTERNOONS, AND ITS HOURS WILL BE EXTENDED TO RUN FROM NOON TO 6 PM. THE COMMUNITY BLOOD BANK WILL CONTINUE TO RUN SPECIAL DONATION EVENTS IN THE MORONGO BASIN, IN ADDITION TO ITS REGULAR DAY IN THE VON’S PARKING LOT.

WEEKEND DOUBLE TREAT AT THE JT VFW *

SANDBLAST ‘08 AT THE WONDER VALLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH *

TWENTYNINE PALMS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM INVITED TO PLAY IN ALASKA

THE TWENTYNINE PALMS HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM HAS BEEN INVITED TO PLAY A 4 GAME TOURNAMENT IN KETCHIKAN, ALASKA NEXT DECEMBER. TO KICK OFF FUNDRAISING FOR THE TOURNAMENT, THE BOY'S BASKETBALL BOOSTER CLUB WILL BE HOSTING A DINNER AUCTION, SATURDAY MAY 17TH AT SMITH'S RANCH. THE EVENING WILL BEGIN AT 6PM. THERE WILL BE A SILENT AUCTION, TRI TIP AND CHICKEN DINNER AND A LIVE AUCTION RUN BY BASKETBALL COACH AND AUCTIONEER LARRY BOWDEN. NUMEROUS ITEMS HAVE ALREADY BEEN LINED UP FOR THE AUCTION INCLUDING A 48 INCH FLAT PANEL PLASMA TV, FULLY LOADED LAP TOP COMPUTER, HOTEL PACKAGES, THEME PARK TICKETS, ART WORK AND MUCH MORE. TICKETS ARE BEING SOLD BY BOOSTER CLUB MEMBERS FOR $20.00 EACH OR $35.00 FOR A COUPLE. IF YOU WISH TO MAKE A DONATION OF A NEW OR USED ITEM JUST CALL LARRY BOWDEN AT 910-3886 AND THE BOOSTERS WILL GLADLY PICK IT UP FROM YOU.

 

YUCCA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL BOYS VARSITY TENNIS LOSES BY A HAIR

AFTER A 4-14 BEATING BY THE SAN JACINTO TIGERS WEDNESDAY, THE YUCCA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL BOYS VARSITY TENNIS TEAM STEPPED UP PLAY AND LOST BY ONLY A HAIR TO NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL YESTERDAY. COACH JENNIFER HARLOW SAID BECAUSE THE FINAL SET SCORE WAS TIED AT 9-9, INDIVIDUAL GAMES WERE COUNTED YIELDING NOTRE DAME THE WIN BY ONLY 20 GAMES. FOR THE LAST LEAGUE MATCH OF THE SEASON, THE BOYS TAKE ON UNDEFEATED BEAUMONT HIGH AT THEIR HOME COURTS ON MONDAY.