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Listen To Your News		Thursday, January 7, 2010		News Archive

TWENTYNINE PALMS MOTORCYCLE CRASH VICTIM ON ROAD TO RECOVERY
A 24 Year old Twentynine Palms man who sustained massive injures during a motorcycle crash is back home on the road to recovery. Veterans Day afternoon around 5:30 Tommy Cockerham, 24 was riding east on highway 62 in the Indian Cove area on a 2009 Harley Davidson Motorcycle, when he ran into a large duffel bag lying in the middle of the road. Cockerham suffered multiple head injuries along with traumatic brain injury that left him in a coma for 23 days at Desert Hospital in Palm Springs. Following extensive treatment, Cockerham was transferred to Loma Linda University Hospital, undergoing intensive rehabilitation therapy. Cockerham’s mother, Theresa Castagne, said Tommy is back home now, recovering nicely, with plans to continue his education. Castagne wished to thank the many generous people to donated both time and money, helping the family during the crisis.

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CHP TO INCREASE EFFORTS FOR MOTORCYCLE SAFETY
With motorcycle crashes and their subsequent injuries and fatalities on the rise. The California Highway Patrol is planning a major motorcycle safety campaign. Managing Editor Karl Gardner has more...
The California Highway Patrol will be using federal stimulus grant to in the battle for motorcycle safety. Four high-risk counties including San Bernardino are targets, with the goal of this grant being two-fold: reduce motorcycle-involved fatal collisions and injury crashes 5 percent by 2011. The CHP will implement a 24-month traffic safety program that will encompass enhanced enforcement including aerial support and a public education campaign promoting the use of approved helmets and raise motorists’ awareness of sharing the road with motorcyclists. CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said the number of motorcycle crashes and fatalities continue to be troubling, and with the help of the grant and the cooperation of motorcyclists and motorists alike, hopefully we can reverse this trend.

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CHANGES IN THE TOP RANKS OF THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
The new year is bringing changes to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Executive Staff. Undersheriff Richard Beemer will be retiring after 37 years of service. Beemer was appointed Undersheriff by Sheriff Gary Penrod in October of 2005. Beemer will be replaced by Assistant Sheriff Bill Abernathy, a 31-year veteran. Abernathy was most recently charged with overseeing the Support side of the Department. Deputy Chief Glen Pratt who currently oversees the desert patrol stations will be promoted to Assistant Sheriff of Support Operations. Other notable changes include the promotion of Captain Ron Cochran to Deputy Chief. Ron currently serves as Police Chief for the City of Highland. Cochran’s promotion makes him the highest-ranking African-American in the 156 year history of the Department. Captain Dennis Casey of the Sheriff’s Bureau of Administration will be promoted to Deputy Chief of Court Services. Casey is a 31-year veteran of the Department. In addition to the changes at the executive level, several changes will also be taking place at the Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant and Detective ranks. All changes become effective January 30, 2010.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS CITY COUNCIL PART 2, SEWER SYSTEM AND INDUSTRIAL ZONES
This weeks Twentynine Palms Planning Commission meeting was a complex one. Reporter Dan Stork broke his report into two parts, yesterday, general plan matters, today sewers and industrial zones...
The Tuesday evening meeting of the Twentynine Palms Planning Commission moved along crisply in its consideration of General Plan Update items, until it hit the issue of sewage treatment. Commission members and speakers from the audience discussed the alternatives of central sewage treatment, package plants, and the coupling of septic systems with development density restrictions. Some felt that the expected cost of a central sewage treatment will be an insurmountable obstacle, with frequent contributor Jay Corbin saying "I try never to say ‘never’ in matters of land use, but I’ll say it here – we will never, ever have a community-wide sewage treatment facility in this city – it’s not going to happen". Hogle-Ireland consultant Nelson Miller cited the study made for the Downtown Specific Plan, which said that downtown commercial development will be hamstrung by the lack of central sewage treatment. Others suggested that a hybrid, incremental approach may be affordable, and the Commission referred the matter back to the consultant and staff for further development. Moving on to the issue of new industrial zones, Corbin and members of the Commission expressed skepticism that Twentynine Palms would ever be a locus of significant industrial development. The Commission discarded a suggested industrial zone in the Indian Cove area as too damaging to the view. The Commission will take up the designation of new commercial and residential zones, and the issue of a circulation plan, at a special meeting at 4 p.m. on Wednesday January 13th.

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BRAILLE INSTITUTE MOBILE SOLUTIONS VAN IN YUCCA VALLEY TODAY
Braille Institute’s Mobile Solutions Van Rolls Into Yucca Valley today. Is your vision fading? Braille Institute can help. Mobile Solutions, a specialized van that brings Braille Institute’s programs and services to people who are not able to travel to its center in Rancho Mirage, will be at the Yucca Valley Library today from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Mobile Solutions van is equipped with high-powered magnifiers, closed-circuit televisions and other adaptive equipment to help maximize remaining vision. The van also features display areas where clients can purchase some of the unique items available at Braille Institute's Vistas store, such as adaptive kitchen utensils and talking watches. Potential clients also can receive free low vision consultations and learn more about Braille Institute's Library Services, and qualified patrons can sign up on the spot to begin receiving talking books almost immediately. For more information on the Mobile Solutions Van, please call Braille Institute at (760) 321-1111. Braille Institute services are available free of charge. More information can be found at www.brailleinstitute.org.

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SPECIAL OLYMPICS FACING FINANCIAL TROUBLES
A lull in sponsorship and fundraising has caused Special Olympics affiliates in several states to cut administrative costs and athletic events. The poor economy has led affiliates in Indiana, California, Oregon, Tennessee, North Dakota and other states to cancel or scale back their athletic events for the mentally disabled. Some states have had to cut staff. Financial woes led the Northern California branch to cut snowboarding and skiing events from its winter games lineup. An Oregon for a second straight year doesn’t plan to stage its games. Washington D.C. – based Special Olympics Inc. saw its year-end assets fall 33 percent to $58.4 million in 2008 from $87.8 million in 2007.

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TOWN PARK PLANNING WORKSHOP IN YUCCA VALLEY TONIGHT
The second in a series of public meetings to plan future parks in the town of Yucca Valley will be held tonight. Reporter Tami Roleff says citizen input on the plan is needed...
The Town of Yucca Valley has scheduled a series of community workshops to gather input from residents about what they want for the South Side Community Park. The proposed park is planned for a 40-acre site bordered by Warren Vista on the east and Joshua Lane to the south. The third of five workshops will be held at 6:30 tonight in the Joshua Springs Calvary Chapel café building. Tonight’s workshop will review suggestions from earlier workshops and develop a wish list of what residents want in the park. Workshops will also be held at 6:30 on Thursday, January 14, and at 10:30 on Saturday, January 23. For more information, call the Community Services Office at 760-369-7211.

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STATE LAWMAKERS PASS SCHOOL REFORM PACKAGE
The California Legislature has sent Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger landmark education reforms designed to overhaul the state’s worst schools. The bills passed their final legislative hurdle in the state Senate on Wednesday and are headed to Schwarzenegger, who has said he will sign them. The reforms will allow California to compete for part of the $4.3 billion being made available to states under the Obama administration’s Race to the Top initiative. Under the Legislation, state officials could close failing schools, convert them to charter schools or replace the principal and half the staff. Parents whose children are stuck in the lowest-performing schools would be given greater leeway to send their children elsewhere and could petition to turn around a chronically failing school.

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THEATRE 29 THANKS THEIR VOLUNTEERS, RECOGNIZES SUPPORTERS
Theatre 29 thanked its very large cadre of volunteers and made special recognitions at their annul volunteer appreciation dinner last weekend. Assignment Reporter Mike Lipsitz has the kudos...
Theatre 29 treated volunteers and supporters at its annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner January 2 at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center. Certificates were awarded to 108 individuals as an expression of gratitude to the many who contributed to the non-profit community Theater’s successful 2009 Season. Highlighting the gala event, Board President Gary Daigneault presented Kathryn Ferguson of Desert Hot Springs the Theatre’s prestigious "Volunteer of the Year" award.　 In addition to directing the hit … "Nunsensations", Ferguson costumed three other productions, appeared in two, and was Musical Director for another. Recognition also went to Cheryl Gillon, Thomas "Piney" Highfill, and Charles Harvey for their ‘above and beyond’ contributions. Special honors went to Publisher Cindy Melland, for support of the arts from the Hi-Desert Star and Desert Trail newspapers. Thanking the City of Twentynine Palms Daigneault recognized Mayor Steve Flock, Mayor Pro-Tem Jim Harris, and City Liaison Larry Bowden. Theatre 29 Board members, Directors, performers and all related artisans are unpaid volunteers.

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YUCCA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING TAKE A BIG WIN
The Yucca Valley High School Trojan Wrestling Team was victorious over Lucerne Valley 33-3 last night at Trojan gym. Coach Brandon Whitbread said t he Trojans won three of the four head-to-head matches as well as collecting forfeits on several others. Beating their Mustang opponents were Dan Hopper at 125 pounds, Logan Sackett at 171 pounds, and Leo Munoz wrestling at 215 pounds. The JV squad travels this Saturday to compete in the Desert Mirage Classic tournament. Then one week later it is the Trojan War home tournament.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOCCER TRAVEL TO RIVERSIDE
In local high school sports tomorrow, the Twentynine Palms High School girls soccer team travels away to Riverside versus Woodcrest Christian, with game time at 4.

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