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Listen To Your News		Wednesday, January 20, 2010		News Archive

TWENTY DEPLOY TO HAITI FROM MARINE BASE NAVAL HOSPITAL
Twenty members from the Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital aboard the Twentynine Palms Marine Base will be heading to Haiti over the next couple of days to assist in the aftermath of the 7.0 earthquake that has killed tens of thousands of people. It is unknown how long they will remain overseas. The deployed members will be assigned to a medical facility in Haiti and a casualty treatment ship. Captain Michael Moeller, Executive Officer of the medical command said, "The dedicated staff of the Naval Hospital selected for this mission consider it a great privilege to support the people of Haiti in the aftermath of this tragic devastation. The staff who are remaining behind will continue to provide the best possible medical care to our Marines, Sailors, Retirees and family members of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center".

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YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL GIVES STAFF RAISES, APPOINTS NEW PLANNING COMMISSIONER
The staff of the Town of Yucca Valley got a raise last night and the council named a new planning commissioner. A very full agenda sees reporter Tami Roleff break her story about the actions of the council broken into to two parts. Today, in part 1, raises and a new commissioner, tomorrow, more public money for the troubled California Welcome center... After 2 ½ years, the employees of Yucca Valley will finally have a little something extra in their paycheck. At last night's meeting of the Town Council, the Council approved, 4-1, with Frank Luckino dissenting, a 2 percent cost-of-living-adjustment for Town employees. The meeting got a little heated when Luckino questioned if the Town would be able to sustain the 2 percent COLA raise in the next budget. Town Manager Andy Takata took a little offense at the remark. "Maybe my work doesn't mean anything, but have we ever brought anything to Council that would jeopardize the budget? We have not.. We would not bring something to you that we felt would go sideways with the budget." The raise will be effective as of February 19. In other business, the Council re-appointed Dawn Rowe and Robert Lombardo to the Planning Commission. Luckino's nominee for Planning Commission, developer and builder Tim Humphreville, drew several negative comments from the audience, and from Mayor Pro Tem Lori Herbel, in which they claimed that Humphreville doesn't respect the native plant ordinance and therefore would not be a good choice for the Planning Commission. Humphreville was approved by the Council 4-1 with Herbel dissenting. Finally, the Council agreed to stop enforcing the Town's sign ordinance for one year for banners and flags placed by businesses outside their buildings. Tomorrow's report will focus on the request by the Desert Regional Tourism Agency for an additional $10,000 from the Town.

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JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK PLANE CRASH SURVIVORS IDENTIFIED
Officials have identified have identified the two men who survived the crash of their small aircraft in a remote area of Joshua Tree National Park Monday. Rocky Harvey of Joshua Tree and flight instructor Warner Henry were airlifted by helicopter to Desert Hospital at about 2:30 Tuesday morning. The two men had a variety of injuries and were experiencing hypothermia but are expected to survive. Harvey and Henry took off from Joshua Tree Monday morning to fly to Palm Springs. When their Cessna 172 failed to arrive, the Civil Air Patrol notified rangers, Weather at the time included blowing rain, hail, and snow, with sub-freezing temperatures during the night. At about 10:15 p.m., the aircraft was located near the summit of 5,814-foot Quail Mountain. Rocky Harvey and Warner Henry were trapped in the wreckage, requiring the use of battery-powered saws to remove them from the downed aircraft.

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MORE RAINS COMING, SERIOUS FLOOD WARNINGS ISSUED
The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for tomorrow. The heaviest of the three storms hitting our region will start tomorrow night with heard, steady rain all day Thursday. Managing Editor Karl Gardner has some safety tips and where to get sandbags... During the heavy rains we are having in the Morongo Basin, everyone is reminded Don't try to drive through flooded areas. During threatening weather listen to Z107.7 for watch and warning bulletins. A flash flood watch means it is possible that rains will cause flash flooding in the specified area. A flash flood warning means flash flooding is occurring or is imminent in the specified area. If you live in Twentynine Palms and you need sandbags to protect your home or business from flooding during the storms help is available. Sandbags can be obtained free of charge from the Twentynine Palms Fire Department or Adobe Road, or call the fire station for assistance at 760-367-7524. Wonder Valley residents can obtain free sandbags from the San Bernardino County Fire Station located on Amboy Road in Wonder Valley, or call the station at 760-367-3761. Sandbags are also available for a nominal cost at Barr Lumber, in Twentynine Palms, and at Home Depot in Yucca Valley.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS CHAMBER ANNOUNCES NEW WEBSITE, E-MAIL ADDRESSES
The Twentynine Palms Chamber of Commerce have to announce their new website. The Chamber's website is changing to www.29chamber.org. As a result, the Chamber's email addresses are also changing. Executive Director, Rob Fleck, may now be reached at 29chamber@29chamber.org, and Administration at admin@29chamber.org. Please note that this change is effective immediately; emails sent to the former ".com" addresses will not be forwarded to the new ".org" addresses. The Chamber thanks you for your patience and understanding. For more information, contact the Twentynine palms Chamber of Commerce at 760-367-3445.

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SCHOOL BOARD HEARS GOOD AUDIT RESULTS, FUND FLEXIBILITY
The Morongo Unified School District board met in regular session last night. Reporter Dan Stork said the school board got good grades from their auditors... A small audience assembled on a rainy night to witness the regular meeting of the Morongo Unified School District Board of Education at Palm Vista Elementary School. Financial matters dominated the meeting. A representative from an outside accounting firm reported that the District's latest audit was clean. Assistant Superintendent Michael Walker described how the first $847 thousand of Federal stimulus money has been applied. He characterized the funds as mostly going to save jobs and shore up special education. About $6 million of stimulus money will be used in the District by September 30th of next year. The process and benefits to the District of grant writing were outlined in a presentation by Vonda Viland. She also told the Board that knowledge about grant opportunities comes mostly from searching the Internet. The Board approved a detailed set of criteria for resolving ties in seniority related to certificated layoffs. It also authorized the implementation of Program Flexibility authorized by the state Budget Act. This allows the District to move money that had been allocated to specific programs such as Arts & Music, Physical Education, and Instructional Materials to the General Fund. In another area, Assistant Superintendent Tom Baumgarten noted that about 87% of current seniors have passed the California High School Exit Exam.

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PALMS TO PINES BIRDING LECTURE AT HI-DESERT NATURE MUSEUM TOMORROW
The Hi-Desert Nature Museum will host Associate Professor of Natural Resources at College of the Desert, Kurt Leuschner, presenting "The Palms to Pines Birding and Nature Trail" as part of their Winter Lecture Series. Almost two years in the making, "The Palms to Pines Birding and Nature Trail" map is a useful guide which highlights ten of the area's best known birding sites. Professor Leuschner will share information about this ambitious project this Thursday, starting at noon, free to the public, and coffee will be served. The Hi-Desert Nature Museum is located in the Yucca Valley Community Center Complex and is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. For information, contact the Museum at (760) 369-7212 or see our web site at www.hidesertnaturemuseum.org.

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EXPENSIVE AGENDA FOR THE HI-DESERT WATER DISTRICT BOARD TONIGHT
The Hi-Desert Water District board of directors will meet in a meeting involving a lot of public dollars tonight. Managing Editor Karl Gardner checks the agenda... A rather routine albeit expensive agenda faces the Hi-Desert Water Distinct Board of Directors, meeting this evening at district offices 55439 Twentynine Palms Highway, starting at 6. First up the board will hold a workshop to discuss Acquisition of Service fees, consider the purchasing a $123,000 piece of paving equipment, and award a $103,700 bid for replacement pipe. Next up a resolution on employee retirement contributions and a look at a policy defining what items cannot be brought into board meetings and district offices. Moving on the board will consider renewing the Geographical Information System Subscription at a cost of $22,000 and hear an update on the sewage treatment project.

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"WALMARTOPIA" AUDITIONS AT THEATRE 29 RESCHEDULED
The winter deluge in the Morongo Basin has caused the originally announced auditions for the musical, "Walmartrtopia" Theatre 29 to be postponed. This satiric revue, making it's West Coast Premiere, takes dead aim at the world' s largest retailer in an hysterical romp of musical mayhem, wrapped up in a social commentary. Due to road conditions in both the hi and low deserts due to the storm, director Charles Harvey decided the best course of action was to cancel the audition and reschedule until Monday evening, January 25, at 7:00pm. The try-outs will be at Theatre 29 at 73637 Sullivan Rd in Twentynine Palms. Audition details are on www.theatre29.com.

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WORLD RENOWNED PIANIST AT JOSHUA TREE RETREAT CENTER FRIDAY
A treat for local residents as a world-class musician gives a concert at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center, reporter Mike Lipsitz invites you to hear Jeanne Stark... World-renowned pianist, Jeanne Stark, performs works by Beethoven, Scarlatti, Chopin, and others January 22 at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center. Tickets for Stark's 8 p.m. piano recital in the acoustically remarkable Sanctuary building are $15. Following a highly acclaimed debut in New York's Carnegie Hall, Ms. Stark has delighted audiences in France, Canada, Mexico, Belgium and the US. She has given solo performances in venues from San Francisco's Masonic auditorium and Herbst Theater to New York's Carnegie Recital Hall and Lincoln Center. Tickets are available at Wind Walkers in Joshua Tree next to Crossroads Café, or call 760-365-8371 to charge by phone. Reporting for Z107.7 news, this is assignment reporter Mike Lipsitz.

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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS ACTION
The Yucca Valley High School Lady Trojan basketball team shook off a determined Desert Mirage team in the second half to notch a 62-35 De Anza League win in Thermal last night to go 3-0 in league play. Coach Jess Geeson said Junior Tabitha Vigen scored a game high 16 points to help the Lady Trojans win their 7th game in a row and raise the overall record to 11-7. The girls next host Big Bear Friday in Trojan Gym. The JV game starts at 3pm and the varsity tips at 6pm. The Joshua Springs Varsity Basketball teams hosted the Antelope Valley Eagles of Lancaster Tuesday. The Varsity boys were unsuccessful, losing 56-45 to the visitor Eagles. The loss drops the Lightning to 1-2 in league, and 3-8 overall. The Lightning girls' game was an entirely different story. Leading from the opening tip, the Lightning never looked back, winning the game against Antelope Valley 58-46. The win moves the Lady Lightning to 6-9 on the year, as well as earning them their first league victory, becoming 1-2 in league play. Next up for both Lightning teams is a date with Apple Valley Christian away Friday, before hosting three home games the following week. On rain soaked and muddy field the Yucca Valley High School Trojan Soccer team lost to the Ram of desert Mirage 2-4. Next up for the Trojan boys a schedule change, Thursday January at 3:15 p.m. versus Xavier Prep away. The Twentynine Palms High School girls' Varsity basketball team defeated Desert Hot Springs Friday night in Wildcat gym 75-25 to raise their record to 15 and 5 overall and 2 and 1 in league.

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COMING UP IN LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
In local high school sports today, the Twentynine Palms High School Wildcat boys' basketball against the Big Bear Bears has been postponed to a later date due to weather. The Yucca Valley Trojan boys' basketball team is on the road to Thermal versus the Desert Mirage High School Rams, that tip off is at 6:30. Tomorrow Yucca Valley High School Lady Trojans host the Big Bear Bears weather permitting, at Yucca Valley with players on the field at 5.

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