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Listen To Your News		Friday, January 20, 2012		News Archive

MORONGO VALLEY COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT OFFICE CLOSED AND LOCKED
The abrupt and temporary closing of the Morongo Valley Community Service District office caps off 10 days of turmoil for the beleaguered Agency which is responsible for a variety of services including fire protection, public recreation, street lighting, library services, fiscal oversight, and community representation. Early yesterday, CSD Board President Chuck Osborne and Director Johnny Talbert went to the Ocotillo Street office, had the locks changed and agreed the space was "off limits," at least until the next CSD Board Meeting. The unexpected closure is the latest in a string of surprises that have beset the community of 3,500. Following last week's controversial firing of popular CSD manager Meg Foley, directors voted to cover her post temporarily and selected Barry Freet as interim manager. Freet was expected to receive final approval at Wednesday's regular board meeting, but that meeting was called off due to lack of a quorum. As a consequence, Freet had no authority to operate as general manager. Directors saw padlocking the office as their only option. With Director Mike Frances out of the hospital, the board could meet again as soon as Wednesday.

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GROUNDBREAKING FOR NEW JOSHUA TREE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SET
Construction will soon start on a brand new Joshua Tree Elementary School. After being built some 50 years ago, new technology recently revealed earthquake faults under the old school and a new school and location was approved by the state. Reporter Dan Stork says the groundbreaking will be open to the public...
The Morongo Unified School District has announced a Ground Breaking Ceremony for the new Joshua Tree Elementary School facility. After over three years of working with the State of California, San Bernardino County and many other agencies, the Morongo Unified School District invites the general public to the ground breaking event on January 26 at 4 p.m. The New School Site is located at the Southwest Corner of Calle Los Amigos and Sunburst Avenue.

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ELDERLY WOMAN LOOKING FOR UPLAND, FOUND IN PIONEERTOWN
An elderly woman from Pomona trying to visit her husband in a care facility in Upland was found in Pioneertown Wednesday. According to the Sheriff's Department, a passer-by found Theresa Perry, 82, who said she was lost, near the intersection of Sunnyslope Drive and Pioneertown Road about 8:30 Wednesday night. The Good Samaritan called the Sheriff's department and followed Perry as she drove down to Highway 62 and westbound on the highway. Perry had been reported missing earlier. The Sheriff's deputy caught up with Perry just west of Fairway Drive and the highway, and gave Perry a ride halfway home, where they met up with a Pomona policeman who brought Perry home.

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YUCCA VALLEY MAN ARRESTED AFTER ATTACKING WIFE'S BOYFRIEND
An estranged husband was arrested Wednesday night after he barged into his wife's home and started a fight with her and her boyfriend. According to the Sheriff's Department, Anthony Attina, 35, of Chino Hills, had a knife when he barged in to his estranged wife's home in the 56100 block of Onaga Trail in Yucca Valley. His wife started screaming and her boyfriend started fighting with Attina. Anthony Attina was arrested for investigation of assault with a weapon. He was booked into the Morongo Basin Jail with his bail set at $50,000.

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STATE SUPREME COURT TO WEIGH IN ON MARIJUANA REGULATION
The state's high court will attempt to clarify marijuana's hazy legal status in California. The California Supreme Court on Wednesday voted unanimously to review how cities and counties regulate marijuana dispensaries. The Town of Yucca Valley has planned a closure of the town's only medical marijuana dispensary. The court will address whether local governments can bar the pot shops despite voter passage of Proposition 215, which legalized marijuana use with a doctor's recommendation. The court also will consider the continued conflict between state and federal authorities, who don't recognize Proposition 215. Under federal law, marijuana is illegal in all forms.

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DESERT INSTITUTE OFFERS CLASS ON PLANTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
With spring approaching, the Desert Institute is offering a free class tonight on spring plant and climate change. Reporter Derwood Andrews has details…..
On Friday, January 20, at 7 p.m. a fascinating lecture on Indicators of Spring: Plants and Climate Change, takes place at the Black Rock Visitor Center in Yucca Valley. Sponsored by the Desert Institute, Susan Mazer will describe the wonder of plants and the science of phenology and how you can participate locally in the study. The lecture is FREE, call 760-367-5535 or visit joshuatree.org.

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LAFCO CLARIFIES BIGHORN-DESERT VIEW WATER DISTRICT SPHERE OF INFLUENCE
In a Service Review released this month, the County's Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO, made recommendations impacting the sphere of influence of agencies in the Homestead Valley communities of Landers, Johnson Valley, and Flamingo Heights with particular focus on the areas served by Bighorn Desert-View Water Agency. In the report, LAFCO staff recommends removing almost 14,000 acres of unoccupied public lands from the water agency's sphere of influence and adding more than 11,000 acres of privately-owned, mostly occupied parcels abutting the Agency's present boundaries. The areas recommended for the expanded service boundary primarily include properties now served by County Special Districts Service Area 70 W-1, some sparsely populated sections of Johnson Valley, and the parcels occupied by Gubler's Orchids in Landers. The report went into some detail to explain that as a planning boundary, the sphere of influence does not change the orchid grower's operation or use of its water which comes from private wells. For property owners who would move from Special Districts to Bighorn, the change, if approved, would represent a reduction in the rates they currently pay.

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"JAKES WOMAN" AT THEATRE 29 A BIG HIT
The first show of the Theatre 29 2012 season is running weekends through February 11 at the Morongo Basin premiere live theater venue. Reporter Mike Lipsitz tells you how to get tickets this weekend for the comedy hit, "Jake's Women"...
When the curtain came down on the opening night of Neil Simon's "Jake's Women" at Theatre 29, Director Butch Pelfrey knew he had a hit. "Jake's Women" is a comedy about a novelist more successful at fiction than real life. He faces a marital crisis by daydreaming of the women in his life. His wildly comic and sometimes moving flashbacks are interrupted by visitations from real women. Pelfrey, directing his seventh show at Theatre 29 speaks highly of the cast which stars K.W. Heckart, as Jake, principals Wendy Costello, as Jake's sister, Janet Peercy as Jake's wife, and Cheryl Gillon, as the other woman. Rounding out the cast is Rebekah Douglas, Jeanne Rodick, Kara Dailey and Kayleigh Coughlin. "Jake's Women" plays through February 11, with Friday and Saturday night performances at 7 p.m., a Thursday night show January 26, and a Sunday matinee February 5. Ticket prices are $8 to $12, available by calling 760-361-4151 or theatre29.org. Theatre 29 is at Sullivan and Adobe roads in Twentynine Palms.

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STATE AGENCY APPROVES WAL-MART, HI-DESERT MEDICAL CENTER WASTEWATER PLANTS
Wastewater Treatment plants for both the new Yucca Valley Super Wal-Mart and an expansion of Hi-Desert Medical Center were approved by the state yesterday. The California Regional Water Quality Control Board met yesterday morning in Palm Desert, for a strategic planning workshop. Of local interest were wastewater discharge requirements and proposed treatment plants for the new Super Wal-Mart at Avalon and Highway 62 and the same for the Hi-Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree. The Wal-Mart plans were uncontested and approved. Joshua Basin Water Agency General Manager Joe Guzzetta said the Hi-Desert Medical Center plans were also approved and the project will probably go to bid in March.

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WE MEET MISS YUCCA VALLEY CONTESTANT CASSIE CANNON
The Miss Yucca Valley Pageant is set for February 4. Today we meet pageant contestant Cassie Cannon...
Today we visit with Cassie Cannon, a junior at Yucca Valley High School and a candidate for Miss Yucca Valley. Hi Cassie. Tell us, who is the prominent woman interviewed, and what you have learned…
My prominent lady was Pam Naylor, the varsity volleyball coach at Yucca Valley High School. Pam is a very strong woman and she taught me that sometimes being strong can mean just making it through each day during difficult times. She has inspired me to go for things I want to achieve.
What have you learned from your experience with Miss Yucca Valley?
I learned that titles don't matter, all that matters is knowing you grew as a person.
Any final words?
I had a better time in these past five months of the pageant that I thought was possible, and I encourage upcoming junior girls to seriously consider this amazing program.
Thank you Cassie.

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MEALS THIS WEEK AT JOSHUA TREE VFW
The Joshua Tree VFW will be serving up a Swiss steak dinner tonight from 4:30 to 6:30 at the Post at 6402 Veterans Way. Sunday breakfast is a sirloin steak special from 8 to 11. And don't forget Taco Wednesday from 11 to 1.

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FREE BREAKFAST IN JOSHUA TREE TOMORROW
Joshua Tree Community United Methodist Church will provide a FREE Community Breakfast Buffet EVERY Saturday morning 9-10 a.m. Clothing, shoes, coats and blankets are free to those in need as supplies last. The community is invited. The church is located at 6213 East Parkway in the heart of Joshua Tree.

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CHEMICAL REACTION AT HI-DESERT NATURE MUSEUM SCIENCE SATURDAY
Educational fun at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum in Yucca Valley tomorrow. Reporter Derwood Andrews says the free Science Saturday presentation is all about chemical reactions...
If there's any budding scientists out there that want to find out about chemical reactions, and witness a mini volcano exploding, come along to the Hi-Desert Nature Museum at 11 in the morning, Saturday January 21. Chemical reactions are all around us, even a rusting steel garbage can is a chemical reaction. This lecture by Crystal Mason is FREE and doesn't require pre-registration. For further information call 760-369-7212 or visit hidesertnaturemuseum.org.

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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS AND SCORES
The Twentynine Palms Lady Wildcats basketball team raised their record to 14 and 7 overall and 4 and 0 in league play while taking over sole possession of first place in the De Anza League yesterday by defeating the Big Bear Bears by a score of 67 to 36. Coach Tim Stanford said the Wildcats shared the ball well with a total of 17 assists on the night. Wildcats standouts for the game were: Erin Stanford with 22 points, 11 steals, 8 assists, and 8 rebounds; Johnette Brown turned in another double double with 17 points and 14 rebounds; and Rosa Graham was also in double figures with 11 points and 4 assists.

Coach Tee Vallo said the Yucca Valley High School boys Soccer team traveled to Thermal to play Desert Mirage, bruised and broken, with five players playing with some sort of injury, and one starter not playing at all. Vallo said the Rams have a great team this year and they played well against Yucca Valley. Final Score, Rams 6, Trojans 0.

In high school sports today, the Twentynine Palms High School basketball teams travel away to Indio to play Shadow Hills High School. The girls' game starts at 5, boys at 6:30.

The Yucca Valley High School Trojans host the Big Bear Bears basketball teams tonight. The girls' game starts at 6; boys at 7:30.

Coming up tomorrow, the Yucca Valley High School wrestling team travels to West Covina for the West Covina High School Invitational Meet.

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