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Listen To Your News		Thursday, January 21, 2010		News Archive

STORMS BRINGS RAIN, MINOR FLOODING, CANCELLATIONS
The Morongo Basin will continue to get steady rain, at times heavy, today as a powerful pacific storm moves through. Caltrans has closed some lanes of State route 62 because of minor flooding. The usual low spots on the highway, near Church street in Yucca Valley, downtown Joshua Tree, and the bottom of Donell Hill in Twentynine Palms have standing water so slow down even more in those areas. There is some mud and debris so caution is urged while driving today. The only road closure is at Sunnyslope and Balsa behind Walmart in Yucca Valley. All schools were open today and busses were running, some slightly late. Some area meetings and events are canceled today. Elsewhere in the County, the worst storm so far this week battered the region with snow, wind and rain Wednesday, forcing closures of two major routes - one to the mountains and one to the High Desert - and washing mud and tree branches down on homes in recent burn areas. An even stronger storm will hit today, bringing with it lightning, thunder and tornado-like conditions. Highway 330 from Highland to Running Springs and the 15 Freeway through the Cajon Pass on were closed Wednesday evening as heavy snow fell. Blackouts continued to be a problem for Southern California Edison and its customers, leaving 4,367 county residents in eight areas without power for several hours. A flash flood warning and wind advisory remained in effect for San Bernardino County. One hundred animals were evacuated from the Banning Animal Shelter after dogs in kennels were left standing on their hind legs to keep their heads above water. An additional 2 to 3 feet of snow is expected in the mountains today. Mountain High Ski Resort in Wrightwood closed early Wednesday due to high winds, the second time this week. The highest lift at Bear Mountain was shut down, but the rest of the lifts in the Big Bear Valley remained.

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SOME TIPS ON DRIVING IN WET WEATHER
We are getting yet another day of rain from a series of pacific storms, today the rain is expected to get even heavier. Managing Editor Karl Gardner has some important reminders...
With impending rain and snow headed for the area, the local Morongo Basin California Highway Patrol office is asking motorists to remember some safe driving tips. Most important, during wet and slick conditions reduce your speed and allow more time for your journey. If you’re driving in rain, stay alert for potential hydroplaning, apply brakes slowly, keep headlights on and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles. Morongo Basin CHP Commander Tim Tompkins warned that many crashes are caused by people driving too fast in the rain, snow or fog." The CHP urges you to check road conditions by call the Caltrans Road Conditions Hotline at 1-800-427-ROAD that’s 1-800-427-7623.

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SHERIFF LOOKING FOR HELP FINDING ARMED ROBBER
The Sheriff Department is asking for the public’s help in solving an armed robbery in Twentynine Palms. Sheriff’s officials say that around 10:26 Saturday morning they received a call from the Check-into-Cash outlet in the 73700 block of Twentynine Palms highway, saying they had just been robbed at gun point. The called reported the man came in showed the clerk and black handgun and a note saying "give me everything you have so I won’t have to hurt you." The clerk was shoved into the bathroom as the man ran out the back "towards the mountains". The suspect is described as a black male adult, 27 to 33 years old. No other description was given. Sheriffs’ investigators are asking anyone with information on the armed robbery to call the Morongo Basin Sheriffs station at 760-366-8471.

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Jebidiah Stipe

TWENTYNINE PALMS MARINE CHARGED IN CRAIGSLIST RAPE A 27-year-old Marine from Twentynine Palms, who prosecutors say arranged a brutal rape using Craigslist, has been charged with five felonies in Wyoming. Jebidiah Stipe made his appearance in Court Tuesday. He’s charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree sexual assault and other crimes. Prosecutors say that on December 5, Stipe posted an advertisement on the popular Internet site pretending to be a Casper woman he briefly dated. The ad asked for a "real aggressive man with no concern for women" willing to carry out a rape fantasy. Prosecutors say Ty McDowell, a 26-year-old Mills, Wyo. resident, responded to the ad, and that Stipe gave him the woman’s picture and an address. McDowell is also charged with five felonies, including first-degree sexual assault.

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Bill Neeb Chad Mayes George Huntington Lori Herbel Frank Luckino

YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL DISCUSSES FUNDING PROBLEMS FOR THE CALIFORNIA WELCOME CENTER A very busy Yucca Valley Town Council meeting Tuesday saw reporter Tami Roleff break her report into two parts, yesterday was raises an commissioners, today... financial problems for the California Welcome Center... From 2005 through 2009, the Town of Yucca Valley has provided the Desert Regional Tourism Agency, or DRTA, which operates the California Welcome Center in town, with $25,000 toward its operating expenses.

For fiscal year 2009-2010, the Town budgeted only $15,000 to the Welcome Center. Mayor Chad Mayes explained that the idea was that the Town would fund the Welcome Center for only a few years and then would walk away when the Welcome Center became independent. But according to Cary Harwin of the DRTA, that’s not what the DRTA is trying to do. "Independence isn’t our goal as much as our goal being growing in value for our partners throughout the community; that is our real focus." He stressed that the DRTA desperately needs another $10,000 from the Town of Yucca Valley to meet its budget. Councilman Bill Neeb said perhaps the Welcome Center should look to other sources for funding. "I do believe the idea of bring in the county in; they should be a participant. A great deal of area is theirs and they should step up to the plate." In the end, the Council agreed to give the Welcome Center an additional $10,000 with the provision that 2 members from the DRTA meet with Council members Neeb and Lori Herbel by July 1 to come to some sort of agreement about the Town’s role in funding the Welcome Center.

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PAROLEE CAUGHT SHOPLIFTING AT LOCAL STORE
A parolee with prior convictions for theft was caught on video stealing from Big Lots and Yellow Mart in Yucca Valley. Sheriff officials said Tuesday afternoon around 2, Deputies responded to a call that a suspect seen on store video was parked in the parking lot in front of Big Lots. The caller said some of the stolen merchandise was visible in the car. Deputies found Robert Farkas, 47 with the stolen items, and took him into custody for investigation of felony theft with a prior conviction. Robert Farkas was booked into the West Valley Detention Center on $50,000 bail and a no bail parole hold.

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DONUTS ON THE RUNWAY LEAD TO CITATIONS
Doing donuts on the runway found two Twentynine Palms men tangling with the law. Sheriff’s spokeswoman Vera Martinez said Monday morning around 7:30, dispatchers received a call that someone was out on the runway at Twentynine Palms airport, doing donuts on the rain slick surface. Arriving deputies cited Isaac Espinoza, 22, for trespassing and Remi Trotter, 25 for warrants. Both were released at the scene.

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FREE SOLAR ENERGY WORKSHOP THIS SATURDAY IN JOSHUA TREE
A great opportunity to get valuable information on how to use more solar and alternative power at you house this Saturday. Reporter Dan Stork says the free solar energy seminar will be in Joshua Tree...
The Morongo Basin Conservation Association invites the public to "Take the Step to Go Solar" with a free workshop on how to use solar energy to produce the power for homes and businesses. The workshop will be held Saturday, January 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Joshua Tree Community Center, 6171 Sunburst in Joshua Tree. The workshop is an opportunity for residents to learn practical steps from those who have already made the move to solar in the Morongo Basin. Helping to demystify why and how to go solar will be representatives from Southern California Edison, the California Public Utilities Commission, the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Copper Mountain College, and Joshua Tree National Park. Local homeowners and their solar equipment installers will also share their real-life experiences in team presentations. The workshop is part of the annual meeting of Morongo Basin Conservation Association. For more information on the Association and the "Take the Step to Go Solar" program go to www.mbconservation.org or call 760-364-3455.

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WE REVIEW THE COMEDY, "BLITHE SPIRIT" AT THEATRE 29
The witty and intelligent comedy, "Blithe Spirit", directed by Butch Pelfrey, opened last weekend at Theatre 29 for a 5-week run. Reporter Tami Roleff was in the audience and offers this review of the show...
Theater 29’s newest play Blithe Spirit is a frothy supernatural comedy that will transport you back to 1940’s England. Written by Noel Coward and directed by Butch Pelfry in what will be his last production, Blithe Spirit stars Greg Crabill as author Charles Condomine, and Janet Peercy as this second wife. The Condomines hold a dinner party and invite Dr. and Mrs. Bradman, played by Dennis Priest and Mary Phelps, along with Madame Arcati, a delighfully ditzy medium. During a séance, Madame Arcati inadvertently brings back Condimine’s jealous – but dead – first wife, and the result is a tug of war between the earthly and ethereal wives. Melissa Phelps adds some laughs tot he produciotn as the Condomine’s young and inept maid. The true star of the show is Sue Kelly as Madam Arcati. The set is gorgeous. For dates and times to see Blithe Spirit, visit on line at Theatre29.com.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS HIGH SCHOOL CANCELS TODAY’S BIG BEAR GAMES
Twentynine Palms High School Athletic Director Jeremy Johnson said all games scheduled with Big Bear High School have been postponed until February 11. For details on the schedule change visit on line at 29wildcats.com.

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