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Listen To Your News		Thursday, January 28, 2010		News Archive

ONE SHOT AND KILLED IN TWENTYNINE PALMS BY VICTIM OF ASSAULT
One man is dead in unusual circumstances in 29 Palms Tuesday night. According to Sheriff’s reports, after a brief struggle in the 71000 block of Samarkand at 8:45, a man later identified as Robbie Winnen, 48, of Rancho Cucamonga, was shot at the scene and died shortly after. An intense investigation is ongoing into the unusual circumstances and possible motives that led to the incident.

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SUSPECTED BOMB FOUND TO BE HARMLESS
The Sheriff’s bomb squad was called out to Twentynine Palms after a homeowner found a suspicious object in their newspaper box. Sheriff Sergeant Steve Wilson said at 6:47 this morning, a resident went to pick up their morning paper from the newspaper box in the 5400 block of Cahuilla Avenue. The resident spied a capped pipe inside the box, backed away, left the newspaper and called 9-1-1. Sheriff Detective Jim Thornburg responded to the location, but was unable to tell what the object was since the newspaper covered it. The Sheriff’s bomb disposal team was called and using a robot evaluated the object, finding it was just a capped piece of pipe.

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Jim Harris Joel Klink John Cole Steve Flock Steve Spear

TWENTYNINE PALMS CITY COUNCIL PART 2: THE MASTER PLAN The formation of a new master plan for the City of Twentynine Palms dominated Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Reporter Dan Stork broke his report on the marathon meeting into to parts, yesterday the great sign debate, today, the master plan.... For the bulk of its nearly 4-hour meeting Tuesday evening, the Twentynine Palms Palms City Council worked point-by-point through a set of recommendations for the General Plan update. Consultant Nelson Miller, of the firm Hogle-Ireland, described each item. The beginning batch of recommendations concerned a set of "overlays". Each of these is a well-defined region within the city, for each of which the development code will be revised to restrict, but not necessarily prohibit, development. These included:

• The protected Mesquite Dunes
• Wildlife corridors
• Hillsides
• Earthquake fault zones
• The 100-year flood plain
• The Indian Cove/Mesquite drainage area, and
• A buffer adjoining Joshua Tree National Park

All overlays were approved unanimously, except for the Park buffer. Council Members Klink and Cole felt that current zoning provides adequate protection there. Council agreed with the Planning Commission’s view that a specific target build out population is unnecessary. Council member Steve Spear expressed the consensus: "I simply, all along, only wanted a General Plan that told investors and people, this is the smart way to build in Twentynine." The meeting ended in the middle of the thorny water treatment issue. The Council will pick up the thread in a special meeting at 4:30 PM on Thursday February 4th. Also left over for that session are recommendations concerning commercial zones, the circulation plan, and the General Plan Vision.

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Michael Ramos

REPORT CLEARS DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT A 183-page report released Wednesday clears County District Attorney Michael Ramos of alleged sexual harassment and workplace retaliation and paints his accuser as lacking credibility. Cheryl Ristow, an investigative technician for the district attorney's bureau of investigation, claims she had an affair with Ramos from September 2003 to February 2005. In August, she filed a complaint with the county, claiming she was punished by supervisors after she was among several women named in a local weekly newspaper as having had trysts with Ramos. A 6-month investigation by an outside law firm determined that Ristow's allegations were unfounded, and a pattern of discipline meted out to her by her supervisors began well before the May 29 publication of the salacious newspaper article. Ristow called the report "one sided," clearly favorable to Ramos, and part of an agenda to portray her as imbalanced and out of control. Ramos has denied the allegations from the outset.

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COUNTY WANTS FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR JAILED ILLEGALS
San Bernardino County wants the federal government to pick up the $21 million tab to incarcerate and provide probation services for illegal immigrants. The funding request is contained in the county's 2010 priority list for state and federal funds, which was adopted by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. County Supervisor Neil Derry, who represents Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree, said "Immigration is a federal responsibility," "Neither the state nor local governments should be required to bear the burden of the failure of the federal government to secure our borders." The county wants the federal government to cover its full cost to incarcerate illegal immigrants who have at least one felony or two misdemeanor convictions for violations of state or local law. Since 2004, county taxpayers have spent about $54.5 million to jail illegal immigrants. In 2008 the county spent $15.8 million to jail illegal immigrants. The county only received $2.2 million in federal reimbursements that year. The county is also seeking $5.5 million in federal funds to provide probation services to illegal immigrant juveniles who are in custody pending hearings before federal immigration judges.

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HI-DESERT WATER DISTRICT LOOKS AT SEWAGE TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES
As the planned sewer system in Yucca Valley continues through the planning stages, officials at the Hi-Desert Water District are weighing alternative plans and costs. Managing Editor Karl Gardner highlights some of the options...
Facing the tremendous cost of sewage treatment in Yucca Valley, the Hi-Desert Water District is looking at different technologies. One system under consideration is called a STEP/STEG process. STEP stands for Septic Tank Effluent Pump and is placed below street grade, requiring a small pump. STEG stands for Septic Tank Effluent Gravity and is placed on properties that are at or above the street grade. Both systems leave septic tanks in place and collect sewage liquids in small diameter collection lines hooked-up to the tank where the leach lines tie-in. District officials say while the STEP/STEG system may represent up-front cost savings, the operating costs may be higher. The District continues to review both the short- and long-term cost and are evaluating other communities using STEP/STEG systems.

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JOSHUA TREE ROTARY PLANS ANNUAL SUPER BOWL BASH
The Joshua Tree Rotary Club invites you to attend their 26th annual Super Bowl party February 7 at the Helen Gray Center at Hi-Desert Medical Center. Several televisions including very large screen TVs will be placed around the room so everyone attending the party gets a good view of the on-field action as well as this year¹s crop of Super Bowl commercials. Throughout the afternoon there are door prize drawings and raffles including top prizes of a Mexico cruise and large screen television. Proceeds from ticket sales and raffles goes to local charitable causes including Joshua Tree Kids Club, Panorama Ranch, Unity Home and scholarships. Doors open at 2 p.m., kick-off is at 3:28 p.m. Tickets are $25. To get advance tickets see any Joshua Tree Rotarian, call Desert Images at 760-365-6069, or just show up at the door.

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SENIORS DANCE IN YUCCA VALLEY SATURDAY
The Town of Yucca Valley and the Yucca Valley Senior Club will host a Winter Fun Senior and Adult Dance on Saturday, January 30th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Yucca Valley Senior Center. The Sophisticated Swing band will provide the music. Admission is $3.00 for seniors 55 & over and, $5.00 for 54 and under, adults only. Desserts, drinks and door prizes will be available at no extra cost. For more information please call the Town of Yucca Valley Community Services Department at 760-369-7211.

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OFFICERS SPOUSES CLUB OFFERING NON-PROFIT GRANTS
The Officers Spouses Club aboard the Twentynine Palms Marine Base is taking applications for local grants for non-profit organizations. Reporter Tami Roleff tells you how to apply...
The Officers Spouses Club at 29 Palms will begin accepting grant applications January 15. Non-profit organizations that benefit military members and/or their families are eligible for consideration. Applications must be postmarked by March 1. For more information or to receive an application, contact the OSC at PO Box 6012, Twentynine Palms, 92277, or e-mail osc2ndvice@gmail.com.

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YU-GI-OH AT THE TWENTYNINE PALMS LIBRARY
The Twentynine Palms Branch Library will be hosting a Yu-Gi-Oh card tournament Saturday from 1pm to 3 pm. Patrons are invited to bring in their Yu-Gi-Oh cards and play through the tournament for a chance to win a prize. This tournament is a "not for keeps" tournament, meaning that all who play will be given back their original cards. All ages are welcome and everything is free! For more information about this event please call the Twentynine Palms Branch Library at 760-367-9519.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS BOYS BASKETBALL COASTS TO ANOTHER WIN
With their last game 9 days ago the Twentynine Palm High School Wildcats boys basketball came out ready to play Wednesday night against the Desert Mirage Rams. Jumping out to a quick 12-0 lead the Cats never looked back and found themselves up 42 to 20 at the half. Coach Larry Bowden said in the 3rd quarter the Cats quickly got up by 40 points and coasted to a 80 to 39 De Anza League victory. The Cats were led by Juwan Rice with 25 points and 8 assists and he was followed by Robert Caldwell with 17 points and 13 rebounds. The Wildcats are now 13-8 overall and 4-0 in the De Anza League.

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