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Listen To Your News		Wednesday, February 1, 2012		News Archive

NEIGHBORHOOD DISPUTE TURNS INTO ASSAULT WITH BASEBALL BAT
A neighborhood dispute over unpaid yard work turned ugly and ended with one woman being arrested for assault. According to the Sheriff's department, Irene Hudson, 48, of Landers, did some yard work for a neighbor. Hudson said the neighbor never paid her for the work, but gave her a computer to hold until she--the neighbor--could get the money. Then about 11:30 Monday morning, the neighbor came to Hudson's home in the 800 block of Sunny Vista Road to retrieve the computer, but Hudson said she still hadn't been paid. Hudson told deputies the neighbor tried to pull her over her fence and also pulled her hair, and so Hudson went into her house to get a baseball bat to defend herself. After an investigation, the deputy arrested Irene Hudson on suspicion of assault with a weapon. Hudson was booked into the Morongo Basin Jail with bail set at $50,000.

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TWO ARRESTED FOR GRAND THEFT IN LANDERS
Two people were arrested early Tuesday morning after they were found with stolen property. According to the Sheriff's department, a resident near the intersection of Kuna Avenue and Napa Road in Landers called shortly before 1 a.m. to report that someone had entered his home and stolen a router, several knives and two guns. After an investigation, Brittany Price, 22, and Philip Ryan, 41, both of Landers were arrested for grand theft. Brittany Price and Philip Ryan were booked into the Morongo Basin Jail with their bail set at $50,000 each.

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EMBATTLED MORONGO VALLEY CSD BOARD MEETS TONIGHT
The embattled Morongo Valley Community Services District Board will finally meet tonight, the first time since firing popular CSD Manager Meg Foley. Reporter Mike Lipsitz says a large and unhappy crowd is expected...
In Morongo Valley, the embattled Community Services District Board meets at 7 p.m. tonight in the Covington Park Multi-Purpose Room. Last month's meeting was cancelled due to lack of a quorum. The cancellation prevented approval of an interim CSD Manager to run the District in the wake of the recent firing of Manager Meg Foley. The result was the January 19 padlocking of the CSD Office which remains closed. The Board decision to release the general manager has divided many in this close-knit community with one side calling for resignations or recall of the Directors who voted to oust Foley, and the other side rallying around them, confident they acted in the best interest of the community. Neither side is certain what motivated the board action against Foley; those details aren't likely to surface anytime soon due to rules of non-disclosure. What is certain is that both sides, eager for answers, are expected to turn out in mass for tonight's meeting.

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UNION BACKING PART TIME SUPERVISORS HAS DEEP POCKETS
The powerful county union backing a proposed measure to reduce County Supervisors to part-time has a political action committee fund with well over a half-million dollars, according to campaign finance reports. The San Bernardino County Safety Employees' Benefit Association, SEBA, representing about 3,100 county public safety employees, has over $660,000 on hand in its local PAC. Last week, SEBA announced that it would fund a proposed ballot measure that would make supervisors' positions part-time, cut their pay and benefits, and reduce their annual staff budget from $6 million to $250,000. The announcement came the same day the union criticized a proposed ballot measure that would require future employee pension increases go before voters. SEBA has been at odds with the county in contract negotiations in recent months over retirement and health benefit concessions. SEBA has donated to most of the county supervisors in 2011 and one of the candidates, Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt received $15,200. San Manuel tribal Chairman James Ramos, who is challenging Supervisor Neil Derry in the 3rd District, received $7,995. The union also donated $5,000 to Derry, $5,000 to Supervisor Rutherford, $300 to Board Chairwoman Josie Gonzales and $10,000 to District Attorney Mike Ramos.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS PLANNING COMMISSION GETS "GENERAL PLAN 101" LECTURE LAST NIGHT
The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission met last night to continue to study an update to the City's General Plan. Reporter Derwood Andrews says the Commissioners got a lesson...
The continued Study Session on elements of the General Plan Update, continued. Development Director Charles LaClaire made sure the Commissioners were clear that the "General Plan" as a tool, is meant to be general, and is a guide, a philosophical document if you will…and it was very clear as they went through the Safety and Conservation elements, that the GPAC's attention to detail was unwanted in the General Plan and should be applied to the future Development Code discussions and actions. By the end of March we should see the last word on all the elements of the General Plan, with the Commissioners' recommendations finally passed to City Council.

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PALM SPRINGS' KESQ TV 3, BUYS KPSP TV CHANNEL 2
The Coachella Valley's ABC affiliate, KESQ-TV News Channel 3, has acquired CBS affiliate KPSP Local 2 News, forming a single company that will continue to operate both television stations. About half of KPSP's staff lost their jobs as a result of the merger. KESQ general manager and corporate news director, Mike Stutz said 70 percent of anchors and on-air personalities will stay on. Employees learned of the changes, which took effect immediately, Tuesday morning. KESQ owner Gulf California Broadcast Company's purchase of KPSP gives it five local stations. It also owns Telemundo affiliate KUNA, Fox affiliate KDFX and CW affiliate KCWO, all based in Palm Desert.

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WE MEET MISS YUCCA VALLEY CANDIDATE SARA CRUZ
The annual Miss Yucca Valley Pageant, organized by the Yucca Valley Noon Rotary Club, is this Saturday night at the Thunder Dome in Yucca Valley. Today, managing editor Tami Roleff introduces us to contestant Sara Cruz...
Today we visit with Saraphina Cruz, a junior at Yucca Valley High School and a candidate for Miss Yucca Valley. Hi, Sara. Tell us, who is the prominent woman interviewed, and what you have learned...
My prominent lady is Sara Viola and the biggest thing I learned from her is that nothing is stopping you doing from what you want. If you want it go out and get it.
What have you learned from your experience with Miss Yucca Valley?
I learned to be more confident in my pursuits.
Any final words?
Any upcoming junior girls thinking about doing the pageant next year definitely should because it's a once-in-a-life experience and the things you learn from this will stay with you for the rest of your life.
Thank you, Sara.

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LOCAL RETIRED TEACHERS MEET THIS MONTH
The California Retired Teachers' Association meets this month on February 10 at the Helen Gray Educational Complex in Joshua Tree beginning at 10 a.m. Ralph Villani, Area IX Director, will be speaking; there will also be a brief program honoring past presidents and those over 80 years young. All retired educators are invited to attend. For more information or to make luncheon reservations, contact Ruth Ann Crites before February 6 at 760-367-7321.

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JOSHUA BASIN WATER DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEET TONIGHT, STANDBY CHARGES ON AGENDA
The Joshua Basin Water District Board will look at applying standby charges to some acquired properties tonight. Reporter Mike Lipsitz has details...
The Joshua Basin Water District meets in regular session at 7:00 tonight in district offices on Chollita Road in Joshua Tree. Tonight the board will consider applying a standby charge to properties acquired by the government from private hands after 1996. Adoption of the policy will bring the District in line with state law. Following that and other actions, reports and public comment, the board will adjourn to closed session to confer with legal counsel.

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HI-DESERT WATER DISTRICT BOARD LOOKS AT TRAVEL, RATES, AND STRATEGIC PLAN
The Hi-Desert Water District Board meets tonight. Reporter Derwood Andrews says travel, a rate study, and strategic planning are all on the agenda...
At the regular meeting of the Hi-Desert Water District tonight at 6 p.m., the items include a request for Director travel to Sacramento for the Inland Empire State Legislative Reception in March. Water Rate Study Session number two, and the Strategic Plan Format Revision.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS LITTLE LEAGUE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS
Twentynine Palms Little League needs volunteers--managers, coaches, umpires, and concessions help. An informational coach's meeting will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, February 2 at the Community Center. All coaches will be given information for our highly anticipated coach's clinic, as well as equipment issue, and practice schedules. All parents interested in joining a coaching staff or managing their child's team, are strongly encouraged to this meeting.

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REGISTRATION BEGINS FRIDAY FOR "KING OF THE HAMMERS"
Tickets for the biggest local off-road event of the year go on sale Friday. Reporter Lenore Roberts says tickets for King of the Hammers will be available at Means Dry Lake...
Do you like 4-wheelers, dirt, and a lot of fun? You can get all of that at the annual Griffin King of the Hammers event. Registration begins February 3 at the Means Dry Lake in Johnson Valley, and events will run through the 10th with an awards ceremony on the 11th. The official King of Hammers race will take place on the 10th, so come on out and see who will be crowned this year. This year you can expect an expanded vendor show, additional entertainment, exciting changes to the race course, and improved spectator areas. Don't miss your opportunity to see who will be this years King of Hammers!

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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS AND SCORES
The Yucca Valley High School Junior Varsity Trojan Wrestling team participated in its second-to-last competition Tuesday evening in Beaumont. Winning matches on the night were Josh Goddard, Destynie Candelaria, Gavin Rompf, Caleb Norman, Reymundo Zepeda, and Anthony Barela.

The JV and Varsity wrestling teams take to the mat for the last time this regular season this Saturday at the De Anza League Individual Finals at 10:00 a.m. at Shadow Hills High School. For the Varsity, this meet will decide who will represent the league at CIF playoff competition coming later in February. For the JV, this will be their last match of the year. Please come make the trip with us and come cheer on your wrestlers. Go Trojans!

In high school sports today, the Yucca Valley High School basketball teams travel to Indio to play the Shadow Hill High School Knights. The girls' game starts at 6; boys' at 7:30.

The Twentynine Palms High School Wildcat basketball teams travel to Desert Hot Springs High School to play the Desert Hot Springs Golden Eagles. Girls at 6; boys at 7:30.

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