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Listen To Your News		Wednesday, February 10, 2010		News Archive

Bill Postmus Jim Irwin

POSTMUS, ERWIN ARRESTED ON ADDITIONAL CHARGES, DRUGS FOUND Corruption charges have been filed against former 1st District Supervisor and County Assessor Bill Postmus, and Jim Erwin, 3rd District Supervisor Neil Derry’s former Chief of Staff. The two were arrested this morning on a laundry list of charges as part on and ongoing investigation. Sheriff’s spokesperson Arden Wiltshire said Postmus was arrested at his Victorville home around 6 this morning. During the booking process, investigators say they found methamphetamine in Postmus’s possession. Bill Postmus was taken into custody for investigation of possessing a controlled substance, conflict of interest, bribing a public official, conspiracy to commit a crime and embezzlement. Postmus was booked into the Victor Valley Jail with bail set at $250,000. Investigators also arrested Jim Irwin around 7:10 at his home in Highland. He is charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, giving a bribe to a legislator, bribing a public official, extortion, and forgery. Jim Erwin was booked into the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino and is being held on $340,000 bail. Postmus already was facing criminal charges of grand theft, drug possession and misappropriation of public funds and was under state investigation. He resigned as Assessor last year after authorities say they found methamphetamine while raiding his home.

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BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB THRIFT STORE BURGLARIZED, BULLET FOUND
The Boy’s and Girls thrift store in Yucca Valley was broken into and burglarized. Sheriff reports say around 8:15 Tuesday morning, thrift shop employees arrived at the store in the 7300 block of Acoma Trail and found a bathroom window had been broken out, a chair sitting next to it. Arriving deputies didn’t find anyone inside the building, surmising that a juvenile or small adult had broken out the small 9 by 20-inch window, entered the store and made off with costume jewelry and other merchandise. The suspect or suspects did drop a 22-caliber bullet inside the store. The investigation continues.

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Richard Heverly

DEPUTY CHARGED WITH BRINGING GUN INTO INDIO COURTROOM A San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that he illegally possessed a gun last month in an Indio courtroom. Richard Heverly, 43, is charged with a felony for allegedly coming to court in full uniform, with his service weapon, on his trial date for a different criminal case. In the other case, Heverly, of La Verne, is charged with four felonies for allegedly holding a gun to a man's head and threatening to kill him while off duty. The law allows law enforcement officers to bring their service weapons to court, but the practice is illegal if an officer is appearing for his own criminal case, according to Riverside County prosecutors.

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Jim Harris Joel Klink John Cole Steve Flock Steve Spear

TWENTYNINE PALMS CITY COUNCIL PART 1, PASTOR INTERRUPTS COUNCIL ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA Twentynine Palms residents came out to the City Council meeting in unusually large numbers, apparently drawn by two issues on the agenda: medical marijuana dispensaries and vacation home rentals. In the first of a 2-part report, reporter Dan Stork tells about the medial marijuana discussion -- Staff asked that Council endorse a Planning Commission recommendation to expressly prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries. In support of the prohibition, city legal counsel Patrick Munoz regaled those assembled with accounts of experiences elsewhere in the state, including lack of regulation, enormous revenues gathered by supposed non-profit cooperatives, gang activity near dispensaries, observation of healthy teenagers buying pot from medical dispensaries, and involvement of Mexican drug cartels.

Council member Steve Spear took exception to the reports from staff and legal counsel, saying "I have yet to hear an argument that overrides the will of the people, who enacted Proposition 215." Spear went on to describe his favorable observations of the medical marijuana dispensary in Yucca Valley. Spear was interrupted in his remarks by Pastor Frank Ferrandini, of the First Assembly of God Church. Mayor Steve Flock tried to admonish Ferrandini to wait for the public comment time to start, but Ferrandini ignored him, and Flock gave up the attempt. Ferrandini delivered a speech reminiscent of the anti-marijuana movie "Reefer Madness". "Drugs. You know about drugs. You know what it starts with. It starts with marijuana. Hundreds – thousands -- millions of young people, have been addicted, starting with -- marijuana". Council approved the prohibition, 4-1, Spear dissenting. I’ll report on the rest of the meeting tomorrow.

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COUNTY RETURNING CO2 FEES TO SMALL BUSINESSES
The County Board of Supervisors yesterday voted to return nearly $200,000 in fees collected from small businesses by the County Fire Department for storing small amounts of carbon dioxide for soda machines. The San Bernardino County Fire Department Hazardous Materials Division began requiring businesses that have CO2 in quantities of 200 cubic feet (about two small tanks) or more submit a Hazardous Materials Business Plan and a $408 fee in order to comply with a decades-old state regulation that historically had not been applied to CO2 storage for soda dispensers. As many as 1,500 businesses and other groups were potentially affected by this fee, and will get their money back.

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YUCCA VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION PASSES FARMER’S MARKET REGULATIONS
The Yucca Valley Planning Commission met last night, a definition of farmer’s markets and rules for expanding and painting existing businesses were on the agenda. Reporter Tami Roleff was there for Z107.7 listeners...
At last night’s meeting of the Yucca Valley Planning Commission, the commissioners unanimously passed an ordinance regulating farmers markets and other special events. Under the new ordinance, farmers markets in Yucca Valley must be Certified Farmers Markets. A Certified Farmers Market is where farmers sell their produce directly to the consumer. Before farmers can sell their products at a Certified Farmers Market, the government checks to make sure the farmers grow the produce they are selling. In other business, the Commission also approved a new ordinance regulating development standards for businesses that physically expand their buildings, and approved a new ordinance expanding the acceptable range of colors for the outside of commercial buildings. All the ordinances will now go to the Town Council for ratification.

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YUCCA VALLEY ELKS DISTRIBUTING DICTIONARIES
Yucca Valley Elks Lodge Members in conjunction with Emblem Club #411, will be delivering Dictionaries to all the third graders in Morongo Valley, Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, and Twentynine Palms this month. Exalted ruler Danny Hargan said, " it is something we do as elks every year. The Third Graders are thrilled to receive their very own dictionary. And the teachers are happy as well." Hargan also said in their recent Hoop Shoot, 8 year old Zachary Nelson of Yucca Valley went on the district level in Blythe, and came in fourth in his age group.

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Back Row: Dr. Wilcox, Catja Arnzen and Paul Hoffman Front Row: Patricia Cooper and Leslie Moody

HOSPITAL BOARD GETS FULL BENEFITS, STAFF GETS MERIT BONUSES The elected Board of Directors of the Hi-Desert Medical Center met in regular session last night. Benefits for the board and unfreezing merit raises for staff were on the agenda. Assignment Reporter Mike Lipsitz was there and files this report... At its regular meeting last night, the Hi-Desert Medical Center Board of Directors voted unanimously to grant themselves medical, dental and vision benefits following a public hearing on the matter. During the hearing, the board was asked how the medical insurance offer would benefit the district. CEO Chad Chadwick responded that the offering is helpful in the recruitment and retention of board members, and acknowledges their considerable time and service in lieu of market compensation.

The benefits mirror those available to employees of the Healthcare District. Such benefits are offered to the majority of California’s special districts board members. In other business and following approval of routine items on the consent agenda the board voted unanimously to approve a one-time "Merit Release" Bonus Program for hospital staff whose merit bonuses have been frozen since last year in consideration of state budget woes. With this vote and contingent on a healthy financial picture at the end of this fiscal year, staff performance based bonuses will be available for distribution. Following administrative, financial, and marketing reports, the board went into closed session to discuss trade matters yet to be disclosed, and a performance evaluation of CEO Chad Chadwick.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS ART GALLERY STUDENT ART SHOW WINNERS NAMED
Awards went to 13 artists from local junior and senior high schools at a reception for the Student Art Show at the Twentynine Palms Art Gallery Sunday. Twentynine Palms High School senior Zachery Zietz received the $500 Ada Bigler Scholarship Award. Awards in the Painting category for the show were presented to four Yucca Valley High School students for notable tempera paintings. First place, Dennis Gray for "Adobe Home", second Edgar Enciso for "Unadulterated Loathing", third Joanna Piascencia for "Sunset", and an honorable mention, Carly Peloquin for "Colors of Venice". In the Drawing category, four pencil drawings got awards: first place to Sarah Roberts for "Sofa" second place James Harris for "Trees & Roots" both from Twentynine Palms High School. Yucca Valley student Jose Cruz took third place for "New Life," and Zachary Michener of Twentynine Palms honorable mention for "Wine Bottle". Awards in the "Other" category went to two Twentynine Palms High School students for silver scratch paintings: Walter Collet, first place, and Annmarie Gioscio, third place. Second place went to Belen Correa for an acrylic and foil piece and honorable mention to Timothy Zarki for his "Hai Vongâ" digital photo, both from Yucca Valley High School. Judge for the Show was artist Andy Weddington. Selected works from the Students Show will be in the County Youth Art Month at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center, March 6 and 7. County show invitees include Walter Collet, James Harries, Cameo Lakey, and Sarah Roberts from Twentynine Palms High School; Elane Cousino, Hether Harwood, Christina Harwood, and Vanessa Oliver of Monument High; and Cheyanne Black of Sky High. Representing Yucca Valley High School will be Breanna Baxter, Belen Correa, Jose Cruz, Kathleen Doland, Brandon Hoover, Lyanny Garcia, Rose Ledgerwood, Joanna Piascencia, Brett Pinar, and Timothy Zarki. The Students Art Show is on display at Twentynine Palms Art Gallery through February 21. Regular gallery hours are 12 to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

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COPPER MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BOARD MEETS TOMORROW
The Copper Mountain College Board will meet tomorrow with a varied agenda of business. Reporter Tami Roleff takes a closer look...
The Copper Mountain College Board of Trustees will meet at 2:00 Thursday to evaluate the Superintendent/President in a closed session. The regular meeting begins at 3 in classroom 119 at the college. On the agenda, the board will hear reports from the governing board, the foundation, faculty, staff, and students, the board will vote on routine matters on the consent agenda. On the action agenda, the board will approve agreements with the Yosemite Community College District, reduce the amount held in escrow for the Bell Center, and approve non-resident tuition fees for 2010-2011. It will also approve tenure for academic employees, approve an addendum to the vice president’s contract, and request a proposal for bids for health insurance.

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BIG WIN FOR YUCCA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Yucca Valley High School Lady Trojan basketball team clinched at least a tie for their second consecutive De Anza League title last night with a 58-17 win yesterday in Big Bear. Coach Jess Geeson said leading the local squad was junior Tabitha Vigen who scored a game high 22 points and added a season high 10 steals. Sophomores Lindsay Sullivan and Latreya Ross helped clinch the title, Sullivan had 8 points and 8 rebounds while Ross added 7 points, 6 rebounds and 5 steals. The Yucca girls finished the regular season with a 7-1 league record and find out who they will face in the CIF playoffs this Sunday when the brackets are released. The first round game will be Thursday February 18 in Trojan Gym.

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JOSHUA SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GIRLS WIN, BOYS LOSE
Joshua Springs boys' and girls' hosted their last home game of the regular season last night, playing the visitors from Apple Valley Christian. The lightning girls started off the night playing a hard fought game from both sides. In the end, the Lightning lost 30-33 to the visiting Warriors. The Lightning girls’ fell to 8-14 on the year after dropping their 5th straight game, and fell to 2-7 in Agape League Play. The boys also played probably their most physical game of the year, defeating Apple Valley Christian 63-50 to improve to 8-10 on the year, and 5-4 in the Agape League.

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TODAY HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS ACTION
Coming up in local high school sports, the Yucca Valley High School Trojan boys basketball team travels up the mountain to face the Big Bear Bears with tip off at 6:30. Tomorrow the Twentynine Palms High School Wildcat girls soccer team will travel to Lucerne Valley High School in a weather postponed make up game versus the Big Bear Bears, players hit the field at 3:15. The Joshua Springs High School Lady Lighting basketball team is away versus the Apple Valley Christian High School Eagles with game time at 5.

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