Your Community Radio Station Since 1989
Hear Local News 7 times a day, 7 days a week, at 7, 8, 9, noon, 4, 5, and 6.
Read Local News here every weekday.

Listen To Your News		Tuesday, February 16, 2010		News Archive

ONE ARRESTED FOR MURDER IN TWENTYNINE PALMS BEATING AND SHOOTING
A suspect in a Twentynine Palms Beating and Homicide has been caught. Sheriff Homicide Detectives said Jason Brown, 29 of Montclair was arrested Saturday after an intense investigation. At 8:45 the evening of January 26, a distinctively dressed woman came to the door of a home in the 71400 block of Samarkand asking for help with a disabled vehicle. The resident, who Z107.7 news has chosen not to identify, was suspicious and armed himself with a .357 magnum handgun and went to investigate. As he walked out his front door, two men, Brown and Robbie Winnen, 48, of Rancho Cucamonga savagely attacked him with clubs striking him in the head and forehead, he resisted and they pepper sprayed him. He was able to draw his weapon, shooting Winnen who died a short time later. Detectives say Brown and the woman fled in Winnen’s Turquoise 1995 Ford Ranger. The truck was recovered a week later in Mira Loma. Brown was identified as the second suspect and charged with Winnen’s murder under California’s felony murder rule that anyone involved in a felony is criminally liable for deaths occurring during that crime. Jason Brown was booked into the Central Detention Center and is being held without bail. Detectives are still seeking the identity of the female suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call Sheriffs’ Homicide Detectives at 909-387-3589.

...Back To Headlines...

A STABBING IN JOSHUA TREE
An early morning fight in Joshua Tree lead to a man being stabbed with an improvised spear. Sheriffs’ officials said around 3:50 Monday morning, deputies were called out to the 61500 block of Division Street, the caller saying a large group of men were fighting across the street. Arriving deputies saw a car driving across the open desert. Deputies stopped the vehicle and found Bishop Lawler, 19, inside suffering from stab wounds to the stomach. Lawler was treated by paramedics then flown to an area hospital. Deputies reported that Lawler was stabbed with a sharpened aluminum broom or mop handle. No arrests were made, an investigation into the stabbing continues.

...Back To Headlines...

SCHOOL BOARD TO PLAN BUDGET CUT PERSONNEL CHANGES
The Morongo Unified School Board has a busy meeting tonight with presentations, bargaining, and new policies. Of interest, the board will start the process of looking at personnel moves to prepare for severe budget cuts...
The Morongo Unified School District Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday February 16th at Yucca Mesa Elementary School, 3380 Avalon in Yucca Valley. There will be a closed session at 6:30 p.m. with an agenda of student personnel decisions and an employee bargaining conference. The 7 p.m. open session begins with a student presentation of information about Yucca Mesa Elementary. After board, staff, employee, and student reports, and a lengthy consent agenda that includes ratification of several revised Board policies, the Board will turn to the Action Agenda. Three of the scheduled resolutions will allow the District to make personnel moves to implement upcoming cuts in expenses. These are identified as release and reassignment of certificated administrative employees, reducing the work year of certificated management employees, and reduction of certain kinds of certificated services. In another cost-cutting effort, the Board will consider extending early-retirement incentives to classified employees. The Board will also select District residents to fill the slots on the Measure O Bond Citizens Oversight Committee of the four current members whose non-renewable terms have expired.

...Back To Headlines...

SCHOOL BUS COMPANY EMPLOYEE WANTS TO ORGANIZE
A local employee of First Student, the company that provides school bus services for Morongo Unified School District, is trying to organize his fellow employees. Robert Roberson has planned two meetings. The first, for employees of the east end Bus yard will be held this Thursday, February 18, at 9:30 in the morning at Luckie park in 29 Palms. The second, for west end employees of first Student, is set for Thursday the 25th at 10:00am at the Yucca Valley Community Center Park. Roberson told Z107.7 News, "He and his fellow employees are in the business of providing safe transportation to children and they prefer to treat the children and their parents in a dignified manner. He says the lack of dignity that is displayed by local managers has begun to impact their ability to interact with dignity", adding, "some of his fellow employees are convinced that no one cares about the job we do". Roberson is calling the meetings to discuss the possibility and legality of forming a self-organized group of employees, selecting representatives, and presenting their concerns to the company. Roberson says First Student managers have told him the employees lounge can not be used for organizing and they can not discuss the matter on company property. He says they are not asking for a raise, only that they be treated with dignity. He said a proposal was confiscated by the manager. Roberson has set up an online group for employees. First Student Employees can visit http://FS20405EMPLOYEES.GROUPS.live.com.

...Back To Headlines...

Bill Neeb Chad Mayes George Huntington Lori Herbel Frank Luckino

YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL LOOKING AT ACQUIRING LOCAL PROPERTY It will be mostly about property acquisition and negotiations at the Yucca Valley Town Council and Redevelopment Agency meeting tonight. Reporter Tami Roleff has some of the property being eyed by the town... The Yucca Valley Redevelopment Agency will meet at 5:00 in the Yucca Room of the community center. On the consent agenda is a request to purchase property on the northwest corner of Twentynine Palms Highway and Inca Trail for $305,000.

The RDA will then hear department reports about the Serenity Village Project, hold policy discussion on the agency’s 5-year implementation plan, and hold a policy discussion on the future use of the PFF Bank building. The RDA will then go into closed session for negotiations on 12 pieces of property, including Hutchins Harley-Davidson, property located on the highway and Trojan Way, on the east side of Fox Trail and Yucca Trail, the Park and Ride lot, and on the north side of Antelope Trail west of Dumosa Ave. The Yucca Valley Town Council will meet in closed session at 5:30 in the Town Hall Conference Room to discuss litigation against the Town, and to discuss property negotiations for 27 pieces of property, including Blue Sky Country Club, property on the west side of Sage Ave. and south of the highway, the Boys and Girls Club, and property on the south side of Buena Vista Drive east of Highway 247. The Council will hold a public hearing on allocating the Town’s entire Community Development Block Grant toward the community center playground and splash park. The Council will also vote on raising their salaries to $538.72 per month. Finally, the Council will hold a policy discussion concerning the future use of the PFF Bank.

...Back To Headlines...

YUCCA VALLEY ROTARY NAMES SPEECH CONTEST WINNERS
The Rotary Club of Yucca Valley held their annual Speech Contest Thursday with eleven contestants, the top 3 students winning cash prizes. Committee Chair Jennifer Collins. said, "The judging was very difficult as all of the students did an excellent job". The annual speech contest, originated in Yucca Valley over 30 years ago, is held at Rotary clubs all over the world. The students base their speech on any topic they wish but include the Rotary "Four Way Test": Is it the Truth? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships? Will it be Beneficial to all concerned? The speeches run in length from 5 to 8 minutes and the winner will move to mid-level regional competition. The local winners were Third Place; Sarah Mighell a 9th grader at Joshua Springs; speaking on the benefit of having the Arts in your life. Second Place was Stephanie Misquez a 9th grader at Joshua Springs who spoke on Service to our Country and Women in the Military. First Place with a speech on Sixteen Year Old Drivers and Driving Laws was Kristen Wilson; a 9th grader at Joshua Springs. She was presented with a check from Rotary for $200.00. All three students will be attending the Rotary Club in March to deliver their speeches.

...Back To Headlines...

JOSHUA TREE ART GALLERY PLANS BENEFIT FOR HAITI
A Joshua Tree art gallery is organizing a unique fund-raiser for this Friday evening to benefit Haitian earthquake relief. Managing editor Karl Gardner tells you how to help...
The Red Arrow Galley Joshua Tree is doing its part to help the Haiti Relief cause. Friday evening from 6:30 to 10, the Gallery and Lounge at 61597 Twentynine Palms Highway, will be the host to HEART, or Hi-Desert Haiti Earthquake Art Relief Team. There will be music, refreshments along with a silent auction and raffle, plus a drop box for soles for souls shoe donations. All proceeds will be given to the Haiti Earthquake project of the Humanitarian Coalition. Come on out and support the cause.

...Back To Headlines...

SERVICES FOR BO BOWDEN THURSDAY MORNING
Services have been set for H.C. "Bo" Bowden, who passed away last week. Services will be Thursday, 10am at Blessed Sacrament Church in Twentynine Palms. There will be a reception and buffet right after the service in the Church Hall.

...Back To Headlines...

BIGHORN DESERT VIEW WATER AGENCY CALLS SPECIAL MEETING FOR TONIGHT
The Bighorn Desert View Water Agency board meets in a special session tonight. Assignment reporter Mike Lipsitz checks the agenda...
The Bighorn Desert View Water Agency holds a special meeting tonight in place of it’s regular meeting previously scheduled for February 23rd. Tonight’s meeting is at 6 o’clock at the Agency Offices on Cherokee Trail in Landers. The board is expected to vote on several housekeeping measures pertaining to LAFCO, the county commission responsible for overseeing special district agencies such as Big Horn Desert View. Also on the agenda, the board will consider formation of a citizen’s advisory committee, vote on release of funds for some systems upkeep, consider participation in a policy forum this week in Joshua Tree, and lastly, they’ll review their own compensation and expense reimbursement policy. Following approval of routine items on the consent agenda the board will hear reports from the President, General Manager, and directors.

...Back To Headlines...

TWENTYNINE PALMS PLANNING COMMISSION LOOKS AT DOWNTOWN PLAN AND LIGHTING TONIGHT
The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission meets in regular session tonight. Reporter Dan Stork outlines three public hearings on the agenda...
The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission is scheduled to conduct 3 public hearings at its meeting on Tuesday February 16th. The subjects are:

• A development code amendment on exterior lighting standards
• Another amendment to allow clustering or concentration of residential development within defined properties, in excess of the per-acre restrictions on numbers of dwellings, and
• A draft of the Downtown Economic Revitalization Specific Plan.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. in City Council chambers on Adobe Road.

...Back To Headlines...

TWENTYNINE PALMS HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL HOST 1ST ROUND CIF PLAYOFF WEDNESDAY
The Twentynine Palms High School Wildcat Boy's Basketball team will host a 1st round CIF playoff game against the Tustin Tillers Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in Wildcat Gym. Tustin comes into the game as the 2nd place team from the Century League with a 19-6 record and the tenth seed in the 3A Division. Coach Larry Bowden said, "Tustin is a tough first round game for us but we get them at home and that is in our favor. I expect a hard fought game and feel we have a chance to advance but we will need to play a good game and limit our mistakes". Division 3A has 32 teams in the bracket and the Wildcats are unranked for the 1st time in 4 years. The winner of Wednesday's game will play the winner of the Calabasas versus St. John Bosco game on Friday.

...Back To Headlines...

YUCCA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL HOST 1ST ROUND CIF PLAYOFF THURSDAY
The Yucca Valley High School Lady Trojan basketball team drew a first round home game when CIF playoff pairings were announced Sunday afternoon. The local team will host the Moreno Valley Vikings, an at-large team out of the Inland Valley League, this Thursday night at 7p.m. in Trojan Gym. The Yucca squad finished the season 15-8 overall and co-champions of the De Anza League. The Vikings were 12-8 overall and finished in 5th place in their league.

...Back To Headlines...