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		Friday, February 19, 2010		News Archive

STATE AGENCY WANTS TO DISSOLVE THE YUCCA VALLEY AIRPORT DISTRICT
LAFCO, or the Local Area Formation Commission, the state agency that regulates borders of municipalities and special districts, made a surprise ruling this week, recommending the Yucca Valley Airport District dissolve, Reporter Tami Roleff did the homework...
The Yucca Valley Airport District is in such disarray that the Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO, the state agency in charge of regulating boundaries of municipalities and special districts, recommended at its meeting Wednesday that the Airport District have a Zero Sphere of Influence. This action would not affect the Airport District’s current boundaries or the services it provides. Rather, it signals LAFCO’s position that the District should be dissolved if it doesn’t improve its operations by the time of its next review in five years. The agency based its decision on the fact that the District does not adhere to Airport District law or meet the Federal Aviation Administration’s standards, which makes the airport ineligible to receive FAA funding for improvements. In addition, it said the District has a lack of stable funding, and has not made the required improvements to the airport. Dissolving the Airport District would not close the airport because the airport is privately owned and is leased to the District. Airport District Vice President Bob Dunn was at the LAFCO meeting and argued against changing the district’s sphere of influence. He said that all districts are experiencing revenue challenges and that the airport’s efforts to improve its runways took a significant hit when its former airport manager, Richard Demel, embezzled a $1.3 million grant in 2006. He said the airport is also attempting to get reinstated on the FAA’s Basic Airport list, which would make it eligible for public funding. Dunn said that LAFCO’s decision isn’t giving the District’s Board of Directors any real heartburn since the Airport District has 5 years to do some stuff that really needs to get done. He’s confident that at its next review, the Airport District’s Sphere of Influence will be reinstated.

...Back To Headlines...

COUNTY DROPS EARLY JAIL RELEASE POLICY
San Bernardino county has dropped their 3-week-old policy of applying retroactively a new jail-time reduction law, which had resulted in early release of inmates. Officials said they would not attempt to recall any of those released. The change came Tuesday after a bulletin from the state Attorney General’s office saying the law should only be applied to those sentenced after January 25th. The change increases the number of credit days an inmate receives for good behavior and obeying work orders. It does not apply to inmates convicted of violent or sex crimes. San Bernardino County determined 648 could be let go; 244 of those were in weekend-only or ankle-bracelet custody. An inmate serving a maximum jail sentence of one year would serve 240 days under the old calculation, 180 days under the new law.

...Back To Headlines...

SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS MEET TO DISCUSS WORKING CONDITIONS
Local school bus drivers, frustrated with a perceived inconsistent management, met in the first of two meetings yesterday, away from the workplace. Managing Editor Karl Gardner was there and tells us what was discussed...
A small group of First Student Bus Drivers, concerned with the way local management treats employees, gathered Thursday at Luckie Park in Twentynine Palms, as a first step towards self-representation. Organizer Robert Roberson said the meeting was intended to see how much interest and find out the degree of support there is towards self-representation. Citing a culture of intimidation, some drivers at the meeting said the small turnout was indicative of the fear of reprisal from management. What the drivers said they want, is clear, concise and consistent policies and treatment from the company and local managers. Their next meeting is slated for 10 a.m. Thursday at the Yucca Valley Community Center Park.

...Back To Headlines...

STATE SUPREME COURT REJECTS ERWIN MOTION TO RECUSE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
An appeal from former County assistant assessor and Neil Derry Chief of Staff Jim Erwin to recuse District Attorney Michael Ramos from his criminal case was rejected by the California Supreme Court today rejected . Erwin had alleged conflicts of interest with Ramos. He says Ramos launched a politically motivated attack in response to his and Supervisor Neil Derry's push for pay cuts for county prosecutors and eliminating take home vehicles for district attorney investigators. Erwin served as Derry's chief of staff prior to his March 19, 2009 arrest on suspicion of failing to report about $15,000 worth of gifts he received from a developer. Erwin also alleges Ramos is pursuing legal action because Erwin has knowledge of multiple affairs Ramos had with women in his office and other associates. Erwin is charged with 18 felony counts stemming from corruption scandals at the Assessor's Office under the reign of Bill Postmus and a $102 million legal settlement which prosecutors say was tainted by a web of bribery and extortion.

...Back To Headlines...

JOSHUA BASIN WATER DISTRICT KICKS OFF WATER FORUM
The Joshua Basin Water District kicked off a 2-day local water use forum yesterday. Reporter Dan Stork was there and gives us a snapshot of the issues covered...
The Joshua Basin Water District used the meeting of the Joshua Tree Municipal Advisory Council to set a state-wide context for today’s all-day forum on water issues. Paeter Garcia, a lawyer who specializes in water law, gave an overview of problems facing the Delta and Colorado River water supply systems. He focused on the wildlife versus water supply struggle, and explained that the battle is lots bigger than a Delta smelt. Garcia highlighted recent state laws, regarding water governance, a water projects bond issue that will be set before the public, mandatory groundwater monitoring, conservation, and surface water diversion requirements. The second speaker was Jeff Loux, who specializes in Land Use and Natural Resources at UC Davis Extension. His topic was sustainability, which he defined as being able to meet present needs without compromising the future. He said that unsustainability is perpetuated by the “hydro-illogical” cycle, wherein drought is followed by awareness of water problems, concern, policy changes, and implementation. Then rain and snow are followed by relief and complacency, and the cycle repeats. Specific obstacles to water sustainability listed by Loux included: pollution, dams, urbanization, subsidence, runoff, and groundwater overdraft, and climate change. Today’s sessions, between 8 AM and 4 PM, at the Joshua Tree Community Center, will focus on the local impact of the big water issues upon Joshua Basin Water District, as well as specifically local problems.

...Back To Headlines...

SAY GOODBYE TO OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM
Say goodbye to Operation Iraqi Freedom, Effective Sept. 1, the war in Iraq will acquire a new official name: “Operation New Dawn.” Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced the move Wednesday in a memo to Gen. David Petraeus, chief of U.S. Central Command. In the brief memo, Gates said the name change is designed to coincide with “the change of mission for U.S. forces in Iraq.”

...Back To Headlines...

WORK BEGINS ON LUCERNE VALLEY BRIDGE
Those traveling north on State route 247 will notice work on a new $2.1 million bridge near Lucerne Valley. Caltrans crews have begun construction on replacing the Cushenberry Creek Bridge on Highway 18, just northwest of the current bridge. The project also includes realigning the road and making improvements the intersection of Highway 18 and Camp Rock Road.

...Back To Headlines...

PFF BUILDING OPTIONS PART 2: FINDING A COMMERCIAL TENANT
Now that they bought it, the town is trying to figure out what to do with the former PFF building. Reporter Tami Roleff broke her report on this week’s discussion into two parts, yesterday, maybe the museum, today, in part 2, maybe a commercial tenant...
The Yucca Valley Redevelopment Agency narrowed 4 possible uses of the PFF Bank Building down to 2 at its meeting Tuesday night: relocating the Hi-Desert Nature Museum, or renting it to a commercial tenant. Renting it would provide some return on the RDA’s $1.6 million it paid for the building, which was more than the asking price because the RDA got into a bidding war with another buyer. However, the Agency was warned that it would most likely take several years to find a tenant to move into the building. But RDA members responded by saying if the building was renovated for the Town’s use, it would still be empty for up to a year or 18 months. RDA member Dawn Rowe said she liked the idea of finding a commercial tenant because she thinks it’s crazy to move the Town Hall or Museum into the PFF Bank Building when the Town’s Master Plan calls for them to be in Old Town, and they’d have to be moved again, at considerable expense. If the building is leased to a commercial tenant, ownership of the building could remain with the RDA, or the RDA could sell it to the Town which would then receive the lease payments. RDA members were encouraged by the fact that it had been in a bidding war for the building, as it showed them there was interest in the site by commercial businesses. They mentioned the building could even be sold, generating more income for the RDA.

...Back To Headlines...

KIDS DANCE IN YUCCA VALLEY TOMORROW
The Town of Yucca Valley will host a Kids’ Valentines Dance tomorrow, Saturday, from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. The cost is $3.00 per child and is open to all children in grades K-6th. Z107.7 FM Mobile DJ will provide musical entertainment. This dance will also include refreshments at no extra charge! Located at the Yucca Valley Senior Center. For more information on this and other activities sponsored by the Town of Yucca Valley call 369-7211.

...Back To Headlines...

LOCAL EQUESTRIAN EVENT TOMORROW
The Morongo Basin Horseman’s Association will be holding practice days known as Time Only’s / Exhibition Runs for Barrel Racing and Pole Bending bi-monthly through May 2010. For February they will meet tomorrow at the Morongo Basin Horseman Associations arena located north of Yucca Valley at the Yucca Mesa Community Center off of Aberdeen on Balsa. Sign up at 10:00 am, start at 11:00 am. For more information and directions visit the web site at www.mbha.us or call Paula Heil at 760-365-0030.

...Back To Headlines...

HI-DESERT WATER DISTRICT, BIGHORN DESERT VIEW WATER AGENCY SIGN HISTORIC AGREEMENT
What could well be a watershed moment, pun intended, occurred at the meeting of the Hi-Desert Water District meeting this week. Managing Editor Karl Gardner chronicles the event...
An almost historic agreement between Hi-Desert Water District and the Bighorn Desert View Water Agency. After years of mistrust, misunderstandings and lawsuits over access and use of water in the Yucca Mesa Area, the two local water purveyors agreed to continue moving forward with a joint recharge project in Pipes Wash. Bighorn General Manager Marina West outlined the proposal at Wednesday’s Hi Desert Water District meeting that institutes a partnership between Bighorn, Hi-Desert, Mojave Water Agency and County Special Districts. When completed, project would provide access to state water in service areas that have seen decreasing water table levels.

...Back To Headlines...

YUCCA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS WIN FIRST ROUND CIF GAME
In front of a boisterous crowd in Trojan Gym the Yucca Valley High School girls basketball team came away with a thrilling 61-55 overtime win over the Moreno Valley Vikings last night in a first round CIF Division 3A playoff game. Coach Jess Geeson said Leading the charge was junior Tabitha Vigen who notched 33 points, including a clutch 3 pointer with 31 seconds left to seal the win. Sophomore Latreya Ross, junior Amber Cruz and senior Madison Cardamone each added 7 points while senior Sierra Smith had 2 points but pulled down 17 rebounds. The girls next face #2 seeded Barstow Saturday at a site to be determined today by a Friday coin flip.

...Back To Headlines...

29 PALMS LITTLE LEAGUE TAKING SIGNUPS
Twentynine Palms Little League signups are still being accepted. You can sign up Monday through Friday from 10am to 6pm at 4 Sports-N-More located at 5808 Adobe Road or on Saturdays at the Jr. High and High School during the youth basketball games. Cost is $50 for the first child, $45 for the second and $40 for each additional child. Evaluations will be held next weekend at Luckie Park. There will also be a sign up table open on evaluation dates. for more information call Ray Gonzales at 760-799-4444.

...Back To Headlines...