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Listen To Your News		Wednesday, March 3, 2010		News Archive

David Andrew Clarke

WANTED BANK ROBBER CAUGHT AT MARINE BASE MAIN GATE A man wanted for bank robbery was arrested at the main gate of the Twentynine Palms Marine base yesterday. The Grass Valley Police made the arrest in connection with the robbery of a Bank of the West on February 2nd. David Andrew Clarke, 44, was arrested trying to enter the base. Through investigative efforts, Grass Valley detectives had secured evidence substantiating the robbery and positively identified the suspect as David Clarke. Clarke is being detained in San Bernardino County on two outstanding Nevada County bench warrants as well as an additional charge for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

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1 IN CUSTODY, OTHERS SOUGHT IN TWENTYNINE PALMS BURGLARY
One suspect was captured and others are being sought in a Twentynine Palms burglary. Sheriffs’ Detective Jim Thornburg said on February 23, around 2 a.m., 9-1-1 dispatchers received a call that a burglary was in progress in the 6700 block of Monte Vista in the Indian Cove area. The caller had followed the suspects to the frontage road at Indian Cove and Highway 62. When a CHP unit in the area tried to stop the pick-up. The truck took off east driving over an asphalt berm, then attempted to power over a second berm that crippled the pick-up. One suspect, George Bush, 40 of Twentynine Palms, was taken into custody. A second and possibly more suspects escaped. George Bush was arrested for investigation of burglary, booked into the Morongo Basin Jail and held on a no bail parole hold. The truck was found to have been stolen during an unreported burglary in the 6200 block of Cahuilla Avenue. Sheriff’s detectives are still trying to identify other suspects in the case. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Thornburg at 760-366-4183.

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Bill Neeb Chad Mayes George Huntington Lori Herbel Frank Luckino

YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL TAKES UP FARMER’S MARKETS NAMES PLANNING COMMISSIONER The Yucca Valley Town Council met in regular session last night. The definition of a farmer’s market dominated most of the meeting. Reporter Tami Roleff was there and files this report... A debate over the merits of a Certified Farmers Market versus an uncertified farmers market dominated the Yucca Valley Town Council meeting last night. A Certified Farmers Market is one in which farmers sell their produce directly to the consumer; a farmers market that is not certified is one in which a middleman can buy produce from the farmer and sell it to the public.

Up for approval was a revised ordinance that expanded the permitted special events to include art shows, car shows, and Certified Farmers Markets. According to Mayor Chad Mayes and Council members Bill Neeb and George Huntington, it’s a land use issue. They didn’t feel there should be any difference in permitting a Certified Farmers Market but not an uncertified farmers market. Mayor Pro Tem Lori Herbel, whose Certified Farmers Market moved from Yucca Valley to Joshua Tree several years ago, argued that allowing an uncertified farmers market was essentially the same as opening up a grocery store, or someone selling produce on a street corner, or holding a street fair. The Council postponed its decision on the revised ordinance until its next meeting, when staff would present information about US Department of Agriculture regulations concerning certified and uncertified farmers markets. In other business, the Council named Mike Alberg, a member of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Commission to the Planning Commission to replace Dennis McKoy who has resigned. Tomorrow, the Council’s decision about the revised Commercial Design Guidelines.

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Paul Cook

ASSEMBLYMAN COOK PUSHES FOR MULTIPLE COUNTY GRAND JURIES It was the County Grand Jury that first pointed out trouble in the county Assessor's Office under Bill Postmus. Now state Assemblyman Paul Cook, from Yucca Valley, has proposed a state bill that would give the County's presiding judge the power to appoint up to three grand juries to investigate government corruption and other issues. "With everything that's going on in San Bernardino said Cook, "If this can ease some of that pressure, I think that's a good thing." The bill sprung from the county's request for legislation that would "increase grand jury capability to conduct thorough investigations into county civil and criminal proceedings." Grand juries serve together for only 12 months before a new grand jury is created. Los Angeles County already convenes more than one grand jury at a time.

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Donna Munoz Ed Will Martie Avels Phyllis Swinnerton

SCHOOL BOARD GETS JOSHUA TREE ELEMENTARY REPORT, FACES STATE BUDGET CRUNCH The Morongo Unified School Board met in regular session last night. Reporter Dan Stork has details on a new Joshua Tree Elementary School and a continuing financial crunch... At the Morongo Unified School District Board of Education meeting, Assistant Superintendent Michael Walker reported that progress towards a new building for Joshua Tree Elementary School is being made on two fronts. The district will begin applying for hardship grants for construction of a new school. A formal offer has been prepared for the purchase of land for the new site. Walker guestimated that the project might be ready to go out for bids by December. Outgoing Measure O Citizens’ Oversight Committee members Rick Gilbert, Dee Richhart, Royce Boydston, and Donna Johnson were thanked for their service, and new members Rob Fleck, Donald Knehr, and Andres Fuentes were welcomed.

The Board approved a 3-year contract with Burrtec Waste Removal. Other items concerned the ongoing budget crunch: the District is asking for a waiver to allow it to spread the expenditure of certain funds over two years that would otherwise have to be spent in one, and is also asking that it not be penalized by the state by the attendance-lowering effect of January’s weather-cancelled school days. Walker gave state-wide figures on the change in per-pupil expenditures between the 2007-08 and 2010-11 school years: Per-student state funding for K-12 is down 11.3%. Board member Donna Munoz said, "It makes me so mad that our prisons are getting more than our school kids."

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COUNTY URGED TO LIFT MEDICAL MARIJUANA MORATORIUM
About 30 medical marijuana advocates flooded the County Board of Supervisors meeting yesterday, demanding the County stop dragging its feet and lift its moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries. In June, the supervisors voted unanimously to implement an identification card program for medical marijuana patients through the Public Health Department. The decision came after the county exhausted all of its legal avenues in trying to block the process. Lanny Swerdlow, president of the Inland Empire chapter of the Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project told the board he has been given the run-around by county staff, who he said have told him they haven't been able to get together to discuss the issue. When the board ratified the measure for the identification card program in June, it also imposed the one-year moratorium on dispensaries until the county can update its development code to include provisions for medical marijuana dispensaries.

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HI-DESERT AND JOSHUA BASIN WATER BOARDS MEET TONIGHT
Both the Hi-Desert and Joshua Basin Water Districts will meet in regular sessions tonight. Managing Editor Karl Gardner checks the respective agendas...
Both Hi-Desert and Joshua Basin water district will meet in regular session this evening. Meeting at district offices on Highway 62 at Inca Trail, starting at 6, the Hi-Desert water board will hold a public hearing on raising Acquisition of Service Fees or the cost to ‘buy-into’ the district, let a $454,000 contract for a new water storage tank, and consider awarding an $80,000 contract to assist in developing a wastewater assessment district. Joshua Basin Water meets at their officers on Chollita Road starring at 7. On the docket, authorization to submit a letter to 3rd District Supervisor Neil Derry on community concerns over section 33 raised during the recent water/land forum, and authorize $350,000 for the United State Geological Survey to drill a monitoring well at the planned recharge site.

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INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION IN OUR SKIES TONIGHT
Weather permitting, the International Space station will be back in our desert skies tonight. Amateur Astronomer Sam Davidson says after an absence of five weeks a brilliant space station (ISS) will visit the Morongo Basin tonight. It starts at 6:32 out of the southwest and goes overhead a few minutes later on its way to Vegas. Its ground speed is five miles per second.

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COPPER MOUNTAIN COLLEGE TERMINATING OR REASSIGNING 8 EMPLOYEES TOMORROW
The Copper Mountain College Board will meet tomorrow, facing increasing state budget shortages, among other business the board is expected to terminate three administrators and terminate or reassign five other college employees. Reporter Tami Roleff takes a closer look...
The Copper Mountain College Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting and study session 1 Thursday afternoon in the Library Meeting Room on the college campus. The meeting will begin with a closed session in which it will discuss liability claims against the college filed by Byrd and Cosby, then hold a board self-evaluation, and an evaluation of the Superintendent/President. When the board reconvenes in open session, it will be asked to vote on three resolutions: to terminate or reduce the positions of 5 employees associated with the Title V and Transfer Empowerment Programs, and to give notice of non-re-employment to 3 administrative employees: the Director of Maintenance and Operations; Director of Marketing and Community Relations; and Vice President of Military, Economic and Community Development. During the study session, the trustees will discuss policies and procedures, and public information and community relations. The trustees will hear a report from the Superintendent/President about the budget, accreditation, and gifts and donations.

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AUDITIONS FOR "AESOP’S" FABLES AT THEATER 29 MARCH 15
Auditions for the Theater 29 production of "Aesop’s oh so slightly updated fables" are set for March 15th. Reporter Mike Lipsitz says hold the date to try out for this delightful comedy...
Attention actors and stage crew types, auditions for "Aesop’s Oh So Slightly Updated Fables" happen at Theatre 29, Monday, March 15th at 6:30 p.m. "Aesop’s Oh So Slightly Updated Fables" runs mostly weekends from May 7th to June 5th. In the production, six of Aesop's best-known fables are woven into a fast-paced, sometimes slapstick show full of wisdom that will delight kids and adults. The show calls for a butcher, a donkey, a dog, a mouse, a fox, a tortoise and a hare, plus narrators, reporters, some talking grapes, women, children, and some chickens, 31 characters in all. Directors Rob and Betty Wanless seek both new and experienced talent of all ages to audition with at least 8 actors over age 16, a half dozen more ages 12 to 14, and 6 between 7 to 11 years old. Readings and more information are online at Theatre29.com. Theatre 29 is at Sullivan and Adobe roads in Twentynine Palms.

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FASHION SHOW AT YUCCA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
The Senior Class of Yucca Valley High School is hosting a Fashion Show this Saturday. President Canshara Washington said it is a fund-raiser to raise money for the senior class graduation ceremony in June. The Yucca Valley High School's Next top model Fashion show, themed Senior Safari, costs five dollars. There will be refreshments as well as talent between fashion categories.

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SIGN-UPS CONTINUE FOR TWENTYNINE PALMS LITTLE LEAGUE
Twentynine Palms Little League sign-ups are still being accepted. You can sign up Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 4 Sports-N-More located at 5808 Adobe Road. Sign ups will continue until all teams are full. for more information call Ray Gonzales at 760-799-4444.

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