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Listen To Your News		Wednesday, May 18, 2011		News Archive

ASSAULT WITH STEREO TURNS OUT TO BE A STABBING
Today, we clarify a story we ran yesterday reporting a man was hit in the head by a stereo at a party. According to new information from the victim, Scott Thompson, 49, Sunday morning about 2:40, Keith Aucoin and Thompson were drinking at a party at Aucoin's home near Ocotillo and Gin Roads in Johnson Valley. During an argument between Aucoin and Thompson, Aucoin picked up a knife and stabbed Thompson, resulting in a large cut to the left side of his head. In defense, Thompson pinned Aucoin to the ground between a large stereo and the floor, when he released him, Aucoin went to get another knife. Thompson fled to the nearby Johnson Valley Improvement Association building and reported the assault. Deputies arrived at the JVIA building to find Thompson bleeding and called paramedics. While being treated, Thompson admitted he became belligerent to paramedics, refusing treatment, and was handcuffed to the gurney. Thompson said Investigating deputies then went back to Aucoin's house and arrested Keith Aucoin for investigation of assault with a deadly weapon, thinking he hit Thompson with the stereo, and booked him into the Morongo Basin jail. Aucoin posted bail and was released at 4:15 that afternoon. Scott Thompson was taken to Hi-Desert Medical Center, where he was treated for what doctors now said was a stab wound, arrested for investigation of being drunk in public, cited and released. A young woman at the house was not cited, as we had been told. No one was available at the Sheriff's Department to corroborate Thompson's version.

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SUSPICIOUS FIRE BURNS GARAGE IN LANDERS
Fast work by county firefighters saved a home in Landers after the garage burned to the ground. Fire officials said that about 4:30 yesterday they were called to a garage fire at Gibraltar and Ash in Landers. The fire was put out in about 20 minutes, but the garage was a total loss, although the house nearby was saved. It's unknown how the fire started. There were no injuries. The cause of the fire is suspicious and is being investigated.

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YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL APPROVES NEW BENEFITS PACKAGE
The Yucca Valley Town Council met in regular session last night, items of interest included benefits for Town Employees and plans for a major senior housing project on the highway. Reporter Tami Roleff breaks her report into two parts. Today, a new benefits package, tomorrow, the Senior Housing project...
Yucca Valley Town employees will be giving a little more, but also getting a little more for their benefits. At last night's meeting of the Town Council, Council members voted unanimously to increase the amount employees, including the Town Manager, must contribute toward their retirement pension, from 2 percent to 8 percent. The amount of vacation time that employees can accrue was reduced to a maximum of four weeks for all employees, and changes in sick leave policies were also approved. To offset these increased costs to employees, the Town will increase the allowance it gives them to purchase health care benefits. Employees, including Town Council members, currently receive between $760 and $820 per month to purchase health insurance; under the plan approved last night, all employees will receive $1050 per month to use toward the purchase of health insurance. Town staff estimated that the new benefit policies will save the Town $23,000 per year. Tomorrow's report will cover the Senior Affordable Housing Project.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS COUPLE ARRESTED AFTER MISTAKEN BURGLARY CALL
A Twentynine Palms couple who thought their RV was being burglarized were arrested Sunday for felony drug possession and being under the influence. Sheriff's Sergeant Steve Wilson said Ryder Burleson, 36, called 9-1-1 at 4:09 Sunday afternoon to report someone was breaking into his RV, and that he had armed himself with a hatchet. Sheriff's Deputies Robert Hoag and Armando Cantu found no signs that the RV had been broken into. While talking with Burleson, they saw a bottle of prescription hydrocodone on the kitchen table that did not belong to anyone at Burleson's home. Ryder Burleson was arrested, booked into Morongo Basin Jail, and held on $25,000 bail for investigation of felony narcotics possession. A woman at the home, Ursula Anderson, 24, was given a field sobriety test, arrested, and cite-released for being under the influence of a controlled substance.

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PETTY THEFT LEADS TO WARRANT ARREST
A petty theft at Wal-Mart on Monday led to an arrest for a Twentynine Palms woman for a misdemeanor traffic ticket. According to Sheriff's Sergeant Steve Wilson, Breanna Lawson, 19, was caught shoplifting by Wal-Mart security, who then called the Sheriff's Department at 6:07 p.m. A background check found Breanna Lawson was wanted on a $5,000 traffic warrant. She was arrested, taken to the Morongo Basin jail and later released.

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TEENS CAUGHT STEALING ALCOHOL
Two teenagers were arrested for trying to steal a bottle of booze at Food 4 Less on Monday. Sheriff's Sergeant Steve Wilson said that the two boys, age 13 and 14, had been seen stealing in the store earlier in the day, and came back later about 5 p.m. to steal a bottle of vodka. Store personnel chased and caught them and held them for deputies. Both boys were arrested and released to their parents in Landers at 6:51 p.m.

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SCHOOL BOARD HEARS ELECTION CRITICISM AND FOOTBALL RUMORS
The Morongo Unified School Board met in regular session last night. After hearing a complaint about a Twentynine Palms High School election and rumors from Yucca Valley High School football, the school board got down to business. Reporter Dan Stork was there and files this report...
At the meeting of the Board of Education of the Morongo Unified School District, two parents spoke during public comments. One criticized election procedures used at 29 Palms High School for selection of ASB officers, and homecoming and prom courts. Then the head of the Yucca Valley High School football boosters expressed her concern about reports that sideline grass on the football field will be replaced by dirt. She warned that such an action would risk injuries to players. Assistant Superintendent described that concern as a false and groundless rumor. All action agenda items – speech pathologists' credential waiver requests, a Memorandum of Understanding with Hope Academy Charter School, and course outline and text approvals in effective habits and violence prevention – passed unanimously with little comment.

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YUCCA VALLEY SEPTIC PROHIBITION MEETING IN LA QUINTA TOMORROW
The California Regional Water Quality Control Board will hold a public hearing tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the La Quinta City Hall on septic discharge prohibitions for portions of Yucca Valley, the phase 1 area in 2016, phase 2 in 2019 and phase 3 in 2022. For more information about the Wastewater Treatment and Water Reclamation Project, visit www.yuccavalleywastewater.org. A link to the California Regional Water Quality Control Board website will take you to the proposed septic prohibitions. A copy of the septic prohibitions resolution is available in the Hi-Desert Water District lobby.

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MARIJUANA ANTI-PROHIBITION PROJECT MEETS TONIGHT
The Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project monthly meeting will be held at the Castle Inn Bar on Golden Slipper Lane off Reche Road in Landers tonight at 6:30 p.m. There will be fix-your-own baked potato with a donation of $3. At 5:30 p.m. Lanny Swerdlow will be the speaker.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS PLANNING COMMISSION TO USE MILITARY CRITERIA FOR CITY SHOOTING STANDARDS
The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission said they would use military designs for shooting ranges in the City, but not that missile and tank stuff. Reporter Derwood Andrews was at their meeting last night and says the shooting and range issues will continue for some time...
For anyone sitting at home in Twentynine Palms, cleaning your guns and wondering if you could pop outside and fire one off, there's a long way to go until we all find out. Last night at the Planning Commission Meeting a further Public Hearing and Study Session on the subject of shooting ranges and shooting firearms within City limits was held. Both the Municipal Code and Development code are being heavily scrutinized in order to craft a recommendation to City Council. Using a 30-page Military document on design criteria for shooting ranges, Staff will adapt it, taking out uses for TOW missiles and tanks, and use it as a basis for standards. Bill Easter said 'We're spending good time on this issue, because it's important'. A further Study Session is set for June 7th, with June 21st continuing the Public Hearing and maybe a motion to vote on it and forward to City Council.

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YUCCA VALLEY LIBRARY WELCOMES HIGH SCHOOL PUPPETEERS FRIDAY
Friday, May 20, at 10:45 a.m. the Yucca Valley Library welcome the Home Ec Players from Yucca Valley High School who will present a series of puppet shows for all ages. For more information, call 760-228-5455.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS HIGH SCHOOL AND COPPER MOUNTAIN COLLEGE STUDENTS IN SHAKESPEARE PERFORMANCE FRIDAY
High winds cancelled an outdoor performance by students from Copper Mountain College and Twentynine Palms High School last night. A one hour "re-imagining" of William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was set for the lawn in courtyard 3, at the bottom of the college campus, a performance was held Sunday at the college. The public is encouraged to bring blankets and/or folding chairs, as well as picnic dinners to attend the final performance at Luckie Park in Twentynine Palms Friday at 6:00 p.m. Admission is free.

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JOSHUA BASIN WATER DISTRICT MEETS TONIGHT, REIMBURSEMENT CONTENTION ANTICIPATED
The Joshua Basin Water District Board meets in regular session tonight. Reporter Mike Lipsitz says even some routine business is expected to bring contention...
The regular meeting of the Joshua Basin Water District Board of Directors comes to order at 7 o'clock tonight at district offices on Chollita Road in Joshua Tree. Tonight, directors will hear ad hoc committee reports on several topics including funding for pipeline replacements, and on the performance review process for the general manager. Also tonight, the board will consider reimbursement of expenses incurred by the general manager and Board President. While expense reimbursements might typically be considered a routine occurrence, the issue has been the heart of some recent ... spirited debates among board members. The concern being whether requests for such reimbursements are being presented as prescribed by District bylaws. Following those actions and others, the board will adjourn to closed session to confer with legal counsel on two cases of existing litigation.

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