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Listen To Your News		Wednesday, June 2, 2010		News Archive

DEATH PENALTY SOUGHT IN JANUARY, 2004, YUCCA VALLEY TRIPLE MURDER
A jury is deciding life or death for Jimmy Dale Kelley Jr. the man convicted in a January, 2004 Yucca valley Triple murder. Prosecutors began calling witnesses in a trial starting directly with the penalty phase in San Bernardino Superior Court, because Kelley already pleaded guilty to the crimes in November and received three life sentences. Prosecutors have a right to seek the death penalty and those proceedings are now under way. Prosecutors say Kelley, now 42, planned days before the killings to rob 49-year-old Patty Crevoisier of drugs and money. During the robbery, Crevoisier was shot and strangled with copper wire. William Landers, 43, and Ward Phillips, 37, who were at the home to lay carpet, were also shot and had their throats slit. Kelley has prior convictions for vehicular manslaughter in the DUI death of Yucca Valley boy in August 1987 and voluntary manslaughter in September 1991. In March 2005, Kelley stabbed an inmate several times with a mop handle sharpened at one end.

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Bill Neeb Chad Mayes George Huntington Lori Herbel Frank Luckino

YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL SPLITS ON BUDGET, MEETING CONTINUED UNTIL MONDAY The Yucca Valley Town Council met last night and after 21/2 hours did not accomplish much in a series of split votes. Reporter Tami Roleff was there and files this report... "We didn’t do much of anything tonight." Those were the words of Mayor Chad Mayes as the Yucca Valley Town Council wrapped up a 2 ½ hour meeting last night in which council members were supposed to find a way to correct a $315,000 deficit in the Town’s budget for 2010-11.

With Council Member Frank Luckino absent, the Council was split 2-2 on whether the positions of a code enforcement officer, museum registrar, and motorcycle officer should be eliminated, and 2-2 on whether to hire a new engineering associate for the community development department. Mayor Pro Tem Lori Herbel insisted that the Town’s budget deficit was an emergency which required the Town to dip into its reserves of $4.9 million to balance the budget this year, while Council Members George Huntington and Bill Neeb argued that the Town couldn’t afford to keep these employees on the payroll. About the only thing the four council members could agree on was to eliminate the already vacant position of a senior management analyst and to start making Town employees contribute toward their retirement funds. The Council also agreed to continue funding for the Boys and Girls Club, Desert Regional Tourism Agency, and the Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Tour. The Council continued the budget meeting until 6:00 Monday, June 7, when Luckino would be present to break the deadlock. Tomorrow, the rest of the meeting.

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Jerry Brown

ATTORNEY GENERAL AGAINST MILITARY FUNERAL PROTESTERS California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown has joined the case pending at the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the family of a Marine from Twentynine Palms whose funeral was picketed by an anti-gay group. The family of Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder sued members of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church for invasion of privacy and emotional distress after the group picketed Snyder's funeral out of a belief that soldiers' deaths are God's punishment for the U.S. promoting homosexuality.

A trial court awarded $10.9 million to the family, reduced to $5 million by the judge. An appeals court, citing the 1st Amendment, threw out the verdict and ordered the Snyder family to pay legal costs of $16,500 to the Westboro church. The high court has announced it will hear the Snyder family’s appeal. Brown joined other state attorneys general in signing a friend-of-the-court brief. "Free speech is a cherished American right," Brown said in a statement, "but disrupting a private funeral with vicious personal attacks on the grieving family goes too far." Snyder was assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 7 at Twentynine Palms as a generator mechanic.

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Donna Munoz Ed Will Martie Avels Phyllis Swinnerton

SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES SCHOOL BUSSING CHARGES The Morongo Unified School Board approved school bus fees last night. Reporter Mike Lipsitz says the school board meeting had its lows and its highs... In what was described as a miserable step to have to take, the Morongo Unified School District Board of Education last night approved the policy to charge students who take the bus to school. Board Member Ed Will cast the one dissenting vote. Last night’s passage was the final hurdle necessary before the unpopular policy could go into effect this Fall. The bus fees collected are expected to save the district approximately 100,000 dollars annually, equivalent to one teaching position.

Last night’s decision represents one of what is likely to be string of painful measures made necessary as the state eliminates funding for programs it cannot afford. The meeting began on a happier note; well over 100 people came to see board recognition go to retiring employees and those who have served the district for 20 years or more. Almost half of those in the audience received one of the recognitions. Top honors went to Linda Gunn of Palm Vista Elementary School for her 40 years of service to the district.

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RELATIVELY UNEVENTFUL MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY FOR LOCAL CHP
The California Highway Patrol’s Morongo Basin station had a fairly un-eventful Memorial Day Holiday. CHP Spokesman Rob McCloud said Officers made six arrests for driving under the influence during the holiday period, a slight increase over five arrests last year. In 2009 officers handled five traffic collisions, this year, only one minor injury, single vehicle rollover was reported. The crash happened Sunday morning at about 8:25 when Erica Chargualaf-Santiago, 19, of Twentynine Palms, driving a 2005 Dodge pick-up truck southbound on Morongo Road, allowed her truck to drift onto dirt shoulder. Chargualaf-Santiago attempted to steer back onto the roadway causing the truck to roll. Erica Chargualaf-Santiago complained of back and neck pain and was taken to the Hi-Desert Medical Center for treatment.

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MAIL-IN BALLOTS DUE, COST 61 CENTS IN POSTAGE
If you are voting by mail, it’s time to get those ballots in. Managing Editor Karl Gardner has some mail-in ballot reminders...
If you’re a vote-by-mail voter in the June 8 State Primary election, be aware it will cost you $.61 to mail in your ballot. The County Registrar of Voters said due to an increase in the number of candidates; local measures and statewide propositions, mailing in the ballots will cost your more. But you do have an alternative. Mail ballots can be dropped off at the Registrar’s office in San Bernardino between 8 and 5 Monday through Friday, 9 to 3 on Saturday. Ballots can also be dropped off at any poling place in the county on Election Day. Mail in ballots need to reach the registrars office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Election Day postmarks are not acceptable.

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CARS, TRUCKS, AND BIKES WANTED IN TWENTYNINE PALMS FRIDAY
The Annual Twentynine Palms Street Fair and Car Show is this Friday from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. numerous vendors, along with many classic cars, trucks, and motorcycles will line Twentynine Palms Highway. The Twentynine Palms Chamber of Commerce is encouraging individuals that would like to participate in the car show to pre-register at the Chamber of Commerce offices at 73484 Twentynine Palms Highway. This year, our categories include classic car (pre-1980), modern car (1980-present), under construction, truck, sport bike, street bike, as well as a new category for trikes this year. Registration fees have dropped by $10.00 per vehicle this year, $20.00 in advance, and $25.00 the day of the event. Last year’s Annual Street Fair and Car Show saw more than 100 cars, 24 vendors and more than 3,000 attendees.

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GAY PRIDE DAY SET FOR JUNE 26 IN JOSHUA TREE
The second year for Joshua Tree Gay Pride is Saturday, June 26. Last summer the event drew around 400 participants. It begins with a Joshua Tree Gallery Crawl then moves east to the Art Queen complex, 61855 29 Palms Highway, about 6 p.m. where there will be live music, speakers, refreshments and exhibitors in a fair-like atmosphere. Exhibition space has been set aside for community organizations wanting to participate in the outdoor celebration. Volunteers are being recruited to assist with set up, hospitality, information, security and clean up. To participate, or for more information, call 760-449-4048. There is no charge to attend the celebration. This year’s theme is "In The Name of Equality," and everyone is invited.

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Dick Rogers Eva Kinsman Liz Meyer Owen Gillick

COPPER MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BOARD IN SPECIAL MEETING TOMORROW The Copper Mountain College Board has called a special meeting for tomorrow. Reporter Tami Roleff tells us why... The Copper Mountain College Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting and study session at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Bell Center Southside classroom. The trustees will first meet in a closed session to discuss two liability claims against the college, as well as contract negotiations and an evaluation of the Superintendent/President. During the open session, the action agenda includes the approval of management contracts. Next up, during the study session, the trustees will discuss the plans development update, and a possible bond election.

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YUCCA VALLEY SOROPTIMISTS TO INSTALL NEW OFFICERS FRIDAY
The Soroptimist International of Yucca Valley will install its 2010-11 Board Friday at the Morongo Basin Senior Support Services. Incoming President Pat Cooper, invites the community to attend a casual potluck beginning at 6 p.m. Incoming officers to be installed are President-Elect Wanda Stadum, Vice President Karen Huggins, Treasurer Angie Whelchel, Recording Secretary Linda Poindexter, and Corresponding Secretary Celia Garcia-Barslou. Also installed that evening will be Directors Sara Hutson, Emogene Gorden, Judy Litowitz and Teri Aitkens along with Club Delegates Linda Poindexter, Judy Litowitz, Teri Aitkens and Rosemarie Benson. The club has spent the last 44 years helping the community in various ways that improve the lives of women and girls. RSVP to Linda Poindexter for food dishes at 760-567-6014. The Morongo Basin Senior Support Services is located at 57121 Sunnyslope Drive in Yucca Valley.

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FREE CHRISTIAN CONCERT IN YUCCA VALLEY SATURDAY
The Knights of Columbus present "A Night For Glory" a Free Christian Concert, Saturday, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Yucca Valley Community Center Field. This free concert event, is the third annual concert hosted by the Knights of Columbus. Proceeds from the event benefit the St. Michael’s of Morongo Valley Priest’s Residence. The Knights of Columbus is a service-oriented organization of Catholic men who join together in fraternal religious, charitable, and community activities. For more information contact Jim Murphy at 760-406-1377.

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