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Listen To Your News		Wednesday, June 16, 2010		News Archive

Mark Nuaimi

MAYOR OF FONTANA NAMED AS NEW YUCCA VALLEY TOWN MANAGER The Mayor of the City of Fontana, Mark Nuaimi, has been selected as the new Yucca Valley Town Manager. Nuami announced his plans to step down from his seat on the Fontana City Council Monday. Prior to accepting his position with Yucca Valley, Nuaimi was unemployed since December of last year, when he lost his job as assistant City Manager of Colton due to a budget crisis. Nuaimi, served on the Fontana council for 14 years. Nuaimi said he will not be moving from his home in Fontana and expects to start in Yucca Valley July 6.

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FOUR PLEAD GUILTY IN TWENTYNINE PALMS CHILD CRUELTY CASE
Four people have plead guilty in a Twentynine Palms child cruelty case that will see a woman and two men serving time in state prison. Christine Marquez, 58, Edward Garcia, 36, Alejandro Marquez 41, and Cynthia Carranza, 46 all pled out to willful cruelty to a child charges during a pre-trial hearing Friday in Joshua Tree Superior Court. The case stems from arrests in 2008, following an investigation into sex crimes against an eleven year-old girl. On November 12, 2008, twenty law enforcement officials swarmed a house in Twentynine Palms after a month long investigation. Officers served a search warrant at the home and arrested Christina Laua, later identified as Christine Marquez. After Marquez’s arrest investigators identified 2 others wanted, Cynthia Carranza and Alejandro Marquez. While trying to apprehend Alejandro Marquez, he led officers on short foot chase along Highway 62 near Donnel hill. Marquez was finally tazed and taken into custody. After pleading guilty to willful cruelty to a child, Christine Marquez was sentenced to 10 year and 4 months in state prison, Edward Garcia received 10 years, and Alejandro Marquez received a sentence of 4 years in state prison. Judge J. David Mazurek will sentence Cynthia Carranza on July 23.

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JOSHUA TREE WOMAN ARRESTED FOR DUI AFTER 3 INJURED IN CRASH
A Joshua Tree woman was arrested after a DUI crash injured three people. CHP Officer Eric Brewer said early Sunday morning at about 1:50, Sheila Paderes 41, of Joshua Tree was driving a 2005 Dodge Neon northbound on Park Boulevard. Bruce Grund 58, of Twentynine Palms was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado eastbound on State Route 62 also at Park Boulevard. Paderes failed to stop at the red light and drove directly into the path of Grund and was broadsided her Dodge Neon. Grund was taken to Hi-Desert Medical Center for complaint of pain to his neck and back. Grund’s passengers, Christina Grund and Amy Bowser, were also transported to Hi-Desert Medical Center for complaint of pain. Sheila Paderes was arrested for investigation of driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a blood alcohol level of .15% or higher, driving without auto insurance, and driving with a suspended driver license.

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YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL MOVES TO BAN ALL MEDICAL MARIJUANA
In spite of many speakers’ objections, the Yucca Valley Town Council voted last night to ban marijuana dispensaries, even the existing one. Reporter Tami Roleff breaks her report into two parts, today, the marijuana issue, tomorrow, balancing the Town’s budget...
About 20 residents spoke at last night’s meeting of the Yucca Valley Town Council about the medical marijuana dispensary, and nearly all the residents pleaded with the Council not to shut it down. Eighty-one-year-old Gilbert Quinn told the Council about his medical problems and said, "It’s not easy getting old." He disputed claims about marijuana being responsible for increased crime. "Their conclusion is it’s going to cause crime. Children will be in danger, so on and so forth. That’s a lot of horse pucky and gun smoke." Council member Frank Luckino explained why he was supporting the ordinance to ban medical marijuana dispensaries. "We as a Town do not have the resources to regulate this in a safe manner. And I don’t want to be the only place in San Bernardino County that has a dispensary." The Council voted 4-1, with Mayor Pro Tem Lori Herbel dissenting, to approve the first reading of the ordinance which would prohibit the establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries in the Town. Herbel explained the reasoning behind her "no" vote. "I’m not going to support this tonight. The reason I’m not going to is I want to make sure that we keep at least 1 dispensary in this town." The Council plans to hold a second reading of the proposed ordinance in August, at which time it will decide on an amortization period for the Town’s sole marijuana dispensary, California Alternative Medicinal Solutions, or CAMS. CAMS Co-founder D.J. Ross explains what passage of the ordinance would mean for the dispensary. "It will eventually mean that we would have to cease our operations." Tomorrow, the rest of the Town Council’s meeting.

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COUNTY EXTENDS MEDICAL MARIJUANA MORATORIUM
San Bernardino County extended its moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries Tuesday with officials saying they're waiting for further legal guidance before adopting regulations. The Board of Supervisors, who put in place a moratorium a year ago, extended the temporary ban for another year. Officials said they hoped to introduce an ordinance soon that would set out rules for where dispensaries could locate in unincorporated county areas. A committee made up of law enforcement, public health and planning department officials have been meeting regularly to work on the ordinance but have yet to introduce a proposal. Officials say they're waiting to hear how a state appeals court will rule on an Anaheim case banning medical marijuana dispensaries. Medical marijuana patients criticized the county for extending the moratorium and accused officials of stalling. The county began distributing patient identification cards last year after its legal challenge to the state law failed. Patients say an ordinance regulating collectives or dispensaries is needed so that they have safe and legal access to cannabis.

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MARINE TREATED AFTER TRYING TO DOUSE JOSHUA TREE FIRE
A young marine was injured when he tried to put out a fire in Joshua Tree Monday night. While the base would not identify him, managing Editor Karl Gardner has the story...
A Marine Lance Corporal was treated for smoke inhalation after the tried to put out a rubbish fire. County Fire Officials said Monday night around 8, fire crews from Station 36 responded to a structure fire call in the 6800 block of Hillview Road in Joshua Tree. Arriving firefighters found a large rubbish pile next a house on fire. The flames damaged the eves, roof, and electrical panel affixed to the house. Southern California Edison personnel were call to shut off power. Officials said the blaze caused about $5,000 in damage. A Marine Lance Corporal walking his dog nearby spotted the flames and tried to douse them with a garden hose. He later went to the Naval Hospital on board the Twentynine Palms Marine Base and was treated for smoke inhalation.

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FIRE AT THE WESTERN COFFEE POT CAFE IN FLAMINGO HEIGHTS
County Fire crews were called out to the Western Coffee Pot Café in Flamingo Heights after the fryer burst into flames. Battalion Chief Mike Snow said Sunday around 11:30, the temperature control device on the fryer malfunctioned leading to the oil catching fire. Fire extinguishers were activated as employees and customers left. The flames were out when firefighters arrived. There were no structural damage or losses to the café.

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EVERYTHING IS STRAIGHT IN BRIEF TWENTYNINE MEETING
The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission met in regular session last night. Assignment Reporter Derwood Andrews says everything was straight at the meeting, especially the council rooms painting...
The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission meeting started dead on 6 o’clock, after planning Commissioner Chuck Caplinger had straightened the large desert painting hanging on the wall of the Chambers. From that fleeting moment of organization until the end of the meeting was no longer than twenty minutes. No one in the public seats spoke a word, the request for the purchase of city property by the Twentynine Palms Water District moved on with nods and yes’s, the request to move and expand a building in the new meditation center had the same positive response and everyone agreed to move forward on revisiting the 16 year old plans for new construction at Mar Vista. The oil painting was straight, and so was everything else.

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COUNTY APPROVES 1.5 MILLION DOLLAR AMBOY ROAD PROJECT
The County Board of Supervisors awarded a $1.5 million contract yesterday to rehabilitate Amboy Road east of Twentynine Palms. "Amboy Road is a critical connection from the Morongo Basin to National Trails Highway and Interstate 40," said Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, who represents the area. "Keeping the road in good condition will ensure its continued availability. Traffic counts showed that more than 1,400 vehicles use Amboy road each day. County road crews have recently repaired existing potholes and sealed existing cracks in preparation for the contractor's overlay operation. Construction should commence by the end of June and be completed by early August 2010. Two previous federally-funded resurfacing projects on the road have already been completed in recent years. This project will finalize the resurfacing of the entire segment of Amboy Road from Twentynine Palms to Amboy.

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HI-DESERT WATER DISTRICT MEETS, PUBLIC HEARING ON STAND-BY FEES SCHEDULED
The cost of Water Standby Fees in Yucca Valley may be changing. The Hi-Desert Water District will hold a public hearing on the fees at tonight’s meeting. Managing Editor Karl Gardner checks the agenda...
The Hi-Desert Water District board will once again, try to institute updated Water Standby Assessments, or the cost to buy into the system, during a public hearing at this evening’s meeting, being held at District Offices, 55439 Twentynine Palms Highway, starting at 6. Other items of interest on the docket include approving state and federal lobby services, the purchase of additional water, a resolution celebrating the fifty-year anniversary of the Mojave Water Agency, and a severance package of close to $110,000 for employee lay offs. Prior to the water board meeting, the Warren Valley Basin Watermaster meets in special session at 5:30, with the adoption of the 2010 – 2011 budget and U.S. Geological Survey work program on the docket.

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PET LICENSING AND VACCINATION IN YUCCA VALLEY TOMORROW
The Town of Yucca Valley will host a dog licensing and pet vaccination clinic tomorrow from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Community Center courtyard. The clinic is offered to all Yucca Valley and San Bernardino County residents. Low-cost Rabies vaccinations, canine DHLPP booster, feline 5-way booster with Leukemia, and Dog licenses will be available at the clinic. Pet owners are instructed to bring dogs on leashes and cats in carriers to the event. For more information, contact the Town of Yucca Valley Animal Care and Control at 1-760-365-1807.

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MOTORCYCLE POKER RUN SATURDAY TO BENEFIT LOCAL RED CROSS
Local motorcyclists can enjoy a great ride Saturday while supporting the local Red Cross chapter. Reporter Derwood Andrews fires up the V-Twin…
The American Red Cross is holding a poker run- motorcycle ride, on Saturday June 19th. Registrations are at Hutchins Harley Davidson in Yucca on the highway, from 8 through 10 that morning. Prize money is $250 for the high hand and $100 for the low. The rider fee of $25 (cash or check only) includes a Bar-B-Q lunch outside of the Yucca Valley Red Cross, a raffle ticket for the 50/50 raffle and a pin. $5 will get an additional lunch for your friend. All proceeds benefit the Morongo Basin Chapter of the Red Cross, call 760-365-5501 for more information or go to the website - morongobasin-redcross.org. The best hand and the worst hand wins and so does The American Red Cross.

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