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Listen To Your News		Monday, June 20, 2011		News Archive

SMUGGLING FIREWORKS CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS JAIL TIME
As the Fourth of July approaches, plans are being made not for celebrations, but on how illegal or misguided entrepreneurs can make a fast profit by smuggling illegal fireworks into California. Most illegal fireworks are purchased in Nevada where they are legal. The problem begins when the fireworks cross into California. Already, the California Highway Patrol has confiscated thousands of pounds of illegal fireworks. Any amount that exceeds 100 pounds, can be prosecuted as a felony. The penalty for conviction can be up to one year in state prison and fines up to $10,000. Less than one hundred pounds of illegal fireworks can also bring a misdemeanor conviction with up to a year in jail and $5,000 in fines. Even a simple out-of-state purchase for personal use brought into California would be subject to penalties of jail time and large fines. Don't take the chance. Bring your family to the safe and legal fireworks show at Yucca Valley High School Football field this 4th of July.

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YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL MEETS AS BOTH COUNCIL AND REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
A very busy Yucca Valley Town Council meeting runs the gamut from how to appoint to a vacant council seat, eminent domain on local property to a pawnbrokers license. Managing Editor Tami Roleff checks a very full agenda. The Yucca Valley Redevelopment Agency will meet at 5:30 tonight in the Yucca Room of the Community Center. Among the items on its agenda, the RDA will be asked to transfer almost $1 million dollars into various accounts for the proposed affordable Senior Housing Project and to help the Town pay for its General Plan update. The Yucca Valley Town Council has a very busy agenda tonight before it goes dark in July. The Town Council will meet at 6:00 in the Yucca Room of the Community Center. Among the 12 items on the Town Council's consent agenda are: the second reading of the ordinance that establishes alternative procedures for the filling of vacant council member seats; and a request for a pawnbroker's license by Rocky's Pawn Shop. The Council will then hold public hearings on: assessments for street and drainage maintenance districts and landscape and lighting maintenance districts; the purchase through eminent domain of portions of two properties to improve Church Street between Onaga Trail and Joshua Drive; and numerous resolutions concerning the adoption of the Town budget for 2011-12. During the department reports the Council will be asked to approve a memorandum of understanding between the Combat Center, the City of Twentynine Palms, and the Town of Yucca Valley, to document the assets the Marine Corps has available for use in a disaster. The Council will then be asked to authorize an application for a statewide park program grant, and finally, award a contract to a firm to update the Town's General Plan.

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SPECIAL YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL MEETING TO DISCUSS COUNCIL VACANCY
A special meeting of the Yucca Valley Town Council has been called tonight immediately following the regular Town Council meeting. On the agenda, Council members will discuss how to fill the vacant seat left by the resignation of Mayor Pro Tem Frank Luckino.

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AN ARREST AFTER A ONE-YEAR OLD WANDERS STREETS FOR AN HOUR
A Twentynine Palms woman was arrested after her 1-year-old baby was found wandering the streets alone for more than an hour Saturday. Sheriff's spokeswoman Arden Wiltshire said that about 8 p.m. Saturday, a motorist passing by the intersection of Serrano Drive and Utah Trail in Twentynine Palms saw a 1-year-old baby alone on the side of the road. The child was completely naked and filthy. She was covered in feces, and her face and chest were covered with food and drool. Deputies knocked on doors in the area but were unable to locate the parents. About an hour later, neighbors heard a woman calling for the baby. Deputies arrested Christina Blackwell, 24, of Serrano Drive in Twentynine Palms, on suspicion of cruelty to a child. Christina Blackwell, who also goes by the name of Cheryl Baber, was booked into the Morongo Basin jail with bail set at $100,000. Her daughter was given to Child Protective Services.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS MAN HELD FOR DRUG POSSESSION
A Twentynine Palms man was arrested Saturday for possession of a controlled substance. Saturday morning about 10:15, Sheriff's deputies arrived at a home in the 75800 block of Baseline Road in Twentynine Palms to perform a probation check. Deputies discovered that William Parker, 25, of Twentynine Palms was in possession of dangerous drugs, and arrested him. William Parker was booked into the Morongo Basin jail and held on $25,000 bail.

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LIKE A BAD PENNY, SHOOTING RANGES AND FIREARMS BACK AT
TWENTYNINE PALMS PLANNING COMMISSION
They're baaacckk! The issues of shooting ranges and firearms and accessory structures have gone back to the 29 Palms Planning Commission. Derwood Andrews checks the agenda. Tonight at the Planning Commission meeting, a re-opening of the open Public Hearing on shooting ranges and the discharge of firearms in the City. After the City Council shut down the Commission's request for advice, it will be interesting to see what happens. A continued Study Session on Accessory Structures rounds off the agenda.

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MOTION BY NEIL DERRY TO DISMISS CHARGES CALLED "MERITLESS"
In court papers, the California Attorney general's office described Supervisor Neil Derry's arguments to have criminal charges against him thrown out as "meritless" and "specious," A hearing will be held Thursday on a motion by Derry's attorney seeking to have criminal charges against the supervisor dismissed. Derry is scheduled to be arraigned on two felony charges -- perjury and filing a false report -- and a misdemeanor charge of failing to report a campaign contribution. The state attorney general filed the charges against Derry on April 26, accusing him of attempting to launder a campaign contribution in 2007 when he was running for supervisor. Derry has not been arrested and has continued to serve on the Board of Supervisors. Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree are unrepresented on bodies that fund roads because Derry has recused himself from those boards because federal funds could be jeopardized because of the charges against him. Derry did not attend a recent workshop on the county budget.

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STARTING JULY 1ST, TRAFFIC SCHOOL WON'T CLEAR DRIVING RECORD
Attention less that stellar drivers, as of July 1st, traffic School will not clear your driving record anymore. Reporter Dan Stork explains. Beginning July 1, 2011, the courts will no longer be allowed to "dismiss" infractions after a driver attends Traffic Violator School (TVS). Instead, a state law (AB 2499) now requires that all offenses be recorded as "convictions," which will create a detailed breakdown of a person's driving history. Under the new guidelines, drivers who attend a TVS course will have their first conviction masked and avoid negative marks on their driver record. However, if they accrue additional violations within the next 18 months, the convictions will appear on the record, negligent operator points will be assigned, and their insurance company will be notified. Up until now, when convictions were stamped "dismissed," it was equivalent to a verdict of "not guilty," so it appeared as though there were no violations. Frequent offenders have been able to use this loophole as a way to repeatedly attend TVS. Traffic Violator Schools are being required to inform their students about this change in the law. A TVS conviction will not be masked if: There is a prior TVS dismissal/conviction within the previous 18 months; the conviction is a major (2 point) violation (DUI or Reckless Driving); the driver holds a commercial driver license or was operating a commercial vehicle at the time of the violation.

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COOLING CENTER AVAILABLE IN TWENTYNINE PALMS
With temperatures in the triple digits, the City of Twentynine Palms has made a Cooling Center available in the community. The Senior Center, at 6539 Adobe Road, across from the Fire Station, is open for residents to cool off Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Should the heat index reach 115 degrees or other conditions necessitate, the Senior Center will be opened additional hours and on weekends as a designated Cooling Center. The building is also equipped with a generator in case of power outages. Twentynine palms Joins the Joshua Tree Community Center and Hi-Desert Medical Center as cooling centers. Seniors, infants, young children, and people with chronic health conditions are most vulnerable to health problems during hot weather and should take extra precautions. Residents should check on their elderly family members, neighbors, and friends during extremely hot weather to make sure they are safe and comfortable. Everyone is advised to drink plenty of fluids, wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing, and pace themselves when outside. Here area a few simple steps to stay cool: Turn on air conditioning, swamp coolers, portable or ceiling fans to help keep rooms cooler. Increase fluid intake, especially water, regardless of your activity level. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages such as coffee, soda, and tea. If you or someone you know is feeling ill from the heat, remove them from the heat immediately, offer water, and seek medical help or call 911. Limit outdoor activity to morning and evening hours. If you work outside, be sure to begin drinking fluids before your job begins and to keep drinking fluids. Try to arrange your work in the cooler hours of the day.

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FREE SEMINAR ON GALLSTONES AT HI-DESERT MEDICAL CENTER TONIGHT
A valuable free seminar at Hi-Desert Medical Center Tonight. Reporter Mike Lizpsitz says sign up today to hear about gallbladder disease and surgery. Gallbladder disease, gallstones and a new minimally invasive gallbladder surgery will be discussed at a free health seminar at 6 p.m. tonight in the Helen Gray Education Building next to Hi-Desert Medical Center. The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ that aids digestion by breaking up fats and protein. If the concentration of cholesterol in the gallbladder becomes high, gallstones can form. More than 16 million Americans have them. Age, gender, family history, obesity and rapid weight loss can increase the likelihood of developing them. Sometimes the recommended treatment is to remove the gallbladder, which is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in the U.S. Renato Guzman, M.D., general surgeon at Hi-Desert Medical Center, will discuss this minimally-invasive surgery and the latest treatment advances. To attend tonight's seminar, register by calling 366-6324 or log on to hdmc.org.

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DONATE BLOOD WEDNESDAY IN YUCCA VALLEY
Lifestream will hold a Community Blood Drive at the Yucca Valley Town Center Mall tomorrow from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Donors receive incentives including Gift of Life Donor Loyalty Points that may be redeemed in the online store at www.LStream.org. Healthy individuals at least 15 years of age may donate blood. Donors should be free of infections or illness, weigh at least 110 pounds, and not be at risk for AIDS or hepatitis. Donors receive a free mini-physical as part of the donation process. Donating blood takes about an hour, yet gives someone a lifetime. For more information, please call 1-800-TRY GIVING.

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REACHOUT TO CELEBRATE ITS 13TH ANNIVERSARY
An anniversary party for Reach Our Morongo Basin, the neighbors helping neighbors organization, will be held this Saturday. Reporter Derwood Andrews has your invitation…
Reach Out Morongo Basin is celebrating its 13th anniversary on Saturday June 25 at the Twentynine Palms Inn. Brunch begins at 10 in the morning and tickets are $30.00 and are available at the Reach Out offices. The Neighbors Helping Neighbors organization grew out of the Twentynine Palms Ministerial Association and has a plethora of volunteers. Executive Director Sandy Smith, who has been leading the organization for a decade said "We have proven ourselves to be a caring community and there's always someone that is going to need help." Visit reachoutmb.org or call 760-361-1410 for details.

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YUCCA VALLEY READING GROUP WILL DISCUSS "THE HOUSE AT RIVERTON"
This evening at 6:30, the Adult Reading Group will meet in the Yucca Valley Library program room to discuss the book selection for June, "The House At Riverton" by Kate Morton. The novel, by the popular Australian author, provides a wealth of diverse characters and settings for a lively discussion. Please bring a friend to join in the fun. Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Yucca Valley Library. For more information, call 760-228-5455.

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