PASSERBY
SAVES STRICKEN WOMAN IN WONDER VALLEY
A
passer by called 9-1-1 and saved a woman from severe heat
injury or death Tuesday in Wonder Valley. Sheriff’s
spokeswoman Vera Martinez said around 1:30 Tuesday
afternoon, a passer by driving along Highway 62 between mile
marker 55 and Ironage Road called 9-1-1 saying he had come
across an older woman lying on the side of the road The
caller said the woman, identified as Ellen Inman, 54, was
semi-coherent, her face extremely red, and complaining of a
head ache. Inman said her car had become stuck in the sand
about 150 yards from the highway since around 10 PM Monday,
and that she had tried to flagged down several vehicles.
Paramedics transported Ellen Imnan to Hi Desert Medical
Center for treatment.
...Back To Headlines...
STATE
BUDGET CUTS CLOSE SOME COPPER MOUNTAIN COLLEGE CLASSES
State
budget cuts are forcing Copper Mountain College to cut some
classes and take other measures. Reporter Tami Roleff
details the books------
Copper Mountain College students and faculty recently
learned that some of the summer classes they had registered
for had been canceled due to the state’s budget crisis.
Approximately 50 percent of the summer classes have been
canceled, and some cuts can also be expected in the fall.
The cuts come at a time when demand is high for classes at
the college; enrollment this spring was up nearly 10 percent
over last spring. The most recent budget reports from the
Community College League of California and the State
Chancellor’s Office predict that Copper Mountain College’s
budget could be cut as by as much as $1.2 million, or 8
percent of its operating budget. With only two weeks left in
the budget year, the college faces cuts of $307,000 this
year, and an additional $480,000 in next year’s budget. In
addition to the cutting of summer classes to meet the
shortfall, the college has suspended all travel and
purchasing that is not critical, offered early retirement
incentives for employees, and left other positions vacant.
...Back To Headlines...
JOSHUA
TREE WOMAN ARRESTED FOR SPOUSAL ABUSE
A
Joshua Tree woman was arrested and her husband hospitalized
after an anonymous call to the sheriff reported a man and
his wife were passed out. Sheriff’s spokeswoman Vera
Martinez said deputies responded to a "welfare check" call
in the 5900 block of Sunset Road at 5:15 Tuesday morning.
Arriving deputies found Susan Finn, 25 and her Husband
Victor Finn, 35 passed out in the home. Susan Finn a black
eye and swollen face, Victor Finn was suffering from a
broken leg. Deputies arrested Susan Finn for investigation
of felony spouse abuse, booked her into the Morongo Basin
jail on $50,000 bail. Victor Finn was taken to Hi-Desert
Medical Center for treatment with a report sent to the
District Attorney’s office. Child Protective Services was
called in to evaluate the living conditions of a 3 year old
and 10 month child at the house. Martinez said Sheriffs’
deputies had been called out to the location numerous times
in the past on complaints of domestic violence.
...Back To Headlines...
50’S
STYLE TRAVEL TRAILER BURNS IN JOSHUA TREE
An old
1950’s style travel trailer burnt to its frame early
yesterday morning in Joshua Tree. Fire Officials said at
4:59 AM Wednesday, firefighters were called out to Hillview
and Division streets in Joshua Tree after an old abandoned
travel trailer sitting in a side yard of a home burst into
flames. Arriving units had the blaze out in minutes. No
injuries or damage to other structures was reported. Losses
were set at about $500. The exact cause remains under
investigation.
...Back To Headlines...
A REMINDER
ABOUT DRIVING IN CONSTRUCTION ZONES [AUDIO ONLY]
LIBRARIES
OFFER PARTIAL AMNESTY FOR LATE FEES
The County libraries area is offering partial amnesty
through the month of July to patrons who owe overdue fines.
Patrons can settle their debt by only paying half of what
they owe. The library system is owed about $1.5 million in
overdue fines and $2 million worth of books and other
materials that have not been returned, said County Librarian
Ed Kieczykowski. The program makes it easier for patrons to
pay fines while raising additional revenue for more books,
Kieczykowski said. It also allows the library system to get
unreturned books back in circulation. The accounts of
patrons who have more than $10 in unpaid fines are
suspended, settling the bill lets them borrow books again.
Fines can be paid in person at any of the county's 30
branches or online at sbcounty.gov/library using PayPal.
...Back To Headlines...
SCHOOL BOARD TOLD TO CUT ALMOST 7 MILLION FROM
THEIR BUDGET
The Morongo Unified School District is getting some pretty
dire warnings about state funding. Reporter Dan Stork spoke
with assistant superintendent for finance Mike Walker ------
The Morongo Unified School District has revealed the total
amount of money it needs to trim from its budget, but has
not yet worked out the details. Assistant Superintendent for
Business Services Mike Walker told Z107.7 that the District
is working out the options for cutting $6.9 million for the
2009-2010 school year. Specific cuts will be presented at
the next School Board meeting, on July 21st. The
District is required to look two years in the future, and
projects a total cut of $13.76 million for the two years
ending June 30, 2011. There is uncertainty in these numbers,
because they are subject to change according to state budget
changes currently under negotiation in Sacramento. Walker
expects that the first attempts at a budget agreement there
will fall victim to obligatory partisan posturing. He went
on to say that if the legislature and governor don’t reach
an agreement within the next three weeks, the state will
have difficulty paying vendors. Depending upon how kind an
ultimate agreement at the state level is to education, local
cuts could go down or up.
...Back To Headlines...
GAY PRIDE CELEBRATION IN JOSHUA TREE SATURDAY
The
first Joshua Tree Gay Pride celebration will be held
Saturday night in conjunction with the opening of the
exhibit "Hope Will Never Be Silent" at Studio Godot. The
reception and event kick off at 6 PM. at the downtown Joshua
Tree gallery at 61855 29 Palms Highway. Themed "7 Years & 7
Days", the event honors the memory of Fred Drake, a gay man
credited with the rise of Joshua Tree’s music scene. The art
opening, "In The Name of Love" will feature work from local
artists. Live music on the Gertrude Stein Main Stage will
include performances from local musicians. The public is
welcome to enjoy the free entertainment, dancing, and
refreshments. Come early and plan to bid at the silent
auction. The celebration concludes at 11 PM.
...Back To Headlines...
PART TWO IN OUR REPORT ON TUESDAYS MARATHON
YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
In
spite of spending most of their time dithering over mayoral
succession Tuesday night, the Yucca Valley Town Council
actually conducted some other business. Reporter Tami Roleff
has part two in her 2-part report ------
The Yucca Valley Town Council did perform other business at
its marathon 4-hour meeting Tuesday night besides argue over
how the Town’s next mayor and mayor pro tem should be
elected. The Council approved an amended budget, which
slashed $1.4 million from the Town’s budget. The Town will
make such steep cuts by not filling empty positions;
currently, 15 percent of its vacant positions have not been
filled, which will have an impact on the Town’s services.
The Town also plans to replace its front receptionist with
an automated call center, close the town hall every other
Friday, and close completely between Christmas and New
Year’s. Town Manager Andy Takata put a plug in for shopping
local; "Of that 8 ¾ percent sale tax, every dollar you spend
we get 1 cent. So if you spend $10 we get 10 cents. If you
shop locally, those pennies actually add up. So please shop
locally wherever you can ‘cause it will always help not only
our merchants but will also help the town to provide police
services that are very important." In other business,
because Council Member Bill Neeb was absent, the Council
voted to continue the discussion on impact fees to its first
meeting in August. Moving on, the Council voted to permit
farmer’s markets in Old Town. And finally, the council voted
to switch the dates of its meetings with those of the Yucca
Valley Planning Commission. The change will take effect in
August.
...Back To Headlines...
RIBBON
CUTTING SATURDAY FOR NEW YUCCA VALLEY TENNIS FACILITY
A
Ribbon-Cutting will be held Saturday for new Tennis
Facilities at Jacobs Park in Yucca Valley. The Town of Yucca
Valley and the Morongo Basin Tennis Association will
celebrate the completion of the newly constructed tennis
courts and backboard at Jacobs Park. The event will take
place at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 27th at the
park, located on Onaga Trail at Hopi Trail in Yucca Valley.
The public is invited to attend. After the dedication
ceremony, the tennis association will host a Family Tennis
Free-for-All featuring modified tennis games on all courts,
beach tennis and fun activities for all ages.
...Back To Headlines...
BIGHORN DESERT VIEW WATER AGENCY BOARD SPECIAL
MEETING TONIGHT
It will be the budget and taxes at a special meeting of the
Bighorn Desert View Water Agency in Landers tonight.
Managing Editor Karl Gardner checks the agenda------
Bighorn Desert View Water’s fiscal year 2009 – 2010 budget
is up for approval at a special meeting being held this
evening at the Board’s meeting room 1720 North Cherokee
Trail in Landers, starting at 6. Other actions on the agenda
include provision for the levy and collection of taxes
within improvement district 1 at 38 cents per $100 dollars
of assessed value.
...Back To Headlines...
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OPENS SUMMER PROGRAM
Wondering what to do with the kids all summer? Bring them to
the "Kids Korral" at the Boys and Girls Club this summer.
The program runs from 10 -6 daily from Monday through Friday
and early hours are available for those that need drop off
between 7 AM and 10 AM. Also open is the new Teen Center
where kids aged 13 to 17 can spend time in their own area
with computer labs, video games, pool table and more. Fees
are $25 for the summer for the teen center and $30 per week
for full time day camp for kids aged 7 to 12. Parents are
welcome to tour the club and see what great programs are
available for your kids. Call the club at 365-KIDS or stop
by at Palm Avenue and Little League Drive, Yucca Valley.
...Back To Headlines...
TWENTYNINE
PALMS RECREATION SHOWING "MADAGASCAR" TONIGHT
Bring
a blanket, lawn chair, and the kids to Luckie Park in
Twentynine Palms tonight. Reporter Desiree Weston invites
you to the summer movies in the park series -----
The Twentynine Palms Recreation Department’s Summer Movies
in the Park continues with the animated film Madagascar 2 on
Thursday, June 25th. In this sequel to 2005’s
Madagascar, the four New York zoo animals stranded on the
island begin to leave, then find themselves in the African
wilderness. The lion reunites with his family but discovers
communication with them is difficult after his long stay at
the zoo. Bring the whole family, and your blankets or lawn
chairs, and see this free family film. All movies in the
series can be seen at the Luckie Park soccer field beginning
at dark.
...Back To Headlines...
