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Listen To Your News		Tuesday, July 6, 2010		News Archive

18 YEAR OLD YUCCA VALLEY MAN DROWNS IN BIG BEAR LAKE
An 18-year-old Yucca Valley man drowned in the Boulder Bay Park area of Big Bear Lake Monday morning. According to the Sheriff’s Department, at 10:47 the Twin Peaks Sheriff's station received a call that Nathaniel Hopper had gone under. Sheriff's spokeswoman Jodi Miller said Hopper was swimming with two friends. The group was heading to a rock formation about 100 yards from the shore. As they swam to the rocks, Hopper began having difficulty and went under the 64-degree water. His friends didn't realize it. The Sheriff’s Department was notified and dispatched their dive team. At about 12:50 p.m., Hopper was found about 15 feet under the water. Nathaniel Hopper was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. An autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.

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FIRE DESTROYS YUCCA VALLEY HOME SUNDAY MORNING
A house burned to the ground leaving 2 people homeless in Yucca Valley on the 4th of July. County Fire Captain Wayne Thompson said Sunday Morning about 10:50, fire crews were called to a house fire in the 7800 block of Barberry Avenue, just south of State Route 62. Arriving firefighters found the home fully engulfed in flames. It took firefighters about 20 minutes to control the blaze. Fast action by firefighters kept the flames from spreading to nearby brush and homes. No injuries were reported. Investigators are looking at an electrical fault as the possible cause. Losses were estimated at around $150,000.

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CHP ENFORCEMENT NETS 11 DUI DRIVERS LOCALLY
The California Highway Patrol Morongo Basin Station made 11 arrests for DUI over the 4th of July weekend from 6:01 p.m. July 2nd until 11:59 p.m. on July 5th. On July 4th from 8:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. the CHP conducted a DUI sobriety/driver license checkpoint in Joshua Tree on State Route 62 just east of Bonair Road. Officer Eric Brewer said 540 vehicles passed through the checkpoint and 480 vehicles were screened. Of this, four people were arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence and one person was cited for driving with a suspended driver license. Additionally, CHP Officers towed four vehicles. Area Commander, CHP Lieutenant Tim Tompkins said, "We do not tolerate people who endanger citizens of this community by driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs or drive without a valid driver license". DUI is an extreme public safety problem, and sobriety checkpoints have become a valuable tool in stopping this major highway danger."

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DUI ARRESTS DOWN OVER 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND
The Sheriff Departments Independence Day Weekend Anti-DUI crackdown resulted in a significant number of DUI arrests from local routine traffic enforcement and special deployments overnight in San Bernardino County. From 12:01 a.m. Friday July 2, through Midnight Sunday July 4, officers representing 25 county law enforcement agencies arrested 150 individuals for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In 2009 170 DUI arrests occurred during the same 72-hour time period.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETS TONIGHT
The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission meets tonight in regular session. Reporter Derwood Andrews checks the agenda...
On Tuesday July 6th at 6.00 p.m., the Twentynine Palms Planning Commission meets at 6136 Adobe Road. On the agenda are public hearings including, a recommendation to allow Verizon Wireless to double the size of an existing antenna on water district property. A recommendation to amend the boundaries of the Mara Vista project. A request for a permit to establish a new auto repair shop on Adobe Road, and further reports and amendments for the expansion of the Granite Mine Facility. Come listen to what is coming your way, have your say and get to see who’s making these decisions.

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William Ewasko

SEARCH CALLED OFF FOR JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK HIKER, NOW A MISSING PERSONS CASE Joshua Tree National Park has terminated search operations and is now handling the disappearance of Georgia resident William Ewasko, 65, as a missing person case. Ewaskao was reported missing on June 25th, it was thought he had gone hiking in the Quail Mountain area. Although the Park has suspended active search operations, the search itself will continue on an intermittent basis when staff and Search and rescue volunteers are available. More than 100 volunteers took part, contributing over 1,400 hours of ground search time. They were aided by equestrian search teams, trained dog teams, and air support. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of William Ewasko is asked to contact Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station investigator Mario Martinez at 760-836-1600.

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RESCUERS SHARE CONCERNS ABOUT SUMMERTIME HIKERS The extensive effort to find Ewasko and three other searches in the past two weeks have prompted search-and-rescue authorities to warn hikers to observe some basic safety rules. One of the biggest problems during the summer season is an increased likelihood of people going into the wilderness alone, "There should always be another partner with you at all times, If you're with a partner and get hurt, there will at least be a way to get help faster", said a Sheriff’s spokesman. They had simple tips that could save a hiker's life: Take a cell phone but don't use up valuable battery life calling family and friends. "Contact 911 first and give them your clothing description. Don't wear dark clothing and do take extra clothes to keep warm and dry, remain at the same spot once you've reported your coordinates. Volunteer searchers have been injured -- and at least two have died -- in recent years in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Hundreds of volunteers serve on the 24 search-and-rescue units in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Even though most of the searchers are unpaid, the average cost of a search is about $4,000 a day. The person who was missing is not charged for the cost of the search unless they were doing something illegal. They said it's surprisingly easy to get lost, although most people think it will never happen to them.

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VETERAN’S MOBILE SERVICE OFFICE TO BE IN YUCCA VALLEY FRIDAY
Area veterans will get a chance to discuss their veterans claims and benefits this week. Managing Editor Karl Gardner says the Disabled American Veterans mobile service office will be in Yucca Valley...
Veterans if you’re confused or frustrated about benefits and services you’ve earned, and there are a lot and that change from year to year, the nonprofit Disabled American Veterans or D-A-V is offering help. The DAV Mobile Service Office will be at the VFW Post at 7426 Elk Trail in Yucca Valley, Friday July 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. During the visit, DAV counselors can help Veterans and their families all types of veteran’s claims and benefits. For more information, call James Galliher at 619-299-6919.

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JOSHUA TREE CLEAN TEAM OUT TOMORROW MORNING
The Joshua Tree Clean is scheduled for a clean effort tomorrow morning. Volunteers are urged to meet at 7:00 AM, on the North side of State Route 62 and Sunny Vista Road. This is on the West side of Joshua Tree, the same street that Friendly Hills Elementary school is on.

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JOSHUA TREE LIBRARY SUMMER READING PROGRAMS THIS WEEK
The Joshua Tree Library summer reading programs continue this week. Reporter Dan Stork tells us what programs are on tap for area readers...
The Joshua Tree Library Summer Reading Program has two lively events lined up for its third week: For the school-age program on Wednesday July 7th at 11 a.m., it’s Bubble-Ology 101 with Full Spectrum-Discover a world of bubbles you never knew existed! See amazing bubble magic, learn about bubble science the astronauts performed in space and even stand inside a giant bubble! This program will show you everything you ever wanted to know about bubbles and more. On Thursday July 8th at 10:30 a.m., it’s Ship Ahoy! Pre-schoolers and kindergartners can set sail for stories, songs and crafts with summer preschool story time’s boating theme. Children and teens that need transportation to the library may show their San Bernardino County library card to MBTA drivers and ride to the library for free. For more information about the Summer Reading Program call the Joshua Tree Branch Library at 760-366-8615.

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