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Listen To Your News		Friday, July 9, 2010		News Archive

TRIAL UNDERWAY FOR JOSHUA TREE MAN ACCUSED OF TRYING TO KILL DEPUTY
Trial for a Joshua Tree man accused trying to kill a local sheriff’s deputy is finally underway in Joshua Tree Superior Court, after 4 years of legal wrangling. Adam Lopez, now 34, is accused of a shotgun attack against Deputy Adrian Garcia. Investigators said Deputy Garcia responded to the 66400 block of Giant Rock road in the Copper Mountain Mesa are in October of 2006 on a report that Lopez was out of control. As Deputy Garcia arrived he was ambushed by Lopez who was lying in wait. Lopez fired a shotgun directly into Garcia’s patrol car from nearly point blank range. Garcia was struck by multiple pellets, reversed the patrol car away from the attack. Lopez and Tonya Campbell, now 35 fled. Deputy Garcia was taken to a hospital, treated and released, The next morning, deputies located Lopez’s car abandoned. Evidence led them to the 69000 block of Kachina in Twentynine Palms. Deputies surrounded the house and saw Campbell walking in the area, she was taken into custody. Deputies and detectives, assisted by a sheriff’s helicopter, convinced Lopez to come out and surrender. In March of 2009, Tonya Campbell pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and conspiracy, she was sentenced to 7 years and 4 months in state prison.

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YUCCA VALLEY MAN ARRESTED AFTER MOTORCYCLE HIGH-SPEED CHASE
A 54-year-old man Yucca Valley man was arrested last week after he led a California Highway Patrol officer on a high-speed chase in Yucca Valley. Michael Douglas, 54, was driving a 2006 Suzuki motorcycle July 2, east on State Route 62 near Yucca Park at more than 100 miles per hour when a CHP officer attempted to pull him over. Douglas fled and ran red lights, weaved in and out of traffic and ran through stop signs at high speeds. Finally, Douglas rode up Pioneertown Road with the officer in full pursuit. The CHP said because of his high speeds, he was ejected from the bike, then ran off. The officer found him hiding under nearby brush with injuries from the crash, medical aid was called. Douglas was treated for his injuries and taken to West Valley Detention Center for booking. During the ride to detention, Douglas slammed his head against the patrol car window repeatedly and kicked the window out on I-10. Michael Douglas was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, driving with a suspended license, resisting arrest, felony evading a police officer, and felony vandalism.

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CANDIDATE FILINGS FOR ELECTED OFFICES OPENS MONDAY
More than 200 city council, school board and special district seats in San Bernardino County are up for election in November, and locals interested in running for those seats can begin filing candidate paperwork Monday. The filing deadline is Friday, August 6. The ballot will feature elections for state Assembly and Senate, a county Supervisors seat and several statewide offices, including the governorship. Locally, the ballot will also feature eight mayoral races, 54 city council races and numerous school board and water board seats across the county. Managing Editor Karl Gardner tells us what local seats are open...
The filing period for November’s General Election opens July 12. Locally 3 seats are open on the Twentynine Palms City and Yucca Valley Town Councils. 2 seats are up for the Copper Mountain College and Morongo Unified School District Board Trustees, and 2 seats on the Hi-Desert Memorial Health Care District, that’s the hospital board. Water District Board position open include 3 seats on Hi-Desert Water District Board, and 2 at Joshua Basin Water District Board, along with the area’s representative’s position on the Mojave Water Agency. The filing period closes August 6. Those wising to run can find more information at the County Registrar of Voters’ web site.

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MORONGO VALLEY COUPLE ARRESTED USING DRUGS IN FRONT OF CHILDREN
A Morongo Valley couple were arrested on child cruelty charges after they were found using methamphetamine in front of children. Sheriff’s Spokeswoman Vera Martinez said Tuesday afternoon about 1:45, dispatchers received a call of a disturbance in the 6200 block of Valley View Road in Morongo Valley. When Deputy Robert Hoag arrived at the home he heard loud yelling and fighting come from the home. Making entry, Hoag discovered Nicole Ott, 23, and Kenneth Stewart, 30 inside the home with an unknown number of children present. Both Ott and Stewart were suspected of being under the influence and using methamphetamine in front of the children. Deputy Hoag described the house as being filthy and unfit. Nicole Ott and Kenneth Stewart were booked into the Morongo Basin Jail for investigation of child cruelty and held on $100,000 bail each. The children were turned over to the care of child protective services.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS COUPLE HELD AFTER STEALING AIR CONDITIONER
A man and woman were arrested for stealing an air conditioner over the 4th of July weekend. Sheriff’s officials said Sunday, just after noon, 9-1-1 dispatchers received a call from the 70800 block of Twentynine Palms highway in Twentynine Palms, the caller saying they just saw someone take an air conditioner from a window. Deputy Rebecca Eldridge responded and following an investigation arrested Tiffany Lang, 18 and Robert Jones, 32 on suspicion of grand theft. Tiffany Lang was booked into the Morongo Basin Jail for investigation of grand theft and held on $50,000 bail. Robert Jones was booked for investigation of grand theft, possessing dangerous drugs, driving on a suspended license and having an unregistered vehicle and was held on $50,000 bail.

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YUCCA VALLEY SUMMER DAY CAMP "CAMP KOOL BEANS" CONTINUES NEXT WEEK
Lots of fun for kids next week at the Town of Yucca Valley’s summer day camp. Reporter Derwood Andrews tell us what is on tap for "Camp Kool Beans"...
Kamp Kool Beans is our Town of Yucca Valley summer day camp, for children from 1st grade through entering 6th grade and runs through July ‘til August 5th. Camp doors open at 10 in the morning until 2 in afternoon, Yucca residents receive a $5 discount on the $40 per camper fee, and get a Kool Beans T-shirt. This week, from Tuesday July 12 until Thursday 15 is The Animal Planet week, with animal themed crafts and games, fun facts about exotic animals and your pets at home. There will also be visits from fascinating real animal guests. Make a lunch and take your kids to Machris Park in Yucca, for a safe, supervised fun time. For more information call 760-369-7211 or visit yucca-valley.org for pre-registration or in person at the Yucca Valley Community Center.

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COMMUNITY BABY SHOWER AT HI-DESERT MEDICAL CENTER TOMORROW
Hi-Desert Medical Center Special Additions Family Birthing Center Presents: A Community Baby Shower tomorrow. If there is a baby in your future Join the Special Additions Family Birthing Center and prenatal education program, Saturday, from 1 to 4 p.m. for a Community Baby Shower in the Helen Gray Education Center on the hospital campus in Joshua Tree. There will be food, raffles and giveaways, tours of the Special Additions Family Birthing Center, activities for children and pre-registration for prenatal education classes and the birth of your Special Addition. Community resource information will also be on-hand. The event is free and registration is not required. Bring your family and friends and celebrate your baby’s healthy future!

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CAR WASH TO BENEFIT VICTIM OF BIG BEAR DROWNING
A benefit car wash will be held tomorrow for burial expenses for Nathaniel Hopper, 18, of Yucca Valley, who drowned in Big Bear Lake Monday. The car wash will be at Santana’s in Yucca Valley starting at 9:00 a.m.

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CALTRANS PLANNING LONG AWAITED REPAIRS TO STATE ROUTE 62
After trying to pin down CalTrans on long awaited and desperately needed local highway repairs, Managing Editor Karl Gardner says they have started planning for the project...
Long awaited repairs to State Route 62 from Downtown Joshua to Twentynine Palms could start in the next thirty to fifty days. Shelly Lombardo, spokeswoman for CalTrans said Caltrans had let a contract to replace the road surface with an asphalt-concert mixture from Veterans Way in Joshua Tree east to Mantonya Road in the Indian Cove area of Twentynine Palms. Lombardo said the contractor is conducting tests on the asphalt-concert mixture to insure it will hold up to the desert environment. The exact date the 8 mile 1.6 million-dollar repair job starts is unknown. CalTrans officials said they would inform the community before work starts, giving details on lane closures schedules.

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FREE BUFFET BREAKFAST AT JOSHUA TREE CHURCH TOMORROW
The Community United Methodist Church of Joshua Tree invites you to a free buffet breakfast on Saturday, July 10. The breakfast will be from 9 to 10. Children's activities will be from 8:30 to 10. The church is located at 6213 East Parkway in the heart of Joshua Tree.

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