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Listen To Your News		Monday, July 19, 2010		News Archive

TWENTYNINE PALMS MARINE PRESENTED WITH SILVER STAR
Corporal Daniel Hickey was presented with a Silver Star Friday aboard the Twentynine Palms Marine Base for his courage under fire in Afghanistan while serving as a machine gunner in 1st Platoon, Company G, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. Corporal Hickey, a North Bend, Oregon native, was awarded the Silver Star for his actions August 2, 2008 when his patrol was ambushed by medium machine gun fire and rocket propelled grenades. During the ensuing firefight Hickey, pulled an injured Marine to safety, continued to engage the enemy with his weapon and killed several enemy fighters. Lieutenant Colonel John Reed, 2/7's battalion commander, spoke of the young Marine's actions. "Corporal Hickey is a hero. There are no doubt his actions, as courageous as they were on the battlefield, saved many lives that day." Hickey is the second Marine from 2/7 to receive a Silver Star in recent years. Corporal Ian Dollard of Pleasant, Calif., received the award for saving his platoon commander's life in Iraq June 24, 2007. Another 2/7 Marine, Corporal Brady Gustafson of Eagan, IL, received the Navy Cross for his actions in Iraq in 2008. Gustafson, despite injuries, remained on his machine gun, locating and accurately firing on several insurgent positions, some as close as 20 meters from the vehicle.

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JUDGE RULES STOLEN VALOR ACT UNCONSTITUTIONAL
A law that makes it illegal to lie about being a war hero is unconstitutional because it violates free speech, a federal judge ruled Friday as he dismissed a case against a Colorado man who claimed he received two military medals. Rick Glen Strandlof falsely claimed he was an ex-Marine who was wounded in Iraq and received the Purple Heart and Silver Star. He was charged with violating the Stolen Valor Act, which makes it a crime punishable by up to a year in jail to falsely claim to have won a military medal. U.S. District Judge Robert Blackburn dismissed the case and said the law is unconstitutional, ruling the government did not show it has a compelling reason to restrict that type of statement. The law has also been challenged in California and a case now before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

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Donna Munoz Ed Will Martie Avels Phyllis Swinnerton

SCHOOL BOARD MEETS IN SPECIAL MEETING TOMORROW MORNING The Morongo Unified School Board will meet in a special workshop session tomorrow morning. Managing Editor Karl Gardner checks the agenda... The Morongo Unified School District Board of Trustees meet in a special workshop session tomorrow morning at school district offices on Utah Trail in Twentynine Palms. An open session to allow public comment starts at 8, then the board retires to a closed session to evaluate Superintendent Jim Majchrzak. The open workshop session begins at 9, with Online Learning Options first up. The board will then discuss Pros and Cons of the "Race to the Top" program, board self evaluation, use of title program dollars, Review and Revise the "Blue Print for Excellence, Board fiscal responsibilities, Southwest Network and District Technician duties and savings, Board Facility responsibilities, and course description reviews.

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VEGETATION FIRE IN YUCCA VALLEY SUNDAY
A small vegetation fire kept Yucca Valley firefighters busy over the weekend. Fire Officials said Sunday afternoon at about 3:30, fire crews from station 121 responded to a vegetation fire in the hills up above Acoma Trail. The in the heat and afternoon breeze, the fire grew to about one half to one acre in size before firefighters had the fire out. No structures were threatened, damaged or destroyed and no injuries were reported.

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HI-DESERT MEDICAL CENTER E.R. NAMED IN TOP TEN IN THE NATION
Hi-Desert Medical Center’s emergency department has scored in the top 10 among more than 500 hospitals nationwide. Hospital spokesman Joe Ruddon said, "An operational performance group interviewed emergency department leaders across the nation to share critical success factors common among the departments." To be considered a high performing emergency department, significant progress had to be made in meeting or sustaining these factors; Patient satisfaction, door to provider time, community reputation, Growth, Marked improvement over baseline, and High degree of leadership and teamwork. Ruddon noted Hospital emergency departments in the top-10 nationwide including Hi-Desert Medical Center’s share impressive results for those standards. In fact, he said, Hi-Desert Medical Center’s emergency department door to provider time is less than the national average of three hours.

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THE BUZZ ABOUT BEES AT HI-DESERT NATURE MUSEUM THURSDAY AT NOON
It will be all about bees at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum this Thursday at noon. Reporter Derwood Andrews has the buzz...
To be or not to be, that is the question -- answered at The Hi-Desert Nature Museum, who will be giving a free lecture on the 1,500 species of California bees. Without bee pollination of fruits, nuts and our wild flowers, we’d all be looking at a desolate landscape and a dreadful diet. Museum Biologist Stefanie Ritter will explain how you can attract the buzzing bees to your yard. It takes place at noon on Thursday July 22nd, for a full schedule of these fascinating ‘Brown Bag Lunch Lectures’ visit hidesertnaturemuseum.org or call 760-369-7212. The Museum is at the Yucca Valley Community Center Complex, 57116 Twentynine Palms Highway.

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CHP OFFER FREE START SMART CLASS WEDNESDAY
The California Highway Patrol is continuing the free Start Smart class at the Morongo Basin Area office. The Class will be held on this Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:00. Parents and newly licensed or soon to be drivers with questions regarding this class or anyone that wishes to pre-register, which is required, are to contact the Morongo Basin California Highway Patrol Area office at 760-366-3707. Teen drivers are found at fault in 66% of all fatal collisions they are involved in, even they only represent 4% of licensed drivers. California has the second highest fatality rate involving drivers between the ages of 15 to 19. Start Smart speaks directly to the teen drivers and their parents/guardians. This program provides classroom instruction on collision avoidance techniques, collision causing elements, and driver responsibilities.

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Lori Herbel George Huntington Sheldon Hough Surann Graham

TWO YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS MEET WITH 2 HI-DESERT WATER DISTRICT DIRECTORS TOMORROW In what is called a 2+2 meeting, 2 members of the Yucca Valley Town Council will meet with two members of the Hi-Desert Water District Board. Managing Editor Karl Gardner looks at what the two agencies will be discussing in the meeting, which is open to the public... Two Yucca Valley Town Council and High Desert Water District members will meet in a 2 plus 2 meeting Tuesday morning in the Yucca Valley Community Center Mesquite Room starting at 8. Items of interest on the docket include residential septic tank regulations, capital improvement projects, water project status, landscape and native plant ordinances along with hazardous waste dumping. The meeting is open to the public along with an opportunity for public comment.

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HOMESTEAD VALLEY COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETS TONIGHT
The Homestead Valley Community Council Meeting will meet at the Yucca Mesa Community Center, tonight at 6:00 P.M. Among items of interest are Committee Reports on fund raising, events, advisory, public outreach, and community services, improvements, and cooperation. The council will also discuss a Marine Unit Sponsorship and get a County update from Supervisor Neil Derry’s field representative Alan Rasmussen.

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