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Listen To Your News		Wednesday, July 20, 2011		News Archive

MASSIVE TWENTYNINE PALMS IRON MINE TO BRING MAJOR BENEFITS TO AREA
The planned reopening of the massive Ironage iron mine east of Twentynine Palms is expected to be a huge financial boon for the area, bringing hundreds of steady local jobs and increased economic benefits. In an interview with Z107.7 News, Twentynine Palms City Manager Richard Warne said of the mine, "This is one of the greatest things that has happened in this community in recent history. It is very positive for us." The Ironage mine, which opened in the 1930s, peaked during World War II, then finally closed in the 1960s, is being brought back into full operation by U.S. Iron out of Tipton, Indiana. The mine will employ about 400 people; miners, truck drivers, clerical staff, heavy equipment operators and more. The iron ore will be trucked to Amboy, loaded onto trains, moved by rail to the Port of San Diego and then by ship to China, where it will be processed. U.S. Iron expects to begin its Twentynine Palms Operation in early 2012, and while they not have started formal hiring, they have partnered with the Twenynine Palms Chamber of Commerce. If you are interested in job opportunities with the mine, resumes are being taken at the Chamber of Commerce office downtown. If you do not have a resume, the Chamber will assist you in preparing one. Warne said U.S. Iron uses a hi-tech magnetic process to get the ore to about 62% iron before transport. He said the first four to five years will be spent just collecting the estimated nine million tons of existing tailings left at the mine. U.S. Iron estimates that the reserves still in the ground are between 40 to 90 million tons of high-grade ore. They are spending about $50,000,000.00 to bring the mine back into operation. The huge mine is about 30 miles east of the City Twentynine Palms and then 2 1/2 miles south of State Route 62 on Ironage Road.

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YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL NARROWS COUNCIL APPLICANTS TO 6, HERBEL OUT
And then there were six. The Yucca Valley Town council narrowed the field for council applicants last night. Z107-7 Managing Editor Tami Roleff was there and files this report. After being scolded during public comments for a lack of diversity on the Council, the Yucca Valley Town Council winnowed the number of applicants for the vacant Council seat to six, down from the nine who applied. After discussion, the Council members decided to interview all the applicants they selected, even those who had applied and been interviewed the first time around, after Chad Mayes resigned in April. Then the Council members agreed that an applicant would need three "yes" votes to continue on to the interview process. Those not making the cut were Michael Alberg, Curt Duffy, who each received only two yes votes, and Lori Herbel, who did not receive any yes votes. Five of the six applicants received four "yes" votes for an interview. They were: Michal Alaniz (and my apologies for butchering the pronunciation of her name in an earlier story); Roger Johnson; Robert Lombardo; and Andy Mueller. Receiving three "yes" votes was David Cooper. The applicants will be interviewed at a special meeting at 6:00 Monday, July 25 in the Yucca Room of the Community Center, with the appointment to the Town Council at the end of the interviews.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS MARINE DIES IN AFGHANISTAN
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Twentynine Palm based Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Lance Cpl. Christopher Camero, 19, of Kailua Kona, Hawaii, died July 15 of wounds suffered July 6 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Camero was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS PLANNING COMMISSION BUYS PROPERTY, REMOVES TANKS FROM SHOOTING RULES
The Twentynine Palm Planning Commission met in regular session. Reporter Derwood Andrews was there and says the agenda ranged from property purchases to other familiar issues. With Commissioner Easter absent, and a four-person commission, the three items moved quickly. First, a request from City Council that the Commission find the purchase of ten acres, added to a previous 100 acres, and a possible future Public Park in the Indian Cove area, is consistent with the General Plan. Yes, it is. Next, back to the Accessory Structures Study Session, with the goal to amend the development code. Yes… now on to a public hearing and then to the Council. Lastly, the shooting range guidelines. The guidelines were adopted with minor changes, such as removing the use of tanks (as it was based on a military document) then a big yes to a future policy document.

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SUPERVISOR DERRY PLEADS GUILTY, TWO FELONIES DROPPED
Third District County Supervisor Neil Derry, who represents Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree, pleaded guilty yesterday to one misdemeanor count of failing to report a campaign contribution under a plea agreement which saw two felony charges against him dismissed. Derry's plea followed a three-hour series of meetings with Superior Court Judge Michael Dest and attorneys for both sides. State Deputy Attorney General Emily Hanks agreed to drop the felony charges of perjury and filing a false document. Dest sentenced Derry to three years of probation and ordered him to pay a $10,000.00 fine. After the hearing, Derry, 42 said, "This was clearly a political prosecution from the beginning in an effort to remove me from office without cause, I agreed to this so I can get back to work. This was a compromise. I still maintain my innocence." He blames District Attorney Michael A. Ramos, for fueling the prosecution. Derry pushed for an investigation when Ramos was accused of sexually harassing a former employee in 2009. At the hearing, the state requested Derry be prohibited from running for public office for four years. Dest declined the request, saying the penalty he was imposing on Derry was "severe" and appropriate for a misdemeanor. He said Derry was free to continue his campaign for re-election in November 2012. Derry said he can now resume voting as a county supervisor and a member of the Omnitrans and San Bernardino Associated Governments boards on agenda items seeking federal funding.

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CUE THE CALLIOPE MUSIC, THE JOSHUA BASIN WATER BOARD MEETS TONIGHT
Let the calliope music begin. The circus known as the Joshua Basin Water Board will meet in regular session tonight. Reporter Mike Lipsitz takes a look at tonight's agenda. The regular meeting of the Joshua Basin Water District Board of Directors comes to order at 7 o'clock tonight at district offices on Chollita Road in Joshua Tree. Tonight the board will consider waiving $225 charged to Director Mike Luhrs for costs associated with providing 899 pages of documents pursuant to a request by the director. The board will then attempt to establish a firm policy for dealing with the costs associated with such requests. Also tonight, Directors may hear ad hoc committee reports on funding for pipeline replacements, and on the performance review process for the general manager. And lastly, the board will adjourn to closed session to confer with legal counsel.

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80-ACRE FIRE NEAR WHITEWATER CONTAINED
Fire crews contained an 80-acre brush fire along Interstate 10 that prompted road and freeway lane closures Tuesday. Riverside County firefighters were called to the blaze along the right side of the westbound freeway past Whitewater Canyon Road at 10:28 a.m. By the time the fire was contained at 2 p.m., it had grown to 80 acres. More than 120 firefighters were sent to the scene along with 26 engines and three aircraft. The California Highway Patrol closed the intersection of Tamarack Road and Haugen-Lehmann Way around 11:10 a.m. Half an hour later, the highway patrol reported that a wind shift had sent smoke across all four lanes of westbound Interstate 10, closing the slow lane. The fire was fully controlled by 5 p.m.

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LOCAL CHILD, BORN WITH CONGENITAL DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA, PART OF FACEBOOK FUND DRIVE
A local child, stricken with a rare disease, is part of a national awareness and fundraising campaign. Managing editor Tami Roleff joins us again and tells you how to help. A local child was born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia disease, or CDH. CDH is as common as spina bifida or cystic fibrosis, but is not nearly as well known. A child who is born with CDH lacks a fully formed diaphragm, which allows the abdominal organs to move into the chest cavity and prevents the lungs from growing. Statistics show that 50 percent of children born with CDH do not survive. The Association of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research, Awareness and Support is trying to raise money via Facebook for research into CDH. To participate in this fundraising campaign, visit www.voteforcdh.org. For more information about CDH, visit CDHsupport.org.

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MORONGO BASIN SENIOR SUPPORT CENTER TO OFFER FACEBOOK CLASSES FOR SENIORS
On two consecutive Fridays, July 22 and July 22 from 1-3 p.m., the Morongo Basin Senior Support Center at 57121 Sunnyslope Drive in Yucca Valley, will present a Facebook class. Come learn how to set up your Facebook page, search for people, message, post photos and videos to your wall, and more. All ages are welcome. The charge is $20 and space is limited. For more information or to RSVP call 760-365-9661.

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