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Listen To Your News		Wednesday, July 21, 2010		News Archive

JOSHUA TREE MAN FOUND GUILTY IN ATTEMPTED MURDER OF SHERIFF’S DEPUTY
A Joshua Tree man accused trying to kill a local sheriff’s deputy was found guilty yesterday. Adam Lopez, 34, was found guilty Tuesday of attempted murder of a Peace Officer with enhancements, which will effect his sentencing. Lopez was accused of a shotgun attack against Deputy Adrian Garcia in October of 2006. As Deputy Garcia arrived to a call he was ambushed by Lopez who was lying in wait and fired a shotgun directly into Garcia’s patrol car. Garcia, struck by multiple pellets, reversed away from the attack. Deputy Garcia was taken to a hospital, treated and released. Deputies located Lopez’s car abandoned and evidence led them to the 69000 block of Kachina in Twentynine Palms. Deputies surrounded the house and, assisted by a sheriff’s helicopter, convinced Lopez to come out and surrender. A sentencing date for Lopez was not available from the Joshua Tree Court.

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NICOTINE ADDICTION LEADS TO BURGLARY
A nicotine habit led to the burglary of a smoke shop in Twentynine Palms. Sheriff’s reports say Tuesday morning about 4:35, sheriffs’ deputies responded to a smoke shop in the 6000 block of Adobe Road in Twentynine Palms, on reports that someone had broken in. Arriving deputies found the front door had been kicked in, the thieves taking 6 cartons of cigarettes worth over $700.00. Deputies located two sets of shoe tracks. No suspects have been identified.

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Donna Munoz Ed Will Martie Avels Phyllis Swinnerton

SCHOOL BOARD LOOKS AT ON-LINE LEARNING PROGRAMS The Morongo Unified School Board met in a workshop meeting last night. Reporter Dan Stork says the discussed on-line learning programs... Is a big increase in online instruction in the works for the Morongo Unified School District? What effect would it have on existing independent learning programs? What are the costs? These are some of the questions that members of the MUSD Board of Education wrestled with during a workshop meeting at District Headquarters on Tuesday July 20th. Kenton Levings, the director of sales for K12, an online learning company that claims to serve 70,000 students nationwide, told the Board and District staff that courses can be tailored to fit almost any educational objective, from a full virtual curriculum, to hybrid programs that combine computer-based learning with face-to-face encounters, to offering single advanced courses for which a school district lacks the teaching resources.

But he pressed the Board to reach a decision soon, so that his firm can mount a student-recruiting effort in the District in time for the imminent school year. For its part, the Board wants to do some homework of its own before making a commitment and favors doing a pilot program of the concept. Company representatives provided references to projects in Southern California already in full swing, with the hope that the MUSD Board will decide to boot the machine up by the time of its next meeting, in early August.

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Jim Amos

GENERAL JIM AMOS NAMED 35TH COMMANDANT OF THE USMC President Obama has nominated General Jim Amos to be the 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Pentagon announced Tuesday. The Senate Armed Services Committee, which holds confirmation hearings for such appointments, has not scheduled a date for Amos’ hearing. If confirmed, Amos, a career jet pilot, would become the first aviator to hold the Corps’ top job, and the service’s first assistant commandant to be promoted to the position in almost 30 years. Amos, 63, would succeed General James Conway, whose four-year tenure is expected to conclude in late summer.

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Bob Stadum Dan Munsey Roger Mayes Sheldon Hough Surann Graham

HI-DESERT WATER DISTRICT HEARING TO DOUBLE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM CHARGE The Hi-Desert Water District Board will hold a public hearing that could cost you some money tonight. Managing Editor Karl Gardner explains... A public hearing to raise the Capital Replacement Program, or CRP surcharge from $2.50 to $5.00, is on the docket at this evening’s Hi-Desert Water District meeting being held at district offices on the Highway at Inca staring at 6. Prior to the Public Hearing, the board will receive an update on the CRP program. Other items of interest on the agenda include how to proceed with the alternative sewage treatment option, and methods to add items to the board’s agenda. A closed session follows to conference with legal council on anticipated litigation.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS WATER DISTRICT NAMES NICK BOURIKAS AS NEW BOARD MEMBER
Retired Marine Sergeant Major Nicholas Borikas was appointed to the Twentynine Palms Water District Board, taking the seat for Chris Gallagher who resigned in June. At a special meeting Tuesday night, the board interviewed Borikas and former director Alan Anthony, selecting Borikas 3 to 1, with director Roger Shinaver opposing.

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TOWN AND WATER DISTRICT OFFICIALS MEET ON VARIETY OF ISSUES
A meeting between two members of the Yucca Valley Town Council and two members of the Hi-Desert Water District was held last night. Reporter Tami Roleff was at the 2+2 meeting and files this report...
At a 2 Plus 2 Committee meeting Tuesday morning between the Hi-Desert Water District and Yucca Valley Town Council, the committee members were to discuss regulating residential septic tanks in anticipation of the Town’s proposed sewage system. Committee member Sarann Graham, President of the Water District, suggested that the committee postpone any discussion until its next meeting so that newly hired Town Manager Mark Nuamie has a chance to review the Memorandum of Understanding between the District and the Town Council. The committee was informed that the water district is still working on assessment districts for the sewer system and hopes to have numbers by this fall. Furthermore, it hopes that ballots for the project will be out to residents sometimes between March and May of next year. Other discussion included an update on a landscape ordinance and comments about how to prevent or discourage residents from dumping hazardous waste in streets or in the desert.

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DESPITE NEW LAW, COUNTY COOL TO SECOND GRAND JURY
San Bernardino County leaders are applauding a new law that will allow the county to have more than one grand jury, but it's not clear if or when the law might be used. The law gives the county's presiding judge the ability to create a second civil grand jury that would be able to investigate government entities in the county. But Presiding Judge Douglas Elwell said he has no plans on calling for another grand jury. "I'm not required to empanel a second grand jury," Elwell said. "I don't have any current plans to do so. The presiding judge can call for an additional grand jury and the district attorney can ask for one, but someone has to go out of their way to create one. And so far, neither Elwell nor the District Attorney's Office are champing at the bit. Elwell said he doesn't know what might lead him to call for a second grand jury. Assistant District Attorney Dennis Christy said his office hasn't discussed asking for another civil grand jury.

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MOBILE MEDICAL CLINIC IN WONDER VALLEY TOMORROW
The Mobile Medical Clinic from Arrowhead Medical Clinic will be at the Wonder Valley Community Center tomorrow 10 a.m. till 3 p.m. in the parking lot.

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