Your Community Radio Station Since 1989
Hear Local News 7 times a day, 7 days a week, at 7, 8, 9, noon, 4, 5, and 6.
Read Local News here every weekday.

Listen To Your News		Wednesday, July 22, 2009		News Archive

FORMER COUNTY ASSESSOR CHARGED WITH 11 FELONIES
Former San Bernardino County Tax Assessor, Bill Postmus, has been charged with 11 felonies alleging grand theft, drug possession and using public funds to by airline tickets and fund a road trip to Colorado. The District Attorney’s office said Tuesday the charges follow an in-depth probe into Postmus’ tenure as County Assessor. Postmus resigned this year after being arrested following a raid at this home, where authorities found Methamphetamine, Ecstasy and drug Paraphernalia. Prosecutors say Postmus, who once was the County First District Supervisor, and chaired the Board of Supervisors, used public funds to hire and pay employees who didn’t provide public service. One employee, Gregory Eyler, was arrested and charged with receiving a salary without providing service. Postmus was told of the charges during a court visit Monday. Postmus’ bail was set at $350,000. Eyler was arrested without incident and booked into the West Valley Detention Center. His bail was set at $100,000. To see the actual charges, click here.

...Back To Headlines...

ELDER FRAUD CASES ON THE RISE
Our elder population is being targeted by con men and scam artists. Managing Editor Karl Gardner says elder fraud is on the rise and has some ways to protect yourself -----
Officials say elder fraud cases are rising, especially sweepstakes scams with seniors losing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Locally, there have been several incidents of scams and fraud reports in the County Sheriff’s log. The typical scam involves sending senior citizens a counterfeit check in the mail. They are told to deposit the check and then wire money -- sometimes described as a fee -- to the scammers. By the time the bank realizes the check is a fake, the victim's money is long gone. Investigators say they are also seeing many elderly people ripped off trying to sell their cars. A prospective buyer will write a bad check for thousands of dollars more than the value of the car as a way to convince the seller to hand over cash, sometimes as much as $10,000. Usually, the person dumps the car and pockets the cash before the seller realizes they have been stuck with a bad check. County Deputy District Attorney Tristan Svare said he thinks there has been an increase in financial crimes against the elderly, whether it’s family members intercepting checks or unscrupulous door-to-door contractors.

...Back To Headlines...

COUNTY SECURES 4.7 MILLION-DOLLAR CRIMINAL JUSTICE GRANT
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors accepted a $4.7 million federal grant yesterday to enhance law enforcement and court services throughout the County. "These funds will allow us to enhance the County’s criminal justice programs from our drug courts to security at the Colorado River Sheriff’s station to improvements for the District Attorney and Public Defender," said First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt. The funding was provided through the federal stimulus program. The County received $4,677,019 on behalf of the County and it’s 24 cities and towns. The County will release $3.9 million to the cities and towns within 60 days of receiving the funds. The County will be responsible for tracking performance, preparing and submitting financial reports, and providing administrative services and oversight related to the grants. The County’s share will be $514,764.

...Back To Headlines...

SCHOOL BOARD STILL WAITS FOR FINAL STATE BUDGET CUTS
The Morongo Unified School Board is still waiting for hard figures from the state. They know they will take a hit, but still don’t know how much. Reporter Dan Stork was at last night’s school board meeting and files this report ------
When Assistant Superintendent Michael Walker told Z107.7 last month that he expected to describe budget cuts at the July 21st meeting of the Morongo Unified School District Board of Education, he also expected that the state budget would be resolved by then. But California’s "big 5" politicians reached their budget agreement only on Monday. Until the legislature either accepts that agreement, or cobbles together their own solution, local-governing bodies, such as the school district, are in limbo. So Walker was unable to follow through with detailed figures. He also reported that the state has been late in meeting scheduled payments due to MUSD. But the District will be able to meet payroll for August and September. In this atmosphere of fiscal uncertainty, the Board questioned several relatively small expenditures which, in this reporter’s opinion, it would have normally approved without comment. These included: a $5 per hour pay increase for a classified employee who has been doing the job of her ill and absent supervisor, as well as her own; and the cost of an ROP nursing textbook. In other business, Assistant Superintendent Tom Baumgarten described a new policy, submitted for review that lays down guidelines for concurrent enrollment of high school students in community college courses.

...Back To Headlines...

VEHICLE THEFTS ON THE DECLINE STATEWIDE
Vehicle theft is in its third year of decline in California; its largest decrease in more than 10 years. According to California Highway Patrol statistics, in 2008 there was a 12.2 percent decrease in the number of vehicle thefts statewide. While the sizable shifts is encouraging news for members of California’s law enforcement community, the insurance industry and vehicle owners statewide, there’s still more work to be done. "Even with the decrease in vehicle theft, the economic loss to Californians continues to exceed $1 billion," said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. "I applaud the work of our officers as well as police and sheriff’s deputies throughout the state to deduce the incidences of vehicle theft. Of the 199,766 reported stolen vehicles in California last year, 86.8 percent of those vehicles were recovered. Southern California continues to be a hot spot for vehicle theft. Approximately 55.8 percent of all thefts occurred in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. "The cheapest form of defense is to simply employ the anti-theft devices that are standard on all vehicles: locks", added Commissioner Farrow. "Lock your car and take your keys". Additional tips to ensure you vehicle remains where you left it:

• Park in well-lit, populated areas
• Don’t warm up or leave your vehicle running unattended
• Consider a visible or audible device that alerts thieves the vehicle is protected
• Immobilizing devices prevent thieves from bypassing the ignition and hot-wiring a vehicle
• Tracking devices can be very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles.
• Honda and Toyota models continue to be popular among car thieves; Toyota has consistently ranked as the most frequently stolen pickup truck since 1984.

...Back To Headlines...

YUCCA VALLEY CARQUEST NOT REQUIRED TO BURY OFF-SITE POWER LINES
Common sense reigned at last night’s meeting of the Yucca Valley Planning Commission. Reporter Tami Roleff has more -----
The owner of Carquest will not have to spend $120,000 to bury utility lines that don’t go to his business and aren’t even on his property. The Yucca Valley Planning Commission was told at its meeting last night that a strict interpretation of the Town’s ordinance required the owner of Carquest, who is planning a major expansion of his business, to bury all the electrical, phone, and cable lines for all the other businesses on his block, even though the utility poles were not on his property and even though Carquest’s utilities were already underground. The Planning Commission determined that if Carquest’s owner made a slight modification to the wires, his project would fit an exemption in the town ordinance and he would no longer be required to bury them. In other business, the commissioners spent more than an hour discussing hypothetical questions to determine when changes in land use would require a site plan review, and how big a building expansion should be before it triggered a review. The commissioners gave guidance to staff, who will come back at a later meeting with more specific guidelines for them to approve.

...Back To Headlines...

TWENTYNINE PALMS WATER CONSIDERS EMINENT DOMAIN TONIGHT
The Twentynine Palms Water District board will look at revising rules, eminent domain and the performance of the fire chief tonight. Assignment reporter Desiree Weston takes a closer look ------
Changes to rules and regulations for water service, and the specter of eminent domain come before the Twentynine Palms Water District Board, meeting this evening at district offices on Hatch Road, starting at 6. In their first action, the board will consider approval of an ordinance revising rules for water service and other District services. Next up, in order to proceed with a major water line project, the board will consider invoking the power of eminent domain to acquire easements. Immediately following the Water District meeting, the board will reconvene to conduct Fire Department business. First will be a closed session to evaluate the performance of Fire Chief Jim Thompson followed by a report from the Fire Chief, reports from the financial manager along with a call for future agenda items.

...Back To Headlines...

YUCCA VALLEY RECREATION DAY CAMP STILL HAS OPENINGS
There are still some openings for next weeks Yucca Valley Recreation Day camp, Kamp Kool Beans. Camp is held at Machris Park, in the upper Sky Harbor area of Yucca Valley. It is open to children in 1st grade - entering 6th grade. Cost for this program is $40.00 per camper and includes a Kool Beans t-shirt. Yucca Valley residents receive a $5.00 discount. Camp doors open at 10:00 a.m. and close at 2:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Next weeks theme is "Green" Beans, July 27-July 30; celebrate nature with outdoor activities and treasure hunts, plant a tree on "get dirty " day and learn ways to recycle items into art. Grow your own Kool Beans to take home. Kamp Kool Beans day camp session includes a too-fun mix of activities that provide creative, physical, and social opportunities. Pre registration is required at the Yucca Valley Community Center or online at www.yucca-valley.org. Space is limited. For more information call the Town of Yucca Valley Community Services Department at 369-7211.

...Back To Headlines...

"DESERT THUNDERSTORMS", HI DESERT NATURE MUSEUM BROWN BAG LECTURE TOMORROW
The Hi-Desert Nature Museum’s brown bag lecture tomorrow will feature a talk on desert thunderstorms. Reporter Dan Stork joins us again with your invitation ------
At the next Brown Bag Lecture at the Hi-Desert Museum, Ray Yeager will discourse on "Desert Thunderstorms". He’ll explore basic facts abut our local climate, and will discuss how clouds and rain are formed, as well as the cause and effect of summer weather that includes the formation of thunderstorms. The lecture starts at noon on Thursday July 23rd. Admission is free, and iced tea will be served. The Museum is open, with free admission, Tuesday-Sunday from 10:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m. For more information, call 369-72l2 or visit hidesertnaturemusuem.org.

...Back To Headlines...