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Listen To Your News		Thursday, July 22, 2010		News Archive

BANK OF AMERICA ROBBED IN YUCCA VALLEY THIS MORNING
Sketchy details on a Bank Robbery in Yucca Valley this morning. Sheriffs’ Sergeant Jim Porter said just before nine this morning, an unidentified man walked into the Bank of America Branch on Demosa Avenue and Highway 62 gave a note to one of the tellers demanding cash. An unknown amount of cash was given to the suspect who then fled. It’s not know if any weapons were used. Deputies and detectives are working on leads, but have no suspects in custody at this time. Sheriffs’ Officials are asking anyone who has any with information on the bank robbery at the Bank of American in Yucca Valley to call the Morongo Basin Sheriffs Station at 760-366-4175.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS MARINE KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN
A Twentynine Palms Marine Corporal was killed in an IED blast in Helmland Province, Afghanistan. The Defense Department said Wednesday that the California -based Marine died Monday in the bomb blast. Corporal Paul Miller, 22, of Traverse City, Mich., was on foot patrol when he was killed, according to the Pentagon. Miller had deployed previously to Iraq. He was assigned 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, out of Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms. Corporal Paul Miller leaves behind a wife. The couple didn’t have any children.

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STATE BUDGET CRISIS CAUSES SEVERE CUTBACKS AT COPPER MOUNTAIN COLLEGE
Our own Copper Mountain College is being forced to implement severe cutback because of the state’s budget shortfalls. Reporter Tami Roleff has the specifics...
Over the past 10 years, Copper Mountain College has operated the Workforce Development Center, which has provided career counseling, college transfer information, rehabilitation training, job preparation and placement, and services for job seekers and employers. CMC’s Workforce Center has been the only center in San Bernardino County to operate without county funding, at a cost to the college of $35,000 per year. Due to the state’s budget crisis, CMC will be shutting down the Workforce Development Program as of August 20, as well as the GED testing, which costs the college $11,000 a year. The GED preparation program will not be affected. In addition, CMC lost some of its federal grants, which means the College’s Transfer Empowerment Program, or TEP, will also be shutting down in September. The Transfer Empowerment Program offered personalized assistance to students who wanted to transfer to the university system. Cutbacks in state funding mean that the college has had to dip into its reserves to pay its bills. CMC’s current budget will take the college’s reserves to below 10 percent, which is less than 30 days of operational funds. In addition, enrollments in summer courses are up, which is actually bad news for the college as the state has reduced the number of students for which the college will be compensated, which also ends up costing the college money. Copper Mountain College is one of the few colleges in the desert region to offer summer classes. During the past year, CMC will have provided three-quarters of a million dollars worth of classes and services to students without compensation. On a brighter note, the college has just installed a canopy of solar panels over the parking lots. It’s estimated that the solar panels will generate nearly 50 percent of CMC’s energy needs, not including the Bell Center.

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12 MORONGO BASIN DEPUTIES SHIFTING TO COUNTY JAILS
As of July 31, 47 sheriff's deputies from stations across the County will be transferring to the county's four detention centers to eliminate about $8 million in overtime at the jails. 12 of those will come from our Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station. To make up for the loss, 44 deputies will be transferring to fill in the vacancies. In addition, deputies will be shifting from a four-day-a-week, 10-hour-a-day work schedule to a 12-hour-a-day, 3-day-a-week work schedule. The move, which was supported by 97 percent of sheriff's patrol deputies, constitutes a 20-percent savings. In June, deputies rejected a concessions package that would have required members to defer a pay raise for the second year in a row and reduce pension benefits for future hires. The restructuring has offset the salary increases for the deputies, which amount to about $20 million. Among the deputies transferring to jails the bulk are coming from the sheriff's Morongo Basin station in Joshua Tree. A dozen deputies from here will be transferring to the jails, but only nine will be transferring to the Morongo Basin station to backfill the vacated positions, a loss of three local deputies on duty. County Supervisor Neil Derry, whose district includes the Morongo Basin, said his biggest concern is the moving of deputies with familiarity and long-standing ties to the communities in which they serve to areas they have little familiarity or ties with. "It will have a direct impact on community policing," Derry said.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS PLANNING COMMISSION MAKES THREE DECISIONS
The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission met Tuesday with three primary items on the agenda. Reporter Derwood Andrews was there and outlines those decisions...
A full five member Planning Commission met last Tuesday evening at City Hall to discuss and vote on three issues. The first public hearing was on the proposed auto repair facility on Adobe road. With new plans for landscaping and the canopy issue agreed, it received 5 yes votes, after a public plea for the Commission to ‘Lighten up’. The second hearing was dealt with quickly, 15 days to abate the delinquent property at 72731 Granite Avenue, after it was discovered that the registered owner said he had given it away some time ago and the recipient was denying it was his. As a danger (due to the stagnant pool) to the public, action was needed quickly. An even quicker vote was to take ‘no action’ on a consideration to change the zoning from residential to commercial, on property against Highway 62, and either Cactus Drive or Juanita Drive, between Alpine Avenue and Mesquite Springs Road. There are no current requests for projects and it would effect the current residents negatively.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS WOMAN ARRESTED AFTER SWORD ATTACK
A Twentynine Palms Woman was arrested after she attacked a man with a sword. Sheriff’s Officials gave limited details of the attack, saying a 9-1-1 call came in Tuesday night about 11:10, the caller saying "mom and a man are fighting". Witnesses said a woman at one of the units in the 6600 Block of Datura Avenue had a sword. Sheriffs’ Deputy Roger Meyer arrived at the home and arrested Pamela Black, 41. Pamela Black was booked into the Morongo Basin Jail for investigation of assault by sword, and held on $50,000 bail.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS WOMAN ARRESTED FOR HITTING HER HUSBAND
A Twentynine Palms woman was arrested on suspicion hitting her husband during a fight. Sheriffs’ officials said Monday morning about 9:30, Twentynine Palms Marine Basin Provost Marshal’s called for assistance with a domestic disturbance in the 74000 block of Joe Davis Drive. Deputy Shaunna Ables arrived at the home and after interviewing the pair, found that Qunikiea Craft, 24, had hit her husband with a tire iron. Qunikiea Craft was booked into the Morongo Basin Jail for investigation of spouse abuse, posted bail and was released at 7:18 Monday evening.

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Paul Cook

COOK BILL ALLOWING ADDITIONAL GRAND JURY SIGNED BY GOVERNOR A bill allowing the County to impanel an additional grand jury, sponsored by State Assemblyman Paul Cook of Yucca Valley, has been signed into law. Reporter Dan Stork has details... Assembly bill 1906, authored by Assembly Member Paul Cook of Yucca Valley, has been signed by Governor Schwarzenegger. The bill allows San Bernardino County to impanel an additional civil grand jury. With regard to the single civil grand jury that has been allowed by the state to investigate government wrongdoing in the County, Cook said, "This single grand jury worked extremely hard, but there was no way it could investigate far beyond the steps of County government. There was just too much to do." The bill goes into effect at the beginning of 2011.

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BLOOD DRIVE TOMORROW AT MORONGO BASIN SENIOR SUPPORT CENTER
Lifestream will hold a community blood drive tomorrow at Morongo Basin Senior Center, 57121 Sunnyslope Drive, Yucca Valley, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Donors will receive complimentary cholesterol screening. Donors also receive a discounted ticket to Knott’s Soak City with their first donation and a free Knott’s Soak City voucher with each subsequent donation through the season, and donor loyalty points. You may also register for bone marrow screening at all donor locations free of charge. Healthy individuals at least 15 years of age may donate blood (Those 15 and 16 years of age must provide parental consent). Donors should be free of infections or illness, weigh at least 110 pounds, and not be at risk for AIDS or hepatitis. Donors receive a free mini-physical as part of the donation process. Donating blood takes about an hour, yet gives someone a lifetime.

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PAJAMA GAME CONTINUES AT THEATRE 29, SUNDAY SHOW THIS WEEK
The hit Broadway musical revival of "The Pajama Game" at Theatre 29 continues this weekend with a Sunday matinee. Reporter Mike Lipsitz tells you how to get tickets...
Audiences of Theatre 29’s revival of "The Pajama Game" know firsthand what made this musical comedy classic American theater at its best. Patrons continue to delight at the elements that have made the show so beloved for three generations ... things like a clever story line with a message, toe-tapping, stick in your head music, performed by lovable, believable characters. "The Pajama Game" is such a part of Americana that you already know many of the songs even if you never knew where they originated. The show runs at Theatre 29 for two more weekends only. Students with ID see this classic for just $8, that’s a value you may not see again ever. The show runs Friday and Saturday nights at 7 with a 2:30 Matinee this Sunday only. For tickets, call the Box Office at 760-361-4151 right now or log onto theater29.com. Theatre 29 is at Sullivan Road and Adobe roads, right around the corner from Barr lumber in Twentynine palms.

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FINAL TWENTYNINE PALMS RECREATION MOVIE IN THE PARK TONIGHT
This will be the final night for the Twentynine Palms Recreation sponsored Movie in the Park Program. Reporter Derwood Andrews invites you to see Astro-Boy...
Astro-Boy is the last movie in the park for this summer, and a good one to finish with. A family animated action film about a brilliant scientist who looses his son, and creates a robot in his sons image, and the adventure begins. The show begins at dusk (around 8 p.m.) in Luckie Park Twentynine Palms. Bring the family, lawn chairs and blankets. Concessions will be provided by the Twentynine Palms Youth Club. For more information, contact the Recreation Department at 760-367-7562.

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