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 28, 2010		News Archive

YUCCA VALLEY MAN PLEADS INSANITY IN RAMMING OF SHERIFF’S PATROL CARS
A Yucca Valley man accused of attempted murder of a sheriffs deputy and ramming two sheriff’s patrol cars, pled not guilty by reason of insanity during a court hearing in Joshua Tree. Jeremy Quinones, 20 entered the plea Friday. In January, Quinones was arrested after deputies responded to a call of a disturbance in the 5500 block of Onaga Trail in Yucca Valley about 11:00 the morning of January 26. Deputies arrived to find that the suspect, Quinones, had left the home in a white SUV. As deputies conducted their investigation, two patrol cars were parked parallel in front of the house. Quinones returned to the area accelerated towards the scene directly at one of the deputies, who jumped out of his path taking cover behind one of the patrol cars. Quinones swerved and rammed the rear end of a parked sheriff’s vehicle. The force of the collision pushed the sheriff’s vehicle into the second sheriff’s vehicle. Quinones’ vehicle continued forward and struck a deputy. The Deputy who was hit, sustained minor injuries and was treated and released. Due to the insanity plea, Jeremy Quinones is scheduled to undergo psychiatric evaluation, then report back to Judge Rod Cortez in September.

...Back To Headlines...

Jim Harris Joel Klink John Cole Steve Flock Steve Spear

TWENTYNINE PALMS CITY COUNCIL APPROVES EXPANSION OF GRANITE CONSTRUCTION SITE The Twentynine Palms City Council met in regular session last night. The pubic debate over the long-planned expansion of Granite Construction mining operations in Twentynine Palms came down to a business versus environment confrontation. In the first part on his 2-part report on the meeting, Reporter Dan Stork describes how the argument shaped up. Tomorrow, in part two, a contractor’s license issue and the release of confidential information regarding council candidate’s Jay Corbin’s resignation from a city job in 2005... Dueling experts gave conflicting opinions of the proper way to do a tortoise survey, and denigrated each other’s methodologies.

During a half-hour talk that was part of the staff presentation of the Environmental Impact Report, the city’s expert, Dr. Jack Turner, said his "boots on the ground" method that counted only tortoises actually seen, is superior to current state-mandated methods that use mathematical models and formulas to estimate the tortoise population density. Turner concluded that the expansion will have a "less than significant" environmental impact. During public comment, Granite Construction’s Environmental Manager Jane Powell emphasized both Granite’s need to expand, and the benefits the City will realize from the expansion. Speakers from the Center for Biological Diversity, and the California Fish and Game Department disagreed with the EIR’s conclusions. Another speaker, biologist Ed LaRue, questioned both Turner’s methodology and his qualifications. LaRue warned, "I want to go on public record to let you know that if you certify this EIR, you will violate the Endangered Species Act". City resident Paul Smith added, "I would just recommend that you assure yourself that your development agreements and the other agreements with Granite Construction contain indemnification and hold-harmless agreements for legal costs that will come out of this." Council unanimously approved a blanket resolution that contained several approvals that will allow the expansion to proceed.

...Back To Headlines...

Pat Meagher

CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE TO HOLD TOWN HALL MEETING SUNDAY The Democratic Candidate for the 41st Congressional District, Pat Meagher, returns to Morongo Basin for a town hall meeting this Sunday at 2 p.m. at Bruce’s Coyote Kitchen at Copper Mountain College in Joshua Tree. It will be the third trip here this summer for Meagher in his bid for Jerry Lewis’ house seat. This meeting is free and open to everyone regardless of party affiliation. Meagher says, "Priority one for this area’s representative has got to be getting people back to work." Part of his plan to do that involves restoring health to small businesses because, he says, "they will be the primary source of new jobs in the coming recovery." To attend Sunday’s Town Hall Meeting at 2 p.m., follow the signs from Twentynine Palms Highway and Rotary Way to Bruce’s Coyote Kitchen. For more information, call 760-367-9621.

...Back To Headlines...

YUCCA VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION GIVES THE GREEN LIGHT TO NEW ARCO AM/PM OPENING
The new Arco AM/PM in Yucca Valley got the green light from the Yucca Valley Planning Commission last night. Reporter Tami Roleff was at the meeting and has details and other items...
The new AM/PM-Arco, located on the southeast corner of Balsa Avenue and Twentynine Palms Highway in Yucca Valley, can open August 18. So said the Yucca Valley Planning Commission at its meeting last night. According to the Conditions of Approval for the project, driveways from the project onto the highway and improvements to the highway were to be completed before the convenience store and gas station would be allowed to open. However, CalTrans has not yet issued the permits for the work on the highway, and it’s estimated that the highway improvements won’t be completed until November, which means the gas station and store would have sat idle for 3 months. There was considerable discussion about when–and whether—CalTrans would approve the permits, as well as discussion about traffic jams on Balsa Avenue caused by drivers trying to turn into the new gas station and convenience store. But a Town engineer reported that the increased traffic is not expected to be significant. The Commissioners agreed to discuss at a later date the requirement that future projects have CalTrans permits prior to the Town issuing grading and building permits. The old AM/PM-Arco will close August 11. In other business, the Commissioners approved a request by T-Mobile to build a 54-foot tall cell phone tower disguised as a ball field light on the campus of Joshua Springs Calvary Chapel and School.

...Back To Headlines...

LAST WEEKEND FOR "THE PAJAMA GAME" AT THEATRE 29
"The Pajama Game" continues its run at Theatre 29 through this weekend. First produced on Broadway in 1954, then made into a movie starring Doris day in 1958, "The Pajama Game" is "Classic American theatre at its best." Featuring romantic leads Courtney McElrath as Babe Williams and Cody Joseph as Sid Sorokin, the show is full of familiar songs which became hits on their own during the golden era of Broadway. "The Pajama Game" features well-known songs like, "Hey There", "Hernando's Hideaway", "7 1/2 Cents", and "Steam Heat." Sparkling choreography based on the Bob Fosse original moves have been created for the local production by Shelby Art, a Theatre 29 veteran who is now a theatre major at Fresno State University. The Twentynine Palms production features a very strong ensemble cast anchored by newcomer Kent Heckart as the Sleep-Tite pajama factory time-study expert Vernon Hines, Cindy Daigneault as Sorokin s busybody Secretary, Mabel, and Sabrina Olson as the slinky bookkeeper, Gladys. The show runs this Friday and Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $12.00 for regular admission, $10.00 for Seniors and military, and $8.00 for children under 12 and students with ID. "The Pajama Game" is suitable for the entire family. Reservations can be made by calling the Theatre 29 Box Office at 760-361-4151 or online at www.theatre29.com. Theatre 29 is located on Sullivan Road (right around the corner from Barr lumber) in Twentynine Palms.

...Back To Headlines...

BIGHORN DESERT VIEW WATER AGENCY APPROVES EXPENSES, SUPPORTS GUBLER LAFCO OBJECTION
The Bighorn Desert View Water Agency Board met in regular session last night. On the agenda was a request for conference expenses and a sphere of influence objection from Gubler Orchids. Reporter Mike Lipsitz was there and files this report...
At its regular meeting last night, the Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency Board of Directors authorized release of $1,200 already earmarked for director education, thus clearing the way for two directors to participate in upcoming conferences. In other business, directors approved a service agreement and chief engineering contract with engineering firm Krieger & Stewart. Also, the board voted to draft a letter in support of Gubler’s Orchids opposition to a LAFCO review of the Agency’s sphere of influence. The concern being that if the orchid grower were to come under that sphere, the operation would be vulnerable to a forced annexation a condition that owner Chris Gubler sees as a clear threat to the firm which employs 24 at its Landers operation. Also, the board made a regular periodic review and reaffirmation of their own codes of ethics and conduct. Then, after approval of routine items on the consent agenda, and regular monthly reports there was a small celebration commemorating the agency’s 20th year of service.

...Back To Headlines...

Chancy Chambers Chris Gallagher Phil Cisnerous Roger Shinaver Sam Moore

TWENTYNINE PALMS WATER DISTRICT MEETS TONIGHT WITH WATER AND FIRE BUSINESS The Twentynine Palms Water District Board meets in regular session tonight. Managing Editor Karl Gardner says the board will discus both water district and fire department business... The Twentynine Palms Water District meets in both water and fire department business this evening, at district headquarters on Hatch Road starting at 6. On the water docket, the board will consider giving authority to General Manager Mike Wright to deposit and make investments for the district, discuss water sampling of the Lear Avenue area and possible alternative fluoride removal plant sites, then look at providing water outside district boundaries for the Southern California Gas Company. In fire department business, the board will discuss funding future fire department facilities, and receive reports from the fire chief and finance manager.

...Back To Headlines...

CHAIR EXERCISE BEGINS FRIDAY AT TWENTYNINE PALMS SENIOR CENTER
Beginning this Friday, Reach Out Morongo Basin will offer a weekly Chair Exercise Class at the Twentynine Palms Senior Center, 6539 Adobe Road. Fridays from 10-11 a.m., seniors will be able to pull up a chair and exercise. Chair exercises are a gentle way for seniors to build muscle strength and stay flexible. These simple slow-moving exercises can also improve balance, increase metabolism, relieve pain and improve mental alertness. Taught by Reach Out Volunteer Rose Last, a retired physical therapist, the class is free to those 60 and over. For more details, contact Reach Out at 760-361-1410.

...Back To Headlines...