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Listen To Your News		Wednesday, August 24, 2011		News Archive

DETAILS ON INDIAN COVE CAMPGROUND ATTEMPTED MURDER
More details about the attempted murder near Indian Cove Twentynine Palms Park Monday. Investigators say Richard Schneck, 28, of Landers, believed his estranged wife was having an affair with Randy Camerer. Schneck took his wife's vehicle and cell phone. Then, pretending to be his wife, he sent Camerer a text message, saying he had a flat tire at Indian Cove Road just outside the park entrance, and needed help. Schneck, armed with a 9-mm pistol, then waited in the desert near the vehicle. Camerer and his fiancee, Phyllis Mansfield, who is Schneck's wife's cousin, went to Indian Cove to help. When they got there, Schneck confronted them, firing a number of rounds while threatening to kill Camerer. Some of the bullets struck Camerer's pick-up truck, and flattened one of his tires. Camerer and Mansfield fled in the truck, with Schneck chasing them in his wife's vehicle, ramming Camerer's truck several times. Schneck eventually stopped chasing them and they called 9-1-1 when they arrived home. After an extensive search, Richard Schneck was located and arrested for investigation of attempted murder. He was booked into the Morongo Basin Jail with bail set at $1 million.

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EXPOSURE AND DEHYDRATION SUSPECTED IN DEATHS IN JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
Investigators with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department are still not releasing any details after two bodies were found in Joshua Tree National Park Monday. It appears as though the deaths were from exposure and dehydration. The man and woman, still not identified, were found about a mile apart on a rugged dirt road, meant for 4-wheel drive vehicles, some eight miles off the main park road. They were driving a rented Dodge Charger found disabled in front of a locked gate at the end of Black Eagle Mine Road. It appears the car became disabled and the two had no water, The woman had walked about 5 miles in temperatures at about 106 degrees, the man another mile, before they succumbed.

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LOUD CELL PHONE LEADS TO ARREST OF TWO IN JOSHUA TREE
A neighbor talking loudly on her cell phone led to the arrest of her husband and son. About 7 a.m. yesterday, a man in the 6600 block of Park Boulevard in Joshua Tree asked a woman standing outside his window who was talking on a cell phone to quiet down. The woman went home and told her husband. Her husband and son, Kenneth Grier, 52, and Christopher Grier, 22, both of Joshua Tree, returned to the victim's apartment, started banging on his door and told him to come out and fight. At one time, one of the Griers was trying to reach inside the apartment while trying to force his way inside the apartment. They also told the victim they were going to kill him. The victim told 9-1-1 that he felt threatened by the men and didn't want to have to try to protect himself. Kenneth Grier and Christopher Grier were both arrested for investigation of making terrorist threats. They were booked into the Morongo Basin Jail with bail set at $50,000 each.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS CITY COUNCIL TAKES ON ISSUE OF SOLAR FIELDS IN THE CITY
Concerns about the development of solar fields dominated last night's meeting of the Twentynine Palms City Council. Reporter Dan Stork says the Council is also looking at improvements between Encelia and Split Rock Roads. The prospect of solar fields within the city energized the Twentynine Palms City Council at its regular meeting. There is nothing in the city's development code that explicitly deals with the subject, so staff has been at pains to interpret the code when faced with queries about permits and regulations for solar development. Encouraged by several speakers from the public to promote locally-generated solar energy, the council is anxious to do so while state and Federal rules that favor small solar fields remain in effect. The council directed staff to interpret existing city rules liberally to favor the granting of conditional use permits, and to study possible fee schedules, and directed the planning commission to develop standards for solar development. The council also heard, and approved, a joint presentation by city engineer Richard Pederson and a representative from Dokken Engineering on a conceptual plan for street improvements on Route 62, between Encelia and Split Rock. The concept includes sidewalks, medians, curbs, gutters, traffic lights – in the interest of improving both safety and aesthetic appeal – with the specifics and scheduling yet to be determined. Finally, the council gave the Planning Commission its blessing to temporarily change its meeting date from Tuesday to Wednesday nights, to accommodate chairman Bill Easter's class schedule, while he completes some college courses.

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TWO CRASHES IN TWO DAYS AT HIGHWAY ENTRANCE TO COPPER MOUNTAIN COLLEGE
Two accidents in two days at Rotary Way and Highway 62. Abut 2:30 Saturday afternoon, Donald Bachert, 19, of Clermont Florida was driving his 2005 Infinity about 65 miles per hour westbound on the highway near Rotary Way. Due to his level of alcohol intoxication, Bachert drove his vehicle onto the north shoulder of the road. He then made a hard left-turning movement and lost control of his vehicle. This caused his car to skid across all lanes of traffic on the highway and collide with the raised dirt berm on the south shoulder of the highway. Donald Bachert was arrested for investigation of driving under the influence of alcohol, cited and released. Then on Monday about 5:45 p.m., Anita Latham, 23, of Twentynine Palms was leaving Copper Mountain College in her 2002 Honda sedan. Latham made a left turn from Rotary Way onto eastbound Highway 62, and pulled out right into the path of Donald Mitchell, 27, of Yucca Valley, who was driving a 2004 Ford SUV westbound on the highway. The impact of the crash sent Latham's Honda several hundred feet west and into the open desert on the north side of the highway. Mitchell's SUV came to rest over 100 feet on the southwest side of the highway. Latham suffered head and chest trauma, but was able to talk to paramedics. Anita Latham was brought to Hi-Desert Medical Center where she was then flown by Mercy Air to Desert Regional Hospital in Palm Springs.

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YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION JOINT MEETING GETS HEATED
Things got a little heated last night during a joint session of the Yucca Valley Town Council and Planning Commission. Managing Editor Tami Roleff was there and files this report. Property rights and being business- and builder-friendly were the themes that dominated the workshop held last night by the Yucca Valley Town Council and Planning Commission. The purpose of the workshop was to give policy direction to staff and the company charged with updating the Town's General Plan and Development Code. And the direction the Commissioners and Council Members wanted the Town to go in was protecting property owners' rights in developing their property. Council Member Isaac Hagerman became combative during the workshop, denouncing an online survey that gathered opinions from Town residents and others on what their vision was for the Town of Yucca Valley, as "unscientific." He also questioned the use of buffers between new and old developments. When the issue of whether to allow housing on hillsides and ridgelines came up, Planning Commissioner Tim Humphreville said there was a big difference in opinion between those who owned property on the hillsides and ridgelines, and those who didn't. Most of the Council and Commission also felt the Town's sign ordinance was too harsh for local businesses, even though Town Manager Mark Nuaimi cautioned them against revising the ordinance, saying it was like opening a Pandora's Box, and that revisions were like a pendulum, first swinging too far one way, then going back too far the other way. Town staff recommended that the Council and Commission meet once a month in workshops to hammer out more details on the Development Code and General Plan.

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COUNTY MEASURE WOULD FORCE SPAYING AND NEUTERING OF PETS
The County Board of Supervisors took the first step in adopting an ordinance that would require all dog owners to spay or neuter their dogs should they be found guilty of failing to abide by another state or local animal control regulation. The ordinance was presented by Supervisor Neil Derry who also backed a similar measure last year which requires the spaying and neutering of pit bulls. The measure is expected to be adopted.

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DOG LICENSING AND VACCINATION CLINIC IN YUCCA VALLEY TOMORROW
The Town of Yucca Valley will hold a dog licensing and vaccination clinic in the Community Center courtyard Thursday from 4 to 6. Dr. Norman Smith will be on hand to give vaccinations for both dogs and cats. The rabies vaccine is $6; DHLPP booster, bordatella, and rattlesnake vaccines are $10 each. The feline 5-way booster with leukemia is $15. Yucca Valley and County residents may also purchase licenses for their pets. Owners should have dogs on leashes and cats in carriers. Checks are accepted for Town licenses only. For more information, call 760-365-1807.

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SHERIFF'S BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY TIPS, PART 3 OF 3
Today is the first days of school for public schools here in the Morongo Basin. With the third in a 3-part series on school bus safety, here is Sheriff's Safety Specialist Anita Baker. The following are safety tips for children as they walk back and forth to school. Cross only at corners or marked crosswalks. Stop at the curb or edge of the road. Stop and look left, then right, then left again, before you step into the street. If you see a car, wait until it goes by. Then look left, right, and left again until no cars are coming. Never dart out into traffic. If there are no sidewalks and you have to walk in the road, always walk facing traffic, so you can see any car that might go out of control.

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COUNTY BANS SELF-PROMOTION, LOOKS AT CAMPAIGN REFORM
County Supervisors indicated Tuesday that they may be ready to enact campaign contribution limits in a measure aimed at improving the county's battered image. At the end of the Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Janice Rutherford announced that she plans to introduce a campaign finance reform proposal soon that would cap how much donors can contribute to candidates. In addition, County Supervisors banned self promotion by elected officials. San Bernardino County. Buildings, parks and other public facilities can no longer be named after elected officials while they remain in office, under a new policy adopted by the Board Tuesday. Supervisor Janice Rutherford, who proposed the measure, said it ensures that "elected officials are not going to be self-serving and promote their political legacy at taxpayers' expense."

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BIGHORN-DESERT VIEW WATER AGENCY MET LAST NIGHT
The Bighorn Desert View Water Agency Board met in regular session last night, Reporter Mike Lipsitz was there and says the agency got some industry kudos and made a nomination. At last night's meeting of the Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency Board, directors learned that the Agency was named winner of the Excellence in Safety Award for the Workers' Comp Program. Bighorn Desert View was selected from among all the state's small special district agencies. Also last night, Director Mike McBride was nominated for the position of Vice President to the Association of California Water Agencies. If approved, McBride will serve a two-year term beginning January 1st and running concurrent with his term at Bighorn-Desert View. Also last night, the board approved Agency participation in an IRS program that allows employees to withhold a portion of their pretax salary to cover certain out-of-pocket medical expenses. The plan is available at minimal cost to the agency and represents significant benefit to eligible employees. Among those and other actions, directors approved a policy establishing "Desert Landscape Water Conservation Guidelines" in an effort to reduce the impact on future water demand.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS WATER DISTRICT MEETS TONIGHT
The Twentynine Palms Water District meets tonight with Water and Fire business on their agenda. Reporter Derwood Andrews takes a closer look. A slim agenda for tonight's Water Board meeting. Amending the rules for construction applicants' water use, a resolution regarding an easement for Southern California Edison, a discussion of Historic Plaza fire hydrants and then Fire Business. The meeting deals with the proposed adoption of the California Fire Code, with a Public Hearing and discussion, followed by the Chief's reports.

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YUCCA VALLEY PLANS LABOR DAY MEN'S SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
The Town of Yucca Valley will be hosting a Men's Slow-Pitch Softball Tournament this Labor Day weekend on Saturday, September 3rd. The cost is $140 per team and the registration deadline is Wednesday, August 31st. The winning team will receive custom team t-shirts and a team trophy; second place will receive a team trophy. The tournament will now be held at the Yucca Valley Community Center ball field and will follow the Town's local SCMAF based softball rules. A maximum of 16 players are allowed per team. Players must be 18 or older with two minor players age 16 or 17 allowed with parent permission. Interested teams can register online at www.yucca-valley.org or in person at the Yucca Valley Community Center. For more information call Sue Earnest at the Town of Yucca Valley Community Services Department at 760-369-7211.

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