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Listen To Your News		Tuesday, August 25, 2009		News Archive

JOSHUA TREE SHOOTING VICTIM RECOUNTS DEADLY ATTACK
The victim of a shooting in North Joshua Tree Friday, which saw an elderly man killed and herself wounded, told Z107.7 news exactly what happened. In an exclusive interview with Z107.7 (KCDZ) news, Linda Neal, 60, recounted the events leading up to her being wounded and Howard “Shelby” Dezarn, 89, being killed. Neal said she was his caretaker and picked up Dezarn, who goes by the name “Shelby” on regular basis to go to the Senior Center. She said he usually slept in and came out of his bedroom when she arrived. Friday, she entered the home in the 4700 block of Avendia La Flora Deserita, and he came out of his bedroom holding a gun. Neal said he pointed the gun at her and said “Linda, I have to shoot you”. Thinking he was kidding, which she said he did a lot, she laughed it off saying, “Oh Shelby”, at that point he shot her once in the abdomen. Wounded, she tried to take the gun away. Neal said Dezarn worked out regularly and had good upper body strength for an 89 year old. She pulled on the gun, he pulled it back, and they continued to struggle. Neal said she knew his legs were weaker so she finally knocked him to the ground. He was still holding the gun, and, while lying on the ground, put it to his head and shot himself. The shot killed him and she was able to get to a phone and call 9-1-1. Arriving deputies found Howard “Shelby” Dezarn dead and Linda Neal wounded. Linda Neal remains in serious condition at Desert Hospital in Palm Springs. Neal said Dezarn had lost his wife about four months ago and had been given some new medication the day before the shooting.

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4 YEAR OLD STARTS FIRE AFTER BEING DISCIPLINED
More details after a four-year-old started a fire over the weekend that sent three children to the hospital. Twentynine Palms Fire Chief Jim Thompson said at 5:35 Sunday evening, a child living at a home in the 5400 block of Morongo Road in Twentynine Palms set a fire using matches after being sent to her room as punishment. Arriving firefighters attacked the blaze that started in a back bedroom and spread to a hallway. Fire crews quickly controlled the blaze and declared it out in 20 minutes. The children’s parents were able to get everyone one out of the house. The 4-year-old and 2 other children, a 10 and 11 year old were suffering from smoke inhalation. The two older children were flown out to area hospitals, the 4 year old was later taken to Hi Desert Medical Center by ambulance. Damage estimates were set at around $25,000. The sheriff’s arson and bomb squad was called in to investigate.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS BAR FIGHT RESULTS IN BROKEN JAW
A Twentynine Palms man is under investigation after breaking a marines jaw during a brawl at the Break-N-Run bar in Twentynine Palms. Sheriffs spokeswoman Anita Baker said Friday around 1:15 a.m. someone from the bar called reporting a fight in progress. Investigators said one of the combatants had sustained a broken jaw and was taken to the Naval Hospital onboard the Marine Base for treatment. A suspect in the fight, 21 year old Christopher Miko, ran from the scene to his girlfriends house on Two Mile Road. The girl friends’ mother called the sheriff on an unrelated matter when Miko arrived. Deputy Ericson Dominic responded, and when he tried to take Miko into custody, Miko ran and had to be tazed in order to be subdued. Christopher Miko was eventually taken into custody for investigation of domestic battery and assault from the bar fight, cited and released. A report on the resisting arrest charge was forwarded to the District Attorneys Office for review and possible additional criminal charges.

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SCHOOL TRAFFIC SAFETY TIPS FROM THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
With kids having to walk farther to school because of transportation budget cuts, more kids are on the roads. Sheriff’s Service Specialist Vera Martinez has these safety tips -----
Welcome back new and returning students. Before and after school, traffic is always heavier and the chance for accidents is increased. A few reminders to parents and students to help with safety and minimize traffic mishaps. Students: If you’re walking home and or crossing streets, remember pedestrian laws by using crosswalks and traffic signals. Look both ways before crossing and don’t cut in between cars, as oncoming traffic may not see you. If you’re riding the bus, take your seat and don’t be a distraction to the bus driver. Parents: Allow yourself plenty of time to get your child to school. Being rushed can lead to increased speeds, unsafe driving practices and "tunnel vision". If you drop off and/or pick up your child from school, be aware of students crossing streets and other parents dropping off and picking up their children. Be aware of school bus lanes and traffic patterns. Restrictive traffic signs indicating "right turn only" mean just that. Do not block traffic behind you by trying to make an illegal left hand turn. This is a citable offense. The Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station is dedicated to your safety and deputies assigned to the traffic division will be out to assist our students and parents with a smooth transition into a new school year.

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COUNTY SUPERVISORS TO DISCUSS ETHICS PANEL TODAY
A proposal to form an ethics commission that would review elected officials' conduct will be the topic of a San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors workshop today. The panel was recommended in the recent civil grand jury report and has also been suggested by Supervisor Neil Derry. Human Resources Director Andrew Lamberto will review ethics training now provided by the county. Derry is expected to present research from his office about other jurisdictions. The board will meet at 2 p.m. at 385 North Arrowhead Ave., San Bernardino.

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STATE SAYS TWENTYNINE PALMS FLUORIDE PLANT MISTAKENLY APPROVED
A rare admission from the state of California, they made a mistake. The Twentynine Palms fluoride removal plant should never have been allowed to open and it is polluting the groundwater at its location at Utah trail and Amboy Roads. Managing Editor Karl Gardner files this special report -----
Waste from Twentynine Palms’ fluoride removal plant has been polluting the ground around the Amboy Road facility since it was first put into operation, and State Water Quality regulators said they blew it when they approved plant’s discharge permit. Regional Water Quality Control Administrator Jose Angel said the original permit issued was inadequate, and is moving to enact new regulations that will force the District to change its method of disposal and clean up the contaminated soil. Angel said the current system to treat the fluoride plant’s discharge doesn’t work, and should have never been approved. Though the District is working towards designing a building evaporation ponds to handle the waste from the plant, Angel said is doesn’t absolve the District from cleaning up soil that has been contaminated. Angel added that the district will have to determine the extent of the contamination, and possibly construct a new facility to treat the contaminated land, a process Angel said that may take several years, at a hefty cost.

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FOOD STOLEN FROM JOSHUA TREE RESTAURANT
Hundreds of dollars in food was taken from a storage area at the Country Kitchen restaurant in downtown Joshua Tree. Sheriff’s spokeswoman Vera Martinez said deputy’s responded to the Eatery around 7 a.m. Saturday, after employees discovered someone had forced open a door and pilfered an estimated $750 in food. Deputies found some evidence at the scene. No arrests have been made, and the investigation continues.

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From left to right: Dennis McKoy Shannon Goodpaster, Margo Sturges, Robert Lombardo and Dawn Rowe

YUCCA VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION TO DISCUSS ORDINANCE BANNING MEDICAL MARIJUANA The Yucca Valley Planning Commission is expected to take the first step in ordinance banning medical marijuana dispensaries in the town tonight. Reporter Tami Roleff checks the agenda ----- The Yucca Valley Planning Commission has a busy agenda for tonight’s regular meeting, to be held at 7 in the Yucca Room of the community center. The commissioners will update the Town’s housing element; discuss and forward to the Town Council an ordinance to prohibit the establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries within the Town’s boundaries; and revise the Desert Native Plant Protection Ordinance. Also on the agenda is a variance request to encroach into a setback in order to build a swimming pool at 56889 Golden Bee Drive.

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BIGHORN DESERT VIEW WATER MAY APPROVE WATER RECHARGE PROJECT TONIGHT
The Bighorn Desert View Water Agency will meet in regular session tonight. Among items interest is the possible approval of a water recharge project. Managing Editor Karl Gardner has details ------
A closed session to conference with legal council on anticipated litigation tops the agenda at this evening’s Big Horn Desert View Water Agency Board meeting, being held at the Board’s meeting room, 1720 North Cherokee Trail in Landers, starting at 6. A series of house keeping items in next up, followed by discussions and possible approval of an agreement with Mojave Water Agency to participate in the Ames Basin Water Recharge project. The consent calendar, directors and staff reports and a call for future agenda items closes out the remainder of the docket.

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MANDATORY MEETING FOR TWENTYNINE PALMS HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS TOMORROW EVENING [AUDIO ONLY]

FRIDAY NIGHT TEEN TENNIS COMES OUT SWINGING
Friday Night Teen Tennis ended its 2009 summer session, Aug. 21, at Jacob’s Park in Yucca Valley. Two parallel, rotation doubles tournaments were run on the lower courts. The highlight of the evening was a fast serve contest using sports radar. Advanced Tournament winners were, Jordan Williamson, gold; Alexis Coleman-Battle, silver; and Austin McDowell, bronze. Intermediate Tournament winners are, Austin Hitchcock, gold; Ryan Auguilar, silver; and DeNeil Washington, bronze. Fast serve aces are, Alexis Coleman-Battle, 78 mph and Austin McDowell, 66 mph. Friday Night Teen Tennis returns summer of 2010, from July through Aug. For more information, call the Morongo Basin Tennis Association, 365-3851.

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JOSHUA TREE LIBRARY WANTS DONATIONS OF BOOKS
The Joshua Tree library is getting ready for its next fund-raising book sale and are looking for donations. Reporter Dan Stork tells you how to help -----
Donations of ‘gently used’ materials are now being accepted by The Friends of the Joshua Tree Library, in preparation for their upcoming Fall Book Sale. Joshua Tree librarian Penny Mason says, "Adult and children’s books, DVD’s, videocassettes, paperback books and other materials are all items that can be included in our book sale" She adds "Instead of leaving finished summer reads or other books lying around taking up space or cluttering please consider donating them to the library." Book sale proceeds go toward the purchase new books and materials. Also, donating is good for the environment since the books get ‘recycled’ to a new owner. Plus, donations to the library are tax deductible." Boxed donations may be brought to the Joshua Tree Library during its regular business hours of 10 to 6, Monday through Friday and 10 to 2 on Saturdays. The library will not accept: encyclopedia sets, condensed books, damaged or soiled items, or magazines older than one year. For more information about the Fall Book Sale or donating books, please call the Joshua Tree Library at 366-8615.

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SERVICES SET FOR JOE BRUER OF TWENTYNINE PALMS [AUDIO ONLY]