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Listen To Your News		Thursday, August 27, 2009		News Archive

MORONGO VALLEY WOMAN KILLED IN FATAL CRASH, HIGHWAY CLOSED FOR HOURS
A Morongo Valley woman was killed last night and State Route 62 closed for three hours after she crashed head-on into a big rig. CHP investigator Eric Brewer said Ashly Watson, 21, was driving her 2008 Honda Westbound on the highway just West of Scholl road at 7:45 p.m. For unknown reasons she allowed her car to veer across the center lane into the eastbound lane, hitting a 2007 Freightliner big rig head on. The big rig, driven by Glen Boren, 51, of Tolleson, Arizona, was going at about 50 miles per hour when she slammed into it. Ashly Watson was aided by a passing motorist but died at the scene. Boren was taken to Hi-Desert Medical Center with Minor injuries. The crash caused a major diesel spill from the Freightliner and the highway was closed for about three hours as emergency workers cleared the fuel.

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FEDERAL FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF MARK DEATH OF SENATOR KENNEDY
Flags at all federal facilities were lowered to half staff yesterday in remembrance of Senator Edward Kennedy. Officials say they are to be left at half staff until sunset on Sunday, August 30th, per direction of the White House.

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REACH OUT TO HOST ELDER ABUSE AND PROTECTION CLASS
Senior citizens are especially vulnerable to abuse. Reach out Morongo Basin will hold a free class on how to stay safer. Reporter Desiree Weston has details ------
Reach Out Morongo Basin will host an Elder Abuse and Protection Class at the Twentynine Palms Senior Center on Thursday, September 3rd from 10:30-11:00 a.m. The Senior Center is located at 6539 Adobe Road, across from the Fire Department in Twentynine Palms. This class, put on by Morongo Basin Sexual Assault Services, is free and open to the public. Topics to be covered include defining elder abuse, signs and symptoms of abuse, risk factors and simple self- defense maneuvers. For more information, contact Reach Out Morongo Basin Executive Director Sandy Fleck at 361-1410.

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COUNTY TO OFFER SENIOR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM
The County Board of Supervisors entered agreements with 10 cities yesterday to have the County implement the Senior Home Repair Program, which provides repair services for low and moderate income seniors. "Seniors are often unable to afford to repair a roof, fix their plumbing or make other necessary repairs," said First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt. The program is funded through the federal Community Development Block Grant program. The agreements call for the County to operate the program Twentynine Palms, and Yucca Valley, in addition to eight other cities. Each supervisorial district received an allocation to operate the program in unincorporated areas of the County as well. The program will employ private contractors to make the repairs, providing private sector jobs during a time of high unemployment. To be eligible, seniors must be 62 or older, own their home or mobile home, and have an income of no more than 80% of the area’s median income. For information on the program, call (909) 388-0925.

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SENIOR DANCE PLANNED IN YUCCA VALLEY SATURDAY
The town of Yucca Valley is inviting area senior citizens to a special senior dance this Saturday. Reporter Tami Roleff has the invitation -----
The Town of Yucca Valley and the Yucca Valley Senior Club will host a Senior Dance on Saturday from 6 to 9 at the Yucca Valley Senior Center. The Sophisticated Swing Band will provide the music. Admission is $3 for seniors 55 and over, $5 for those younger than 55. Adults only. Desserts, drinks, and door prizes will be provided. For more information, call the community services department at 369-7211.

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Jessica Wagner-Schultz

TWENTYNINE PALMS CHAMBER EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS TENDERS RESIGNATION The Twentynine Palms Chamber of Commerce Executive Director has submitted her resignation. At their August 20th Board meeting, the Chamber Board of Directors regretfully accepted Executive Director Jessica Wagner-Schultz’s letter of resignation, effective November 1. Wagner-Schultz and her husband are moving back to their home state of Wisconsin after he honorably fulfilled his duties to the United States Marine Corps, including deployment to Iraq. "Being the Chamber executive director has been a great learning experience, and I’m very happy that I had the opportunity to work with this great community," Wagner-Schultz said. The Chamber’s executive committee has already begun to the search process for Wagner-Schultz’s successor. For information on how to apply, contact the chamber at 760-367-3445.

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BIGHORN DESERT VIEW WATER AGENCY STARTS PLANNING TO IMPORT STATE WATER
The Bighorn Desert View Water Agency is taking the steps to start brining state water in to supplement their ground water resources. Managing Editor Karl Gardner joins us with more ------
The Bighorn Desert View Water Agency took a big step towards achieving a goal of importing State Water for its customers. General Manager Marina West said at Tuesday evening’s meeting, the Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding or MOU, with the Mojave Water Agency, that will provide close to $280,000 in financial aid towards required planning and feasibility studies needed to construct a water recharge site. The board voted 4 to 1 to approve the MOU, with Director Duane Lisiewski in opposition. Lisiewski maintains the project would break a long standing agreement with the Hi-Desert Water Distinct on how much water can accessed from the Ames Basin, a source of ground water for both Bighorn Desert View and Hi-Desert Water.

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THEATER 29 HOLDING AUDITIONS FOR "HALLOWEEN HAUNT" EVENT
Theatre 29 and Directors Francis Wright and Daniel Tabeling will be holding auditions for characters, guides, and assistants for this years Halloween Haunt. In its "sixth year of fear" The Theatre 29 Halloween haunt has become legendary in its ever shifting mood and its ability to terrify. The entire theater and grounds are transformed. The annual Halloween Haunt is conceived by special effects master Eric Ross, formerly with Knott’s scary farm. Auditions for the 6th annual Halloween Haunt are Monday and Tuesday, September 7th and 8th at 6:00 p.m. at the John Calveri Theater of Theatre 29, 73637 Sullivan Road (right around the corner from Barr Lumber), in Twentynine Palms. The Directors are looking for adults young and old, (some limited children’s parts). Talent should be prepared to move and be vocal. Rehearsals will run through October 15th with the "haunting" scheduled for Oct. 16-17, 23-24, 29-31. Anyone interested in helping to build and paint the sets, costumes, and specialty pieces for the "haunt" should come to the auditions. For more information call 366-8471.

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ANNUAL HOSPICE REVERSE RAFFLE AND DINNER COMING
Hospice of the Morongo Basin is gearing up for their big annual fund-raiser. Reporter Dan Stork invites you to support the hospice program at the reverse raffle next month -----
Hospice of Morongo Basin is holding its annual fundraising dinner on Saturday, September 12 at the Joshua Tree Community Center, 6171 Sunburst in Joshua Tree. The evening starts at 5:30 with a cocktail hour, with dinner following at 6:30. Purchase of one ticket to the event does double duty. First, the $80 ticket price covers dinner for two. That ticket also serves as a raffle ticket for the evening’s reverse raffle. In a reverse raffle, the last ticket drawn wins the grand prize of $2500 in cash, which could be used towards the cost of a dream vacation. The drawing for the big prize begins at 7 PM. You don’t have to be present to win, and ticket sales will be limited to 200 tickets. The evening’s festivities will be emceed by Gary Daigneault. Dress for the evening is casual – or you can come dressed for your dream vacation, and be eligible for a special prize. For information about the dinner and raffle, or to learn about becoming a sponsor for the event, call 366-1308.

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JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK ANNOUNCES ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE
Joshua Tree National Park, in partnership with the Riverside Art Museum, has announced selections for the 2009-2010 Artist-in-Residence Program. Four visual artists, a composer, and a video artist were invited to participate in the program’s second year of offering a unique residential opportunity to artists. The selected 2009-2010 artists are Michael Teters (painter from Plainville, NJ), Dianne Bennett (mixed media/painter from Ojai, CA), Luke Gullickson (composer from Grand Lake, CO), Lydia Moyer (video artist from Covesville, VA), Michael Shankman (painter from Brooklyn, NY), and Jennifer Kane (painter from Boalsburg, PA). Each artist-in-residence will be provided with accommodations in the park for a three- to four-week period to interpret different aspects of Joshua Tree National Park through whatever medium he or she has chosen to use. For more information about Joshua Tree National Park/The Riverside Art Museum’s Artist-in-Residence Program, please contact Caryn Davidson, Park Liaison for the program at 760-367-3012.

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