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Listen To Your News		Thursday, September 2, 2010		News Archive

CHP PREPARES TO LAUNCH HOLIDAY WEEKEND DUI CRACKDOWN
California Highway Patrol officers are preparing for a maximum enforcement period beginning Friday, September 3 at 6:01 p.m., through 11:59 p.m., Monday, September 6. CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said, “With many families headed for fun, the highways will be crowded and congested with traffic. Mixing these factors with alcohol, speed and not wearing a safety belt can lead to a deadly consequence. Last year 12 people were killed in Labor Day weekend crashes. 75 percent of all vehicle occupants killed in CHP jurisdiction were not wearing a seat belt. In addition to the Labor Day Maximum Enforcement, the CHP is in the midst of an aggressive crackdown on impaired drivers. Last Labor Day weekend, CHP officers made 1,417 arrests for driving under the influence. “If we find you driving impaired we will arrest you, no exceptions,” added Commissioner Farrow. “DUI is a careless disregard for human life.” Motorists are encouraged to call 911 if they encounter a suspected drunk driver, callers should be prepared to provide dispatchers a description of the vehicle, its location and direction of travel.

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YUCCA VALLEY MAN ARRESTED FOR DUI ON AN ATV
The local CHP arrested a Yucca Valley man for driving his ATV drunk. CHP spokesman Eric Brewer said Tuesday afternoon at 5:30, Carl Bosworth, 53 of Yucca Valley was driving his 2006 Yamaha Rhino ATV eastbound on Mesa Vista Street and collided into a parked 2007 Honda Odyssey. CHP Officers responded and identified Bosworth as the driver of the Rhino and observed signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication. After investigation, Carl Bosworth was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence with a Blood Alcohol over .08%.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS CITY COUNCIL PART 2: LAND USE MORATORIUMS AND COMMERCIAL SIGNS
A long and contentious Twentynine Palms City Council special meeting Tuesday night looked at three primary issues. In his 2-part report, yesterday reporter Dan Stork told about the council’s decisions on the proposed Chalkfest event. Today, in part 2, we hear about a debate over land use moratoriums and no debate on the commercial sign codes...
In addition to the debate over Chalkfest 29 at the Twentynine Palms City Council meeting, there was discussion of two staff reports. The subject of the first was a possible Urgency Ordinance for a Land Use Moratorium. If enacted, the City would refuse permit requests for certain types of new businesses – particularly massage parlors, tattoo parlors, barbershops, and bars – while it reconsidered its policies with respect to those businesses. The moratorium would last at least 45 days, and could be extended successively by 10 ½ months and another year, at the council’s discretion. Tattoo shop owner Kyle Stratton spoke in favor of a moratorium, claiming that a lack of oversight was letting inferior operators into the city in his industry. He also spoke against a proliferation of massage parlors as incompatible with a family-raising environment. But the prevailing sentiment during public comment was that restrictions upon business are out of place in the free enterprise system. Council member Steve Spear’s motion to cancel any further consideration of land use moratoriums passed 3-2, as he was joined by Jim Harris and Joel Klink, and opposed by Steve Flock and John Cole. Another report grew out of a Planning Commission request for direction: Does the City Council want it to spend any time and resources on a review of the commercial sign code? The answer was no, given the pressure to concentrate on the General Plan Update.

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NEW STATE LAW WOULD CUT DOWN ON LOUD MOTORCYCLES
Some motorcyclists modify their bikes to emit ear-splitting, roars saying a louder exhaust means other drivers will hear the motorcycle. But such modifications could soon become a thing of the past in California. Senate Bill 435 would require motorcycle owners to use federally required emissions equipment featuring an Environmental Protection Agency compliance stamp. "The noise caused by illegally modified motorcycle exhaust systems is a major quality-of-life issue across the state", officials said. Motorcyclists who remove factory emissions devices, replace stock mufflers with illegal after market versions or remove them completely to improve performance or make the bike sound louder violate state and federal regulations. The CHP says while motorcycle noise complaints are common, stops for excessive exhaust noise are rare. By law, a bike must have a muffler, so an officer would cite someone who drives without one.

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HI-DESERT WATER DISTRICT CANDIDATES FORUM TONIGHT
The Hi-Desert Water District candidates will participate in an open forum tonight. Managing Editor Karl Gardner has details...
A public forum for Hi-Desert Water District Candidates is being held this evening in the Yucca Room of the Yucca Valley Community Center starting at 6. Sponsored by the Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce, the forum will include two-minute opening statements, pre-selected questions from the audience and two-minute closing statements. Running for three open seats, candidates include incumbents Sheldon Hough, Roger Mayes and Dan Muncy along with challenger Margo Sturges.

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KINDERGARTEN AGE REQUIREMENTS TO GO UP
Over the next several years, kindergartners in California will be getting older. This school year, a child can start kindergarten as long as he or she turns 5 by December 2. In the 2014-15 school year, children will have to turn 5 by September 1, thanks to a bill approved Tuesday night by the state Legislature. Education officials say the earlier cutoff is good, "Students who are a little older are a little more mature and more ready to tackle the rigors of kindergarten," they said, adding.” Students need to basically finish kindergarten reading and students a few months older are more developmentally ready." Beginning in the 2012-13 school year, the cutoff will move from Dec. 2 to Nov. 1. In the 2013-14 school year it will move to Oct. 1, then to Sept. 1 for the 2014-15 school year. By switching the dates each of year, the state will save an estimated $700 million per year because of smaller class sizes - the three classes that start kindergarten will have 11 months' worth of students rather than a full year's.

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JOSHUA TREE KIDS CLUB REOPENS WITH LICENSING PROBLEM SOLVED
The Joshua Tree Kids Club is back open, after services were temporarily suspended last week. The Kid’s Club was shut down following a complaint to the State Licensing Board that they do not have a day-care license. Funded by a state After-School Educational Services grant. Sheldon Chaffer, Kids Club board president, said programs like theirs are regulated by the California Education Code, and it was their understanding because of the strict oversight. And they were not required to have a day-care license. Chaffer said the state has allowed the club to reopen after officials worked out administrative details.

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MORONGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SOPHOMORES SET RECORDS IN STATE EXIT EXAM SCORES
Good news for our local school district, recent state test results show records being broken on the state high school exit exam. Reporter Dan Stork takes a close look at the numbers...
Last year’s Morongo Unified School District sophomores achieved the District’s best results in history on the California High School Exit Exam. High school students get their first chance to pass the exam when they are 10th graders, and have several more opportunities during their junior and senior years. 78% of the sophomores who took the test passed both the mathematics and English language arts portions of the test. Female MUSD students outperformed their male classmates in both areas, by 79% to 77% in math, and by 82% to 75% in English. For all of San Bernardino County, the sophomore pass rate for math was 78%, and 76% for math. The overall pass rate was the highest the county has achieved in the 10 years that the test has been administered, according to data released by the California Department of Education.

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BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT AT LA CONTENTA MIDDLE SCHOOL TONIGHT
La Contenta Middle School has scheduled their Back-to-School Night for Thursday, September 2nd from 6:00 to 7:45 p.m. Parents are to bring their child’s schedule and Binder Reminder and meet in the MPR at 6:00. The evening is designed to give parents a chance to visit their child’s classrooms and meet their teachers. Parents will be given an overview of the curriculum, procedures, and policies.

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AUDITIONS FOR THE FIRST CHRISTMAS AT THEATER 29 SEPTEMBER 20
Mark your calendars, Theater 29 is planning auditions for the 2010 Christmas Presentation, “The First Christmas”. Reporter Mike Lipsitz tells you what date to get ready for tryouts...
Attention actors and backstage types, auditions for Theatre 29’s production of “The First Christmas” are Monday, September 20 at 6 p.m. Directors Patricia Tabeling and Paulette Highfill seek 17 actors and singers ages 18 to 50 for men’s and women’s roles. Come prepared for cold reading. Those auditioning for singing parts should be prepared to perform a song from a Karaoke tape or a CD with no vocals. No live accompaniment will be available. “The First Christmas”, runs mostly weekends from November 19th through December 18th. It tells the story of young woman who struggles with the idea of sharing Christmas with a family in need. She discovers the true meaning of Christmas through traditional Christmas stories and her own imagination. Featuring all original songs, this heart-warming musical is perfect for all audiences. Theatre 29 is at Sullivan and Adobe roads in Twentynine Palms.

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YOUTH SOCCER AND VOLLEYBALL SIGN-UPS IN TWENTYNINE PALMS
The Twentynine Palms Park and Recreation department is taking registrations for youth soccer and youth volleyball. Soccer registration will be taken until Friday, September 10th on-line at www.ci.twentynine-palms.ca.us and at the recreation office. Children ages 4 to 14 are eligible to register. The fee is $45.00 per child and includes a uniform. Families with three or more children participating will be eligible for a discount. Volleyball registrations will be taken until Thursday, September 9 on-line at www.ci.twentynine-palms.ca.us and at the recreation office. Children in 4th through 8th grades are eligible to register. The fee is $45.00 per child includes a jersey. Families with three or more children participating will be eligible for a discount. The soccer and volleyball season will run from mid-September to mid-November. Volunteer coaches, officials and score keepers are also being sought. For additional information on either of the leagues, call the Twentynine Palms Recreation office at 760-367-7562.

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LANDERS ASSOCIATION PLANS WEEKEND THRIFT STORE SALE
The Landers Association Thrift Store will feature a Labor Day Special $2 Bags of Clothes Sale Friday, Saturday, and Tuesday. Get ready for fall and winter reading with $1 a bag for books. The Launders Cool Center welcomes hot, tired and bored visitors. Quilters meet Tuesday, Cards and games are played on Wednesday, Bingo is featured on Thursday, Kids Activities on Friday and family-friendly Movies on Saturday. Come on in, visit and cool down. Call for times. The Landers Thrift Store is located 1 block east of the Landers Post Office. The hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. For more information, please call the Landers Thrift Store at 760-364-2676.

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