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		Friday, September 25, 2009		News Archive

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER ABOARD THE TWENTYNINE PALMS MARINE BASE Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will be aboard the Twentynine Palms Marine Base this morning to sign legislation to declare an annual "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day" March 30th. The bill was sponsored by Assemblyman Paul Cook of Yucca Valley, a highly decorated retired Marine Colonel "It's not about the war," Cook said . "It's about the individuals who fought the war and paid the price." Veterans were invited to celebrate the signing, which will be held on the Commanding Generals Parade Field at 10:00 a.m.. Marine Base officials are reminding guests coming to the base to hear Schwarzenneger speak that they will not be allowed to bring large handbags, backpacks or satchels for security purposes. They anticipate a large crowd and seating and greeting will proceed much quicker if visitors do not bring these items with them. Base Public Affairs Officer Jennie Haskamp said Passes to the event were given out by Veterans’ organizations and through Assemblyman Cook’s office throughout the community prior to the signing event and won't be available at the Marine Base visitor's center.

...Back To Headlines...

David Nahai

ANOTHER APPARENT NAIL IN THE COFFIN FOR GREEN PATH NORTH Another sign that the proposed Green Path North transmission line project, which would bring large metal utility towers through some of the most scenic parts of our Morongo Basin, may be dead. Last week, LA DWP President David Nahai said they were looking at dropping it. Now, other Los Angeles officials confirmed they may abandon the hotly debated plan. Tuesday, Sarah Hamilton, press secretary for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, said, the city is "seriously contemplating" removing the area near Yucca Valley from its list of seven proposed routes for the project, she said "It's under review,". "The concerns of the community have certainly been heard and taken under advisement." Environmentalists have decried the project since DWP unveiled its "preferred route" through the desert almost three years ago. The lines would carry geothermal, solar and wind power from the Salton Sea area of the Imperial Valley to a substation near Hesperia. The lines would cut a nearly mile-wide swath through the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve in Morongo Valley, a critical water source for migratory birds and wildlife, and through parts of the privately owned Pipes Canyon Wilderness near Pioneertown. The public scoping and review period on Green Path North has been delayed until next year while an independent third party is found to perform an environmental review. In February, DWP added a seventh proposal to its list. This route would sidestep sensitive desert land by running towers parallel to existing lines along I-10.

...Back To Headlines...

Frank Luckino

YUCCA VALLEY’S STATE OF THE TOWN CALLED A SPEECH THAT WASN’T The Town of Yucca Valley held a State of the Town event yesterday, at 25 bucks a pop during working hours. Reporter Tami Roleff was there and says the State of the Town was a speech that wasn’t... It was billed as a State of the Town speech by Yucca Valley Mayor Frank Luckino, but it was more of a pat on the back to all the local organizations and departments that make Yucca Valley, in his opinion, "This is the greatest place in the world to live." Luckino did mention some of the Town’s goals, such as Old Town economic development, and public facilities, and then went on to name the amenities of which residents could be proud — the library, the museum, the Senior Center, the Parks and Recreation Department, the Concerts in the Park, and laying down 209 tons of asphalt on Town streets. In the future, residents can look forward to the Brehm Sports Park for special needs children and adults, and a stoplight at the intersection of Camino del Cielo and the highway. A brochure handed out at the $25 a plate luncheon yesterday gave more information about the state of the town than the mayor’s speech. The brochure detailed training the administrative staff had gone through during the past year, including the Shake Out earthquake disaster drill. It also gave a listing of public works the Town had completed, such as an electronic scoreboard in the community center ballfield, playground equipment at Paradise and Machris Parks, and public arts projects. Under Public Safety, it noted that total crimes in Yucca Valley were up 2.4 percent. Under Planning and Development, the brochure noted that the Town had completed the Master Plan of Drainage, the Public Facilities Master Plan, and the Housing Element Update. The Building and Safety Dept issued 1 commercial building permit and 7 single-family home permits. Under Community Services, the Town organized 37 special events, including the Starry Nights Festival, and administered free after-school programs.

...Back To Headlines...

RESULTS OF COMMUNITY POLL SAYS LEAVE THE MOJAVE CROSS
A landslide vote on this week’s KCDZFM.com community survey. We asked if visitors to our website thought the Mojave Cross, a war memorial under legal attack by the ACLU because it is a cross, should be removed. An overwhelming 92.3% said it should not be taken down. The memorial on Cima Road in the remote Mojave National Preserve was put up in 1934 to honor World War One veterans.

...Back To Headlines...

HI DESERT MEDICAL CENTER GETS MAMMOGRAPHY QUALITY ACT ACCREDITATION
Hi-Desert Medical Center’s Airway Outpatient Center was this month awarded a one-year term of accreditation as the result of a recent mammography survey by the Mammography Quality Standards Act, enacted by Congress in 1994 to regulate the quality of care in mammography. It requires mammography facilities across the nation to meet uniform quality standards. According to Scott Warywoda, director of HDMC’s medical imaging, the surveyors conducted a rigorous inspection and staff received excellent findings. "The staff and radiologists within the medical imaging department and Airway Outpatient center are dedicated in their commitment to providing excellent patient care, and this was clearly evident in the surveyors’ findings," said Warywoda.

...Back To Headlines...

POSTE HOMESTEAD VOLUNTEER CLEAN-UP TOMORROW
A special cleanup is planned for tomorrow in the Wonder Valley area east of Twentynine Palms. Reporter Dan Stork says the BLM is sponsoring the restoration of the historic Poste homestead...
On Saturday, September 26th, the Barstow Office of the Bureau of Land Management is organizing a volunteer clean-up of the Poste Homestead Natural and Historical Area in Wonder Valley as part of their annual National Public Lands Day. The program begins at 7:30am at the parking lot of the Palms Bar and Restaurant, 8131 Amboy Road in Wonder Valley, located about 10 miles east of 29 Palms. Each volunteer will get a free T-shirt, breakfast, and a barbecue lunch with music at the Palms Restaurant. Volunteers will be shuttled from the parking lot to the Poste Homestead site. The BLM is partnering with local organizations including the Mojave Desert Land Trust, the Morongo Basin Conservation Association, the 29 Palms Historical Society, Community ORV Watch and ORV groups and vendors that promote responsible recreation, including Hutchins Motor Sports of Yucca Valley. For more information, contact: Rose Beardshear of the BLM at 760-252-6011 or Phil Klasky of Community ORV Watch at 361-0442, or visit orvwatch.com.

...Back To Headlines...

PARENT PROJECT EMPOWERS PARENTS TO TRANSFORM TEENS [AUDIO ONLY]

COPPER MOUNTAIN COLLEGE OFFERS CAREER ACADEMIES
Copper Mountain College is reaching out to area junior high school students deciding careers. Reporter Tami Roleff joins us again with a look at the career academies program...
Copper Mountain College and Morongo Unified School District partnered to hold career academies on the college campus last week. The career academies introduced 140 7th and 8th grade students to vocational careers in hopes of keeping them in school. The 7 career academies included justice, allied health, automotive, computers, electronics, fire and leadership. The students began the academies with a tour of activities at various locations throughout the Morongo Basin. The students were on campus doing skill building activities while their parents attended workshops on financial aid, met with counselors, and reviewed the Bridge Program that helps students make the transition to college. Glenda Case, coordinator for the Career Pathways Program said the career academy is "a tremendous opportunity for students to have a hands-on experience and career exploration in a vocational field of their choice."

...Back To Headlines...

TWENTYNINE PALMS ELKS CELEBRATE 50 YEARS TOMORROW [AUDIO ONLY]

BBQ RIBS TONIGHT, BREAKFAST SUNDAY, AT THE JOSHUA TREE VFW [AUDIO ONLY]

BREAKING BREAD MINISTRIES OFFER A FREE MEAL IN 29 PALMS [AUDIO ONLY]

ICE CREAM EVERYWHERE AT HI-DESERT NATURE MUSEUM TOMORROW
The Hi-Desert Nature Museum is inviting younger kids for a day of learning about ice cream. Reporter Dan Stork joins us again and gets out his spoon...
Join Vikki at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum for the reading of "Ice Cream Everywhere," and other cute ice cream themed books. Then children will make their own ice cream! This program is for children ages 4 -7, and will be held on Saturday, September 26th, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Children’s Story Time is free, but space is limited. Please call the museum at 369-7212 to make your reservation or register online at www.hidesertnaturemuseum.org. The Hi-Desert Nature Museum is located in the Yucca Valley Community Center Complex at 57116 Twentynine Palms Highway.

...Back To Headlines...

SPORTS SCORES AND A BUSY WEEKEND FOR HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
The Twentynine Palms High School Lady Cats volleyball team traveled to Desert Christian last night. Coach Missy Candaleria said the girls started off slow in the first game losing 10—25 the next two games were more competitive only to lose 22-25 25-27 to the 4th ranked team. Jessica Gray was named Wildcat of the week. A busy day and weekend in local high school sports. Today football leads the line-up with the Twentynine Palms High School Wildcats traveling away versus the Banning High School Broncos; the Yucca Valley High School Trojans travel away as well to face the Beaumont High School Tigers. Also the Joshua Springs Lighting Football squad plays at home versus Desert Christian High School, kick off for all games is a 7. On Saturday, the Yucca Valley Girls Volleyball team competes in the Carpenteria Tournament in Carpenteria, and the Joshua Springs Lady Lighting Girls Volleyball team is at home to play in "Thunderstruck" starting at 8 a.m. And in Cross County action tomorrow, both Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms High School will run in the Hi-Desert Classic Invitational at Machris Park, that meet is set to begin at 8.

...Back To Headlines...