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Listen To Your News		Monday, October 19, 2009		News Archive

YUCCA VALLEY MAN ARRESTED FOR DUI AFTER DEATH OF 6 YEAR OLD
A Yucca Valley man was arrested Friday on suspicion of driving under the influence following a crash on Highway 62 that left a 6-year-old girl dead, according to the California Highway Patrol. CHP Spokesman Rob McCloud said Witnesses told investigators Ronald Simon, 52, was drifting in and out of the westbound turn lane and fast lane before he veered into oncoming traffic just west of Big Morongo Canyon Road. Just after 7 p.m. Simon, driving a 1997 Ford Explorer, collided with a 2003 Kia Spectra, driven by 26-year-old Cameron Hendricks of Morongo Valley. While everyone involved was wearing seatbelts, the crash caused major damage to the Kia. Vameron Hendricks was transported to Desert Regional Medical Center with severe injuries. Alyssa Hendricks, 6, who was riding in the left rear seat, was taken to Hi-Desert Medical Center and later air lifted to Riverside County Regional Medical Center. Alyssa Hendricks died at the hospital just before 10 p.m., according to the Riverside County coroner. The passengers on the right side of the Spectra, 26-year-old Nalorie Hendricks and a 3-year-old girl, were not injured. Ronald Simon, who also was not injured, was arrested and booked into Morongo Basin Jail for investigation of Felony DUI. He is facing charges of vehicular manslaughter.

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TWENTYNINE PALM FIRE RESPONDS TO POPULAR RESTAURANT
An early morning fire almost spelled disaster for a Twentynine Palms restaurant. Twentynine Palms Fire Captain Jesse Quinalty said the Twentynine Palms Fire Department got a call of a structure fire shortly after 4 Saturday morning at the Carousel Café in Twentynine Palms. Arriving Fire Crews found a large pile of rags ablaze at the rear of the restaurant, very close to the business’s gas meter. Fast work by firefighters had the flames out in minutes, and the gas shut off. The flames did not catch any part of the building on fire, and the Café opened for business that morning. Damages estimates were set around $2000, the exact cause is still under investigation.

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ARE YOU PREPARED WITH AN EARTHQUAKE KIT?
We live in earthquake country. Are you prepared? Reporter Tami Roleff urges you to get ready for the next earthquake...
The real problem from an earthquake may not come during the quake, but after the earth stops shaking. The Morongo Basin may be cut off from the rest of the world, and it could take days or even longer to restore electricity, water, and gas and phone service. Every household should have three emergency earthquake kits – one for the car, one for your home, and one at your workplace. Each kit should have enough water and ready-to-eat food to last 3 days, along with a manual can opener, plates, utensils, and cooking supplies, water purification tablets (available at sports and camping stores); a first-aid kit; a minimum of $100 in cash, because ATM’s and banks will probably be closed following a severe quake, and copies of important documents such as insurance and ID cards; flashlights, and battery-operated radios, along with extra batteries; family photos and descriptions, to help authorities find missing people; heavy gloves, and goggles and a dust mask. Other items to include are blankets, tents or tarps or plastic sheeting, personal items, including a change of cloths, and sturdy shoes, extra eyeglasses or hearing aids, and hygiene items. A Swiss army type knife and tools such as a hammer and nails, crowbar, wrench, and bungees cords, nylon rope or cord, duct tape, and a portable toilet for 5 gallon bucket with sanitation chemicals. The most important item to keep on hand is water, with a minimum of 5 gallons per person. If you have pets, don’t forget to include food, water and other supplies for them as well.

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FIRE RESTRICTIONS LIFTED IN STATE WILDLANDS
As of today, campfire restrictions have been lifted in the local desert areas overseen by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The change affects land within the California Desert Conservation Area and means that visitors will not be required to obtain permits for campfires. However, visitors must still clear weeds, dried plant matter and other flammable materials to at least 5 feet from the fire, and they must have a shovel or other tools available to put out the fire, according to a BLM news release.

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RED CROSS OFFERS CPR CLASSES TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY
The American Red Cross is offering an Adult, Child, and Infant CPR Course to be held at night on October 20 and 21 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Red Cross 58923 Business Center Dr. Suite H, Yucca Valley. The course teaches how to care for breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults, children and infants. Please register at the Red Cross office in Yucca Valley, or call 365-5501 for more information.

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COST OF FLUORIDE REMOVAL IN TWENTYNINE PALMS NOW UP TO 3.8 MILLION
The selection of a newer technology to remove excess fluoride for the water in Twentynine Palms is getting very expensive. Managing Editor Karl Gardner says the price going up -- fast...
More money down the drain in the ongoing saga of fluoride removal from Twentynine Palms water. Although the state admitted it blew it by allowing the Twentynine Palms Water District to use an untried method to treat waste from the district’s fluoride removal plant, state officials have reversed that ruling requiring the district to put in evaporation ponds to handle the waste. As part of planing, the District has conducted an environmental assessment that is now available for public comment at district offices on Hatch Road through November 9th. The District built the 1.7 million dollar Amboy Road Fluoride removal plant in 2003, with and EPA grant. District General Manager Mike Wright said the waste removal project has an estimated cost of 2.1 million dollars and will be paid out of district coffers. That brings the total cost of fluoride removal to whopping 3.8 million dollars.

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NEW AREA CODE OVERLAY STARTS THIS SATURDAY
Morongo Basin residents will need to dial 1 and the area code — even to call your next-door neighbor — starting Saturday. The 760 area code is running out of numbers, so a new area code — 442 — has to be added, according to the California Public Utilities Commission. The commission originally intended to "split" the 760 area code, meaning some valley residents and businesses would have to change numbers. But at the request of businesses and residents, the commission decided last year to add or "overlay" 442 to the 760 area code region. With this method, those who already have a 760 area code number can keep it. The 442 area code is for new numbers. The big change is that you'll have to dial 1 then 760 or 442, then the seven-digit number to make a local call. In addition, automatic dialing equipment or other equipment programmed with a 7-digit telephone number will need to be reprogrammed. These include fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, alarm and security systems, speed dialers, mobile phone contact lists, call forwarding settings and voicemail settings.

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BARBECUE SUPPORTS FAMILIES OF DEPLOYED MARINES AND SAILORS
The Desert Cities Mitchell Paige Medal of Honor Chapter, 1st Marine Division, has scheduled a steak barbecue to support the families of U.S. Marines deployed to Afghanistan. The barbecue is scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. October 31 at DelValle Field at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms. Dinner tickets are $25. Donations also are accepted to host Marines for the dinner. Information or RSVP: (760) 901-5494.

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TWILIGHT PARTY AT THE JOSHUA TREE LIBRARY
Fans of the twilight books are invited to the Joshua Tree library this Friday afternoon. Reporter Dan Stork has details...
The Joshua Tree library is celebrating Teen Read Week with a Twilight Party for Teens and Tweens at 4:00pm, Friday, October 23rd. This is a free event in celebration of Stephenie Meyers best-selling Twilight Series and the upcoming movie release. Come as you are or come dressed as Bella or Edward, for a chance at a prize. Show off your knowledge of the series by competing in a trivia game to win a framed poster. Watch clips from the movie and play the Twilight DVD Game. And to cool down after your mental exercises, suck down a frosty, Scarlet Ice Cream Float. Party supplies and prizes provided by the Friends of the Joshua Tree Library and the Joshua Tree Rotary.

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YUCCA VALLEY AND TWENTYNINE PALMS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SQUAD BOTH WIN THEIR GAMES
The Twentynine Palms High School Wildcat Football squad won their third game in a row Friday night. The Varsity Wildcats began their quest to defend their back to back De Anza league titles with a 21-0 victory over Desert Hot Springs Friday night. The victory gives the team a 1-0 record after the first week of De Anza league play. Anton Carrillo and Michael Pinto combined for nearly 100 yards rushing for the evening. The Cats defense came up with big plays as Senior Halston Shotwell would join the celebration with a dazzling 60 yard interception return for a score with 6:30 left to play The Cats will now travel to Desert Mirage High School in Thermal for their second week of De Anza league play. The Frosh Soph will look to continue their undefeated De Anza league record with a 4:30 start in the early game. The Varsity will follow at 7:30 in the night game. Saturday afternoon in Big Bear, the Trojan Football team played to 20-14 victory. The Trojans are 1-0 in league play and host Desert Hot Springs this Friday at 7pm. The JV Beat the Bears 21-6. The JV is also 1-0 in league play and have won their last 4 games.

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COMBINED HIGH SCHOOL BANDS TAKE 1ST PLACE IN COMPETITION
Performing against some very tough competition, the combined marching bands of Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms High Schools beat out four other schools from the Southern California area at Sundevil Classic Field Show and Tournament at Apple Valley High School Saturday. The color guard placed 2nd amongst all of the color guard units in their division. After a normal rehearsal schedule this week, the band performed a concert on Thursday night, played at the Twentynine Palms football game on Friday night and marched in the Pioneer Days Parade Saturday morning before heading to Apple Valley for the competition Saturday afternoon. The drum line also won 2nd place overall as an individual unit. The band has a very full competition schedule this season, traveling throughout Southern California almost every weekend through the middle of November. Their next competition will be Saturday, October 24, in the Heritage of Champions Field Show in Menifee and will have a chance to qualify for state finals. You can see the show locally as they perform during the half time show at both Yucca Valley High School and Twentynine Palms High School football games.

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TOMORROW’S HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS ACTION
Volleyball and Tennis command local high school sports tomorrow. In Volleyball action Tuesday, the Yucca Valley High School Lady Trojans travel away to face the Desert Hot Springs Golden Eagles, and the Twentynine Palms Lady Wildcats are at home versus the Desert Mirage Rams, with the first serve at 4:30. The Joshua Spring Lady Lighting Volleyball team plays at home against the Victor Valley Christian Royals, that match up starts at 5:30. In tennis Tuesday, the Twentynine Palms High School Lady Wildcats are hosting the Desert Mirage Rams, and the Yucca Valley High School Lady Trojans go up against the Desert Hot Springs Golden Eagles, those matches start at 3:15.

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