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Listen To Your News		Saturday, October 24, 2009		News Archive

COURT APPEARANCE FOR ACCUSED SEX OFFENDER
Former school board member and president of the Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce, David Jones, accused of child molestation, was in court Friday to hear results of a court ordered psychological exam. Jones, 61 plead not guilty by reason of insanity to multiple felony charges in August, stemming from his arrest last February on child sexual abuse and possessing child pornography. At yesterday’s hearing, Deputy District Attorney Kristin Kane said that one of 2 psychological reports has been received. The results were not divulged. Defense counsel Stewart Faber filed motions for change of venue, separation of counts into separate trials, and dismissal of one count on statute of limitations grounds. A hearing for those motions was scheduled for December 4th, and a jury trial date has been set for February 8th.

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HIGHWAY 62 OPEN STUDIO ART TOUR
Today is the start of the Highway 62 Open Studio Art Tour, with over 100 artists showing their works at galleries and home studios around the Morongo Basin. Venues open this weekend are in the West Basin, including Morongo Valley, Landers, Yucca Valley, and parts of Joshua Tree. Next weekend the focus shifts east, to Twentynine Palms, Wonder Valley, and more of Joshua Tree, with some locations exhibiting both weekends. For a list of artists and locations, visit hwy62arttours.com, or call 1-760-366-2226.

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HALLOWEEN HAUNT
Another local treat continuing on these last two weekends of October is the Halloween Haunt at Theatre 29. Reporter Tami Roleff says “Be scared... be very scared...”
Scary things are happening at Theatre 29 during its Sixth Annual Halloween Haunt, running weekends through October 31. This year’s incarnation will be under the expert (and somewhat twisted) direction of Theatre 29 veteran and favorite Daniel Tabeling and technical wizard Frances Wright. Special effects guru Eric Ross, formerly of "Knott's Scary Farm" will oversee the production with his own imaginative touches and over-the-top imagery. This year’s Haunt will lead its visitors into the home of Master Ravenscroft, a world traveler and avid collector of all things and people macabre. Visitors will receive a guided tour through the mansion and the outlying cemetery. The roles of the tour guides will be played by Fabianna Borghese, Tara Henkel, Candace Hescock, James Hodgson, Cathy Inscore, Drea Jensen, Cyrus Short, and Robin Wanless. If you have the nerve to face the inner catacombs of Ravenscroft’s mansions, tickets are available at the door for $5 “cash only.” Season ticket holders get their first tour included with their purchase. The Halloween Haunt will run this weekend, Friday and Saturday, and next weekend, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 29, 30 & 31; Tours on Friday and Saturday nights run from 6­10 pm, Thursday night is 6­9 pm with tours beginning every 10­15 minutes. Theatre 29 is located at 73637 Sullivan Rd in Twentynine Palms (just around the corner from Barr Lumber). Visit www.theatre29.com for more information.

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JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK 15TH ANNIVERSARY
Next Saturday, October 31st, is the 15th anniversary of the establishment of Joshua Tree National Park. Joshua Tree National Monument was created in 1936, at over 800,000 acres, through the persistent efforts of Pasadena resident Minerva Hoyt. In 1950, 265,000 acres were removed, to exclude some mining property. But when the Monument was upgraded to Park status in 1994, 234,000 acres were added. The new park boundary follows natural features and includes complete ecological units such as entire mountain ranges. Previous boundaries divided these ranges along survey lines. The Park remains a treasure trove of scenic beauty, camping, hiking, and climbing recreation, protected wild life and vegetation, and cultural history.

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AREA CODE CHANGE
Like it or not, you now need 4 more digits when making a local call. Managing Editor Karl Gardner gives us our final reminder…
Today’s the day... If you don’t dial 1, the area code plus the number, you’ll get a recording telling you to hand up and try again. As of today, all calls made in the 760 area code, even local calls, you will have to dial all 11 digits. Last year the Public Utilities Commission instituted an overlay within the 760 area code to include a new 422 area code. No existing number will change; any new numbers assigned will be given the new 422 area code. There won’t be any extra charges for local calls, just an inconvenience of dialing.

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JURY SCAMS
The phone rings, you pick it up, and the caller identifies himself as an officer of the court. He says you failed to report for jury duty and that a warrant is out for your arrest. You say you never received a notice. To clear it up, the caller says he'll need some information for "verification purposes"-your birth date, social security number, maybe even a credit card number. This is when you should hang up. It's a scam. Jury scams have been around for years, but have seen resurgence in recent months. Communities in more than a dozen states have issued public warnings about cold calls from people claiming to be court officials seeking personal information. As a rule, court officers never ask for confidential information over the phone; they generally correspond with prospective jurors via mail.
The scam's bold simplicity may be what makes it so effective. With enough information, scammers can assume your identity and empty your bank accounts. In recent months, communities California reported scams have and urged people to call their local district court office if they receive suspicious calls. Protecting yourself is the key: never give out personal information when you receive an unsolicited phone call.

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NEIL DERRY DOES SINATRA FOR BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
The Auction and Dinner Dance to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi Desert will feature 3rd District County Supervisor Neil Derry, not making a speech, but singing the tunes of Frank Sinatra. The event happens on Friday November 6th at the club in Yucca Valley, at the corner of Little League Drive and Palm Drive. In addition to the Supervisor’s singing, there will be other music, and dancing, plus live and silent auctions. Tickets are $35 each, or $250 for a table for 8. Get your reserved tickets from the Boys & Girls Club, at 1-760-365-5437, or at Windermere Real Estate, or from any club board member.

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VFW BREAKFAST
There’s a double feature at tomorrow’s VFW Sunday Breakfast, between 8 and 11 AM. Enjoy either pancakes, with spiced apple topping, 2 eggs, sausage or bacon OR a breakfast burrito – a flour tortilla filled with sausage, scrambled eggs, cheese, with salsa on the side. It’s happening at 6402 Veterans Way in Joshua Tree.

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