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Listen To Your News		Wednesday, November 2, 2011		News Archive

$5 MILLION LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST SUNFAIR FARM OPERATOR
Robert Ellis, who lost a lawsuit earlier this year filed by the Joshua Basin Water District over access to wells on 640 acres he farms in the Sunfair area of Joshua Tree, is being sued again, this time by his business partner, Evan Corkett of Orange County, who is seeking $5 million in damages. Corkett formed a partnership with Ellis in 2002 to develop land in Sunfair. Ellis first tried to develop the land as a golf course and housing project, but abandoned that in the face of public protest and later started Earthwise Organic Farms there. Corkett alleges in her lawsuit, filed in Joshua Tree Court last month, that Ellis told her he already owned 320 acres in Sunfair, known as the 212 Property, and he needed money from her to buy the adjoining 320 acres, known as the 381 Property. Corkett says she invested more than $300,000 with Ellis to buy and develop the 381 Property. But, according to Corkett, Ellis used the money to buy the 212 Property that he told her he already owned. Corkett also claims that Ellis used her investment money­meant for the business partnership­for his own personal expenses; that he sold water from the aquifers under the property and kept the money for himself; and that he took the revenues from the Earthwise Organic Farms on the property for his personal benefit. Corkett is suing Ellis for more than $5 million in damages, plus punitive damages.

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A HOUSE FIRE IN TWENTYNINE PALMS LAST NIGHT
A fire in a Twentynine Palms home Tuesday night caused major fire and smoke damage. Firefighters were called to a house fire at 11:18 last night in the 72300 block of El Paseo Drive, where they found fire venting from the window of a rear bedroom and the entire home filled with thick heavy smoke. Two Sheriff's deputies had arrived on the scene just prior to firefighters, and after forcing open a door, they found and rescued a dog that was cowering just inside the doorway. Firefighters had the fire under control 12 minutes after arriving on scene. The residents were not home at the time of the fire. Three units with eight firefighters from Twentynine Palms Fire Department responded and were assisted by one engine with four firefighters from the Combat Center Fire Department. The home suffered major fire damage in one bedroom and heavy smoke damage throughout the rest of the house. Property loss is estimated at $50,000 for the structure and its contents. The cause of the fire is under investigation. There were no injuries during the incident.

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YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL TALKS DRAINAGE, SEPTIC BAN, STATE MONEY FOR SEWER
The Yucca Valley Town Council met last night, a drainage study, and state money for the sewer system were heard by the council. Managing Editor Tami Roleff was there and files this report...
Long Canyon Channel is a wash that begins in Joshua Tree National Park and drains north through the middle of Yucca Valley. During heavy rains, up to a foot of mud and debris can be left on the roads the channel crosses. At last night's meeting of the Yucca Valley Town Council, the Council voted to proceed with a feasibility study with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate an expansion of the channel's detention basin, near Sage and Joshua Drive, that would reduce the amount of water and debris that flows over the Town's roads and highway. The Town's share of the $419,000 cost for the feasibility study is about $105,000. If the proposed project meets certain requirements, the Long Canyon Channel will be eligible for federal funds for the project, estimated to cost $1.7 million for a detention basin, and $4.5 million for the channel. In other news, Town Manager Mark Nuaimi and Hi-Desert Water District President Sarann Graham went to Sacramento yesterday for the State Water Resources Control Board meeting. Nuaimi said the Water Resources Board approved an amendment prohibiting septic tank discharges in the Town of Yucca Valley by 2016. And, the Water Resources Control Board also allocated $1.5 million to the Hi-Desert Water District's wastewater treatment and reclamation project.

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COUNTY EASES GAS REGULATIONS FOR FLORISTS, RESTAURANTS
The County Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance yesterday that will lift certain regulations for businesses that store compressed gas tanks. The new ordinance exempts businesses that store 6,000 cubic feet or less of compressed gas from state hazardous materials requirements. The ordinance, which goes before the board on November 15 for adoption, applies mainly to restaurants that use compressed carbon dioxide for soda machines and florists or party supply stores that use compressed helium for inflating balloons. The ordinance will save county businesses more than $2.8 million.

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IMPROVEMENTS AT JOSHUA TREE COMMUNITY CENTER APPROVED
In other action yesterday, County Supervisors approved funding for three renovation projects in Joshua Tree totaling $95,000. The three projects include: restroom retrofit at Joshua Tree Community Park; restore and surface parking lot at Joshua Tree Community Park; and remove and abate asbestos floor tiles at Joshua Tree Preschool and replace with new vinyl flooring. The funds will be disbursed to County Service Area 20 – Joshua Tree with the projects slated to be completed by October 31, 2012. The primary impetus for the restroom retrofitting is so that it can comply with ADA standards.

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SCHOOL BOARD HEARS JOSHUA TREE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COSTS, TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN
The Morongo Unified School Board got the final bid figures for a new Joshua Tree Elementary School last night. Reporter Dan Stork says they also got details on a state imposed rule changing kindergarten start ages...
At the meeting of the Morongo Unified School District Board of Education Assistant Superintendent Dave Price reported that Park West Construction submitted the lowest qualifying bid of nine submitted for the new Joshua Tree Elementary School. The bid amount is just shy of $21 million, and Price expects to submit it to the Board for approval after reviewing it for completeness. Assistant Superintendent Tom Baumgarten explained to the Board the state-imposed requirement for "Transitional Kindergarten." As a supposed cost-saving measure, the state is moving up the 5th birthday cutoff date for prospective kindergarteners by a month in each of the next three years. But it has mandated that districts offer an optional pre-kindergarten year – called Transitional Kindergarten – for children who would have been eligible for regular kindergarten under the old rules. Baumgarten sketched the potential logistical impact on the District. There will be no transportation funds for this program. Baumgarten also educated the Board on the elements of Program Improvement. This is relevant to schools whose test scores haven't met No Child Left Behind targets. Currently, 10 schools in the District are in some stage – first, second, or third year -- of Program Improvement. An additional two schools that were in this status have escaped it by meeting targets. Schools that fail to leave PI status within 5 years, or fail to convince the state that they are making substantial progress, could suffer dire consequences, extending as far as state takeover. In addition to designating December 6 for its re-organization meeting, and wishing Yucca Valley a happy 20th birthday, the Board received for review policies on privacy rights and discipline, outlines for Shakespeare courses, and an AP biology text.

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YUCCA VALLEY ROAD CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE FOR TOMORROW
The Town of Yucca Valley's current road maintenance project continues this week. The following streets will be closed tomorrow, Acoma Trail from Pueblo Trail to State Route 62; Hopi Trail from Pueblo Trail to Santa Fe Trail; Richard Drive from Barron Drive to State Route 62; Ronald Drive from Barron Drive to State Route 62; and State Route 62 Outer Highway North from El Dorado Avenue to Indio Avenue. Traffic flow will be one-way on these streets during the project. Work will be completed on one half of the road, with no access for about 2 hours. Access will then be switched to the other half of the road and the maintenance work will be completed. Disruption to school traffic, trash pick up, or public safety access is not anticipated.

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HI-DESERT WATER DISTRICT BOARD MEETS TONIGHT
The Hi-Desert Water District Board meets in regular session tonight. Reporter Derwood Andrews checks the agenda...
On the Hi-Desert Water District regular meeting agenda tonight is a presentation from the Cadiz Valley Water Conservation, a resolution recognizing the Town of Yucca Valley's 20th Anniversary, water main replacement on Faith Lane, and an adjustment to the Wastewater Budget. The meeting is at 6:00 p.m. at Water District offices on the Highway.

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JOSHUA BASIN WATER DISTRICT TRIES AGAIN FOR A WASTEWATER AGREEMENT WITH HI-DESERT MEDICAL CENTER
The Joshua Basin Water Board will try, again, to pass a wastewater agreement with Hi-Desert Medical enter tonight. Reporter Mike Lipsitz checks the agenda...
The Joshua Basin Water District Board of Directors meets in regular session at 7 o'clock tonight at district offices on Chollita Road in Joshua Tree. Tonight, the board will again consider the agreement between the District and Hi-Desert Medical Center for a package wastewater treatment plant. The agreement has been continued for the last several consecutive meetings; hopes are that the long anticipated vote can be brought to the floor tonight. Also tonight, the Board is expected to present School Conservation Awards recognizing Mr. Chambless' 5th grade class at Friendly Hills Elementary School and Mrs. Hadley's class at Joshua Tree Elementary School. The classes saved more than 500,000 gallons of water annually. Following those actions, reports and public comment, the board will likely adjourn to closed session to confer with legal counsel.

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JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK REOPENS PINTO BASIN ROAD
Joshua Tree National Park reopened Park Route 11, the Pinto Basin Road, yesterday. The Road had been closed since September 13 due to flash flood damage. While Pinto Basin Road is open for two-lane travel along its entire length, there remain several short unpaved sections where travelers should reduce speeds and exercise caution. The Park also reopened the Cottonwood Visitor Center, and two self-guided nature trails. The Cottonwood Campground and Cottonwood Springs Oasis are still closed. Other visitor facilities that reopened yesterday include: Old Dale Road, Black Eagle Mine Road, and Pinkham/Thermal Canyon Roads. For more information call the Park at 760-367-5500.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS PLANNING COMMISSION TO HOLD HEARING FOR FARMERS' MARKET
The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission meets tonight in a busy session. Reporter Dan Stork says among the full agenda is a public hearing for a permit for a long-awaited Farmer's Market...
The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission has a busy agenda for its meeting on Wednesday, November 2. The first order of business is a public hearing for a Conditional Use Permit to establish a Certified Farmers' Market every Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the north end of the Historic Plaza on Homestead Drive. Next is a presentation of the proposed Project Phoenix and fire station improvements. Then the commission will consider changes suggested by the city council to the revised ordinance on accessory structures. Finally, there is a scheduled resumption of a study session on standards and criteria applicable to development of Solar Farms and Fields. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in council chambers in city hall on Adobe Road.

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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS AND SCHEDULES
The Yucca Valley Lady Trojans Volleyball team traveled to Desert Mirage High School Tuesday for their DeAnza League match. The Lady Trojans went into the match 7-1 in the DeAnza League and left 8-1. The Lady Trojan JV team also defeated the Lady Rams 25-20, 25-13, bringing their record to 8-1 also. The Lady Trojans take on the Desert Hot Springs Golden Eagles tomorrow at Trojan gym to decide the DeAnza League championship. The JV play at 3:15 p.m. followed immediately by the Varsity match.

Twentynine Palms High School Lady Cats Tennis Team competed in their last De Anza League regular season tournament yesterday against Big Bear High School and defeated the Lady Bears 14-4. The Lady Cats will go into CIF Team play-offs as the number 1 team in DeAnza League for the second season in a row. The Lady Cats finish with a 10-0 record in league and 15-0 overall record for the season. This Thursday and Friday will be the De Anza League Finals at 10 a.m. at Shadow Hills High School in Indio.

The Yucca Valley High School Girls Varsity Tennis Team lost a heartbreaker Monday against Big Bear 7-11. The Trojans are tied for second place with Big Bear.

Tomorrow the Joshua Springs girls' volleyball team hosts Bloomington Christian at home, with first serve at 5:30.

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