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Listen To Your News		Tuesday, December 7, 2010		News Archive

General James Amos

COMMANDANT VISITS MARINES TRAINING FOR AFGHAN DEPLOYMENT Marine Corps Commandant, General James Amos, spent time yesterday with Marines and Sailors in the field training at the Twentynine Palms base. Amos, who took control of the Marine Corps seven weeks ago, has been visiting bases and meeting with service members. Monday's stop at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center was part of a western tour. He will be at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County today. Every Marine who is sent to Afghanistan is sent to go through “Mojave Viper”, a desert warfare training exercise in Twentynine Palms, before deploying.

Amos spoke with members of a Marine battalion engaged in a role-playing exercise that involved clearing a village of enemy fighters and securing it. Amos, and his wife, Bonnie, walked with battalion commander, Lt. Col. Chris Dixon, up the main street of the settlement of concrete slab buildings. Amos then sat with military officials and asked a group of Marines, about their concerns. They discussed how families were adjusting to their deployment, how to expand medical training, and a new gun being considered to replace the current squad automatic weapon, or SAW. Some Marines expressed concern that the new infantry automatic rifle has a magazine that holds 30 rounds, while the SAW has 200-round magazines. General Amos said he had recently tested the new gun and found it to be very accurate, "This (new gun) is so deadly, what you give up in volume, you make up in accuracy," Amos said. Marines at Twentynine Palms were impressed to see the new commandant there. Amos said he feels it is important to meet with the troops. He plans to be in Afghanistan for Christmas.

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YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL SWEAR IN NEW MEMBERS, HEARS FROM ASSEMBLYMAN COOK
The Yucca Valley Town Council will swear in new and newly reelected members tonight. Then it’s off to shopping carts, cell towers, and redevelopment. Reporter Tami Roleff checks the Town Council’s agenda...
The Yucca Valley Town Council will meet at 6:00 tonight in the Yucca Room of the Community Center. Among the items on the consent agenda, the Council will be asked to: approve an ordinance regulating abandoned shopping carts and certify the election results. Next the Council will swear in the new council members and select a new mayor and mayor pro tem. Assemblyman Paul Cook will give a speech on the State of the State. Next up, the Council will hold a public hearing on a proposed cell phone tower at St. Mary of the Valley Church. After staff gives the Council reports on the comprehensive annual financial report and road improvements on Del Monte Avenue, the Council will recess and reconvene as the Redevelopment Agency. On the RDA’s consent agenda, the RDA will be asked to approve its financial report. The RDA will then adjourn and the Town Council will reconvene to hold a closed session on existing litigation.

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ANNUAL TWENTYNINE PALMS COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING TONIGHT
The Annual Twentynine Palms Community Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony will be held at City Hall park tonight from 5:30 until 6:30. The event features the Twentynine Palms Jr. High School band and choir. There will be hot cocoa, cookies and cupcakes served up by members of the Soroptimists, Rotary, Lions and Kiwanis. The ceremonial lighting of the tree will be followed by the arrival of Santa.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS PLANNING COMMISSION HOLDS HEARINGS ON ADOBE ROAD CAR LOT, TRASHY HOUSE
The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission meets tonight. Reporter Derwood Andrews says two public hearing will be held...
The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission meet tonight at 6 p.m., City Hall. On the agenda are two Public Hearings. The continued hearing for the proposed business ‘Adobe Auto Center’, followed by a public nuisance request for trash at 5025 Adobe Road and an abatement on that commercial property. Join in the hearings and add your comments.

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JOSHUA TREE CLEAN TEAM LAST CLEAN-UP OF 2010 TOMORROW
The Joshua Tree Clean Team is having their last clean-up for 2010 tomorrow morning. Volunteers will meet at the Joshua Tree Library to clean downtown Joshua Tree along the highway, in preparation of Christmas. The workers will be picking up litter for one short hour from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Afterwards, they will meet at the Park Rock Cafe for coffee and conversation. Trash bags, grabber sticks, gloves and water will be available for easier clean-up. Joshua Tree Clean Team's co-sponsors are County of San Bernardino Waste Management, Z107.7, Park Rock Cafe and Joshua Tree Outfitter. For more information call 760-366-8415.

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SENIOR ADVISORY GROUP TO MEET FRIDAY, ADVISORS SOUGHT
Starting Friday December 10th at 10 a.m. Morongo Basin Regional Council on Aging and Adult Services will begin meeting the Second Friday of each month at 10 a.m. at Morongo Basin Senior Support Center at 57121 Sunny Slope Drive, Yucca Valley. Morongo Basin Regional Council on Aging and Adult Services, works with the County Department of Aging and Adult Services to improve the quality of life for senior citizens and adults with disabilities. The Morongo Basin Regional Council on Aging and Adult Services is actively recruiting for new members. All seniors are invited to the meetings. For more information, contact Connie Connole at 760-365-3602.

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MORONGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD TO FOCUS ON FINANCIAL ISSUES
The Morongo Unified School Board of Education meets tonight. After swearing in new school board members and a closed session, the board will get down to some financial work. Reporter Dan Stork checks the school board’s agenda...
The December 7 meeting of the Morongo Unified School District Board of Education at Friendly Hills Elementary School gets off to an early 5 p.m. with the swearing-in of Donna Munoz and Chris Proudfoot. A closed session from 5:20 to 7 p.m. treats student discipline issues, collective bargaining, litigation, and a Level III grievance hearing. Open session resumes with performances from the Friendly Hills and Yucca Valley High choirs. In addition to reports from board members, staff, and employee, student, and Marine Corps representatives, the action agenda will focus on financial issues. These are the financial report for the last school year, the interim report for the current year, and Statutory School Facilities Fees. Title I programs are scheduled for approval. Board policies on education of children in military families and on evaluation of the instructional program will be presented for second review, as will Spanish text.

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TLC LOOKING FOR TURKEY AND HAM DONATIONS
Tender Loving Christmas (TLC) Director Mara Cantelo is seeking meat sponsors for the TLC Christmas Day event, to be held from 12:30 to 6:00 p.m. at the Yucca Valley Community Center. Each year, 1,200 pounds of turkeys and hams must be purchased for this event. Meat Event Sponsorships are needed. Mara is seeking individuals who can donate $25, $50 and $100 or more toward the meat fund and buffet. “Our turkeys and hams comprise roughly one-third of our cost,” said Cantelo. “It’s always a waiting game hoping we have enough funds to purchase our meats, but this year it is even more of a struggle. I am asking those in the community who can help to please come forward as soon as possible.” Now in its 27th year, TLC provides a full Christmas Day banquet for all those in need, or who find themselves alone on the holiday. For a complete list of items needed, or to learn how you can help, contact Mara Cantelo at 760-365-4TLC (4852).

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HOSPICE’S COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS MEET TOMORROW
The Morongo Basin Chapter of The Compassionate Friends will hold their monthly meeting tomorrow from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the office of Hospice of Morongo Basin in Joshua Tree. The Compassionate Friends is a national support organization reaching out to parents who have experienced the death of a child. This is an opportunity to receive support before the holiday season. The Compassionate Friends reach out to each other with love, understanding and hope. For questions or more information, call 760-250-7295.

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MATINEE SATURDAY FOR “THE FIRST CHRISTMAS” AT THEATRE 29
The Christmas play “The First Christmas” featuring traditional Christmas music, continues its run at Theatre 29 through December 18. Reporter Mike Lipsitz says this Saturday afternoon will be the only matinee performance...
“The First Christmas” is delighting audiences at Theatre 29. It offers a fresh look at the traditional Christmas story as seen through the imagination of a young girl and reveals the spirit of Christmas through the stories of Mary and Joseph, Elisabeth and Zacharias, and a pair of shepherds called Sharif and Omar. “The First Christmas,” featuring traditional Christmas music, is running Friday and Saturdays at 7 p.m. through December 18th with one matinee scheduled for Saturday, December 11th at 2:30. The cast and crew rehearsed, readied sets and intricate costumes for eight weeks to bring this heart-warming show to the stage. Directors Patricia Tabeling and Paulette Highfill say, “This is one of the hardest working casts we have ever had.” Tickets are $8 to $12 and available at theatre29.com or by calling the Box Office at 760-361-4151.

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YUCCA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL HONORS ITS CHAMPION VOLLEYBALL SQUAD
The Yucca Valley High School Lady Trojan Volleyball team, 2010 DeAnza League Champions, honored their players at the annual team banquet Sunday night in the Yucca Valley High School gym. Coach Pam Naylor proudly honored her championship players. Junior Varsity players honored were: Stephanie Misquex - MVP Offense Melissa Smith - MVP Defense, and Cassidy Sterling - Most Improved. Varsity players honored were: MVP Offense - Lindsay Sullivan, MVP Defense - Liz Slaughter, Most Improved - Kaitlyn Woolling, Most Inspirational - Taylor Adair, and the Coach’s Award went to Aliesa Peterson. Naylor also announced All DeAnza League Team Selections; Honorable Mention - Sarah Terreri, 2nd Team - Aliesa Peterson, Courtney DelGuidice and Whitney Rodriguez, 1st Team - Liz Slaughter, Taylor Adair and Kaitlyn Woolling and the All DeAnza League Offensive MVP - Lindsay Sullivan. In addition 12 players were recognized as Scholar Athletes for maintaining a 3.5 GPA or higher during the volleyball season.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS YOUTH BASKETBALL
The Twentynine Palms Park and Recreation Department is accepting youth basketball registrations at the Park and Recreation office and on-line until Friday, December 10th. Children enrolled in Kindergarten through 8th grades are eligible to register. Tryouts are scheduled for Saturday, December 11th beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Twentynine Palms High School gymnasium. Registrations will also be taken at the High School gym on Saturday from 9 to noon. For additional information call the recreation office at 760-367-7562.

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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS SCHEDULE
In local high school sports tomorrow, the Twentynine Palms High School Wildcat girls basketball team is away to Rancho Verde competing in the Mustang Holiday Hoops tournament, with there tip off at 3.

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