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Listen To Your News		Wednesday, December 21, 2011		News Archive

BARRICADED SUSPECT BRINGS MAJOR POLICE ACTION TO TWENTYNINE PALMS
A massive police action in Twentynine Palms yesterday resulted in one man being taken into custody. Witnesses said about eight Sheriff's patrol units, supported by a helicopter, descended on the 72300 block of Cactus Drive just south of the Highway at about 5:00 Tuesday evening. The Sheriff's Department said deputies had arrived to serve a $250,000 arrest warrant on Tracy Reppenhagen, 47, who was wanted for assault with a deadly weapon in Imperial County in July. Reppenhagen had barricaded himself into the house. Sheriffs said Tracy Reppenhagen came out about 6:10 and was taken into custody. He was booked into the Morongo Basin Jail with bail set at $250,000.

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ROLLOVER CRASH IN LANDERS SENDS ONE TO HOSPITAL YESTERDAY
Sketchy details about a rollover crash in Landers that sent a woman to the hospital yesterday. About 1 p.m., a car on Old Woman Springs Road and Linn Road rolled over. The female passenger was taken to Hi Desert Hospital with minor injuries.

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EVICTED YUCCA VALLEY MAN BREAKS BACK INTO HIS FORMER HOUSE
A tenant who was evicted from his Yucca Valley home was arrested on multiple counts Monday after he returned. Shortly before 1 p.m. Monday, Sheriff's dispatch received a call that Stephen Heard, 71, evicted from his rental home in the 57600 block of Duarte Street, had cut the locks and was back inside the residence. Heard had left the residence by the time the deputy arrived, but the deputy found him driving while doing an area check. When Heard eventually pulled over in the 4700 block of Berkeley Avenue, he was arrested for investigation of failing to yield when the deputy activated the patrol car's lights and sirens. Stephen Heard was also arrested for three outstanding warrants from 2008 and 2010, including evading arrest, driving under the influence, and resisting arrest. Stephen Heard was booked into the Morongo Basin Jail and is being held with no bail.

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SHARP-EYED DEPUTY SPOTS STOLEN TRUCK IN YUCCA VALLEY
A Sheriff's deputy who was suspicious of men working on a truck in Yucca Valley arrested one of the men yesterday for stealing the truck. According to a Sheriff's report, about 8:30 Monday morning, a deputy saw two men working on a Ford Ranger pick-up truck in the 55700 block of 29 Palms Highway and conducted a vehicle check. The deputy determined that the truck was reported stolen from Desert Hot Springs. After the deputy hand cuffed the two men together, one of the men, Jack Johnson, 38, of Morongo Valley, admitted to the deputy that he had stolen the truck. Jack Johnson was arrested for investigation of grand theft auto and violating his parole. Jack Johnson was booked into the West Valley Detention Center with his bail set at $50,000.

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YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL MEETS, ANIMAL SHELTER PLAN QUESTIONED
The Yucca Valley Town Council met last night. Managing editor Tami Roleff says discussion on a new animal shelter dominated most of the meeting...
With little discussion, the Yucca Valley Town Council eased the ordinance that governs when utilities must be placed underground. Mayor Dawn Rowe asked several pointed questions of Town Staff about the proposed ordinance, and she suggested a slight modification to one portion, to give developers the discretion to decide if utilities should be underground in infill areas. The revised ordinance was passed 4-0, with Council Member Merl Abel absent. The next two items on the agenda—approving Pacific Western Bank as the Town's bank, and assigning council members to public agency and committee boards—were postponed until its January meeting, when all council members would be present. Next up, the Council directed staff to modify the Highway 62-247 median project to allow access to the southern Outer Highway in the middle of the block in front of Star Market. This change is expected to cost about an additional $200,000. During public comments—two people, including Planning Commissioner Tim Humphreville—spoke out against the Town's new animal shelter project. Manager Mark Nuaimi then gave a nearly hour-long presentation on the proposed shelter to the Council. Council Member George Huntington pointed out the Town has already spent $435,000 on the proposed shelter, which it would lose if it was to change course mid-stream.

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YUCCA MESA RAPE VICTIM TESTIFIES IN MURDER TRIAL
A Yucca Valley woman who was allegedly raped in front of her 4-year-old son, had her throat slit and mother-in-law killed,
testified Tuesday about the horrific 2 1/2 hours. The victim took the stand during the murder trial of Sherhaun Brown, 34, in Victorville in a death penalty case. Brown is accused of raping and slashing the woman and murdering her mother-in-law, Kristy Vert. At about 6:30 a.m. May 7, 2007, Brown broke into the victims' house on Canterbury in the Yucca Mesa area. Vert's daughter-in-law testified she woke up to a noise and saw a man holding an ax head in the kitchen. She said Brown said he was at the house to collect a gambling debt from Vert's son, who had gone to work. After Brown got the money from Vert, he tied the victims up in separate rooms and attacked them. After raping her, Brown cut her throat, the victim said. Brown took off in her car and the victim went to a neighbor's house for help. Brown was located and arrested later that day after the car was spotted in Moreno Valley.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETS TONIGHT, HEAR YET ANOTHER RESIGNATION
The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission meets tonight. Reporter Dan Stork says a possible annexation will be discussed…
The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission will open its meeting on Wednesday by considering whether to return the meeting date to Tuesday. Then it will discuss the date for a public hearing about pre-zoning 150 acres that Robertson's Ready-Mix has asked the city to annex. Finally, it will talk about a possible code amendment about the sale of Mylar balloons in the city. The meeting starts at 6 pm in Council Chambers on Adobe Road. And in a related story, a second seat has opened up on the Twentynine Palms Planning Commission. On Monday, Christopher Plummer gave notice to the city manager, Richard Warne, that he was resigning his seat. Plummer was appointed to the Planning Commission on November 22. Plummer did not give a reason for his resignation. Last week, Christina Benton resigned her seat on the Planning Commission, citing time constraints. Applications are now being accepted for the two vacancies. Applicants must be a resident of Twentynine Palms and a registered voter. Applications are available at City Hall, 6136 Adobe Road, Twentynine Palms, between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Application forms are also available on the City website at www.29palms.org. The deadline for submitting applications is 6 p.m. January 25. Following a review of the applications and possibly an in-person interview, the City Council appoint the new commissioners. For additional information, call 760-367-6799.

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CHP OFFER START SMART DRIVERS CLASS TOMORROW
The California Highway Patrol is continuing its FREE Start Smart class at its Morongo Basin office, 63683 29 Palms Highway in Joshua Tree. The next class will be held on Thursday, December 22, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. The CHP designed the Start Smart class for teens and new drivers. Teen drivers represent only 4 percent of the state's licensed drivers, but they are at fault in two-thirds of the fatal collisions in which they are involved. California has the second highest fatality rate involving teen drivers. Start Smart speaks directly to the teen drivers and their parents/guardians. This program provides classroom instruction on collision avoidance techniques, collision causing elements, and driver responsibilities. Reservations are required by calling the Morongo Basin California Highway Patrol Area office at 760-366-3707.

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JOSHUA BASIN WATER DOING A DO-OVER TONIGHT
The Joshua Basin Water District will be singing, "Whoops we did it again" after tonight's meeting. Reporter Mike Lipsitz explains...
Tonight's meeting of the Joshua Basin Water District looks to be a do-over of last Wednesday's meeting. It seems that a well-intentioned hair splitter noted that directors had failed to take a formal vote when adjourning the last two board meetings as required by the Brown Act. So in order to fully comply with the state's open meeting law, tonight's meeting will see directors reconsider each of the actions voted on from last Wednesday including the seating of a new director, selection of a new board president and vice president for 2012, and consideration of changes to the District's Articles and Administration Code. Having crossed all the eyes and dotted all the T's, expectations are that Frank Coate's appointment to the board, the naming of Mike Reynolds as 2012 Board President, Mickey Luckman as VP, and changes to the Articles and Administration Code can be validated. Time permitting, tonight might also see action on the agreement with Hi-Desert Medical Center for a package wastewater treatment plant.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS WATER DISTRICT TO SET FINAL LANGUAGE OF FIRE TAX TONIGHT
The Twentynine Palms Water District Board will meet in regular session tonight. Reporter Derwood says the final language on the upcoming Fire Tax is expected to be set…
The re-scheduled meeting of the Twentynine Palms Water District takes place at 6:00 pm tonight at Hatch Road. On the agenda are three resolutions. One being service application deposits, one concerning the budget for 2011-2012 and the last, amending a former resolution and the adoption of Plan Restatement. The election of officers precedes these resolutions. In Fire business it's the third and final Public Hearing on adopting the Special Parcel Fire Tax. The final wording, terms and dates for the mail in ballot are expected to be set tonight. Also possible action to contract with CAL FIRE for dispatch services.

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STORYTELLING IN JOSHUA TREE TONIGHT
You are invited to join a merry band of storytellers in Joshua Tree tonight. There will be an open mike; come tell a story or just listen, Tellers and listeners are welcome. Tellers get up to 10 minutes. All stories are welcome - Old stories, new stories, stories that are true, or just made up. Fairy tales, folk tales, myths, legends, and personal are all welcome. Come practice and appreciate the ancient art of storytelling. There will be a prize of $30 to the best teller! This months' theme: Holiday Stories. The storytellers meet tonight from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at the Red Arrow Gallery in Joshua Tree. A $5 donation is suggested. The event is facilitated by Ron Amos, Ph.D. All proceeds go to the living school, a non-profit home school co-op.

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THE WINNERS OF THIS YEARS HOLIDAY DECORATING CONTEST
The judges had their work cut out for them with a large amount of contestants in this year's holiday business decorating contest. Reporter Mike Lipsitz opens the envelope…
Results are in for the annual Holiday Decorating Contest which saw Basin businesses large and small compete for free local advertising from contest sponsors KCDZ FM Community Radio and the Hi-Desert Publishing Company. Cherie Miller & Associates takes this year's top honors for the best small business interior and exterior holiday decorations. The Yucca Valley realtor turned their offices into Christmas central inside and out. Park Rock Café narrowly took second place honors for small business interior, the competition's most hotly contested category, and Joshua Tree Music takes second place for small business exterior. Bringing in top honors with 1st Place in the Large Exterior Category is the Sunnyvale Garden Suites Hotel in Twentynine Palms. Their spectacular light show, synchronized to holiday music made them the hands down winner. First Nations Bank in Twentynine takes second place. And in the category for large business interior decorations, top prize goes to Hi-Desert Medical Center Special Additions Family Birthing Center, with Sky Harbor Care Center taking second place.

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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS AND SCHEDULES
The Yucca Valley Lady Trojan basketball teams rally from a 19-point third quarter deficit fell just a little short as they lost a semi-final game 47-43 to host Riverside Poly, in their Holiday Tournament. Seniors Latreya Ross had 11 points and Whitney Rodriguez had 10 points while junior Bailey Francis had 9 points off the bench.

The Twentynine Palms High School Girls' Varsity basketball team started the Betty Smith Classic tournament in Hemet with a win over the Coachella Valley Arabs 47 to 22 Monday. Leading scorers for the Lady 'Cats were: Rosa Graham with 12 points, Laveena Benavente-Baker had a double double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, Erin Stanford with 9 points and Koko Cabrera had 8 points. Tuesday the Twentynine Palms girls continued their winning ways by defeating the home team, the Hemet Bulldogs 57 to 44. The team will play La Quinta December 21 for a chance to go to the finals of the tournament. The Wildcats had four girls in double figures on the evening. The Lady 'Cats record now stands at 8 wins and 2 losses.

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AN EDITORIAL COMMENT
The recent theft of funds from an elementary school science camp fund-raiser hit a nerve with Z107.7 News managing editor Tami Roleff, she offer this editorial comment...
It's a sad, sad world when someone steals from a school fundraiser. Oasis Elementary School in Twentynine Palms held a Winter Fest fundraiser last Thursday, in which the proceeds would go to help send the school's sixth graders to science camp next year. Sometime during or after the event, about $200 turned up missing. Imagine how devastated those children will be if they can't attend science camp, all because of money they helped raise has gone missing. Who is so desperate that they'd steal from a school fundraiser? If the good people of the Morongo Basin want to contribute money to replace the stolen funds, they can mail it or drop it off here at Z107.7 radio station, 6448 Hallee Road, Suite 5, Joshua Tree, 92252, and we'll make sure it gets to the kids.

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