There goes all their fun...

It took an act of the Legislature and the Terminator's golden pen but the City finally has a written Ethics Policy. For years, this has been one of our biggest complaints about the city. We have to have a few days to read it over. But so far it looks like a win for the citizen. Steve Spear and Joel Klink moved to strengthen some of the language but in the end they were persuaded by the others to wait to see.

The funny business of the past should be held to a minimum. The great thing about this new Ethics Policy is that everything is public record. We can see hours of blogging entertainment ahead.

Here's your park

OK we were sort of wrong about the grant... We'll take our lumps. They tell us the $67,000 is the city's portion. OK we'll buy that for now.

It only gets better. It turns out the 1/3 acre park downtown will not have any parking. So it's not really a park as its more a walk. They plan to spend well over $300,000 on a 1/3 acre WALK, with no parking. That's $20.66 a square foot for gravel, pathways and a water feature. That damned water feature better be gold plated.

Call me crazy, but that seems a little steep for a place for our downtown winos, perverts, the mentally ill and homeless to congregate. I am conflicted with the concept of the parks public restrooms. Hell for $300,000 we could build a nice homeless shelter on the same piece of ground.

The one bright spot on the whole thing is we'll have all the nutts, perverts, winos, and lurkers of various sort, in one place to drop the net.

Backer of contentious golf plan found dead in Vegas

While this is not the most flattering story we post it here for the Peoples need to know.

TWENTYNINE PALMS - The architect of a controversial proposal to build a 1,200-home golf community near Joshua Tree National Park is dead following a shooting in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas police found William Barrett III, 31, dead Sunday morning with a gunshot wound to his head.

Sgt. Chris Jones of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said Barrett's roommate called authorities about 7:45 a.m. Sunday to report, "the person they were with had shot himself in the head."

Jones said investigators ruled out foul play but have not determined whether the shooting was accidental or intentional, as was reported on thedesertsun.com Monday morning. MORE

Entering Murrieta, rights stop here

By: PHILIP STRICKLAND - For the North County Times

Just when you might have thought it was safe to own property in Murrieta, the city fathers come along with another ham-handed approach to accomplishing their goals.

You may remember the unseemly debacle when Murrieta attempted to seize land along Jefferson Avenue through eminent domain with no compensation to the property owners. It was a disgusting, ill-advised action the city later begrudgingly attempted to make all better.

What Next?

It will be difficult to gage the future of the two proposed Country Clubs with the untimely demise of Developer Billy Barrett. Will the projects go on? Who will lead the now rudderless Barrett & Hart Development, Inc.? A great deal of the developments attractiveness was in it being promoted by a Twentynine Palms native son back from the big world outside the Basin and full of new ideas. No matter your stand on the issue, one has to give pause to the complete senselessness of potential lost.

Bitter is the taste of dreams lost. The wind has knocked from many a sail by a single tragic event. With momentum lost a stone soon comes to its final rest.

Developer Billy Barrett dead

Real Estate Developer William "Billy" Barrett, son of Carol Barrett former Board Member of the Hi-Desert Memorial Health Care District, was reported the victim of a tragic firearm accident Saturday Night in his Las Vegas home. He subsequently died of his wounds. Full details are not fully know at the time of this posting. The Las Vegas Metro Homicide division is investigating. Barrett was recently promoting the development of two Golf Courses in Twentynine Palms. We send our sincere condolences to the Barrett Family.

CHP Officer killed while performing traffic stop

On 2/25/2006, at 11:30 PM, CHP Officer Gregory Bailey was performing a routine traffic stop on the northbound interstate 15 north of Oak Hills Rd., in Victorville. Officer Bailey was struck by another motorist. Officer Bailey was airlifted to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 11:46 PM. The CHP is investigating the incident.

Lets keep a watch out for our public servants doing their jobs. Keep your eyes on the road and follow all the rules of the road. Lets not have another needless death.

Safer in Jail

The annual execution rate for prisoners on death row in the US is 2%. The death rate for street-level drug sellers is 7%, so they would be safer on death row.

More from Chase me, ladies, I'm in the cavalry Click Here

They're dumber than you think

It took a couple of days thinking about this and hours of research but I think I've figured it out. It is a simple lack of business skills and the inability to close a deal that has cost the city it's $233,000 RZH Bond for Bucklin Park. It turns out that the first requirement is the city own the property. Second, the city is required to put the construction out to competitive bidding. Third, on proof of award of a construction contract, the City must submit a payment request for up to eighty percent of the total grant amount. Remaining grant funds shall be paid up to the amount of the grant upon completion of the project and submittal of a detailed summary of project costs to the State.

All that is way too much of a paper trail for business as usual in Twentynine Palms. There might be a need to actually enter into negotiations for the land. The owner might have to actually transfer ownership to the city. Then there is that competitive bidding issue. The city would actually have to put the job out to bid to Licensed Contractors. Then all those pesky bonding, engineering, and Davis-Bacon payroll issues to deal with are just not the way we do business in the City of Twentynine Palms.

Oh my, the State is requiring things like Proof, submittals and detailed summaries of the project? The City has trouble complying with a single Public Records Act request by a citizen, and now the State wants to know in detail what the city does with their bond money? Go Figure.

So it turns out that the reason the city is looking to the yearly Community Block Grants for the funding of the park instead of the RZH bond is that it is too hard for them to comply with State requirements. It would mean open government,.It would mean someone other than a buddy would get the job. It would mean they would have to actually have to own the piece of ground the park is on. It would mean the mushroom syndrome would not be in play.

The lesson to be learned here is, don't confuse as conspiracy simple incompetence.

Here is a familiar story: Calaveras County

In Calaveras County, White Pines Park at one point was in line to get $60,000 from Proposition 40, a statewide bond measure voters approved in 2002. But that money and money earmarked for other parks around the county is in limbo, because groups such as the White Pines Park Committee don't own the land and can't guarantee that any improvements will be available to the public for the foreseeable future. The county risks losing most of their $1.2million in Proposition 40 funding if it can't solve land ownership problems and spend the money on parks before 2011. With the requirements for 6 month progress reports (with 8x10 glossies with circles and arrows on the front with a paragraph on the back of each,) a money strapped state government is breathing down their necks for a return of the money.

Like Twentynine Palms, little Calaveras County was granted Prop 40 money before it had its ducks in a row and now the State is looking for a way to balance a budget. Other local governments are searching for funding for their projects. Both are looking at the fine print on those Roberti-Z'berg-Harris -- Non-urban (RZH) grants funded with Proposition 40 money.

Until 2005 a local government once granted and funded with RZH grants could just sit on that money until 2011. That was changed in 2005 with requirements of reporting and the return of unused funds. Use it or loose it has become the mantra with a ever dwindling State Treasury.

The RZH grants are "ear marked" funds to be used ONLY for the project described in the grant and funded for. That grant money was never intended to be used as a slush fund or sit in a bank earning interest. It was in our case meant to be spent on building Bucklin Park. It now appears the cost of the park will be only $67,000. If that is so then by golly the city better pony up $166,000 back to the State post haste and find some other purpose for that Community Block Grant money.

Two local governments, two examples of p*ss poor planning and old fashioned mismanagement. That's nothing new in our little corner of Paradise.

Where is that Prop-40 Money?

Do you think we might have hit on a potential scandal with the Bucklin Park Grant Money? Have you noticed the conspicuous absence of the same old suspects who jump to blog in support of the status quo? The silence is deafening.
This new request for $67,000 for building the park out of this years Community Block Grant money is a hard act to sell when in fact that a Funded Prop-40 grant of $233,000 was there to build the park less than 4 months ago. What happened to the money?

UPDATE: Well this is one excuse they will not be using: Match Eliminated for Block Grant Program.  The matching requirement for the 2002 Resources Bond Act RZH Block Grant Program has been eliminated with the passage of AB 1747 (Chapter 240, Statutes of 2003). 

Talking about Illusion: The disappearing Quarter Million Dollars

On 7/1/2004 the City of Twentynine Palms was awarded $233,000 thru the Roberti-Z'berg-Harris -- Non-urban grant program of the State of California for Jerry Bucklin Community Park.

Yes it was funded as of November 30, 2005, here is the proof .

Project Description: "A development project in the City of Twentynine Palms to construct a park with pathways, shade structure, picnic tables and benches, drinking fountain, planters, solar lighting, irrigation and sculpture/water feature." More

In this week's Desert Trail "Scramble for CDBG funds begins" the city is dividing the community block grant pie. The paper said, "Other requests included $67,000 for installation of a fountain, benches picnic shelter, tables and lighting at the proposed Bucky Bucklin Park in downtown Twentynine Palms..." More

Like a David Copperfield's magic grand illusion, it seems $233,000 dollars granted by the State of California for Bucklin Park has just... well just disappeared. Nothing but a vacant lot to show for all the smoke and mirrors. Now the Grand Illusionist Michael Swigart asks for another $67,000 to build the park that the State funded grant was supposed to have paid for in 2005. While Copperfield has only been able to make a Plane disappear for a few moments, Swigart on the other hand has been able to make a park disappear for years and $233,000 to boot! Amazing, where did that money go?

Here are the rules of accountability and reporting "NEW GRANT ADMINISTRATION POLICIES – EFFECTIVE JUNE 1 2005" .

Could it be mismanagement or prestidigitation? Is it conjurering or Commingling? Where is the money?

Let's all be in attendence for the rabbit to be pulled from the hat next Tuesday. This should be better than a weekend in Vegas.

Country Clubbed: Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain

The quintessential observation about the proposed golf course projects is as follows:.

il·lu·sion
Pronunciation: i-'lü-zh&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Late Latin illusion-, illusio, from Latin, action of mocking, from illudere to mock at, from in- + ludere to play, mock -- more at LUDICROUS
1 a obsolete : the action of deceiving b (1) : the state or fact of being intellectually deceived or misled : MISAPPREHENSION (2) : an instance of such deception
2 a (1) : a misleading image presented to the vision (2) : something that deceives or misleads intellectually b (1) : perception of something objectively existing in such a way as to cause misinterpretation of its actual nature (2) : HALLUCINATION 1 (3) : a pattern capable of reversible perspective

Following the Money

While we all met Stacy Hart of Colorado, Dr. George Mulopulos of Las Vegas and Billy Barrett why didn't we meet the broker Vincent John Weissinger of Provo Utah? As always we like to follow the money.

Barrett Quits Hospital Board

Carol Barrett, a Twentynine Palms resident, resigned her post after 30 years of service to the Hi-Desert Memorial Health Care District.

Barrett announced her resignation at the end of the Tuesday, Feb. 14, board meeting.

“I feel like I have come to the end of my tenure here and after careful consideration of my professional and personal priorities, I have decided to resign from the Board of Directors, effective immediately,” Barrett said in a letter to the board. “It has been my honor to serve on this board for the past 30 years. From the year of my first election until this year of service, I have been single minded in my determination to build a high-quality, modern and accessible medical facility. With renewed dedication, pragmatic risk and hard work, I believe that the next 30 years can be the best yet for Hi-Desert Medical Center. I feel proud to have been a part of this history.” More

What a Meeting!!

The fur flew as the Bread & Butter crowd faced off with the Flower Children in a battle royal for the heart and soul of Twentynine Palms. Lines were drawn in the sand, chips were placed upon the table. The tone of the next election has been set. The choice between two distinct visions of what the future of Twentynine Palms will be. A winter haven for the the retired Baby Boomer or the environmentalists dream of THE destination to the Great Outback. Tonight we saw old political alliances shattered and new ones come together. Hold on to your hats boys and girls this is going to be one hell of a ride!

God I love politics!

The Tail of Two Medias: Fort Worth and 29 Palms

The embattled president and CEO of RadioShack resigned. David Edmondson came under fire after admitting to errors in his resume. A statement says RadioShack's board accepted the resignation after mutual discussions on what's best for the company. The board then promoted Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Claire Babrowski to President and acting CEO.
Edmondson drew fire last week over a resume that said he earned degrees in theology and psychology from Pacific Coast Baptist College in California. The school, which relocated to Oklahoma and renamed itself Heartland Baptist Bible College in 1998, said Edmondson only completed two semesters. The school also never offered psychology degrees. The resume flap was first reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
This story is far different than we have experienced in our own town. When it was discovered that our own City Manager made errors on his resume and claimed that he had received an accredited degree from a well known Diploma Mill, our newspaper and radio station failed in their duties to report the truth and practiced the worst form of journalism, political rhetoric . Instead of upholding the traditions of American Journalism they  whitewashed the whole issue by hanging on a word like "approved" as if it had the same equivalence of  formal accreditation.  
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram on the other hand in a similar situation took Edmondson to task. They did a little investigative reporting. They  found the holes in his resume and brought it to the attention of the public and the corporate shareholders. Unlike the Star-Telegram our media became willing accomplices to a sham. They purposely supported the unsupportable.
Unlike our City Councils the Radio Shack Board once the evidence of the bloviated resume was exposed, moved quickly and forced Edmondson's resignation. This was done to protect the company's good name and the shareholders. Besides it was just good business ethics. To the contrary our city councils have continued the charade and have over the years since the knowledge of the overstatement of the city managers educational background have even given him raises.
For what ever reasons unlike the Radio Shack Shareholder the local Taxpayer was held out to dry.

Desert Sun: Proposals for golf communities near Joshua Tree park spark debate

JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK - Rattlesnakes, rock climbing mishaps and even sudden snowstorms are among the many hazards of the Mojave desert.

People who fancy the protected desert landscape in Joshua Tree National Park don't want "wayward tee shots" added to that list.

That's why a proposal to build a 1,200-lot golf community within a chip shot of the 800,000-acre desert park that's about 1.2 times the size of Rhode Island is causing such a stir in Twentynine Palms.

Critics want the park's edge to remain a stomping grounds for wildlife like the desert tortoise.

They say suggested zoning changes to accommodate dense development near the park threaten not just the ecology there, but the primordial calm people seek in the desert.

Nicole Panter, a former Los Angeles punk rock band manager, is mobilizing residents in favor of maintaining the city's current zoning. MORE

Jimmie Hall Cummings, 49

On 02/19/06 at 10:26 PM, California Highway Patrol received 911 calls indicating that there was a vehicle off the raodway. Jimmie Hall Cummings, a 49 year old male resident of Twentynine Palms, was driving a 2006 Toyota pickup westbound on SR-62 about 10 miles east of Ironage Road. For unknown reasons, the vehicle left the roadway and rolled over several times. Paramedics and fire personnel responded to the location and pronounced Cummings dead at 11:05 PM. The California Highway Patrol is also investigating the accident.

Barrett & Hart Development Corporation

From the California Secretary of State.

Penny Round: Vietnam Trip

A friend of mine, Penny Round, just got back from Vietnam. She attended the wedding of her son to a girl from old Siagon. She's started a blog about the trip and it is well worth the read.

The sultry night air of Ho Chi Minh City settled over us when we stepped through the doors of Tan Son Nhat Airport, leaving no doubt that we had left Pamlico County far behind.

On the sidewalk, hundreds of people gathered in an orderly semicircle to wait quietly for the arrival of friends. There was no pushing, no shoving, no shouting - none of the frenzy and drama that so often accompanies arrivals in other countries.

Greetings, however, were warm and welcoming, and my soon-to-be daughter-in-law's eldest aunt quickly took me under her wing.

My three-week stay in Vietnam was underway. Before flying home again, we would crawl through a tunnel used by Viet Cong fighters, brave hair-raising, unregulated traffic on the crowded urban streets of old Saigon and dine on exotic dishes unlike any one can find in the little village on the banks of the Neuse.

In short, my son's wedding to a native Vietnamese would expand my Greek-American family in exciting new ways.

Speaking Vietnamese wasn't destined to be one of them. More

Arrested: Anthony Wilson, Murder

Hi-Desert Star
TWENTYNINE PALMS - Sheriff's detectives arrested two people this week for the murder of Louis Kimble, 29, and are still searching for another suspect, Anthony Wilson, 24, of Twentynine Palms.
Naomi Blackman-Sims, 21, was arrested Wednesday and Brandon Hibler, 19, was arrested Thursday on murder charges, according to Sheriff's Sgt. Tom Bradford.
Detectives found Kimble's body inside an apartment in a four-plex at 6457 Cienega Drive in Twentynine Palms on Feb. 10.
During their investigation, detectives learned that Sims and Kimble were involved in a fight at Twentynine Palms' Silverscreen night club on Feb. 9, reported Bradford.
Sims suffered a laceration to her forehead during the scuffle, added Bradford.
After Sims left the night club, she called Hibler and Wilson, and the three of them went to Kimble's home to confront him about the fight with Sims, said Bradford.
While Sims, Hibler and Wilson were at Kimble's home, Kimble was shot and killed, the detective reported.
An earlier report stated Kimble was shot at least two times.
The sheriff's department is asking anyone with information about this crime or Wilson's whereabouts to call the sheriff's department homicide detail at (909) 387-3589.

UPDATE: LAS VEGAS - Anthony Wilson, 24, of Twentynine Palms, the third suspect in the slaying of Louis Kimble, 28, of Twentynine Palms, has been arrested. MORE
 

Hi-Desert Star: What would Sherlock say?

Regarding rural versus urban, with apologies to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, I mention the "percent solution.” There are those who chose to reside in sparsely populated, more or less isolated areas. These would be places such as described by Daniel Boone when he said he was ready to move on whenever he could see the smoke from a neighbor's chimney.
It seems, however, that when these isolated regions reach a population density of about 20 percent, suddenly somebody somewhere decides the area has to “grow” and “prosper” and “develop.”
The decision then comes, as with Sherlock Holmes, whether or not to resist the “addictive solution.”

Planning Commission

By Mike Duncan

The Planning Commission is holding a "conceptual review" of the proposed golf course developments on Tuesday 21 February @ 6:00pm. The location of the meeting has been changed to the community center to accomodate the increased participation expected. All concerned citizens should show up to voice their opinions about the golf course, the general plan, or the economic future of 29 Palms in general.

If you have not seen what all the talk is about we have a flyer that was produced by the promoters.

Investigation of Chino airman shooting keys on audio recording

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - Prosecutors considering whether charges should be filed in the videotaped shooting of an unarmed airman by a sheriff's deputy are awaiting an FBI enhancement of the tape and are particularly interested in the audio, officials said Friday.
San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael A. Ramos also said the shooting review would not take as long as the usual three-to-six months, but he indicated the decision would not be made hastily.
"A rush to judgment does not equal justice so we're not going to rush," Ramos said at a news conference.
Deputy Ivory J. Webb, 45, shot Air Force Senior Airman Elio Carrion, 21, three times on Jan. 29 as the Iraq veteran was rising from the ground. MORE

Missing Something Here

I got this letter from the city. It seems the next door neighbor wants to start a business. I have no problem with that. The problem is why is this guy being force to get a home occupation permit? The zoning is right, the type of business is right.
The city tells me he needs the home occupation permit because he will be working out of his house. Isn't that more like he will be living in the house on the commercial property to protect his business? Its all on how you look at this thing. The buildings on the property are not the designator of use but the property zoning is. He will be working from commercial CS property, it just so happens to have a house on the property.
The reasons given for a "home occupation permit" on a already designated commercial zoned property were vague and to tell you the truth convoluted. I appreciate the city letting me know about the new neighbor, its kind of like a government sponsored "Welcome Wagon." I just don't see why the guy has to pay extra to be subjected to say the idiot across the way that thinks the neighborhood should be Brentwood or that damned thesbian family down the street.
As for the corbinism of a change of use triggers off-site improvements, we'll leave that argument for another day.

50% Increase in Park Fees

The entrance fee is going up at Joshua Tree National Park.

Starting March 1, the entrance fee at the desert park straddling Riverside and San Bernardino counties rises from $10 to $15, and the annual pass jumps from $25 to $30. Fees haven't been raised since 1997.

Dozens of national parks across the country are raising entrance fees this year, in hopes of generating about $8 million in additional revenue for the National Park Service, officials said.

About 80 percent of the fees collected at Joshua Tree stay at the park to help repair, maintain and enhance restrooms, campgrounds and hiking trails, park superintendent Curt Sauer said in a statement.

Golf Course Meeting Tonight

• There will be an informational meeting hosted by the developers of the courses on Thursday 2/16/06 @ 6:00 pm @ the Elks lodge in 29. All interested citizens (pro or con) are welcome to attend & ask questions.

SAN BERNARDINO CO: INMATES TANGLE ON BUSES

Black and Hispanic inmates battled with fists and razor blades on buses in San Bernardino County in the latest incidents of prisoner violence in Southern California, the authorities said. Sixteen inmates were hurt on three buses heading from the West Valley Detention Center to courts on Friday and Tuesday, said Robin Haynal, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. MORE

January home sales lowest for month in 5 years

Home sales across Southern California fell 7.4 percent last month to their lowest level for January in five years as the real estate market continued to cool, an industry tracker said Wednesday.

Potential buyers morphing into fence sitters accounted for the dip in the market's off-season, said La Jolla-based DataQuick Information Systems. More

The General Plan

We would like to hear from you. Do you support or do you want changes to the General Plan? Let us know.

Post your comments here.

County records head to Web

A program to place a host of San Bernardino County public records on the Internet to increase openness is expected to cost as much as $440,000 to get up and running.

But the price tag is worth it to help improve the public's perception of the county and its elected leaders, County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer said Monday.

The Board of Supervisors in October directed Uffer and his staff to return in February with a plan for putting a variety of public records online. Uffer presented his plan to the board Tuesday. More

Bernal makes the Meeting, Pulliam put off

What turned out to be a long City Council meeting, Elaine Bernal returned from her medical leave of absence.

The Council broke mid-meeting for a closed session and returned to deny Sean Pulliam his appeal on his property split issues. Reading between the lines the Council finds the rules to be unfair and has put into the works a change. As we see it it is a win-win the Council saved face, Sean saved face and in the real near future the stupid issue of curbs and gutters in rural areas will be changed for everyone planning to build. Sean is just going to have to wait until the rule is changed. Trust me Sean when I tell you my friend, take this as a victory and wait it out.

Council Meeting Tonight

Inflating a resume illegal? Washington State is saying no to Diploma Mills

SEATTLE WA. - Talking yourself up to a prospective employer is a time-honored tradition. But come this summer, inflating your resume could be downright illegal.

Washington State legislators are considering a bill that would subject people to a $1,000 fine for claiming in writing to have an academic degree they don't really have or failing to disclose that a listed degree came from an unaccredited institution.

The bill passed the House last week and now goes to the Senate.

Judge declares mistrial in case against deputy

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - A judge has declared a mistrial in a civil case against a prosecutor and reserve San Bernardino sheriff's deputy who fatally shot an unarmed man.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen G. Larson dismissed the jury Friday and ordered a new trial after one of the jurors in John E. Monaghan Jr.'s case referred to newspaper articles about the proceedings in deliberations. More

Murder Victim Identified

On 2-10-06 at 10:20 AM, Louis Clarence Kimble III, a 28 year old male resident of Twentynine Palms , was found deceased inside his home with upper body trauma. The San Bernardino Sheriff's Homicide Division is investigating. If anyone has any information regarding this death please contact Det. J. Minard or Sgt. T. Bradford at 909-387-3589.

Patricia Seleisa Muao, 33

On 2-11-06 at 12:18 AM, Patricia Seleisa Muao, age: 33, from Twentynine Palms, was a pedestrian on Highway 62 at Center Street in Joshua Tree when she was struck by two westbound vehicles. Paramedics responded and she was pronounced dead at the scene. CHP is investigating the collision.

Racial Violence Spreads to San Bernardino County Jails

Racial violence spread to a San Bernadino County jail Friday, as 13 were hurt when inmates slashed one another with razor blades while on a bus, said sheriff's Lt. Mike Stansell.

The inmates were being transferred from the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga to the Central Courthouse in San Bernardino, Stansell said.

None of the injuries were life-threatening, but the fighting appeared to be racially motivated, he said.

During a separate incident, a black inmate suffered a three-inch cut on his arm during a fight with two Hispanic inmates while in a holding area at the Rancho Cucamonga courthouse, Stansell said. More

Two sides of the Growth Coin

There is always two sides of a coin. This week the Hi-Desert Star and its sister paper the Desert Trail published letters to the editor that expressed both sides of the Twentynine Palms growth argument. We thought we would share the links so you will be able to understand the passions of both sides.

• Pro-Growth: Twentynine Palms future in doubt
• Slow Growth: Pandora's Box

Homicide

TWENTYNINE PALMS - San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department homicide investigators are investigating the shooting death of a 27-year-old African-American man whose body was discovered early Friday morning in an apartment here. More

Sheriff sends Chino airman shooting probe to district attorney

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - Results of an investigation into the videotaped shooting of an unarmed Air Force security officer by a San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy were sent to the district attorney's office Friday without a recommendation on whether any charges should be filed.

Sheriff Gary Penrod said the videotape "arouses a lot of suspicion" about what occurred but his investigators did not make any recommendations concerning Deputy Ivory J. Webb, 45, for the shooting of Senior Airman Elio Carrion, 21, who recently returned from Iraq. Penrod said he did not believe Carrion would face any charges. More

Attorney General forwards report on DHS' Hanson to DA

Jerry Hanson is out of sight, but the embattled former Desert Hot Springs city manager remains forefront in the minds of those investigating possible wrongdoing.The California Attorney General's office has forwarded roughly 2,500 pages of documents concerning "allegations of misconduct" to the Riverside County District Attorney's office "for any action they deem appropriate," according to a letter the state Justice Department sent Mayor Pro Tem Gary Bosworth. Calling it his "fiduciary responsibility," Bosworth asked the attorney general to look into the possibility of "public misconduct" nearly six months ago. More

Cameraman in Chino airman shooting ordered to Florida on warrant

LOS ANGELES - The amateur cameraman who videotaped a sheriff's deputy shooting an unarmed Air Force security officer after a car chase was ordered Thursday to appear in Miami on a warrant alleging aggravated assault with a firearm.

Jose Luis Valdes did not contest the order by Los Angeles County Superior Court Commissioner James N. Bianco, and he later told reporters he would be flying to Florida for a court appearance Friday morning. More

US Geological Survey to study southern San Andreas Fault

LOS ANGELES - The U.S. Geological Survey plans to use $2 million in proposed funding to study the southern San Andreas Fault in California, including a segment that has not ruptured in more than three centuries.

The 800-mile San Andreas, which slices through most of California, is best known for producing the powerful 1906 San Francisco earthquake and subsequent fires that killed about 700 people. The fault is also one of the most-monitored quake sites in the world.

Supervisors turn into Fashion Police

SAN BERNARDINO - San Bernardino County employees are no longer allowed to display their tattoos and nose rings in the workplace.

The county Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a new dress code Tuesday that bans visible tattos and facial piercings, as well as jeans and T-shirts with logos, from county offices.

The new rule doesn't bode well for some county office workers, who complained when the proposal was introduced two weeks ago. More

Supervisors next plan to introduce the Burka as a required garment for all female employees. Further Supervisors are considering several changes in employee conduct: Anyone found drawing any craven images of any member of the Board of Supervisors will be subjected to public stoning. Employees will face the County Seat five times a day and pay homage to the Board, those refusing to do so will be considered Infidels and be subject to termination... in the extreme. Chop, Chop! Kind of scary when you think about it, Baby Boomers turning in to fashion police. What next, political reeducation camps?

Morris rides huge margin into office

SAN BERNARDINO - Pat Morris, the longtime Superior Court judge whose holistic approach to cleaning the city's streets was deemed too soft by critics, trounced tough-talking City Attorney James F. Penman on Tuesday to become the city's next mayor.

Crime, violence and law enforcement took center stage in this, the most talked about mayoral election in San Bernardino in decades, and in the end it was Morris' collaborative, broad-based approach that won voters over by nearly a 2-to-1 margin. More