Humor sustains firefighters

They can laugh about it now - the monstrous wildfire that forced four firefighters to huddle in a stucco garage wondering if they would live or die.

But only now - more than two weeks after Sawtooth blazed through Pioneertown, charred 60,000-plus acres, destroyed 62 structures and claimed the life of resident Jerry Guthrie - can they laugh.

"It took a week and a half before I could sleep through the night," firefighter Chris Giertz said.

"I still get flashbacks."

He and the three other Twentynine Palms firefighters reminisced Saturday night at Pappy and Harriet's. Continue Reading

Ohio Court Says City Can't Take Property

 COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Wednesday that economic development isn't a sufficient reason under the state constitution to justify taking homes, putting a halt to a $125 million project of offices, shops and restaurants in a Cincinnati suburb that officials said would create jobs and add tax revenue.

The case was the first challenge of property rights laws to reach a state high court since the U.S. Supreme Court last summer allowed municipalities to seize homes for use by a private developer.

"For the individual property owner, the appropriation is not simply the seizure of a house," Justice Maureen O'Connor wrote in a case that pitted the city of Norwood against two couples trying to save their homes. "It is the taking of a home _ the place where ancestors toiled, where families were raised, where memories were made." MORE

Sheriff Needs Your Help

Twentynine Palms-- Sheriff's deputies were seeking a shooter who fired a gun at a vehicle late Thursday, wounding the driver.

The driver was traveling east on Buena Vista Drive near Smoke Tree Avenue at 9 p.m. when a bullet broke through a window of his car and struck him in the right shoulder, San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies said.
    
Paramedics took him to Hi-Desert Medical Center for treatment.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call sheriff's Detective Rick Millard at the Morongo Basin station, (760) 366-4175.

Death count rises as California's record heat wave slowly tapers off

FRESNO, Calif. – Coroners in the Central Valley were overwhelmed by bodies and aid workers went door-to-door checking on the elderly Thursday as the blistering temperatures brought about by an unprecedented 12-day heat wave finally began to edge lower.

In Fresno County's overstretched morgue, the walk-in freezer was stuffed with bodies, with some piled on top of others, said Coroner Loralee Cervantes. With limited air conditioning, employees worked in sweltering heat as the coroner's office investigated at least 22 possible heat-related deaths.

"It's never been like this in my years here," Cervantes said. "This is really tragic."

Statewide, the number of suspected heat-related deaths climbed to 97, according to county coroners' offices. More

Another day in Paradise

It's 101°F, Mostly Cloudy, and with the humidity at 30% it feels like 104°F. The cooler is on the fritz and when I turn on the A/C the meter spins, but the Council has it well in hand. With the the mercury setting at 66°F in downtown Monterey they are feeling our pain.

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To Arms, To Arms

Forget the rising price of oil. Overlook that electric bill. Who cares the about the cost of health care. Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. yesterday announced plans to increase the price of a bottle of Bud.

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Another tough day in Monterey

Twentynine Palms-- Forecasted High will be a cool 101^o F with 58% Humidity today. Sunny to partly cloudy. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.

Monterey-- Forecasted High will be a 67^o F. Partly cloudy. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.

Double Standard?

Rebecca J. Kendrick wrote the Hi-Desert Star the following:

It didn't take long for Z107.7 Radio to show their characteristic chutzpah and nominate themselves for an AP award for "Instant News", for its coverage of the Sawtooth Complex fire. It was for "Continuing an information flow on the massive fires that swept through the Yucca Valley area, destroying nearly 60 homes in nine days." I'm sure Gary Daigneault didn't send the news segments to the AP that he personally broadcast on the first day the fires burned through Pioneertown. In that broadcast he callously and irresponsibly stated that "Hundreds of homes destroyed in Pioneertown". Later on he amended that to "Two Hundred homes destroyed". Such sensationalism is why I seldom listen to Z107.7. I have found that nearly every news segment contains misstated "facts" or sensationalized, exaggerated "statistics". I wonder what the award is for deliberately misleading the public and causing panic in the many residents of Pioneertown? Deja vu - the day after the 1992 Landers earthquake when a 5.4 aftershock hit, he broadcast (falsely and without proof) that the roof had caved in at the DPSS building in Yucca Valley (it hadn't - only a few ceiling tiles fell in), causing panic for the families of the employees in the building! Mr. Daigneault needs to get his facts straight BEFORE he broadcasts them as news.

Sincerely,
Rebecca J. Kendrick
Yucca Valley, CA 92284

The Hi-Desert Star wrote back:

Dear Ms. Kendrick,

Thank you for sending this letter to the editor; I appreciate your sharing the sentiment, but I can't publish it. As part of the editorial policy, the Star doesn't publish complaints about local businesses, and that includes other media outlets. I'm sorry.

Sincerely,
Stacy Moore
Managing Editor
Hi-Desert Star

Bless Their Pea Pickin' Hearts

Twentynine Palms, CA

Updated Jul 26 03:25 p.m. PT

Monterey, CA

Updated Jul 26 03:25 p.m. PT

Todays Forecast

Twentynine Palms-- Isolated thunderstorms during the morning hours, then skies turning partly cloudy during the afternoon. High around 105F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%.

Monterey-- Decreasing cloudiness. High near 70F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.

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They suffer for us

Twentynine Palms 4:15 pm July 25th 2006

Last Nights Special Meeting on the CONSENT CALENDAR

 It's plan to see why they needed a special meeting to slip these by.

6.3 Approve the Award of the Reroofing Project at Theater 29

RECOMMENDATION: The City Council approve the award of the Theater 29Reroofing Project to Brooks Bauer in the amount of $42,000.

6.4 Approve the Award of the Electrical and Air Conditioning Projects at Theater 29

RECOMMENDATION: The City Council approve the award of the Theater 29 Electrical and Air Conditioning Projects to Wonder Electric in the amount of $97,444.

Heat Wave Turns Deadly

Blistering heat might have killed four people in San Bernardino County over the weekend as the region continues to bake, straining energy supplies and keeping the fire danger high.

Four people died in a two-day period, and their deaths are believed to be connected to the heat, San Bernardino County coroner's officials said. MORE

Former official accused of trying to have SoCal councilman killed

MAYWOOD – A former deputy city clerk was charged Friday with trying to hire someone to kill a Maywood city councilman.

Hector Duarte, 29, was charged with seven counts, including soliciting murder, making criminal threats and threatening a public official. MORE

Black Outs highlight poor service

If it rains the power goes out. If the wind blows above 20 the power goes out. If the intensity of the Sun varies the power goes out. When a car hits a pole in Desert Hot Springs, the power goes out.

If more than three ravens land upon a cross arm at any one time, the voltage fluctuation will be of such intensity that power customers throughout the basin will have delicate electronic devices turn into smoldering masses of plastic.

If the Edison hamster jumps from his exercise wheel to drink, not only will we have a power outage but power lines are shorted and grids are damaged beyond repair from the moisture of the soiled litter of its cage.

This is not to say that the management of Edison International are not tuned in to the problem. Sparing no expense, they have called on the expertise of such far flung places as Somalia, Iraq and Bangladesh. The present goal will be to upgrade the system to a level equal to present Metropolitan Baghdad by 2011. Of course rates will have to increase 7 fold.

Desert Trail: Hotel makes plans to build in Twentynine Palms

TWENTYNINE PALMS - If all goes as planned an 80-suite Marriott Hotel will be in the city's future. More specifically a Fairfield Inn and Suites is planned, according to information released by the city of Twentynine Palms.

How far into the future that will be will depend on the developers who, according to Community Development Director Alex Meyerhoff, need to provide the city with more information in order to make their application complete. MORE

Airport to get new runways

Here is a story that got my attention. Just a couple of years ago we had our Twentynine Palms Airport's runways lengthened and resurfaced. Now I can understand the need for a new tarmack and terminal building, but what the hell is going on? Believe me, I'm not questioning the project, I guess if Uncle Sam has money to piddle away, let him whip it out down at the airport. As good a place as any.

San Bernardino County officials are hoping to upgrade three High Desert airports by seeking about $3.5 million in federal grants.

The Board of Supervisors is expected on Tuesday to approve three applications to the Federal Aviation Administration while also seeking $174,662 in matching funds from the California Department of Transportation.

The funds would be used to fix aging and deteriorating runways at the Twentynine Palms and Needles airports and to expand a terminal ramp at the Apple Valley Airport to allow larger aircraft.

The FAA has already allocated funds for the projects, pending receipt of the county’s grant applications, according to a county report.

The Power of Nature

We often forget how lucky were are sometimes living down on the flat and sparse basin. Here are some photos of our brothers and sisters living up in Pioneertown. God bless those firefighters who put themselves in harms way. These photos are graphic and awesome examples of natures fury.

Sawtooth Report

The Sawooth Zone is part of the Sawtooth-Millard-Heart Complex. This information is only about the Sawtooth zone of the fire. Millard Fire Information

The western perimeter of the fire is a priority. The fire has reached the upper reaches of the terrain and has slowed down. The fire has now burned 485 acres into a portion of the San Bernardino Nat'l Forest. Extremely steep rocky terrain continues to make access difficult as the fire moves west.

Extreme heat and potential erratic winds from thunder cells continue over the fire area. The fires have increased the chance of flash floods, mud and debris flows from thunderstorms.

With the increase in relative humidity today, significant demobilization of resources began.

Mandatory evacuation remains in place for Burns Canyon.

Voluntary evacuations for areas south of Highway 38 from Little Cienaga Seca to the end of Rainbow Lane.

An Evacuation Center has been set up at the Yucca Valley High School, 7600 Sage Ave. The Big Bear Elementary School Evacuation Center has been closed.

For animal/pet information - 1-800-472-5609 (So. CA only), . www.sbcounty.gov/acc/

Sawtooth Complex Incident Information: July 16, 2006 6:30 pm

Last Updated:	July 16, 2006 6:30 pm
Date/Time Started:	July 9, 2006 8:30 am
Administrative Unit:	CDF San Bernardino Unit
County:	San Bernardino
Location:	East of Yucca Valley
Acres Burned:	61,700
Containment	70% containment
Structures Destroyed:	50 homes, 8 mobile homes, 13 garages, 171 outbuildings, 191 cars & pick up trucks, 3 R.V.s, 27 trailers, 2 railcars, 9 tractors destroyed.
Threatened:	3,000+ structures continue to be threatened in the fire area.
Evacuations:	Mandatory evacuation remains in place for Burns Canyon.
Injuries:	15 minor injuries and 1 civilian fatality
Cause:	Lightning
Cooperating Agencies:	CDF, San Bernardino County Fire, U.S. Forest Service, CHP, LA County Fire, CA Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Red Cross & Office of Emergency Services
Total Fire Personnel:	2,384 (1,262 CDF)
Fire crews:	81 (50 CDF)
Engines:	111 (64 CDF)
Airtankers:	9 (8 CDF)
Helicopters:	15 (2 CDF)
Dozers:	14 (6 CDF)
Water tenders:	35
Costs to date:	$11.6 million
Major Incident Command Team:	CDF Team #8/Unified Command with U.S Forest Service/San Bernardino County Fire
Conditions:	The Sawooth Zone is part of the Sawtooth-Millard-Heart Complex. This information is only about the Sawtooth zone of the fire. Millard Fire Information The fire is moving towards the west. Firefighters will focus their efforts towards the western perimeter. The fire has reached the upper reaches of the terrain and has slowed down. The fire has now burned 485 acres into a portion of the San Bernardino Nat'l Forest. Extremely steep rocky terrain continues to make access difficult as the fire moves west. With the increase in relative humidity today, significant demobilization of resources began. An Evacuation Center has been set up at the Yucca Valley High School, 7600 Sage Ave. The Big Bear Elementary School Evacuation Center has been closed. For animal/pet information - 1-800-472-5609 (So. CA only), . www.sbcounty.gov/acc/ For more information on the civilian fatality contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff - (909) 422-7755
Phone Numbers	1 (909) 383-5688 (Sawtooth Fire Information)
Phone Numbers	1 (800) 472-5609 (Animal Evacuation Information, So. CA Only)

Two Giants Merge Into One

I spent the day down at the Loma Linda VA and thought it would be a good idea to bring a camera. It turns out it was a good idea I got a great shot of the Millard and Sawtooth fires merging.

Wake up call for Elaine Bernal

As we begin to look forward to the November election, with the possibility of three new council members selected to make decisions affecting the future of our fair community, we also turn our attention to those who are already serving. Read More

A firm but tactful apprasial by the Desert Trail pretty much made a good point. We agree with Kurt on this one.

After 33 Years: Missing man Identified

Identification of missing Ohio man, 33 years after he was reported missing; 26 years after his skeletal remains were found

In August 1979 bones were found in the desert seven miles southeast of Needles, California. At the scene clothing and a wallet containing identification belonging to a missing Canton, Ohio, man were found. Attempts were made to confirm the identity as Daniel Jobe Suffecool, who was 28 years of age when he was last seen in July 1973, but dental records could not be found. The remains were designated "John Doe #17-79" and were maintained by the San Bernardino County Coroner Department.

Although it may seem obvious that the remains were those of the missing person, Daniel Suffecool, "the identification of remains found under these circumstances would need to be confirmed by one of the acceptable scientific methods; fingerprints, dental X-rays or charts, or DNA," says David Van Norman, Supervising Deputy Coroner Investigator and Unidentified Persons Coordinator for San Bernardino County. "Fingerprints were not available due to advanced skeletonization, dental records could not be found, and DNA was not in use for these types of cases until this decade.

Desert Trail: Incumbents will run again

TWENTYNINE PALMS - With the beginning of the filing period for the November City Council race just around the corner, all three incumbents whose seats will be challenged have said they plan to run for reelection.

Mayor Kevin Cole, and Councilmen Dawn Benton Jr. and Steve Spear have all said they will seek new terms on the council. MORE

Neighborhood Group To Be Questioned in Civil Rights Suit

By Brett Rowland

Some stay calm when Wal-Mart comes around

Saying "Wal-Mart Supercenter" in some California cities is akin to yelling "Fire!" in a crowded movie theater — the first reaction is panic.

Turlock has battled the retailer in state and federal court in efforts to block a supercenter. Mere rumors of a supercenter coming to Ripon mobilized residents and spurred work on an ordinance restricting commercial development.

Not so in eastern Sacramento County.

Political leaders here are taking a more pragmatic approach to the corporate giant, discussing issues associated with the behemoth store as they calmly clear the way for the retailer. MORE

There goes the neighborhood?

Gerald Garrett of Yucca Valley wrote this great editorial in the Hi-Desert Star...

For years we lived in a smaller affluent suburb just south of San Francisco serving a little church by the bay (literally since the bay was across the street behind a levee). The planning commissioner came up with the decision that “Cape Cod by the Bay” was the model for the town and every decision about what could or would be done in the town planning department was a difficult task. We renovated the church exterior which was made out of redwood siding and they wanted us to paint it “mud” and when I had it painted redwood (duh!) you would have thought we had committed the unforgivable sin. From then on they referred to our church as “The Barn.”

Oh, well. Another man who lived across the street from one of the city council painted his house salmon. Well, I guess you know what happened.

As I move around Yucca Valley listening and reading, it appears that many would like our community to become like a nearby resort with manicured lawns and nothing unsightly. So I took a few thoughts about Haven Nook (our home) and applied some of the recent items of contention that seem to rattle cages. MORE

Man crashes into patrol car

A man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and causing injury after reportedly crashing into a patrol car used by a sheriff's deputy who was in the process of arresting another man on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Michael Keely, 32, of Yucca Valley was booked Friday into the Morongo Jail after injuring a deputy and another man, according to a statement from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

Deputy Thomas Boyles and a 19-year-old Yucca Valley man were both hospitalized with moderate injuries after Keely reportedly rear-ended Boyles' patrol car near Linda Lee Drive and Wilcox Avenue. MORE

Group aims to recall supervisor

Angered by what they perceive as poor land-use decisions, a group of 3rd District residents are attempting to launch a recall of Supervisor Dennis Hansberger.

Hansberger's critics maintain that his support for new development and high-intensity land use hurt property owners' quality of life and public safety, and call his actions "unlawful, unethical, deceptive, irresponsible, and detrimental" in papers filed by the group.

The organizers on Thursday turned in more than 60 signatures to the Registrar of Voters Office in an effort to circulate a recall petition, which requires the signatures of 20 voters registered in the district. However, to get the recall on the ballot, the group will need more than 17,000 additional signatures.

The accusations made in the notice are "a lot of adjectives with no substance," Hansberger said. MORE

Tree says Safety First

Twentynine Palms-- The downtown business district awoke this morning seeing Red. City crews were busy painting curbs on the south side of the Highway to meet both City and State highway regulations.

The first stage of regulating parking in the downtown area was completed this morning as crews painted the south side of the highway 100 ft west of Tamarisk Ave and freshening the red curb on the north side to the east of Tamarisk.

In the future much of the on-street parking along the south side of Highway 62 will be limited if not eliminated, from Desert Queen to Adobe. Curbs will be painted as traffic safety conditions require. The area has long been considered a hazard for through traffic. The narrowing of the East bound number Two lane through the old downtown area has caused several serious accidents over the years.

In recent years the city has developed off street parking in the area to facilitate this move. Several properties were purchased over the years to develop parking to the rear of the businesses in the area. The total parking space loss from the elimination of curbside parking will be no more than 10 to 12 spaces. Those spaces will be easily mitigated by the additional public parking spaces provided to the rear of the businesses.

Curb side parking will still be allowed on the North side of Highway 62 as street widths allow.

Our new City Manager Michael Tree, in his first seven days of office, has done more to improve public safety than what the prior city manager would not do in 6 months of traffic studies and $60,000 in expenditures for redundant traffic reports.

We give a big Thumbs Up on Mr. Tree's first week on the job.

Desert Trail: Three council seats up for grabs

TWENTYNINE PALMS - November's general election will see three seats on the Twentynine Palms City Council, those belonging to Kevin Cole, Steve Spear and Dawn Benton Jr., up for grabs.

City Clerk Char Sherwood said Monday morning that the time for candidates to pull and file papers to run for a council seat will begin on Monday, July 17 and end on Friday, Aug. 11.

That is, she added, unless no incumbents have filed by then, in which case the deadline will be extended five days, to Wednesday, Aug. 16.

Those wishing to run for a seat on the council need to work with Sherwood, who has all the information and paperwork they will need. MORE

Fourth client drops Copeland Lowery

State justices rule on HIV liability

A divided California Supreme Court ruled Monday that people who lead high-risk sexual lives have good reason to know they may be infected with the virus that causes AIDS and are responsible for informing partners about possible exposure.

The 4-3 ruling in a case where a woman accused her ex-husband of giving her HIV on their honeymoon is the state Supreme Court's first involving allegations of negligent HIV infection. It makes those with ``constructive knowledge'' -- people who should have known by their behavior and other signs they were infected but perhaps didn't -- legally liable for infecting others. MORE

Still another area client ditches embattled lobbyists

A third client of the former Copeland Lowery firm has decided to part ways with the embattled lobbyists, joining Riverside County and aircraft giant Boeing Co., who severed ties with Copeland Lowery last week.

The Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority, based in Riverside, has decided not to renew its contract with the former firm, which split up in June after several agencies in San Bernardino and Riverside counties confirmed being subpoenaed in a federal investigation of the lobbyists' ties to Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands. MORE

FREEDOM ISN'T FREE

The first three battles of the American War for Independence (our Revolution) were not fought over taxation without representation, separation from an abusive clueless King, or nationalism. The first three battles of our American Revolution were fought to resist gun control.

General Thomas Gage, military governor of Massachusetts sent a force to confiscate weapons and capture patriot leaders.

When the British confronted Captain Parker and his militia in Lexington, they arrived to confiscate powder and ball. They met resistance and the negative consequences of collecting ammunition (one round at a time…).

Notwithstanding our faults, warts, blemishes, mistakes, and habitual myopia, since it’s founding 230 years ago, the United States of America has become and remains the best country on the planet.

Despite the persistent worst efforts of elected officials to undermine, marginalize and abrogate the essence of the very document to which they all swear a sacred oath, the ghost of the republic lingers still. More

Independence Day

A New Day

Targeted lobbyists cut loose

Riverside County will sever its ties with a Washington lobbying firm whose connections to Inland Rep. Jerry Lewis are being investigated by federal authorities.

The announcement in a letter obtained Friday comes as officials from defense giant Boeing said they too are ending their relationship with Copeland, Lowery, Jacquez, Denton & White.

Riverside County is the first known Inland client to cease working with the firm since the investigation became public in May. San Bernardino County's contract expired on Friday, though officials there have not decided whether to retain the firm....

... Several other Inland Copeland Lowery clients have said they will continue working with the embattled firm. Officials from the cities of San Bernardino, Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms have said there's been no discussion about ending their contracts. More

Here We Go Again: Burrtec purchases Waste Management

PALM DESERT - Logos on Waste Management of the Desert trucks will begin to take on a new look beginning today. The change is part of the company's acquisition by Burrtec Waste and Recycling Services that was expected to take effect at midnight Friday.

Terms of Burrtec's purchase of Palm Desert based-Waste Management of the Desert were not disclosed.

The acquisition gives the private, limited-liability company that is part of the San Marcos-based Burr Family of Companies, control of Waste Management desert operations in the Coachella Valley, Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms areas. More

Sorry about that

Sorry I haven't posted in the last couple of days. I was in hospital down at the Loma Linda VA. I'm back home and doing well.