Navajo wins military discharge to become medicine man

WINDOW ROCK - Ronnie Tallman's debate with the U.S. Marines over the last year has centered on a rare, spiritual gift bestowed upon him as a Navajo that teaches him to heal, not hurt people.

For the 21-year-old Marine private, killing an insect or butchering sheep - not to mention picking up a gun and serving in the military - is out of the question now that he's part of a special group of certified medicine men known as hand tremblers.

Tallman had applied last year for conscientious objector status, seeking an honorable discharge based on religious beliefs. After nearly a year of waiting for his paperwork to filter through the proper channels, the Marines turned him down Jan. 11 and his lawyers decided to go to court.
But on Wednesday, his attorney Steve Boos said the Marines reversed course and approved the application, saying Tallman would be discharged within three weeks. MORE

29's 7th Marines Tame Iraq's "Wild West"

 Los Angeles Times
January 21, 2007
Business is booming in Husaybah, where the anti-insurgent efforts of Marines and local leaders have paid off.

By Tony Perry, Times Staff Writer
HUSAYBAH, IRAQ — It's midday in this farming-and-smuggling town on the Syrian border, and the market square is bustling.
A colorful array of fruits and vegetables and plump fish from both sides of the border is for sale in stalls along the muddy main street. The smell of freshly baked bread permeates the air. The jewelry stores, bridal salon, Internet cafe, pharmacy, and bicycle and butcher shops are crowded with customers. So is the pool hall.
"Business is good," Ahmed Ratib, the town cobbler, said as he nailed new heels on a pair of shoes. "Not like in the past." More

Rezone Questions Up on Tuesday's Docket

Hi Ken and Sherrie,

It is good to see some people still in the debate.

This Tuesday the matter of rezoning comes forward before the Council.

However, it is not just a question of rezoning, as some would want people to believe.

It is, in fact, a question of what "economic engine" we as a city wish to pursue.

It can not be denied that our General Plan calls for a resort and retirement community.

It also can not be denied that our zoning does not support that goal.

I think that the ones that carved our city from the County had the right idea. They saw the prosperity in "resort and retirement", only the map does not foster that notion into fruition.

We now have an opportunity to make a difference and make our city prosper.

No more "shotgun" approaches to economic success.

We have been talking about "equestrian zones" for two years now - and we have none. We just received the study for dowtown revitalization and it calls for rezoning to make that idea a success. The current Park Master Plan which is in progress will also require rezoning if it is to succeed.

I have seen over the last four years a piecemeal approach to making that idea or this idea work - in the end none of it works well.

I hope that the determination to be a real success is present in our city and that we have the courage to move forward with a single goal in mind - to make our city what the founders of it so wisely saw as a way to prosperity - resort and retirement and not apartments upon apartments and houses upon houses.

Steve Spear

TROOPS WANT MORE TROOPS

By Ron Brault

While the generals, politicians, bureaucrats and media pundits' debate the wisdom of sending more troops to Iraq, nobody seems to care what the troops want. Screw the generals and the beltway boys, they don't wake up each morning and fear that they may not live to see the sunset.
    I recently spent some time with an Army Special Forces (ASF) unit and a Marine Recon detachment who were receiving specialized training to track down the bad guys in rough terrain and terminate them with extreme prejudice.  The ASF Sergeant made certain that his men understood the Islamic world view, why they are fighting us, and why we are fighting them. That alone puts them far ahead of the beltway boys.
    Aside from his deep compassion and concern for the Iraqi people, the sergeant was concerned about leaving the region in the hands of Islamic extremist who would use oil as a terrorist weapon to blackmail the world economy. The sergeant has good reason to be concerned. The Middle East is the worlds largest depository of petroleum and the world economy, especially the United States economy, runs on oil. Radical Islam, should it prevail, has promised to use oil as a weapon to bring the world economy to its' knees. Controlling the oil fields could cause oil to rise to $100.00 per barrel which would cause a worldwide economic cataclysm. Their stated goal is to take us back to the 12th century and win the world for Islam.
    Many are not old enough, or perhaps don't remember the long gas lines that resulted from the 1973 Arab oil embargo. I was in the service station business at the time and saw first hand how ugly an out-of-gas American can be. The service stations received a weekly gasoline ration and when your tanks were pumped dry they stayed dry until the next delivery of rationed gasoline which was only a partial fill. We serviced our regular customers only and sent the mavericks down the road. As we serviced our regulars a line would quickly form behind them. If there was a line it meant you had gasoline. We were constantly being threatened after telling those in line we only had enough fuel for our regular customers. Several motorists at a time would get out of their cars and threaten us. It got so bad that I started wearing a Browning Hi-Power pistol in a shoulder holster. Back then only 15% of our oil was imported. Today about 65% is imported.  
    The ASF sergeant sent an e-mail to the Fox News Network and was read by Bill Kristol on the December 10, 2006 broadcast of Fox News Sunday. The gist of the e-mail was a plea to send more troops so we can finish the job and leave.
    Should the current situation deteriorate into all out civil war and it is prudent for us to leave it will not be a defeat for America, it will be a defeat for the Iraqi people. America sacrificed its' sons and daughters to give the Iraqis' a chance to form a working civilized government and a chance to use vast oil revenues to improve their standard of living. If the Iraqis' can't get their act together it is their fault, not ours.

County Declares Emergency

Board of Supervisors Chairman Paul Biane today declared a local emergency to assist those who have suffered losses caused by persistent freezing weather.

Preliminary estimates tag at $11,855,584 the damage attributable to the ongoing spate of extremely low overnight temperatures, which began on January 11 and is expected to continue for at east several more days.

That initial sum includes $11,051,700 in agricultural losses, $578,320 in damage to 148 residences and 214 private businesses, and $69,564 in damage to 19 public facilities, including the Barstow and Victorville courthouses and the County office complex in the Big Bear Valley.

Additionally, many people have suffered respiratory problems due to the cold weather and have incurred bodily injuries caused by icy conditions. The freeze has also caused great hardships to the county’s homeless population and to other residents who do not have the means to keep warm.

“The San Bernardino County freeze of 2007 has turned into a full-scale disaster, and many people in our county are suffering,” Chairman Biane said today after signing the disaster declaration.

“This declaration will put the victims in the best possible position to receive what ever forms of assistance become available.”

County disaster officials are continuing to quantify damage related to the cold snap. Preliminary estimates are expected to skyrocket as soon as damage estimates from all of the county’s communities and businesses – especially the county’s $44 million fruit and vegetable industry -- are tabulated.

The County declaration will be sent to the State Director of Emergency Services and the Governor in the hope that the state will proclaim a state of emergency in San Bernardino County.

Chairman Biane will ask the Board of Supervisors to ratify the County declaration during the Board’s next regular meeting on Tuesday, January 23. A copy of Chairman Biane’s declaration is attached.

A SOLUTION FOR THE IRAQ WAR

 By Ron Brault

 Most everyone has a whimsical or whacko solution for the war, so here is mine:

There will never be peace in the Middle East. Fighting a "Holy War" has been a national sport enjoyed by the tribesman for more than 3,000 years. For the Middle Eastern tribesman there is nothing more rewarding or fulfilling than fighting a holy war against fellow tribesman in the name of Allah. It doesn't seem to matter that they all worship the same God and share the same religious beliefs. Forget about fighting for freedom. The primary purpose for todays fighting is revenge against other tribes that was not possible when Saddam was is control. Freedom comes in a distant second.

There is no national unity. Each tribe is nation loyal unto itself. Peace alliances between the tribes are broken by rocket fire within weeks. Let's not forget that the United States armed Osama Bin Laden, the architect of 911, with deadly stinger missiles that effectively grounded the Russian Air Force in Afghanistan. Osama is now our number one enemy. Saddam Insane was once a friend of the United States until he decided to cast friendship to the wind and invade Kuwait. Iraq and Iran fought a bloody war that lasted eight long years. You would think the Iranians would cast a huge bronze statue in honor of President Bush for taking out Saddam, but now the Iraqis and Iranians are buddies. It is futile to negotiate or make agreements with Middle East tribesmen.

The Israelis are happy. We are taking out enemies they would otherwise have to fight someday. By the way, where is the God of the Old Testament when you need him? If we were back in Biblical times God would have smitten the various "ite" tribes into oblivion to make the world safe for the Israelites. (Read Deuteronomy). Since the God of Israel seems to have lost interest in fighting holy wars it's now up to the United States to take up the slack and smite the ites.

Here's the game plan. Remove all Americans, including the troops, from the Middle East. Equally arm all tribes with tactical nuclear weapons of the neutron variety so that the infrastructure and oil fields are not harmed. Design the nukes to be fired from long range rocket launchers and howitzers. To guarantee success, manufacture hundreds of them that can be fired from the tribesman's favorite weapon, the Russian RPG-7 Rocket Propelled Grenade launcher. GPS controlled detonators would insure that none of the nukes left the Middle East. Each of the nukes could be command detonated from the United States if necessary. Each would be equipped with a tracking device. With this kind of firepower and the ferocity in which the tribesman fight the entire Middle East could be secured in about 15 minutes. The expired tribal warriors could then be processed into Soylent Green to feed the starving people in Africa. The Soylent Green wafers would already be radiated to kill bacteria and preserve freshness.

There is much debate over what constitutes victory in Iraq. The answer is simple: Victory in Iraq is buck-forty-nine a gallon gasoline.

Note: The above story is for entertainment purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the view point of the author.

Footnote: "Soylent Green" was a futuristic move starring Charlton Heston where the deceased were processed into Soylent Green protein wafers to feed the hungry masses. Heston's famous last line in the movie: "Soylent Green is people!"

What do you mean, you don't speak Spanish?

If you have been wondering why I haven't been writing I thought I would let you know. How is that old saying go, Idle hands are the Devil's work shop... We I guess in a way that old adage is right. I've been out of town, working in the field of endeavor I love. So I suppose the devil in me is a bit suppressed at the moment. Besides I've nothing to complain about.

Well that part about nothing to complain about might be stretching it a bit. I had this lady jump my ass the other day because I had the gall to not to "habla Espanol." No kidding, she was indignant at the fact that I spoke English only. So when did we cede California back to Mexico? Did I miss that ?

When you're out of town for most of the week you really have an opportunity to reflect on how lucky we are to live in Twentynine Palms. We still live in a part of California where folks still play Country and Rock & Roll, English is the official language and were Pizza can't be bought with pesos. A town where the only foreign language you have to learn to understand is Canadian, Aye.

Bagley looses bid

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors named Brad Mitzelfelt on Wednesday to fill the 1st District supervisor's post vacated by former Chairman Bill Postmus.

Mitzelfelt, who was Postmus' chief of staff, will represent Barstow, Victorville and much of the high desert. Postmus, elected county assessor in November, was sworn into office Monday. More

From FlashReport.org: Insiders report that yesterday Jim Bagley inflicted serious self-damage by appearing on a popular local radio broadcast in the County’s First District. Live on air Bagley impugned the integrity of nearly every county supervisor – even the member of the Board who initially recommended Bagley’s appointment! Bagley’s highly negative characterization of his would-be colleagues did not sit well, and undoubtedly was a contributing factor in causing a former Bagley supporter to switch to Mitzelfelt.

Well you can't help a guy who runs his mouth off to some local RADIO PERSONALITY to destroy his own career. If he would have asked me I would have told him to keep his trap shut. We almost had him the job he always wanted. Well next time.

1st District field narrowed down to two

SAN BERNARDINO — After a 6 1 /2-hour hearing to select a replacement for 1st District Supervisor Bill Postmus, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Monday narrowed the field of 13 applicants, but deadlocked on the two finalists: Postmus’ aide Brad Mitzelfelt and former Twentynine Palms councilman Jim Bagley.

Split down the middle on the two applicants, the Board agreed to meet again Wednesday in hopes of selecting a county supervisor to represent the 1st District, which includes the desert portions of San Bernardino County. More

Who's future is this anyway?

By Monday afternoon we should have a new 1st District Supervisor. The question will be will the new Supervisor reflect the wants and wishes of the almost half a million people who now live in the High Desert?

Slick is what we don't need. That is the feeling I get when I observe the positioning of Brad Mitzelfelt, Chief of Staff for the departing Bill Postmus. I don't care if Mr. Mitzelfelt could calm the Sea of Galilee, walk upon its waters and then turn it into a huge bowl of party punch, I don't like the idea of the outgoing Postmus hand picking his own successor.

There are now 13 people who are vying for the job but only one has the experience to do the job of filling in the final two years of Postmus' term. The duty of the remaining Supervisors is to appoint that person who can best represent the district as a whole.

Mitzelfelt, the architect of the Postmus political machine, brought six years of political infighting and finger pointing to the Board. We do not need two more years of partisan politics. We have the opportunity to end the divisiveness right here and right now. The District is too large, growing too fast and we need a steady hand at the wheel.

We need stewardship not flimflam. Thirty years of community service both elected and appointed trumps an obscure stint on the GOP Central Committee or setting on the County Fair Committee.

I've been accused of loosing my perspective on this issue. Actually I am consistent in my long standing fight against special interest. It comes down to the universal good of the People. The Citizens of the 1st District deserve and require a Supervisor who will devote all of his energy to doing the work of the People. I do not believe Brad Mitzelfelt has shown that kind of track record. I don't think he knows the People exist. We do not need a proxy Supervisor.

I believe that Jim Bagley is a better choice. I believe he has the required track record of doing the People's work. Win loose or draw, I have always believed that Bagley has put the Peoples business first. I believe that Jim Bagley is his own man. I believe he will devote all his energy doing the work of the People.

We will find out Monday if the Board of Supervisors feel the same.

Public invited to participate in selection of new supervisor

The public is invited to attend and participate in Monday’s special meeting of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, at which the Board will interview and attempt to select a new supervisor to represent the High Desert-based First District.

The meeting will take place on Monday, Jan. 8, at 1 p.m. in the Board chambers on the first floor of the County Government Center at 385 N. Arrowhead Ave. in San Bernardino.

The First District seat on the Board will become vacant just after noon on Monday when current Supervisor Bill Postmus is sworn in as County Assessor. The voter-approved County Charter requires the remaining Board members to fill a supervisorial vacancy by appointing a registered voter from the vacant district to serve until the next general election, which in this case will occur in 2008.

Following Postmus’ election as assessor, the Board on Nov. 28 adopted a procedure to make the appointment process more transparent than required by the charter by inviting interested individuals to apply for the appointment by submitting letters and resumes, and then having a special meeting to conduct public interviews and receive public comment.

Thirteen First-District residents have applied to be considered by the Board for the appointment. Monday’s agenda calls for a period in which anyone from the public can comment on the process or the applicants. Then, each applicant will have an opportunity to make a public presentation and be questioned by Board members. Following that, Board members will deliberate in public and attempt to make a selection. The appointee will be sworn into office immediately following the selection.

The 17,000-square-mile First District includes roughly one-fifth of the County’s 2 million residents. It also takes in most of the County’s vast desert region, including the cities of Victorville, Hesperia, Adelanto, Barstow, Needles, and Twentynine Palms, the Town of Apple Valley, and many unincorporated communities, including Wrightwood, Phelan, Piñon Hills, Oak Hills, Helendale, Oro Grande, Lucerne Valley, Hinkley, Newberry Springs, and Baker.

Spending some time outside the Morongo Basin

The nature of my real life business is to travel outside the realm of Twentynine Palms every so often. The hot dog sabbatical was fun but it doesn't pay the bills in the winter time. So off I've gone to do some contract engineering for the Phone Co.

It has given me a first hand look at a community in full fledged unbridled growth. It's great for my earning potential as a engineer but It ain't pretty to look at.

My wife's whole family lives in the Lancaster / Palmdale area of Los Angeles Co. It's an area of the High Desert, just like us. Well just like us but with one huge exception they are plowing down Joshua Trees, and building townhouses, homes and parking lots at an alarming rate.

A Sunami of roof tops. The Antelope Valley is changing from alfalfa farms and dairies to strip malls and congestion. Everywhere you look a new high walled fenced community is popping up. Stop light after stop light. Building after building.

Some one told me that Palmdale has the dubious distinction of being on the FBI's top 20 most violent cities in America. It wasn't that long ago it was a sleepy desert town on your way to Reno and points north.

So far I'm not that impressed with the thought of Twentynine Palms following the examples of the Antelope Valley/ Victorville area. There must be a happy medium somewhere.

Supervisors certify votes

By RYAN ORR Desert Dispatch/Staff Writer

SAN BERNARDINO - Despite public testimony about problems at the polls from High Desert residents, the certification of the Nov. 7 election results was accepted Tuesday by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors.

"The backbone of freedom is elections," said Apple Valley resident Trudy Sherburne, who stated at the board meeting that the results of the election were not reliable. "Please give us a fair election," she added. More

Been out of town

I've been out of town working on a project. Finally I found a Hotspot to check the site. I'll be working out of town for the next couple of months. I hope to find one of you good posters will volunteer to take over posting on the front page while I am gone.

If you have a desire to post you daily opinions on-line let me know in an email. I would like to talk with you.

See you all this weekend.

Happy New Year From Cactus Thorns

The year Two Thousand Six was a memorable one. It marked a new beginning for the City of Twentynine Palms. A new City Manager Mike Tree, a new Development Director and a new City Council.

For the first time in a long time people see light at the end of the tunnel. We can see great things ahead for our little city. 2007 will be a year of change. A change for the better.

2006 was not without loss. Many of the pioneers of this community were taken from from us but not from our hearts or memory.

We hope that this new year will bring reconciliation, cooperation and participation in rebuilding the universal dream of a healthy and prosperous City of Twentynine Palms.

God Bless Twentynine Palms, our beloved State of California and our United States of America. My each and everyone of you  be filled with Joy and Happiness.

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