Finally the city is going to look into the environmental pillage of the hill across the highway from from Stater Brothers Market. After Tuesdays high wind induced dust storms and the hill contributing to the millions of pounds of particular matter suffocating the town the Council said enough is enough.

The who, what and whys of this ecologic disaster have yet to be asked but in the end the council will be asking who is culpable and who will pay for its reclamation.

"We're glad to get it back, as it adds to the authenticity of the historic landscape," said Linda Slater, a ranger with the Mojave National Preserve, which operates the depot as a museum and visitors' center.

The Union Pacific Railroad opened the stately depot in 1924. It was closed in 1985 and was destined for demolition until a group of citizens rallied to save it.

"The building has been renovated virtually as it was when the Union Pacific closed it," said Slater, who along with other park officials searched far afield for authentic artifacts, century-old photographs and original furnishings to restore its original character. MORE

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Solution: Do more blogging on Cactus Thorns.

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The headline above is an inside joke with Steve Flock and I. Please take no offense.

What is really strange is the proposed budget for the park fluctuates with every Staff Report and request for funds. The original $233,000 grant was approved in 2004 and still no Bucky Bucklin Park. According to this next request of $50,000 the budget for the project will be again $233,000. In less than a year the city has dumped $67,000 and now another $50,000 into the project but it still comes up to only $233,000. Is this some kind of mathematic formula used in government accounting? In the real world 233K+67K+50K=350K, but down at our city hall it is still just $233,000. Must be that New Math.

It would appear as much as $117,000 is misappropriated or misused or misplaced or missing. Bookkeeping error? Maybe, Maybe not. We are calling for a full independent audit of the Parks and Recreation Department.

Case MCVMS07828 - CURTIN -V- DAIGENAULT

6.4 Approval of Contract with Moore Iacofano & Goltsman (MIG) for the Development of a Park and Recreation Master Plan

STAFF RECOMMENDATION: The City Council approve a contract with MIG for the development of the Parks & Recreation Master Plan in the amount of $74,985.00.

Unable to finish a tiny little pocket park in the downtown area after more than a year since it was funded the city parks and rec wants a master plan. Finish what is planned before we plan for more.

Update: Here is the Staff Report 

We call it Veterans Day today but when many of us were children it was still called Armistice Day. We were required to stand in silent respect at the exact hour of 11:00AM on each November 11th in respect for those who died in the Great War.

Once 4.7 million strong: American farm boys, factory hands, and tradesmen itchy for adventure, all called by their country to fight in World War I answered.

At the beginning of 2006, an unofficial roster of known remaining American WW I vets listed only about 24 names. Eleven months later, those ranks have dwindled to a dozen, according to Scripps Howard News Service. Perhaps another dozen who joined the armed forces after Armistice Day and served in the immediate aftermath of the war are still alive as well.

"The torch is quickly passing," said retired Brig. Gen. Steve Berkheiser, executive director of the National World War One Museum in Kansas City, Mo.

By: Ryan Orr

SAN BERNARDINO The mission to find First District Supervisor Bill Postmus’ replacement on the Board of Supervisors is now under way. After a year of campaigning, Postmus will officially fill the role of assessor on January 8, 2007.

Ovitt said that although Postmus doesn’t play a role in making that choice he can certainly provide suggestions for who will fill his shoes. Ovitt said that the board would definitely listen to those ideas. More

 The county is very fortunate to have someone of Ruth Stringer’s experience and intelligence available to fulfill this very important role,” said Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Paul Biane. “The county is constantly involved in a variety of issues that require top-notch legal advice, and we are very confident in Ruth’s ability to guide us through these challenges.”

Supervisor Biane also commended Mr. Wagner for taking time away from his private practice to serve as Interim County Counsel immediately following Mr. Reitz’s retirement. “Mr. Wagner is a seasoned litigator, and that experience served us well during the latest Colonies trial and other legal matters in which the county was involved during the past six months,” Biane said.
County Counsel reports directly to the Board of Supervisors and directs a staff of 50 attorneys who provide professional legal services to all county departments and other local governmental entities such as San Bernardino Associated Governments and the County Superintendent of Schools. County Counsel is also the chief legal adviser to the Board of Supervisors and County Administrative Officer.
Ms. Stringer holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois, and received her juris doctorate as a magna cum laude graduate of the University of La Verne. She is a resident of Redlands.

...On election day, voter turnout in the Inland Empire fell a few percentage points short of expectations, with 35% of registered voters in Riverside County casting ballots and 37% of registered voters in San Bernardino County heading to the polls.

But aside from long lines at polls Tuesday evening as voters stopped on the way home from work, and minor glitches with some voting machines, officials in Riverside and San Bernardino counties reported no major problems.

San Bernardino County spokesman David Wert said voters were allowed to cast ballots as long as they got in line by 8 p.m.

"As is the case whenever you have people show up to something, you have periods where there is no one at the polls and then suddenly 100 people will show up," Wert said.

Both Councilmen Cole and Spear easily won reelection to 4 more years.

In what had to be the longest night of 8 candidates lives the count for the local City Council Election dragged on well into the early Wednesday hours.

We commend all of the Candidates for a great 2006 Council Campaign.

Its great to live in Twentynine Palms where politics has become a full contact sport.

This report of an out of control radio host and Chamber of Commerce Director, as well as the report of Dawn Benton reporting that he has spent over $1,000.00 only two days after the Z107.7 spending report on the radio is simply over the top.

The individual allegedly was Gary Daigneault. The Curtin Family felt intimidated by the mannerisms and tone of his discourse.

Mr. Curtin told this reporter that he feared for the safety of his family.

Sheriffs Deputies are investigating and an incident number was made at 5:06PM this evening by Sheriff's Deputy Curtis Kolb.

Incident number TW063100035 is on record with the Sheriff's Department.

As this story progresses we will be the first to report the facts as provided by the Sheriff's Department.

Truly amazing, is the only way that I can describe this latest round of accusations! The radio did erroneously report that Mr. Sporkin was from Hermosa Beach and he is not. The address that was written in, “My own handwriting,” was merely a mailing address that was supplied to me by Mr. Sporkin. It did not ask for his home address, nor did it specify which business address that he needed to supply.

As I have stated on this site previously, Mr. Sporkin is licensed in Florida and he does not vote here. Further, he is not a client of mine and his listings (when they are active) are held with Libby’s Realty. This is low. To call someone a liar at the eleventh hour before the election over a business address is petty. Somewhere between the information that was supplied to me and the radio report there was a misunderstanding. That’s all. Not some grave conspiracy to deceive the voters. What’s important here is that I disclosed the individual that donated the signs; not the business address that he used.

The following groups have made endorsements:

Desert Trail: Benton, Cole, Harris

Concerned Citizens of Twentynine Palms PAC: Clemons, Flock, Gibson

Z-107.7 KCDZ-FM: Benton, Cole, Harris

We will post others as they come in.

By: Steve Flock 

Fellow citizens of Twentynine Palms,

Tuesday you will have the opportunity to vote in one of the most important elections in this city's history. As readers of the information presented on this site you will also be the most informed voters in our history.

Participating as a candidate has not only been a very interesting learning experience, but has also made me more convinced that Twentynine Palms needs the informed, clear thinking leadership I can bring to our city council.

By: Christopher J. Curtin

I am asking for your vote this Tuesday. I believe that we need to end once and for all time the "Old Boys Network" that has held both the purse strings and the destiny of this town for far to long.

Lets start with Dawn Benton, Benton continues to work for and with Sunwest development, the largest development company in 29 Palms to date. This is a blatant conflict of interest. Kevin Cole's biggest supporter is Jay Corbin, who also wrote his candidates statement. This was told to me by Jay himself. Jay Corbin has done consultant work for more subdivisions than any other individual in 29 palms to date. I have a great deal of respect for Jay, he is a true professional and in my opinion one of the best at what he does.

However let me continue to state the facts.

 By Mark Clemons

First I want to thank all the candidates for working hard to put their ideas and hearts into this year’s election. Righteous or not their effort is commendable.

The last mile on this democratic journey is left up to the voters. They will vote their minds. I ask that they apply character first and not greed before they decide.

The past city council leadership has demonstrated a lack of character. They have blatantly pushed through their own agendas and have done it with unanimous votes. This must stop!

1. Stop the senseless allowance of only serving a 10 year council term and receiving a life long pension benefit.
2. Stop the senseless favoritism being orchestrated to benefit the few from the resources of all constituents.
3. Stop having uncontested council meetings.
4. Stop faking the idea of reformulating the existing general plan. The document itself is the least of the constituents concerns. Instead let us focus on letting it be administered fairly to all. Let us all now develop our community for the next generation to enjoy and let us all allow fairness and free markets determine the benefactors.

By Steve Spear

The choice is clear for your vote on November 7th.

You can decide to continue to stay on the road that the city is presently on or you can decide to start now and plan to stop the wave of sprawl that is coming.

I did not expect to have the thought of saving our charm and environment to be unopposed.

It has been a hard fight over the last 3 months. But that fight has been with a select few that are very vocal. Nothing new there. What also is not new is the lack of vision that is displayed by that group.

By Sherrie Gibson

 When asked to make the case as to why folks should vote for me on November 7th, I have to point to the fact that I have a workable solution that will get our city moving forward in the right direction. I believe in responsible growth that will add to our community and be an asset to the citizens. I have laid out a plan for the revitalization of downtown and a road map for prosperity. Further, I have pushed the other candidates to place an emphasis on retail and bringing jobs to our city.

I have taken every opportunity to express my vision of Twentynine Palms and also to listen to what others have stated as their vision. Being a city council member is not a position that I take lightly. There are problems that are inherent with the job and new challenges that lay ahead. I believe that we need to elect a balanced council. Choose members that bring their strengths to the office and those who will best serve this community. I have a diverse background and I am able to reach a wide cross section of people. My tenacious business savvy and work ethic make me a force to be reckoned with.

This election we will decide what the future of our city should be. I say we take advantage of this opportunity to bring in more retirees and promote Twentynine Palms as a destination location. Sixty Million dollars in welfare money tells me that we are heading in the wrong direction. Houses, houses, and still no retail tells me that we are heading in the wrong direction. Three incumbents, who together have not been able to outline a plan for our city’s future lets me know that somewhere there is a missing link.

Over the past eight years I have grown weary from promises of things to come. It has been frustrating to see money spent outside of our city; while knowing we have business owners who are struggling to support their families. I am asking for your vote in order to bring fresh ideas and new energy to our council. More importantly, I am asking for your vote in order to make a difference! Thank you for entrusting me to serve our city well.

As Hollywood grows and changes, Blue’s luggage store will get to participate in that change—not be a long-forgotten memory of Old Hollywood.  But that was not always the case for this small business owner, who inherited the half-century old Bernard Luggage Building from his parents in 2002. MORE

Kurt Schauppner said it best last week in his editorial in the Desert Trail, "With 60 percent of the City Council up for grabs and the city facing several crossroads issues, from development to redevelopment, it is clear that this election will affect the city for decades to come.

Because of this it is imperative for voters to do their homework, find those candidates whose values match their own and support them."

We will continue to hold to our promise not to endorse any candidate and let you the voter decide.

Bookmark this page. 

When it takes more than $250,000 to run a decent Assembly race in a compeditive seat, running for council in either Twentynine Palms or Yucca Valley is an absolute deal.

In California, which has two Democratic U.S. senators, fields the largest Democratic delegation in Congress and is home to the prospective speaker of the House, the Republican former actor is running 18 percentage points ahead of his Democratic challenger, according to a new non-partisan poll.

Schwarzenegger is leading Treasurer Phil Angelides by 48 percent to 30 percent with less than two weeks to go before the Nov. 7 election, according to the survey by the Public Policy Institute of California. The poll of 1,076 likely voters was taken between Oct. 15 and Oct. 22 and has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points. MORE

Please take your comments to the Candidate Forum on this one...