By Cora Heiser

How many lawyers does it take to issue (float) a bond? As many as you can afford. 29 Palms Bond Team is; Rutan, Attorneys at Law, BondCcounsel, RSG, Fiscal Consultant, Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, Disclosure Counsel,  Harrell & Company Advisors, LLC Financial Advisor, and WEDBUSH, underwriter.  Twentynine Palms RDA will certainly have a team of experts to advise, and if the Agency desires, to assist in issuing a bond or bonds to help fund future RDA projects, such as the Phoenix project. Both Mayor Harris and Council member Danny Mintz…Read more »

By Cora Heiser

At Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, it was a love fest for the Action 29 Chalk Fest.  It was the most mentioned topic of the evening.  I was beginning to wonder if some kind of magic dust was used in the chalk,  or maybe there was a bet on for who could say the phrase “chalk fest”   the most without looking foolish. I am betting no one won.  I was also a little worried about what was in the chalk, because the 5 men certainly seemed to be a band…Read more »

By Cora Heiser

I received a phone call today from a former Livingston, CA city councilmember. He/She thought 29 Palms would be interested in a Merced Sun -Star Article citing the high cost of legal bills that Livingston incurred during former City Manager Richard Warne’s 5 year term. Beginning in February 2006, when Warne was hired by Livingston until he left under a mutual agreement with the city in March 2011, Livingston, one of the smallest cities in Merced County, became known as the city with the highest legal costs. The legal…Read more »

By Cora Heiser

Steel, made from iron, is the most used metal in the world. Steel was once the measure of a country’s strength and the United States was King of Steel from the American Revolution thru the end of World War II. America’s iron production continued through the 1960s but due to other countries developing cheaper ways to mine ore and produce steel, the US’s steel production declined. Currently, China is the world’s leading importer of iron and thereby is the world’s leader in steel production. In the early 1800s, large stores…Read more »

By Cora Heiser

The golden moments in the stream of life rush past us and we see nothing but sand; the angels come to visit us, and we only know them when they are gone.  ~George Elliot I do know an angel. Her name is Loriann. Lori came into this world on January 13, 1998 and she left this world June 13, 2011.  I had the privilege of teaching Lori this past spring and I really enjoyed our time together.  Thank you Lori for the smiles and the hugs, I will keep them…Read more »

By Cora Heiser

The 29 Palms Fire Department, under the leadership of Chief Thompson, has kept its promises to the residents of 29 Palms and the Desert Heights community.    Not only do they serve the citizens with courage, compassion, and integrity as stated in their oath, they also have kept another promise. In 2005, in exchange for your gracious vote to approve Measure J, the Fire Department promised not to come back before the people to ask for money for 8 years.  Measure J was (is) a flat rate on single/multi-residences,…Read more »

By Cora Heiser

I have uncovered some rather interesting “facts” about 29 while researching another story. I thought I would share these little tidbits with you First is the appearing/disappearing of the Hampton Inn located next to the Fairfield Inn.  On a San Bernardino County website I found the following ad for commercial property sale.   This approximate 1.72-acre site is located on Highway 62 adjacent to two new hotels. The Fairfield Inn and Suites is complete and the HamptonInn and Suites is near completion. A retail center and Holiday Inn Express are both…Read more »

By Cora Heiser

Everyone thought that Tuesday Night’s City Council Meeting would be a short one, well we thought wrong.  Staff suggested that  Agenda Item  8.1 Appeal of the Planning Commission’s Interpretation of Development Code Section 19.48.030- Accessory Uses in Residential Districts, be postponed until June 14, 2011 to allow the full Council to be present. Councilmember Klink could not attend Tues. night’s meeting.   However, the Council decided to hear it anyway. The code states that accessory buildings must reasonably match the house on the property. (The code’s not that simple, but…)…Read more »

By Cora Heiser

The General Plan Advisory Committe (GPAC)  wrapped up the nearly two year process Monday night.  A lot of time, sweat, and tears (the tears were mine when their time was extended costing the city more money.) went into this long process. The GPAC started out with 13 members and then dwindled down to 7 dedicated volunteers.  Nelson Miller of Hogle Ireland, Inc was present to discuss final details and answer questions. He explained how the build out numbers were reached, explaining that the numbers projected were taken from Southern California Association of Governments…Read more »

By Cora Heiser

For the past month the planning commission has been deliberating appropriate language for a  firearms ordinance. The discussions have centered around the discharge of firearms within city limits, indoor/outdoor ranges, and what if any re-zoning will occur.  The focus on these discussions may have allowed an important request to go unnoticed.  The Planning Commission has requested an ad-hoc committee to speed up the long list of items to be considered by the PC.  The commission believes that having an ad-hoc committee,with meetings open to the public, will provide the additional man hours needed to prioritize…Read more »

By Cora Heiser

The talk about Apple Valley and Yucca Valley housing development peaked my interest again on the status of Twentynine Palms. These reports were filed with CA Department of Housing and Urban Development by December 31, 2010 prior to Governor Brown taking office.  True to form, Twentynine Palms real intentions are found on the www.hcd.ca.gov website. For the fiscal year 6/2009/2010   TWENTYNINE PALMS Four Corners: Total Tax allocation: 1,924,350 20% housing set aside: $384,870 interest $9,579,  total 394,449 Details of Expenditures: Planning and Administration Costs: $34,460 Adjusted Beginning Balance $1,434,568 ,  Project Area Receipt$394,449,  Expense $61,021, net resources available $1,767,996…Read more »

By Cora Heiser

 The Twentynine Palms Freshman Class had a car wash today.  No, they didn’t get rich, but they had a good time and made some money at the same time.  The Wildcats want to thank the local businesses, Break n Run and K-B Mart, for the use of the water and parking lot.  We also want to thank all the dirty cars and trucks for coming by and giving generous donations. One high light of the day was  washing a custom  trike owned by retired Marine “Chico “.   The kids( and the adults) thought it was pretty…Read more »

By Cora Heiser

All it takes is a minute to lose what you have worked a lifetime for,  a lesson that the Ruiz family learned this morning.  Sirens could be heard early this morning as the Fire Department and the Sheriff’s Department responded to the call.  The blaze had been contained to the back part of the house due to a quick reaction by the owner of the house and a neighbor that rushed over to help.  When the fire department arrived,  the firemen quickly went to work to make sure that everyone…Read more »

By Cora Heiser

  Warne was officially sworn in by Mayor Harris and fellow council members at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.  Following the swearing-in,  Mr. Warne thanked the city of 29 Palms for the privilege of working for the city of 29. He promised to work hard each day to accomplish the goals of the city, to run the city efficiently, and to give his very best effort to the citizens of 29.  He said that “Every person matters and every person can make a difference’”. Curtis Blankenship spoke during public comments….Read more »

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