It will be soul, R&B, and swing at this Saturday night’s Yucca Valley summer concert. Managing Editor Tami Roleff has your invitation…
The third concert of the 22nd annual summer concert series, co-hosted by the town of Yucca Valley and Z107.7, is Saturday, July 23, with Boxcar 7. Enjoy the cool desert evening at the Yucca Valley Community Center listening and dancing to soul, R&B, and swing music, such as B.B. King, Otis Redding, Ray Charles, the Blues Brothers, Wilson Picket, and more. The gates open at 6:30 p.m.; the music starts at 7 p.m. Admission is free. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair. Dogs are allowed on the upper soccer field only.
Yucca Valley will be performing road maintenance on town roads at various locations through July 27. Z107.7 will announce where each day so residents can plan accordingly. Today, Friday, July 22, roadwork will be performed in the Sky Harbor neighborhood, on Lisbon Drive, Warren Vista, San Vincente Drive, Juarez Drive, and Fortuna Avenue. Residents and business that are affected by roadwork should have received a notice. As with any project, changes in schedules may be necessary due to equipment failures, weather, and many other factors. For questions or concerns please contact Alex Qishta at 760-369-6575 extension 304.
LifeStream will conduct a community blood drive on Saturday, July 23, at Wal-Mart in Yucca Valley from 11 to 3. Donors will receive incentives. In addition, LifeStream now offers free cholesterol screening with every blood donation. Those aged 18 to 44 years may register for Be the Match bone marrow screening free of charge. To make an appointment to donate blood, call 800-879-4484, extension 458.
The Morongo Basin Historical Society’s next feature in their series of locally filmed movies is “The Last of the Pony Riders.” Assignment reporter Mike Lipsitz tells you how to lean back, look back, and enjoy…
Gene Autry stars in “The Last of the Pony Riders” presented by the Morongo Basin Historical Society Saturday, July 23. This 1953 film was directed by George Archainbaud and stars Gene Autry and Kathleen Case. Filmed locally, Autry cracks down on mail crooks. The film will be shown on the portico of the historical society’s museum, 632 Landers Lane just south of the Landers Post Office. Dinner and the movie is $12; the movie only is $7. Dinner starts at 7; the movie starts at 8. Seating provided or bring your own. To sign up or for more information, call Eve at 760-364-2221.
The Joshua Tree Veterans of Foreign Wars Post will offer a spaghetti dinner tonight, from 4 to 6, complete with salad and garlic bread, for $7. Tonight’s dinner is hosted by Fred and Diane. Sunday is a pancake breakfast special with all-you-can-eat pancakes, in addition to the regular menu, from 8 to 11. And don’t forget Taco Wednesday from 11 to 1. The Joshua Tree VFW post is located on Veterans Way north of the highway in downtown Joshua Tree.
Food for Life will be serving sandwiches, salad, fruit, and dessert this Saturday, July 23, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Church of the Nazarene in Twentynine Palms. Low-income residents and family are welcome to enjoy the free meal as well as the air conditioning and fellowship. Food for Life is looking for volunteers. If you are interested in preparing and serving a meal, they still have some dates open for this year. If you are interested, please come to the Nazarene Church at 72603 Juanita Drive in Twentynine Palms and see what foods they have available and how they are set up. Board members will be available to talk with you.
Two Yucca Valley men were arrested Tuesday following a high-speed pursuit through Yucca Mesa. According to limited details from a Sheriff’s report, deputies were called to Aberdeen Drive and Avalon Avenue about 4 p.m. where they pursued a vehicle to a home in the 3800 block of Balsa Avenue. There they found Timothy Murphy, 50, and Michael Jund, 62. After an investigation, Timothy Murphy was arrested for felony failure to yield, booked at the Morongo Basin Jail, with his bail set at $100,000. Michael Jund was arrested on suspicion of false impersonation and for a no-bail drug warrant. Jund was booked at the Morongo Basin Jail.
Monday morning, Sheriff’s deputies and paramedics were called to a business in Twentynine Palms for a parent who accidentally locked an infant inside the car. Rescue personnel broke the window to reach the baby, who luckily suffered no ill effects from being in the car for about five minutes during 90-degree temperatures. Managing editor Tami Roleff offers the following safety tips to keep your children safe during the summer heat.
Leaving children alone in a car for even just a few minutes is extremely dangerous, according to medical professionals. Children are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses as their bodies produce more heat relative to their size, and their ability to sweat is not as developed as adults. Give yourself a reminder that your child is in the car by placing your purse or briefcase in the back seat next to the child, or by placing the baby’s diaper bag on the front seat. Lock your car doors when you’re at home to keep children from wandering into the car and accidentally locking themselves in. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911 immediately. The inside of a car can heat up 40 degrees in an hour, even on cool days, and just a few minutes in a hot car can be fatal for young children—and pets—even with the windows cracked.
CalTrans will begin work Tuesday, July 26, on a $10 million shoulder-widening project on State Route 247. The five-week project will construct an 8-foot wide paved shoulder, with rumble strips, on each side of the highway, as well as a centerline rumble strip. The project will include both sides of the highway from Handley Road to Boone Avenue, an 8-mile stretch of highway in Landers. Construction will include pavement milling, laying asphalt, and shoulder work. Scheduled work hours are from6 p.m. to 8 a.m. seven days a week. Lane closures will exist for the duration of the project. Flagging and reversible traffic control will be the primary means of directing motorists through the 25-mile-per-hour construction zone.
Yucca Valley will be performing road maintenance on town roads at various locations through July 27. Each day Z107.7 News will report where the roadwork is occurring so residents can plan accordingly. On Thursday, July 21, roadwork will be performed in the Sky Harbor neighborhood, on Hidden Gold Drive, Ivanhoe Drive, Warren Vista, Catalina Way, San Diego Drive, Frontera Avenue, Cortez Drive, and Hermosa Avenue. Residents and business that are affected by roadwork should have received a notice. As with any project, changes in schedules may be necessary due to equipment failures, weather, and many other factors. For questions or concerns please contact Alex Qishta at 760-369-6575 extension 304.
An hour or two of preparation in advance of a disaster offers peace of mind, but can also mean the difference between surviving or not. Reporter Mike Lipsitz offers some tips on putting together your emergency kit…
Assemble your kit with the thought that its contents may be all you have access to for an extended period. Each person in your household should have his or her own kit. A backpack is ideal because you can carry it hands free. Store food and water separately in a tub or chest on wheels. Set aside a gallon of water per person daily. Include a map with at least two evacuation routes. And have any prescriptions or special medications, a change of clothes, glasses or sun shades, first aid kit, cash, flashlight, dust mask, multi-tool, battery-operated radio and batteries, hygiene items, copies of birth certificates, passports, insurance policies. How about pet food, phone charger and laptop? Every household’s emergency kit will look a little different, that’s why it pays to think about what you’ll need in advance of a disaster.
A Joshua Tree man was arrested Tuesday, accused of spraying mace in his ex-girlfriend’s face. According to a Sheriff’s report, Johnny Fortner, 39, and his ex-girlfriend were arguing about 9:30 p.m. near Deer Trail and Highway 62 in Yucca Valley. When the woman attempted to leave, she said Fortner sprayed her in the eyes with pepper spray and then tried to drag her into his vehicle, but she was able to escape. Fortner had left the scene by the time deputies arrived, but he was later located at his residence in the 5800 block of Outpost Road in Joshua Tree. The report states Fortner admitted to owning pepper spray and that he had possibly sprayed his former girlfriend in the face. Johnny Fortner was arrested for investigation of assault with a chemical pepper spray, booked at the Morongo Basin Jail, with his bail set at $100,000.
At least two vehicles were burglarized in Joshua Tree Monday night. According to Sheriff’s reports, on Tuesday morning, residents in the 61700 and 61800 block of Morningside reported their vehicles parked outside had been broken into overnight. It’s believed the thieves stole personal information left inside the vehicles. Anyone with additional information should call the Sheriff’s Department at 760-366-4175.
The mega-successful Theatre 29 summer youth theater program is well into the rehearsal process for “Disney’s Aladdin Jr.” Reporter Rebecca Havely shares how to reserve your tickets before they’re gone…
Theatre 29’s youth theater program will culminate with six performances of “Disney’s Aladdin Jr.” There are 32 students in the “junior” group, ages 7 to 11, directed by Katie Van Sumeren, and 32 more “senior students, ages 11 to 17, directed by Gary Daigneault. Both shows are choreographed by Angelica Mille, with musical direction by Bianca Stoker. The show opens Friday, August 5, with a 6 p.m. performance by the junior cast, and a 8 p.m. show for the seniors. Saturday, August 6, and Sunday, August 7, shows are at 1 p.m. for juniors and 3 p.m. for seniors. Tickets are available now online at theatre29.org, or by calling the Theatre 29 box office at 760-361-4151. Early reservations are urged as the children’s productions sell out quickly.
The Theatre 29 summer youth theater program is supported by generous grants from the city of Twentynine Palms Public Arts Advisory Commission and U.S. Bank.
After a series of resignations left the Twentynine Palms Chamber of Commerce down to only three directors, Interim President Aaron Kyle called an emergency special meeting yesterday. At the meeting, eight new directors selected: Yeseida Reyes, Carrie Hendrickson, Glenn F. Helm, Devon Carson, Robert Fleck, Joni Daniel, Lorie Harbough Wiederhold, and James “Jim” Harris, After the eight new directors were sworn in, the 11 board members voted to select officers. Aaron Kyle was named president; Joni Daniel, vice president; Carrie Hendrickson, secretary; and Cheryl Cox, treasurer. The new board already met last night for a Pioneer Days planning meeting. They will also meet for their first official general board of directors meeting this evening, Thursday, July 21, at 5:00 p.m. at the downtown Twentynine Palms Chamber office. The public is encouraged to attend. The Chamber is still seeking a new executive director and administrative assistant.
The popular summer movies in Luckie Park series continues tonight. Report David Knutson says grab a lawn chair or blanket, the kids and some snacks and come see “The Good Dinosaur”…
As part of the Twentynine Palms Recreation Department’s summer movies in Luckie Park, the movie being shown this Thursday is “The Good Dinosaur.” This movie tells of a world where the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs missed the Earth, so dinosaurs now live with people millions of years later. This comedy adventure tells of a young cave boy’s friendship with a dinosaur, Arlo. The movie will be projected on the north wall of the racquetball court in Luckie Park and will begin at around 8:30 p.m.
The Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County will hold a free home energy education workshop Monday, July 25. The workshop about the Home Energy Assistance Program will be held 9:30 to 3:30 at the Reach Out office, 7255 Joshua Lane, Suite C in Yucca Valley. Call 909-723-1500 for an appointment.
Following a case of shots fired in Yucca Valley Saturday, Morongo Basin Sheriff’s detectives are investigating a case of shots fired in Twentynine Palms early Monday morning. According to a Sheriff’s report, a resident in the 7200 block of Utah Trail said a bullet came through his home’s window just after midnight Monday, and that his vehicle in the driveway also had a bullet hole. A bullet was found inside the home. Anyone with information should call the Sheriff’s Department at 760-366-4175.
A Joshua Tree man wanted on multiple warrants for elder abuse and vandalism was arrested Monday morning at the scene where the original alleged abuse took place. According to a Sheriff’s report, deputies went to a home in the 66500 block of Daisy Lane in Joshua Tree about 9:40 a.m. for a report that Matthew Snedeker, 47, was violating a restraining order by being at the home. Deputies report that Snedeker gave them a false name, but they soon learned his true identity and determined he was wanted on two warrants for elder abuse, and a warrant for battery and vandalism. In March, Snedeker is accused of slicing open a man’s finger with a machete. Matthew Snedeker was arrested for his warrants, booked at the Morongo Basin Jail, with his bail set at $125,000.
The Hi-Desert Water District Board meets in regular session tonight. Among items including standby fees, the board will consider eminent domain proceedings. Managing editor Tami Roleff checks the agenda…
The board of directors of the Hi-Desert Water District will hold their regular meeting tonight. Among the items on the agenda, the directors will set water standby rates for vacant properties; and vote to declare eminent domain on 21 properties owned by the San Bernardino County Flood Control District for sewer easements. And finally, the directors will be asked to approve a bid of $327,00 for capital improvement materials. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in district offices at Inca Trail and the Highway in Yucca Valley.