Many local federal employees would feel the pinch if the federal government shuts down tomorrow. If the U.S. government has to shut down tomorrow, about half of the Defense Department’s 800,000 civilian workers will be furloughed until an appropriations bill is passed. Civilians who are furloughed would be paid retroactively only if a law is enacted providing the authority to pay them. Military personnel and contractors will continue to work as normal, but would be paid retroactively once the funds are appropriated. Training and travel for military and civilian workers would have to stop until after the furlough ends. Other activities affected by the furlough include no payment of death benefits to those who die on active duty during the lapse, stateside commissaries would be closed, military promotion boards would be disrupted, and companies who do business with the Defense Department would also be affected; new contracts can’t be signed and old ones can’t be extended.
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 A Yucca Valley paramedic accused of stealing morphine from a County ambulance had his license revoked by the state earlier this month. According to the California Emergency Medical Services Authority, Blake Attaway, a firefighter-paramedic with Station 41 in Yucca Valley, stole morphine from the fire department on 20 to 30 occasions between October 2012 and February 2013, when the thefts were discovered by a battalion chief and reported to law enforcement. Attaway admitted that he injected himself with the drug while on duty in order to get high. Attaway said he extracted the morphine from vials, replaced the morphine he stole with saline, replaced the vial caps with glue, and then returned the vials to the ambulance’s stock. Attaway’s colleagues would then unwittingly use the adulterated morphine to treat patients who required emergency medical care. Attaway also admitted to falsifying patient care records, and forging a nurse’s signature to cover up his thefts. The order states Attaway’s paramedic license was revoked because he demonstrated poor personal and professional judgment, lack of trustworthiness, disregard of protocol, disrespect for laws regulating dangerous drugs, absence of self-control, and contemptuous disregard for patient welfare. Attaway’s paramedic license was temporarily revoked July 2, and permanently revoked August 28; the revocation took effect 20 days later. Blake Attaway was arraigned in Joshua Tree Superior Court September 12 on a charge of embezzlement of property by a public official; he was not present at the arraignment and court records label him as a fugitive. Make plans to bring the whole family to this week’s Joshua Tree Gem and Mineral Show. Managing Editor Tami Roleff says the 38th annual show opens this Wednesday… A Yucca Valley man who was wanted for shooting at another man last month was arrested Saturday. According to Sheriff’s Sergeant James Porter, on August 26, Joseph Huffman, 44, got in an argument over money with another man in the 5200 block of Elata Road in Yucca Valley. Porter said Huffman fired two rounds at the victim, and hit him in the face with the pistol. Then Huffman and his wife, Maryann Huffman, fled in a vehicle, which was later found abandoned. Inside was a revolver that had had its serial number filed off. On September 13, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Joseph and Maryann Huffman. On Wednesday, September 25, detectives were performing surveillance on a home in the 62000 block of Canterbury Street in Yucca Valley, looking for Joseph Huffman. Huffman fled in a Toyota truck, and lost deputies during a pursuit, but his vehicle was located the next day in the Van’s Ranch Wash area of Landers. On Thursday, Maryann Huffman was arrested for harboring a fugitive and tampering with the identification of a firearm. She was released on $100,000 bail. On Saturday, Joseph Huffman surrendered to a private investigator, who took him to the West Valley Detention Center where he was arrested for investigation of assault with a firearm and shooting at an inhabited vehicle. His bail is set at $325,000. An argument over beer pong led to an arrest of one Twentynine Palms man, and the hospitalization of two others Saturday night. According to Sheriff Sergeant James Porter, Mitchell Stewart, 21, Shane Miller, 25, and Tyler Murphy, 23, were drinking and playing beer pong at a residence in the 74700 block of Joe Davis Drive, when they started arguing over who won at about 10:30 p.m. Porter said the argument turned physical, and Stewart suffered numerous injuries, including lacerations, bruises, and a minor concussion. Stewart was taken to Desert Hospital in Palm Springs. Tyler Murphy, 23, was interviewed and released due to his injuries; he was taken to the Naval Hospital on board the Combat Center. Shane Miller, 25, was arrested for investigation of assault with serious injuries. He was booked at the Morongo Basin Jail with his bail set at $100,000. It wouldn’t be November without the Twentynine Palms Weed Show. Dan Stork has the call for entries… Law enforcement, fire and rescue personnel, and medical and safety experts will all be on hand at a Safety Open House in Yucca Valley tomorrow. Visitors will be able to learn about disaster preparedness and response. Fire engines, ambulances, and Sheriff patrol cars and motorcycles are just a few of the items that will be on display. The American Red Cross, the Community Emergency Response Team, and the San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services will have informational booths and equipment on display. The Safety Open House will be held in the north parking lot of the Yucca Valley Community Center from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, October 1. The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend. Tickets are still available for Copper Mountain College Foundation’s Annual Fall Dinner on the evening of Saturday, October 5, in the Community Room of the Bell Center at Copper Mountain College. Chief Glenna Wallace will be the keynote speaker following the evening’s theme of Celebrating Milestones. Chief Wallace, a 38-year veteran of Crowder Community College in Neosho, Missouri, has dedicated her career to the humanities as a college professor, a communicator, a storyteller and the first female chief of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. She has not only exposed her Shawnee heritage to the world, developing exhibits and sharing their stories and dances, but has also integrated the modern world with her tribe, supporting education and economic development. Tickets are $75 and includes dinner, entertainment and a hosted bar. The traditional raffling of a quilt will also be held this evening. Contact the Foundation Office at 760-366-3791 extension 4200 or www.cmccd.edu/Foundation for reservations. The Annual Bucky Bucklin Memorial Arm Wrestling tournament is coming up and signups are being taken. Reporter Taylor Thacker says the fun event benefits the Twentynine Palms Youth Club… Yucca Valley High School Trojan Football improved to 4-0 Friday night when the Trojans dominated the Indio Rajahs 39-20. The offense rolled up 605 total yards, 430 rushing and 175 passing along with scoring six touchdowns. The starting defense held Indio to 95 total yards through the first three quarters and zero points. Coach Tim Cannavo said standout performances were by Logan Vallo with three touchdowns and 136 yards rushing, 55 receiving. Gabe Sosa had one touchdown, 109 yards rushing and 58 yards receiving. Bradley Soares threw two touchdown passes. Shayne Saiza led defenders with 13 tackles and a pass defense. Joey Rutherford added 10 tackles and caused two fumbles. The Twentynine Palms Varsity Wildcats used a 21-point third quarter outburst to take a 35-22 first victory on the season over Barstow. Coach Ernest Martinez said senior Jake Culver got the team on the board with long run up the middle. Cody Hall had a big night as he rushed for 140 yards and scored four touchdowns on the night. Talo Wilson snared six receptions for 124 yards as well as with 10 tackles, a forced fumble and a sack. Junior fullback Dylan Martinez had six carries for 42 yards. Senior Cole Estrada blocked a punt to put the Cats in the red zone. Sophomore Alonzo Tate and Senior Darren Murphy combined on 20 tackles and two forced fumbles. Standouts on the defensive front line included seniors David Falefitu, Tristen Thiers, and juniors Jayson Nomura, Josh Alderson, and Matt Pierce. In high school sports tomorrow, the Twentynine Palms High School girls’ tennis team travels away to Desert Hot Springs to play the Golden Eagles. First serve is at 3:15. Also tomorrow, the Joshua Springs Christian School volleyball team travels away to Lucerne Valley. Game time is 5 p.m. Joshua Springs Christian School needs a varsity boys’ basketball Coach. Contact Israel Hagerman at 760-365-3599. Resumes need to be turned in by tomorrow. |
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