As 2015 comes to a close, we look back on some of the top stories of the year in a special 4-part series. Today, part 1; The Lake Fire burned more than 31,000 acres south of Big Bear in June and forced the evacuation of Pioneertown. Although the US Fire Service determined that the Lake Fire was caused by humans, it has not announced if the fire was intentionally set.
Yucca Valley property owners overwhelmingly approved an assessment in May for the upcoming sewer project, with 72 percent of the 5,000 ballots received voting YES. The assessment allowed the Hi-Desert Water District to go forward with the final step in seeking a low-interest loan from the state for construction of the sewer project.
Also this summer, a committee of Yucca Valley residents started an initiative for a half-cent sales tax that would go to help lower the costs associated with the sewer project.
Landers residents celebrated this summer when, after a years-long grass-roots effort, Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency finally took over their water service from the county.
The City of Twentynine Palms was celebrating this summer too, when the State Department of Finance conceded in the battle over bond proceeds for Project Phoenix, the city’s redevelopment project. Four years ago, when the governor dissolved all redevelopment agencies, the state attempted to appropriate $10 million in bond proceeds from Twentynine Palms, but in May the state agreed that the city could proceed with its redevelopment plans. Tomorrow in part 2: bobcat trapping and a fired County representative.
A LOOK BACK AT THE MORONGO BASIN IN 2015, THE FIRST IN A 4-PART SERIES
