Gabriel Hart is a journalist and author from Morongo Valley, CA.

MVCSD Board of Directors approve temporary spending freeze

The Morongo Valley Community Services District Board of Directors held a last-minute special meeting last night in Covington Park’s multipurpose room. With last night’s meeting beginning in closed session for continued performance evaluation for fire chief and general manager with no reportable action, the Board returned to open session to tackle two action items. The first: a proposed spending freeze for the district, since approximately $130,000 of unbudgeted funds have been spent addressing…

Desert Draw Club tonight at Hey There Projects in Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree’s Hey There Projects will be hosting their Desert Draw Club this Thursday, March 7th, in their back gallery space. Join Hey There Project’s recurring life drawing session, hosted by artist Ben Vitale. Three hours of multi-poses from five to forty-five minutes. The first part of the drawing club will start with classic figure poses and build to longer poses with costumes, all set to tone with great music. There will be chairs, tables, and some drawing boards for participants, but Hey…

‘Birding For Fun’ begins this Saturday at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve

Morongo Valley’s Big Morongo Canyon Preserve will be hosting a new series of guided nature walks for bird enthusiasts starting this Saturday, March 2nd. Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is an internationally recognized birding site, a regular nesting area for several rare or unusual species and many other species abundant during the spring and fall migration seasons. The Preserve has been designated as one of the United States’ Important Bird Areas by the American Bird Conservancy, the American…

Twentynine Palms High School’s Joshua Corrado scores highest possible score on ACT exam

Joshua Corrado, a senior at Twenty-Nine Palms High School has earned the highest composite ACT score of 36. The ACT is a curriculum-based achievement exam that measures what students have learned in school. Regarding Corrado’s high score, ACT CEO Janet Godwin said, “Earning a top score on the ACT is a remarkable achievement. A student's exceptional score of 36 will provide any college or university with ample evidence of their readiness for the academic rigors that lie ahead. For…

Copper Mountain College expanding its athletics program with new cross-country team

Copper Mountain College announced a new cross country team on last week’s Z1077 Up-Close Show. Host Gary Daigneault spoke with Copper Mountain College Superintendent President Darren Otten about CMC’s expansion of their athletic program.   After recently hiring athletic director JJ Santa Cruz, Otten mentioned the expectation levels and professionalism “stepping up” at CMC. Otten explained his own passion for the athletic program goes beyond what happens in the field: “Many students aren’t going…

MVCSD approves Brittany Chavez to remain interim CSD General Manager for next three months

The Morongo Valley Community Services District Board of Directors held their regular meeting last night at 6PM in Covington Park’s multipurpose room. With the regular meeting’s stacked agenda sandwiched between two closed sessions, the MVCSD Board showed outstanding expedience thoughtfully moving through twelve new business and action items. During his report, Fire Chief Brakebill announced the completion of the CSD office’s reconstruction, a project ongoing since damage incurred from last…

MVCSD to discuss taking part in $25 million “Hometown Grant Project” at tonight’s meeting

The Morongo Valley Community Services District Board of Directors will be holding the regular open session 6PM meeting at Covington Park’s multipurpose room, as well as closed session special meeting at 5PM. Starting with a closed session at 5PM, the Board will be officially appointing a new general manager after interviewing multiple applicants on February 3rd. For the open session at 6PM, the Board has a full plate of new business and action items. The Board will review, discuss, and approve a…

Copper Mountain President Superintendent Darren Otten discusses ‘Dual Enrollment’

On last week’s Up-Close Show, host Gary Daigneault spoke with Copper Mountain College Superintendent President Darren Otten about CMC and MUSD’s partnership with their Dual Enrollment Program, which offers high school students a large leap forward into their future. Copper Mountain College’s close cooperation with MUSD could be described as “synergetic”: two sources working in harmony to create an enhanced effect for the Morongo Basin student. CMC President Darren Otten spoke to Daigneault about…

“Steam Cats” robotics team qualifies to compete in two prestigious national events

At last Tuesday’s MUSD meeting, Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services Amy Woods recognized the 29 Palms Junior High School “Steam Cats” Robotics team for their excellence after winning the Judge’s Award at the Harvard Westlake Challenge in Los Angeles, qualifying them to compete in the 2024 CREATE US Open in Iowa. The key criteria the Steam Cats met for that Judges Award: the team displays special attributes, exemplary effort, or perseverance; the team overcomes an obstacle or…

CMC President Darren Otten talks Construction Trade Program on “Up-Close Show”

On last Friday’s Up-Close Show, host Gary Daigneault spoke with Copper Mountain College President Darren Otten about CMC’s Construction Trades Program, a practical avenue for students seeking immediate local job placement after graduation. One of the most important elements of a community college, Daigneault explained, is reacting to the needs of the community by providing programs in specific demand to the region. As a former small business owner, CMC President Darren Otten partnered with…