Friday, November 22, 2024
Jef Harmatz

Jef Harmatz

Jef Harmatz is the co-host of Z107.7’s “Morning Show with Cody and Jef” and Z107.7’s News Director. He has worked as a journalist, cartoonist, chef, and delivery driver. He is known nationally for his writing and comics in publications like TimeOut,…

Missing hiker Trammell Evans search widens – online resources inside

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
June 8, 2023
How you can help in search for missing hiker Trammell Evans

The family of missing hiker Trammell Evans is continuing their search, with a focus on the communities in the California desert beyond the communities surrounding Joshua Tree National Park. The family of Trammell Evans said that, after an exhaustive search of Joshua Tree National Park, coordinated with Park Rangers and Sheriff’s Deputies from Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, and surrounding towns, coordinated with Deputies and private investigator, there has still been no sign of Evans.…

AirBNB delists local rentals in error

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
June 8, 2023
Groups urge County Supervisors to cap Short Term Rentals permits

A number of local listings on short-term vacation rental website AirBNB have been deactivated this morning, affecting many listings in the Morongo Basin. AirBNB has said that they are working to resolve the issue on their end. Staff from the town of Yucca Valley confirmed the temporary deactivation of several rental listings on the website, and confirmed that other cities, including Twentynine Palms are experiencing similar issues. Yucca Valley town staff said that the deactivation was not…

Future of Morongo Valley CSD in limbo after resignations and lack of quorum

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
June 5, 2023
Morongo Valley CSD Board Director declares resignation, once conditions are met

Two members of the Morongo Valley Community Services District Board of Directors contemplated the fate of the district after a series of resignations left the governing body in a state of limbo. At an ad hoc meeting of the board’s Community Relations Committee yesterday (June 4), Directors Christina Gorke and Johnnie Tolbert had an informal conversation with a few dozen concerned members of the community. The full Board of Directors has not met since March 15, due to a lack of quorum at their…

Cheesy takeover at The Station in Joshua Tree

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
June 2, 2023
Cheesy takeover at The Station in Joshua Tree

If you're traveling along Highway 62 in Joshua Tree, you may notice that a local landmark has been taken over by a popular national snack brand. The Station, located at 61943 Twentynine Palms Highway, is a popular destination for tourists and locals in the high desert, and home of the iconic statue of a large bearded man known has “Big Josh,” is now the site of a pop-up snack destination. Z107.7. spoke with the owners of the Station, Steve and Glen, who explained that the Kellogg Company…

Weekend Feature: Sheriff’s Ride-Along anything but routine during Yucca Valley Carjacking Spree

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
May 28, 2023
Knife-Wielding Woman Suspected of Armed Robbery, Attempting to Hijack Two Trucks in Downtown Joshua Tree

Listen here: Robert Haydon: Z107.7 News Director Jef Harmatz was invited by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office to participate in a ride-along with Deputies from the Morongo Basin Station. This practice is used to give citizens an insight into the activities of Deputies as they respond to calls throughout their community on an ordinary day. However, Tuesday, May 24, turned out to be anything but ordinary, as he participated first hand in the investigation of a stolen Postal Truck, part of…

Suspect in Yucca Valley carjacking spree charged with 11 felony counts

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
May 26, 2023
Knife-Wielding Woman Suspected of Armed Robbery, Attempting to Hijack Two Trucks in Downtown Joshua Tree

The suspect in Tuesday’s (May 24) high-desert carjacking spree is expected to be charged with eleven felony counts by the San Bernardino District Attorney’s office. Luis Lugo, a 23-year-old resident of Fontana, is suspected of carjacking several vehicles, including a United States Postal truck and a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s vehicle, leading a pursuit through Yucca Valley and ending in an open desert area of Joshua Tree, where the San Bernardino Sheriff says he attempted to use one…

Carjacking spree involving postal truck, Sheriff’s vehicle, ends in open desert

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
May 25, 2023
Knife-Wielding Woman Suspected of Armed Robbery, Attempting to Hijack Two Trucks in Downtown Joshua Tree

A Fontana man was arrested after a carjacking spree involving a U.S. Postal Truck and a Sheriff’s vehicle ended in the open desert. On Tuesday (May 24) at approximately 1:20 p.m., San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputies received a report that a postal truck had been stolen near the 58000 block of Bonanza Blvd in Yucca Valley. While investigating the incident, the suspect, identified by Deputies as Luis Lugo, a 23 year-old resident of Fontana, was said to have abandoned the postal truck on…

Two Commissioners resign at last night’s Twentynine Palms Planning Commission meeting

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
May 17, 2023

Two members of the Twentynine Palms Planning Commission resigned at last night’s meeting. Commissioners Jason Dickson and Eileen Leslie both resigned at the start of the regularly scheduled meeting, each for their own respective reason. Commissioner Dickson, who has been on the planning commission for five years, announced that he would be leaving Twentynine Palms for a new job. Dickson said: “I would like to put out there that this is my last meeting on the planning commission. I am resigning…

How you can help in search for missing hiker Trammell Evans

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
May 13, 2023
How you can help in search for missing hiker Trammell Evans

The search for missing hiker Trammell Evans continues, and his family is asking residents of and visitors to hi-desert communities to keep an eye out. The mother and brother of Trammell Evans say that the 25 year-old may be passing through or camping in and around communities surrounding Joshua Tree National Park. Evans, a 25 year-old white male was last seen at Black Rock Campground on April 30, and declared missing on Saturday, May 5. Searches have continued through the last week. His family…

Second Saturday Art Crawl in Joshua Tree tonight (5/13)

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
May 13, 2023
The Twentynine Palms Art Gallery announces their Holiday Market Nov. 26

The second Saturday Art Crawl returns to Joshua Tree tonight (May 13) , with most of the area's galleries holding openings for new exhibits. Art snob Jef Harmatz is here to tell you about tonight’s high desert art openings. Art Queen is debuting a new solo show of work from Noel T. Hart, titled "Looking for Horizons." Hart, a former architect, makes mixed media paitings of strange and alien landscapes that push design work beyond the rules of physics. The show opens tonight…

Copyright © 2024 Z107.7 FM Joshua Tree - Local News for the Hi Desert.
Copyright © 2024 Z107.7 FM Joshua Tree - Local News for the Hi Desert.