Jef Harmatz, Author at Z107.7 FM Joshua Tree

Marbles Launched from Truck Destroy Windows in Twentynine Palms

January 20, 2023

Sheriff's Deputies are searching for a vandal who launched marbles through the windows of three Twentynine Palms business on Wednesday night (January 18). Alamilla's Taco Shop, Jelly Donut, and 9 Palms Inn, all located on Twentynine Palms Highway, each reported significant damage to windows at their businesses. Deputies say that an unknown subject, driving a pickup truck westbound on Twentynine Palms Highway, launched marbles out of the truck and towards the businesses, breaking glass.…

Book Sale to Benefit the Joshua Tree Branch Library

by Jef Harmatz

January 20, 2023

We have an alert to all book lovers - The Friends of the Joshua Tree Branch Library is holding a book sale tomorrow. Hardcover books will be sold for $1.00, art books will be sold for $2.00, paperback and children’s books will be twenty-five cents each. All proceeds generated from this sale of books will help fund programs at the Joshua Tree Branch Library. The sale will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Joshua Tree Branch Library, at the corner of Twentynine Palms Highway and Park Blvd.

Morongo Basin’s lack of affordable housing main focus of MBCA meeting on Jan. 21

by Jef Harmatz

January 19, 2023

Affordable housing continues to be a major issue for residents of the hi desert, and the Morongo Basin Conservation Association will spotlight this ongoing problem at their annual meeting. Set for this Saturday morning (January 21), the Morongo Basin Conservation Association will present an overview of problem areas and propose community bases solutions to the problem. Representatives from local government bodies and non-profit agencies will also discuss issues surrounding and pose remedies to…

Yucca Valley man suspected of arson after setting fire near 29 Palms bar that banned him

by Jef Harmatz

January 18, 2023

Cause of Johnson Valley House Fire Under Investigation

A man was arrested for arson after allegedly setting fire to a Twentynine Palms tavern. On Saturday, January 14, at around 10:30 PM security staff at the Virginian Cocktails on Twentynine Palms Highway alerted Sheriff’s Deputies to an incident involving a patron who had been banned from the business. Darrell Gomer, a 63 year-old resident of Yucca Valley was denied entry to the bar because of an earlier incident involving property damage. Security told Deputies that Gomer left, and they followed…

Six smash-and-grab burglaries hit Hi- Desert businesses from Morongo to 29 Palms on Jan. 11

by Jef Harmatz

January 14, 2023

Knife-Wielding Woman Suspected of Armed Robbery, Attempting to Hijack Two Trucks in Downtown Joshua Tree

A string of smash-and-grab burglaries has rocked the hi-desert, as six businesses on Highway 62 - from Morongo Valley to Twentynine Palms - had glass doors smashed and money taken by the same two suspects. Sometime late Wednesday night (January 11) or early Thursday morning (January 12), 6 commercial businesses - 5 of which were restaurants - were the victims of burglaries. All of the smash-and-grabs all believed to have been committed by the same two suspects. The Trading Post and the Morongo…

Second Saturday Art Crawl in Joshua Tree tonight, Jan. 14

by Jef Harmatz

January 14, 2023

Every Second Saturday of the month, downtown Joshua Trees art galleries band together for openings and events that showcase the incredible and diverse artwork being made here in the high desert. Joshua Tree Art Gallery, located at 61607 Twentynine Palms Hwy, is premiering a collection of minimalist paitings from David Mackenzie and James O'Keefe. A reception for the show will be held tonight from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Hey There Projects, located at 61675 Twentynine Palms Highway, will open a new…

Man Killed in Lethal Force Encounter with Sheriff’s Deputies in Joshua Tree

by Jef Harmatz

January 13, 2023

Man Killed in Lethal Force Encounter with Sheriff’s Deputies in Joshua Tree

A lethal force encounter with Sheriff’s Deputies at a Joshua Tree home left one man dead on Wednesday night (January 11). At 8:25 p.m., Deputies responded to a report of a man breaking into a house on the 61700 block of Oleander Drive. Deputies say that the man was attempting to break into a house after breaking a window, and was shouting obscenities at the female resident of the house. When Deputies arrived, they say that the man pointed what they believed was a weapon at them, and…

100 MPH felony pursuit through Joshua Tree National Park ends after PIT maneuver, arrest of suspect

by Jef Harmatz

January 12, 2023

A Florida man is accused of leading a felony pursuit that began in Joshua Tree National Park, traveled through the Morongo Basin and ended on the far side of the Sheephole Valley Wilderness. Yesterday (January 10) at around 10 a.m., Park Rangers report that they attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a Nissan driving on the wrong side of the road, somewhere within the bounds of Joshua Tree National Park. The suspect - Daniel Commander, a 47 year-old resident of Florida - refused to pull over,…

Black ice causes 3 collisions in-a-row on Old Woman Springs Road

by Jef Harmatz

January 11, 2023

As Sheriff's Deputies investigated a traffic collision caused by black ice on Old Woman Springs road, another vehicle lost control on the black ice and collided with the Deputies' patrol car. At around 6:50 a.m. on Friday morning (January 6), deputies responded to a report of a car that lost traction on a patch of black ice on Old Woman Springs Road and Terra Vista Road in Yucca Valley. The car hit a mailbox, and no one was injured. Deputies arrived to investigate the accident, and…

Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent David Smith leaving for role with NPS in San Francisco

by Jef Harmatz

January 9, 2023

Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent David Smith leaving for role with NPS in San Francisco

Listen here: Superintendent David Smith has announced that he is leaving his position at Joshua Tree National Park. Smith has held this role, which oversees all park operations, since 2014. Smith announced on Wednesday (January 4), that he will be taking on a role with the National Park Service in San Francisco. After making the announcement, Smith told Z107.7: “Getting a chance to be the Superintendent of Joshua Tree, and being here in the Morongo Basin, was probably one of the highlights of my…

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