Jef Harmatz, Author at Z107.7 FM Joshua Tree

Operation Hammer Strike – Capt. Warrick talks illegal marijuana task force numbers, end

January 2, 2023

Operation Hammer Strike has seized marijuana worth over One Billion dollars

Captain Robert Warrick of the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station, was the guest on the Z1077 Up Close Show two weeks ago (December 16). As part of his conversation with Gary Daigneault, Captain Warrick discussed Operation: Hammerstrike. The operation, which concluded on August 26 of this year, saw special county funding go to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office, under Sheriff Shannon Dicus, to eradicate illegal marijuana grows. Though growing marijuana is legal in certain areas of…

Joshua Tree STR burgled through unlocked door, suspect found through boot prints

by Jef Harmatz

December 30, 2022

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

A Joshua Tree man is suspected of stealing from guests at a Joshua Tree vacation rental after they left the backdoor of the house unlocked. Guests at a short term vacation rental in the 61700 block of Parkway Blvd told Sheriff’s Deputies that when they returned home from a dinner at around 10 PM, their luggage was missing from the home. They told Deputies that they left the door unlocked, and that more than $2000 in clothes and luggage - including a duffel bag, rolling “Snoopy” themed suitcase,…

Joshua Tree’s Noah Purifoy Outdoor Museum looks forward to 2023

by Jef Harmatz

December 29, 2022

One of Joshua Tree’s most important cultural sites, the iconic Noah Purifoy Outdoor Museum, has shared the details of their upkeep efforts in 2022. The museum, which is most known for an immersive garden of outdoor assemblage and sculpture artwork built by artist Noah Purifoy, who lived at the site until his death in 2004, requires regular maintenance to withstand the extreme heat, cold, and winds of the high desert. This year, the Noah Purifoy Foundation was hard at work updating paint, stucco,…

Operation Dust Devil looks to curb illegal off-roading in the Morongo Basin

by Jef Harmatz

December 26, 2022

Operation: Dust Devil is the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department's effort to curb illegal off-roading throughout the county. The initiative kicked off on Saturday December 17, and is scheduled for four and half months. It will include stepped up enforcement, rider education, and unique approaches to reaching off-roaders who may be illegally trespassing or damaging native ecosystems. Illegal off-roading is a particularly sensitive issue here in the Morongo Basin. While many…

Explosions, fire from unoccupied RV on Sunfair in Joshua Tree 12/20

by Jef Harmatz

December 22, 2022

Explosions, fire from unoccupied RV on Sunfair in Joshua Tree 12/20

An RV burned to the ground in the Sunfair dry lake bed on Tuesday night (December 20). Sheriff’s deputies received a report that an RV was on fire near Sunfair Road and Twentynine Palms Highway on BLM land just before 9:30 p.m. Eyewitnesses say that they heard multiple explosions, and that dogs left the RV during the fire. When fire engines from Joshua Tree and Yucca Mesa arrived, they found the RV to be fully involved in the fire, and they were unable to put out the blaze before the RV burned…

Stolen truck in Yucca Valley found at neighbor’s house one block away

by Jef Harmatz

December 21, 2022

A truck allegedly stolen from a Yucca Valley home was spotted by the victim parked in the driveway of a neighbor’s home less than a block away. The victim, told Sheriff’s Deputies that a 2002 Chevy Silverado was stolen on Sunday night (December 18) from the residence in the 58600 block of Barron Dr in Yucca Valley. The victim said that they saw an unidentified male hotwire the vehicle and drive off. On Monday night (December 19), the victim saw the stolen vehicle parked at in the driveway of a…

MUSD Board Meeting tonight 12/13- New Members and Reorganization

by Jef Harmatz

December 13, 2022

Tonight’s MUSD board meeting at Joshua Tree Elementary will begin with a closed session at 5pm to swear in new and returning board members, and to discuss reorganization of the board. At 6pm’s open session, action items include: resolution to make information from Statutory School Facilities Report made public, a request to certify MUSD meet its financial obligations for the current fiscal year, and a bid for bleacher upgrades at 29 Palms High School. Other items for review include: bylaw update…

EBT Scams on the rise in San Bernardino County

by Jef Harmatz

December 8, 2022

Each week, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department receives reports of EBT fraud from residents of the Morongo Basin. EBT, which stands for Electronic Benefits Transfer, is an electronic system that allows people to pay for food using government provided assistance. Cards are issued to each EBT user, but like credit cards, fraud is an unfortunately common occurrence. In a typical report, a victim sees unusual activity on their EBT account, usually a withdrawal, often very close to the…

BLM Campfire and Target Practice restrictions ease in San Bernardino County

by Jef Harmatz

December 7, 2022

Seasonal campfire restrictions in San Bernardino and surrounding counties has been lifted - allowing campfires and target shooting on public lands. Although restrictions are lifted, News Director Jef Harmatz reminds us of the guidelines that are still in place: Always allow at least 5 feet cleared around your campfire Keep a shovel and plenty of water on hand to put your campfire dead out before leaving it. When traveling on public lands, park vehicles away from areas where hot exhaust could…

Temps are dropping! Winterize your home before it gets colder.

by Jef Harmatz

December 6, 2022

The season may say “Fall” but it sure does feel like winter here in the hi-dez. News Director Jef Harmatz is here with ways for you to winterize your home. With 30 degree swings from day to night and clear nights that are starting to dip into freezing temps. If the frigid temps are a shock to you - there are colder days and nights ahead, so now is the time to check over things in your home and car that could freeze in the cold desert nights. Check exposed pipes inside and outside - especially…

Login

Register

Recover your password.