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,…

A Welfare Check at Morongo Valley Gas Station Leads to Arrest for Suspicion of DUI

A welfare check at the Morongo Valley Chevron station turned into an arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence. According to a Sheriff’s report, Jonathan Angulo, a 30 year-old resident of La Puente, parked his Jeep at a pump at the gas station, located at 47909 Twentynine Palms Highway, shortly after noon on Sunday (October 2). The report said that Angulo entered the gas station’s convenience store, purchased an unspecified amount of gasoline and a beer, and returned to his Jeep. The…

Suspect In Lucerne Valley Murder Arrested by SWAT Team

A suspect in a Lucerne Valley murder was arrested on Saturday (October 1) afternoon. On Friday (September 30), Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call from a residence in the 31800 block of Bumpkin road in Lucerne Valley, where they found an unidentified man who had been shot. Medical aid was called, and when they arrived, they declared the man dead. The Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division, Homicide Detail assumed the investigation, and identified a suspect in the murder, Alberto…

Burglars Take $6.5 Million in Guns and Goods from Joshua Tree Commercial Property

Thieves robbed a Joshua Tree commercial property of a reported $6.5 million in guns and goods last week. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a burglary at 62147 Desertair Road near downtown Joshua Tree Friday, September 23. Though the commercial property is not currently operating as a business, person who reported the burglary claimed that thieve broke into the building and stole items that were being stored there, estimating that the total cost of the stolen items…

Man Unintentionally Speeds Motorcycle Past Marine Base Checkpoint, Arrested for Suspicion of DUI

A Yucca Valley man was cited for trespassing and arrested for suspicion of Driving Under the Influence after speeding past the checkpoint at the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Base. Just before midnight on Thursday, September 22, staff at the Marine Corps Base report that Devon Ulibarri, a 37 year-old civilian from Yucca Valley, drove his Harley Davidson motorcycle past base checkpoints at the main entrance. They report that Ulibarri quickly turned his motorcycle around, at which point military…

Man Suspected of Assault with a Deadly Weapon While Chasing Down Car on Quad

After receiving reports Sunday morning (September 25) of an armed man on a quad runner chasing down a car, the County Sheriff’s Deputies have arrested a suspect: a convicted felon from Twentynine Palms. At around 8:45 a.m., a 36 year-old Joshua Tree man, driving near the intersection of Mojave Rd and White Sands Dr, dialed 911 from his cellular phone and reported that a man with a gun was chasing him on a quad. The Joshua Tree man told Sheriffs that the driver of the quad at one point tried to…

“Not Fade Away” free concert at Tortoise Rock Casino tonight

"Not Fade Away," Featuring Hits From Buddy Holly, Elvis, the Beatles, Plays at Tortoise Rock Casino Tonight The music continues this weekend with the free concert series at Tortoise Rock Casino in 29 Palms. Jef Harmatz joins us with information about tonight’s free concert featuring the "Not Fade Away." "Not Fade Away" is the featured act tonight, and if you don't know them, you'll know their music. They'll be playing amped up renditions of…

Passenger Commandeers Car During Traffic Stop in Twentynine Palms, Leading Sheriffs on 6 Mile Pursuit

During a traffic stop in Twentynine Palms, the passenger of a stopped vehicle grabbed the wheel and led authorities on a nearly seven mile pursuit. On Sunday (September 19), Sheriff's Deputies conducted a traffic stop on a 2003 Volkswagen for expired registration near the intersection of Amboy Road and Valley Mountain Road. The Deputy reports that, while speaking with drive outside of the vehicle, the passenger in the front seat, Jocelyn Ramirez, a 33 year-old resident of San Francisco,…

Threats of Gun Violence at Yucca Valley High School Prove Unfounded

Reports of a possible shooting at Yucca Valley High School have been determined by the Morongo Basin Sheriff's Station to be unfounded, and classes will continue today (September 22) as normal. Yesterday (September 21), Sheriff's Deputies received numerous calls reporting rumors that a school shooting at Yucca Valley High School was planned for today.Deputies investigated the source of the rumors, and determined that their origin was a conversation between a student and a member of…

Twentynine Palms Jr. High School on High Alert after Student Arrested on Suspicion of Making Criminal Threats

A threat of gun violence by a Twentynine Palms Junior High School student led to one arrest and school staff on high alert Tuesday (September 20) morning. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputies were alerted to a verbal threat of gun violence made by a student of the school on Monday night. They report that the threat was made by an unidentified 13 year-old male student of Twentynine Palms Junior High School, and investigators located the student at his home at around midnight. Deputies…

SAFE Veterans Act could get more retired military into commercial pilot jobs

The United States is facing a severe shortage of airline pilots, and Morongo Basin’s congressional representative is proposing legislation to get more veterans flying commercial planes. Congressman Jay Obernolte has introduced the Streamlining Aviation for Eligible Veterans Act into the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation, known as the SAFE Veterans Act, would enable veterans who qualify for vocational flight training through the Veteran Readiness and Employment Program (VR&E)…