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,…

Trammell Evans, hiker missing since April, found dead in National Park

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
February 4, 2024
Trammell Evans search continues, family updates and gear list

The remains of missing hiker Trammell Evans were found in Joshua Tree National Park last week. Z107.7 has been closely covering this story since Evans went missing in May of 2023. Though Evans ultimately met a tragic end, the Morongo Basin community banded together in the search for Trammell, known to his friends and family as "Tram". An avid long-distance hiker, the 26 year-old Evans was last seen setting off for a long journey through Joshua Tree National Park near Black Rock…

Fire Chief Dan Munsey talks YV fire station

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
February 2, 2024

On last week’s Z107.7 Up Close Show, host Gary Daigneault spoke with County Fire Chief Dan Munsey and County Board of Supervisors Chairman Dawn Rowe. Chief Munsey discussed the future of the Yucca Valley Fire Station. A new location was considered for the station, but Chief Munsey said “You look around Yucca Valley and see all this vacant land, and you’d think it would be easy to find a place to build a fire station. We use very sophisticated modeling to predict where the calls will be, and we…

Desert Heights fire station is being rehabbed for staffing

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
January 31, 2024

On last week’s Z107.7 Up Close Show, host Gary Daigneault spoke with County Fire Chief Dan Munsey and County Board of Supervisors Chairman Dawn Rowe. Chief Munsey discussed the future of the Desert Heights fire station, the currently inactive Fire Station #43 on Lear Ave in Twentynine Palms. Currently a training facility leased to Copper Mountain College, Munsey said that the station is being prepared to a return to service. Munsey said "Over the past year, the Fire District has invested in…

Come sing at the 29 Palms Community Choral

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
January 27, 2024

As part of the Workshop29's series, artist and composer Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs is inviting anyone and everyone to come out and sing. All voices are welcome, and there are no auditions or musical experience required. This is the first of two "rehearsal events," with a roving performance planned to sing throughout the Twentynine Palms Farmers Market on Saturday, February 17. No commitment is required to the choir. you can come to one or both rehearsals, and there's no…

Yucca Valley Art Walk this Saturday

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
January 20, 2024
The Twentynine Palms Art Gallery announces their Holiday Market Nov. 26

The Yucca Valley Art Walk kicks off every third Saturday of the month, and that third Saturday happens to be today (January 20). There are 10 places showing off artwork today, with many galleries debuting new shows and holding receptions with the featured artists. The Joshua Tree National Park Association debuts a new show "History of Joshua Tree National Park: A Legacy of Conservation and Preservation," featuring a number of local and California artists. There will be a reception for…

MVCSD splitting up Brakebill’s General Manager and Fire Chief positions

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
January 16, 2024
Morongo Valley CSD Board Director declares resignation, once conditions are met

The Morongo Valley Community Services District will split up the joint position of General Manager and Fire Chief of the Morongo Valley Department, currently held by Chief James Brakebill. As part of the public agenda for the upcoming meeting released on Sunday (January 14), the CSD is expected to split the position, offering Brakebill the opportunity to continue as Fire Chief, and promoting the CSD’s Administrative Coordinator Brittany Chavez to the General Manager position. The joint status of…

Second Saturday Art Crawl tonight in Joshua Tree

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
January 13, 2024
The Twentynine Palms Art Gallery announces their Holiday Market Nov. 26

The second Saturday art crawl is happening this evening (January 13), and though it's a smaller than usual event, it's going to be a great one. Opening tonight at Hey There Projects is a new show featuring work from two artists. The two dimensional paper artwork and paintings from Maya Ruiz, which showcase mythological and classical imagery, will be paired with geometric ceramic work from Brian Bosworth. The show is called "Flip Flop," and an opening reception will be held at…

Unlicensed Yucca Valley food truck sets up on church land, gets attention of Planning Commission

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
January 11, 2024
Town of Yucca Valley Holiday hours and closures

The Yucca Valley Planning Commission had a conversation about food vendors at their meeting on Tuesday night (January 9), citing what they felt was a bold move by one vendor to set up shop in a residential neighborhood. Unpermitted food trucks, pop-ups and vendors have been a hot topic over the last month. No roadside or parking lot food or merchandise vending is currently allowed within town limits, with an exception for permits for special events. Vendors and the property owners that host them…

Yucca Valley Planning Commission keeps 10% STR cap, discusses longer term permits

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
January 10, 2024
Twentynine Palms City Council takes on 2024 business tonight

At last night's meeting of the Yucca Valley Planning Commission, Town Staff provided an update to the commission on short term vacation rentals and offered a look at the Town's major development projects for the year ahead. As part of the Town's annual review of the short term vacation rental permit, which caps vacation rentals at 10% of the Town's housing supply, town staff provide current data on STVRs in Yucca Valley. The cap was passed again for 2024, and a report…

SB County Assessor Mobile Unit offering easier access to records for residents

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
January 10, 2024
Number of unhoused in Morongo Basin rises; County reserves $72 million to fight it

Getting records in the hi desert will be easier in 2024, beginning today (January 10). San Bernardino County is bringing their mobile Assessor-Recorder office to Joshua Tree today. Called the ARC Mobile Unit, the program will be offering birth, death, and marriage certificates, marriage licenses and ceremonies, notary public filings and more. The ARC Mobile Unit will be providing service outside of the Bob Burke Government Center in Joshua Tree on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month…

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.