Robert Haydon is the Online News Editor at Z107.7 He graduated from University of Oregon's School of Journalism, with a specialty in Electronic Media. Over the years, he has worked in television news, documentary film, and advertising and marketing.…

Friends of the Joshua Tree Library looking for board members and volunteers

Our local library branches support our community with free access to knowledge and social services - and one of the Morongo Basin’s smallest branches is looking for some support of their own in the new year. If you have a couple extra hours each month, consider volunteering at the Friends of the Joshua Tree. The non-profit organization is looking for board members and volunteers to help out in the new year. The Friends of the Joshua Tree Library say that there are some exciting changes coming to…

Looking back at what made news this year in the Morongo Basin

Listen here: We’re counting down to the final hours of 2023 -so we thought we’d take a look at some of the news stories reported this year by the talented and dedicated news team here at Z107.7. Last January still felt like it was going to be a calm winter, and news wise San Bernardino County’s illegal marijuana task force Operation Hammerstrike wrapped up, while Operation Dust Devil continued to monitor and enforce illegal off-road activity. Old Woman Spring’s Road made early 2023 news with…

High Desert or Hi Desert?

Z107.7 is broadcasting to you from Joshua Tree - located more or less right in the middle of the Morongo Basin, which itself is a roughly-defined valley stretching from Twentynine Palms and the Marine Corp Air Ground Combat center, westward through Yucca Valley and including the unincorporated areas of Wonder Valley, Pioneertown and Rimrock, Landers, Morongo Valley, Yucca Mesa, Desert Heights, Johnson Valley, Homestead Valley, Flamingo Heights and of course, Joshua Tree. Despite all these…

Offroading and bad parking a common problem in JTNP when park is at capacity

Joshua Tree National Park continues to be popular year-round, and the holidays won’t be any different. Locals staying in the desert have out of town visitors who use the opportunity to head into the park, and the days off from the holidays through New Years usually means an uptick in visitors to our area. The area we know as Joshua Tree National Park started as Joshua Tree National Monument, when the original desert defender and my personal hero Minerva Hoyt used her generational wealth,…

Visitors in from out of town? Take them to these free desert destinations.

If you have visitors in town and are looking for alternatives to visiting the National Park on the busiest days - there are some easy to access spots around the morongo basin that will scratch that desert itch without waiting in lines. The Nancy Karl trail in Joshua Tree and the multiple trailheads in Black Rock Campground in Yucca Valley are both immediately adjacent to the National Park, and both are less crowded despite being free and incredibly close to the busy Joshua Tree west entrance.…

Hi Desert Nature Museum starts 2024 with new exhibit

The Hi Desert Nature Museum will be starting out the new year with a new exhibit of old things - namely abandoned planes, trains and automobiles by Photographer Ken Lee. The museum says the photos will take you on a nocturnal journey through secret locations hidden in the deserts of the Golden State. The exhibit opens January 6th but there will be an opening reception on Friday, January 12th from 5 to 7pm, with a presentation and a book signing by the Photographer at 6PM. For more info - check…

Today is the first day of Winter, shortest day of the year

Today, December 21st marks the Winter Solstice - the first day of the winter and the shortest day of the year for daylight hours. The Sun was up this morning just before 7 and will settle back below the horizon around 4:47, giving us about 10 hours of daylight to get all those holiday plans done while the sun is up. Compared to last year, the weather, wind and cold feel mild - and the often-referred to bringer of rain EL NINO has yet to deliver for the hi desert. The winter solstice typically…

Planting desert natives in the winter lets them thrive in the spring and summer

Listen here: Native plants are having a comeback. It’s one of those "easy sell" ideas - it's a small investment with big payoffs. Landscaping your home with plants that have probably already lived there at some point is an easy way to create more shade, hold soil during the murder winds and just create natural beauty on your property. Most areas of the Morongo Basin are at an altitude that will support most plants, cactus and other native species you can find in Joshua Tree…

County providing assisted spay and neuter pet vouchers for unincorporated areas

The Pet over Population Coalition serves the citizens and animals of San Bernardino Counties through referrals to “affordable” spay/neuter resources to humanely and responsibly reduce pet overpopulation. If you have a pet that needs spayed or neutered and live in an unincorporated area of San Bernardino County - The County and POPCO are providing neuter vouchers to get them fixed – up to $150 for dogs or $75 for cats. You must live in an unincorporated area of the county to qualify. Call the Pet…

BLM to study the impacts of renewable energy on tribal ancestral lands

The Bureau of Land Management has announced that $2.5 million dollars will be invested in studying the impacts that renewable energy development has on tribal ancestral lands in Southern California The study by the BLM will identify resources of religious and cultural significance in order to avoid conflicts and better understand the impacts on tribal resources where renewable energy projects are being developed. This area is known as The California Desert Conservation Area - designated in…