There are free food distributions this week in the high desert - Tuesday 3PM to 5PM - Spirit and Truth Worship in Twentynine Palms - MAP Wednesday 9:30AM to 11:45AM - Lutheran Church of the Desert - MAP5:00PM to 6:30PM - Twentynine Palms Food Pantry - MAP Friday 11:30AM to 12:30PM - Church of the Nazarene - MAP Saturday 8:30AM - Church of the Nazarene Twentynine Palms - MAP

The Animal Action League is holding low cost pet clinics this month where you can get your furry friend spayed, neutered, chipped or vaccinated. The Spay and Neuter clinics are by appointment only, while vaccinations and microchip services are walk-in. This week they will be holding clinics on Monday the 8th, Wednesday the 10th, Thursday the 11th and Friday the 12th - all clinics run from 10AM to 2PM and will be held at the Animal Action League’s main office at 62762 Twentynine Palms Highway…

Monsoons bring a lot to our desert region - the normally dry arid climate can take on the sticky feeling of more humid areas. Hopefully - that more humid air brings monsoon rains that fill up the high desert’s water table for the coming year - something that’s important in a bad drought year, but especially necessary in an area such as ours that can measure yearly rainfall in the single digits. So why is damp air bad news for those of us who rely on swamp coolers to stay comfortable in the…

Roads in the Mojave National Preserve are closed due to heavy damage and washouts from monsoon rains earlier this week. Paved roads may still have heavy debris on them, with washed out shoulders and dips in the road that has gathered gravel and sand. Backcountry roads are in even worse shape - these roads usually recommend 4 wheel drive vehicles when they aren’t in washed out condition - and deep washouts and heavy debris has made many of these roads impassable. In addition to these road…

Roadwork continues on Highway 62 this weekend - but the good news is that the striping operations that have the road down to a single lane should be wrapping up by Sunday morning. The construction is taking place from Indian Canyon to Yucca Mesa Road from 7 AM to 7PM As of Sunday (July 31), crews are performing striping operations going both directions on Highway 62 from Indian Canyon to Yucca Mesa Road between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. If traveling through this area of Highway 62 today -…

Several small fires at the Sky Village Swap Meet have prompted a response from the Town of Yucca Valley and the San Bernardino Fire Protection District. The popular outdoor swap meet has been located at 7028 Theater Road for over 30 years, but Town Manager Curtis Yakimow says that these recent fires have prompted a need to conduct evaluations of the site to ensure compliance with Fire and State Building Codes. Sky Village swap meet is only open on Saturday and Sundays - however many vendors keep…

The Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce is holding a Midsummer Mixer today. Come out to meet your friends, neighbors, and local business owners in a fun and social environment. The mixer begins at 5 p.m. and runs until 7 p.m. at Yucca Valley Chrysler Dodge Jeep and Ram, located at 57909 29 Palms Highway in Yucca Valley.

Pre-registration is open early for next year’s Joshua Tree 55 Cycling Event. The 55 mile bike ride is a roundtrip between Knott’s Sky Park in Twentynine Palms and Key’s View in Joshua Tree National Park. The ride is scheduled for April 29th, 2023 - but the discounted $40 pre-registration fee is only through August 31st. Joshua Tree 44 on Facebook

Mail theft can be a problem in many rural areas - but there are a few easy ways to make sure the mail gets into your hands after its delivered to your mailbox. If you are planning on going out of town or can’t pick up your mail for a few days, the USPS has a free mail hold service that you can easily setup online - mail will be either be held at the post office to pick up at a later date, or you can choose to have it all delivered to your home once you return. The United States Postal Service…