A Joshua Tree man was arrested Wednesday, accused of having a stolen dirt bike in his truck. According to a Sheriff's report, a deputy pulled over Matthew Beckett, 26, near Little League Drive and Sage Avenue about 12:30 a.m. for not having a registration tag on his truck. Following an investigation, the deputy determined a blue dirt bike in the back of the truck was stolen. Matthew Beckett was arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property. He was booked into the Morongo Basin Jail…

A Joshua Tree man was sent to the hospital after he rolled his car yesterday. According to Fire Captain Mark Faulkner, about 6 p.m. an unidentified man in his early 30s was driving northbound on Outpost Road, south of the highway, when he said his brakes failed. The fast-moving car hit a bump in the dirt road and rolled over. Faulkner said the man, who was standing outside the car when paramedics arrived, complained of back and neck pain, and so he was taken to Hi-Desert Medical Center. The…

A man trying to cut up a water heater tank with an acetylene torch in Morongo Valley yesterday afternoon sparked a fire that brought out firefighters from four different fire agencies. Captain Chris Nichols of the Morongo Valley Fire Department said the fire in the 50600 block of 29 Palms Highway, near Big Morongo Canyon Road, was called in at 2:17 and Morongo Valley Fire was first on the scene at 2:23, followed shortly afterwards by CalFire, Yucca Valley, and Joshua Tree National Park…

The High Desert Storm Youth tackle football league officially begins on July 30. They are looking for boys and girls from the ages of 7 to 14 to participate in the 2012 season. Conditioning will take place at Knotts Sky Park from July 30 through August 3 from 5:30 to 7:30. Regular practice begins on August 6 and will be held at the same field and at the same time as conditioning. All children must have a physical before they are allowed on the field. Sign up at 4-Sports and More before July 30…

The Twentynine Palms Water District board meets tonight. Managing Editor Tami Roleff says how to divest of the fire department to the County dominates the Agenda... At tonight's meeting of the Twentynine Palms Water District, the Board of Directors is scheduled to authorize the General Manager to deposit and invest district funds, consider the election of a member to the California Specials Districts Association, approve the purchase of a backhoe and a Hydro-Pneumatic Tank, and approve…

The Bighorn Desert View Water Agency decided to put a tax lien on delinquent accounts last night. Assignment reporter Mike Lipsitz has details... Last night in Landers, the Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency Board of Directors passed a resolution which effectively clears the way to place county tax roll liens on properties associated with delinquent accounts from the last fiscal year. The delinquent accounts owe the Agency a total of nearly $37,000. Also last night, following some lengthy…

The Twentynine Palms Public Cemetery District Board meets tomorrow afternoon at 5:30 at their offices at 5350 Encelia Avenue in Twentynine Palms. Among items of interest, the board will announce a vacancy for the position of secretary. They'll take public comments and look at financial reports for June 2012 to be presented at the August 2012 regular meeting. The Cemetery Board will discuss preliminary audit reports and review and approve a conflict of interest code.

The Twentynine Palms Animal Shelter will host a cat adoption day this Saturday. Assignment reporter Corrisa Evans has your invitation... Would you like a new four-legged best friend? Come on down to the first ever Palms N Paws Cat Adoption Day this Saturday July 28. Cat adoption day is to help to save a pet's life and help to find others their forever home. All adoptions that day will include free benefits for the adopted pets. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the shelter…

The County Board of Supervisors approved a ballot measure yesterday for the November general election that, if approved, would keep their salaries and benefits in line with counties of similar size and population. That measure is in direct response to a competing ballot measure by the county's two largest labor unions to reduce supervisors' pay and benefits to $60,000. Now, the two ballot measures will face off in the November 6 general election. County Registrar Mike Scarpello said…

Copper Mountain College Board members will decide tomorrow whether to build a $12 million vocational facility. Reporter Mike Lipsitz has the story and offers a link... At Copper Mountain College, the Board of Trustees will hold a special open meeting at 2:00 tomorrow to consider the final project proposal for a $12 million vocational facility that would be constructed northeast of the Bell Center. Tomorrow's meeting will take place in the President's Office, Phase 1, Room 114. If…