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Landers Open Air Market this Sunday at Moose Lodge

It’s a beautiful weekend to get out  and do some shopping! Park your saucer at the Moose Lodge in Landers Sunday Morning starting at 9AM for the returning Open Air Market – out of this world handcrafted and homemade goods, plants and cacti, and yardsale items will be for sale by landers locals. Want to set something up yourself? Everyone is welcome to sell – setup begins at 7:30AM and the market starts up at 9.

It’s in the upper parking lot at Moose Lodge at 58266 Reche Road – you can contact Randy to RSVP or if you have any questions, we have his number and a flyer on our website.

Man arrested for suspected assault with brass knuckles on teenager

A man arrested on suspicion of hitting a teenager with brass knuckles had a panic attack after he was arrested and was taken to the hospital.

Just before 2 a.m. early Wednesday morning, the Sheriff’s Department received a call from a victim who said he had been hit by a man with brass knuckles. The victim told Sheriff’s dispatch that he was being chased by the alleged attacker, and that he may have twisted his ankle while running. The victim stayed on the phone while running from the attacker, moving from Starbucks to the Basin Transit Center on Adobe Road and Cactus Drive.

Responding deputies and medics from the fire station found the victim lying on the ground, where he identified his attacker before he was transported him to Hi Desert Medical Center.

Deputies made contact with a suspect, Sean Dixon, at the El Rancho Delores Motel on Twentynine Palms Highway. Deputies say that Dixon was uncooperative and struggled before he was detained, at which point they found him in possession of brass knuckles, which are illegal in California, and two fixed blade knives.

According to deputies, after being read his Miranda rights, Dixon suffered from a panic attack, and was transported to Hi Desert Medical Center before he could be booked at the Morongo Basin Jail. 

Flamingo Heights meeting this Saturday (5/4) over possible 4.5 acre development

Following nearly a year-long hiatus, the Flamingo Heights Community Association will open its doors to host a forum for a local landowner with a desire to build and folks interested in development along Old Woman Springs Road/State Route 247.

Saturday’s (May 4, 2024) 3 p.m. meeting at the Flamingo Heights Community Association is being organized at the request of the owners of a nearly 4.5 acre parcel on State Route 247 at Perris Street, adjacent to the popular La Copine restaurant.

Operating under the name Flamingo Blossom LLC, the landowners are part-time residents of Flamingo Heights according to Jason Hansen, acting director of the Community Association there. Hansen said the property owners are in an exploratory phase and haven’t even applied for any permits.

The property is located on a stretch of highway zoned as a special commercial district, development there would not interfere with State Route 247’s potential designation as a scenic highway. The Flamingo Heights Community Association is at 55977 Perris Street, one block west of the property in question.

And in a related matter, Saturday’s regular meeting of the Landers Homestead Valley Association is being rescheduled to avoid overlap with the Flamingo Heights meeting.

MBCA award three local conservation-conscious high schoolers with scholarships

Three local graduating high school seniors have shown a commitment to being conservation-conscious and will be getting some help from a local non-profit on their higher education costs.

For over 50 years the Morongo Basin Conservation Association has been an active force in desert conservancy, keeping an eye out for changes or developments that threaten the natural elements of the hi-desert – which over time can be taken for granted.

Part of the MBCA’s mission is to help educate the next generation of conservation-minded youth – students like Javier “Sonny” Duran of Black Rock High School, who intends to study ecology and environmental studies at Copper Mountain College. He was the recipient of the MBCA’s Conservation Scholarship.

Cassidy Albrinck of Yucca Valley High is receiving the Women’s STEAM Scholarship. She’s studying at UCLA toward a career in astrophysics. The Women’s STEAM scholarship is provided anonymously by two generations of women who held careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts or Math.

And donations in memory of renowned local artist, conservationist, and longtime MBCA member Steve Rieman made it possible to award the Steve Rieman Scholarship to Caden Beasley of Yucca Valley High. He’ll be studying civil engineering at Grand Canyon University – a job which requires a commitment to environmentally-conscious creativity.

Each student is receiving $1,000 to go toward their higher education expenses in the 2024-25 academic year. 

The MBCA and Z107.7 offer a hearty congratulations to the scholarship recipients!

Yucca Valley Soroptimist fundraiser and live auction this Saturday (5/4)

The Soroptimist Club of Yucca Valley is holding a fundraising dinner and live auction tomorrow night (May 4). The event will be held at the Yucca Valley Community Center and feature catering from Las Palmas Mexican Cuisine, live music from the Hot Rod Devilles, and a live auction. 

The Soroptomists provide women and girls with access to the resources they need to achieve economic empowerment. 

Tickets are $50 for a single person, $80 for couples.

For more information, please visit this Facebook post.

Wild West Pioneer Celebration at Hi-Desert Nature Museum Saturday (5/4)

Dust off your cowboy boots and saddle up to the Hi-Desert Nature Museum for a rip-roaring good time at our Wild West Pioneer Celebration! This free community event is taking place on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and offers free activities for folks of all ages.

Witness history come alive as you watch demonstrations by skilled artisans and prospectors that will leave you tipping your hat at the ingenuity and resilience of those early homesteaders.

Explore interactive games and hands-on crafts designed to entertain, educate, and immerse visitors of all ages in the adventurous spirit of the wild frontier.

The first 100 children will get the opportunity to pan for gold at no charge. The First-Class Miners will be on site with their traveling mining museum and gold panning, so be sure to stop by – and the museum will be open so come in to see even more exciting history – natural and otherwise.

That’s at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum from 10 to 2PM –  right off Hwy. 62 and Dumosa in Yucca Valley.

More info: Hi-Desert Nature Museum
Hi-Desert Nature Museum on Instagram

Selena tribute at Tortoise Rock Casino tonight (5/3)

If you’re dreaming of Selena, head on down to Tortoise Rock Casino, where you could fall in love with Amore Prohibido, a tribute to Selena., Come and get it tonight as the band takes the stage as part of the casino’s free concert series Live at the Rock.

Come out to the casino’s outdoor stage for the free show beginning at 8 p.m. There will be drinks, barbecue, games, and bidi bidi bom bom.

Free community clean up in Yucca Valley Saturday morning (5/4)

It is spring cleaning season. 

If you have items you need to purge from your life, there is a large item clean up event in Yucca Valley tomorrow morning. The town is hosting a residential community clean up event and they’re accepting big items only. That means appliances including washers and dryers, refrigerators, stoves, water heaters, and dishwashers, furniture, including couches, tables, chairs and mattresses, electronic waste, up to four tires, and green waste.

They won’t be accepting more common stuff like trash, nor will they take construction waste or hazardous waste.

The event runs 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Yucca Valley Transfer Station, located at 58925 Sunnyslope Drive, off of La Contenta Rd. in Yucca Valley.

Yucca Valley considers future projects: walking paths and more shady space

The Town of Yucca Valley has a few big projects on the horizon, including the Community Center Athletic Facility, the Aquatics and Recreation Center, and the Old Town Beautification and Sustainability Project. On last week’s Up Close Show, Clayton Rardon looked further into the future and highlighted another town project that residents will hopefully see developed down the line.

“During COVID, we were pretty busy trying to get some grant money to add walking paths. Other than a natatorium and gymnasium complex, I think paved walking paths for seniors, for strollers, for just the community in the park spaces with benches, shade, and possibly even exercise has been a high priority. We were pursuing some different funding for stuff like that, and really just trying to identify funding and projects for unmet needs in the community.

Sidewalk construction has been a topic of ongoing conversation and gradual development within the Town of Yucca Valley.

You can listen to Gary’s full conversation with Clayton Rardon and Jakub Kusmieruk by downloading the Up Close Show as a podcast.

First Saturday Community Breakfast at Copper Mountain Mesa Community Center on 5/4

If it’s the first Saturday of the month, then it’s time for another Community Breakfast at the Copper Mountain Mesa Community Center.

The all-volunteer staff invites you to enjoy all your breakfast favorites and locally roasted coffee from Desert Rat Roasters tomorrow morning (May 4)) from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Community Center, located 65336 Winters Rd. in North Joshua Tree.

Get involved with pickleball in Yucca Valley

Spring is here, and one sport in particular seems to be getting an ever-growing number of people moving outside. On last week’s Up Close Show, Kubba Kusmieruk answered the question on the minds of many: what exactly is pickleball?

“Pickleball is a great racquet sport. According to the internet, it is the fastest-growing sport in America; there are over 13 million current and active players. It’s a very fun sport, a very active sport, a very community-oriented sport, and it is taking the whole Coachella Valley and Hi-Desert by storm.”

Yucca Valley currently has two facilities for pickleball; four tennis courts at Jacob’s Park were converted to pickleball courts, in addition to one additional court at Paradise Park. The town is looking to expand resources for the sport; Phase 1 of the Community Center Athletic Facility project includes 14 new pickleball courts, making the Community Center the central place to play once construction is completed next spring. However, if you want to get involved with the sport, you do not need to wait until then to do so. 

“There’s information online, and we also have a pickleball clinic that is run by one of our instructors, Clint Stoker. He is a pickleball ambassador in our region, and he’s very knowledgeable. We have a clinic every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Jacob’s Park. We supply paddles and balls; just make sure you bring water and comfortable shoes, and we can have a lot of fun.”

You can listen to Gary’s full conversation with Clayton Rardon and Jakub Kusmieruk by downloading the Up Close Show as a podcast.

Suspected DUI driver hits parked cars on Sage and 62 in Yucca Valley

A suspected DUI driver collided with two parked cars in Yucca Valley late Friday night (April 26).

At around 10:45 p.m. on Friday, County Sheriff’s Deputies from the Morongo Basin Station say that a white Ford driving east on Twentynine Palms Highway veered off of the road, colliding with two parked cars near Sage Ave. Deputies report finding debris on the road.

Deputies identified as Joel Greenstein, a 44 year-old resident of Hollywood, California, and say he continued driving, heading north on Old Woman Springs Road.

Greenstein was stopped by deputies near Aberdeen Road, where he was taken into custody, and transported to the Morongo Basin Jail where his blood was tested.

Joel Greenstein was arrested of suspicion of driving under the influence, and booked into the Morongo Basin Jail. He has since been released.

MVCSD accepts Fire Chief James Brakebill’s retirement notice at last night’s special meeting

Last night, the Morongo Valley Community Services District Board of Directors held a special meeting in Covington Park’s multipurpose room, where they accepted Morongo Valley Fire Chief James Brakebill’s notice of retirement.

Citing his 69-years of age and looming health issues, Brakebill said retirement was a hard decision and that leaving the position felt like “leaving a family.”

Finance Director Johnny Tolbert made a motion for the Board to accept Brakebill’s retirement letter with the caveat they have a retirement ID and badge made as well as a proclamation or resolution in Brakebill’s name. The motion passed 5/0 as each Board member gave thanks to Brakebill.

“It’s been wonderful. It’s just a nice capstone to my career. I couldn’t have picked a better department to retire from. And I mean that sincerely,” he said.

Continuing his upstanding integrity for the district’s future even in the wake of announcing his retirement, Brakebill added, “If you ever need my skill set on a temporary basis, if you’re ever in a bind, I’ll come back as a volunteer.”Brakebill’s retirement will be effective May 12th, 2024. Until the department is given a replacement, MVCSD’s organizational chart puts General Manager Brittany Chavez in charge of overseeing the Fire Department.

BoxoPROJECTS workshops and performances focus of tomorrow’s “Up Close Show”

This week’s Z107.7 “Up Close” show with Gary Daigneault will examine a one-of-a-kind Immersive experience in the Black Rock area of Joshua Tree National Park facilitated by BoxoPROJECTS.

Conni McKenzie, a multidisciplinary artist, will join BoxoPROJECTS Director Bernard Leibov to talk about a project called Borrowed which involves researching local environmental issues and motivating people to take action. The events will take place May 3rd through 12.

Listen this Friday (5/3) to get the details on how you can take part in the workshops and performances.   

Yucca Valley releases concert series lineup

On last Friday’s (April 26) Up Close Show, host Gary Daigneault sat down to discuss culture in Yucca Valley with Clayton Rardon and Jakub Kusmieruk of the town’s Recreation Department.

For Morongo Basin residents looking for things to do in the off-season, Yucca Valley’s Summer Concert Series is the perfect way to enjoy those beautiful summer evenings outdoors. Held on Saturday evenings, the series is a free, all-ages event that features musicians across various musical genres. Clayton Rardon of the Yucca Valley Recreation Department announced the lineup live on Z107.7, starting with the Dreamboats on July 4.

“After the Fourth of July at Brehm Park we move back to the Community Center and we will have our first concert there with the Smith Country Band on July 13. Then we will have a Guns n Roses tribute band, Appetite for Destruction, on July 20, followed up with the Smoking Cobras on July 27. We have artist Reid Perry on August 2, formerly of the Band Perry. We will wrap up the summer with Cassie B on August 10.

The Summer Concert Series will begin on the Fourth of July at Brehm Park, to run through August 10.You can listen to Gary’s full conversation with Clayton Rardon and Jakub Kusmieruk by downloading the Up Close Show as a podcast.

Yucca Valley man arrested for suspected stalking

A man was arrested in Yucca Valley this weekend for investigation into stalking, and he is facing additional charges related to violating a court order related to domestic violence and resisting law enforcement officers. 

According to county records, on Saturday afternoon (April 27) Gerardo Silva, 34 was contacted by deputies in the 8000 block of Balsa Ave. At around 7 p.m. he was arrested for investigation into stalking. Since his arrest he is facing additional charges related to the arrest, including two felony charges of resisting arrest, and misdemeanor charges related to firearm activity and violating court orders related to domestic assault. 

UPDATED, 12:30 p.m.: The Sheriff’s Department provided additional information about this arrest, saying it was unrelated to road closures and helicopter activity in the area that afternoon.

Morongo Valley residents to form a ‘special roads district’ between North Star and Navajo Trl.

Last night over thirty Morongo Valley residents and representatives from San Bernardino County Public Works gathered in Covington Park’s Mesquite Room to discuss the formation of a special roads district to annually maintain their dirt roads.

Organized by Morongo resident Grace Hamilton, who has built the fact -based website crappyroads92256.com dedicated to the proposed project, the meeting was led by San Bernardino County Public Works Division Manager Henry Mac and Assistant Director David Doublet. The proposed special roads district would include parcels between North Star and Navajo Trail, but Mac and Doublet assured attendees nothing would move forward until more information was given to residents, in which the next step would be to raise the initial refundable $2500 and eventually go to a ballot pass/fail vote, a process that could take up to a year.

Both representatives were thorough and transparent with all information and took the time to answer every resident’s concern for the robust and engaging hour-long meeting. When one attendee asked for a ballpark estimate on what this annual maintenance would cost each parcel, Doublet said the cost is low at “$90-$125 a parcel and whatever funds don’t get used get put into a reserve for future maintenance.

Two attendees inquired about a road like Navajo Trail and Rawson, both of which are “paved” but are riddled in undrivable potholes and erosion. Doublet assured those roads would not be repaved, citing it as cost prohibitive to residents, while some residents want paved roads, others do not. Doublet said these roads would have to be assessed for the most cost effective and practical route, whether it be pulverizing the existing asphalt to grade, or to remove the asphalt to return it back to dirt to grade.        

Organizers of the meeting handed out initial survey packets and encouraged attendees to reach out to their neighbors in the proposed district. In the meantime, residents can consult crappyroads92256.com.

Morongo Valley Fire Chief James Brakebill announces retirement, Board to accept at tonight’s special meeting

The Morongo Valley Community Services District Board of Directors are holding a special meeting tonight at 5:30 in Covington Park’s multipurpose room where they’ll accept the retirement of Fire Chief James Brakebill among other items.

In an official letter dated April 29th, Brakebill notified the Board of Directors of his retirement, effective May 12th, 2024. He said, “After careful consideration and many memorable years in the fire service, I have decided that it is time to close this chapter of my life.”

Brakebill extended his deepest gratitude to the fire staff for their unwavering support and dedication to the community and thanked the Board of Directors for their leadership and support. He said Morongo Valley will forever hold a special place in his heart, and that he’s “truly blessed to have been part of this community and to have contributed to its success.”

After reviewing, discussing, and accepting Brakebill’s retirement, the Board will restructure the organization chart. Other items on the agenda include the 2024-25 preliminary budget, the NFPA membership reimbursement, and revisiting two unauthorized invoices obtained after instating the district’s spending freeze.

May 1st Water Round-up for JBWD and HDWD meetings

Joshua Basin Water District directors will discuss director compensation and hold a workshop on the revised operating budget. Today’s meeting is at the district office on Chollita Road in Joshua Tree where the public is welcome to attend.

At the Hi-Desert Water District directors will hear a presentation on local guidelines for implementing the California Environmental Quality Act. Today’s meeting takes place at the district office on the highway at Inca Trail.

See the agendas:
Joshua Basin Water District (PDF link)
Hi-Desert Water District

CMC Hiring Fair for jobseekers and employers on May 9th

Lead: Looking for a job, or are you a local business looking for skilled candidates? Copper Mountain College is holding a hiring fair on May 9th.

On Thursday May 9th from 12PM to 3PM – the Copper Mountain College Career Services department is having a Hiring Fair at the Bell Center on campus. The event is open to everyone in the community even if you aren’t a student or alumni of the community college, and it will be gathering  businesses from around the basin to chat with folks and get resumes from the pool of talented jobseekers we have here in the hi desert.

If you want to attend the job fair, the CMC career center says bring a stack of resumes and dress to impress. And if you are a local business looking for talented folks looking to level-up their career, CMC wants your business represented.

Sign up as a jobseeker or employer here: