Campfure permits are required to have one on BLM land. It’s free and super easy to obtain at the BLM’s website. You have to watch a video and take a short quiz, but its might be a good thing to do with kids before heading out and doing some camping.
You can also get one at any CAL FIRE, U.S. Forest Service, or BLM office.
A campfire permit is also required to operate a gas powered stove. If all this seems like a bit much to roast some marshmallows, according to the National Park Service a staggering 85% of wildfires are caused by careless human activity – like leaving a campfire smoldering.
The newly repaired bridge is known as Bridge 70, and it is about a mile east of Saltus Road, east of Amboy.
Originally built in 1930, it is a wooden trestle bridge used as part of National Trails Highway, which was once part of Route 66.
Damage to its its load-bearing wooden components was discovered during a routine inspection by California’s state roadway authority, CalTrans, and the bridge was closed immediately on February 15.
The wooden components were showing signs of major decay due to recent flooding and weather. San Bernardino County Public Works oversaw the repairs and reconstruction on the bridge, which took about a month and were completed last week.
Caltrans conducted a final inspection on the newly repaired Bridge 70 on March 21, and the bridge reopened to traffic the following morning.
National Trails Highway has now reopened, and Bridge 70 is as strong as it’s ever been in its nearly full century of carrying travelers in the desert.
Photo Credit: Amy Ledbetter, San Bernardino County
It’s the final few days to register for the 2024 Hwy 62 Open Studios Art Tours! This beloved annual event sees artists across the Morongo Basin open their studios to visitors for three weekends in October.
Any Morongo Basin-based artist is invited to apply, and many artists make beoucoup bucks selling their wares during this event that draws visitors from all over the country.
The registration deadline is Sunday, March 31. You can register as a participating artist at a link in this story on Z1077fm.com
And if you’re an art fan, save the dates October (5-6, 12-13, 19-20 for this year’s HWY 62 Open Studio Art Tours.
It may not look like it this weekend, but spring is here and that has me wanting to get out and hike as much as I can. One area that I have yet to explore is the Mecca Hills to our south. If you exit the National Park at the Cottonwood Exit you won’t be too far from them. They are also part of the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument – 660,000 acres of potentially protected California desert located south of I-10 and stretching from the Coachella Valley to near the Colorado River.
The CactusToCloud Institute is teaming up with some local organizations – including the Mojave Desert Land Trust – to hold a sunset hike in the nascent monument. Experienced guides will take you out to enjoy stunning views of the Mecca Hills as the sun sets and the stars come out. The hike is scheduled for April 19th at 6:30PM – you can sign up at this link. Be sure to read the event carefully – the location is wrong on EventBrite and is not taking place in Mecca, CA.
The suspect in a robbery and assault was arrested Wednesday morning.
On Tuesday (March 26), Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance and robbery that occurred in the 5000 block of Buena Suerte Road in Yucca Valley.
Deputies report the suspect, Nate Lewis, a 55 year-old resident of Yucca Valley, entered the victim’s home, made considerable threats with a firearm, and stole property from the house. The victim told deputies that Lewis was her ex-husband, and that they are currently living at separate residences.
Deputies say that they were unable to locate Lewis, but issued a warrant for his arrest. On Wednesday morning, detectives with the Morongo Basin Station located and arrested Lewis near Airway Ave and Twentynine Palms Highway. Detectives report recovering firearms, firearms, ammunition, and evidence related to the robbery at his home in the 7000 block of Cherokee Trail.
Nate Lewis was arrested on suspicion of robbery and assault with a firearm and booked into the Morongo Basin Jail on $50,000 bail.
The Morongo Unified School District Nutrition Services Department was honored last week with a Turnip the Beet Award from the Food and Nutrition Services of the US Dept of Agriculture.
The Turnip the Beet Award recognizes outstanding summer meal program sponsors across the nation who offer high quality meals to children that are appetizing, appealing and nutritious in the summer months, showcasing sponsors who are going above and beyond. MUSD Nutritional Services was one of four districts awarded in San Bernardino County. The MUSD won the Silver Award for their Summer Meal program.
“We are incredibly proud to receive the Turnip the Beet Award,” said Janet Barth, Director of Nutritional Services. “We believe that proper nutrition is essential for student success, and we are committed to continuing our efforts to promote health and wellness in our schools.”
Summer meals are critical in the lives of millions of our nation’s youth, whose risk for food insecurity increases during the summer months when they no longer have access to the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. Summer meal programs present the opportunity to help alleviate summertime food insecurity and positively impact children’s growth and development by offering nutritious meals and encouraging children to develop healthy habits while helping ensure children are healthy and ready to learn upon return to school in the fall.
Twentynine Palms Rotary Committee Chair John Cole presents honors to “Educator of the Month” Sophia Rodriguez as 29 Palms Junior High School Principal Derek Swem looks on
Counselor Sophia Rodriguez of Twentynine Palms Junior High School was recognized as “Educator of the Month” by the Rotary Club of Twentynine Palms. Rodriguez received the honor at the club’s meeting on Wednesday (March 27).
After a brief description of her excellent work and accomplishments working with students who come to her with educational and emotional challenges by school Principal Derek Swem, Rodriguez was presented with a certificate and a gift card for her efforts by Rotary Committee Chair John Cole.
The 29 Palms Rotary Club has recently revived their tradition of honoring local educators after a Covid-caused hiatus. The 29 Palms Rotary Club was established in 1948, making it the oldest service club in the Morongo Basin.
If you’ve got bulky items like furniture or appliances, or otherwise difficult to dispose of items like electronics or sensitive documents, bring them out to Luckie Park tomorrow for a community cleanup event.
Organized by the City of Twentynine Palms and Burrtec, everyone is invited to Luckie Park tomorrow morning (March 30) to drop off mattresses, appliances, trash, yard waste, electronics waste. They’ll even have a paper shredder on hand to properly dispose of your documents, with a limit on four boxes of documents.
They won’t be accepting tires, oil, paint, or any other Household Hazardous Waste.
The event is tomorrow from 7 a.m. to noon, behind Luckie Park Activity Center; LPAC is located at 74325 Joe Davis Dr in Twentynine Palms. The organizers ask that you enter from Wainwright Ave.
The Friends of the Yucca Valley Library are holding another big book sale this Saturday from 9 AM to 1PM at the Yucca Valley library branch.
This sale they will be featuring books and DVDs for kids – along with unique pop-up books, coffee table books, and gardening and plant guides. If you are feeling the itch to get out and explore, you can pick up a travel, desert hiking or climbing books – all available at the unbelievably low prices that help out the Yucca Valley library’s special programs and book purchases.
While you are there, check out the Friends of the Yucca Valley Library store tucked just inside the entrance where you can find books and dvds for sale every day the library is open. That’s a big book and dvd sale at the Yucca Valley Library this Saturday from 9 to 1, they are located just off highway 62 and Joshua Lane.
The Animal Action League is holding their world famous drive-through nail trim only clinic today (March 29) From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., you can have your pet’s nails trimmed for only $7 per pet, no appointment necessary.
The Animal Action League is located at 62762 Twentynine Palms Highway in Joshua Tree. Remember that this is a nail-trim only clinic, no vaccine or microchip services will be offered. The Animal Action League reserves the right to refuse service based on pets temperament, and as well as the temperament of their owners.
As part of its Public Arts Program, the Town of Yucca Valley is conducting a Call for Artists to create a new logo for the Summer Music Festival. The selected design will be featured on two 13-foot banners at the event and printed onto T-shirts advertising the six-week free concert series.
All entries must be original designs suitable for all ages. Artists from Yucca Valley and its neighboring communities are encouraged to apply; designs can be submitted by either individuals or groups in 7th grade and up. Designs should be visible from a distance and able to withstand outdoor weather elements.
The artist of the selected logo will receive a $500 stipend. Artists can apply in person at the Yucca Valley Community Center or online at yucca-valley.org/publicart.
Applications are due by April 8 and can be emailed to [email protected].
The Twentynine Palms high school track and field team traveled to Desert Mirage High School and dominated the Rams. The varsity boys score was 73-17 and the girls won by 78-11.
Senior team captain, Elisabeth Marshall scored 10 points, earning 2 first place victories. She ran the 1600m in 6:43.75 and earned a PR in the 800m with a time of 2:48.64.
Caden Barry earned 3 PRs the most for the day: 5:30.99 (1600m), 2:25.71 (800m), and 25.12 (200m).
Ayden O’Gilvie was a triple victor scoring 16 points for the Wildcats. He ran a personal record 17.65 in the 110m high hurdles, 11.50 in the 100m, 47.53 in the 300 hurdles, and 24.81 in the 200m earning third place.
The Wildcats will travel to Hemet High School to compete in the Southland Invitational on Saturday (3/30).
The Twentynine Palms High School Boys Varsity Wildcats Tennis Team hosted the Lions of Cathedral City yesterday (March 28) The Wildcats lost a tough one 8 to 10.
In singles action , Jeremy Burks won two sets. Adonai Patu won two sets. In doubles action, the team of William Herrera/Daniel Salazar won two sets and Ryan Hoang/Michael Acosta won two sets.
The Wildcats host Desert Mirage on April 16th and Yucca Valley on April 18th . Go Wildcats!
A landlord in Landers was arrested on suspicion of burglary after attempting to enter a tenant’s residence.
On Monday (March 25) just before 3 p.m., a person living in the 5500 block of Tracy Blvd in Lander reported to County Sheriff’s deputies that his landlord had been attempting to enter the residence illegally. The victim reported that the landlord, identified as Jonathan Deyden, had been released from prison a few months ago and had made several attempts to break into the residence, most recently by cutting locks with garden shears.
The victim photographed Deyden on the property.
Deputies report that Deyden may have been intoxicated and claimed that he had the right to enter the property at will.
Jonathan Deyden was arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary and booked into the West Valley Detention Center on $30,000 bail.
The Morongo Valley Community Services District Board of Directors held a special meeting last night in Covington Park’s Mesquite Room.
Since the district’s stretched thin budget has initiated a spending freeze, the Board called this special meeting to set a compromised schedule for Fire Chief James Brakebill. Brakebill has already taken a 50% salary cut since the Board took action to split the Fire Chief and General Manager duties earlier this year to ease the district’s budget and to keep the firefighters on staff. Brakebill told Z1077, “It’s not about the money, it’s about keeping the community and tourists safe and to protect life and property.”
The Board voted 3/2 in favor of the tough decision motioned by President Gorke: for the next 14 weeks, Chief Brakebill’s schedule will be reduced to part-time, from 9am-2pm Monday through Thursday, with flexibility to accommodate meetings or emergencies. Brakebill mentioned he’d have to notify the state that Morongo Valley won’t have a full-time fire chief for the duration.
To further remedy the future of the district’s budget, the Board voted to hold a budget workshop on April 21st at 8 am.
Art can heal, and a new project called “Healing Art Galleries” is coming to the Hi-Desert Medical Center.
Curated in cooperation with the 29 Palms Art Gallery, several gallery spaces have been set up within the hospital with the mission of adding a sense of comfort and calm in what is normally an environment of uncertainty.
Artwork from local artists has been curated by Jennifer Ruggerio and includes work from Sherri Scott, Philippe Jestin, Timothy Warren, Ellen Saunders and Ruggerio herself. The show will remain up through June, and a new show will debut in July.
Six works of preparation went into this gallery project, and it will debut Monday (April 1) at 5PM at the Hi-Desert Medical Center.
The opening is open to the public and will feature a tour of the galleries and Hors d’oeuvre. Attendees are asked to enter through the main lobby on the north side of the Hi Desert Medical Center, located at 6601 White Feather Road in Joshua Tree.
Join City Recreation Division Manager Kary Minatrea and Special Events Coordinator Scott Clinkscales on this week’s “Up Close” show with Gary Daigneault this Friday.
Kary and Scott will take a look at events coming up and plans for sports, entertainment, competitions and more.
What’s going on and coming up in Twentynine Palms… live on the air this Friday (3-29) from 10 – 11 AM on the Z107.7 “Up Close” show.
The Cholla Gardens in Joshua Tree National Park / Photo: Robert Haydon
Listen here:
Spring has sprung and it’s already busier in the basin. And as the days continue to creep toward those perfect temperatures, you are going to hear more and more about wildflowers and where to go to catch an eyeful of the abundant colors that have been popping out of the ground all month.
And while locals and park officials may be reticent to use the possibly-cursed term “superbloom” – the promise of peeping those little pops of color will certainly draw people from all over to the hi-desert and of course, the National Park.
Joshua Tree National Park Interpretive Ranger Donovan Smith was talking wildflowers, spring weather and park visitation when he called into the Up Close Show last Friday. He had some good tips for visitors who may not be familiar with some of the hi-desert’s most ubiquitous residents – namely the cholla cactus.
The park has dozens of cacti unique to the Mojave – but the “jumping” cholla has earned a nickname due to its uncanny ability to seem to leap onto your arms, legs and anything else that they can get their spiny little hooks into. Here’s Ranger Donovan Smith:
A tiny but mighty cholla / Photo: Robert Haydon
“Those spines are barbed so they can go in really easy like a fish hook but they hurt like heck to get them out”
Cholla don’t get too tall and while they aren’t blooming in the early spring months, they eventually sprout amazing pink, orange and chartreuse flowers once the temperatures rise. But these little unassuming cacti area easy to brush up on while hiking around the park or looking for that perfect Instagram:
Ranger Smith: “They don’t pose a threat at all as long as you keep your distance and stay on trail.”
Pay particular attention when you are trying to get that group photo and keep inching backward to fit everyone into the frame… you may find yourself backing into a big ball of needles that isn’t much fun to get out of. But if you are a visitor to the desert, eventually a cute little cacti is gonna get its barbs in you. Before you head out in search of those spring annuals, Ranger Donovan Smith says to bring a few simple things:
Ranger Donovan Smith: “Often things like combs or tweezers can be helpful. Those cholla… when they go in there you just need to quickly pop them out, and sometimes you can use a ‘tooth comb’ to sort of ‘fling’ them out, or tweezers are good to carry around as well.”
Carrying one of these in your back pocket can help remove “jumping cholla,” and will make you look cool if you use it in front of a roadrunner
You can listen to the full interview with Ranger Smith along with a conversation with National Park Superintendent Jane Rodgers on “The Up Close Show” podcast – or stay tuned to your Z107.7 local news for more tips and tidbits about spring in the park.
The Twentynine Palms High School Boys Varsity Wildcats Tennis Team hosted the Broncos of Banning High School for a double header yesterday (March 29).
In the first match, the Wildcats won 11 to 0. In singles action, Jeremy Burks won two sets. Adonai Patu won two sets and Eddie Riddlesperger won one set.
In doubles action, the teams of Brayden Chambers/Luke Bowers, William Herrera/Daniel Salazar and Ryan Hoang/Michael Acosta all won two sets.
In the second match, the Wildcats won 17 to 1. In singles action, Jeremy Burks won two sets. Adonai Patu swept all three of his sets. Eddie Riddlesperger won two sets. Moses Williams won one set. In doubles action, Brayden Chambers/Luke Bowers swept all three of their sets.
William Herrera/Daniel Salazar won both of their sets and Michael Acosta/Ryan Hoang won both of their sets. The teams of Deyon Matthews/Reggie Jack and Michael Acosta/Colin Mcgrorty Weir both won one set.
The Wildcats host Cathedral City today (March 28) .
After being cited for indecent exposure near a Yucca Valley grocery store, an Oklahoma man was arrested on suspicion of failing to register as a sex offender.
At around 1:30 a.m. Monday morning (March 25), the Sheriff’s Morongo Basin Station received several reports that a man was exposing himself near the Stater Brothers at 58000 Twentynine Palms Highway. The man, identified by the Sheriff’s Department as Jerry Green, a 51 year-old from Oklahoma, was placed under citizen’s arrest by one witness, though the citizen’s arrest was not made in the presence of a deputy.
At 7:44 a.m., deputies received a call about a man throwing unidentified objects at a grocery store customer. The suspect in this incident was again identified as Jerry Green. Deputies say they contacted Green at the scene, and found that he had failed to register as a sex offender.
Jerry Green was arrested on suspicion of failing to register as a sex offender.
