“DESERT STORM” SHOW CONTINUES AT TWENTYNINE PALMS VISITOR CENTER
The Twentynine Palms Visitors Center Art Gallery is featuring our desert in its extremes. Reporter Mike Lipsitz urges you do see the “Desert Storms” display…
“Desert Storms” features 15 desert artists at the Twentynine Palms Visitor Center and Chamber of Commerce. The exhibit runs through February 29; the Visitor Center is open every day. Featured in the show are more than two dozen paintings representing various moods of desert storms in oil, acrylic, watercolor and mixed media. Photography of desert storms, from a blinding sandstorm to dramatic night time lightning, is also featured in the show. The Twentynine Palms Visitor Center and Gallery and Chamber office is at 73484 Highway 62. For more information, call 760-367-6197 or visit www.visit29.org.

MORE INFORMATION ON THURSDAY CHAIN-REACTION CRASH
We have updated information about the chain-reaction crash Thursday afternoon that blocked lanes of Highway 62 for more than an hour. According to the California Highway Patrol, George Stewart, 66, of Joshua Tree, was riding his 2009 Yamaha motorcycle westbound on the highway near White Feather Road, when he collided into the rear of another vehicle, believed to be a big rig trailer. The collision caused the motorcycle to fall over and Stewart was thrown onto his left side. Timothy Scott, 45, of Glendora, was driving his white Ford pick-up behind Stewart and braked sharply to avoid hitting him. Scott was then rear-ended by Casondra Dreger, 19, of Joshua Tree, who was driving a blue Chevy truck. Stewart was taken to Desert Hospital in Palm Springs with moderate injuries. Scott was taken to Hi-Desert Medical Center with complaints of pain. Dreger received minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

YUCCA VALLEY MAN HELD FOR FELONY CHILD CRUELTY
A Yucca Valley man is behind bars after a neighbor heard him beating a child. About 11:45 Friday morning, a neighbor called the Sheriff’s department to report that Travis Dyott, 32, of the 58600 block of Barron Drive, was beating a child. According to the Sheriff’s report, the neighbor stated the child is beat all the time but this time it sounded really bad. The deputy’s report states that Dyott hit and choked the child, causing redness to the face and a scratch on the neck. Travis Dyott was arrested for investigation of felony child cruelty causing possible injury or death. Travis Dyott was booked at the Morongo Basin Jail with his bail set at $100,000.

JOSHUA TREE AND LANDERS WOMEN ARRESTED FOR PUNCHING THEIR PARTNERS
A Joshua Tree woman is behind bar for punching her husband. According to the Sheriff’s department, about 11 p.m. Thursday night, Deanna Bazzle, 41, was fighting with her husband in the 7000 block of Sage Avenue in Yucca Valley when she punched him in the mouth, causing a small cut. Deanna Bazzle was arrested for investigation of felony spouse abuse and booked into the West Valley Detention Center. Her bail is set at $50,000.

A Landers woman was arrested Friday after her ex-boyfriend said she punched him in the face. According to a Sheriff’s report, Stephanie Brown, 30, was arguing with her ex-boyfriend about 12:45 a.m. Friday morning in the 9400 block of Piedras Trail in Morongo Valley. Brown’s ex-boyfriend said she punched him with a closed fist on the left side of his face, although the deputy could find no signs of injuries. Stephanie Brown was arrested for domestic battery and booked into the Morongo Basin Jail with her bail set at $25,000.

PLANNED POWER OUTAGE ON MARINE BASE TONIGHT
The Combat Center will have another power outage Monday. The power outage will begin at 8:30 Monday night and is scheduled to last until 6:30 a.m Tuesday. However, Southern California Edison warns that its work may not be completed by 6:30 a.m., and so all base personnel and residents on the base should be prepared to be without power for more than 10 hours. Power to non-essential areas of the base between 1st and 9th Streets will start to be shut down starting at 3 p.m. as crews prepare for the power outage. For more information, call 830-6100 or 830-3718.

The Combat Center will have another power outage Monday. The power outage will begin at 8:30 Monday night and is scheduled to last until 6:30 a.m Tuesday. However, Southern California Edison warns that its work may not be completed by 6:30 a.m., and so all base personnel and residents on the base should be prepared to be without power for more than 10 hours. Power to non-essential areas of the base between 1st and 9th Streets will start to be shut down starting at 3 p.m. as crews prepare for the power outage. For more information, call 760-830-6100 or 760-830-3718.

KING OF THE HAMMERS
One of the major off-road events in the country, “The King of the Hammers,” will be held in the nearby Landers area-Johnson Valley Off-Road area next weekend. Reporter Derwood Andrews tells you how to get tickets…
The sixth running of the King of the Hammers desert race, takes place from Friday 3rd to Friday 10th of February, at Means Dry Lake in Johnson Valley. The biggest Hammertown yet includes additional entertainment, an expanded vendor show as well as improved spectator areas. If you’re into four wheeling, this is the ultimate desert race. Tickets are $20 for the full week access and can be purchased at the lake. More information can be found at the event web site ultra4racing.com.

NEW SCHAUPPNER BOOK AVAILABLE ON KINDLE
The latest book by local author Kurt Schauppner is available as a Kindle e-book. Royalties from The Ghosts of Ide County will go to Reach Out Morongo Basin, the Neighbors Helping Neighbors organization, whose goal is helping people maintain healthy, independent lives as long as possible.
The Ghosts of Ide County tells the story of a small Northern California farming community and how people there are affected by the disappearance of a beloved 12-year-old boy. In describing his book, Schauppner said “I wanted to talk about how single events can change whole lives”. Desert Trail editor Schauppner is also a playwright, whose latest play, “The Memory Jar”, will be produced at Theatre 29 later this year. To purchase and download The Ghosts of Ide County for your Kindle or any Kindle-reading device you might have, go to the Kindle Store at amazon.com. The price of the book is $5.

SAT PREP COURSE IN PALM DESERT
A special preparation course for the Scholastic Aptitude Test will be offered on April 7 and 14 at Cal State San Bernardino’s Palm Desert Campus. The course is geared for high school juniors and seniors planning to take the SAT offered on or after May 5. All question types on the test will be covered and a number of short-form tests will be given to provide practice in actual testing conditions. The two-session course will be held at the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus, 37-500 Cook St., on consecutive Saturdays and costs $155. The official SAT study guide is included with the registration fee. For more information, contact Jerdy Sterling at the university’s College of Extended Learning office at (760) 341-2883, ext. 78121, [email protected], or visit the CEL website at http://cel.csusb.edu.

STARGAZING IN JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
It’s hard to find a better place for looking at the night sky than Joshua Tree National Park. Ranger Pam Tripp tells us what to look for…
Star gazers know that crucial elements for viewing are a clear night and a dark location. Joshua Tree National Park has both.So be sure to pack the binoculars on your next camping trip or evening drive through the park. At this time of year you can see the brightest object in the sky, the planet Jupiter, while before sunset you can also spot the planet Venus. The constellation Orion is also prominent in the night sky, with its three star belt and sword, which contains the Orion Nebula. Above the Constellation Orion, you can see the Pleiades, an open cluster of about 500 stars, found within the constellation Taurus. It is known in Greek mythology as the Seven Sisters, and its Japanese name is Subaru, which is seen in the logo of some vehicles. For more information on the park’s night sky programs or daytime solar astronomy viewing, call the Park at 760-367-5500. Happy stargazing!

Both Yucca Valley High School varsity soccer teams had good outings in their visit to cross-Basin rivals Twentynine Palms on Thursday. The Lady Trojans completely controlled their game and won by a score of 7-1. Stats included junior captain, Chaylin Couzens with two goals and one assist, senior captain Shelby Smith with one goal and three assists, and sophomore Teresa Nava with one goal and two assists. Savanah Rogers, Samantha Gonzalez, and Sabrina Whiting also scored and Vivian Chow added an assist. In the boys’ match, the hard-fought first half ended 0-0. In the second half Yucca Valley stepped up their intensity and created shot opportunities, culminating in a goal by Junior Midfielder Haemish O’Donnell. Keeper Senior Christian Schoenborn recorded his 4th shutout of the season and Trojans won 1-0. Freshman Paul Desilets and Andres Lopez both had good games and that contributed to the Trojan Win.

The Yucca Valley soccer teams travel to Shadow Hills on Wednesday. The girls’ match starts at 3, and the boys play at 5.

The City of Twentynine Palms is distinguished by its striking murals. Reporter Lenore Roberts tells how you can have your own miniature version of one of them, on a bottle of wine…
The members of Action Council for Twentynine Palms will unveil their 2012 sparkling wine, featuring the “Spirit of Mara” collector’s label, on Sunday, January 29, from noon to 2 pm at the Twentynine Palms Inn. The label was inspired by the stunning “Spirit of Mara” mural, which portrays a Native American woman giving thanks for the Oasis of Mara as it might have looked hundreds of years ago. This collector label is particularly representative of the city, and once this year’s bottles are gone, no more will be produced, so make sure to come out and view the unveiling.

A dentist in Chino will give away a computer to some youth under 18, in return for writing about a good deed he or she has done. Dr. Margareta Gavrila says, “We all know that negativity will not improve a situation, but complimenting or rewarding a job well done will actually prompt more of those good activities”. The Good Deed Contest will end on April 24. Kids can submit their essay online by going to chinocadentist.com, and clicking on the “Win a Computer” graphic. Dr. Gavrila will be giving away a brand new computer to the winner who submits the best essay. For more information, call Dr. Gavrila at (909)628-3912.

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is investigating the death of seven desert kit foxes from canine distemper in eastern Riverside County. These deaths, which occurred over the past two months, are the first documented cases of canine distemper in wild desert kit foxes. Wildlife officials want to determine if this is an isolated case or if the disease is more widespread. The kit foxes were found 20 miles outside of Blythe on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and leased to Genesis Solar LLC to construct a utility-scale solar project. DFG is coordinating its efforts with the California Energy Commission, who is the state permittee for the solar project, and the U.S. Bureau ofLand Management. Construction in the area has been temporarily halted,in part due to the kit fox distemper discovery. DFG Wildlife Veterinarian Deana Clifford said “Although we do not know if this outbreak was started by an infected domestic animal, it is important for people to vaccinate their petsregularly,” She added, “Vaccination will not only protect your pet but help protect wildlife populations from disease outbreaks.”

A Yucca Valley man was arrested early Thursday morning after reports that he fired a gun dozens of times inside a house. According to Sheriff’s reports, about 12:45 Thursday morning, Jose Garcia, 21, was drunk and angry that he had lost a wrestling match that was just for fun. He got his rifle and shot about 30 rounds in the house in the 7100 block of Hanford Avenue. Three of his friends attempted to disarm him, but Garcia was able to shoot the gun again. Jose Garcia was arrested for investigation of assault with a weapon and booked into the West Valley Detention Center with his bail set at $50,000.

“Jake’s Women” continues its very successful run at Theatre 29 through February 11. Director Butch Pelfrey and his talented cast are leaving audiences delighted and garnering rave reviews. In “Jake’s Women,” America’s premier comic playwright, Neil Simon, makes another hilarious foray into the world of modern relationships. Jake, a novelist who is more successful with fiction than with real life, faces a marital crisis by daydreaming about the women in his life. The wildly comic and sometimes moving flashbacks played in his mind are interrupted by visitations from actual females. In addition to the regular performances Friday and Saturday nights at 7:00 p.m., Theatre 29 is planning a 2:30 matinee on February 5. 2012 Season tickets to Theatre 29 are still available, Tickets can be purchased by calling (760) 361-4151 or online at www.theatre29.org. Theatre 29 is located at 73637 Sullivan Road, (right around the corner from Barr Lumber) in the City of Twentynine Palms.

Another local exhibit of paintings and photos continues through tomorrow between 1 and 3 pm at the 29 Palms Art Gallery. Reporter Mike Lipsitz describes the works on display…
The 29 Palms Art Gallery is exhibiting the paintings of Sharon Costa in the Main Gallery, and nature and wildlife photography by David McChesney in the West Gallery through Jan. 29. Sharon Costa, a docent volunteer with the gallery and gift shop for many years, is showing acrylic paintings on canvas and on pine biscuits of “nature and God’s creation,” from which she draws her inspiration. David McChesney has photographed 53 of America’s National Parks over the past 38 years. He is the author of “The Mojave Desert: Miles of Wonder” and “Muir Roots: At One with the Wild.” His imagery is showcased at a growing number of nature outlets. The 29 Palms Art Gallery is at 74055 Cottonwood Drive in 29 Palms. For more information call 367-7819 or go to 29palmsartgallery.com. For Z107.7 News, this is assignment reporter Mike Lipsitz.

Both Yucca Valley High School varsity soccer teams had good outings in their visit to cross-Basin rivals Twentynine Palms on Thursday. The Lady Trojans completely controlled their game and won by a score of 7-1. Stats included junior captain, Chaylin Couzens with two goals and one assist, senior captain Shelby Smith with one goal and three assists, and sophomore Teresa Nava with one goal and two assists. Savanah Rogers, Samantha Gonzalez, and Sabrina Whiting also scored and Vivian Chow added an assist. In the boys’ match, the hard-fought first half ended 0-0. In the second half Yucca Valley stepped up their intensity and created shot opportunities, culminating in a goal by Junior Midfielder Haemish O’Donnell. Keeper Senior Christian Schoenborn recorded his 4th shutout of the season and Trojans won 1-0. Freshman Paul Desilets and Andres Lopez both had good games and that contributed to the Trojan Win.

The Yucca Valley soccer teams travel to Shadow Hills on Wednesday. The girls’ match starts at 3, and the boys play at 5.

The City of Twentynine Palms is distinguished by its striking murals. Reporter Lenore Roberts tells how you can have your own miniature version of one of them, on a bottle of wine…
The members of Action Council for Twentynine Palms will unveil their 2012 sparkling wine, featuring the “Spirit of Mara” collector’s label, on Sunday, January 29, from noon to 2 pm at the Twentynine Palms Inn. The label was inspired by the stunning “Spirit of Mara” mural, which portrays a Native American woman giving thanks for the Oasis of Mara as it might have looked hundreds of years ago. This collector label is particularly representative of the city, and once this year’s bottles are gone, no more will be produced, so make sure to come out and view the unveiling.

A dentist in Chino will give away a computer to some youth under 18, in return for writing about a good deed he or she has done. Dr. Margareta Gavrila says, “We all know that negativity will not improve a situation, but complimenting or rewarding a job well done will actually prompt more of those good activities”. The Good Deed Contest will end on April 24. Kids can submit their essay online by going to chinocadentist.com, and clicking on the “Win a Computer” graphic. Dr. Gavrila will be giving away a brand new computer to the winner who submits the best essay. For more information, call Dr. Gavrila at (909)628-3912.