A traffic accident in Twentynine Palms yesterday afternoon sent two Twentynine Palms residents to area hospitals. According to the Sheriff’s Department, Judith Barnard, 21, was driving her 2000 Ford Focus northbound on Utah Trail. Barnard stopped at the intersection with Highway 62, but failed to yield to Elizabeth Sustar, 28, who was driving westbound on the highway. Barnard broadsided Sustar’s 2004 Honda Civic. Barnard was taken to the Naval Hospital on the Marine base for complaints of pain. Sustar’s 4-year-old son was taken to Hi-Desert Medical Center for minor injuries.

The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission, at three strong, met in regular session last night. Reporter Derwood Andrews said, among other agenda items, it was yes for a batch plant and no to commercial solar…
Last night the Twentynine Palms Planning Commission elected Carey Alderson as Chairman and Greg Mendoza as Vice Chair, with Bill Easter as the third commissioner and a deadline of 25 January for applications for the two vacant seats. The first of development code amendments to be forwarded to City Council was concerning Permitted and Conditional Uses, in particular the definition of the word “Auditorium.” This was a 3-to-0 yes vote. The housing element and Negative Declaration to the City Council was a 2-to-1 vote yes, with Easter no. The limitations on hawking and peddling within Twentynine will be brought back as a study session, using Eureka’s code as a basis and scrapping the current code. The real people drawer was an application from Robertson’s Ready-Mix, to build a Batch Plant on five acres, although buying around 150 acres, rezoning to Community Industrial Designation, and possible annexation into the City. With the fear of leaving the choice to the County of San Bernardino, with less restrictions, Chair Alderson made a motion to rezone 37.5 acres and annex the 150. This drew a 2-to-1 yes vote, Bill Easter no. Lastly was the returned-from-the-City Council, Solar Field issue. Greg Mendoza wanted to shoot it down for good, but as it was a study session, it was agreed to create minimum criteria and mapping and send it back to the City with a “no” to commercial solar in Twentynine.

A domestic argument resulted in three arrests Sunday in Morongo Valley. According to the Sheriff’s Department, Laith Oweini, 25, of Fountain Valley, and Mary Jane Lawson, 31, were arguing in the 49200 block of Big Morongo Canyon Road about 7 p.m. Lawson ran out of the house naked, but covered with bruises, to a neighbor’s house to ask for help. After an investigation, deputies arrested Laith Oweini for felony spousal abuse and for four outstanding warrants from Orange County. He was booked into the Morongo Basin Jail with his bail set at $50,000. Mary Jane Lawson was arrested for giving a false ID to deputies and for six outstanding warrants from Orange County. She was booked into the West Valley Detention Center with her total bail set at $65,000. A third man at the home, Rick Jacklin, 55, of Cathedral City, was arrested for possession of dangerous drugs and booked into the Morongo Basin Jail with his bail set at $25,000.

An earlier version of this story had Haitham Oweini as being arrested for felony spouse abuse, but Laith Oweini gave the Sheriff Department his brother’s identity when he was arrested. Laith Oweini was subsequently convicted of giving a false ID to a police officer. Haitham Oweini was not arrested for felony spouse abuse.

The Countywide winter holiday DUI mobilization crackdown on drinking drivers has ended and resulted in a significant number of DUI arrests during the 17 days. From 12:01 a.m. Friday, December 16, through midnight, Sunday, January 1, officers representing 25 county law enforcement agencies arrested 567 individuals for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Last year, 456 DUI arrests occurred during the same time period. Law enforcement officials will be conducting more Avoid DUI operations throughout the region during Super Bowl Sunday in February and then again for local St. Patrick’s Day Festivities in March. Police, Sheriff and the CHP encourage all motorists to help law enforcement every day: Report Drunk Drivers – Call 9-1-1 anytime you encounter an impaired driver.

Coming up in high school sports today, the Joshua Springs Christian School basketball teams travel away to Desert Christian Academy in Bermuda Dunes. The boys’ Junior Varsity game starts at 4; girls’ tip-off is at 5:30, and boys’ varsity is at 7.

The Yucca High School boys Soccer team went 1-2-1 in the Ontario Christian Christmas Classic Tournament. Tuesday’s game was Flintridge Prep 2, Yucca Valley 2. Coach Tee Vallo said Wednesday’s action put them up against 43rd state-ranked Granite Hills. The game ended with Granite Hills winning 3-1. The Trojan boys played Wilson High School in the second game of the day with Wilson winning 2-1. The last day of the tournament they played Mission Prep and this turned out to be their best game of the season, with 19 shots on goal and 20-plus steals. It ended Yucca Valley 7, Mission Prep 0.

La Contenta Middle School would like to invite all parents to visit the school for its monthly Parent Visitation Day on Wednesday, January 4. Parents may come for all day or part of the day. Parents may also stay for lunch. The school hours are 7:15 -1:50. Seventh grade lunch is at 10:16 and eighth grade lunch is at 11:48. When parents visit, they are reminded to check in at the office and get a Visitor’s Pass.

The Joshua Basin Water District Board meets tonight. Reporter Mike Lipsitz says some key committee assignments will be made…
When the Joshua Basin Water District meets in regular session at 7 o’clock tonight in district offices, Directors will hear the fiscal 2010-2011 financial audit report and consider approval. Also tonight, appointments are expected to be made to the Mojave Water Agency Technical Advisory Committee, Morongo Basin Pipeline Commission, and the Association of San Bernardino County Special Districts. Following those and other actions, reports and public comment, the board will adjourn to closed session to confer with legal counsel.

The Santa Fe Clubhouse will be holding their monthly food distribution tomorrow, Wednesday, January 4 at 3 p.m. It is first come-first served. They will be distributing the food at the back of the building where there is adequate parking. It’s suggested that you bring water and dress according to the weather. Please take in consideration that there are no public bathrooms. The food distribution is for any individual or family living in the Morongo Basin area who need free supplemental food due to low- or no-income. For more information call 760-369-4057 and ask for Maxine or Phebe.

The Coachella Valley’s first baby of 2012 was born at Desert Regional Medical Center to a Twentynine Palms couple. Corporal Mark Getzlaff and his wife welcomed Liam Mark Getzlaff into the world at 2:24 a.m. Sunday. Liam made his debut about six weeks earlier than expected, weighing in at 5 pounds 1 ounce and measuring 17¾ inches long.

The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission meets in regular session tonight. Reporter Derwood Andrews checks the agenda…
Following a closed session for litigation, the Twentynine Palms Planning Commission begins a series of four Development Code Amendments tonight at City Hall, dealing with permitted land uses for downtown, performance deposits for farmers markets, hawking or peddling within City limits and an approximately 150-plus-acre site and its annexation into the City, followed by a study session on a new Development Code Section for Solar Fields.

A traffic stop for having tinted windows resulted in an arrest on drug charges. About 10:25 Friday night, a deputy stopped a 1995 Honda for having tinted windows. During the traffic stop, the deputy determined that Armando Mayorga, 42, was on felony probation for drug charges. During a search of the vehicle, the deputy found a clear baggie with what appeared to be methamphetamine on Mayorga. The deputy then went to Mayorga’s residence and conducted another search and found rounds of ammunition. Armando Mayorga was arrested for investigation of possession of dangerous drugs and booked into the West Valley Detention Center with his bail set at $25,000.

A Sheriff’s deputy who made a probation check of a Yucca Valley home made two drug-related arrests early Saturday. About 1 a.m., a deputy, suspicious that the occupants of a home in the 7500 block of Joshua Lane were stealing bicycles, checked the occupants and discovered that Jason Llamado, 33, of Joshua Tree, had hidden heroin inside his underwear. Jason Llamado was arrested for possession of narcotics and booked into the West Valley Detention Center with bail set at $25,000. A second person inside the home, Bunnie Valli, was arrested on a felony warrant. She was booked into the Morongo Basin Jail with her bail set at $250,000.

A Yucca Valley man was arrested Saturday night for felony spousal abuse. According to the Sheriff’s Department, a woman came to a motel in the 57300 block of Highway 62 in Yucca Valley with injuries to her face. After an investigation, Dusty King, 19, was arrested for felony spouse abuse. Dusty King was booked into the West Valley Detention Center with his bail set at $50,000.

If you had significant damage from the recent high winds in the region, Small Business Administration disaster loans are being made available. Managing editor Tami Roleff has details…
Low-interest federal disaster loans are available through the Small Business Administration to California residents and business owners affected by the high winds that blew through the area November 30 through December 4. Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, nonprofit organizations whose property was damaged or destroyed by the disaster. Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. Businesses of any size and private, nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Interest rates range from 2 to 4 percent, with terms up to 30 years. Disaster loan information and application forms are available from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling the SBA at 800-659-2955 or email [email protected], or visit SBA’s Web site at: www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance . In addition, the SBA will have a help center open in January. The center will be open Mondays through Fridays, January 9 through Friday, January 20, from 9 to 5:30. No appointments are necessary. Disaster Loan Outreach Center, Pasadena Fire Headquarters, 199 South Los Robles Avenue, Suite 550 (5th floor), Pasadena, CA 91101.

A blown front tire sent a motorcycle rider to the hospital New Year’s Day. Shortly after 11:30 Sunday morning, the front tire of an unidentified man’s 2008 Yamaha motorcycle blew near Avalon Avenue and the highway. The rider lost control of his motorcycle and it went down on the highway. The rider slid about 100 feet. Witnesses said the man was bleeding badly, but responding paramedics said his injuries were mostly road rash. The rider was transported to Desert Hospital in Palm Springs.

A fire that completely destroyed a house in Twentynine Palms early Saturday morning is being called “suspicious” by firefighters. Shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday, firefighters from Twentynine Palms, the Combat Center, and the County were called to a fire at an unoccupied home in the 68900 block of Rainier Road. The house was fully engulfed in fames when firefighters arrived, with flames shooting through the roof. Captain Matt Helmkamp of the Twentynine Palms Fire Department said that although firefighters put out the fire fairly quickly, the home was a complete loss. The owners were not at home at the time of the fire. Helmkamp called the cause of the fire “suspicious,” and said the cause is under investigation.

A Yucca Valley man was arrested Saturday for investigation of rape and kidnapping. According to a Sheriff’s report, about 10 a.m. Saturday, Jose Perez, 27, was trying to break in to his ex-girlfriend’s home in the 7700 block of Bannock Trail when neighbors called police. The Sheriff’s report notes that a few days earlier, Perez had told his ex-girlfriend that he would kill her unless she went with him. After investigation, Jose Perez was arrested on suspicion of rape with a threat of retaliation and kidnapping. Jose Perez was booked into the West Valley Detention Center with bail set at $250,000.

The Yucca Valley woman who shot her boyfriend last Wednesday was formally charged with his murder Friday. Jeanne Rosser, 63, pled Not Guilty to the murder of David Wenzel, 52. Z107.7 has learned that Wenzel, who was 6-foot-1-inches tall and 230 pounds, had been convicted twice of beating up Rosser, who is 5-feet-3 inches tall and weighs 120 pounds. In 2004, Wenzel was charged with four felony counts related to felony domestic violence that was plea bargained to a single charge of spousal abuse with a 3-year state prison term. In 2009, Wenzel was again convicted of felony domestic violence against Rosser and was sentenced to another three years in prison. Wenzel, recently released from prison, pled guilty in November to a drunk-and-disorderly charge from October.