Morongo Basin residents responded to a question we asked on the Z107.7 Facebook page, Morongo Basin Broadcasting. With the New Year, we asked our thousands of friends what they would like to see most in our desert communities. Among the most responses was a wish to see the former Blue Skies Country Club in Yucca Valley restored as a community golf course. Respondents said the Blue Skies property could include a miniature golf course and petting zoo. A community garden was another request as well as a desire for sidewalks. Some parents said they would like to see more community involvement in schools, a year-round enclosed swimming pool and activities like an arcade, roller skating rink, and recreation center for young people. Among retails establishments on the Morongo Basin wish list was for a Trader Joe’s store and Buffalo Wild wings. One tongue-in-cheek request made was for a working volcano.

The cold weather is bringing cold critters into your home, and they can bring disease. Reporter Lenore Roberts said County Vector Control Department is offering ways to prevent yourself…
It is important for the health of your family and pets to maintain a vector-free living environment. A vector is any animal that is capable of transmitting infection to humans. Here are some tips to prevent vector infestations in your home: seal all entryways, doors, windows, cracks, holes, and areas around pipes; clean up crumbs and spills; don’t leave glasses of water or pets’ food or water out at night; keep dry food in sealed containers; and clean under counter-top and kitchen appliances. For more information, contact the County of San Bernardino Mosquito and Vector Control Program at 909-388-4600 or visit www.sbcounty.gov/dehs.

The Morongo Basin finally has its first baby of the New Year. Noelani Valencia Leopoldo was born Wednesday, January 4, at 10:32 p.m. Her proud parents are Brenda Estrada and Daniel Leopoldo of Joshua Tree. Noelani weighs 6 pounds, 15 ounces and is 19 inches long.

A magnitude 3.1 earthquake was reported Thursday evening, just 8 miles south of Joshua Tree, 9 miles south-southeast of Yucca Valley, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 6:47 p.m. at a relatively shallow depth of 3.7 miles. This is the second recent quake in the last 10 days, there was another earthquake magnitude 3.0 and greater centered nearby. There were no reports of damage or injury.

Coming up in high school sports tomorrow, the Yucca Valley High School Trojan soccer team travels to Desert Hot Springs. The girls’ game starts at 3:15; the boys start at 5 p.m. The Twentynine Palms High School Wildcat soccer teams travel away to Desert Mirage. The girls match starts at 3:15; boys at 5.

The Hi-Desert Nature museum will be featuring magnetism at its Science Saturday event this weekend. Reporter Derwood Andrews, himself a magnetic personality, files this report…
We all know what a magnet is, right? But try explaining what it is. Do you know we all live on a giant magnet? Do you know what a magnetic field is? Well, spend this magnetizing Saturday morning on January 7 at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum with Crystal Mason and her magnetic personality at 11:00 in the morning, to find the answers, so you can tell everyone else. This series of discovery opportunities for children is designed to ignite curiosity by presenting information and performing experiments relating to biological and physical sciences. This is a FREE class and more information can be found at hidesertnaturemuseum.org or by calling 760-369-7212.

The California Retired Teacher’ Association meets this month on January 13 at the Helen Gray Educational Complex in Joshua Tree beginning at 10 a.m. Cheryl Erickson will be the featured speaker describing Building a Library in Uganda. All retired educators are invited to attend. For more information and to make luncheon reservations, contact Ruth Crites before January 9 at 760-367-7321.

Through January 29, enjoy the paintings of Sharon Costa in the Main Gallery and photography by David McChesney in the West Gallery at the Twentynine Palms Art Gallery. Member work is also on view in the Pickering Room of the gallery. A reception for the show is slated for this Sunday, January 8, from noon until 3 p.m. Costa’s show consists of acrylic paintings on canvas and on pine biscuits of “nature and God’s creation,” from which Sharon says she draws her inspiration. All of the work for this show was done at the Costa’s Cabin Art Studio, in Big Bear City and is titled “From the Palms to the Pines.” In the West Gallery are the nature and wildlife photos of David McChesney. 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.” He first visited Joshua Tree as an adult in the ’70’s and later purchased property there in 1998. He is currently the Advanced Photography instructor for the Desert Institute at Joshua Tree National Park. The Twentynine Palms Art Gallery is located at 74055 Cottonwood Drive, next to the 29 Palms Inn.

Joshua Basin Water District got a good financial report card from auditors last night. Reporter Mike Lizpistz was there and files this report…
At last night’s meeting of the Joshua Basin Water District, Directors accepted and filed the fiscal 2010-2011 financial audit report which was described as “clean and healthy” by the District’s auditing firm. Also last night, Mickey Luckman was appointed to the Mojave Water Agency Technical Advisory Committee, Bill Long was appointed to the Morongo Basin Pipeline Commission, and President Mike Reynolds retained his position with the Association of County Special Districts. And finally, the board voted to limit use of the District’s Demonstration Garden to events sponsored by the Water District or other government agency and limited to a 75-person capacity. Following those and other actions, reports and public comment, the board adjourned to closed session with legal counsel.

New Year’s Eve didn’t go quite the way a Los Angeles couple had planned. On Saturday, an unidentified man and woman in their late 20s decided to hike the Boy Scout Trail in Joshua Tree National Park, starting at the trailhead in the central part of the park. The couple took a side trail to Willow Hole, with the intent of eventually making their way to Rattlesnake Canyon. However, the man and woman became lost in the Wonderland of Rocks area. They were able to climb high enough on the rocks to get a cell phone signal, and at 5:22 p.m. Saturday, they called 9-1-1 to report they were lost. After determining that the couple was not injured and had enough clothing and supplies to get them through the night, search and rescue personnel decided to put off the rescue until the next day, when it would be light. About 7:30 the next morning, Sunday, January 1, 15 Search and rescue volunteers, along with a helicopter from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, began their search for the lost couple. The couple was spotted by searchers in the helicopter on the west side of Indian Cove at 9:45 a.m. and were brought back to their car at the Boy Scout Trailhead inside the park. By 10:30 a.m., the search and rescue was over.

A Twentynine Palms man was arrested Wednesday for punching a child. According to the Sheriff’s Department, Michael Morgan, 47, of the 6900 block of Fortynine Palms Avenue, punched a child so hard he broke his own hand. Michael Morgan was arrested for investigation of felony child abuse against three juveniles, ages 11 to 14, booked into the Morongo Basin Jail. His bail was set at $100,000.

The deal for the Hi-Desert Water District to buy the Blue Skies Country Club properties in Yucca Valley to control the water rights is off. The District had announced they were in negotiations to buy the troubled property that was formerly a golf course, restaurant, and pro-shop in March of 2011. Since then, the controversial purchase has been marred by questions about restrictions on water use, clear title to all of the five parcels involved, and, most lately, loss of potential use of some redevelopment funding. The abandoned property has become a severely blighted eyesore and was declared off-limits by the Town of Yucca Valley last year after a fire and a tree falling on fire apparatus. At the end of a closed session last night, the Hi-Desert Water District announced they were no longer negotiating for the property. Reporter Derwood Andrews was there and files this report…
Beginning with the end of last night’s Hi-Desert Water District meeting, and action taken on the closed session, they are no longer in negotiations for price and terms and are NOT purchasing the notes for the golf course. So it’s a “Chili Dip,” where the club was approached at too steep an angle. Previously, the Mojave Water Agency Conjunctive Use Agreement was discussed and it was suggested to try and get a better deal on the water. Also it was agreed to proceed to develop a contract with Carollo Engineers in relation to the selection of a consultant for the wastewater collection system design.

Marcella J. Hull, a 53-year resident of Twentynine Palms, died December 27. She was 90 years old. She is survived by her daughter, Irene Hull-Beard of Twentynine Palms; son Daniel Hull of Apple Valley, a brother, Bill Devine of Ellicott City, Maryland; six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Marcella Hull was a registered nurse for 40 years with Doctor Guzeman at Hi-Desert Medical Center. A service will be held at Blessed Sacrament Church in Twentynine Palms, on Saturday, January 7, at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the nursing program at Copper Mountain College in Marcella Hull’s name.

The Yucca Valley High School Trojan boys soccer team traveled to Lake Elsinore Monday for their last preseason game versus Temescal Canyon High School. The Trojans had eight shots on goal with numerous steals and take always. The game ended with a 0-0 tie. Head Coach Tee Vallo said it was a good game against an upper division team the boys played hard and continue to progress with every game. The Trojan Soccer squad faces a very good Desert Hot Springs team Friday in Desert Hot Springs for their first league game.

The Twentynine Palms Varsity Boys’ basketball team entered two holiday tourneys over the winter break. The first tournament was the Palms Springs Winter Classic. The Wildcats went 2 and 2, with losses to Cochrane High School out of Canada, and Whitney High School in Cerritos. The victories were over Indio by 10 points and La Quinta by 2 points. The second tournament, the Max Preps Desert Heat, was filled with a little success. The Wildcats started the tourney with three losses to Dana Hills, Thousand Oaks, and Colton High Schools. The Wildcats won their final game over Victor Valley by a score of 47-43. Defense was again key to their victory, and scoring was led by Chris Fui Fui with 17 points and Richard Ewing with 11. Tim Dyer and Michaiah Russell both had nine rebounds. The Wildcat boys are 5 and 8, with their next big game being on the road this Friday against Desert Mirage High School.

The Hi-Desert Water District Board meets in regular session tonight. Reporter Derwood Andrews checks the agenda…
On the Hi-Desert Water District agenda tonight is a staff report on the Mojave Water Agency Conjunctive Use Agreement. A couple of staff recommendations, one to execute an agreement with Carollo Engineers related to design of the wastewater system and to file reports from the Gualco Group and the California Special Districts Association. A closed session follows concerning an employee and negotiations on real property price and terms.

Fifteen desert artists are showing work in the new “Desert Storms” show at the downtown Twentynine Palms Visitor Center and Chamber of Commerce office. The public is invited to an opening reception for the first exhibition of 2012 this Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Featured in the show are more than two dozen paintings representing various moods of desert storms in oil, acrylic, watercolor, encaustic and mixed media. Photography of desert storms, from a blinding sandstorm to dramatic lightning strikes in the desert night sky, has been captured and submitted by local photographers. The exhibition will be on display through February 29 and is open seven days a week. There is no charge to attend the reception on January 6, and refreshments will be served. Hours at the Twentynine Palms Visitor Center & Gallery and Chamber office are 9 to 5 Monday through Friday and 10 to 4 Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call 760-367-6197 or check the visitor center website at www.visit29.org.

Ending years of fierce competition, the region’s two blood providers have joined forces to form a single nonprofit supplier. Community Blood Bank and LifeStream will provide blood to the area under the combined name Desert Blood Services, according to an announcement made yesterday. The two groups will own Desert Blood Services equally, leaders at LifeStream and Community Blood Bank said. However, LifeStream will handle Desert Blood Service’s day-to-day operations and maintain its name outside of the Coachella Valley. The move consolidates a $7 million blood services industry, which has been split about evenly between the two organizations. Combined, they provide some 22,000 units of blood to desert hospitals. It also ends a contentious rivalry between the providers, sparked when LifeStream moved into the area and replaced Community Blood Bank as Hi-Desert Medical Center and Desert Regional Medical Center’s primary blood supplier. The rapidly increasing cost of health care spurred the two local blood providers to stop competing and start collaborating. They expect the move to reduce costs, driving down the price of blood provided to local hospitals. They also hope new harmony will boost blood donations, which have declined since the organizations started competing.

The first show of the Theatre 29 2012 season, “Jake’s Women” is set to open for a 5-week run January 13. Reporter Mike Lipsitz says auditions for the second show of the season are coming up…
Theatre 29 and Director Rebecca Havely announce open auditions for the Neil Simon Comedy/Drama “Lost in Yonkers” for Monday, January 16, at 6 p.m. at Theater 29. Set in 1942 in Yonkers, “Lost in Yonkers” is the coming-of-age story for two Jewish brothers. The show has 4 male roles and 1 female role open; they include Eddie, the Jewish father, and his sons Jay and Arty. Jay is 15, has a Jewish accent and is funny and sarcastic. Brother Arty, age 13, has the same accent and a sense of humor beyond his years. Aunt Gert is a sweet spinster with a speech impediment that makes for some serious laughs. And Uncle Louie, age 45 to 55, is a small-time gangster who thinks he’s a big shot. Audition sides are available at theatre29.org. “Lost in Yonkers” runs mostly weekends from March 9 through April 7.

Don’t give deputies a false name and think you’ll get away with it. About 7 Sunday evening, a Sheriff’s deputy stopped a man at Balsa Avenue and Yucca Trail for riding his bicycle without a headlamp. The bike rider gave a false name to the deputy, but the deputy brought him to the Sheriff’s station where it was determined that his real name was Juan Picazo, 31. Juan Picazo, who was wanted on a felony warrant, was arrested for giving a false name and booked into the Morongo Basin Jail with his bail set at $250,000.