The Yucca Valley High School Lady Trojan basketball team opened their De Anza League schedule with a 55-17 win over the Desert Hot Springs Golden Eagles Friday night in Desert Hot Springs. The win ups the girls’ record to 9-3 overall and 1-0 in league with a pivotal game versus Twentynine Palms Wednesday in Trojan Gym.

The Twentynine Palms Girls’ Basketball Team started their league season off with a win at Desert Mirage on Friday night January 6 by a score of 61 to 26. The ‘Cats overall record is now 11 wins and seven losses.

Yucca Valley Boys Varsity Soccer, Friday, Yucca Valley vs Desert Hot Springs Yucca Valley High School 1, Desert Hot Springs 6.

The Yucca Valley High School Girls Soccer team traveled to Desert Hot Springs to take on the Golden Eagles in De Anza League play. Desert Hot Springs took the winning score of 3-1.

The Yucca Valley High School Trojan Wrestling team battled to a 3rd place finish at the South Hills Dual Tournament. The Trojans lost only one match, 25-38, to Temecula Valley, but won the next four versus Covina (63-18), South Hills (36-27), Whittier (54-9), Claremont (57-18).

Coming up in high school sports tomorrow, the Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms High School soccer teams will play each other in Yucca Valley. The girls’ game starts at 3:15, the boys at 5. Also tomorrow, the Joshua Springs Christian School basketball teams host Lucerne Valley at home. The girls’ game starts at 5, the boys at 6:30.

Learn more about “The Bats of Joshua Tree” this Friday at a lecture at the Old Schoolhouse Museum in Twentynine Palms. Reporter Derwood Andrews says you can even have dinner with the speaker…
Join Joshua Tree National Park’s Wildlife Biologist, Kristen Lalumiere for a fun, informative talk about bats. She will cover the function they play in our ecosystem, their importance in our daily lives, and issues bat populations are facing worldwide, while dispelling a few myths along the way. What better date than Friday the 13 to talk about these amazing creatures of the night! The lecture takes place at the Old Schoolhouse on National Park Drive at 7 p.m., $5.00 at the door. Dinner with the speaker, at your own expense, begins at 5 p.m. at the Twentynine Palms Inn. Call 760-367-5535 for details.

The Jack V. Rice Post 761 of the American Legion meets the second Monday of every month at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 67330 29 Palms Highway in Twentynine Palms. Tonight’s Officers’ meeting starts at 6:15 p.m. and the general meeting starts at 7 p.m. For more information, call 760-362-4112.

While some close to an extensive, 4-year study by the Open Spaces Group say the County of San Bernardino, the Marine Base, and the Town of Yucca Valley don’t want it to be made public yet, Z107.7 News has obtained a copy of their report on “Conservation Priorities for the Morongo Basin.” Reporter Dan Stork analyzes the high points of the document…
The report advocates an effort to place substantial areas of the Basin under increased protections, through a combination of acquisitions, conservation easements, cultivating working relationships with the federal Bureau of Land Management, and land use regulation. The report states five conservation priorities for the Basin. They are protecting Joshua Tree National Park; protecting the mission of the Marine Corps Ground Air Combat Center; maintaining wildlife connectivity and habitat; maintaining community identity; and protecting community views and treasures. The lands that are, in the language of the report, the highest-priority lands “targeted” for conservation action, lie mainly in the Pipes Canyon Wash, Copper Mountain, and San Bernardino-Little San Bernardino Mountain wildlife linkage areas; along the northern boundary of Joshua Tree National Park; and section-sized BLM tracts across the Basin. The Morongo Basin Open Space Group is a partnership of 22 state, local, and federal entities including county and municipal government, business, conservation, water agency, educational, national park, and military organizations.

Tri-Valley Little League Registration, which starts with an early bird session offering a $10 discount this morning from 8 am to 1 pm, will be available on three additional dates this month. They are: Saturday, January 14, from 8 to 1; Saturday, January 21, from 8 to 2; and Wednesday, January 25, from 6 pm to 8 pm. All registration sessions are inside the Yucca Valley Community Center. Boys and girls ages 4 to 16 may register. Please bring a copy of the child’s birth certificate. Tri-Valley Little League is introducing a new “Elite Division” for girls ages 6, 7, and 8, which is similar to the boys’ Rookie Division. The fee is $80 per player. No checks will accepted – cash, Visa or MasterCard, please.

The 2012 season at Theatre 29 opens this coming Friday evening. Managing Editor Tami Roleff says that the opening night is a Soroptimist-sponsored fundraiser…
Soroptimist International Club is sponsoring the opening night of the Neil Simon play, “Jake’s Women,” at Theatre 29 Friday, January 13. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres, wine, champagne, and non-alcoholic beverages will be served from 6 until the curtain opens at 7. A variety of desserts and coffee will be available at intermission. Bidding on silent auction items is available beginning at 6 and at intermission. All proceeds will benefit local Soroptimist scholarships and charities. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased through members of the Soroptimist Club of Twentynine Palms or at Napa Auto Parts, the Flower Garden, Twentynine Palms Chamber of Commerce, and the Desert Trail. Call 668-4594 for more information.

The Jack V. Rice Post 761 of the American Legion meets the second Monday of every month at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 67330 29 Palms Highway in Twentynine Palms. Tomorrow’s Officers’ meeting starts at 6:15 p.m. and the general meeting starts at 7 p.m. For more information call, 760-362-4112.

A meeting of the Cactus Sewables Quilt Guild will take place this Monday, January 9, in the Yucca Room of the Yucca Valley Community Center. Doors open at 12:30 p.m.; meeting begins promptly at 1:00 p.m. Highlight for the afternoon will be the installation of the following officers: Denise Cohen, President; Bonnie Millage, 1st Vice President; Dawn Tonioli, 2nd Vice President; Mary Michaud, Secretary and Carole Swanson, Treasurer.

The Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino will distribute surplus food to low-income residents of the Morongo Basin tomorrow Monday, January 9th. The locations and times are: The Church of the Lighted Cross, at 11518 Elbow Lane in Morongo Valley, from 8 to 10; Belfield Hall, on Reche Road in Landers, 8:30 to 10:30; the Community Center in Yucca Valley, 8:30 to 10:30; Copper Mountain Mesa Foundation, 65336 Winter Road in the Copper Mountain area, 9 to 11; The Community Center in Joshua Tree, 9 to 11; Sunset Village Apartments, 6036 Sunset Road in Joshua Tree, 9:30 to 11:30; The fire station in Wonder Valley, 10:30 to 11:30; and Little Church of the Desert at 6079 Adobe Road in Twentynine Palms, from 10 to noon. Proof of income and address may be provided in a variety of ways, including self-certification on a form that will be available at each site. Recipients are requested to bring their own paper or plastic bags. The Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino is a private, non-profit organization that seeks to serve the low-income families, elderly, disadvantaged and homeless of the county. For more information, call 909-723-1580.

In weekend high school sports, the Joshua Springs Christian School basketball teams travel away to Mesa Grande today. The girls’ game starts at 6; boys’ at 7:30.

The Joshua Tree Veterans of Foreign Wars is serving up fish and shrimp tonight from 4 to 6 at its post at 6402 Veterans Way. The special for Sunday breakfast tomorrow from 8 to 11 is chicken fried steak. And don’t forget Taco Wednesday from 11 to 1.

The Star Twirlers Square Dance Club is hosting a plus level square dance at the Yucca Valley Elks Lodge, located at 55946 Yucca Trail, at 7:30 PM tonight, Saturday, January 7. Bill (Tex) Gipson will be doing the calling. Bob Paull will cue Rounds at 7:00 PM and between tips.

You know that piece of gold jewelry that’s been sitting in your dresser drawer for years, that you know you’re never going to wear? Managing Editor Tami Roleff will tell you how to convert it to a worthy use…
Transform your unwanted gold into a meaningful cause. Soroptimist International of Yucca Valley is sponsoring a fundraiser by collecting gold to benefit local charities that support helping women and girls improve their life. However small the amount, each contribution will help us meet our goal. Bring your old or unwanted gold jewelry to any of these Yucca Valley locations no later than February 1, 2012: Tri Valley Realty, 56659 – 29 Palms Hwy. Ste.A; Candy Cravings, 55836 – 29 Palms Highway; Signs by Wanda, 7387 Elk Trail. Tax deduction forms are available if requested.

The Morongo Basin Democratic Club meets at 2 o’clock this Sunday in the Aztec Mobile Home Park Club House off Church Street in Yucca Valley. This will be a hands-on meeting. Attendees will roll up their sleeves to organize precinct teams, finalize plans for the big March Campaign Kickoff, and participate in a mini-workshop on “fighting falsehoods with facts.” Sunday’s meeting is open to all registered Democrats, invited guests and others who wish to change party affiliations at the meeting. Learn more about the local Democratic Club at www.MBDems.com.

Theatre 29 is starting its 2012 season with two Neil Simon plays. Following upon the opening of “Jake’s Women” this Friday will be auditions for “Lost in Yonkers”. Reporter Mike Lipsitz puts out the call…
Theatre 29 and Director Rebecca Havely announce open auditions for the Neil Simon Comedy/Drama “Lost in Yonkers” for Monday January 16th at 6pm at Theater 29. Set in 1942 in Yonkers, NY, “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. For Z107.7 News, this is assignment reporter Mike Lipsitz.

A Yucca Valley man is behind bars after a pursuit in the Town Thursday morning. About 7:30, the Town’s traffic officer tried to make a traffic stop on Thomas Brown Jr., 31, who was driving a Husqvarna dirt bike on Town streets. Brown, who has a suspended driver’s license and multiple convictions for theft, burglary, and drug use, bailed off his bike on Sunnyslope Drive between Palm and Grand Avenues where he was chased down and captured by the deputy. Seven minutes after the chase began, Thomas Brown Jr. was arrested for investigation of felony failure to yield and violation of his parole. Thomas Brown Jr. was booked into the West Valley Detention Center with his bail set at $100,000.

Yesterday we reported that Noelani Valencia Leopoldo, who was born Wednesday at Hi-Desert Medical Center , was the first baby born in the Morongo Basin this year. But the father of a baby born at the Naval Hospital at the Combat Center says his baby entered the world a day earlier. Erik Frederiksen III was born Tuesday, January 3, at 12:45 p.m. to Leanne and Sergeant Erik Frederiksen Jr. of Joshua Tree. Erik Frederiksen III was 8 pounds 6 ounces and 20 and ¾ inches long.

In high school basketball today, the Yucca Valley High School Trojan basketball teams travel away to Desert Hot Springs. The girls game starts at 6; boys at 7:30. The Twentynine Palms High School Wildcat basketball teams are also away tomorrow at Desert Mirage. The boys play at 7:30; girls at 6. Joshua Springs Christian School basketball teams travel to Baptist Christian. Girls at 5; boys at 6:30.

Coming up tomorrow, the Yucca Valley High School Trojan wrestling teams travel away. The varsity team will be playing in the South Hills Dual; the junior varsity will be playing at Quartz Hill.

The Joshua Springs Christian School basketball teams travel away to Mesa Grande tomorrow. The girls’ game starts at 6; boys’ at 7:30.

It’s time to play baseball in the Morongo Basin! Hi-Desert Pony League is gearing up for its 2012 season and will be setting up registration booths at locations in Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms starting this weekend. Tomorrow, Saturday, sign-ups will be held at Luckie Park in Twentynine Palms and on Sunday, at Stater Brothers in Twentynine Palms. On Saturday, January 14, sign-ups will be held at the Stater Brothers in the Wal-Mart shopping center in Yucca Valley. The cost of registration is $50 and includes a shirt, pants, socks, belt, hat and a trophy. For more sign-up locations and dates visit www.pony29palms.com or call Jennifer Garcia at 760-367-1351 for more information.

The Hi-Desert Cultural Center has unveiled an ambitious fund-raising campaign to finish the restoration of their theater. Reporter Mike Lipsitz has the challenge…
The Hi-Desert Cultural Center’s large theater, now named the Kaye Ballard Theater, has received an offer to match all donations made to help finish the final renovation phase of the 300-seat theater, up to $125,000. The theater was largely destroyed in a 2007 flood. The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, has also agreed to award a $50,000 bonus if the full $125,000 is raised within 90 days. If the Cultural Center is able to meet the challenge, the funds totalling $300,000 will be enough to finish and open its doors, providing new opportunities for employment, education, and entertainment. Toward that aim, the Center invites you to make a gift or a pledge now of any amount to the Hi-Desert Cultural Center Kaye Ballard Theater Re-Building Fund. Donor recognition levels and naming opportunities are available online at hidesertculturalcenter.com. Contributions may also be sent to the Hi-Desert Cultural Center at P.O. Box 128, Joshua Tree 92252. Donations are tax deductible as allowed under the law.