The Twentynine Palms Chamber of Commerce has a vacancy on their Board of Directors due to the resignation of Karen Provost. Eligible candidates must be a business member, representative of any business membership or associated member in good standing. Applicants can stop by the Chamber office in downtown Twentynine Palms to pick up an application. For more information, call 760-367-3445.

Join the Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce and Rainbow Stew on this evening from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. for the January Mixer. Rainbow Stew is located at 55509 29 Palms Highway (the former Stefano’s Restaurant building). Rainbow Stew offers a collection of jewelry, essential oils, original art, books for all ages, home decor, incense, candles, stones, music, massage and more. Mixers are held as an opportunity for business people to gather to do business, by exchanging business cards, distributing brochures and making new acquaintances. For directions or information, call the Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce at 760-365-6323.

The Hi-Desert Medical Center Board meets tonight. Reporter Mike Lipsitz says a presentation from the Marketing Department is a highlight…
The Hi-Desert Medical Center Board of Directors meets in regular session in the Helen Gray Education Center at 6:00 tonight. As always, the public is invited to attend. At tonight’s meeting, Directors will hear recommendations from the Governance Committee on Board Committee assignments. Also tonight, attendees can expect a presentation from the Marketing Department, approval of items on the consent agenda, and departmental reports.

A Yucca Valley man accused of being under the influence when he struck a Morongo Valley family, killing a 6-year-old girl and severely injuring her father, tried to fire his public defender last Friday. Ronald Simon, now 55, requested a “Marsden Motion,” during a pre-trial hearing in court Friday. Defendants may request a Marsden Motion when they believe their lawyer is ineffective in representing them in their criminal case. Judge Dan Detienne refused Simon’s motion to fire his public defender Paul Agron and continued the pre-trial hearing to January 20. Ronald Simon is accused of causing the death of 6-year-old Alyssa Hendricks in an October 2009 crash that severely injured 26-year-old Cameron Hendricks. Simon, who was not injured in the crash, has been charged with murder, driving under the influence of drugs causing injury, and hit and run resulting in injury or death. A Sheriff’s report said Ronald Simon was drifting in and out of the westbound lanes of the highway near Big Morongo Canyon Road before driving into oncoming traffic and hitting the Hendricks’ vehicle.

The former treasurer of the Onaga Elementary School’s Family-Faculty Association, or FFA, has been arrested for embezzling funds from the organization. Shelli Stovall, 34, of Yucca Valley, was arrested December 27 for embezzlement from the volunteer organization. According to Onaga Elementary Principal Kyle Hannah, the FFA was performing an internal audit in September when Stovall came to him and confessed to taking $3,393, after which she resigned her position as treasurer. Hannah notified the Sheriff’s Department, which conducted an investigation that confirmed the embezzlement. Hannah said the investigation was closed so that the FFA could move forward, but added “If we were to dig further, we would have found more money missing.” Shelli Stovall will be arraigned on the embezzlement charge in Joshua Tree Superior Court January 25.

The Twentynine Palms City Council meets in a busy regular session tonight. Reporter Dan Stork says among items of interest is a public hearing on accessory structures, regional assignments, and paving projects…
The January 10th meeting of the Twentynine Palms City Council starts at 5 p.m. with a closed session to consider two potential cases of litigation. A public hearing will once again take up the matter of a code amendment related to accessory structures. Then the Council will consider whether the city wishes to serve as a successor agency and successor housing agency to the Redevelopment Agency. The council will also be asked to guide the staff concerning design elements for sidewalk and trail from Highway 62 to Joshua Tree National Park Headquarters, along National Park Drive. Council finishes off the night with assignment of its members to various regional organizations. The consent agenda includes awarding of a $541,000 contract for paving improvements to Hillside Avenue, Sunnyvale Drive and Sun Valley Drive, and acceptance of a half-million dollars worth of work on the “Safe Routes to School” project affecting portions of El Paseo Drive, Mesquite Springs Road, Split Rock Avenue, and Baseline Road. The meeting takes place in council chambers in City Hall on Adobe Road.

With State Assemblyman Paul Cook announcing yesterday that he would seek a Congressional seat, there are two candidates for 3rd District County Supervisor—incumbent Neil Derry and challenger James Ramos, Chairman of the San Manuel Band of Indians. At a recent Yucca Valley Rotary meeting, Derry made serious accusations about Ramos. Z107.7 News met with Ramos for his response. Derry said recent felony charges and a conviction on campaign finance irregularities were the result of collusion between the County District Attorney Mike Ramos—who Derry referred to as “corrupt”—and candidate James Ramos in an attempt to unseat him. (The two men are not related and simply share the surname.) When Derry was reminded that the charges came from the State Attorney General’s office and not the County DA, he claimed the state preferred the charges at the request of the DA, calling it common practice. James Ramos strongly denied Derry’s claims, saying, “There is no factual basis for that. Derry is deflecting the fact that what he did was wrong and he got caught. Derry needs to man up that what he did was wrong.” Ramos also said that while he knows the DA, there was never any collusion, and in fact the crime committed by Derry occurred before he was running. Ramos said Derry trying to deflect blame—rather than just admit he was wrong—is a reflection of his character. Ramos also took strong exception to Derry’s claims that because he is the head of a sovereign nation, he should not be allowed to run, saying, “Since 1924 Congress gave Indian tribes full citizenship, the right to vote and hold public office.” Ramos said he has served two terms on the San Bernardino College Board and on the State Board of Education and the claim is a non-issue. He cited former Native American Senator Ben “Nighthorse” Campbell as an example, reminding Derry that Native Americans proudly serve in the military defending their country. Native American Ira Hayes helped raise the American flag over Iwo Jima, and native “Code-talkers” helped win World War II. Ramos said “Native Americans have fought for their right to run for and hold office just like all Americans.”

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.