Morongo Basin residents impacted by the recent SCE power outages are invited to attend a free community resource fair hosted by the San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services, in coordination with the Town of Yucca Valley and the City of Twentynine Palms, today (January 13) from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in both Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms
Today’s event will provide essential resources to help residents during future power outages. Available resources will include free solar charging packs, masks and gloves, garbage bags, lanterns, along with tips for managing food waste during outages.
The resource fairs will operate on a first-come, first-serve basis and are open to all Morongo Basin residents. No registration is required and resources will be available while they last.
The events are today from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Yucca Valley Community Center and the Twentynine Palms Community Center.Â
The Cadiz aquifer system holds more than 30 million acre-feet of water, more capacity than Lake Mead. The company has spent the better part of 30 years fighting legal challenges to its scheme to pump the water and sell it to thirsty communities in Orange County and the Central Valley.
In recent years, under pressure from stockholders, Cadiz Inc. has pursued a variety of other ventures. From growing citrus, to cultivating marijuana, many have been controversial, none saved the company from accumulating excessive debt. But sporting a board makeover and dynamic new CEO installed last June, the company’s latest foray, production of green hydrogen, may have merit.
Understandably, Cadiz’ critics remain skeptical. The company has a well-earned reputation for deceptive PR maneuvers, lack of transparency, and a propensity to exaggerate. Its practices have raised the ire of scientists, conservationists, and Native American tribes. They oppose Cadiz’ claims that every second, 330 gallons of fresh water in the Mojave is lost to evaporation. Scientific experts warn the project would extract 25 times more groundwater than is naturally replenished.
Cadiz claims they would recharge all of the pumped water by storing water in wet years for cities as far away as Phoenix. Environmentalists say the pumping would cause the natural springs and streams to dry up, depriving essential water from desert vegetation and wildlife, including bighorn sheep, bobcats, and migratory birds.
Last year, the company signed an agreement with the Santa Margarita Water District to deliver water via pipeline from Cadiz Ranch some 300 miles to the affluent Orange County community. If they are able to clear a couple of government hurdles, Cadiz will start construction of the pipeline this year and open the spigot in 2026.
New board full of notable names
Cadiz’ board of directors makeover appears well suited for such a challenge, They include a past leader of the California Environmental Protection Agency, a former advisor to President Bill Clinton, basketball legend Magic Johnson’s former business partner and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass’ current chief of staff. Board Chair and CEO is heavy hitter Susan Kennedy. Kennedy was cabinet secretary to former Gov. Gray Davis, chief of staff to former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, former member of the Public Utilities Commission, and communications director for the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
Kennedy has been angling to rebrand Cadiz Inc. as an environmental justice enterprise that can supply water to low-income communities, while generating revenue for Native American tribes. Kennedy says the proposed groundwater bank will be at least 50% tribally owned — a clever response to the tribal opposition that has dogged Cadiz in the past.
Without a doubt, Cadiz board of power players is already working to woo Sacramento because standing in the way of their pipeline is a state law that prohibits sending water through the aqueduct unless the State Lands Commission, or SLC, determines the pumping “will not adversely affect the natural or cultural resources” of nearby public lands. And worse, the SLC last month cited Cadiz lack of transparency and excessive debt when it terminated a long-term pipeline right-of-way Cadiz was counting on.
Is hydrogen the future for Cadiz?
The remaining bright spot on the horizon for Cadiz is a joint agreement signed in recent months with RIC Energy, a Spanish renewable power company. Under the agreement, which some claim will create the world’s largest hydrogen production facility, Cadiz will supply RIC with up to 3,000 acres of land and 500 acre-feet of water annually. RIC will build a photovoltaic solar farm on the ranch and use the power generated to split water molecules into hydrogen atoms, as much as 50 tons of green hydrogen daily. The pair then aim to use the rail lines, pipelines and interstate highways that intersect Cadiz Ranch to deliver the clean-burning hydrogen to Southern California markets to fuel zero-emission cars, trucks, and electric generation power plants.
Looking ahead, it’s anyone’s guess whether Cadiz Inc. will rally around the green opportunities hydrogen presents or fall back on the environment-busting vision that has created so much mistrust and litigation over the past three decades.
If you are interested in any of thee volunteer opportunities, be sure to read the details and apply early:
Desert Institute Field Program Assistant volunteers support environmental education courses run by Joshua Tree National Park Association’s Desert Institute. These volunteers manage course supplies, monitor participant safety, and help instructors manage courses successfully. Volunteers must be available for at least two weekend courses this spring.
Cottonwood Campground Host volunteers orient campers to the park, answer visitor questions, and assist with the campground reservation system. Start and end dates are flexible, but hosts must commit to at least 6 weeks of service between early February and late May 2025.
Emergency Incident Training Actor volunteers will support an emergency incident training event to help law enforcement and emergency responders improve their preparedness. These volunteers will simulate injuries, sometimes with the help of makeup, based on their assigned roles and instructions. No acting or emergency response experience necessary! Volunteers must be available 8 am – 2 pm on 2/10, 2/12, and/or 2/15.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Day Cleanup Event will honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and contribute to the preservation of the park’s landscape by removing litter from the Rattlesnake Canyon area of Indian Cove. This project is 9 am – 12 pm on Monday, 1/20.
Hey There Gallery debuts a new three-person show called TABULA RASA. It features two dimensional work from artists Colin Holloway, Eternity Fern, and Nick Aguayo. There will be a reception from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
La Matadora kicks off their new solo show, it’s called SOLA. Artist Monica Morones has taken over the gallery for the month. You may know her as the creative director of Maniac Girls. The reception , running from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. will feature music from IAMNOTADJ.
Down the courtyard from La Matadora in the Art Queen complex is the grand opening of a new gallery, Coyote Little.
The Beatnik Lounge will be debuting a new community art show called Peace Movement. They will be holding a reception from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
All of these galleries are close together, so park at one and walk to the others.
The Mojave Artists of Color Collective, or MACC, is hosting their winter exhibition, Desert Dreams and Fascinations, at the City of Twentynine Palms Visitor Center. Curated by Kim Martin and Mary Dennis, the show runs from January 11 through March 13 and explores imagined realities, dreamscapes, and the intersection of the past, present, and future.
The Mojave Artists of Color Collective is an intergenerational group of artists and creatives living in the Morongo Basin. It offers peer support, networking, and advocacy to help Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) in the arts to gain greater access to funding, exhibitions, and resources.
This winter, MACC’s Desert Dreams and Fascinations exhibition will feature work in various mediums, including painting, photography, and performance art. The show is open to the public and is supported by the Twentynine Palms Public Arts Advisory Committee.
The opening reception will be held on Saturday, January 11, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the City of Twentynine Palms Visitor Center.
Theatre 29 will hold auditions for their Spring show, “A Streetcar Named Desire”, on Monday, January 13 at 6:00pm at Theatre 29. Directed by Gary Daigneault, this Tennessee Williams legendary drama center around the experiences of Blanche DuBois, a former Southern belle who, after encountering a series of personal losses, leaves her once-prosperous situation to move into a shabby apartment in New Orleans rented by her younger sister Stella and brother-in-law Stanley. Passions and madness erupt in this Pulitzer Prize winning masterwork.
Auditioners are asked to bring a resume or a list of acting experience and be prepared for a cold read. “A Streetcar Named Desire” will run for nine performances from February 28 – March 16, 2025, with an opening night hosted by the Twentynine Palms Rotary Club.
Because of mature themes the show is not recommended for children under 16.
Kurt Schauppner is known as the acclaimed journalist and editor behind Twentynine Palms newspaper “The Desert Trail.” What I didn’t know is that he’s also a musician. Though he rarely plays live, this weekend you’ll have two chances to see him play his music with a full backing band.
I sat down with Schauppner for a conversation about his music and the show, called “Stories, Excuses and Alibis.”
Jef: “Most people would know you from the Desert Trail, right?”
Kurt: “Correct, I just finished my 25th year here. I’m the Editor.”
Jef: “What people might not know is that you’re also a musician?”
Kurt: “I’ve been playing guitar for most of my life. Got my first guitar when I was 10 years-old, and since the mid-80’s I’ve been writing songs, trying to record them. It’s been a hobby. A lot of the songs will be a debut, this is going to be the first really full length concert I’ve ever done.
For each song, I’ll tell a little story about how it was written. And sometimes about the person who it was written about. It’s basically me and the group. We’ve got Psychic Black playing and Tom Merrick of Hunter and the Wicked. We’ll have a great time playing music and telling stories about the songs.
It’s eclectic. I like all different types of music, and I like to try to do all kinds of music. So it’s going to be some blues, some folk, some rock, some pop. I try to vary it all. The arrangements are pretty basic. But I’ve got these great musicians backing me up. So you’re going to hear some wonderful things. Guy plays violin on a few songs, and he’s classically trained, so it’s going to be achingly beautiful.”
Jef: “Is there going to be any accompanying album?”
Kurt: “I don’t think so.”
Jef: “So if you want to hear these songs, this is your chance!”
Kurt: “This is it for you! If you blow it, you blow it!”
The shows are Saturday and Sunday night at Theatre 29. Both shows are $20 with discounts for seniors and military. You can get tickets online at theatre29.org or call 760-361-4151.
Power outages continued for a second day in a row yesterday (January 9) throughout the Morongo Basin, affecting thousands of residents and businesses.
Power dropped out through most of the area at just after 9:30 a.m., with power being restored to many areas throughout the afternoon and evening.
Traffic light outages led to at least one collision involving a tow truck at the intersection of Twentynine Palms Highway and Balsa Ave in Yucca Valley at around 10 a.m.
Though Wednesday’s outage was described by Southern California Edison as a combination of planned outages and line issues complicated by high winds, a representative from SCE told Z107.7 that they were aware of the situation, but did not provide a reason for yesterday’s outage.
An email sent from SCE to customers on Thursday morning that “extended and potentially intermittent outages caused by extreme weather … could extend through the weekend and into early next week.”
You can report outages to SCE at 1-800-611-1911 and online at sce.com
“All you can think of is ‘there goes your business, and thank god for the fire department… because they were here in minutes.’”
William Sellers owns and runs WS Plumbing located in Yucca Valley, right off Highway 62 between Acoma and Apache Trail. He and his crew were inside his business on Thursday morning when the power went. But other than losing lights inside and cameras to the back alley, the blinking power grid wasn’t something they were too worried about. Kimberly Johnson was working inside when about 15 to 20 minutes later she said they got a knock on the door…
“…from across the street at KK Rents. They opened our door and said ‘your buildings on fire, get out!'”
When she and her coworkers exited out the back of their business on Acoma Trail they found billowing black smoke and flames surrounding a power pole in the northeast corner of their lot.
Plumbing and sewer supplies we stacked against this fence and near the power poleTwo “porta-potties” melted down behind the fence
According to Kimberly, a single engine from theSan Bernardino County Fire Dept. was on their way back from a traffic collision call when they saw the smoke and flames – pulling into the business right as dispatch notified them of the blaze.
When Z107.7 arrived at around 11:30 a.m. the fire was extinguished and firefighters were performing mop up operations.
“We were lucky that the wind was going that way (motioning south) so it burned the outhouses down and all of my fittings for the sewer project.”
Damage appears limited to sewage parts that Sellers had ordered for a job and two porta-potties outside the fence that had completely melted down into a pool of charred plastic.
On Wednesday the Morongo Basin was still in the middle of a red flag warning, which alerts residents of high speed sustained winds that could easily spread a fire to neighboring properties.
“A flame, an ember can go for half a mile or a mile. We’re trying to figure out how it started, we just can’t figure it out.”
William Sellers owns WS Plumbing. “I’m just happy everybody in the building is ok and safe.”A chair sitting about 10-feet from the fire was singed on the sideFirefighters were on their way back from a collision call when they saw the smoke behind the business.
As for the cause of this fire – no one knows yet. We’ve reached out to Southern California Edison and the San Bernardino County Fire Department – both who were onsite when Z107.7 arrived but had left shortly after. Power remained out in the area for most of the basin until it was restored in the late afternoon on Thursday.
Flames appear to have reached the first set of lines on the power pole, with the surrounding area covered in charred and melted plastic and PVC from plumbing supplies. He estimates the damages to his business is around $10,000 dollars.
“I can replace this tomorrow. I’m just happy that everybody in the building is ok and safe.”
Most of the hi-desert remains in a red flag warning as high winds continue to be forecast through the weekend.
A call for a suspicious person in Twentynine Palms led to two arrests, including one convicted felon with an active warrant alleged to be in possession of a can of tear gas.
On Tuesday (January 7) at around midnight, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call of a suspicious person in the 4000 block of Alfalfa Ave in Twentynine Palms. Deputies say they contacted two women sitting in a vehicle with temporary registration and license plates.
Deputies identified the women as Breanna McCormick, 21, and Lindsay Gates, 39, They said they found McCormick was a convicted felon with an active warrant for battery and was in possession of a can of tear gas. As a convicted felon, she is prohibited from being in possession of any weapon.
Breanna McCormick was arrested for her warrant and investigation into unlawful possession of tear gas, and is being held at the West Valley Detention Center on $35,000 bail. Lindsay Gates was cited possession of paraphernalia and released at the scene.
After an injury collision in Wonder Valley, a man with an active felony warrant was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
On Wednesday morning (January 8) at around 5:55 a.m., the California Highway Patrol reports that Austine Toensing, a 39 year-old resident of Yucca Valley was driving a GMC Yukon eastbound on Twentynine Palms Highway west of Ironage Road. They say that 41 year-old man from Twentynine Palms was driving a Honda Accord directly in front of Toensing, when the Honda slowed to make a left turn onto Ironage Road.
The CHP says that the GMC struck the rear of the Honda. The driver of the Honda was injured and taken to Hi-Desert Medical Center for treatment for moderate injuries.
The CHP said that Toensing was suffering from minor injuries and was found to be under the influence of drugs. He was taken to Hi-Desert Medical Center for injuries, and then arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and several active warrants in Riverside County, including investigation into assault with a deadly weapon, brandishing a weapon, and being a felon in possession of weapon.
Austin Toensing was arrested on suspicion of DUI with bodily injury, and active warrants in Riverside County and is being held at the West Valley Detention Center on $500,000 bail.
The ten artists of the Art Dialogue Group meet monthly to share their works in progress, exchange encouragement, and discuss art. The Group also promotes fellowship among artist members, recognizes and evaluates the standard of creative work, and encourages artistic development. It additionally offers philanthropic aid to the art community and keeps members up-to-date on art news and events.
This collaborative group has exhibited at various venues and will now showcase their work at the Hi-Desert Artists Gallery in Yucca Valley.
The exhibition runs from January 10 to March 10, with an opening reception on January 18 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The gallery is located at 55635 Twentynine Palms Highway in Yucca Valley.
The Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce is hosting at Hi-Level Wellness and Natural Health Expo Saturday afternoon. Held at the Town Center Mall, you can find local and regional experts to address the specific needs of hi-desert residents.
From managing dry skin and muscle tension caused to stress relief through yoga, massage, and acupuncture, this event also features a lineup of engaging speakers sharing tips on embracing a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.
The event will be held at the Town Center Mall, located at 57725 Twentynine Palms Highway in Yucca Valley, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Yucca Valley Lady Trojan basketball team traveled to Coachella Valley High School yesterday (January 9) but came up short 51-46 in the Desert Valley League matchup.
Trailing 22-19 at the half, the Yucca girls took a 44-39 in the fourth quarter only to see the Coachella team outscore the Lady Trojans 12-2 in the last two minutes of the game.
Senior Tayla Monroy led the Lady Trojans by knocking down 5 three point baskets on her way to a game high 19 points. Fellow Senior Syhelie Gilmore was a force scoring 16 points despite spending most of the game in foul trouble.
The loss dropped the teams record to 1-1 in league play and 7-9 overall with a home game against Twenynine Palms on Tuesday (January 14) next on the schedule. Tip off is set for 5:30 p.m. in Trojan Gym.
Update 4:30PM: Jeff Monford, Senior Advisor of Corporate Communications for SCE sent this update to Z107.7:
“Today SCE implemented a Public Safety Power Shutoff for Morongo Valley due to specific conditions there, including but not limited to exceedingly dry vegetation, very low humidity and sufficiently high prevailing and gusting winds. Adding to this, later in the day, a power line had an issue that affected the rest of the Morongo Basin. I learned a very short time ago that the line has been repaired, and crews are inspecting lines now to make sure it is safe to reenergize them. Inspections are essential for safety. Power has been restored to some lines already. Crews will reenergize the remaining ones as quickly as it is safe to do so pending completion of inspections. Some of these may not be possible after dark, potentially delaying restoration in some locations.”
Thousands of homes and businesses across the Morongo Basin are without power this afternoon (January 8).
Some residents have reported that their power has returned, but many homes remain powerless as the sun sets.
We have reached out to Southern California Edison for more information, and will provide updates as we learn more.
Hours prior to the power outtages, SCE sent an email to customers in the Morongo Basin warning that blackouts were a possibility. The statement said:
“We are currently experiencing a significant number of weather-related power outages and Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) throughout our service area due to strong winds and wildfire-weather conditions. To prioritize the safety of our crews and your community, we will restore power once the winds have settled, and our power lines are safely inspected.”
Smoke from the Line Fire in September of 2024 made for a smokey morning sunrise in Joshua Tree. Photo: Robert Haydon
Fires in Los Angeles have burned over 2000 homes and businesses with no signs of containment or slowing down. High winds and dry conditions created a literal firestorm that is still burning homes, business and apartments buildings stretching from the Pacific Palisades to Pasadena, with new fires popping up in the Hollywood Hills near Runyon Canyon.
These aren’t just homes nestled into trees or in forested neighborhoods – parts of Santa Monica were under evacuation notice yesterday and a majority of the town of Altadena has burned to the ground. These communities look similar to the City of Twentynine Palms or the Town of Yucca Valley – single family homes on small lots… Businesses and homes built in the mid-century or earlier.
High-speed winds aren’t uncommon in the hi-desert, and the last two winters have brought more rain than previous years. While all that precipitation adds to our water table and snowpack levels, it also encourages invasive grasses and weeds to sprout up and dry out, creating a literal tinderbox in empty lots or yards that don’t rake and remove the dry tufts of invasive red brome or bermuda grass.
The devastating fires currently burning in Los Angeles are a grim warning that these types of fires can light off quickly, and spread fast in the dry windy conditions. An ember from one fire can land in a yard or roof, smoldering until flames explode and repeat the pattern. This is how a single brush fire can quickly consume entire neighborhoods, and make no mistake – this is entirely possible here in the hi-desert as well as the rest of California.
What can you do to prepare? First off – eliminate any outdoor fires from your plans this winter. The Morongo Basin has gone more of 2024 without considerable amounts of measurable rainfall and seasonal changes to colder weather doesn’t reduce the risk of a wildfire. While campfires and other outdoor fires are currently permitted, think twice before adding them to your evening plans.
Take a moment to make sure you are prepared to leave your home in a hurry. Keeping important paperwork and things like family photos backed up digitally will give you more peace of mind if you have to quickly abandon your home or automobile during an evacuation order. A “go-bag” with essential items for you, your family and your pets is also a simple way to prepare for the worst.
You can also make sure your home and property has a defensible space around it – meaning weeds, garbage and other ignitable sources are kept away from the outside of your home.
Most importantly, if you hear of an evacuation warning or order – follow it immediately. Residents staying behind to defend their homes are often not as prepared as they think, and put first responders and others at risk if they need to be rescued.
State resources are spread thin as neighboring counties and states are providing assistance to the unprecedented fires – please – stay safe and help keep the hi-desert wildfire free.
Help those affected by fires in Los Angeles County:
Desert Region Fire Safe is offering free fire assessment to help ensure your property is a defensible space against wildland fire, where you can learn how to reduce wildfire risks, protect your property, and keep your family safe.
Desert Region Fire Safe wants your home’s property to be a defensible space, which is a buffer zone created by removing flammable vegetation and materials around the outside of your home. Required by state and local regulations, creating a defensible space will reduce risks of home ignition while providing a safe area for firefighters to work by clearing dead plants and junk, trimming trees and vegetation, and reassessing that vegetation is spaced out appropriately.
Home hardening is another method suggested by the organization and is achieved by strengthening your home using fire-resistant building materials and design techniques on your roof, vents, windows, siding, decks, and fences.
Desert Region Fire Safe is helping promote “Firewise USA,” a national program encouraging whole neighborhoods and communities to take proactive collective measures in wildfire safety. Benefits to achieving Firewise status include enhanced property protection, potential home insurance discounts, access to grants and funding, and strengthened community collaboration.
To set up a free fire assessment on your property, contact Desert Region Fire Safe at www.desertfire.org, call 760-853-0220, or email direct: [email protected].
The man arrested on suspicion of killing his 21 year-old wife on Sunday has pled “not guilty” to a murder charge.
Carlos Zamudio, a 23 year-old resident of Twentynine Palms was arraigned in San Bernardino County’s Joshua Tree courthouse yesterday morning (January 8). His wife, Savannah Encke, was declared dead at Hi-Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree early Sunday morning (January 5).
Homicide detectives with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department say that Zamudio brought Encke into the hospital for severe injuries. They did not provide specifics about her injuries, and say that Zamudio was suffering from injuries to his face.
Encke succumbed to her injuries, and detectives determined that Zamudio was responsible for the injuries. He was arrested at the hospital a short time later.
Zamudio was arraigned on one charge of murder and an enhancement for using a deadly weapon. He entered a plea of “not guilty” and denied the enhancement. He is currently being held at the West Valley Detention Center on $1,005,000 bail, and is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing on January 16.
There will be no mail delivered today, and all post offices are closed in observance of a National Day of Mourning in remembrance of former President Jimmy Carter.
The United State Postal Service will provide limited package delivery service today to ensure the organization does not experience any negative impacts to its package delivery operations, and Priority Mail Express service will continue.
Normal delivery and collection schedules will resume Friday, January 10, 2025.
In the November election, Californians passed Proposition 36, increasing penalties for theft and drug crimes including fentanyl. It also creates a drug court program for people with multiple drug possession convictions, it passed with 68.4% of the vote.
On the Z107.7 “Up Close” show this Friday (1/10), Douglas Poston, Supervising Deputy District Attorney for the Desert Division Morongo Basin Office, will talk with host Gary Daigneault about the tougher new laws and how they work.
All about Proposition 36, live Friday at 10:00am and streamed and podcast at z1077fm.com.
