The Yucca Valley Town Council meeting kicked off by recognizing two outgoing members of the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Commission. Council Member Dennison honored Commissioner Andrea Staehle, and Mayor Pro Tem Drozd honored Commissioner Gerry Melby, noting the work done by both during their time with the PRCC. The Council Members nominated Audrey Wilcox and Charlotte Burns to replace their outgoing nominees.

Town Manager Curtis Yakimow presented the 2024 election results for certification. Measure Y and Z passed by 83 and 82%, respectively; the highest rates of any tax measure statewide in their designated categories. 

The Town Council then nominated Mayor Pro Tem Drozd to serve as Mayor for 2025, with Council Member Abel serving as the next Mayor Pro Tem. Following a brief recess and reordering, the Council held a public hearing on the Community Development Block Grant. The Town of Yucca Valley works with the County to award this funding to project and program proposals, prioritizing those that benefit low to moderate-income residents. Town Staff recommended that the Council allocate the entire $124,701 in grant funding to the Senior Center Improvement project for the next fiscal year and direct the other three applicants to Measure Y Partnership Funding, applications of which will open early next year. The Town Council voted in favor of the funding proposal.

Director Matt Beurois presented a recap of the 6th Annual Yucca Valley Film Festival, which garnered over 1000 attendees, and 400 film submissions from 29 countries. The Council then considered a Military Banner Recognition Program, which would create an initiative to display banners honoring active and veteran service members. The banners would be featured on light poles at the Community Center, with the option to extend elsewhere in town. The Council voted to launch the program in 2025, with prioritization to be given to active military personnel.

The meeting concluded with a public comment period, during which several residents spoke in support of the thrift store at the Senior Center. The Center is currently undergoing Phase 2 of its Modernization Project, which includes renovating the staff offices, the reception area, and restrooms to be ADA-compliant. While the thrift store’s future is uncertain in the new layout, it remains an important resource for the community, as noted by Tish Przybocki.

“We provide coffee for the seniors, and condiments. We buy gift cards from Stater’s for those who need food. We provide microwaves for the homebound that have no source to heat their food. We help clothe the homeless, or if seniors come in and they don’t have something on their back, we give them coats. I have a petition signed by the seniors that would like to see it open, because it’s very valuable to them.”

Three separate properties in Twentynine Palms were declared a Public Nuisance and the structures were declared Dangerous Buildings. The owner of the property at 6664 Sahara Avenue is deceased and the new owners have not responded. The City will demolish the structure, clean up and place a lien on the property. For the other two properties, the owners shall provide the City with written consent to enter upon the property for the purpose of removing weeds, rubbish and junk within 45 days.

A small collection facility and recycling buy back center has requested that the project be exempt from CEQA and the Administrative Use Permit be approved. After informative public comments, the Planning Commission ruled that more research needed to be done to ensure land use stipulations are adhered to and tabled their decision until the January 21, 2025 meeting.

The Reset Hotel, located at 7000 Split Rock Avenue in Twentynine Palms, has asked for a five-year deferment for the utilities undergrounding to the three power poles serving the property. The Commission required further information on plans for Phase II and reassurance that these plans are moving forward. Utilities undergrounding for this phase needs to take place near the start of construction. The deferment was supported by several members of the public and the developer answered any further questions satisfactorily. The five-year deferment was unanimously approved.

That’s right – the largest county in the United States has a flag like most counties, and like most county flags it’s been a little bit of an afterthought. Now, San Bernardino County is taking its flag seriously: blue and gold stripes are stacked around a silhouette of white mountains, and a scalloped arrowhead in the middle with the date of the county’s founding “1853.”

Five stars spread across the top of the flag representing each of its districts and along the bottom of the flag there is a reminder of what county you are standing in: “SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY” is written in bold gold letters.

As a flag, it’s doing a lot with 5 different elements vying for your attention. There is a school of thought around flag design that says it should be so simple and striking that a child should be able to draw it from memory. I’m not sure that’s the case with the new San Bernardino County flag design, but I’m also struggling to remember a time when I even noticed our current county flag flying anywhere.

It has been in use since 1984 and has some of the same design elements minus the mountains, and it’s pretty forgettable. I have to admit I’m a big fan of the scrappy flag that was put in use in 1973 – two blue triangles representing our surrounding mountains, the county’s founding date, name and arrowhead on an off-white background. Not bad.

If there is one thing about flags and signs, it’s that everyone has an opinion. My opinion is this flag is pretty decent, and kind of looks like a football jersey… but that’s ok. The county also made sure that this flag is thee county flag. To protect against the creation of alternative county flags, the Board of Supervisors adopted a flag policy that defines the flag in precise detail and governs its use along with the U.S. and California state flags.

Read more about the new San Bernardino County Flag here.

Yesterday (December 16) just before 1:00 p.m., San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies say they attempted to stop a grey Corvette travelling at a high rate of speed westbound on Twentynine Palms Highway near Torres Avenue in Joshua Tree.

Deputies identified the driver as Stephen Bloomer, a 57 year-old resident of Twentynine Palms, and say he failed to yield to sirens. They say that he continued driving erratically at a high speed and in the interest of public safety deputies cancelled the pursuit.

A short while later a California Highway Patrol officer located Bloomer and his Corvette at the Morongo Valley Circle K, and the Sheriff’s Department said that the CHP officer attempted to detain Bloomer, at which point he reversed his Corvette into the CHP car. They say a deputy arrived to assist and Bloomer rammed the vehicle, injuring the deputy. Bloomer was eventually taken into custody.

Stephen Bloomer was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and is being held at the West Valley Detention Center on $1,000,000 bail.

The Board will recognize Groundworks Arts for their recent Golden Bell Award as well as extend their thanks to the organizations that supported the school bond of Measure C. 

There will be a 2024 Dashboard Data Update, an accountability system based on multiple measures that provides parents and educators with information on school and district progress so they can participate in decisions to improve student learning. 

Director of Maintenance and Facilities David Daniels will provide information on the 2023-24 Statutory School Facilities Report, followed by a public hearing for the report. 

There will be Board Policy Updates to Sex Discrimination and Sex-Based Harassment; Married, Pregnant, and Parenting Students; Filling Vacancies; and Comprehensive Health Education. Since Assembly Bill 307 requires California to teach students and teachers about ethical and appropriate use of information technology, there will be a textbook approval for “Developing Digital Detectives” for grades K through 12.

For action items, the Board will adopt the calendar of regular Board meetings for 2025, and there will be a request to certify that MUSD can meet its financial obligations for the current fiscal year 2024-2025, and subsequent two fiscal years as outlined in the First Interim Report.

The Board of Directors is expected to approve the minutes from the November 20 meeting. 

The Management Reports will be read, including those on maintenance, water quality, Finance and the General Manager’s report.

This meeting will be held on Wednesday December 18 from 4:00 p.m., at 72401 Hatch Road, Twentynine Palms. The meeting can be viewed on the District’s website at www.29palmswater.net

Comments from the Public are always welcome.

The Yucca Valley High School Boys Soccer team played an away pre-season game at West Shores High School in Salton City, losing 2-1.

Diego Delaney scored the team’s one goal.

The team will take part in a Christmas break Tournament at San Gorgonio High School in San Bernardino Dec 27 and 28, where the team hopes to solidify their chemistry and begin their season in January

The Twentynine Palms High School Interact club thanks the community for coming out to their scholarship fundraiser on Saturday. Santa Claus himself appeared for photographs with community members at the Twentynine Palms Starbucks, all in the name of raising money for college scholarships for Twentynine Palms High School students. Interact Club advisor David Lopez called it “great turnout,” and said that more than $200 was raised at the event.

Santa Claus will be back this evening to support the Yucca Valley High School Wrestling team. He’ll be available for photographs for $5 suggested donations at Yucca Valley High School’s MPR Lunch Room. Expect hot cocoa and cookies donated by the Morongo Cookie Co.

The Copper Mountain College (CMC) women’s basketball team defeated Compton College 76 – 38.  

Kinzey Hutchings, a sophomore point guard from Wasilla, AK, led the Cacti with 20 points. 

This win reflects the hard work and dedication of our players,” said CMC Head Coach Kris Groce. “They’ve been putting in the effort every day, and tonight it showed. We’re building something special here at CMC, and this is just the beginning.”   

The Copper Mountain College Fighting Cacti kick off IEAC Conference play on Wednesday Dec 18th against College of the Desert.  The Women’s team will play at 5:00 p.m. followed by the Men’s team at 7:00 p.m.

If you or someone you know loves exploring the diverse ecology of the Coachella Valley through birding, then The Salton Sea Leadership Program might be just the program to kick off your 2025.

According to the Audubon Society of California – the transformative program is designed to inspire, educate, and empower individuals passionate about the Salton Sea and desert conservation. Through hands-on learning, immersive field trips, and community engagement, participants will gain the skills and knowledge to advocate for this unique ecosystem and its communities.⁣

⁣The program’s mission is to foster a safe, inclusive environment where participants can explore their passions, join a supportive community dedicated to making a difference, and develop the skills to address climate change impacts on the Salton Sea region and California desert habitats.⁣

Learn more and apply here: https://ca.audubon.org/salton-sea/salton-sea-leadership-program

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