WEEKLY NEWS
by
Kris Reilly, Editor
(760) 248-7878
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Top 10 of 2010
Tue, 12/28/2010 - 14:56 — admin The 10 most notable local stories of the past yearBy KRIS REILLY, Editor
To say the least, 2010 was an eventful year in Lucerne Valley.As the year comes to a close, we’ve assembled a list of the 10 most notable stories in the community this year, listed in a count-down format. Some of these stories were singular events, and some are ongoing issues that will affect us in the year ahead.
10.Economy
Just like the rest of the country and the world, Lucerne Valley has felt the effects of a steep economic downturn. And a small local economy may feel those effects a bit more intensely than a big city.
As The Leader reported in July, there were 12 vacant commercial storefronts in the two-mile stretch of road from the corner of Custer and Highway 18 to the corner of Old Woman Springs and Barstow Road. The businesses that remain open are struggling to hold on, and at least one has packed up and left since our July report.
Hi-Desert Book Oasis, formerly located on Old Woman Springs road, shut down and opened a new store in Hesperia earlier this month
.The town’s bigger business — the mines — are struggling as well. OMYA reported in February that its business was down 50 percent from where it was in 2006. Jim Stewart of OMYA said the mine was forced to cut at least 40 employees.Mitsubishi Cement Corporation temporarily laid off 49 employees during a production stoppage early in the year and later laid off six employees permanently. Another production stoppage in November did not require any temporary layoffs, and another stoppage may be necessary next year, plant officials said.
9. Flooding
Rain doesn’t come to the desert too often. When it does, it can wreak havoc.
A January storm caused a four-mile stretch of Barstow Road east of Rabbit Springs to be closed for nearly three days after part of the road was undermined by water and the pavement crumbled. But the worst was yet to come, and surprisingly it came in the summer.On the afternoon of Aug. 26, a sudden torrential storm hit eastern Lucerne Valley.
A total of 12 people were rescued from four different vehicles by emergency personnel, soaked but unhurt. Los Angeles TV news vans were on hand to cover the aftermath of the freak storm.After the rain subsided, many of the dirt roads in the eastern part of town were left impassable.
San Bernardino County officials met with angry residents who had trouble accessing their homes in the wake of the flood. Those who lived on roads not maintained by the county were told, essentially, that they were out of luck and would have to get the roads fixed on their own.Just last week, more heavy rains caused flooding and damaged several dirt roads, though the damage doesn’t appear to be quite as severe as that of the August storm.
8. Death Threat
A strange local case made minor national and regional headlines in November.
Clara Coley-Crawford, 53, was caught trying to purchase a gun with which she intended kill a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s sergeant.Kevin Jaquez, who was the Lucerne Valley substation sergeant at the time, said he was not the target of the threats; Coley-Crawford was targeting a former sergeant of the substation.
Apparently confused, Crawford said in court, “I’ve been dealing with the same officer for over 20 years.”
7. Fugitive Shot
Nathaniel Henry’s attempt to run from the law came to an end in November, when he reportedly pulled a handgun on detectives at a Lucerne Valley residence and was shot dead.
Henry, 41, was a convicted sex offender who had removed his GPS ankle bracelet in September. Detectives found him at the home on Camp Rock Road, shooting him when he reportedly pointed the gun at them.
6. Liquor Store Robbers Caught
A story that began in 2009 ended in 2010, when the men who attempted to rob Lucerne Valley Liquor at gunpoint where apprehended.
After digging a bullet out of his wrist, Phillip Brown, 21, of Lucerne Valley, contacted a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputy on Jan. 2 and turned himself in for the attempted robbery of the store on Dec. 22, 2009.
Wearing a witch Halloween mask and with accomplice Robert Charles Kerns by his side, Brown allegedly entered the store with a handgun and threatened Andy Tarrab, 22, who was behind the counter. Tarrab’s 64-year-old father, former Syrian policeman Gus Tarrab, drew his own handgun from beneath the counter and fired three rounds, hitting Brown twice.
Video of the shooting was broadcast on Los Angeles TV stations as police searched for the assailants, who escaped after Brown was shot.Brown reportedly dug the bullet out and then went to Montebello, where authorities said a female with some medical training helped treat a second wound to his buttocks before Brown eventually turned himself in.
Kerns fled to Arizona with a friend and both men began working at a carnival on an Indian reservation before he was captured, officials said.
Brown was sentenced to seven years in state prison in March. Kerns, 23, was sentenced to 16 months in prison.At the sentencing, Brown asked Judge Miriam Morton to release him for two weeks before serving his sentence.
Brown said that he needed the time to give back money to donors who contributed to a non-profit organization that Brown headed. He said he also wanted to say good-bye to his two small children.But Morton denied the request, stating that his choice could have easily brought death and that his crime makes him a threat to society.“You can’t go back and take it back,” Morton said.
5. Renewable Energy
Solar and wind power is coming fast to America, and the California Desert figures to be one of the prime locations for renewable energy developers.
Not every local resident is opposed to these developments, but some are concerned about their effects on desert views, property values and wildlife habitat.
Furthermore, the facilities will employ very few people long-term and may not have a noticeable positive effect on the local economy.There are more than a dozen renewable energy projects planned for the area. Some will get built, some won’t.
But at least one of them appears to be a sure thing: The Chevron solar facility near Old Woman Springs Road in eastern Lucerne Valley has been fast-tracked by the federal government.
4. Scaling Everest
It’s not every day that a former Lucerne Valley Elementary School student makes international headlines.That’s what happened in May, when Jordan Romero, 13, became the youngest person ever to reach the summit of Mount Everest, 29,035 feet above sea level
.Romero lives in Big Bear and resided in Lucerne Valley for two years with his mother Leigh Anne Drake, who taught in the Lucerne Valley Unified School District.As a third- and fourth-grade student at LVES, Romero would often walk past a hallway mural depicting the highest peak on each of the world’s seven continents.
According to Mary Eller, one of his former teachers, Romero spent a couple of weeks researching the mountains and decided to climb all seven peaks.Everest was the penultimate peak in his quest; the final summit is Antarctica’s Vinson Massif.
Jordan and his team were scheduled to leave for Antarctica this winter.Romero became an international star and was featured on the TV news show “20/20” in June. In October, he visited LVES along with Ray Danaher, the teacher who painted the mural that started it all. Romero spoke to local students, encouraging them to “find their Everest.”
3. Marine Base Expansion
The U.S. Marine Corps has had its eye on a section of the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area for years now, and it could be a few more years before the Marines move into the area for training. If and when it does happen, it could spell doom for Lucerne Valley.
Johnson Valley OHV, located several miles east of Lucerne Valley, is one of the most popular off-roading areas in the country, drawing professional racers, hobbyists and fans from all over the world.
Lucerne Valley business owners say they rely heavily on the money these visitors bring into town. The Marines’ plan would permanently close a large portion of the area for military training maneuvers, and another portion of the area would be used two months out of the year (an arrangement that makes some locals nervous).
A draft environmental impact statement of the plan is expected in January 2011, and a public comment period will follow. Then the plan must be submitted to Congress for approval.
2. Devastation in Johnson Valley
Just about every American within earshot of a television or radio heard about the disastrous off-roading crash that occurred at the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area in August.A racing pickup truck lost control after a jump and barreled into the crowd at the California 200, killing eight people and seriously injuring 10 more.
The tragic story was told countless times (in these pages as well as the pages of national magazines and newspapers, not to mention the extensive television and Internet coverage) and therefore it does not need to be told again here. But the aftermath is what’s most important to Lucerne Valley.
After a lengthy investigation, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) determined that it did not follow its own procedures in regulating the race.The BLM has responded with beefed-up safety enforcement. Race promoters said they’ve seen a much heavier BLM presence at events in Johnson Valley and elsewhere, and they’ve had to complete more paperwork to get events approved by the BLM.
Mojave Desert Racing — which organized the California 200 and has not spoken to the media since the tragedy — is not likely to hold more races any time soon, if ever.
1. Schools
The Lucerne Valley Unified School District made headlines throughout 2010.
It started early in the year, when the district’s financial troubles became clear. Facing funding shortfalls from the state and declining enrollment, the district is also saddled with debt from a certificates of participation (COP) loan it took out in 2007.
The district determined that the only way to reach financial solvency was to push for a general obligation bond measure which would have raised local property taxes: The infamous Measure S.
Seemingly everyone had an opinion on Measure S and the school board’s financial decisions that necessitated it. The Leader was flooded with letters to the editor, some opposing the bond and some supporting it.When it came time to vote in the June election, most of Lucerne Valley emphatically said “no.” Measure S was defeated by a 2-to-1 margin.
Lucerne Valley High School made news when principal Michael Murphy was removed from his position during the 2009-2010 school year for undisclosed reasons.
About 100 students congregated at the school in March protested Murphy’s dismissal; prompting LVUSD Superintendent Mike Noga to show up at the campus and ask them to return to class. Noga refused to reveal the reasons for the dismissal, citing legal concerns.
The district put Murphy on paid administrative leave for the remainder of the year and did not renew his contract for the following school year — in effect, firing him. He was replaced at the beginning of this school year by Russell Munyan, who was himself placed on paid administrative leave in November pending the results of an investigation into a confrontation with students. The details of the confrontation, which occurred in October, are unclear.
One student and one school employee told The Leader they had seen the incident, but they refused to give their names and speak on the record. According to San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department officials, one student was cited for possession of a pipe that can be used to smoke tobacco and/or a controlled substance. Munyan got into an altercation with the student, and other students were involved.
The investigation was scheduled to conclude in December, but details on the outcome of the investigation were not available as of this writing.
The district also has three new school board members after a November election that dragged on for weeks while ballots were verified and counted. In the end, Dawn Turnbull, Jim Harvey and John Buchanan won the three available board seats.Jody Collingham missed out on that third and final seat — by a single vote.
Though there were many stories that affected the community in 2010 — a few of which made national news — the one that got Lucerne Valley talking, more than anything else, was the situatiation facing local schools.
--------------------------------------------------------------------Tense moments at board meeting
Tue, 12/21/2010 - 15:27 — admin By KRIS REILLY, Editor
The new members of the Lucerne Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees took their seats last week, and it didn’t take long for the new board to have its first heated public discussion.
Dawn Turnbull, Jim Harvey and John Buchanan were sworn in by LVUSD Superintendent Mike Noga at the board’s Dec. 15 meeting, joining longtime board members Tom Courtney and Julia Bell.
After the new board elected its officers — Courtney was voted president and Bell became vice president — Harvey raised questions about the propriety of the meeting’s agenda.Harvey said it was not appropriate for the board to go into closed session regarding the appointment of an employee or an adjustment to the rates the district pays for mileage or cell phone reimbursement.
Harvey cited examples of other school districts that perform this kind of action in open session.“We heard from a lot of people during the (candidate) forums about transparency,” Harvey said during the meeting. “We ran on (transparency), we promised it; we should keep that promise.”
Courtney responded: “In 17 years of being a board member, this is the biggest blindside I’ve ever been given, without any discussion, without going through the superintendent first. This is a blindside.”
Harvey responded: “What are the board meetings for? Aren’t we supposed to discuss this in view of the public?”After the discussion, Harvey’s motion to remove the closed session from the agenda, seconded by Turnbull, was approved by the board.
One of the items to be discussed in closed session was the appointment of a mechanic, which Noga said the district desperately needs. Because the board would not meet again until January, Noga was allowed to fill the position, and the board planned to review and approve the hiring when it reconvenes.The meeting moved forward amicably, and Harvey said later in the meeting that he “wasn’t trying to accuse Tom of anything.”
• MEETING WITH STUDENTS: Buchanan said he would like to meet directly with students and hear their concerns.“Put the kids in the gym and have them yell at us instead of us yelling at them,” he said. “Have the kids meet with us and tell us what the problems are.”There was no time and date set for this meeting, but Buchanan said he planned to go forward with it whether the other board members participate or not.
• BUDGET REPORT: LVUSD Director of Business Services Sheri Staszewski gave a report to the board on the budget situation. She said the district is staying afloat, but she is worried about cash flow problems later in the school year.“We’re still deficit spending,” she said. “We need to come to a balanced budget, and we need to understand that cash flow is going to be a concern. Next year I anticipate a serious problem toward the end of the year with cash. ... If we don’t have cash, we can’t pay our bills.”Staszewski also said that one of the main causes of the situation is funding shortfalls from the state.“I don’t want us to think that it’s all the district’s fault, because it’s not,” she said. “The (debt incurred by the certificates of participation loan in 2007) does not help, but we might have been able to deal with it if the state was funding us like they should.”
• OUTGOING MEMBERS: Each of the outgoing board members — Jean Morgan, Bryn Risler and Jimmy James — was presented with a plaque for their service. There was also a plaque for Teresa Reyes, who stepped down last year before her term was up and was not present at the meeting.There was also a potluck dinner held before the meeting to celebrate the members’ retirement from the board.
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Budweiser, Toyota Prius ads filmed in town
Tue, 12/21/2010 - 15:16 — admin By KRIS REILLY, Editor
Scenes for two national television advertisements were shot in Lucerne Valley last Friday.Film crews came to the desert to shoot ads for Budweiser and the Toyota Prius.
The Budweiser shoot featured the company’s world-famous mascots, the Clydesdale horses. A total of 19 horses were trucked into Lucerne Valley from their home in Missouri, according to Antony Spurgeon of Creech Horse Transportation.The Budweiser scenes were shot near Granite Road in the Cougar Buttes area in northeast Lucerne Valley.
The production crew was tight-lipped about the content of the ad and didn’t allow photos of the filming, but one worker at the location said it would be a Super Bowl commercial with a cowboy/western theme. The Toyota crew was also secretive about content, confirming only that the ad would appear sometime in 2011. Scenes were shot on Old Woman Springs Road, not far from Pioneer Park.
The crew used the Lucerne Valley Market and Hardware parking lot as its base camp.Lucerne Valley often attracts film crews looking for remote, desert locations. Scenes for the 2008 Tom Cruise film “Valkyrie” were shot near Cougar Buttes, and much of the upcoming film “Priest” was shot in the Lucerne Valley-Johnson Valley area.
Linda Gommel of Lucerne Valley Market and Hardware said the economic impact for the community is positive. “They have to get gasoline, and some of (the Toyota crew members) came into the store for personal items,” Gommel said. “And they did pay us a little bit for the use of the parking lot. It doesn’t hurt."
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Sanctions will hurt Mitsubishi Plant
Tue, 11/09/2010 - 09:56 — admin BY NATASHA LINDSTROM AND KRIS REILLY, LEADER STAFF
The sanctions against local cement plants could eventually have a big impact on Mitsubishi Cement Corporation’s Cushenbury Plant, one of Lucerne Valley’s largest employers.
The High Desert’s air quality district fears that a federal sanction of more than $14 million in emissions penalties may threaten the future of the cement industry in the Victor Valley.Only $14,000 of that $14 million total was levied against the Mitsubishi plant. But the plant’s environmental manager, David Rib, said that’s only because Mitsubishi’s production happened to drop in 2008 due to a weak market. Rib said the policy was “totally unfair” and could have a drastic impact on the plant once the market returns and production rises — and that could have a profoundly negative effect on the local economy.
The Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District agrees.“This action could spell a death sentence for local cement manufacturing, an industry which has long been a pivotal contributor to the region’s economy as well as a major employer,” Eldon Heaston, executive director of the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District, said in a statement.
The district’s biggest objection to the fees: The factories being penalized aren’t to blame for the region’s air pollution problems, according to the MDAQMD. Rather, the local desert air is getting clogged by emissions blowing in from the Los Angeles Basin and cars, trucks and trains.“What we’re saying is that these fees have no effect whatsoever on improving the air quality of our area because the origin of our pollution does not come from our area,” MDAQMD spokeswoman Violette Roberts said. “The only effects these are going to have is to hurt our already fragile economy and make businesses who are already struggling want to leave California at an even quicker pace.”
As part of Section 185 in the federal Clean Air Act, the MDAQMD was required to reduce its ground-level ozone to federal target levels by 2007. Ground-level ozone forms when emissions of nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compounds “cook” in the sun. The resulting air pollution can cause respiratory problems, asthma and other health issues.
Since the MDAQMD missed that deadline, all major stationary sources of emissions in the area — such as cement plants — face “punitive fees” unless they get emissions down to no more than 80 percent of 2007 levels.For the local Cemex facilities, the fees total $11.4 million. That’s the majority of the $15 million local payroll for Cemex, which employs 240 employees at the Victor Valley cement plant and quarry, according to Cemex spokeswoman Jennifer Borgen. She noted the local operations are modernized with the best available emissions control technology and meet federal and state permit limits.
Some companies such as TXI Riverside Cement face no fines because they happened to decrease production compared to 2007, while Cemex was expanding and transitioning into more efficient kilns, Roberts said.Unless regulations change, those fees could continue to be imposed until the district gets its ozone levels down. But Roberts said that likely wouldn’t happen even if all the High Desert factories shut down.
The real solution involves reducing those mobile and South Coast emissions sources, she said.For more than two decades the local district has been trying to convince regulators to adjust their approach to air quality in this region through scientific evidence of local air flow. The MDAQMD has long observed the familiar pattern: Emissions are generated in the southwest region, blown toward the Cajon Pass where they’re joined with vehicle emissions, and cooked in the sun in the Devore region where they form layers of smog that climb toward the Victor Valley.“It has nothing to do with our factories,” Roberts said. “We are totally in disagreement with this inequitable mandate that’s coming down the pipe.”
The California Air Resources Board acknowledges some of the local concerns and is working to make the system more equitable.“We understand the fees were meant to encourage businesses that have not done their share to reduce pollution to do more if they operate in a region that misses its deadline to meet federal clean air standards,” CARB spokesman Dimitri Stanich said in a statement. “But that doesn’t make sense in California where businesses are already required to use the cleanest technologies feasible. We are working with the air districts and Environmental Protection Agency to find a solution that avoids charging this punitive fee of businesses that have already met their regulatory responsibility.”Roberts said the local district is working diligently on possible solutions to reverse the $14 million in fees they’re supposed to impose by June.
The MDAQMD has a record of speaking out against regulations that could have an adverse effect on local businesses. Earlier this year they spoke out against the implementation of climate-change bill AB 32.“Our mandate is to protect public health,” Roberts said, “but if you don’t have an economy for your residents where they can make a living, there’s not going to be any business here to regulate.”
Smog feesThe Clean Air Act imposes extra burdens on factories generating air-polluting emissions when they’re within a district failing to meet air quality targets — even though local officials say other emission-producing sources like cars and trucks are to blame for exceeding those targets in the Victor Valley.
Here are the new fees on local factories*:
• Cemex — $11.4 million
• PG&E Hinkley — $1.3 million
• RRI Coolwater — $596,000
• SCG Newberry — $557,000
• HDPP — $300,000
• SEGS Kramer — $92,000
• SEGS Harper — $90,000
• USMCLB Yermo — $56,000
• Mitsubishi Cement — $14,000
Total: $14.4 million*Because the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District isn’t meeting federal emissions targets, local businesses face fees unless they reduced their 2008 emissions to no more than 80 percent of what they were generating in 2007. Some businesses, such as TXI Riverside Cement, are not facing fees because their emissions were down for reasons such as lower production output.
Source: MDAQMD
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Not so fast, election could take weeks
Fri, 11/05/2010 - 23:24 — admin Buchanan leads Collingham by 5 votes; certification process under way
By KRIS REILLY, Editor
The Lucerne Valley Unified School District Governing Board election is far from over.Provisional ballots are still being verified, and the process could take until Nov. 30.
The difference between candidates John Buchanan and Jody Collingham is just five votes, so the outcome of the election could change as more votes are counted. Provisional ballots are granted when a voter shows up to vote but his or her name is not on the voter list. These ballots must be verified to make sure the person was registered to vote, used the correct ballot and filled it out properly.“We usually like to get it finished before Thanksgiving,” said Kari Verjil of the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters. “We’re working 12-hour days.”
There are three seats up for grabs. As it stands now, the semi-official winners are Dawn Turnbull, Jim Harvey and Buchanan. Turnbull and Harvey have relatively comfortable leads over the competition, and Stephen Colangelo appears to be too far behind to have a chance.
The drama lies in the race between Buchanan and Collingham. After Election Night, Buchanan led Collingham by just one vote: 522 to 521. Another update on Nov. 5 showed Buchanan’s lead growing to four votes (529 to 525), and the most recent update on Nov. 6 had Buchanan leading Collingham 590-585.Once the election is certified (which could take weeks), a voter or candidate can request a recount. The person who requests the recount would have to foot the bill, which would likely be at least a few hundred dollars, Verjil said.
Another results update was expected from the Registrar of Voters this Friday (Nov. 12) at 8 p.m. Check The Leader for more updates as they become available.
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Fugitive Shot, killed by authorities
Thu, 11/04/2010 - 14:26 — admin Officials say escaped sex offender pointed gun at detectives FROM STAFF REPORTS
LUCERNE VALLEY • A fugitive sex offender was shot and killed Nov. 4 when he pulled out a handgun and pointed it at detectives before authorities fired upon him, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department officials said.
Nathaniel William Henry, 41, of Lucerne Valley, was pronounced dead at a home in the 7600 block of Camp Rock Road. Sheriff’s officials were looking for Henry and found him at the residence, where he allegedly pointed the handgun at detectives, authorities said.
Henry, a registered sex offender, removed his GPS ankle monitor following a fight with his child’s mother in September, Sheriff’s officials stated.Court records show that Henry was arrested for oral copulation with a person under the age of 16 in 2003.
Henry was charged with 10 sex crimes, including two counts of oral copulation with a person under the age of 16, two counts of sexual penetration with a foreign object of a person under the age of 16, and four counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child age 14 or 15.
It’s unclear if there were multiple victims involved.Henry eventually pleaded guilty to rape. He was sentenced to six years in prison.
The Sheriff’s Homicide Detail was investigating the officer-involved shooting, as is protocol, according to Cindy Bachman, spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s Department.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Homicide Detective Scott Cannon or Sgt. Frank Montanez at (909) 387-3589 or call WeTip at (800) 78-CRIME.
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Proposition 84 grant application meeting rescheduled for September 8th
Tue, 08/31/2010 - 13:23 — From staff reports Lucerne Valley •
The special meeting regarding the Lucerne Springs Pool and surrounding property was rescheduled due to last week’s storm, officials said.
The meeting has been rescheduled for Wednesday, September 8 at 6 p.m. at the Lucerne Valley Community Center.CSA 29 Lucerne Valley Parks and Recreation has called the special meeting to discuss the acquisition of the pool using Proposition 84 funds.
For further details, call (760) 248-7048.
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Sudden deluge hits Lucerne Valley
Tue, 08/31/2010 - 13:29 — admin Twelve people pulled from vehicles stuck in flood watersBy KRIS REILLY, Editor
A total of 12 people were rescued from four different vehicles after a summer storm slammed Lucerne Valley on Aug. 26.
Torrential rains pounded the eastern end of the valley late Thursday afternoon, catching several drivers off-guard and trapping their vehicles in flood waters.Two children and three adults were pulled from a minivan at Visalia and Clark. Three people were rescued from a small car at Midway and Gobar. Near Midway and Clark, two women and a child were pulled from a full-sized pickup truck.
Karol Thompson of Lucerne Valley was also pulled from her car near Midway and Clark.Fire officials said their were no reports of injuries.Thompson said she was driving south on Midway toward her home when her small Kia suddenly became engulfed in water.“The water came all the up to my thighs inside my car,” she said. “I looked out the window and couldn’t even see; it was just mud.”Firefighters arrived and threw Thompson a life preserver before opening the door and helping her out of the car, she said. “It wasn’t even raining when I left work (a few minutes earlier),” Thompson said. “It started raining so hard that I couldn’t see. I couldn’t assess how bad the road was. That should have been my clue (to pull over and stop). Never again will I do that.”
Portions of several roads on the eastern end of Lucerne Valley — including Old Woman Springs Road and Highway 18 — were closed for hours Thursday evening as work crews cleared mud and debris.There were also reports of at least one downed power line, California Highway Patrol officials said.San Bernardino County Fire Station 111 Captain Lars Hanson said their were nine calls for help between 4 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.
While there was flooding at one end of town, there was fire at another. Firefighters doused a four-acre brushfire near the OMYA mine. Hanson said the blaze may have been caused by lightning.Hanson said the local station had help from Cal Fire, Apple Valley Fire and S.B. County firefighters from outside of town.
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Five candidates vying for school board spots
Wed, 08/11/2010 - 09:37 — No incumbents to run in November
By KRIS REILLY, Editor
LUCERNE VALLEY •
As of press time on Monday, five people — none of them incumbents — had thrown their hats in the ring for three open positions on the Lucerne Valley Unified School District governing board.
The candidates, in alphabetical order along with their listed professions, are: John William Buchanan (rancher/cowboy), Stephen Anthony Colangelo (minister), Jody Collingham (retired business owner), Jim Harvey (small business owner) and Dawn Turnbull (school administrative assistant).
An extended filing deadline has been set for Aug. 11 at 5 p.m. This special deadline applies to non-incumbents only; the incumbent filing deadline has already passed.
For further information about filing, contact the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters at (909) 387-8300 or (800) 881-8683.
The election will be held Nov. 2. Four of the five candidates listed Lucerne Valley addresses in their paperwork.Harvey hails from nearby Johnson Valley, which is part of the school district’s attendance area.
The candidates are vying to replace incumbents Jean Morgan and Bryn Risler along with appointee A.C. “Jimmy” James, who filled the position vacated by Teresa Reyes.
The other two current board members, Julia Bell and Tom Courtney, are not up for reelection this year
.The lack of incumbents in the race is not surprising given the fact that the board was the object of heavy public criticism earlier this year. The district is saddled with crippling debt from the certificates of participation (COP) loan that the board approved three years ago. Recent state funding shortfalls and declining enrollment, combined with the COP debt, have forced LVUSD to slash its budget.
The district pushed for a general obligation bond measure in an effort to alleviate the debt, but the measure failed by a two-to-one margin in the June election.
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DOUG AND TELISHA WILLIAMS SET TO PERFORM IN LUCERNE VALLEY AUGUST 8TH
Tue, 07/27/2010 - 14:57 — admin FROM STAFF REPORTS
LUCERNE VALLEY • The Traditional Music at the Russells concert series has welcomed performers from all over the country and the world.
The Russells’ latest guests are coming all the way from Martinsville, Va.Doug and Telisha Williams will perform songs from their latest album, “Ghost of the Knoxville Girl,” on Sunday, Aug. 8 at 2 p.m. at the Russells’ home, located at 35313 Foothill Road.
“Ghost of the Knoxville Girl” just spent 15 weeks on the Americana Music Association Radio Top 40 chart, according to a press release.The duo performs songs about small-town life in a variety of styles, including honky-tonk and old-style country.
The suggested donation is $10 for adults, while accompanied children under 18 are free. Food is provided. For reservations, e-mail carolyn@lucernevalley.net or call Carolyn Russell at (760) 248-2118.
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STATE TABS LVUSD WITH "QUALIFIED" STAUS
Tue, 07/13/2010 - 15:09 — admin McConnell names Lucerne Valley, Hesperia districts among 174 in financial trouble
By Beau Yarbrough, Staff Writer
The Lucerne Valley Unified School District is one of 174 public school districts statewide to end up on the State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s list of schools that are having “trouble meeting their financial obligations.”
Two Victor Valley school districts, LVUSD and Hesperia Unified School District, were among 160 districts to receive a “qualified” certification of their financial status, meaning the districts “may not meet (their) financial obligations for the current or two subsequent fiscal years.”Fourteen other districts received “negative” certifications, meaning the districts in question “will be unable to meet (their) financial obligations for the remainder of the current year or for the subsequent fiscal year.”
There are 1,077 public school districts in California.State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack McConnell’s announcement on June 29 wasn’t unexpected: The school district has made no secret of its financial situation and previously self-certified with a “qualified” budget.
“I’ve been here since May of 2009, so a little more than a year. When I came into the district, we knew there were financial issues,” LVUSD Superintendent Mike Noga said last Thursday. “That was mainly dealing with the huge amount of debt the district was dealing with.”The district had previously taken on debt to pay for a number of projects, including an early childhood learning center, new modular buildings, new school buses, new maintenance facilities and upgrades to the agricultural educational facility.The recession has made making debt payments all the harder:
School staff and officials still need to close an approximately $850,000 debt before September. Public school funds are based in large part on the average daily attendance (ADA) at each school, and the district’s been hit there as well: LVUSD has seen three years of declining enrollment, bringing it back to 2003-2004 school year levels.“If we wouldn’t have had the recession and reduction in school funding, we certainly could have made it, I believe,” said Noga. “We could have weathered the additional expenditure.”And soon the district will be responsible for $550,000 in payments over the next two years on its certificates of participation debt.
Employees have agreed to reductions in stipends, furloughs and reducing the school year to 175 days, with a start date of Aug. 30, all in an attempt to rein in costs. And district officials and union negotiators continue to discuss ways to close the funding gap.“We’re still working,” Noga said. “We’ve met this week (and) we’re planning on meeting again next week.”
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BRYANT HOPING TO GET LAZY LIZARD OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Wed, 07/07/2010 - 13:09 — admin By KRIS REILLY, Editor
When Jerry Bryant bought an old ranch off Highway 18 on the southeastern end of Lucerne Valley, he thought he’d fix it up and have it open in no time.
Seven years later, he’s still optimistic.Byrant’s Lazy Lizard Ranch has faced numerous obstacles over those seven years. He thinks the 67-acre property – which already hosts the occasional charity event or private gathering – will finally be ready to open to the public by next spring.The Lazy Lizard will welcome locals to dine or attend events and also host out-of-towners in more than a dozen guest rooms.
Perched near the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains, the ranch would feature an open-air banquet area, a swimming pool, a horseback riding area, a steakhouse and a bakery.Bryant says the ranch would be good for the community; he could employ roughly 15 people, and he says the out-of-towners would likely spend money on gas and food at other local businesses.
But it’s not a community service project; it’s Bryant’s livelihood. He sold his horse ranch in Oro Grande, sold a few other properties he owned and nearly depleted his life savings, firmly believing that the Lazy Lizard will be a success.“I’ve got well over a million in the place right now,” Bryant said. “It could be a gold mine once we get it open. The potential is just great. People really like it.”The location was once the C Bar H Ranch, a dude ranch dating back to the 1940s.
In the 1970s, it became a commune for an unusual religious group that ended up moving to Oregon in 1982. The place sat dormant for more than 20 years, ravaged by squatters and thieves.Bryant first had to clean the place up before he could even think of renovating or building anything. (“We didn’t drive a nail for the first six months,” he said.)
He also had to apply for the proper permits with the county, and there’s been a lengthy battle with CalTrans about the location of his driveway.He said he’s finally found a workable solution to the driveway problem and it will probably cost about $75,000.
Though he and his wife still get income from an apartment complex they own outside of the area, they have no more investment capital – every dime has been sunk into the Lazy Lizard. Bryant says he’ll look for an investor or a partner to get the funding.He’s also considered selling the property, but he doesn’t want to do that just yet. Sounding upbeat despite years of challenges, he said he wants to get the place up and running before he considers selling: “I would like to see it open, as hard as I’ve worked at it.”
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LVEDA: WATER HAULING POLICY IS A MAJOR CONCERN
Wed, 06/23/2010 - 16:07 — admin By KRIS REILLY, Editor
The Lucerne Valley Economic Development Association believes the change in San Bernardino County’s water hauling policy is a major issue facing the community, and LVEDA is still waiting for a response to its letter to the county on the topic.
The policy essentially forbids the use of hauled water for new developments in the county. Those who wish to build on unimproved land must dig an expensive well, with no guarantee that they will find potable water a reasonable depth.
Several concerned parties spoke at LVEDA’s May meeting, including Matt Johnson.Johnson, 29, bought a piece of land in Johnson Valley and moved there after losing his job. A carpenter by trade, he erected two small sheds and installed a water tank along with some small solar panels.He’s being cited by the county for living in an illegal dwelling. He said he’d like to rectify that by building a home that meets code requirements, but he can’t get a building permit because he uses hauled water. Because he doesn’t have the money to dig a well and has nowhere else to go, Johnson says he has no choice but to stay on his property and continue to rack up expensive citations that he cannot (or will not) pay. He said he feels like his property rights are being violated.This Catch-22 story may not be unique.
In an e-mail to the Leader, LVEDA chairman Chuck Bell said the policy “is becoming a disaster to our outlying residents with no or poor groundwater sources.”LVEDA has sent a letter to the county asking that the policy be rescinded. As of press time on Monday, there had been no response to the letter.
LVEDA Notes
• WIND FARM FILM SHOWN: Nettie Pena’s film “They’re not Green” was shown at the June LVEDA meeting. The movie shows many of the negative effects of wind power plants, including dangers to nearby residents and wildlife.The issue is an important one to Lucerne Valley, as a 28-turbine wind farm is planned for the mountains northwest of town.
Visit web.me.com/thrnotgreen for excerpts of the film and additional information, including a link to a Leader article that was written about the film in March.
Solar and wind farm developments are one of the most mportant issues facing the area, Bell said in his e-mail. LVEDA has commented on all of the applications for renewable energy developments in the area. Visit lvcal.org/lveda.htm to view the comments.•
NO JULY MEETING: LVEDA will not meet in July. Meetings will resume in August. Meetings are held at the Senior Center at 5 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month.
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LIFT OFF IN LUCERNE VALLEY
Wed, 06/16/2010 - 10:54 — admin Accident injures three at national rocketry event, but organizers and fire captain say event is safe
By KRIS REILLY, Editor
LUCERNE VALLEY • Roughly 2,000 people from all around the country and the world gathered at Lucerne Dry Lake from June 10-15 for a national rocket launching event.
It was an extended weekend of fun for just about everyone involved — except for the three people who were injured when a rocket malfunctioned on Saturday.
LDRS 29 is an annual event of the national Tripoli Rocket Association, and this year’s event was hosted by the Rocketry Organization of California (ROC). Organizers said people came all the way from Florida, New York, Ohio, the United Kingdom and Norway to launch their rockets in the desert.LDRS stands for “Large and Dangerous Rocket Ships” — it’s a tongue-in-cheek name because rocketry is much safer than it used to be.
But accidents, however rare, can happen.Two rocketeers, a man and a woman, were burned when a rocket prematurely ignited on the afternoon of June 12. Local fire and medical personnel responded, and the man and woman were airlifted to trauma centers by Mercy Air and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Rescue. They both sustained moderate burns to large portions of their bodies, authorities said.A third person, an adult male, sustained some minor burns and sought his own medical aid. Authorities believed all three people were from out of town.
ROC often hosts launches at the dry lake, and Captain Tracy Wood of San Bernardino County Fire Station 111 said he thinks the events are safe.“I’ve always understood them to have a good track record,” Wood said. “The operation seems really good. To my knowledge we’ve never been out there for this kind of incident before.” Event organizer Wedge Oldham said the incident was being investigated. He said the Tripoli Rocket Association governs “literally hundreds” of rocket launch events each month in the U.S., and he said this was the first time in 19 years that this type of incident has occurred.
Oldham estimated that about 1,500 rockets would have been launched by the time the event ended on Tuesday. Visit www.rocstock.org for more information.
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LOCAL SCHOOLS WILL REMAIN OPEN
Wed, 06/16/2010 - 10:52 — admin Editor's Notebook by Kris Reilly
UPDATED MEASURE S ELECTION RESULTS
The latest update provided by the county on June 11, with 1,286 ballots counted:
>> Yes: 32.97% (424 votes)
>> No: 67.03% (862 votes)
Mike Noga recently found out how far a rumor can fly.The Lucerne Valley Unified School District superintendent went to a dentist on the western end of Apple Valley, about 20 miles away, and the woman behind the counter asked him if Lucerne Valley students would be bussed to Apple Valley next year.He gets asked that question a lot, and the answer is “No.”
There’s been a bit of hysteria in this town over the past few months. It started in December, when I first reported on the dreadful budget situation facing LVUSD. At the time, I reported the possibility that one or both of the district’s main campuses could be closed.This was based on an interview with Noga himself. At the time, none of us had much information about the possibilities, and we had to educate ourselves.
Over the months, people on both sides of the Measure S debate searched for answers. At some point, it became clear that a campus closure was unlikely. That’s not to say impossible, but unlikely. And it certainly wouldn’t happen in the next school year.
Meanwhile, the rumor that the schools were shutting down had taken on a life of its own.The saddest consequence of the rumor is this: When Measure S failed on June 8, with more than 67 percent of local voters opposing it, there were children in this community who thought their school was about to close and they would be bussed to Apple Valley in the fall.
I want to make this message as loud and as clear as possible to everyone in Lucerne Valley, and I need your help. Shout it from every hill and rooftop:
“Our schools are not shutting down!”Local campuses will be open and ready to welcome students this fall.Could LVUSD close a campus someday? Yes, it could. But there are all kinds of bad things that could happen in the future.
For instance, what if the town is threatened by a major wildfire or earthquake? Either of those things might be more possible than a campus closure, yet we go on living our lives.(And by the way, the Disaster Readiness Council is meeting tonight if you’re interested in learning about disaster preparedness. See the What’s Happening section for details.) We have people in the school district who are working to keep the schools viable. It will be tougher for them without the debt relief Measure S would have provided, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. In order to avoid major program cuts, the employees — teachers, management and classified workers — are going to have to take pay cuts. Negotiations are continuing this week.
But that’s something for the adults to worry about. What the children of Lucerne Valley need to know is this: Enjoy your summer, because this fall you’re going back to school.
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SEMI OFFICAL RESULTS:
MEASURE S FAILS BY LANDSLIDE
MARGIN
Tue, 06/08/2010 - KRIS REILLY, EditorLUCERNE VALLEY — Semi-official Election Night results show Measure S failing to pass, with more than two thirds of local voters opposing the general obligation bond measure.
The San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters' final update at 3:53 a.m. Wednesday showed 67.39 percent of voters voting "no" versus 32.61 percent voting in favor.A total of 1,110 votes were counted, with 12 of 12 precincts reporting. There are still more mail-in ballots to be counted before the results become official, but it appears highly improbable -- and perhaps statistically impossible -- that Measure S will make up enough ground to pass (it would need 55 percent of the vote). The results are expected to become official early next week.Voter turnout was relatively high.
According to the semi-official numbers, more than 35 percent of the Lucerne Valley area's registered voters turned in ballots. The countywide turnout was less than 20 percent.Myra Rucker, an election official at the Lucerne Valley Community Center polling location, said her staff saw a steady stream of people throughout the day on Tuesday, including many younger voters.The early mail-in count showed Measure S being defeated by an even wider margin, with more than 72 percent voting no.
The general obligation bond measure would have raised local property taxes by $60 per year per $100,000 of assessed property value in order to pay off the Lucerne Valley Unified School District's debt.
A debate over the measure raged within the community for several months.
