Z107.7 FM Up Close Show hosted by Gary Daigneault

In Studio Guests: John Cole, Mayor, City of Twentynine Palms. Frank Luckino, Twentynine Palms City Manager. Project Phoenix. Largest public works project in the history of Twentynine Palms. Improving infrastructure to make the City more attractive to business owners and the community. Plans for improvements to curbs, gutters, a new sewer system, parking, senior housing, a community center, expansion of public transportation through the Morongo Basin Transit Authority, new shuttle service to Joshua Tree National Park from downtown Twentynine Palms.

Open Phone Topics: Tri-Chamber Mixer next week. 2018 Theatre 29 Season will be announced. Joshua Tree Community Center. The PFF Bank Building is now being leased by the Town of Yucca Valley and will become the County library for the Town. Longtime TLC organizer and humanitarian Mara Cantelo has passed away. Student bringing father's pot brownie to local Middle School and sharing it with a friend. Resulting in arrest of father and children removed from home by CPS.

Open Phone Topics: Giant Rock. Clean up planned. Proposed Circle K gas station in Morongo Valley. Speeding on residential streets in Joshua Tree. Requesting an extra patrol. President repealing DACA. Shield young immigrants brought to the US illegally by their parents from deportation. Yucca Valley Elementary School parent pick up issues. Pick up area was a block from school, concerning parents for safety. Chaos at local schools. Transgenders in the military. Local TV switching stations due to broadcast license rules. Sheriff sting operation to arrest those buying alcohol for underage teenagers. Man arrested after pedestrian check in Yucca Valley.

In Studio Guests: Morongo Unified School District Superintendent Tom Baumgarten and Director of Secondary Curriculum Amy Woods. Questions about busing, lunches, curriculum, scheduling, class sizes, ieps, and going back to school.

Open Phone Topics: Disaster preparedness. Having food, water, medication and supplies available in case of emergencies. City of 29 Palms had to decide on changing their Sex Offender ordinance in order to comply with a Supreme Court decision in California. List of registered sex offenders in your area can be found online at Megan's Law website. Mojave Trails National Monument boundary recommendations not yet released. Assemblyman Chad Mayes has resigned as Senate minority leader for the Republican Party.

In Studio Guests: Curt Sauer, General Manager, Joshua Basin Water District. Emergency Preparedness Consultant Gary Sturdivan. Topics Discussed: Emergency preparedness. The recent Joshua Tree precautionary boil order after repair of a water main break within Joshua Basin Water District. Break in 28-inch diameter line. Break was in the zone that feeds 80 percent of the Joshua Tree population. Boil order was issued while the District tested the water to ensure no harmful contaminants got into the water. A huge percentage of community members did not have a supply of emergency water available at their homes. Boil order and chlorinated water are state requirements and regulations.

Open Phone Topics: Dollar General. Waiting for review of sewer and use plans. Waiting for will serve letter from Joshua Basin Water District. Kurt Sauer. Joshua Tree community without water due to water main break. Joshua Basin Water District working to fix it. License Plate Readers in the City of 29 Palms. Take pictures of license plates, pictures go into database. Yucca Valley Sewer Plant is right on schedule and under budget. Trump's bill banning transgenders in the Military. Joshua Tree Retreat Center wants to transform their space. Joshua Tree Chamber of Commerce is moving to the Retreat Center. Talks of developing a commercial restaurant at the Retreat Center.

Open Phone Topics: Short term vacation rentals in the Morongo Basin discussed, as it pertains to new ordinances being explored for the Town of Yucca Valley, and its effect on residents in areas where the short term vacation rentals are being operated. The Public Hearing is still ongoing prior to voting on proposed ordinances. Joshua Tree Dollar General awaiting “will serve” documents for water and sewer. Concerns and experiences from residents living in areas with Air BnBs in the Morongo Basin were shared and discussed. Town of Yucca Valley updated ordinance regarding sex offenders to comply with new court interpretation of existing legislation. As a follow up regarding last week’s topic of homelessness in the Morongo Basin, the Project Hope awareness campaign was introduced to listeners. Cal Trans “Look Both Ways” public safety campaign introduced and briefly described. The importance of participating in public council meetings, especially on areas of impact in one’s life was highlighted. Discussion regarding Chad Mayes recently being the target of scrutiny from members within his own party.

Open Phone Topics: Yucca Valley Oversight Commission residents in charge of Measure Y and infrastructure funds. Debate about spending infrastructure funds to build a local homeless shelter. Individuals who choose to be homeless versus those who are homeless due to circumstances. Morongo Basin Mental Health's former Panorama Ranch facility for individuals with substance abuse issues. Homeless population seems to be growing and becoming more aggressive in the Morongo Basin. Individuals who choose to pandhandle for a living versus those who are truly hungry or homeless from unforseeable circumstances.

Open Phone Topics: Downtown Joshua Tree intersection. Continued issues with pedestrians and jaywalkers. Cadiz water project. Teachers sharing their political and moral viewpoints with their students. New Morongo Unified School District policy prohibiting teachers from advocating their personal views.

In Studio Guest: Danielle Segura, Executive Director, Mojave Desert Land Trust. Formed in 2006. Land Trusts began as a way to protect farm lands and protect community character. Mojave Desert Land Trust is a non-profit organization that raises funds from private individuals and foundations to purchase and protect land. Their first milestone was Nolina Peak, 639 acres in the Joshua Tree North Wildlife Linkage purchased and donated to the adjacent Joshua Tree National Park. To date they have protected 60,000 acres of the California desert. The goal is to protect the Mojave Desert ecosystem and scenic areas by purchasing property so that it cannot be overdeveloped. The Joshua Tree Forest view adds to the value of the National Park to preserve certain pieces of land, forever weaving together National Parks, wilderness areas and wildlife linkage corridors. The Land Trust ensures stunning views and access to pristine desert lands so they remain intact forever. The Land Trust provides connected landscapes for rare native plants and wildlife as well.

Open Phone Topics: Yucca Valley Town Council requiring a permit in order to grow marijuana in the town limits. Opposition of a badly written dispensary ordinance used as a talking point for banning medical and recreational marijuana. Using protecting children and teens having access to marijuana as an excuse to oppose Proposition 64. San Diego and San Bernardino counties are the only counties in California that still prohibit marijuana use and cultivation. Progress of Dollar General development in Joshua Tree. Environmental concerns about new developments.

Open Phone Topics: California Welcome Center is only sending tourists to businesses that give them money. Limited number of doctors and specialists due to our rural area. The state is trying to make medi-cal insurance more attractive to doctors and more accessible to patients. San Bernardino County plans to leave Wonder Valley Fire Station open for another year. The paid-call firefighter system will be phased out. Instead will be using Fire Corp volunteers for support and communication. Johnson Valley Fire Station has been taken over by a homeowner's group. Twentynine Palms Leer Fire Station is being used by the college to educate firefighters.

Open Phone Topics: Downtown Joshua Tree repainting. Seems to be helping cut down on accidents. Bike lanes and diagonal parking have been created. Concert promoter claims 4 million dollars injected into Morongo Basin economy from Desert Days concert at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center. Problems will illegal fireworks in the area. Fireworks create a tremendous fire hazard in the desert areas. California marked one year since approval of California Aid in Dying Law. Pioneertown Fire Station paid call firefighter program is shutting down.

Open Phone Topics: The Morongo Basin has been the target of credit card thieves. Skimmer machines have been placed over legitimate credit card readers in order to steal sensitive credit card data. Interview with President of County Firefighter's Union. Water contamination problem at Wonder Valley Fire Station. One reason why fire station is closing. Also money issues. Downtown Joshua Tree repainting. New diagonal parking and bike lanes to reduce traffic collisions.