Z107.7 Fm Up Close Show Hosted By Gary Daigneault

In Studio Guest: Hi Def Fringe Fest Co-Producer, Musician, Writer, Director, Actress Miri Hunter. Topics Discussed: Hi Def Fringe Fest. Miri moved to the Hi Desert to recharge and never went back to Los Angeles. Tips to finding a legitimate agent in the acting world. Hi Def Fringe Fest is part of the Fringe movement that began in Scotland. Alternative, quirky, non-maintream theatre. The need to focus on training for auditions. Summer Youth Theatre involves audition training. Hi Def Fringe Fest will have acting workshops. Call-In Guest: Hi Def Fringe Fest Co-Producer Ann Van Haney. Short Attention Span Theatre for Children.

Open Phone Topics: A week of earthquakes, thunderstorms, flooding, traffic collisions, power outages, and road closures locally. Theatre 29 Summer Youth Theatre and City of 29 Palms summer day camp children experienced power outage during their dress rehearsal. 29 Palms Marine Base had to cancel programs due to power outage. Record rainfall during Monsoon Season in the Morongo Basin. Main wash in the city of 29 Palms was flooded and flowing quickly. Individuals playing in and driving through flooded, closed roadways putting themselves in danger.

Open Phone Topics: California proposed bills that would force Jail Commissaries to sale items to Inmates at cost. This would eliminate the use of profits from Commissary sales to fund the Inmate Welfare Fund and Inmate Services Programs at West Valley Detention Center and other detention centers. Morongo Valley Fire Chief requesting to use Morongo Valley Fire Department Truck to drive back and forth to his home in Yermo each weekend. San Bernardino County was sued due to Child Protective Services negligence resulting in child abuse leading to permanent injuries to the child involved.

Open Phone Topics: Construction on the highway in Twentynine Palms. Removing old buildings. Making way for the new Starbucks. Twenty-five percent of the population in San Bernardino County jails have mental health related illnesses. Ten-million-dollar mental health crisis center recently opened in Joshua Tree. Recent earthquakes in Ridgecrest prompting emergency disaster preparedness in the Morongo Basin. American Red Cross has a 21-week plan to get a survival kit ready in case of a natural disaster.

Open Phone Topics: Morongo Basin residents are being inundated with IRS scam phone calls. Veterans Administration Mission Act to help Veterans get the healthcare they need. Assemblyman Chad Mayes wrote language in a bill for a 22-million-dollar grant for a public aquatic center for the Town of Yucca Valley. The California State Assembly just passed a bill that will fine citizens for not having health insurance but will give free health insurance to illegal immigrants. California background check requirements to purchase ammunition for guns. Potential legislature regarding abortion rights and a person’s right to choose what happens to their own body.

In Studio Guests: Rick Boyd, Animal Control Supervisor for the City of 29 Palms. Frank Luckino, 29 Palms City Manager. Topics Discussed: Series of educational news stories explaining where residents can and cannot take their pets, service animals, and emotional support animals. Animal Control assists with the health, safety, and quality of life of both residents and their animals. Animal Control also operates local animal shelters. Shelters are always at capacity due to their requirement to bring in all animals and not turn any away. Legitimate Animal Rescues versus animal hoarding situations. Potential cancellation of the Movies at Luckie Park program in Twentynine Palms due to unsupervised, unruly children and teens wreaking havoc during the movies.

Open Phone Topics: A civil debate and discussion of Climate Change. Drunk driver crashed into a vehicle in Morongo Valley, resulting in serious injuries for the adult driver and passenger, and fatalities for both children in the vehicle. Unsafe driving on the Morongo Grade in general. County Supervisor rejected fee increase for Fire Protection Zone 5 fire tax in San Bernardino County. Twenty percent of property taxes in Yucca Valley are already allocated for fire protection. Flat tax regardless of the size or type of property or its value. A reasonable and fair way to assess fees based on property value and size needs to be put in place in order to have the fee approved by voters.

Open Phone Topics: Traffic light timing is not managed correctly in Yucca Valley. No Bank of America ATMs in Twentynine Palms. Yucca Valley Bank of America branch is closing, but ATMs will remain. Closest branch of Bank of America will soon be Desert Hot Springs. Hiking safety in the Joshua Tree National Park including cool clothing, proper hiking shoes and enough water to remain hydrated and safe. Hikers from other countries not used to the heat conditions in the summer in the Mojave Desert. Heat exhaustion signs, symptoms and treatment. Climate change and chaotic weather all over the world.

Open Phone Topics: Morongo Basin ARCH provides transitional housing for families with children who may be escaping domestic violence, facing homelessness, or other struggles. Morongo Basin ARCH also provides housing for individuals recovering from addiction issues. Contractors billing for Yucca Valley Sewer Project are legally entitled to charge interest due to State of California making late payments to the contractors. Fatalities on Highway 247 caused by drivers trying to illegally pass other vehicles over the double yellow line on the two-lane highway. Yucca Valley woman drove past cones blocking traffic during a traffic collision investigation. Deputy tried to stop her and was hit by her car.

Open Phone Topics: Anger and confusion at meeting over proposed Joshua Tree day use homeless facility at old Panorama Heights fire station. New Grocery Outlet store opening in Yucca Valley in the old Food For Less building. Fire Protection Zone 5 fire tax in San Bernardino County. Fee is already being increased. Plan for hookups to Yucca Valley sewer system for homeowners. Former Captain of Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Department, Dale Mondary, moved on to become Police Chief for the city of Desert Hot Springs. Allegations against Mondary regarding inappropriate text messages resulted in his voluntary resignation from the Desert Hot Springs Police Department.

In Studio Guests: Hi Desert Water District General Manager Ed Musik and Communications Officer Jennifer Poland. Topics Discussed: The Hi-Desert Water District is getting close to completing phase I of the Yucca Valley sewer project. The first flushes in the sewer project are scheduled for September 2019, and the last homes in phase I should be hooked by February 2020. Residents should receive notices from the water district 6 months, 3 months, and 30 days in advance of their hook up. If you are not connected the Regional Water Quality Control Board will be in contact with the property owner. Property owners will be responsible for maintaining the sewer connection line past their property line to the mainline. Phases 2 and 3 are scheduled to start around 2022.

Open Phone Topics: All AT&T cell towers are down in the Morongo Basin until next week for unknown reasons. Dollar General received building permit and has broken ground in Joshua Tree. Concerns over Urban decay versus the need for a local store to supply Joshua Tree residents with household supplies at a low cost. San Bernardino County Code Enforcement addresses concerns over illegal parking of vehicles for sale on private property.

Open Phone Topics: Pioneertown finally getting a pipeline to bring water from Hi Desert Water District well to the population of Pioneertown. Four miles of pipeline are needed to bring water from the well to the Pioneertown area. After 10 years of fighting, the community of Joshua Tree has prevailed against the threat of the Altamira Gated Community housing project. The Board of Supervisors voted to rescind all approvals for the project. San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors approved Morongo Basin homeless facility for day use only at former Panorama Heights County fire station in Joshua Tree.

Open Phone Topics: The Joshua Tree Chamber of Commerce failed to draw San Bernardino County funding from their account. Last years funds have not been applied for and therefore have been lost. The Joshua Tree Chamber of Commerce has not completed appropriate paperwork and basic business practices needed to remain operational. Individuals being informed not to climb on Joshua Trees or other trees in the Joshua Tree National Park at the risk of damaging the local flora. Local restaurant fundraising for the critically ill wife of an employee. Individual using their cell phone while driving involved in a fatal crash involving a semi-truck. Safety risks and legal ramifications of using cell phones will driving.

Open Phone Topics: Graffiti and vandalism in the Giant Rock campground area of Joshua Tree National Park. Vandalism occurring in the Morongo Basin. Limited Park Rangers covering thousands of square miles of the Park. The Bureau of Land Management is understaffed. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has no jurisdiction over BLM land. Proposing local Chambers of Commerce direct tourists to other attractions to reduce the population of Joshua Tree National Park. Lack of functioning Joshua Tree Chamber of Commerce. Morongo Valley Fire Department entering into mutual aid agreement with Calimesa, a city at least 90 minutes away.

Open Phone Topics: Hi Desert Water District has finalized State financing for residents who need help funding sewer hook-ups. 45.2-million-dollar low interest loan and 16 million dollars in grants have been secured to help with the cost. Your cost is put on your property tax bill and spread out over 30 years with a 1.8 percent interest rate. Hi Desert Water District will send out several notices to give residents time to prepare for the hook-ups. Property values will improve from both sewer system and newly paved roads. Town of Yucca Valley Planning Commission changing permit requirements for Marijuana cultivation. Concerns over the government interfering in citizens personal lives. Town of Yucca Valley has revised their ordinance concerning marijuana so that it complies with state law. Stolen raven sculpture in Twentynine Palms was replaced by local neighbors who created a new one. Concerns with parents not vaccinating their children. Outbreaks of disease due to lack of vaccination.

In Studio Guests: Sheriff McMahon, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. Captain Travis Newport, Morongo Basin Sheriff Station. Topics Discussed: San Bernardino County is the largest county in the world. The changing technology at the Sheriff's Department. No cell phones or computers were in the deputy vehicles 30 years ago. Using real maps versus GPS. Criminal justice reform. Efforts to control and reduce populations in jails and prisons. Legalizing marijuana. Reducing possession of narcotics to misdemeanor removes the incentive to attend a drug rehab program. Opioids and synthetic heroin are deadly, addictive and cheap, creating a huge crisis in our country.

Open Phone Topics: New construction costs in Yucca Valley. The cost of a new home in Yucca Valley goes up 10,000 dollars due to the hookup to the new sewer system. First sewer hookups will begin this summer. Hi Desert Water District will send notices six months prior to required connections. Old Woman Springs Road will be closed for two days for repairs. Voters in the state of California want the death penalty, but the governor is opposed to it and has imposed a moratorium. Metal raven sculpture heirloom stolen from Twentynine Palms family yard.

Open Phone Topics: Death penalty in the state of California. Governor Gavin Newsom imposed a moratorium on executions of death row inmates. His executive action is opposed by the San Bernardino County District Attorney, Jason Anderson. Proposed banning of cell phones in schools. School districts may soon be required to restrict or ban smartphones under a new bill making its way through the California State Assembly. New vaccination requirements for California schools. The State of California has introduced a new set of vaccination requirements for all California students returning to school in July.

Open Phone Topics: Road maintenance in the Morongo Basin. Town of Yucca Valley has to fix maintained roads before addressing unmaintained roads. Pedestrian fatality on the highway in Joshua Tree. Pedestrian was not in a crosswalk when hit. Jaywalking and safety issues in the Morongo Basin. Superbloom of desert wildflowers due to rains and temperatures in the Morongo Basin. Common IRS phone scam during tax season especially. The IRS does not call directly or send officers to arrest individuals.