Z107.7 Fm Up Close Show Hosted By Gary Daigneault

Open Phone Topics: Medical Marijuana legality issues. Currently legal to smoke it recreationally but not legal to purchase it. City wants to grow the downtown area of Twentynine Palms. They plan to start with Project Phoenix which will include a complex with free parking, a gymnasium, a community service building, classrooms and meeting rooms and library. Town of Yucca Valley discouraging Marijuana and driving those that need it down the hill. Inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States today. Debate about Walmart Super Center drawing customers away from small local businesses. Eric Quander turned in his resignation to the Town of Yucca Valley Parks and Recreation Commission.

Open Phone Topics: Fake news on Facebook. A high percentage of the public getting their news from Facebook. Important to identify the news is coming from a reputable source. News being spun based on political viewpoints. Project Phoenix - the downtown Twentynine Palms revitalization plan. Morongo Unified School District Board meeting to try to fill seat left open after death of Ron Palmer. Seasonal flu is on the rise. Listeners encouraged to get flu shots. Plenty of gyms in Twentynine Palms, no need to build more.

Open Phone Topics: Facebook political posts following the election. Dangerous sex offender from San Francisco area applied to be moved to the Morongo Basin. District Attorney is fighting his application to move to our area. City of 29 Palms and Marine Base are coming to an agreement on joint sewer system. Yucca Valley Waste Water Treatment system groundbreaking. Dollar General Groundbreaking in Joshua Tree beginning in May. Local cable not carrying Z107.7's broadcast since Time Warner has been purchased by Spectrum.

In Studio Guest: David Smith, Superintendent, Joshua Tree National Park. Topics Discussed: Joshua Tree National Park exceeding capacity. Visitors driving on top of vegetation. Lines to get into the Park 30 minutes long or longer. Proposed shuttle service within the Park. Goal is to park at the campground and use the shuttle to travel through the Park. Collecting fees upon entry or exit of the Park. Sometimes fees are not collected at all during busy times. Park is asking for volunteers to help direct traffic. Dogs are not allowed off leash in wilderness areas of the park.

Open Phone Topics: Joshua Tree National Park fee increase for single vehicle visits to park. Marine Base acquisition of land. Public access to the property. Information from Mojave Desert Land Trust. Morongo Basin Transit Authority Shuttle Service for Joshua Tree National Park coming soon. Upgrade of Joshua Tree Memorial Park to make it more environmentally friendly. Using desert plants to reduce water usage of the grounds. Donna Munoz retirement from Morongo Valley Community Services District. Improvements to Luckie Avenue in Twentynine Palms.

Open Phone Topics: Yucca Valley Town Council plans to move San Bernardino County Library to old Pamona First Federal building. Proximity to Nature Museum and Community Center. Morongo Basin Transit Authority and Joshua Tree National Park Service working together to create a Shuttle Service for the Park. Electoral College putting in official votes for Presidency. Russian interference in possibly hacking Democratic National Committee emails. President plans to take action to prevent future issues.

Open Phone Topics: Joshua Tree National Park is at capacity. Questioning why City of 29 Palms and Town of Yucca Valley are spending money to get visitors to the park when its full. New Morongo Basin Transit Authority shuttle service for the park. Joshua Tree Retreat Center hosting two major concerts a year. National Guardsmen who were given unauthorized bonuses for re-enlisting in the National Guard during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are not required to pay back those bonuses. New mental health facility coming to Joshua Tree.

Open Phone Topics: Jeff Drozd elected to Town Council. San Bernardino county ordinance preventing sale and cultivation of Medical Marijuana. County cannot ban recreational use of marijuana because of proposition passing. Electoral votes versus popular votes. Electoral college helps even out voting so that larger states don't overpower the vote of smaller states. Donald Trump winning the Presidential election.

Open Phone Topics: (recording incomplete due to a technical error) The Campaign Madness Edition of the Z107.7 Up Close Show. Local candidates are invited to call in and talk about themselves and why the community should vote for them. National and local elections. 17 different propositions on the California ballot. Douglas Buck Buckley, candidate for Joshua Basin Water District board. Kenneth King, candidate for Twentynine Palms City Council.

Open Phone Topics: Listeners discuss how they are voting for propositions and candidates. Proposition 57 gives power back to judges on sentencing. Paul Cook and Chad Mayes are locals endorsed by the radio station for the Congress and Assembly. George Huntington not running for reelection to Town Council. Robert Lombardo and Jeff Drozd for Town Council. Understanding how town government works. Project Phoenix for downtown Twentynine Palms revitalization. City wants to pay for curbs, gutters and package water treatment plant. Endorsing Joel Klink and Ken King for Twentynine Palms City Council.

In Studio Guest: State Assemblyman Chad Mayes. Topics Discussed: Republicans and Democrats. Problems with the party system. State Propositions. Proposition 51 - money out of general fund for school buildings. Proposition 52 - secures the funding hospitals are currently getting. Proposition 53 - require bonds for big projects. Proposition 54 - legislation must be posted online for 3 days before it can be voted on. Proposition 55 - trying to continue a temporary tax on high earners to help the state during the recession years. Proposition 56 - increases cost of cigarettes. Discourage teens from smoking. How Donald Trump is effecting voting and party issues. Government's role in regulating unhealthy items. Proposition 57 - judges will make decisions on time served for non-violent crimes. Proposition 58 - high school students learning English can be in bilingual classes without waiver. Teachers are able to teach students that do not speak English. Proposition 59 - non-binding waste of time. Proposition 60 - adult

In Studio Guests: Bob Stadum, Hi Desert Water District President. Lori Herbel and Sabrina Puekert, Citizens for Lower Sewer Cost. Topics Discussed: Measure Y proposed half cent 10-year sales tax for Town of Yucca Valley infrastructure. More police officers. Road repair. Fire protection. rapid fire response times. anti drug and anti gang teams. Measure Z proposed half cent 10-year sales tax to lower sewer assessments in phases 1, 2 and 3 of sewer project. Requires two thirds majority vote to pass.

Open Phone Topics: Morongo Unified School District and Morongo Basin Teachers Association have reached a tentative agreement. San Bernardino County as approved the Alta Mira gated community housing project in Joshua Tree between Highway 62 and Friendly Hills Elementary. Yucca Valley Town Council candidate forum. Candidates were divided on Medical Marijuana. City of 29 Palms made decision on Project Phoenix. Plans were approved for multipurpose facility, gymnasium, meeting rooms and banquet rooms. Public library will be moving to that downtown area. Old Library building will become Sheriff Substation. City of 29 Palms beginning sewer planning. Right to Rescue law in the state of California. Legal to break window of a car to save a child or dog in distress. Community Conversation meeting between the religious community, 29 Palms churches and law enforcement to discuss race relations.

Open Phone Topics: Teachers involving students in their contract negotiations and disputes. Teachers encouraging students to walk out of class for any reason. Teachers working without a contract for two years. Protecting students and their futures. New restaurants coming into Yucca Valley. Schools have more funds but they must be deligated for infrastructure in order for the State to match those funds. Vandalism in the Morongo Basin. High powered BB guns used to shoot out storefront windows. Morongo Valley Community Service District fire issues.

Open Phone Topics: 80th Annual Pioneer Days Kickoff Celebration. Joshua Trees may need protection under the Endangered Species Act. Community theatre in 29 Palms. Negotiations between the Morongo Unified School District and the Morongo Basin Teachers Association. On-call tow trucks parking on residential streets. Noise complaints and view obstruction complaints from neighbors. Joshua Tree MAC involved in Dark Sky Park issue.

Open Phone Topics: Big concerts and events in the Morongo Basin, specifically Joshua Tree. Joshua Tree National Park becoming a year round attraction. Joshua Tree Retreat Center clearing several acres for parking on their property. Big events bring more business and tax dollars to the Morongo Basin but also more congestion. Joshua Tree Retreat Center is a non-profit. Questioning large commercial venue going against their original spiritual mission statement. Renewable energy goals for the State of California. Rooftop solar not considered in renewable energy goals. Those for and against bringing a Dollar General store to Joshua Tree.

Open Phone Topics: Joshua Tree Retreat Center trying to create proper parking area. Cleared plants that should have been protected. Childish Gambino concert. Pharos and Desert Days concerts at Joshua Tree Retreat Center. Events not permitted by San Bernardino County. Dove hunting season in the Morongo Basin. Summer wildfires. Children playing with matches caused the Bogart Fire in Cherry Valley. Morongo Basin Teachers Association (Teachers Union) negotations with Morongo Unified School District. Illegal vacation home rentals. Alta Mira Solar Field project.

Open Phone Topics: California state versus San Bernardino county laws regarding recreational use of marijuana and medical marijuana. Protest of Dollar General development in Joshua Tree. Decision is being appealed due to concerns over environmental impact versus tourism issues. Project Phoenix for downtown revitalization of 29 Palms. Relocation of residents in the development area.

Open Phone Topics: Yucca Valley Town Council approved two one half percent sales tax measures for ballot in November. One for infrastructure, one to help with sewer system. San Bernardino Board of Supervisors has moved ruling on Solar Farm in Joshua Tree to middle of August. Joshua Basin Water District special meeting regarding Solar Farm to decide on will serve letter for project. Deadline to file for election for local offices. California State Employees Association made agreement with school district for raises for non-teaching school employees. Local woman hit guard at Twentynine Palms Marine Base gate with her car. Local teenager hit a woman with a skateboard in Vons when escorted out of the store. Twentynine Palms man dropped cell phone into swimming pool and drowned trying to retrieve it. Presidential election.

Open Phone Topics: Local summer rain storms and minor flooding. Proposed sales tax measures in Yucca Valley to raise money for general fund and sewer system costs. Fatal FA18 29 Palms Marine Corps crash and safety issues. Two cases of West Nile Virus in San Bernardino County. New California law regarding mandatory vaccinations for children in public schools. Upcoming Presidential election. Discussion of candidates Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton.