Z107.7 FM Up Close Show hosted by Gary Daigneault

In Studio Guest: Superintendent President of Copper Mountain College, Dr. Darren Otten. Topics Discussed: The desire for residents to have a local college inspired the independent funding of Copper Mountain College, which was formerly a branch campus of College of the Desert. Dr. Otten discusses his journey from college student to college educator. Dr. Otten’s educational background is in engineering and technology. Comparing and contrasting Community two-year colleges versus four-year colleges. Community colleges are geared towards residents and the local labor market of the region. The extensive Nursing and Culinary programs offered at Copper Mountain College.

In Studio Guest: San Bernardino County Supervisor Dawn Rowe. Topics Discussed: Complications of running the largest County in California, as well as the United States. Short term vacation rental ordinance. Trying to keep the night sky dark in the Morongo Basin. Homelessness and workforce housing challenges. Mental illness and substance abuse contributing to homelessness. Fire Protection Zone 5 taxes. Funding for San Bernardino County fire services is unstable. Allowing constituents to weigh in on the level of fire services wanted versus fire protection needs, costs and revenue sources.

In Studio Guests: Morongo Unified School District Acting Superintendent Dr. Deborah Turner and Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services Amy Woods. Topics Discussed: Morongo Unified School District ACE (Academy of College and Career Excellence) program offers alternative education options for individuals, including independent study opportunities and hybrid full day opportunities. Adult education programs in both Yucca Valley and 29 Palms for certification, vocational training, and obtaining new employment skills. The importance of being involved in your child’s education. Free meal program for all students in the Morongo Basin offers breakfast, lunch, and grab-n-go dinner. After-school arts program at the Elementary Schools. Technology program for Elementary students at Copper Mountain College.

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.