Z107.7 FM Up Close Show hosted by Gary Daigneault

Partial government shutdown effecting Joshua Tree National Park. Park Superintendent David Smith calls in to speak about the shutdown and how it effects the Park. Park itself is still open to visitors. Campgrounds are closed due to rising sewage levels. A small amount of Park employees are exempt from the shutdown and currently working in the Park. Park entrance fees are not being collected at this time.

Condition of Joshua Tree National Park during government shutdown. Park staff are not allowed to work during shutdown. Park visitors need to exercise common sense and courtesy when visiting the park. Cleaning up after camping and bringing your own toiletries to the park. Local business Coyote Corner has become the de facto Park Visitors’ Center during the government shutdown. Local sewer system project in Yucca Valley. Traffic congestion due to sewer and road construction.

Dawn Rowe appointed as Third District County Supervisor. Board of Supervisors had to repeat selection process, as they were originally in violation of the Brown Act. Mark Lundquist retained as Field Representative for Third District County Supervisor. District versus At Large voting. Determining the need for recounts when voting format changed. Concerns over possible government shutdown. How Twentynine Palms Marine Corp Air Ground Combat Center active duty personnel will be affected by shutdown. Joshua Tree National Park staffing affected by shutdown.

In Studio Guests Twentynine Palms City Manager Frank Luckino and Councelman MacArthur Wright. Topics Discussed: Incorporation of the City of Twentynine Palms. Maintenance of roads, City jurisdiction versus Caltrans responsibility. Morongo Basin area map. Challenges of identifying unmaintained roads and individual-created dirt roads. Twentynine Palms Band of Mission Indians reservation land and created social roads. City of Twentynine Palms partnering with Marine Corp Air Ground Combat center to plan and fund City’s sewer system.

San Bernardino County Third District Supervisor position to be decided after each candidate answers questions given to them by the County. Unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County are included in Fire Protection Zone 5 and must pay additional taxes to maintain existing fire services in the area. Parcel size and zoning is not considered when calculating the fee. Lawsuit hearings are set to dispute the way the fee is being implemented versus taxpayers being allowed to vote on the tax increase.

In-Studio Guests: Yucca Valley Mayor Rick Denison And Town Manager Curtis Yakimow. Topics Discussed: Mayor Denison finishing his first year as Mayor of Yucca Valley. Yucca Valley inheriting a troubled infrastructure from San Bernardino County. Challenge of maintaining a safe, small, growing community. Traffic congestion in the Town. Working with Caltrans to improve the highway corridor in Yucca Valley. Working to synchronize traffic lights for a smoother traffic flow. Plans to add additional turn pockets and widening the highway. Construction from the sewer project.

Open Phone Topics: Still waiting for final local election results. Two close races in the Morongo Basin, for Twentynine Palms City Council and Joshua Basin Water District. Only a handful of votes separating the candidates. Billboard supporting transgender residents and visitors. Public money is not being used to fund transgender surgeries. Twentynine Palms Chamber of Commerce failed to provide a Pioneer Days’ Carnival two years in a row, significantly hurting the revenue of the Chamber.

Open Phone Topics: Doctor Sheldon Hough, DDS audits Morongo Basin Community Health Centers dental clinics. Dentists treating children's teeth with versus without use of anesthestic. Fear of pain versus fear of shot. Childhood dental experiences shape adult attitudes towards dental care. Local election results. Awaiting count of final absentee ballots to confirm winners in local elections. On a local level, every vote counts.

In Studio Guest: David Smith, Superintendent, Joshua Tree National Park. Topics Discussed: Upcoming helicopter tours of the park. Roadrunner shuttle service in the Park. Twentynine Palms will fly Santa in on helicopter during Light Parade. Working on increasing Park visitor capacity. Working on climbing management and using natural tools that do not destroy the Park. Invasive weeds in the Park. Artists creating graffiti in the Park. Ignorance as to how to preserve the Park. Proper hydration, sun and heat protection. National Park hiking safety tips.

Open Phone Topics: Recent floods in the Morongo Basin. Listener complaints on lack of response from County and Town. Flood damage in North Joshua Tree. Local candidates and propositions for November election. Proposition 1 Veteran home loan bond. Proposition 2 use funds from mental health programs to help remedy homelessness. Proposition 3 funds for clean water repairs irrigation in central California. Funds will not come to this area. Proposition 4 bond to finance children's hospitals. Proposition 5 home buyer's tax. Proposition 6 gas tax. Requires future taxes be levied with voter approval only. Proposition 8 kidney dialysis unions. Proposition 10 better for big cities than rural areas.

In Studio Guest: Lance Polland, writer and director of Another Plan From Outer Space. Topics Discussed: Independent movie filmed in Wonder Valley. Film with be shown for free at Smith's Ranch Drive-In in Twentynine Palms Monday night. Family lived in Yucca Valley for years. John Hoyt's grandson. Future 2024. Team of astronauts coming back to Earth from Mars crash in the Desert in Wonder Valley. Film crew battled extreme weather conditions including the summer heat and sand and wind storms. Another local film shot years ago was a dark comedy. Reactions to filming from quirky locals. Spacesuits were Military flight suits.

Open Phone Topics: The Red Brennan Group, the Lucerne Valley Economic Development Association, and residents and landowners of the unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County have filed an injunction against the Fire Protection Zone 5 proposed expansion. These groups contend that the proposed expansion requiring a protest vote violates the “Right to Vote on Taxes Act,” articles 8C and 8D of the California constitution.

Open Phone Topics: Proposed expansion of Fire Protection Zone 5. San Bernardino County’s handling of the mail-in ballot and protest form. More money added to property taxes without extra fire services. Parcel size and purpose does not change fire fees. Fee will be assessed per parcel owned. County Fire Chief indicated protest form would be included with mail-in ballot, but it was not.

National politics. Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination. Senate Judicial Committee hearing regarding Brett Kavanaugh investigation. Funding transgender transformation in the Military. Tim Donnelly versus Paul Cook. The authority to prohibit funding of transgender surgeries in the Military is already in place. The outrageous reputation of Tim Donnelly. Party politics Republicans versus Democrats. Proposed FP-5 fire district expansion and process to protest the rate increase and area expansion.

Measure O proposed Morongo Unified School District bond. Taxpayers are still paying for the loan on the last school bond. Lack of protest letter and form made available via the mailer for the proposed FP-5 fire expansion. Protest forms and instructions made available at no charge at the Z107.7 Studios in Joshua Tree. Fire protection rate is a flat fee increase not based on property size or type.