As 2014 comes to a close, we look at some of the top stories of the past year.
Environmental issues were prevalent in the news in 2014, from the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, to proposed solar fields in Twentynine Palms, Joshua Tree, and Landers, to a proposed 700-foot solar tower on the southeastern border of Joshua Tree National Park (that was eventually withdrawn).
Joshua Tree residents continued their fight against the developer of Dollar General store, who wants to build the general merchandise store on the east end of the village. Reporter Caitlin Logan touches on some of the top stories in Twentynine Palms in 2014…
Tortoise Rock Casino opened in March in Twentynine Palms. During its opening day festivities, thousands of residents showed up and gamblers had to be turned away due to overcrowding.
Twentynine Palms plays “musical chairs” with its city manager. After Richard Warne was fired in April 2013, it hired Joe Guzzetta from the Joshua Basin Water District, only to fire him a year later. Former Yucca Valley Town Manager Andy Takata took over, only to leave in November to become Supervisor’s Janice Rutherford’s chief of staff. Larry Bowden was then named as acting city manager.
During the November election, two Yucca Valley residents were elected to represent the Morongo Basin in the state and federal governments. Chad Mayes was elected to the California Assembly and Paul Cook was re-elected to the House of Representatives.
A flash flood killed Karl Wyne of Joshua Tree in September when his SUV got stuck in a road that crossed a wash, and was swept away in raging waters.
A petition to force the Town of Yucca Valley to allow medical marijuana dispensaries within the town limits was signed by several hundred more people than was necessary. The Town Council will decide whether to adopt the ordinance or schedule a special election at its meeting January 20.
After years of bleeding red ink, the board of directors of the Hi-Desert Medical Center approved an agreement to affiliate with Tenet Healthcare Corporation. Morongo Basin residents can expect to vote to approve the merger in the spring. And finally, Managing Editor Tami Roleff joins us with a look at the Morongo Basin’s top story of 2014…
The disappearance of, and search for, Erin Corwin of Twentynine Palms, made national headlines in 2014. Corwin, 19, disappeared from her home onboard the Combat Center on June 27. Her former next-door-neighbor and alleged lover, Christopher Lee, now 25, is suspected of murdering her. After seven weeks and more than 5,000 volunteer hours of searching the desert for her, her body was found August 15 at the bottom of a 140-foot mine shaft east of Twentynine Palms. Lee, who had been honorably discharged from the Marine Corps and moved back to his home state of Alaska after her disappearance, was arrested the same day by Alaska police for investigation of homicide. He was brought back to California to face murder charges with special circumstances and is being held without bail. Christopher Lee’s next appearance in court is set for January 6.
