Come find out why you should care about CSDs

I want to be very clear that I am not recommending that we form a CSD. One of the options given to Wonder Valley by County Fire was to form a Paid Call / Volunteer Fire Department. If we did that under County Fire they would have control of that program. If we had a CSD - Community Service District - we, the people of Wonder Valley, would have control of our Paid Call / Volunteer Fire Department. County Fire has told me they do not believe we have enough people who will step forward to form our own Fire Department.

Some residents of Wonder Valley asked us to look into forming a CSD so I've scheduled two meetings:

1. Saturday, April 26, 10:00 a.m. - WVCCGail Swarat, President, and Donna Munoz, General Manager, of the Morongo Valley CSD, will speak to us about the pros and cons of a CSC and about the issue of emergency services which they are currently dealing with, too.
2. Saturday, May 23, 10:00 a.m. - WVCC
   San Bernardino County LAFCO (Local Agency Formation Commission) will com speak to us about possible changes to the way Wonder Valley pays taxes/assessments and receives services, in particular LAFCO will address dissolving FP-4 (Fire Protection District 4) which is the $34.10 assessment on our property taxes.

If you'd like to read up on CSDs before the meeting, check out these links:

• Community Services Districts
• Community Services Districts in SBC
• What is a Community Services District?
• Wonder Valley eyes self-government
  
  Pitfalls that some CSDs are facing
• Santa Rita Hills Community Service District could dissolve due to lack of leadership
• Report: Turmoil, uncertainty in Yermo

Desert Trail Column, March 17, 2016

Last Saturday’s monthly meeting was well-attended and informative. Chief Scott Tuttle of the San Bernardino County Fire Department was there with information about the two fires in Wonder Valley the previous weekend. Copper Mountain College’s Fire Technology instructor Jim Brakebill also gave a presentation, announcing that there will be an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) training course given, plus another fire extinguisher training course coming up in April.

The Palms Bar and Restaurant, 83131 Amboy Road, presents musical performances by Wet Marble, Haunted Desert Dust and The Sibleys, beginning at 8 pm on Saturday, March 19. There is no cover charge and free camping space is provided. Call 760-361-2810 for further information.

The He Provides Ministry will be at our community center, 80526 ½ Amboy Road, at 9:30 on Monday, March 21 with free clothing, blankets and household items for anyone needing them. The USDA Food Distribution will take place at the same location from 10:30 to noon. Also, CMC students will be there, providing free blood pressure checks.

Just a reminder to mark your calendars for these things coming up in the near future:

• On March 26, a meeting to discuss Community Service Districts with Morongo Valley’s Gayl Swarat and Donna Munoz. At the moment Wonder Valley is a Community Service Area, but a CSD provides more community control over resources.
• Also on March 26, the Wonder Valley Yacht Club will present some good music at The Palms, starting at 8 pm. No cover charge and free camping.
• On March 27, the Inaugural Service and Dedication is scheduled to take place at the new Godwin Christian Fellowship building on Godwin Road. Email Pastor Max Rossi at Mrossi121@yahoo.com for further information.
• On April 9, The Palms will have a huge musical festival. Further information will be provided in a later column.

We send out Rainbows-of-Aquamarines-and-Jonquils to Tyler Holsclaw and to Donna Parsons, who celebrate their special days this week. Happy, happy birthday to you both!

The Wonder Valley Thrift Store, located on Godwin Road between Highway 62 and Two Mile Road, has bargains galore. They are open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9 to noon. All proceeds go to the Godwin Christian Fellowship building fund. Call Olympia at 831-227-1948 for further information.

Handy Hint: When cleaning the inside of your microwave oven, pour vinegar into a microwave-safe bowl and heat for two minutes. The liquid creates steam and makes messes easy to wipe away.

Thought for Today: Only about one per cent of the world’s population has red hair, the rarest hair color, but about 13 per cent of the Scottish population are redheads.

Until next time . . . remember to take time to enjoy the WONDERs all around us.

Passive Income Alert

Earn a little extra money AND save the planet!

The company OhmConnect write, "If you live in California, you are entitled to receive payments for saving energy. Join OhmConnect today to get started."

More from The Penny Hoarder,

Get Paid Up to $300 to Turn Off the Lights
California residents can earn up to $300/year by syncing their utility accounts to a program called OhmConnect and agreeing to help reduce energy usage by one hour per week. Here’s how it works:

1. Sign up for a free OhmConnect account and sync it with your online utility account.
2. You must have an online account with one of these three utility companies to participate: Pacific Gas & Electric Company, San Diego Gas & Electric or Southern California Edison.
3. OhmConnect will send you weekly payments for reducing your electricity for one hour per week. They do this because you’re helping to not contribute to the high demand that prompts unclean power sources to turn on. They’ll send you up to $300/year per year, plus you’re helping  save the planet!

The Wonder Valley Community Center will have free WIFI after March 30 so you can sign up for an online account there.

Sherrif's Department arrests former Wonder Valley man

Deputies arrest two for Possession of Stolen Vehicle and stolen property 
DATE/TIME: March 10, 2016 / 2:00 p.m.
INCIDENT: Possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of stolen property
LOCATION: 3000 block of Hilton Ave, Yucca Valley, CA
SUSPECT(S): Jason Barr, 38, resident of Yucca Valley
Valerie Morse, 42, resident of Yucca Valley

SUMMARY: 
On March 10, 2106, deputies from the Morongo Basin Station’s Multiple Enforcement Team (M.E.T.) conducted a burglary investigation at the 3000 block of Hilton Avenue. M.E.T. team members located a stolen vehicle parked at the residence. Valerie Morse and Jason Barr were contacted at the residence. A search warrant was obtained for the residence, a search was conducted and stolen items from multiple burglaries were recovered from inside the residence. Morse was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of stolen property and booked into jail in lieu of $50,000 bail. Barr was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle and committing a felony while out on bail. Barr was booked into jail in lieu of $100,000.

Problem Oriented Policing is a specialized position within the Town of Yucca Valley’s Police Department. Deputy Sheriff Bruce Southworth is currently assigned to this full time position. The primary focus of “Problem Oriented Policing” is to provide solutions to law enforcement related issues that adversely affect the citizens who live, work and visit the Town of Yucca Valley.

Refer: Deputy B. Southworth
Station: Morongo Basin Station
Case #: 231600443
Phone No. (760) 366-4175

JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
https://local.nixle.com/alert/5604685/

2 Wonder Valley Meeting Notes

Please download notes for the MARCH COMMUNITY MEETING on March 12th, at: http://bit.ly/wv03122016_meeting

Please download notes for the INSURANCE MEETING on March 14th, at: http://bit.ly/wvinsurancemeeting

Thank you.

Wonder Valley Neighborhood Watch foils two crimes

These are the Sheriff's Call from this week's Desert Trail.

SHERIFF'S CALLS

Wednesday, March 2
Miscellaneous Law Enforcement Call
3800 block of Pinto Mountain Road, Wonder Valley, 4:46 p.m.
The reporting party said two men were at a neighbor’s unoccupied house and appeared to be taking a vehicle. When approached, they said they had a bill of sale for the vehicle but couldn’t find it. Once questioned, they left the scene.

Friday, March 4
Petty Theft, 82000 block of Pioneer Road, Wonder Valley, 7:26 a.m.
The reporting party said an unknown man approached his house Thursday morning, knocked on his bedroom window and asked if he remembered him. The reporting party said he did not remember and walked outside to his driveway. The man left his contact information and asked the reporting party to call if he needed any work done. Once outside, the reporting party discovered his vehicle was open and he was missing a generator.

Sunday, March 6
Arson, 79700 block of Amboy Road, Wonder Valley, 10:22 p.m.
A house was fully engulfed in flames. The bomb and arson squad was called.

Monday, March 7
Possess/Manufacture/Sell Dangerous Weapon
Amboy Road and Leila Lane, Wonder Valley, 7:25 a.m.
The reporting party saw a black truck occupied by a woman and a man riding a quad on his boss’ property. The reporting party showed the deputy a black backpack found on a trailer full of the suspects’ property. The backpack held a loaded Colt six-shot revolver and a California identification card. The card was found to belong to a convicted felon. The owner of the trailer and truck was identified as the woman seen in the truck The deputy was not able to find the man or the woman.

Monday, March 7
Burglary, 76300 block of Frazier Lane, Wonder Valley, 5:37 p.m.
a Sometime between Oct. 20, 2015, and March 7, unknown subjects forced entry via a window, ransacked the residence and stole a water tank.

Wonder Valley Experimental #8