Month: July 2009

DESERT HOT SPRINGS – Bob Hersh owns a dog kennel and ranch near Desert Hot Springs. He wanted to cut his power bills, so he contracted a windmill construction company to build a small turbine in his large backyard. Several months and $12,000 in county fees, permits, and engineering studies later, Riverside County still will

THOUSAND PALMS – Operation Safehouse helps more than 1,000 at-risk teens in Riverside County every year. Butduring these tough times, though, they are the ones asking for help. A group of about 150 high school students is answering that call launching Operation Safehelp to gather donations for the struggling shelter. Operation Safehouse operates a shelter

PALM SPRINGS – They bare it all, take a plunge and swim to the world record. “This is my first time skinny dipping,” says Jacquelyn Bensinger. On Saturday at 12 p.m. Pacific Time, about 20 thousand people all around the country stripped down and set the Guinness Book of World Record for the most people

PALM SPRINGS – Investigators searched the home of a former La Quinta youth soccer official this week in a felony embezzlement probe involving more than $108,000 in local American Youth Soccer Organization funds, it was reported today. The warrants were served at Sharon Schumaier’s home and at Desert Cities Automotive in Indio, a business she

CATHEDRAL CITY – Residents of Cathedral Cove aren’t leaving it to chance when a wildfire or earthquake hits.On Thursday night,dozens took a proactive approach with the help of some Cathedral City firefighters. Firefighters say you need to make your house fire-ready.This means clear a 100-foot radius around your home of brush and dead vegitation. Cathedral

THOUSAND PALMS- More than two dozen cocker spaniels, whose owner was arrested on a felony warrant in Los Angeles County, were up for adoption Friday at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms. Nelli Olsen, 35, was arrested June 29 and taken to Los Angeles County, where she is facing a charge of grand

PALM DESERT – For thousands of students, a college education is a dream and Cal Grants can make it come true. Now, a new proposal presents a very different reality. Gov. Schwarzenegger wants to cut Cal Grants. “It will affect a lot of people going to college. They won’t be able to pay,” says Sarah

CATHEDRAL CITY – Three new graduates of Cathedral City High School are in jail Friday after police caught them breaking in and stealing from their own alma mater overnight. Steven Ravenott, 18, is all smiles in his senior portrait. But he will be remembered best for possibly breaking the law. “He was a good guy,

PALM SPRINGS – ATV spot advocating legalization and taxation of marijuana in California is airing all over the state.Supporters say it could help California close a $26.3 billionbudget shortfall. The30-second ad features a retired state worker who says marijuana users want to pay their “fair share” of taxes.They say tax marijuana and cut the state

PALM SPRINGS – Palm Springs residents may be left with one less fire station by the end of the year if the city cannot balance its budget. The city is facing a $12.5 million deficit, and Fire Station No. 5 located on Bolero Road is on the short list. If Manya Wopschall could have her

MORONGO VALLEY – At a time when schools are dealing with massive budget cuts, there’s some relief for schools in the High Desert. The Morongo Unified School District is getting a $2 million government grant. “Their families deal with crises that we can only hope to understand,” says Tom Baumgarten, assistant superintendent of instructional services,

RANCHO MIRAGE – Lee Chikafsky struggles to get to his walker. His severe rheumatoid arthritis gives him almost constant pain. He says his only freedom of movement comes from the therapeutic pool at Eisenhower Medical Center. “My doctor explained…you’re only 10 percent your body weight when you’re in that pool. When that happens — with

PALM SPRINGS – Many children here in the valley don’t know if or when they’ll eat their next meal. “What are they going to eat? How can I prepare it?,” says Beatriz Guanajuato. These are questions Guanajuato faces everyday. Summertime is the hardest. Work slows down and money is tight. “In the summer it’s not

PALM SPRINGS – Palm Springs residents may be left with one less fire station by the end of the year if the city cannot balance its budget. The city is facing a $12.5 million deficit, and Fire Station No. 5 located on Bolero Road is on the short list. If Manya Wopschall could have her

A new household hazardous waste facility will open July 11 in Palm Springs. The new location replaces the previous facility on Alejo Road, which closed permanently June 27. The new facility on 1100 Vella Road, across from Demuth Park, will accept drop-offs starting 7 a.m. This new site will be open to the public on

INDIO – At least two buildings caught fire when flames broke out Tuesday afternoon at an Indio apartment complex. Indio Police said the fire happened at the Plaza Del Sol Apartments on Arabia Street just after 3 p.m. Two buildings neighboring each other caught fire. No word on the extent of damage to the buildings.

PALM DESERT – The day whenTV stations across the country turned off their analog signals to go completely digital has come and gone. So, now what do you do with your analog leftovers? if you’re like Bruce Davis, you bring your old set to a local recycling center. “It’s plastics. It’s electronics. It potentially has

PALM DESERT – Two of the local ticket winners for Tuesday’s Michael Jackson Memorial work at Palm Desert High School. Palm Desert High School biology teacher Ron Paiz will call in a substitute for Tuesday. He’s one of the few chosen to go to the Jackson memorial at LA’s Staples Center. “When I found out

PALM SPRINGS – The Fourth of July is a busy nights for parties and fire crews. “We had a lot of people calling in saying people were shooting off bottle rockets,” says Mark Avner, Palm Springs Fire Battalion Chief. ” Our engines were back and forth around the city.” From Palm Springs to Coachella, thousands

PALM SPRINGS – It takes hours of design, hard work, sweat. “We’ve been out here since 6 AM,” says Michael Martin, pyro-tech for Pyro-Spectaculars of Rialto. It’s all done to wow the crowd. “I want to give everyone a good show,” says Martin. People are celebrating Independence Day across the nation and the valley. At