State Senator Chuck Poochigian, a Republican who represents Fresno, is helping lead efforts to protect Californians — including us here in Hesperia — from being victims of identity theft.
To those who have never been a victim, or don’t know someone who has, identity theft may just be a buzz phrase you hear on TV. But when identity theft hits home it is one of the most frustrating and angering things that can happen to you. When your bank account is raided or a family member loses money after replying to a “phishing” email, your sense of security can be completely uprooted. If your account was breached by someone observing you enter your ATM PIN at a grocery or convenience store, you may never look at people the same way again.
And that is the true tragedy of identity theft — it strips your trust in humanity. It’s a violation, a form of rape. In 2004, consumers reported losses of $547 million, and it too the average victim an estimated 175 hours and $800 to resolve his identity theft problems. If that isn’t enough anguish, it takes the average victim two to four years to clear their names.
According to Poochigian, the Federal Trade Commission states that identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the nation. California is ranked as the third highest state behind Arizona and Nevade for the greatest number of identity theft victims with 122.1 per 100,000 population.
Poochigian recently introduced a bill package that would give law enforcement the necessary tools to pursue and prosecute criminals who perpetrate these schemes. That includes street-level criminals and those using technology to steal personal information.
“It is past time that California’s legislature makes the punishment for identity theft fit the crime,” Poochigian says.
True, indeed.
The following are bills introduced by Poochigian:
SB 1387 — Increases the penaltites for the theft and trafficking of personal identifying information.
SB 1388 — Creates new criminal penalty for phishing.
SB 1389 — Criminal identify theft.
SB 1390 — Adds identity theft to the California Crime Index.
State Senator Chuck Poochigian is to be congratulated for using his position as an elected leader to do what’s right — solve difficult problems of the day, like identity theft.
Peter Day
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Resident collapses following training run
A 30-year-old Hesperia resident collapsed and died last Thursday following a six-mile run around the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
(Read more here.)
(Read more here.)
City Manager Podegracz: City moving forward
City center opening, increased paving and rising household incomes are highlights of recent talk
City Manager Mike Podegracz gave Hesperia's Chamber of Commerce members a taste of things to come at last Friday's early morning Coffee Club meeting.
(Read more here.)
Special Education rate among state's lowest
Ten-year-old Excel program credited for intervening before some students fall behind
With less than eight percent of its students classified as Special Education students, the Hesperia Unified School District has among the lowest percentage of "Special Ed" students in California.
(Read more here.)
Turtle Tales by Margaret E. Furman
Culture shock amid relaxed calm
It's not as if I was dragged to the High Desert kicking and screaming. The women in our family have always been -- shall we say -- in touch with their likes, dislikes, and needs. I chose to move here for the desert way of life. Or at least what I thought that would be.
(Read more here.)
The Star College Report
Sultana graduate Karley Kalmich wins two events for Fresno Pacific
This week's college stars: Karley Kalmich, Stuart Patterson, Vanessa Wilt, Michelle Ziser, Jenny Lewis, Mike Thompson and Jamie Bloom
(Read more here.)
Friday, February 24, 2006
Residential roads paved in Hesperia, 1999-2006
This map, provided by the city of Hesperia, shows the approximately 120 miles paved in the city since 1999.
This fiscal year, the city spent a total of $6 million and the City Council has indicated they intend to raise that amount to $8 million in the next fiscal year, which begins on July 1.
A more aggressive paving program, as well as a mid-year infusion of an additional $2 million for paving this year means last year's five-year capital improvement plan is no longer valid and will be replaced with a revised plan in the future.
This fiscal year, the city spent a total of $6 million and the City Council has indicated they intend to raise that amount to $8 million in the next fiscal year, which begins on July 1.
A more aggressive paving program, as well as a mid-year infusion of an additional $2 million for paving this year means last year's five-year capital improvement plan is no longer valid and will be replaced with a revised plan in the future.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Random pretty Hesperia sunset
Actually posted by Peter Day (can you tell we're still working the technical kinks out?):
"I took this photo last week with a Canon point-and-shoot two-megapixel digital camera as I drove on Walnut Street to Third Avenue. For the record, I was watching the road and not the sunset.
"This low-resolution photo probably looks better here on the Hesperia Star blog than it would in newsprint."
"I took this photo last week with a Canon point-and-shoot two-megapixel digital camera as I drove on Walnut Street to Third Avenue. For the record, I was watching the road and not the sunset.
"This low-resolution photo probably looks better here on the Hesperia Star blog than it would in newsprint."
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Encouraging news from City Hall
While I was sounding off about the recent high crime rate figures for Hesperia, it turns out city staffers were working behind the scenes to put more funds toward police and fire services. A day after my editorial in the Star came out, the city unveiled the proposed 2006-07 budget that will add four new deputies, a sergeant and three support personnel to the Hesperia Sheriff Station. Also, the city is expected to increase the number of firefighters from 15 firefighters 24/7 to 17 on duty 24/7.
Additionally, Building Official Tom Harp explained the city's creative neighborhood enhancement plan to Star reporter Beau Yarbrough. Under the plan, several local agencies, including the Sheriff's Department and the city's code enforcement and animal control departments, will come together to crack down on code violations that are often indicators of other underlying issues.
City Manager Mike Podegracz and his staff, Hesperia Sheriff Station Capt. Joe Cusimano, and the Hesperia City Council all appear to be keenly aware that public safety is a top priority.
Bravo, city leaders! You deserve to be congratulated for putting together a plan for moving Hesperia forward while increasingly making the city a safe place to live and visit.
Additionally, Building Official Tom Harp explained the city's creative neighborhood enhancement plan to Star reporter Beau Yarbrough. Under the plan, several local agencies, including the Sheriff's Department and the city's code enforcement and animal control departments, will come together to crack down on code violations that are often indicators of other underlying issues.
City Manager Mike Podegracz and his staff, Hesperia Sheriff Station Capt. Joe Cusimano, and the Hesperia City Council all appear to be keenly aware that public safety is a top priority.
Bravo, city leaders! You deserve to be congratulated for putting together a plan for moving Hesperia forward while increasingly making the city a safe place to live and visit.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Budget 06-07: Reinvesting in Hesperia
The Fiscal Year 2006-07 budget for the City of Hesperia will include new programs to improve quality of life in the city and map out the direction for Hesperia for the next 20 years.
The Hesperia City Council indicated its interest in the programs at a mid-year budget workshop prior to last week’s council meeting.
The General Plan for the city of Hesperia maps out zoning and long-term goals for what the city will look like, decades in the future. But the future is a moving target and the current plan is increasingly less relevant.
“The general plan is already 15 years old, it was done in 1991,” said Tom Harp, the city’s Deputy Director of Development Services. “The environmental impact [study] that was done is 15 years old as well. [There have] been a lot of changes in the laws. There’s been a lot of growth in the community.
(Read the rest of the story here.)
The Hesperia City Council indicated its interest in the programs at a mid-year budget workshop prior to last week’s council meeting.
The General Plan for the city of Hesperia maps out zoning and long-term goals for what the city will look like, decades in the future. But the future is a moving target and the current plan is increasingly less relevant.
“The general plan is already 15 years old, it was done in 1991,” said Tom Harp, the city’s Deputy Director of Development Services. “The environmental impact [study] that was done is 15 years old as well. [There have] been a lot of changes in the laws. There’s been a lot of growth in the community.
(Read the rest of the story here.)
Hesperia Sheriff station staffs up to fight rising crime rates
Faced with a rising crime rate, the Hesperia City Council plans to increase the staff at the Hesperia sheriff’s station by eight in the next fiscal year.
A preliminary decision was reached last Wednesday, at the council’s mid-year budget review, to add four new deputy sheriffs, a sergeant and three support personnel to the Hesperia station of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
The move comes in response to calls for service rising by 31 percent, crime rising by 17 percent (from 6,403 to 7,214 incidents) and serious crime rising by 13 percent last year. City officials estimate Hesperia’s population has risen from 70,744 in June 2005 - the end of the previous fiscal year - to approximately 81,000 today.
“We got a really decent increase in population and a really similar increase in crime,” Captain Joe Cusimano of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said Friday.
(Read the rest of the story here.)
A preliminary decision was reached last Wednesday, at the council’s mid-year budget review, to add four new deputy sheriffs, a sergeant and three support personnel to the Hesperia station of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
The move comes in response to calls for service rising by 31 percent, crime rising by 17 percent (from 6,403 to 7,214 incidents) and serious crime rising by 13 percent last year. City officials estimate Hesperia’s population has risen from 70,744 in June 2005 - the end of the previous fiscal year - to approximately 81,000 today.
“We got a really decent increase in population and a really similar increase in crime,” Captain Joe Cusimano of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said Friday.
(Read the rest of the story here.)
City to pave additional 24 miles of road this spring
There is good news for many Hesperians wanting relief from bumpy, worn-out roads.
At a budget workshop prior to last week’s council meeting, the Hesperia City Council approved an additional $2 million in funding for road paving this fiscal year, which will end June 30.
That translates to 24 more miles of paving for previously paved roads falling into disrepair and will bring the city’s total amount of paved roads to more than 50 miles this fiscal year.
“This year, was a combination. We did approximately 20 miles of removal and repair and another 10 miles of overlay, which we’re still in the process of completing,” John Leveillee, Deputy City Engineer for the City of Hesperia, said last week. Another 20 miles of road got a maintenance seal applied to it.
(Read the rest of the story here.)
At a budget workshop prior to last week’s council meeting, the Hesperia City Council approved an additional $2 million in funding for road paving this fiscal year, which will end June 30.
That translates to 24 more miles of paving for previously paved roads falling into disrepair and will bring the city’s total amount of paved roads to more than 50 miles this fiscal year.
“This year, was a combination. We did approximately 20 miles of removal and repair and another 10 miles of overlay, which we’re still in the process of completing,” John Leveillee, Deputy City Engineer for the City of Hesperia, said last week. Another 20 miles of road got a maintenance seal applied to it.
(Read the rest of the story here.)
Shearer Servant
He’s a pillar of the city’s equestrian community. He’s given countless hours to the betterment of Hesperia’s park system. In 1988 Hesperia voters elected him to serve on the city’s first City Council.
And now, after decades of service to the community, M. Val Shearer is stepping down, at least officially.
“Val Shearer was one of Hesperia’s early pioneers,” said Percy Bakker, who served with Shearer as a founding city councilman. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to work with him.”
(Read that rest of the story here.)
And now, after decades of service to the community, M. Val Shearer is stepping down, at least officially.
“Val Shearer was one of Hesperia’s early pioneers,” said Percy Bakker, who served with Shearer as a founding city councilman. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to work with him.”
(Read that rest of the story here.)
Hesperia Airport: Historic past, important future
The Hesperia Airport, which is nestled in southern Hesperia at Ranchero Road and the Santa Fe Railroad tracks, may be unseen by many, but its presence is important to the future of the region, according to the facility’s manager, Garry Abbott.
“This is hugely important to maintain this airport,” said Abbott, who spoke to attendees of last Friday’s Zank’s Coffee Club gathering at Hesperia Christian School.
(Read the rest of the story here.)
“This is hugely important to maintain this airport,” said Abbott, who spoke to attendees of last Friday’s Zank’s Coffee Club gathering at Hesperia Christian School.
(Read the rest of the story here.)
Record year expected for Hesperia sales tax revenue
Hesperia’s building boom and population explosion is improving the city’s bottom line in ways beyond one-time payments, according to a city official.
“What we’re seeing is growth in the general fund in what I would call, for lack of a better term, in core tax revenue,” Brian Johnson, Hesperia’s Director of Management Services, said Thursday. “And what it means to me is that’s the kind of money that should be ongoing. Basically, we’re seeing a clear level of growth of $2.6 million in sales tax, vehicle license fees, property transfer tax. What’s important about that is that we should have a realistic expectation of this being ongoing.”
In the mid-year budget review held at Hesperia City Hall last Wednesday, Johnson revealed the city was bringing in revenue faster than expected, with a mid-year surplus of nearly $5 million. (Hesperia’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30.)
(Read the rest of the story here.)
“What we’re seeing is growth in the general fund in what I would call, for lack of a better term, in core tax revenue,” Brian Johnson, Hesperia’s Director of Management Services, said Thursday. “And what it means to me is that’s the kind of money that should be ongoing. Basically, we’re seeing a clear level of growth of $2.6 million in sales tax, vehicle license fees, property transfer tax. What’s important about that is that we should have a realistic expectation of this being ongoing.”
In the mid-year budget review held at Hesperia City Hall last Wednesday, Johnson revealed the city was bringing in revenue faster than expected, with a mid-year surplus of nearly $5 million. (Hesperia’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30.)
(Read the rest of the story here.)
Monday, February 20, 2006
The Hesperia Star podcast
The Hesperia Star blog, although it's first to market, so to speak, is actually the second Web 2.0 idea we had for trying something new with the newspaper. The first was to do a Hesperia Star podcast, and we've been doing dry runs of a podcast since December.
We don't yet have the feed set up (but should soon), but you can download the latest here.
For those unfamiliar with the term, a podcast is an audio file (normally in MP3 format) that is downloaded over the Internet, typically automatically by specialized software. (That's what that feed will be for, once it's set up.) Don't be fooled by the "pod" in the name -- although the term refers to Apple's iPod MP3 players, pretty much any computer or portable MP3 player can play the files just fine.
The content available via podcast ranges from professional radio content (NPR and Clearchannel are two early pioneers in this area) to lots and lots of amateur productions. We'll let you decide where the Hesperia Star podcast falls on that continuum.
Our podcast is relatively casual, and normally consists of Peter and myself reviewing the week's newspaper, looking at what stories and photos we published and sharing our thoughts about why those stories, what went into putting them together and so on.
We hope you find the podcast informative and fun. We're still learning, so your feedback is greatly appreciated.
We don't yet have the feed set up (but should soon), but you can download the latest here.
For those unfamiliar with the term, a podcast is an audio file (normally in MP3 format) that is downloaded over the Internet, typically automatically by specialized software. (That's what that feed will be for, once it's set up.) Don't be fooled by the "pod" in the name -- although the term refers to Apple's iPod MP3 players, pretty much any computer or portable MP3 player can play the files just fine.
The content available via podcast ranges from professional radio content (NPR and Clearchannel are two early pioneers in this area) to lots and lots of amateur productions. We'll let you decide where the Hesperia Star podcast falls on that continuum.
Our podcast is relatively casual, and normally consists of Peter and myself reviewing the week's newspaper, looking at what stories and photos we published and sharing our thoughts about why those stories, what went into putting them together and so on.
We hope you find the podcast informative and fun. We're still learning, so your feedback is greatly appreciated.
Monday, February 13, 2006
The Hesperia Star sells out!
(Well, not really: The Hesperia Star is free, after all.)
You may have noticed that, around Hesperia, there are no issues on most newstands. Whenever we have photos of students in the paper, teachers, parents and relatives scoop up the papers faster than you can say "read all about it." When we realize this is going to happen, we try to get extra editions of the Star to balance things out, but it sometimes catches us by surprise, and sometimes the demand is still so large that all of the copies get grabbed.
The February 7 edition, which includes photos of the Sultana High School talent show, ran out of issues at the Star's Main Street office on Wednesday afternoon.
The February 14 edition also has photos of students, this time from Summit Elementary School. If you don't subscribe, grab your copies before they're gone.
(And if you want to subscribe, give us a call at 956-7827. Mailed subscriptions are only $12/year.)
You may have noticed that, around Hesperia, there are no issues on most newstands. Whenever we have photos of students in the paper, teachers, parents and relatives scoop up the papers faster than you can say "read all about it." When we realize this is going to happen, we try to get extra editions of the Star to balance things out, but it sometimes catches us by surprise, and sometimes the demand is still so large that all of the copies get grabbed.
The February 7 edition, which includes photos of the Sultana High School talent show, ran out of issues at the Star's Main Street office on Wednesday afternoon.
The February 14 edition also has photos of students, this time from Summit Elementary School. If you don't subscribe, grab your copies before they're gone.
(And if you want to subscribe, give us a call at 956-7827. Mailed subscriptions are only $12/year.)
First edition
Welcome to the Hesperia Star's online blog. Here at this site, we'll offer some insight into the newsroom of the paper, and share some news and photos that couldn't quite fit into the print edition of the paper.
Thanks for reading!
Thanks for reading!
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Photos that didn't fit
Here's a color version of the photo that ran in the paper, when the chamber ambassadors presented the Hesperia Recreation & Park District with the Business of the Month award.
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