Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Mystery man sends meds, fulfills promise

'There's still human kindness out there,' says local woman

A local woman forced to part with her medication at Ontario International Airport while traveling to Pennsylvania was sent a package containing her pills the next day by a well-dressed mystery Good Samaritan.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Is the casino project over?

The 57-acre casino site up for sale, according to local real estate expert

The troubled Hesperia casino project is history, according to one of the Victor Valley's most-influential real estate analysts.

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Hesperia poised for commercial real estate boom, Brady tells Chamber crowd

While Hesperia's residential real estate market continues to soften, the commercial market is set to blast off, according to Victor Valley real estate expert Joseph Brady.

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Hesperia schools have two weapons incidents in two weeks

Teen arrested for handgun possession on Aug. 17 at Sultana; adult arrested for knife possession on Aug. 21 at Hesperia High

The first two weeks of the 2006-2007 school year in the Hesperia Unified School District have been marked with arrests at each of the city's two high schools for weapons charges.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

The return of Mike Lampignano

Former mayor, longtime Hesperian runs for park board

For long-time Hesperians, Mike Lampignano's name will be a familiar sight on the November ballot. But this time around, the former mayor, who served on the Hesperia City Council from 1990 to 1994, is a candidate for the Board of Directors of the Hesperia Recreation and Park District.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

CHP urges drivers to use caution

Speeding fines are doubled in construction areas, CHP officer says

The good news -- at least for hurried commuters -- is that the speed limit on the I-15 in the Cajon Pass will remain 70 miles per hour during the Devore 2 Freeway Rehabilitation project. The bad news: Going over the speed limit will cost you.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Library books go high-tech

Patrons will check out books via radio signal at new library

Forget stamping a card glued to the inside cover of a library book, or even scanning books under a bar code reader: When the new Hesperia Community Library opens in October, patrons will check out books with radio signals at self-service stations.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

For local pastor, trip to Colombia demonstrates Lord's power

Latin American church grows from 250 to 6,000 members in just six months

It was my privilege to travel to Cali, Colombia earlier this month with my friends Paul Earl and Joel Guerra to see first-hand what God is doing in one of the drug capitals of the world.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Sheriff's Log

A woman was hospitalized after deputies were called to a location on the 15800 block of Main Street where the woman, who has a history of mental illness, was inserting pesticide into her body cavities in an attempt to kill the insects she believed were infesting her body.

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HUSD School Police Log

Three female Hesperia Junior High School students were cited for possession of methamphetamine.

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Tuesday, August 22, 2006

City Center: "We're right on schedule and under budget"

Cynics might say the words "government" and "prompt" don't usually belong together, but the long-awaited Hesperia City Center project should defy any doubting Thomas when the community comes together for the October unveiling -- just as planned.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Hesperia is tops in High Desert recycling

City recycles more than 50 percent of waste generated

Hesperians are putting less of their garbage into local landfills than any other community in the High Desert and are among the biggest recyclers in San Bernardino County.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Back to school

Sultana High School staff meets the challenge of their largest student body yet

One of the last people leaving Sultana High School's parking lot last Monday morning was Chief Bob Mosley, the head of the Hesperia Unified School District police.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Marching to a different beat

Sultana students protest after band teacher quits; teacher accepts job in San Diego County, according to principal McCollum

More than two dozen Sultana High School band students protested in front of the Hesperia Unified School District building on Main Street Friday afternoon in response to the departure of the band teacher and ongoing problems squeezing extra-curricular activities onto an increasingly crowded campus.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Are you a distracted driver?

Car Care

Here in the High Desert, just keeping your cool can be difficult while driving. With the hot temperatures lately, the growing traffic in our area and back to school time it is hard to stay focused on the act of driving. Other drivers are not always helpful and often drive aggressively and rudely. The construction zones that seem to be everywhere don�t make it any easier and are an added distraction. But the construction and the number of drivers on the road are only going to increase over the next several years, potentially adding to the stress of driving. Do what you can to stay calm and to avoid provoking other drivers. Staying calm will help with paying attention to your driving. Driving is a serious event and unfortunately, most of us do not take driving serious enough.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

This and that

A View from Main Street

Nearly two decades after the fledgling City of Hesperia settled into humble quarters at the corner of Main Street and Seventh Avenue -- the current City Hall location came in the early 1990s -- the city staff is on the verge of moving into its permanent location.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Cantante de Oro

Latin songbird-restauranteur singing song of success

Charo has her guitar, Elvis had his pelvis and Liberace, a glittery chandelier. But latin singer Adela Fernandez of Hesperia is known for something even more off-beat: a regal rooster of red and white that listens intently as she croons "El Gallo de Oro" onstage.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Contest to decide airshow singer

Tryouts are Tuesday, Aug. 29 and Tuesday, Sept. 5 at Spring Valley Lake location

The Hesperia Airport Association along with Victorville Motors Chrysler Jeep Dodge, MotorDealsDirect.com and other companies and individuals is sponsoring a singing contest to find a vocalist for the opening ceremonies at the Hesperia Airport Airshow on Sept. 16.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Bray leaves school superintendent post

Hank Richardson takes over as head of High Desert's largest employer as new school year begins

Monday was the first day of school in the Hesperia Unified School District. And just as students settled into unfamiliar classrooms and rookie teachers greeted their first-ever students, it was also the superintendent's first day on the job.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Boys home may lose its contract with county

The Hesperia licensed boys home run by LodgeMakers of California will likely lose its county contract several months after allegations of sexual molestations between two female staff members and boys living in the home were lodged.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Hesperia real estate market vibrant despite area slowdown

City leads in price per square foot at $188.19; Victor Valley has glut of homes for sale

Despite a regional residential real estate slowdown, Hesperia home sales remain among the valley's most vibrant with about one in seven homes listed for sale being sold.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Veteran politicians and newcomers crowd ballots

Two park board members going for city council and ex-councilman going for park board

Hesperians will be choosing among 20 homegrown political candidates when they go into the booth to vote on November 7, including a former city councilman now running for a seat on the park board and two park board members attempting to win a city council seat.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Online activist enters race

PaveRoadsFirst.com creator Bosacki: "This is about paving roads in Hesperia"

Paul "Bo" Bosacki is taking his personal crusade off-line.

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Maintaining continuity, confidence is No. 1

A View from Main Street

Detroit is known as the "Motor City." Hollywood is a mecca of entertainment, and Pittsburgh is a town of steel. But our hometown, Hesperia, is all about its schools.

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Park district honors Anita Shearer's memory

The Hesperia Recreation and Park District honored city founding mother Anita Shearer with a tree planted in her name last week.

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Sen. Runner's bill allowing Victorville build faster passes Assembly committee

Senator Runner's legislation to authorize the City of Victorville to use Design-Build passes assembly Appropriations Committee

Senator George Runner's (R-Antelope Valley) legislation authorizing the City of Victorville to utilize the design-build process which will result in the city's ability to build faster recently passed unanimously out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

SBA introduces podcasts for business owners

The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced the arrival of podcasting for small business owners on a range of topics to help entrepreneurs on the road to starting a new business.

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Disorientation leads to driver exploration

I sometimes get so disoriented driving on the High Desert that my trips turn into explorative expeditions delivering me to places I had not planned to go. Perhaps this is because, in Hesperia, the mountains are to the south of town instead of to the north as they are on the other side of the hill.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Thursday, August 10, 2006

No-kill animal shelter gets stay of execution

The Precious Pets no-kill private animal shelter will remain open, for now, pending a September decision by the Hesperia Planning Commission.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Ed Pack leads fund-raising pack

Mayor Pro Tem Ed Pack is leading the pack in fund-raising for November's Hesperia City Council election.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Buyer beware

The elderly woman who lives on Danbury had no reason to believe the two workers were not actually repairing her damaged roof.

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Candidate Kirk holds fund-raiser

Robert Kirk is a political newcomer, but the science teacher turned school board candidate has already raised the sort of money typically associated with veteran campaigners.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Two-time winner

Larry Vellas only buys $20 of California Lottery tickets every month, but wins like someone spending a whole lot more. According to the California Lottery, the odds of a player going to the Big Spin television show for a chance at up to $150,000 is one in 1,920,000.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Carnival caps off summer reading program at library

After 10 weeks of the "Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales" reading program at the Hesperia Branch Library, participants took a break from the books and wrapped up the summer's reading program with a "Creature Carnival" held Wednesday, August 2, at the library.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

A View from Main Street

Some time ago, Val Shearer, the Hesperia founding father whose wife Anita recently passed away, found a poem under the couple's bed.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Hesperia neighborhoods celebrate National Night Out

Five Hesperia neighborhoods took to the streets last Tuesday to present a unified front against crime. A potluck-eating, music-listening, game-playing front, but a front nonetheless.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

No podcast this week

Peter is taking a well-deserved part-week vacation. As a result, there will be no podcast for the August 1 edition of the Hesperia Star. The podcast returns next week.

FBI investigating bribery allegations

FBI agents investigating bribery allegations took documents from City Hall last Thursday afternoon.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Loved ones gather to mourn, celebrate the life of Anita Shearer

Anita Shearer, who along with her husband M. Val Shearer comprised one of Hesperia's most beloved couples, was laid to rest last Wednesday following a memorial service at Kern Chapel, Victorville. A potluck luncheon followed at the Percy Bakker Community Center in Hesperia.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Hall runs for council, leaves park board

16-year park board veteran says council does not 'think outside the box'

Richard Hall has made it official: After 16 years on the board of directors for the Hesperia Recreation and Park District, he will not be seeking reelection this November. Instead, he will be running for one of the three contested seats on the Hesperia City Council.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Swanson announces for park race

Wife of school board president: 'The thinking needs to change'

This November will be Rebekah Swansoan's first time with her name on the ballot, but it's not her first time going through the political process: The candidate for the Hesperia Recreation and Park District board of directors is also the wife of the president of the Hesperia Unified School District, Eric Swanson.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

New Hesperia library may see new head librarian

After 34 years, Hesperia's head librarian applying for her own job

When the new Hesperia Community Library opens to the public on October 14, Hesperia may have a new head librarian for the first time in 34 years.

(Read the rest of the story here.)

Becky Lihme: the 'go-to' person

She was the person you'd lean on when you really needed to get something done -- fast.

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The real dirt on desert soil

I think I might have learned how early mankind first discovered how to make adobe bricks. I made some inadvertently yesterday. Perhaps the native residents of the High Desert stumbled onto their important innovation by a method similar to mine. After all, they surely didn't learn how to do it from the California History Textbooks as I did.

(Read the rest of the story here.)