News Archive: April 2008

2008

Apr 29

Earth Day celebrations at the Salton Sea State Recreation Area
A good day for the Salton Sea and North Shore—Earth Day celebrations gave neophyte kayakers a chance to launch from the newly-renovated Varner Harbor (top photo). In bottom photo (seated left to right) Lana Hall and her mother June Eilers Hall, along with Ross Wallach. In 1927, June’s father Gus Eiler built Eilers Date Palm Beach Resort, which was located between the current State Park and the old Yacht Club. The first boat races were held on the Salton Sea in the early ‘30s to promote the new resort, and as a young woman, June Eilers was reportedly the first person to ski on the lake. Wallach announced on April 26th Earth Day celebrations that boat racing would return to the Salton Sea late this year.

Boat Racing to Make Comeback at Salton Sea

Earth Day celebrations at the Salton Sea State Recreation Area provided a backdrop for an announcement by RPM Racing Enterprises President Ross Wallach that boat races would once again have a home on the Salton Sea.

Apr 29

YMCA of the Desert Annual Golf Tourney is May 29

The Family YMCA of the Desert will host its fourth annual Charity Golf Tournament on Thursday, May 29, at the J.W. Marriott Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert. Registration and pre-tournament games will take place at 11:30am with a 12:30pm shotgun start.

Apr 29

Time Running Short for Annual Water Symposium Registration

Organizers of the Riverside County Water Symposium are warning that this year's event this Thursday (May 1) at the Morongo Casino Resort and Spa is nearly sold out.

Apr 24

Blythe Chamber Honors Outstanding Citizens and Businesses

Citizen of the Year Waymen Dekens is flanked by 2008 Miss Blythe's Outstanding Teen Lisa Comeaux (left) and Miss Blythe 2008 Samantha Calabrese during ceremonies last night at the community center in Todd Park in Blythe. Also honored were Business of the Year, Desert Ambulance; Chamber Member of the Year Dobbs TV and Appliance and Flooring; Volunteer of the Year, Blythe Little League; Chamber Director of the Year Sam Patel; and Outgoing Chamber President Millie Rodriguez. The Rotary Club also honored their Teachers of the Month in the school district.

Apr 23

'Friends' Gala Raises Funds for Animal Hospital

A nonprofit charitable group kicked off its fund-raising drive to build an emergency animal hospital at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms.

Apr 23

Surrounded by uniformed Riverside County Code Enforcement personnel, the ribbon cutting duties at the new Code Enforcement office in Thousand Palms were handled by (from left): Supervisor Roy Wilson, Thousand Palms Community Council Chairman Greg Pinney, Code Enforcement Department Director Jay Orr, and Facilities Management Director Rob Field. The new centrally-located facility with freeway access will be able to effectively serve the entire unincorporated desert area.

New Code Enforcement Office Opens in Thousand Palms

Fourth District Supervisor Roy Wilson joined Department heads Jay Orr (Code Enforcement) and Rob Field (Facilities Management) and Thousand Palms Community Council Chairman Greg Pinney in cutting the ribbon on the new Riverside County Code Enforcement Office in Thousand Palms

Apr 22

Redevelopment Talk in Oasis and North Shore

Fourth District Supervisor Roy Wilson and the Riverside County Economic Development Agency are inviting residents of Oasis, 100 Palms and North Shore to attend meetings which will explore the idea of expanding Redevelopment Project Areas into their communities.

Apr 21

Rivco Supervisors Proclaim ‘Child Abuse Prevention Month’

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors have proclaimed the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, with the goal of increasing awareness of both the need and the services available to provide support to parents and children.

Apr 18

Thousand Palms to Host Cathedral City Contingent

There's a 4,100-acre parcel of land on the north side of Interstate 10 that has caught the eye of the City of Cathedral City. But it's no stretch to say that they while they may be eyeing it, they're not seeing eye to eye with the unincorporated community of Thousand Palms.

Apr 17

New Thousand Palms Code Enforcement Office Opens Soon

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors, along with the Departments of Code Enforcement and Facilities Management will be cutting the ribbon on the new Code Enforcement offices in Thousand Palms Wednesday, April 23.

Apr 17

COD Employs New System to Improve Safety

College of the Desert is unveiling a new emergency notification system which will allow the local community college to send text messages to students, faculty and staff during a campus emergency.

Apr 16

A view of Varner Harbor looking towards the Visitor Center at the Salton Sea State Recreation Area. The harbor has now been dredged, and it's ready for Earth Day celebrations. Landscaping of the area begins in June, after the end of the breeding season for birds. The public is invited to the free festivities on Saturday, April 26.

Salton Sea to Celebrate 'Earth Day' Saturday, April 26

The Salton Sea State Recreation Area in North Shore will celebrate the grand opening of the newly-renovated Varner Harbor boat launch area, in conjunction with Earth Day on Saturday, April 26.

Apr 16

The conflagration at the Dos Palmas Preserve near North Shore flared up Sunday afternoon, and destroyed about 261 acres of vegetation, including some old palm trees lining the preserve's lagoons. Fortunately, the historic ranch house on the property was not destroyed, and only one firefighters suffered minor injuries. Cause is still under investigation.

Still No Word on the Cause of the Dos Palmas Fire

Firefighters say the cause of the 261 acre fire at the Dos Palmas Preserve near North Shore is still under investigation.

Apr 15

Rivco Chief Larry Parrish Announces Retirement

The Chief Executive Officer of the County of Riverside for 16 years, Larry Parrish has officially announced his retirement. The Coachella Valley resident says his last day on the job will be July 30.

Apr 14

Rivco Fire Department Unveils Firefighter Academy

CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department Chief John Hawkins is unveiling the first CAL FIRE Firefighter II Academy in Riverside County today at the Ben Clark Training Center in Riverside. The Training Center is located at 3423 Davis Street in Riverside.

Apr 14

New Apartments Ready for Occupancy in Mecca

Fourth District Supervisor Roy Wilson was on hand this morning in Mecca to help cut the ribbon on the new Lincoln Family Apartments, a project made possible by County of Riverside HOME funds in the amount of $950,000. The 57-unit rental complex is for low-income households in the region, and must remain affordable for 55 years. Other funding included a limited partner tax credit contribution of $8,302, 631 and a permanent loan from AIG in the amount of $1,625,000.

Apr 14

Cool Centers are a Vital Need and a Community Project in Coachella Valley

Supervisor Roy Wilson presented proclamations today in recognition of the efforts community partners who help make the County’s “Cool Center” operation during the “Summer Crisis,” a reality. Since 2001, the Community Action Partnership of Riverside County, at the direction of the Community Action Commission and Energy Task Force has initiated the Summer Crisis Cool Center Program. The program is an impressive collaborative effort primarily supported by community partners throughout Riverside County who provide the use of their facility, staff, volunteers and educational materials, in this vital effort. It’s not just a matter of comfort: for some, it’s a matter of safety

Apr 11

International Hispanic Awards at New Agua Caliente Resort

Celebrating its 12 anniversary, the International Hispanic "Sol Azteca" Awards Gala will have extra sizzle this year as the event takes place at the new Agua Caliente Resort and Hotel in Rancho Mirage.

Apr 11

Senior Inspiration Awards Luncheon Honors 11 Local Residents

The "Class of 2008" poses at the Senior Inspiration Awards Luncheon today at the Westin Mission Hills Resort in Rancho Mirage. The 16th Annual version of the Senior Inspiration Awards paid tribute to 11 outstanding seniors, each of whom earned the honor through years of selflessly giving back to the community. The honorees are selected from each of the 9 Coachella Valley cities and two from the County. For the complete story, see the Fourth District website posting from February 20 -> http://www.rivco4.org/release/20080220.html .

Apr 11

Nearly 400 people were in attendance at yesterday's groundbreaking for the Peggy and Donald Cravens Student Services Center at COD. Above is an artist's rendering of the new center, and below, wielding shovels are: Becky Broughton, COD Board Member; Dr. Diane Ramirez, Vice President of Student Services; Donald and Peggy Cravens; COD President Jerry Patton; Student Body President Habacuc Flores; and COD Foundation Board President Dr. Ward Fredericks.

Apr 11

Palm Springs: 70 Years Old, and Ready to Party

VillageFest in downtown Palm Springs will have additional oomph next Thursday, April 17, as the City celebrates its 70th anniversary.

Apr 10

Ripley Residents to Learn about Paving and CSD Progress

The Ripley Community Council conducts its regular meeting on Wednesday, April 16 at 6 p.m., and among the topics explored will be formation of a Community Services District in the Palo Verde Valley and the progress on paving selected roads in the community which become quagmires after a rain.

Apr 09

360-Space Mobile Home Park Garners Supervisors' Backing

A proposed low-income mobile home park is a step closer to reality after the Riverside County Board of Supervisors Okayed a funding agreement with Desert Empire Homes to construct the first phase. The deal calls for the county's Redevelopment Agency to pony up just over half the $9,714,528 cost of completing the first phase, which consists of 180 homes and a community center.

Apr 09

Pharmacy Coming to Community of Mecca

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved a lease agreement Tuesday which would allow AMIS Pharmacy Corporation (DBA "Mecca Community Pharmacy) to operate a pharmacy within the Mecca Family Care Clinic. It would be the first pharmacy to operate within the East Valley community.

Apr 09

Then...

Now...

Yacht Club in North Shore: New Lease on Life?

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved $60,000 for a study of the old North Shore Yacht Club to see if the structure is suitable for renovation.

Apr 08

Desert Lyceum 2008 Summit is April 25 at UCR Palm Desert

It could be a whole new economy that the Coachella Valley is getting a glimpse of, as the University of California, Riverside's Palm Desert Graduate Center presents its 2008 Summit on "Energy, Environment and Economic Change."

Apr 08

Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22, and TOM is Ready

In observance of Earth Day, the Southern Coachella Valley Community Services District is printing out a coloring book, featuring TOM the trash can . . . and aimed at getting kids to be aware of the need to responsibly dispose of trash.

Apr 04

Blythe Chamber Reveals 'Recognition Day' Honorees List

The list of honorees for this year's Community Recognition Day in Blythe has been set. Here are the outstanding residents who will be honored during the event:

Apr 04

Supervisor Roy Wilson addresses the "class" of Fourth District community council members who attended Thursday night's training session at the Workforce Development Center. In order to ensure that council members conduct their community's business in the fairest and most effective manner, the Supervisor's staff (with help from other departments) conducts these session on at least an annual basis. Subjects covered included the state's open meeting law, presented by Tiffany North of the County Counsel's Office, and "Planning 101," an overview of zoning and land use, conducted by Paul Clark, Principal Planner in the Planning Department's Thousand Palms "Desert Permit Assistance Center." Supervisor Wilson's staff also covered a wide variety of other topics in the 2-hour-plus meeting.

Apr 04

Alfredo Morales Rosas

"Most Wanted" Fugitive on the Lam Since 1999

This week's Riverside County "Most Wanted" fugitive is accused of murdering a "friend" in front of the friend's wife and children.

Apr 03

As prelude to his official retirement at the end of this month, Blythe City Manager Les Nelson (second from left) served out his last meeting as General Manager of the Palo Verde Transit Agency this week. Congratulating Les for his work with the Transit Agency are, from left, board members Lincoln Edmund, Blythe Mayor Robert Crain (Chair), County Supervisor Roy Wilson and Joey DeConinck. Lincoln Edmund also serves as a member of the Palo Verde College Board, and Joey DeConinck is on the Blythe City Council. The outgoing General Manager, who is holding an honorary plaque presented by the Board, will be replaced on at least an interim basis by Assistant City Manager Butch Hull (not pictured).

Apr 01

Flying Doctors to Bring Medical Care to Valley's Needy

Physicians from all over California--including some local doctors--will take their equipment and a wide variety of medical talents (not to mention a selfless concern for the welfare of others) to the eastern Coachella Valley this weekend.