Dispatch: Week of July 24
Morongo Basin Humane Society resumes dog walks, plus Yellowstone geyser explosion
Hello from California’s high desert, where monsoon season is off to a strong start. Temperatures are expected to drop slightly this weekend for a bit of relief.
In case you missed it: Like a lot of travelers, I got stuck at an airport for several hours on Friday due to a global IT software outage. My astrology app seemed to think that was funny, and I wrote about its suggestion for the day while cooped up with thousands of other people. You can read it here.
And now, onto this week’s news:
In local news:
Twentynine Palms Highway was closed for a second time this month in Twentynine Palms due to flash flooding and debris on Tuesday afternoon following a monsoon storm. It reopened by early Wednesday morning.
Residents were still cleaning up from last week’s storm when another set of strong storms rolled in on Monday and Tuesday. Adobe Road fully reopened just Monday, and was still open as of Tuesday evening.
Speaking of flood preparation, fire stations in the Morongo Basin have free sandbags for residents to use to protect their homes from flash floods.
Three San Bernardino County firefighters based in Twentynine Palms have been assigned to work on wildfires raging across Oregon. Capt. Bryan Whorton, engineer Jeff Sutphen, and firefighter Zach McHenry could be on assignment as a strike team for up to 21 days, officials said.
San Bernardino County Supervisors approved an increase to they FP-5 fire tax. The $5.16 increase brings the total tax bill to $177.01 per parcel.
Joshua Tree National Park is seeking to fill two volunteer positions in August: A nursery and herbarium technician as well as a vegetation program field assistant. Applications for both positions are now open, and the deadline for the field assistant role is on August 3. There is no deadline for the technician role.
The Johnson Valley Shared Use OHV area will be closed starting August 11 through August 26 for Marine Corps training in the area.
Yucca Valley and San Bernardino County officials hosted a set of workshops to discuss food vending practices this week. The final workshop is happening now, and can be attended virtually here.
The Bureau of Land Management is requesting public nominations for its California Desert District Advisory Council, which includes folks who have a vested interest in public land management. Previous members include conservationists, tribal leaders, ranchers, academics, and outdoor enthusiasts.
The application is available (PDF) here. The deadline for applications and supplementary materials such as reference letters are due by August 16.
Bill Villarino was appointed San Bernardino County Assistant Fire Chief overseeing the South Desert last week. Villarino was most recently Battalion Chief in the Morongo Basin.
The Morongo Basin Humane Society is hosting dog walks again! If you are interested in starting your day with some loveable shelter dogs who love getting out for a break, you can text Jen at 760-668-5255 or send her an email at MBHSVP@gmail.com to hold your spot.
In state news:
Authorities are searching for three people suspected of setting off fireworks that erupted in a massive wildfire that burned several homes and forced thousands to evacuate in Riverside on Tuesday.
State Fair organizers are considering moving the annual event from July to another, cooler month as record temperatures continue in Sacramento, where the fair is hosted each year.
A statewide ballot measure slated for November’s general election that would have created a billionaire-backed city in Northern California has been rescinded due to disagreements between said billionaires and local residents currently living in the area.
In other news:
It has been a crazy few weeks that make me thankful to not be a daily reporter anymore. As of Tuesday, Kamala Harris has earned enough delegate votes to become the Democratic nominee for President. She has not yet selected a running mate.
President Biden announced his decision to withdraw from the race on Sunday before endorsing Vice President Harris shortly after.
There was a massive hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park on Tuesday morning. The explosion is not related to the super volcano that sits under the national park, officials said, but the Biscuit Basin area near Old Faithful has been closed while officials assess the damage and determine whether it is safe to allow guests back in.
Smokey the Bear, the iconic fire-safety steward, turned 80 years old last Friday. A very happy birthday, indeed!
Pupdate of the week: Oliver is still happy that I am home after a quick weekend away, but I’m sure he will move on to his next stage of acceptance, which is usually being spiteful that I left at all. Alice, on the other hand, is becoming quite the early bird now that she’s realized it is not as hot and therefore a perfect time to play.
Trail tip of the week: This week is an excellent reminder as to why it is so important to get off of high points and ridges during the summer months to help avoid sudden storms and lightning. A woman hiking with her father in Yosemite National Park fell from the cables while descending Half Dome and died due to the slick granite from a rain storm that blew in faster than the pair could get to safer ground. Storms in the mountains can rear up almost out of nowhere, going from blue skies one minute to dark and stormy the next. Be sure to always start hiking early and plan to be off all high points no later than noon.
Read of the week: I am about halfway through Lauren Groff’s novel Arcadia and, as with everything she writes, I am completely enamored with the story. The novel follows Bit, a young boy who is born at a compound in upstate New York in the 1960s, and follows him throughout his life in the commune. It’s a story both of incredible time and place, complete with many references to Richard Nixon, but also could have as easily been taking place in the present. I find Groff’s prose in a league of its own — she has a way of building long-term story lines that overtake everything around them with their vividness and complex character development. It is a masterpiece, full stop, and a must-read.
Watch of the week: The Olympics officially kick off with an opening ceremony this Friday, so I will be tuned in for the next two weeks. I can’t wait to see Simone Biles absolutely dominate in women’s gymnastics and for Sha’Carri Richardson leave everyone in the dust in women’s track and field. Other not-to-miss events are swimming, rock climbing, and skateboarding, but there are no wrong choices when it comes to the Olympics.
That’s it for this week! I hope you are staying dry and getting outside before the sun these days.
- Megan