Dispatch: Week of March 23
Upcoming animal shelter fundraiser kicks off in Pioneertown, more headaches for California refinery, and the state's drinking water is about to get cleaner.
Hello from California’s high desert. I sincerely hope this weekend’s wind event was the last of the winter, and I’m pretty sure my fence feels the same way. Sunday was the first official day of spring marked by the Spring Equinox, meaning the days and nights were roughly equal length. The days will only get longer from now until June.
And to all those navigating the permit system in Recreation.gov this summer, may the odds be ever in your favor.
And now, onto this week’s news:
In COVID-19 news:
California public health officials are starting to sound the alarm on a potential new wave of COVID-19 infections as the new variant (a sub-variant of Omicron called BA.2) begins taking off in the US.
Testing and sequencing indicate the new strain is moving through the East Coast rapidly, and waste water testing indicate it is present throughout the country.
Some schools and businesses are choosing to reinstate mask policies ahead of a potential wave in order to avoid shutting down entirely, as many did in the last wave.
A new study out Tuesday found that people that had previous COVID-19 infections were nearly 40% more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes.
Researchers aren’t yet sure why that is, but estimated that roughly 1% of people would develop Type 2 diabetes that otherwise would not have without a COVID-19 infection.
Some experts are concerned that the US may be unprepared for a spring surge as funding stalls for things like free testing, treatments, and vaccines.
In local news:
Mojave National Preserve is increasing law enforcement presence on most major roads in the preserve in an effort to crack down on speeding starting March 24 (tomorrow). Take note, Vegas commuters.
Speeding in the park can result in fines up to $5,000 or up to 6 months in jail.
The Woof! Walk Festival is this Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Pioneertown Wild West Theater. The fundraising event benefits the non-profit Joshua Tree No-Kill Animal Shelter and Adoption Center.
Registration for the Woof! Walk is $40 per person/canine. If you raise $100 or more in donations prior to the walk the registration fee will be waived.
For more information, check out the Morongo Basin Humane Society’s Facebook page here.
A residential fire on Sunday night destroyed one home in Yucca Valley before San Bernardino County Fire officials extinguished the blaze.
The two displaced residents are working with American Red Cross after losing their home and cats in the fire.
Yucca Valley Town Council revealed renderings of its plans to revitalize Old Town Yucca Valley last week.
The plans include a stage, gathering area, parking, a picnic area, a playground, and new landscaping in a city-owned plot on the northwest corner of Elk Trail between Twentynine Palms Highway and Yucca Trail.
The public comment period for the proposed communications tower in Morongo Valley closed on Monday. Next, the comments will be incorporated in an environmental analysis that will also be made public once complete.
The tower would increase broadband and cellular access across the Basin, but its placement on 2.2 acres of public land within the California Desert Conservation area means that it needs BLM approval to move forward.
There is fierce opposition to the tower project within the Basin due to its size and placement within a protected area.
Kevin Spruell Sr. was killed in a DUI rollover crash on March 15 in northern Joshua Tree. Kevin Spruell Jr. has been arrested for DUI.
Spruell was the long-time head cook at Country Kitchen in Joshua Tree. A GoFundMe was organized by his daughter, Destiny Spruell, to help support his family.
In state news:
Governor Gavin Newsom proposed giving California residents up to $400 per vehicle (up to 2 vehicles) in direct payments to help offset rising fuel prices.
Newsom needs support from the state legislature to approve the payments.
Fern Canyon, part of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park on the far northern coast of California in Humboldt County, will require reservations for the upcoming summer visitor season.
It is just the latest California State Park to implement a reservation system in an effort to better control crowds and protect sensitive areas from overuse.
More than 500 workers at a Chevron refinery in the Bay Area are on strike over safety concerns and to demand a salary increase to keep up with inflation and the area’s high cost of living.
California officials have proposed a standard for some contaminants in drinking water, such as hexavalent chromium, in a first for the nation.
Hexavalent chromium is thought to cause cancer and was at the center of the famous Erin Brockovich case about residents in nearby Hinkley.
In other news:
March Madness continues this week with the Sweet Sixteen after a thrilling opening weekend with many games coming down to the final seconds or going to overtime. My bracket is toast, thanks to No. 15 St. Peter’s upset of No. 2 Kentucky.
General Motors is recalling more than 740,000 small SUVs because the headlight beams can be too bright.
The company is recalling GMC Terrain SUVs from the 2010 through 2017 model years. GM expects to notify owners by letter starting April 23.
Pupdate of the week: The pups and I flew solo for a few days this week while my husband was out of town. Alice has decided I am definitely not the fun parent and has been protesting our limited play time in the mornings. Oliver, meanwhile, enjoys the slower pace of things and has really caught up on his naps.
Trail tip of the week: It’s warming up out there, so I will take this opportunity to remind you of some essentials you’ll need when venturing into the desert: water (at least 1 liter per hour per person), sunscreen (and reapply!), sun protection of some sort (wide brim hat, buff, hat and neck covering), sunglasses (especially if you have light colored eyes), sun shirt or other light long-sleeve options, salty snacks or hydration tablets, and a fine tooth comb (for removing cactus spines).
Book of the week: I have started reading Kelton Wright’s newsletter Shangrilogs, where she writes about moving to a small tourist-centric town in the mountains. This week’s edition covered what it means to be a “local” in a place with changing demographics and, well, I couldn’t help but compare her observations to what’s been happening in the Basin.
Show of the week: The Oscars are this weekend and I am woefully behind on watching all the nominees this year. I really hope to catch The Power of the Dog on Netflix before Sunday, and Licorice Pizza and Nightmare Alley are also top of the list.
That’s it for this week. I hope you have a great weekend and spend some time outside!
- Megan
Appreciate this shout very much!
Megan, I think you'll LOVE Licorice Pizza. It captures SoCal in 1973 pretty well. I didn't grow up in the Valley, so can't speak to how well it reflects the reality of that time, but the film truly "feels" like '73. (It's absolutely striking how much freedom a teens had in those days...) I look forward to hearing what you think of it.