(KESQ) - A collision between a truck and a Jeep on Washington Street north of Avenue 42 in Bermuda Dunes just before 9:00 p.m Tuesday ended with one vehicle crashing into a tree and bursting into flames CAL FIRE and California Highway Patrol were on scene and a witness says the driver of the burning truck may have left the scene before law enforcement arrived CAL FIRE says three people were treated on scene and taken to a local hospital for further treatment and evaluation Stay with KESQ News Channel 3 for any updates News Channel 3 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines KESQ-TV FCC Public File | KPSP-TV FCC Public File | KDFX-TV FCC Public File | EEO Report | FCC Applications | Do Not Sell My Personal Information BERMUDA DUNES – A near-drowning incident in which a 16-month-old child was pulled from a pool Saturday afternoon has been ruled accidental The incident happened in the 78-000 block of Bent Canyon Court at 7:35 p.m Life saving measures were started by family members and continued by paramedics The child was taken in serious condition to a local hospital where its condition improved sheriff’s and Riverside County/Cal Fire officials reported No other information has been made available Three people were hospitalized following a crash between a truck and a Jeep on Washington Street north of Avenue 42 in Bermuda Dunes, Riverside County According to CAL FIRE and the California Highway Patrol and resulted in one of the vehicles striking a tree and catching fire A witness reported that the driver of the burning truck may have fled the scene before law enforcement arrived Emergency responders treated three individuals at the scene and transported them to a local hospital for further evaluation It is illegal for a driver to flee the scene whether the crash causes injuries or property damage you must report the accident to your insurance company It’s also critical to consult with a lawyer as soon as possible Under the leadership of Arash Khorsandi, Esq., our highly regarded Riverside County hit-and-run accident lawyers provide free no-obligation consultations to assess your case We will review the details of your situation and determine factors that may influence the compensation you are entitled to receive At Arash Law, our dedicated hit-and-run accident attorneys manage both insurance claims and court representation. With over $750 million recovered for accident victims and their families we are recognized as one of the most trusted personal injury law firms in California If a driver flees the scene after causing an accident and taking steps that can help authorities locate the driver while strengthening your claim for compensation Our hit-and-run accident lawyers in Riverside County suggest you do the following: I HAD AN ACCIDENT According to data from ValuePenguin fatal hit-and-run accidents saw a sharp increase between 2012 and 2021 greatly outpacing the overall rise in fatal crashes during that timeframe there were 2,783 fatal hit-and-run accidents representing an 89.4% increase compared to the 1,469 incidents recorded in 2012 overall fatal crashes rose by only 27.4% over the same decade California has the highest percentage of fatal hit-and-run accidents in the country with 10.1% of all deadly crashes involving hit-and-run incidents accounting for more than 60% of these cases approximately 62.8% of fatal hit-and-run crashes involved pedestrians and deaths among pedestrians increased by 53.7% during that period These statistics reveal a troubling rise in hit-and-run accidents and highlight the significant risk they pose Six people were injured following a five-vehicle crash on the northbound 15 Freeway near Highway 138 in the Cajon Pass A bicyclist sustained serious injuries after being hit by a vehicle in Sacramento on Saturday evening According to the Sacramento Police Department and another woman and two children sustained injuries following a two-vehicle head-on crash in El Dorado Hills A motorcyclist was killed following a suspected DUI crash in Merced on Saturday afternoon Two young men were killed following a suspected DUI crash in Fresno on Friday night and two others sustained non-life-threatening injuries following a multi-vehicle collision in the Westlake community of Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon California’s Powerhouse Accident Lawyers With a consecutively proven track record Disclaimer: Not every one of our firm’s attorneys has received the recognitions stated here Visit the attorneys’ specific profile page under the ‘Our Firm’ tab for specific attorney recognitions (888) 488-1391 Do I Have A Case? Let’s Chat 2960 Wilshire Blvd.Los Angeles, CA 9001024hr Local Line: (213) 277-587824hr Local Line: (310) 277-7529Available by appointment only 333 University Ave. #200Sacramento, CA 9582524hr Local Line: (916) 414-9552Available by appointment only 505 Montgomery St. #1000San Francisco, CA 9411124hr Local Line: (415) 969-7799Available by appointment only 15233 Ventura Blvd. #500Sherman Oaks, CA 9140324hr Local Line: (818) 696-4440Available by appointment only 99 South Almaden Blvd. #600San Jose, CA 9511324hr Local Line: (408) 766-3161Available by appointment only 11801 Pierce St. #200Riverside, CA 9250524hr Local Line: (951) 530-4659Available by appointment only 8880 Rio San Diego Dr #800San Diego, CA 9210824hr Local Line: (619) 431-4840Available by appointment only 185 N. Hill Ave. #201Pasadena, CA 9110624hr Local Line: (626) 723-3933Available by appointment only This website is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal advice Please do not act or refrain from acting based on anything you read on this site Using this site or communicating with the law offices of arash khorsandi through this site does not form an attorney/Client relationship Copyright © 2025 The Law Office of Arash Khorsandi Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Accessibility | Careers WE’VE RECOVERED OVER $750 MILLION FOR OUR CLIENTS (KESQ) - A crash that left one vehicle on its roof has caused traffic issues along Washington Street in Bermuda Dunes The crash was reported just after 1:30 p.m between Country Club Drive and Avenue 42/Hovley Lane The Riverside County Sheriff's Department confirmed there were no injuries The cause of the crash remains under investigation A man accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Bermuda Dunes shortly after he allegedly tried to assault another woman was identified and arrested was arrested Sunday near the 73000 block of Country Club Drive in Palm Desert according to an updated statement from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department The Riverside County District Attorney's Office confirmed Wilson was charged with kidnap to commit robbery/rape where he pleaded not guilty to all charges Wilson is expected to return to the Larson Justice Center in Indio for a felony settlement conference on Sept Deputies from the Thermal Sheriff's Station responded at 2:56 a.m 21 to the 78000 block of Avenue 42 regarding a report of a suspicious person the caller told them an unknown masked man followed her to her apartment and was scared off when the woman screamed as he approached her They checked the area and were unable to locate the suspect, but obtained video surveillance footage with an image of the suspect deputies received a report of a sexual assault near Adams Street and Dune Lake Street The victim told deputies she was in the area between 2:30 and 3 a.m when she was attacked by an unknown man and sexually assaulted She described the suspect as 20-30 years old The suspect was wearing a black ski mask and fled in an unknown direction after the assault Deputies continued to investigate under the belief that the descriptions referred to the same suspect in both cases After receiving information that assisted in identifying Wilson as the suspect deputies located and arrested him on Sunday.  Wilson had been released from prison approximately a month ago 11 months into a two-and-a-half-year sentence His criminal history includes prior felony convictions for robbery He was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center on Monday morning where he remains in custody without bail Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation was encouraged to contact Investigator Perez of the Thermal Sheriff's Station at 760-341-7867 The Sheriff's Office shared safety tips in the event that a suspicious stranger approaches you: A man sexually assaulted a woman in Bermuda Dunes shortly after trying to assault another woman the Thermal Sheriff's Station reported Thursday Deputies from the station responded at 2:56 a.m Wednesday to the 78-000 block of Avenue 42 regarding a report of a suspicious person Deputies checked the area and did not locate the suspect but were able to obtain video surveillance footage with an image of the suspect The victim described the suspect as 20-30 years old Deputies believe the man described by the victims was the same suspect in both cases Anyone with information about this suspect's identity or his whereabouts was asked to call Investigator Perez of the Thermal Sheriff's Station at 760-863-8447 or the Riverside Sheriff's Dispatch at 951-776-1099 Callers who wish to remain anonymous may call Valley Crime Stoppers at 760-341-7867 Riverside County Sheriff's Deputies were searching for a suspect in an attempted carjacking in Bermuda Dunes on Thursday night They say a man hit a victim over the head and demanded their keys and other personal belongings just before 6:00 p.m. near Varner Road just east of Washington Street Deputies searched the area and brought in K-9 search dogs to assist The man was described as wearing a tan shirt and black pants The victim was recovering after being treated for injuries at the scene – — A California man indicted in connection with a rape investigation involving former Vanderbilt football players has pleaded not guilty to charges of evidence tampering The Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/17cBGBE ) reports attorney Bernie McEvoy entered the plea Wednesday for 20-year-old Miles Joseph Finley of Bermuda Dunes Finley and 20-year-old Joseph Dominick Quinzio of Palm Desert were indicted in August on charges of tampering with electronic evidence pertaining to the investigation Charged with aggravated rape are 19-year-old Cory Batey of Nashville Tenn.; 20-year-old Brandon Vandenburg of Indio Calif.; 19-year-old Brandon Banks of Brandywine Md.; and 19-year-old Jaborian "Tip" McKenzie of Woodville They were dismissed from the team and are no longer students Deputies arrested a 21-year-old man believed to be the suspect in both cases of Palm Desert was arrested and charged with kidnap to commit robbery/rape Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates on this case The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is requesting the public’s help in identifying a Bermuda Dunes assault suspect who may be tied to two cases In a Sheriff's statement released late Thursday investigators said a woman told deputies late Wednesday morning she had been sexually assaulted hours earlier in the area of Adams Street and Dune Lake Street in Bermuda Dunes between 2:30 a.m The statement said the victim did not know the suspect and described him as a heavy-set black male adult wearing a black ski mask over his face.  The suspect description matched an earlier report deputies had taken along the 78000 block of Avenue 42 in Bermuda Dunes Wednesday at 2:56 a.m Deputies were called there for reports of a suspicious person who followed a woman to her apartment but was scared away when the woman screamed The Sheriff's Department said the suspect was wearing a mask and ran away through the apartment complex A search of the area failed to locate any suspects Deputies obtained video surveillance from that incident with an image of the suspect and is requesting the public’s help in identifying the suspect Investigators in a statement said they believe the male described by the victims was the same suspect in both incidents Anyone with information about this suspect’s identity or whereabouts should contact Investigator Perez of the Thermal Sheriff’s Station by calling 760–863–8447 or the Riverside Sheriff’s Dispatch at 951–776–1099 Call Valley Crimestoppers at (760) 341–7867 if you wish to remain anonymous You can watch Jeff every weekday morning on News Channel 3 in the Morning and News Channel 3 at Noon. Learn more about Jeff here Luis Avila joined KESQ News Channel 3 as a multimedia journalist in June 2024. Learn more about Luis here One man is in custody accused in two sexual assault cases out of Bermuda Dunes Riverside County DA’s office says 21-year-old Linnell Letice Wilson of Palm Desert has been charged with rape and robbery among other crimes Surveillance video shows the suspect approaching the victim in one case while she was getting ready to go inside her home We're told the victim started screaming and was able to get away from him We spoke to retired professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter Steve Swanson who now teaches self defense classes in palm desert about the video what she did was the best thing you can do," said Swanson "Because you don't ever want to be quiet when you got somebody like that trying to come into your house or trying to come after you people are going to hear it and they're going to call the police or you're going to get yourself to safety like we want." Coach Steve Swanson says other actions like making eye contact getting vocal and showing that you can fight back can also ward off potential attackers Linnell Letice Wilson was arrested on Sunday on Country Club Drive in Palm Desert He's expected to make an initial court appearance at the Larson Justice Center in Indio on September 9th A 21-year-old man was arrested this week in connection to a recent sexual assault in Bermuda Dunes as well as another attempted assault nearby The man was identified Friday by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department as Linnell Wilson of Palm Desert 25 near the 73-000 block of Country Club Drive in Palm Desert The arrest came after deputies received a pair of reports on Aug 21 involving what the sheriff's department suspected was the same assailant where a woman told them a masked man followed her to her apartment but was scared off when the woman screamed as he approached her A woman told deputies she was in the area between 2:30 and 3 a.m when she was attacked and sexually assaulted by a man wearing a ski mask Deputies obtained video surveillance footage with an image of the attacker who authorities said has a violent history with prior robbery and carjacking charges was being held without bail Friday on suspicion of multiple felony charges Two young men accused of fatally shooting a 17-year-old boy during a confrontation at a post-prom party in La Quinta were charged on Wednesday with murder with both entering pleas of not guilty during their arraignments in court the same day Elijah Alfredo Martinez of Bermuda Dunes and Dominick Cruz Venecia of Coachella — both 18 — were arrested Sunday following a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation The deceased teenager was identified by Desert Sands Unified School District on Monday as Jaden Ramos both defendants are charged with sentence-enhancing gun use allegations They made a joint initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon at the Larson Justice Center in Indio though only Venecia was visible to media members on hand Each is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Benoit Detention Center Sheriff’s officials said the alleged attack happened about 2:30 a.m Sunday in the 79-000 block of Paseo Del Rey deputies were sent to the location to investigate reports of a shooting they were soon informed that a boy had been taken from the area to a Coachella Valley hospital for treatment Stoyer said Ramos arrived at the trauma center “with injuries consistent with a gunshot wound.” Martinez and Venecia were identified the same day as suspects and detectives eventually obtained sufficient evidence to serve arrest warrants on each — Martinez on Airport Boulevard in Thermal Sunday afternoon and Venecia near the intersection of Avenue 50 and Mazatlan Drive in Coachella Sunday night Both defendants were facing charges for possessing firearms while Venecia was facing a charge for personally and intentionally discharged his firearm They were taken into custody without incident A possible motive for the slaying wasn’t disclosed Neither defendant has documented prior felony convictions in adult court A preliminary hearing for the case has been scheduled for June 5 Staff writer Tom Coulter contributed to this report Previous reporting by The Desert Sun is also included in this report Californians reduced their water usage by a paltry 1.8% in July over the same month last year far below the 15% voluntary reductions that Gov Gavin Newsom has called for as severe drought has dried up supplies. The state's three massive reservoirs are at or near record lows 90% of the state is in extreme drought and federal forecasts for this fall show continued hot weather Palm Springs and other customers served by the Desert Water Agency and Bermuda Dunes customers served by the small Myoma Dunes Mutual Water Co Desert Water Agency customers used 896 gallons per water meter per day in July according to public data obtained by The Desert Sun from the California Water Resources Control Board It ranked eighth highest for residential water usage DWA's per-meter usage is nearly eight times higher than the statewide 175 gallons per day and residential usage is double the state rate of 175 gallons per day After being contacted by The Desert Sun about its high rankings DWA reached out to the state water board on Tuesday to say there were errors in the data and it would be re-submitted "Please be advised that today we received information from both the Desert Water Agency and the City of Exeter that there may be inaccuracies in their July data and that their submissions to us are not final and will need to be resubmitted," said water board spokeswoman Jackie Carpenter She added that the statewide conservation average of -1.8% remained unchanged In an email to The Desert Sun, Ashley Metzger DWA's director of public affairs and water planning "there is an error in the 2021 data," and noted the state water agency had "flagged that the amount was very high." "This effort takes time as there are roughly 40 meter reads that have to be re-evaluated for that month," she said "Please give us an appropriate amount of time to get these numbers vetted and corrected." 1  highest water user per water meter in the state in 2015 It ranked 8th statewide this June Conservation managers at both agencies were initially not surprised by the high numbers though they questioned some of the state's methodology also pointing out the region's triple-digit weather plays a role "We're in the hottest urban community in the state," said Ashley Metgzer DWA's director of public affairs and water planning. She said the state water board wrongly does not allow them to include seasonal residents "We're known around the globe as a seasonal and tourism community," she said "We really don't love the gallons per person metric because it is really unfavorable to places with seasonal populations." She said they told the state water board during the last drought about that concern swimming pools and other artificial water uses in an arid desert also pump up the numbers when Bermuda grass is shorn and new winter rye seeds are watered as much as five times a day "It's getting people to part with their lawns that’s the hardest thing," said Michele Donze who oversees conservation education and billing some of those pansies use as much water as grass And I don't know if they realize their pool evaporation per day takes as much water as watering their lawns." It all adds up to sky-high water use in a state and region where supplies are dwindling as climate change sets in drier weather. State and federal officials sounded the alarm again on Tuesday warning the state water board in a special hydrology briefing to prepare for far worse drought conditions not just in the coming months The City of Indio's water agency and the City of Coachella's water agency both reported a 3% drop in water usage between July 2020 and July 2021 The Coachella Valley Water District reported a 1% decline in that same period.  More mandatory cuts in allocations and other tough measures could be imposed if conservation numbers don't improve "Spring 2021 was the hottest and warmest on record," said California Dept The situation requires "aggressive planning right now.. The officials told reporters they wanted to brief the board and all local water agencies now instead of in the spring after snowpack numbers are known because State Water Project supplies are already so low that it would require 140% of a normal rain year to begin to restore supply.  They will aim to provide early notice of water allocations for the next year as well to give farmers time to decide on crop planting The rainy season historically begins on Oct. 1 But hotter temperatures and drier soil driven by climate change are here to stay along with occasionally flash flood years that will require new and repaired storage and distribution infrastructure They stressed that if Californians buckled down and really conserved it could also help the state win critically needed federal funds for such projects Water emergencies have been declared for the northern two-thirds of the state which can trigger mandatory cuts. But conditions from Los Angeles to the Mexican border haven't yet warranted such declarations with many water districts in the south holding priority rights to Colorado River water an industrial city in south Los Angeles County had the highest per capita water usage in July and Paradise Irrigation District in Northern California had the second-highest usage All of the large southern water providers except the Imperial Irrigation District have also already signed on to drought contingency plans to conserve water in Lake Mead reservoir and some have been stockpiling reserve water for years Metzger with DWA noted western Coachella Valley has a healthy buffer of supplies thanks to a natural aquifer underlying much of the valley that has been replenished with imported water Those imports could be curtailed in the future Department of Water Resources Director Nemeth said in a media briefing on Monday: "to the extent that those water agencies in the eastern part of Southern California (import) water supplies they will be on notice on what’s coming or not coming to them next year And we want those local boards to be in a position, if they need to go to mandatory (cuts)  to do that at the local level." Donze said Myoma imposed sharp rate hikes on wasteful water users as of Sept but she said not being able to access State Water Project supplies in the future to bolster supply was a concern.  The new data and dire warnings come just as homeowners businesses and even government agencies in the Coachella Valley are about to start annual scalping or overseeding The practice involves either close cropping or ripping out at the roots heat-exhausted summer Bermuda thatch and sowing winter rye over it And performing the landscaping two-step in a harsh desert environment requires water — lots of it — to establish the new seeds Irrigation is recommended as many as five times a day With much of the state again enduring a mega-drought and climate change ratcheting up drier weather and hotter temperatures experts say a far better approach is to rip out turf and replace it with attractive arid weather plants As much as 70% of all water use in inland areas is still for outdoor irrigation said Heather Cooley with the Pacific Institute Donze said in Bermuda Dunes as much as 80% of water supply goes to outdoor landscaping But while many Coachella Valley homeowners and businesses are converts to low water or xeriscapes, others are sticking with their green swards Busy streets and quiet cul-de-sacs alike reflect the patchwork reality with blooming bougainvillea and sculpted cacti on decomposed gravel across the street or next to traditional greens.  who has lived with a "no-grass" front yard of rock cacti and other low water plants for 20 years on Las Pampas Way in Palm Springs his neighbor Abbie Harris has ripped out half her family's lawn 11 palm trees and other water-intensive plants But she can't bear to part with the lawn out front where her daughter's pitching mound still sits even though she has graduated from college and moved out Her gardeners have already reduced water to prepare for scalping it in the next month pointing to another neighbor up the block's handsome artificial turf Her 13-year-old dog Daisy also loves to use a bit of turf in the backyard Along with more than 100 manicured golf courses from Palm Springs Airport and Forest Lawn Memorial Park to J.W But Donze said that ironically can increase residential water usage She said when Bermuda Dunes Country Club switched to recycled water and its greens grew even greener residents whose yards roll into the golf course stepped up their watering which has tried a variety of programs to cut water usage is currently asking customers to forgo the close shave of summer thatch and "go gold," watering existing Bermuda grass just enough to keep it alive They say it will mean about eight weeks of brown lawn — and far lower water bills Canyon Estates Homeowners Association recently voted to do just that known for its mid-century modern designed homes, will not scalp or overseed this fall.  “Our Board of Directors agreed that in light of the drought in California our community would skip overseeding,” said Canyon Estates HOA Board President Christopher Brodwell “Canyon Estates not overseeding is a win-win,” said DWA Board President Kristin Bloomer in a news release “The community will see savings on their landscaping and water bills and contribute to long-term sustainability of our most precious resource.” Experts said while such actions help a bit ripping out lawns completely and converting to low-water landscaping or artificial turf would be far better "It's a small step," said Cooley with the Pacific Institute If the only person walking on it is your landscaper to mow the grass "There's a real place for grass in the Coachella Valley: It's parks it's backyards where people are using it for their pets She also said DWA customers had used 4% less water in August than a year ago beating the statewide July reduction of 1.7% She said she could not immediately provide a July number Janet Wilson is senior environment reporter for The Desert Sun and writes USA Today's Climate Point newsletter. Subscribe here for free She can be reached at janet.wilson@desertsun.com or on Twitter @janetwilson66  The last time Charlie Reiter made it through U.S Open local qualifying at Bermuda Dunes Country Club he eventually played his way into the 2022 U.S Reiter, the former Palm Desert High School star, hopes to follow that same path this year to make the Open field at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina. The first step came Thursday when Reiter fired a 5-under 67 to secure one of five berths into sectional qualifying in early June. “I feel like it just sets up pretty well for me,” Reiter said after making it through the Bermuda Dunes qualifier for the third time Reiter’s 67 tied him for second in the 78-player field at Bermuda Dunes a 22-year-old who just graduated from Loyola Marymount College five players at 68 or better move on to sectional play One of those players was Michael Slesinski of Fremont who plays golf out of La Quinta these days More: Palm Desert junior falls just short in U.S. Open local qualifier in La Quinta were in a three-way playoff for the first and second alternate spots from the field after shooting 69 Amateur Cooper Humphreys of Canada defeated Al Geiberger Jr on the third playoff hole with a birdie to take first alternate Brad Whalen of Cathedral City fell out of the playoff with a bogey on the first hole who is currently playing mini-tours and is a two-time winner this season on the Asher Tour with seven top-10 finishes played his round with six birdies and one bogey that on the short par-4 10th hole where he three-putted from long range That bogey dropped him to 1 under for the day but Reiter rallied with a birdie on the 11th then three birdies in his closing five holes at the 14th He also saved a par on the par-3 17th when he missed the green long put made a 10-foot par-putt Reiter said the fact that he made the Open two years ago – he missed the 36-hole cut at The Country Club – doesn’t really change his approach to Open qualifying this year “I just feel like from playing here a long time I kind of know what the scores are going to be So I just try to shoot that and hopefully get to the next round I figured that 5 (under) was going to be the number and 4 is no good.” Lewis’ bogey-free round included eight birdies though he only birdied two of the four par-5s on the course Reiter also birdied just two of the par-5s and he let some scoring chances get away on the 10th and 15th holes after long drives only to fail to hit his approach shots close on the par-4s with golfers playing 36 holes at 10 different locations Reiter is set to play his sectional in Northern California at Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City A 26-year-old Coachella man was arrested Friday on suspicion of possessing drugs Alfredo Barajas was arrested shortly after 6 a.m on Avenue 42 in Bermuda Dunes after police from several agencies seized three AR-15 rifles 16 pounds of methamphetamine and heroin and $35,000 in cash.  Other items taken by police include high-capacity magazines and packaging for narcotics sales Read:  La Quinta police arrest woman. 79, on shoplifting charges Read:  CHP officer arrested on suspicion of sexual misconduct with minors was being held at the Riverside County Jail in Indio He is due to appear in court on Tuesday at the Indio Larson Justice Center La Quinta and Bermuda Dunes during the police operation which was prompted by an investigation into an armed robbery that occurred in Indio Shane Newell covers breaking news and the western Coachella Valley cities of Palm Springs He can be reached at Shane.Newell@DesertSun.com (760) 778-4649 or on Twitter at @journoshane City News Service contributed to this report Ernie Dunlevie was a successful Palm Springs real estate businessman and Ray Ryan was an oilman developer and well-known gambler who was also known as Mr desert plain and turn it into a glamorous country club They must have seen the future of the Coachella Valley and decided to gamble on it bringing it back to life after it was used as a hospital during World War II He had already rolled the dice on east valley developments such as the North Shore Yacht Club at the Salton Sea So when Dunlevie approached Ryan about his dream to build a development between Highway 111 and Highway 99 (what is now Interstate 10) Their focused attention was on the area that we all know as Bermuda Dunes a name that is still carried on by the area’s water company The unincorporated area is residentially concentrated not really conforming to other desert cities’ cookie-cutter developments Large estates (some with horses) are mixed with single-family homes The area even has its own well-trafficked airport catering to private jet setters and hobby aviators Imagining what it must have been like when Dunlevie and Ryan delved into it is to envision a blank slate of desert dunes that obviously to Dunlevie and Ryan had extraordinary potential Bermuda Dunes would be very different indeed The duo started development on Bermuda Dunes Country in early 1958 The impetus of their foresight came when they had recognized that the golf facilities in Palm Springs were less than adequate to meet the demands of not only residents and initially had much more than just the country club in mind Promotional maps indicate that the development intended to take over almost all of what Bermuda Dunes is today with a proposed 200-room hotel that was to be named the “Star of the Desert,” slated to be built inside the country club by an interested syndicate The luxury hotel had a price tag of $4,500,000 as well as the Bermuda Dunes Airport and adjacent Racquet Club (now Murph’s Gaslight) were completed and greeted with rave reviews Bermuda Dunes Country Club started with 11 miles of streets 14 miles of water mains and a fresh water lake nourished by a 75-foot high waterfall 18-hole golf course was designed by William F and was considered one of the largest courses in Southern California at the time It was well received by golfers and praised for its rolling sand dune contours and palm-lined course which was in stark contrast from the flat courses that were the norm in California and Arizona deserts the course had players reminiscing about courses on the Monterey Peninsula and the British Isles The course would go on to serve in 50 Bob Hope Classic Tournaments The “Top O’ the Dunes” clubhouse was designed by architect Chris Choate and built by builders Jerry Apelby and Virgil Garland atop a 60-foot high sand dune overlooking the lake at a cost of $300,000 The clubhouse had commanding views and was set to serve as the social center for all of the Coachella Valley Home sites within the club were initially clustered around the golf course to take advantage of the stunning views The luxury home sites ranged in size from 10,000 square feet up to half-acre lots Fairway sites started at $9,000 and view sites at $3,150 the club had almost $4,000,000 in home site sales It was the new and fashionable place to live in the desert The Bermuda Dunes Country Club had a who’s who list of celebrity residents including Clark Cable and his wife Kay Williams Dunlevie and Ryan created many developments in their time here in the Coachella Valley and had a vision that has secured their legacy With their dedication to their imagination Bermuda Dunes Country Club and the city that bears its name continues to thrive Palm Springs Historical Society’s guest writer is the owner/blogger of thepalmspringslocal.com and a volunteer docent for the Palm Springs Historical Society A Bermuda Dunes man convicted of raping a developmentally disabled woman was sentenced to six years in state prison today An Indio jury in December convicted Gabriel Anthony Ortiz of sexually assaulting the then 20-year-old woman who investigators say "functions at the competency of a 12-year-old girl," according to court documents She suffers from cerebral palsy and other medical conditions according to an arrest warrant declaration which states investigators "recognized the victim did not possess the cognitive abilities of adults her age and had the mannerisms of a pre-adolescent child."   Ortiz was convicted of two felony counts -- rape on a person unable to consent and oral copulation on a person unable to consent Ortiz appeared at the Larson Justice Center in Indio on Friday where a Riverside County Superior Court Judge sentenced him to six years in state prison on the convicted charges Deputy District Attorney Amity Armes told jurors Ortiz "violated the victim's right to choose when to have that first sexual experience."   Armes argued that the victim's mental age of around 10-12 years old meant that she was unable to legally consent and that the defendant should have rightfully known that Armes asserted that the victim's inability to form complete sentences stripped her of her ability to express herself at that time contended that the victim was not properly tested for mental competency and thus her mental age was only speculative "Why does the prosecution get to decide who is smart enough for sex?" Cavanaugh asked Cavanaugh argued that a lack of proper mental testing meant a reasonable doubt existed as to whether or not consent was present Sheriff's deputies were contacted by staff at Eisenhower Health in January 2018 and spoke with the victim who told investigators the assault happened the previous night at Ortiz's apartment Ortiz was arrested about a week later for an unrelated crime but said that the victim initiated all other sexual contact UPDATE 12/12/21: The pilot of a small plane has died after crashing into a neighborhood in Bermuda Dunes The coroner's office identified the pilot as James Wallace He was pronounced dead at approximately 9:34 p.m Cal Fire said the incident was reported around 12:30 Saturday afternoon The aircraft was carrying only the pilot when it went down on the 78000 block of Discovery Bay Aircraft Emergency: rpt@12:31 p.m. 78000blk Discovery Bay in Bermuda Dunes. Small aircraft down, one occupant trapped. #DiscoveryIC pic.twitter.com/HHg5TYetOa Firefighters pulled the victim from the plane and he was transported to an area hospital by ground ambulance Homeowner Donna Simmons told News Channel 3 she heard a "big bang" and ran outside She then saw the plane right side up next to her house with the visibly injured pilot in the damaged aircraft Neighbors who operate the Bermuda Airport said the man kept his plane at the airport and he was taking off from that location when it crash landed Sheriff's deputies said any further information regarding the condition of the pilot or the crash will be referred to the NTSB who has resumed control of the investigation.   Stay with News Channel 3 for any new updates Jennifer Franco is the weekend anchor/weekday reporter for KESQ News Channel 3 Update: Equity golf membership can be a beautiful thing, but it can become a burden, too It is one of the courses that helped define the Coachella Valley as a golfing paradise in the 1950s. It was part of the old Bob Hope Classic for 49 years, hosting the tournament’s final round 16 times. It is where Arnold Palmer won his last PGA Tour event in 1973 The history of Bermuda Dunes Country Club is as glorious and star-studded as any country club in the Coachella Valley But the club’s immediate past and the future had equity members of the 27-hole country club concerned Familiar worries in the golf world about dwindling membership growing debt and the threat of assessments had remaining members concerned about the existence of the club For Bermuda Dunes -- an equity club owned by the club members rather than an outside company -- the financial pressures have mounted with each passing year.  “We didn’t have the financial wherewithal to make the improvements necessary to bring in new members,” said Dave Peat a 26-year member of Bermuda Dunes and the president of the club’s board of directors we probably could have struggled on for another year maybe.” What the board didn’t know was there was a company looking to buy equity clubs exactly like Bermuda Dunes not to open them up to public play but to enhance the facility’s value by polishing the club’s reputation as a stellar and still-private country club When South Korea-based SJS Tomorrow completed its purchase of Bermuda Dunes earlier this month club members felt it was a new lease on the future for Bermuda Dunes “This is our first year to make a commitment to live full-time here in Palm Desert,” said member Donna Long a 20-year snowbird resident and part of the committee that negotiated the sale of the club “We don’t even live inside the walls here but we were really banking on this being the center of our universe here This just refreshed what we were hoping would happen.” New owners want a private clubSJS Tomorrow through its operating arm Steele Canyon Golf Corporation has bought several private courses in Southern California in recent years Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta and Dove Canyon in Rancho Santa Margarita While some companies have been buying distressed private clubs and making them semi-private or even public to increase revenue, Steele Canyon’s philosophy is exactly opposite “There are no buses of outside golfers,” said Larry Taylor “We want to reduce the number of outside tournaments upgrade the equity concept and make it even more exclusive.” Bermuda Dunes is among a growing number of golf courses in the desert and across the country facing financial issues that threaten their future in the face of a declining number of players In recent months equity members at The Springs Club in Rancho Mirage sold their club to the community’s home owners’ association Members at the neighboring The S at Rancho Mirage sold their facilities to a private buyer while retaining playing rights Other clubs in the desert, such as Santa Rosa Country Club in Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage Country Club, have closed, though Rancho Mirage Country Club has plans to re-open within a year or so. For more than a decade hundreds of golf courses have closed across the nation each year as courses fight to maintain membership levels and developers see other uses for the land the membership roles have been shrinking for most of the last decade as the course tried various membership offers and price adjustments to attract new members we had 498 equity members,” Peat said “We are now under 150 equity members.” That doesn’t mean that some new and even young members aren’t still attracted to Bermuda Dunes Wallis joined Bermuda Dunes two years ago under an executive membership tailored for members under 50 years old Last year Wallis and his wife bought a house at the club but it is still challenging enough to where it is going to challenge you,” Wallis said of the Billy Bell Jr “But it is wide enough and playable enough that my wife and I can go out and play on Sunday and have a great time Arnold Palmer won his last PGA Tour event here It’s kind of fun taking my dad out and saying right here is where Palmer won his last PGA Tour event.” Looking to find a company to come in to manage Bermuda Dunes the board instead found Steele Canyon last May and began discussions to sell the property including the 27-hole golf course and clubhouse The property also includes more than 1,300 homes that are not part of the sale Taylor said his company doesn’t look for courses to buy but will listen to clubs that come to them with interest in selling “We wipe out a club’s liability,” Taylor said we put in their sales agreement all the rules and regulation the club is currently observing We want to turn the clubs into the best of both worlds.” Taylor said 28 percent of Bermuda Dunes’ current play is outside play either guests of members or play from other programs that bring in non-members Steele Canyon will reduce that number to perhaps under 20 percent But with no increase in revenue from outside play how can Steele Canyon make its investment at Bermuda Dunes pay off Taylor said the key is selling more equity memberships to people excited about the revival of the course which in turn makes the club more valuable “Since the announcement that we were looking to sell the club back in May we have had 25 members upgraded from associate to equity,” Peat said So I think there is a little buzz in the community that we are going to be okay.” Taylor says changes will be coming to Bermuda Dunes, including painting the outside of the clubhouse and the grill room before the course re-opens in November. There is already a tree-trimming project on the course, and lakes, including the lake on the iconic par-5 18th hole of the 18-hole Classic Course have been cleaned up and had reeds and other vegetation removed Some changes to the layout are also planned “(Taylor) said from the championship tees he wants to add 300 or 400 yards to play to the original intent of the Billy Bell Jr design out here,” Wallis said with a smile he wants to move the tee back about 40 yards It’s already 210 back there with those two trees (narrowing the tee box).” Wallis said he is also excited about promises of upgrading the grill room for next year which would give him and his friends a chance to watch playoff baseball at the facility or watch NFL games on Sunday after a morning round on the course “Those are the kinds of things that younger people want and will get them to come to this club,” said Long including what he hopes will be better management and tighter control on spending But Taylor also believes a course like Bermuda Dunes perhaps overshadowed by newer country clubs with high-profile big-name designers and larger can still find the right market for new members “One thing people aren’t realizing baby boomers are coming to the right age,” Taylor said “This is baby boomers between 50 and 60 years old They are the ones who are going to be retiring or start slowing down in their lives and they are the ones who are going to be coming in and joining these clubs.” More: Eldorado Country Club and golf course lives up to its name The Bee Gees ruled the music charts with “Stayin’ Alive,” Muhammad Ali was days away from losing the heavyweight championship title to Leon Spinks and a young pro named Bill Rogers was on his way to winning his first PGA Tour event at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic Rogers wasn’t the only person logging a first that week the tournament now called the CareerBuilder Challenge was the first time I attended the tournament And it was the first time the desert’s tour event suffered a lost day to weather and a Monday finish That Monday finish had a lot to do with my understanding of what the tournament was all about and it still has an influence on how I view the tournament 40 years later More: No classes, just golf for Palm Desert High's Charlie Reiter at CareerBuilder Challenge this week More: Here's how to make your CareerBuilder Challenge experience even better I had always wanted to see the Bob Hope tournament but never made the trip down from Victorville when I was in high school and my four friends and I – they were all at least 6-foot-2 or taller – piled into my Ford Fiesta and drove from Orange Country to Bermuda Dunes Country Club on Sunday for what was supposed to be the final round of the event I understood the tournament was a celebrity pro-am but I didn’t much care about the celebrities All I wanted to do was watch the professionals play for the prize money a gaudy $225,000 with a $45,000 first-place check But when Friday’s third round was suspended by a wall of water and mud that filled the wash that cuts through Indian Wells Country Club and that meant amateurs and celebrities as well as the pros I sought out Arnold Palmer’s tee time told my friends goodbye and followed the King for the first five holes of his round It was the first time I had seen Palmer in person and the largest gallery on the course cheered every shot even if it was just a drive into a fairway When Palmer hit an iron into the green of the par-3 fourth hole But Palmer wasn’t going to win the tournament so I wandered around getting a hole or two here or there with Tom Watson Hubert Green and defending champion Rik Massengale But when I finally tracked down Lee Trevino the celebrity aspect of the tournament hit me head on former President Gerald Ford and television star Flip Wilson And the crowd at the time was far more interested in Hope and Ford and Wilson than Trevino one of the game’s all-time great players More: Tickets, parking, general information for 2018 CareerBuilder Challenge That was true of other celebrities I saw that day Palmer wasn’t playing with a celebrity Andy Williams and astronaut Alan Shepard were scattered around the course this is 40 years ago – loved the celebrities Eventually my friends and I found each other and we squeezed back in my car and headed back to Orange County Tom Watson was a draw for fans almost as much as Palmer were as big a part of the tournament as the pros Much has changed in those 40 years since I first attended the tournament like the end of the reliance on celebrities for a gallery changed just because the world has changed More: For Tom Whitney, veteran tasked with launching nuke, exemption to CareerBuilder means a return to the desert and like a lot of people who saw the tournament 40 or 50 years ago I remember that 1978 Hope Classic as a great day that taught me about PGA Tour golf What fans have to hope is that as good as those memories might be there are memories just as good yet to be made in the desert’s tour event Larry Bohannan is The Desert Sun golf writer He can be reached at (760) 778-4633 or larry.bohannan@desertsun.com Follow him on Facebook or on Twitter at Larry_Bohannan a large and diverse gated community with one of the desert's oldest golf courses will soon be asked to vote on a proposal to require the owners of its 1,400 homes to join Bermuda Dunes Country Club the proposal asks residents to pay $50 a month for a social membership at the golf club The Bermuda Dunes Security Association board said the proposed agreement with the country club is on the agenda for a May 26 homeowners association meeting they hope to have members vote on the agreement by the end of June As in other communities that have considered similar proposals proponents say the additional funding will help prop up the historic golf club — which is facing a shrinking membership — and protect property values But talk about the agreement has sparked outrage from other homeowners who say they didn't join the club when they moved in and aren't interested in doing so now They say Bermuda Dunes is attractive because of its low HOA dues READ MORE: Tension rising as golf clubs, HOAs look to future Bermuda Dunes Country Club was developed in the late 1950s Houses then sprung up around the course — some on fairways some in new gated communities and some further away residents of most of these homes agreed to build a gate around the neighborhood The result was a variety of houses and condos inside which now functions like the neighborhood-wide homeowners association was given jurisdiction over the neighborhood's gates and streets has lived in the neighborhood for most of his life and sold real estate there for nearly four decades He remembers the 27-hole golf course's star-studded tournaments which once included the Bob Hope Desert Classic Dunlevie said that some of today's buyers don't even realize there's a golf course in the neighborhood it’s a gated community with a golf course," said Michael Emerson a homeowner who opposes mandatory membership treasurer of the Bermuda Dunes Security Association board and a member of the country club He argued that the 27-hole course is historic — a "national treasure" and a "golfer's golf course" — and deserving of protection he thinks the club could help foster neighborhood relationships "There has never really been a strong sense of community within the (Bermuda Dunes) gated community There has always been a division" between club members and non-members "If you just look at the viability of the course The proposal and the lawn signsWayne Guralnick an attorney who represents the Bermuda Dunes Security Association — and who has a home on the golf course according to property records — said Bermuda Dunes Country Club currently has about 160 equity members and he believes a 27-hole course would need 400 to 450 equity members to be sustainable Nelson called the club's financial status "borderline" and predicted that on its current trajectory the club will have "a real problem" within five years The club declined to provide information about the size of its membership Nelson said the golf club approached the BDSA about four years ago and asked them to consider a monthly payment from homeowners without membership in return the board agreed to ask homeowners to vote on a proposed deal homeowners would get social memberships with access to the clubhouse and the club would add community amenities like an elevator to the clubhouse and a public park and then homeowners would vote on it again or consider a new proposal READ MORE: Coachella Valley HOA fees among highest in U.S. Nelson and Guralnick believe the proposal would net $350,000 to $400,000 for the club annually as current homeowner-members drop from more costly memberships to $50 ones Tax filings in 2014 tax show the club took in $5.13 million in revenue but spent about $5.41 million — a difference of $281,000 Nelson said he feels the board has defended homeowners' interests in negotiating the deal But those objecting to it think the board should have been open about the negotiations from the beginning a homeowner and the opposition group's de facto leader They maintain that about two-thirds of the community's homeowners have not yet joined the country club Knobelauch detailed a variety of additional objections many centered on the belief that the BDSA doesn't have the authority to negotiate with the club at all Others included concerns about elderly homeowners and those on fixed incomes Club manager Perry Dickey said the country club board president was unavailable to speak to a reporter but said in a statement: "BDCC has worked for almost five years to create a bulk agreement for our community offering a social membership through the Security Association for all residents at a very reasonable cost We have agreed  and fully support the efforts of the security association to put this proposal to a vote of their members benefiting what we believe is the entire community." Tensions have manifested in brazen homemade signs with messages like "No welfare for BDCC" in front yards Homeowners on all sides of the issue have slung insults on Facebook and community websites Knobelauch's group and the BDSA met for a legal mediation in April homeowners associations and golf clubs have argued that collaboration will protect property values Nelson of the BDSA said he cried when he read about Rancho Mirage Country Club last year That community's golf club was sold in June to a company that swiftly closed the course then announced plans for residential development READ MORE: Rancho Mirage Country Club HOA suing over closed course Ron Rowell, president of the Bermuda Dunes Community Association, another body supporting the plan, said his mother-in-law lived in Palm Springs Country Club for 35 years. After that course closed about 10 years ago, he said it became "miserable." Recently a developer proposed a plan for homes on the land it's a reasonable consideration and concern." he thinks the $50 membership is a great deal estimating that a social membership today costs $100 or more a real estate broker and former BDSA board member said she empathizes with people who don't want to join "I just worry that they're worried about $50 a month and it's going to come back to haunt them," she said Real estate agents estimated that 400 to 600 of Bermuda Dunes' 1,400 homes sit on the golf course They agreed that the value of fairway homes would sink if the course became But they were split on what could happen to homes off the course where median prices are about half what they are on the fairway Coldwell Banker agent Nadine Elliot estimated The proposal's opponents said they're suspicious of these arguments They say the club should find other ways to protect its finances a geologist who's lived in the community for 30 years said he thinks the club assumes homeowners want to join and that its success is critical to the community's survival "Nobody wants to play the damn golf anyhow," he said "Who we all are" The BDSA board's Nelson said he wants the community to start treating the golf course like a community asset because of its impact on the neighborhood's properties Nelson called the proposal a "bridge" that would help the community "buy time" to figure out a long-term solution — one that includes all homeowners predicted that "somewhere in 10 to 20 years the model will be that the HOAs will have to absorb the golf clubs and make different uses of the golf clubs." "Some people are obviously going to leave" if the proposal goes through And four homeowners who oppose the deal told The Desert Sun they would he still feels like he's fighting for his community I don't want to see it go down the tubes," he said READERS RESPOND: Two golf courses close in 2015 who has lived in the neighborhood since 1985 said she has served on the boards of both her homeowners association and the country club But she believes this proposal aims to restore a bygone era they knew they wouldn't have access to the clubhouse And she added that for some of her neighbors "These (homeowners) are worker bees from L.A. I don't know how they think we're so friggin' special Come back to basics and think about who you are The board said it hopes the community — all 1,400 homes residents and lawn signs — will vote on the proposal before the end of June Rosalie Murphy covers real estate and business at The Desert Sun Reach her at rosalie.murphy@desertsun.com or on Twitter @rozmurph Editor's note: This story initially contained a misspelling of Marcanne Green's name The Coachella Valley is getting its third Grocery Outlet store this week The discount grocery store is scheduled to open Thursday at Washington Street and Avenue 42 in Bermuda Dunes A sign posted at its entrance confirms the opening We open the doors and welcome the community in," co-owner Randy Beckham said The Emeryville-based company was founded in 1946 and has more than 300 stores in California The stores are known for carrying discounted overstocked and closeout products from name brand and private label suppliers "We definitely are community driven," Beckham said Other Grocery Outlets in the Coachella Valley are in Palm Springs and Desert Hot Springs. Those stores opened in 2018.  Another outlet is planned for La Quinta at Washington and Calle Tampico in a former Ralphs grocery store. La Quinta staff confirmed Tuesday that crews are in the process of clearing the building at Washington and Tampico to make way for Grocery Outlet The Bermuda Dunes store is expected to be completely staffed with about 30 people to anyone who signs up for email alerts through April 1 Albertsons and Ralphs grocery stores are already at the intersection but customers on Tuesday said another option in their neighborhood is welcome "Different stores have different sales and I go wherever I can get what I need for less money," Palm Desert resident Lucy Domingo "The intersection is basically a one-stop shop for groceries now." Desert Sun reporter Colin Atagi covers crime He can be reached at colin.atagi@desertsun.com or follow him at @tdscolinatagi The pilot of a small plane has died after crashing into a neighborhood in Bermuda Dunes Saturday afternoon He was pronounced dead at Desert Medical Center in Palm Springs Saturday evening friends and family of Wallace are mourning his passing and holding on to his legacy friends of Wallace said his mom was scared when she found out he got his license He was just one of these guys that when you think of a pilot confident," said Wallace's friend of seven years Both men are members of the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 1116 I could hear his plane rumbling up the taxiway "So he would come and he'd flip his plane around and we'd sit at this table and talk about anything Now, that same table served as a gathering place for those who knew Wallace to remember his legacy. Part of that legacy was constantly sharing his love for flying through the Young Eagle Rallies which is a program that takes kids interested in aviation on a flight for no charge “Who knows how many of those kids that he flew those Young Eagle flights for went on to be pilots Elizabeth Witte met Wallace through the same chapter as Brabec Witte only knew him for a short time but was left with a lasting impact that's who I want to be at 83," said Witte it's just I want to be that person who's smiling and still has his plane who's like- I would say the plane was the love of his life.” (17:51) A man who bravely risked it all for the love of living life at full throttle “He absolutely loved it and I think I can be pretty confident in saying this and that if I were to ask him right now if he were to go in this way Wallace had plans to see his granddaughter graduate as a pilot from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University next weekend the cause of the plane crash is still under investigation Marian Bouchot is the weekend morning anchor and a reporter for KESQ News Channel 3. Learn more about Marian here A pedestrian struck and killed on Washington Street in Bermuda Dunes on Thursday night has been identified as Regina Avila of Palm Desert The collision was reported shortly before 5:30 p.m. at the intersection of Washington Street and Hidden River Road, Sgt Deanna Pecoraro with the Riverside County Sherriff's Department said Authorities said a Blue Chevrolet Tahoe struck a pedestrian identified Friday morning by the coroner's office as 48-year-old Avila The pedestrian's body was in the roadway when deputies arrived First-responders attempted life-saving measures but Avila was pronounced dead at the scene "and at this time is not believed to have any type of impairment." She had no further information about the driver There were no other vehicles involved in the crash More: Palm Springs police: North Gene Autry closed following crash More: Coachella Valley pedestrian fatalities rose, but overall traffic deaths fell in 2020 A road closure on northbound Washington Street between Palm Royale Drive to Hidden River Road  was in effect for several hours Pecoraro said.       "This is still an active and ongoing investigation," she said Rebecca Plevin is a reporter for The Desert Sun 1 person seriously injured in aircraft crash in Bermuda DunesCity News ServiceThe pilot of a small plane that crashed in the unincorporated community of Bermuda Dunes on Saturday was hospitalized with serious injuries The crash was reported just after 12:30 p.m in the 78-000 block of Discovery Bay east of Palm Desert according to the Riverside County Fire Department The pilot was initially trapped inside the wreckage and was hospitalized after being freed by first responders There were no reports of anyone on the ground being injured Preliminary reports indicate that the plane was a single-engine Moul Willis RV-3 and that the pilot was the only occupant the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board were investigating the crash Traffic was briefly diverted in the area of Fred Waring Drive and Dune Palms Road in Bermuda Dunes Wednesday afternoon The crash was reported just before 5:00 p.m It appears that at least two vehicles were involved There's no word on if there were any injuries eastbound on Fred Waring was being diverted to Dune Palms Rd Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates A Shabby Chic Tea Room & Boutique in Palm Desert and Dior Halum was hosting a birthday party with her friends to celebrate turning 6 The dollhouse-like setting provided the perfect atmosphere Especially considering the young Bermuda Dunes resident was planning to do something very special with the gifts she received: She was giving them away “I asked her what she wanted for her birthday ‘What do you think about taking the gifts you get and giving them to kids who don’t have anything?’ And she couldn’t believe there were kids who didn’t have anything ‘That’s a great idea!’” Halum and her mother went to Loma Linda University Children’s Health - Indio and donated her toys to the kids there Halum had also received some cash for her birthday and she told her mother she wanted to use the money to buy more toys to give away she went out and bought a bunch more,” her mother says “About a hundred toys: There were books She went in and picked everything out herself.” She then went back to the hospital and donated those items Her one request: She wanted to personally hand out the toys rather than dropping them off like last time “I like to see the kids smile,” she says proudly She’s not the only one experiencing pride just this morning she asked if she could donate more toys.” the first grader has her heart set on being a marine biologist when she grows up She might also end up being a philanthropist No one was hurt in a shooting involving the Indio Police Department that occurred Friday evening at the MiraBella Apartments in Bermuda Dunes The incident occurred after officers went to the apartment complex as part of their investigation into a suspected assault in Indio at the Tropics Motor Hotel, police spokesman Ben Guitron said.  a male suspect fired at police and officers shot back The Riverside County Sheriff's Department and California Highway Patrol also responded to the scene.  the suspect came out and was taken into custody.  More: Indio bank robbed by man with gun; police search ongoing More: Pedestrian killed on Date Palm Drive in Cathedral City on Saturday morning More: Woman sought after 3-day-old puppies are found dumped in a trash bin in Coachella Officials arrested him on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer Kearney is being held at the Riverside County jail in Indio with bail set at $50,000 The sheriff's department is investigating the officer-involved shooting Officers involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave a standard practice following police shootings The incident comes more than a week after Indio police fatally shot an armed man who was suspected of being involved in an earlier theft incident.  (760) 778-4649 or on Twitter at @journoshane.  Sheriff's deputies arrested a suspect in a Bermuda Dunes robbery attempt The attempt robbery was reported about 4:15 p.m Tuesday in the 40-000 block of Washington Street according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department A 17-year-old boy was approached by a pair of suspects armed with a gun They demanded his property and he ran away before contacting authorities READ MORE: Victorville man accused of trying to get into Palm Springs bank account Sheriff's deputies found one of the suspects near the scene He was booked into the Riverside County Jail in Indio He was released after posting $35,000 bail Sanchez is scheduled to appear in Riverside County Superior Court Sept The second suspect was described as a juvenile Anyone with information may call  (760) 341-(7867) Tamarisk trees near the Union Pacific Railroad tracks in Bermuda Dines were ablaze early Thursday morning according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire.  at Country Club Drive and Jefferson Street Firefighters were still at the scene as of 9 a.m Crews worked to slow the spread of the fire Resources were anticipated to remain on scene for up to three hours.  The tracks will be closed while firefighters are on scene.  Worried a proposed specialty surgical center would be too close to the end of the Bermuda Dunes Airport runway the California Pilot’s Association has filed a lawsuit against the city of Indio accusing the city of “total disregard to public safety.” filed a lawsuit in Riverside County Superior Court last week asking the court to invalidate the city’s approval of the Joint Replacement Hospitals of America facility “The city’s unlawful approval of the project would not only place a hospital in a restricted safety zone (but) threatens the airport’s long-term ability to operate and meet the needs of larger hospitals and other critical needs of the region,” the association said in the suit City spokesperson PJ Gagajena said the city had not yet been served with the lawsuit and doesn’t comment on pending litigation Previously: Possible Indio surgical center dangerously close to airport, critics say the pilot’s association asserted the city’s bid to build the hospital violated the city’s general plan the Riverside County Airport Land Use Commission recommendations and California environmental regulations The city council gave the hospital project final approval on Aug finding that since the hospital does not have an emergency department or an intensive care unit it was not the “type” of hospital prohibited on the land Local entrepreneur and developer Nachhattar Chandi said at the meeting he would “do whatever it takes” to ensure the surgical center is built 34,450 square-foot facility would have space for three operating rooms and 12 in-patient beds The center would be less than half a mile east of the airport in the Northgate Crossings project at Jefferson Street and Indio Boulevard The airport commission–which “protects people from planes and planes from people,” as one commissioner put it–and the city have long disagreed on the best use of the land The ALUC said in 2007 that city plans to develop the Northgate Crossings center in the vicinity of the airport were inconsistent with the way the area around the airport should be developed Commissioners singled out the airport in 2013 and 2015 deeming it “inconsistent” with the land it was supposed to be built on Indio ignored the advice and moved forward with the project The city has the legal authority to override the commission’s recommendations disregarding expert advice could hurt the city in a lawsuit A 2015 ALUC report said facilities with “vulnerable” occupants who couldn't evacuate quickly in the event of an emergency shouldn’t be built on the land in question Previously: Transportation access for Riverside County communities can be difference between life of pain or comfort City officials have previously said the surgical center would provide much-needed services for the eastern end of the Coachella Valley which has been medically underserved for years particularly those in unincorporated communities in the far eastern reaches of the valley have struggled to access necessary healthcare resources due to transportation difficulties Reach the author at Corinne.Kennedy@DesertSun.com or on Twitter @CorinneSKennedy The 83-year-old pilot of the small plane that crashed in Bermuda Dunes on Saturday died later that night.   according to the Riverside County Coroner's office. He had been hospitalized with serious injuries after first responders freed him from the plane wreckage The crash occurred in the 78-000 block of Discovery Bay It was reported at around 12:30 p.m.  Wallace had a pilot license with a medical certification that was renewed in 2019.   said preliminary reports indicated the plane was a single-engine Moul Willis RV-3 and that Wallace was the only occupant There were no reports of injuries on the ground The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board were investigating the incident.  Ani Gasparyan covers the western Coachella Valley cities of Desert Hot Springs and Cathedral City