It was a high desert sweep for golfers in the Desert Valley League boys golf finals Thursday with three golfers from Yucca Valley and one from Twentynine Palms securing berths in the CIF-Southern Section postseason playoffs More: Sizzling: Palm Desert's Luke Ringkamp coasts to DEL title with record 11-shot win Ben Carlton of Yucca Valley ran away with the league individual title, shooting a 27-hole total of 10-over 118 at Golden Era Golf Course in San Jacinto, winning the title by 16 shots over teammates Blake Morrison and Adrian Tamayo The league format was nine holes Wednesday on the par-72 hole course followed by an 18-hole round on Thursday Carlson opened the tournament with a 6-over 42 the first day then coasted to the victory with a 76 on Thursday Morrison held the first-day lead in the tournament with a 4-over 40 on Wednesday Tamayo managed a 90 on Thursday to go with his opening 44 to match Morrison at 134 Guerrero shot 50 to open the tournament but had the best round among the chasers with an 87 Thursday overcoming four double bogeys and one triple bogey to secure a CIF-SS berth Carlton and the other three DVL golfers will compete in the Central Regional of the CIF-SS individual play Monday at Los Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills A Rancho Mirage private elementary school teacher was arrested at his Yucca Valley home Tuesday on suspicion of numerous counts of child molestation stemming from the alleged long-term abuse of an underage girl was being held without bail after being booked on suspicion of five child sex abuse-related felonies including continuous sexual abuse of a minor according to San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department officials and records The investigation unfolded quickly after deputies were notified of the allegations on Monday via a 911 call The alleged abuse involved a now-16-year-old girl "During this investigation, detectives learned Stephen Spurlock, who is currently a teacher at a private school in Rancho Mirage, had molested the victim on countless occasions since the victim was 14 years old," according to a sheriff's department statement investigators showed up at Spurlock's home on Tuesday morning with a search warrant Several items of evidence related to the investigation were seized and Spurlock was taken into custody It was determined the suspect was employed as a teacher at a private school in Rancho Mirage Spurlock was listed as "lower school faculty and athletic coach" on the directory of Palm Valley School in Rancho Mirage "Given the nature of this abuse by Spurlock and in his capacity as a school teacher and coach detectives suspect there may be additional victims in both San Bernardino and Riverside counties," the statement said "Spurlock's booking photo is being released for reference." Officials did not disclose how the suspect knew the victim He was scheduled to appear for an arraignment hearing Thursday in San Bernardino County Superior Court More: Ex-school bus driver from Hesperia pleads guilty in federal child pornography case Anyone with information was urged to contact the Sheriff's Morongo Basin Station at (760) 366-4175. Information may also be provided anonymously to the We-Tip hotline at (800) 782-7463 RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – A private school teacher is facing multiple child sex charges after being arrested at his Yucca Valley home on Tuesday events like his arrest can be a difficult topic to navigate for parents and their children "It's hard because then everything they ever did that could have been good gets painted bad Larsen says the best thing that parents can do when approaching their children about topics like these is to remind them they're not responsible for others' actions He also says you should show your children that you can help them handle the situation without a big "They need to see their parents don't have a big emotional reaction [that is] over the top or out of control Palm Valley School writes in a statement to News Channel Three: the Interim Head of School PVS was notified by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office (Morongo Basin Station) that Stephen Spurlock was arrested in San Bernardino County and charged with sex against a child The Sheriff's office confirmed the incident did not involve a Palm Valley Student nor did it occur on Palm Valley School property Stephen Spurlock was immediately placed on indefinite leave In adherence to our commitment to child protection and accreditation standards Palm Valley School maintains a stringent policy mandating background checks for all individuals working in proximity to students We emphasize our steadfast dedication to the safety of children We extend our gratitude to law enforcement authorities for their diligence in this matter The well-being and safety of our students are paramount We will continue to take all necessary measures to support our community and cooperate with law enforcement." Interim Head of School at Palm Valley School Larsen says parents and children should be ready to speak about these topics "We can train our kids how to avoid it and we can train all of us how to handle it better when it happens so it doesn't traumatize us forever." 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 The Desert Valley League used to have eight high schools All 22 events in the meet were won by either a swimmer from Indio or Yucca Valley Twentynine Palms and Coachella Valley had some top-three finishes but for the most this meet belonged to the Rajahs and Trojans there were a handful of multiple-event winners including Indio's Zachariah Lopez picking up two individual DVL titles and two more as part of a relay winning the 200-yard freestyle in 1:57.60 and the 500 freestyle in 5:35.51 He was also part of the winning 200-yard freestyle relay and the 400-yard freestyle relay I did pretty well and my 500 I did pretty well especially since during the midseason I was sort of stuck at a plateau in both but I've been dropping time lately and today," Lopez said those dudes I've known for a long time since middle school and I really enjoy hanging around them so that makes it fun." His relay teammates include Christian Galvan who also picked up a few solo titles on Tuesday Gonzalez won the 50 freestyle (24.02) and Galvan won the 100 fly (56.30) Indio's Isaiah Saguilan picked up the Rajahs' other victory in the 100 backstroke in 1:19.84 That trio combined with Seth Caudill to win the 200-yard medley relay in 1:55.95 Altman won the 100 breaststroke in 1:12.94 Indio's Alyssa Guenther was one of the meet's top stars as a quadruple winner including a CIF-SS consideration time in the 100-yard backstroke She also won the honor of fastest in the pool as the 50-yard freestyle champion in 29.76 Lorena Magana and Quinn Crousillac to win the 200 medley relay and with Magana Quinn Crousillac and Kaylee Cuevas to win the 400 free relay I was a little worried about this meet because we're coming off spring break and I didn't really practice during the break so coming back on Monday at practice I don't know how this is going to go,'" Guenther said "So I was happy today to get my PR in the 100 back Magana added a 200-yard IM title to her two relay wins The rest of the girls' titles on Tuesday went to Yucca Valley as Kelci Engle and Amanda Miranda led the way for the Trojans won the 200 freestyle (2:45.54) and the 100 freestyle (1:14.13) and was part of the winning 200 freestyle relay team with Miranda "I dropped a lot of time today and I'm really happy about that because when I started swim this year I had a separated shoulder from a previous sport "So now that I'm healthy and getting good times Miranda also picked up two individual titles to go with the relay win She won the 100 breaststroke (1:30.53) and the 100 fly (1:28.05) Miranda was named the girls' MVP for the meet Emma Shook added a title for the Trojans in the 500 freestyle in 6:58.46 The top finish for Coachella Valley came from Angel Soto Twentynine Palms had a handful of third-place finishes Cambria Schneider finished third in the 50 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke for the Wildcats Calvin Clena took third in the 500 freestyle A man and woman were found dead inside a Yucca Valley home this week in what was initially being investigated as a murder-suicide The bodies were discovered shortly after 2 p.m when deputies were summoned to a report of "suspicious circumstances" in the 6600 block of La Habra Avenue according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department "The reporting party arrived at the location and smelled a foul odor coming from the house," according to a statement issued by the agency "Deputies arrived and located two deceased people inside the home." It was not clear how long they had been dead The identities of the man and woman were not released pending notification of family While initially believed to be murder-suicide the official causes of death will be determined through autopsies carried out by San Bernardino County coroner's investigators More: Police issue warning after hidden camera found outside San Bernardino County home Anyone with information was asked to contact the Sheriff's Specialized Investigation Division Information may also be provided anonymously to the We-Tip hotline at (800) 782-7463 (KESQ) - The Morongo Basin Sheriff's Station released surveillance photos of a person caught on camera stealing packages from a home in Yucca Valley The theft happened after an Amazon package Wednesday at around 2:00 p.m at a home on the 58000 block of San Andreas Road "An unknown suspect was captured on a home surveillance camera system stealing packages from the front porch of the residence," reads a flyer by the Morongo Basin Sheriff's Station The suspect may be related to other thefts in the Morongo Basin area Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department you can contact We Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or go to wetip.com Prosecutors filed 21 felony charges against a third-grade teacher at Palm Valley School in Rancho Mirage Thursday at the San Bernardino Superior Court related to the alleged long-term sexual abuse of an underage girl Stephen Michael (or Micheal, his middle name is spelled two different ways in court documents) Spurlock, 43, was arrested at his home in Yucca Valley this week after deputies with the San Bernardino Sheriff's Office were notified of the allegations on Monday via a 911 call He was immediately placed on indefinite leave from the private K-12 school Court records show that the charges against Spurlock span more than a year The charges filed against Spurlock include: In an email to the Palm Valley School community on Tuesday the school said the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the incident did not involve a student and did not occur on school property "We are not aware of any threat to any Palm Valley students," the email said According to the mid-April archive of Palm Valley School’s website Spurlock’s biography said he has more than 15 years of experience working with elementary and middle school students Public records show he was previously employed by Desert Sands Unified School District detectives suspect there may be additional victims in both San Bernardino and Riverside counties," a San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department statement said A video arraignment for Spurlock is set for 8 a.m May 2 in Rancho Cucamonga before Judge Michael Lough Previous reporting by Brian Day from the Victorville Daily Press was used in this report Jennifer Cortez covers education in the Coachella Valley Reach her at jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com (KESQ) - Yucca Valley town officials are seeking suggestions for naming the town's new development located on Elk Trail between Twentynine Palms Highway and Yucca Trail and Cultural Commission with a final recommendation announced to the Town Council later in May For more information and a link to the name suggestion form, visit yucca-valley.org/our-town/departments/public-works-engineering/old-town-parking-project Investigators are asking for the public's help in finding a hit-and-run driver who struck and severely injured a 74-year-old pedestrian in Yucca Valley on Wednesday morning The hit-and-run took place just after 8 a.m at Twentynine Palms Highway and Grand Avenue The victim, identified by authorities as Lloyd Kaiser of Yucca Valley, was crossing Grand Avenue when he was struck by a car that was traveling south, the agency said in a written statement and fled northbound on Grand Avenue," according to the statement Paramedics took Kaiser to a local hospital for treatment of major injuries Deputies searched the area with the help of a helicopter but the involved driver and car were not found Authorities described the vehicle as red hatchback of unknown make and model The driver was a Latino man between 40 and 50 years old "Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has information about the driver or vehicle is urged to come forward," the statement said More: Man fatally struck by multiple vehicles in Adelanto, several fail to stop at scene Anyone with information can reach the Morongo Basin Sheriff's Station at (760) 366-4175. Information may also be provided anonymously to the We-Tip hotline at (800) 782-7463 Two former employees are accused of breaking into their old store in Yucca Valley and stealing money from the cash register The incident happened Wednesday at around 8:30 p.m at Tractor Supply on 57980 Twentynine Palms Highway Authorities said two suspects clad with masks partially concealing their identities entered the store prior to closing time The suspects approached the counter to purchase a small item the suspects forcefully stole the cash register from the clerk and fled the location Deputies were called and an investigation began Investigators determined that both suspects were former employees "Deputies conducted an area check for the suspects and followed shoe impressions for approximately two miles articles of clothing worn by and discarded by the suspects and the damaged cash register," reads a news release by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department The investigation led deputies to the 5000 block of Yucca Mesa Road where the suspects barricaded themselves in a residence A search warrant was authored and both suspected were taken into custody Additional evidence from the burglary was also found a 26-year-old woman and a 34-year-old woman were arrested and face charges of robbery and conspiracy to commit a felony Morongo Basin Station deputies authored a search warrant and both suspects were located and taken into custody deputies located additional evidence from the robbery Anyone with information related to this robbery investigation is asked to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Morongo Basin Station at (760) 366-4175.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may contact We-Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or go to www.wetip.com  A Yucca Valley man was arrested after allegedly calling dispatch requesting deputies respond to his location so that he could fight them Authorities said the 32-year-old man called the Sheriff's dispatch on Sunday night "He cursed at the dispatcher and demanded deputies respond so he could fight them Deputies did not respond," reads a news release by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department deputies responded to an unrelated call for service at Walmart at 58501 Twentynine Palms Highway in Yucca Valley The man's call to sheriff's dispatch was from an area where he could see deputies arrive at Walmart deputies saw a vehicle slowly approach them The vehicle drove close to the deputies and sped up A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was found to be the original caller from earlier He was arrested and booked into the Morongo jail The agency said the man is known by deputies due to his several calls to dispatch and the calls for service to his residence He has threatened the safety of law enforcement officers in the Morongo Basin several times There are currently several open investigations involving the man Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact Detective Tyler A. Bengard of the Morongo Basin Station at (760) 366-4175. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463), or you may leave information on the We-Tip Hotline at www.wetip.com  (KESQ) - A 71-year-old woman was killed when her SUV plunged down a mountainside near Pine Cove Cheryl Brault of Yucca Valley was fatally injured at about 5 p.m according to the California Highway Patrol Officer Jonathan Torres said a motorist traveling along the narrow two-lane corridor spotted Brault's 1998 Grand Jeep Cherokee "over the mountainside" roughly an hour after the crash and alerted the CHP Riverside County Fire Department personnel were sent to the location and found Brault dead at the wheel "It is unknown at this time what events transpired that led to the crash,'' Torres said "It is also unknown at this time whether alcohol or drugs were contributing factors.'' It was unclear where the victim may have been going when the SUV went over the side Anyone with information about the crash was asked to contact the CHP's San Gorgonio office at 951-846-5300 (KESQ) - Authorities are investigating a suspected murder/suicide after two people were found dead in a home in Yucca Valley Tuesday afternoon The incident was first reported at around 2:00 p.m According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department the reporting party said they arrived at the location and smelled a foul odor coming from the house Deputies arrived and found two dead adults inside The Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division – Homicide Detail responded and assumed the investigation The agency confirmed that detectives believe the incident was a murder/suicide An autopsy is scheduled for the two people to determine a cause of death Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the Homicide Detail at 909-890-4904.  Callers wishing to remain anonymous should contact We-Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or go to wetip.com One High Desert eatery has cooked and served its way into Yelp’s annual Top 100 Places to Eat List Coming in nationally at No. 70, La Copine in Yucca Valley was the only San Bernardino County-based eatery to make Yelp’s culinary list Surrounded mainly by empty desert and plenty of Joshua trees the Mojave Desert-based La Copine is located at 848 Old Woman Springs Road about a 50-mile drive east from the Victor Valley said from the music to the staff to the decor “Make no mistake, the food lives up to the vibe and the hype,” Morgan wrote. “They are only open from 11-4 so the seasonal menu is lunch-forward.” Morgan and her partner shared the Femme Fatale french toast with Grand Marnier custard Morgan also raved about the Crispy Papas with rosemary Hesperia couple Ralph and Laura Walton told the Daily Press they eat at La Copine at least six times a year “We often take the back way to Palm Springs and always stop by La Copine for lunch,” said Laura Walton whose favorite menu items are the crispy papas and the shrimp roll La Copine began as a food cart in Philadelphia owners Nikki Hill and Claire Wadsworth moved to California to legally marry After receiving a tip about a restaurant for sale nearby and the desperate need for places to eat in the desert Nikki and Claire took a giant leap of faith and opened La Copine The restaurant grew to international acclaim after opening in September 2015 anchoring the commercial corridor of Flamingo Heights that straddles Highway 247 it wasn’t uncommon to arrive at the 42-seat eatery and find a two-hour wait – the impact of an Instagram generation filtering through nearby Joshua Tree,” the Desert Sun wrote Top-ranked California restaurantTaking the No. 1 spot overall in Yelp’s Top 100 U.S. Restaurant list is the California-based Holbox in Los Angeles Holbox, pronounced hol-bosh, is a casual Mexican eatery where guests line up for as long as an hour to taste “some of the freshest seafood around,” according to Yelp Holbox serves up coastal dishes and has received multiple honors including a Michelin star and James Beard Award finalist nod for Chef Gilberto The other top-listed restaurants in California To see the full Yelp restaurant list, visit yelp.com Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com (KESQ) - San Bernardino County firefighters battled a multi-structure fire in Yucca Valley on Friday night Fire officials say the structures were all on one property and firefighters were able to keep the fire from reaching the main residence located off Sunny Sand Drive They report that the fire was knocked down in about 30 minutes with one person treated for a minor injury Yucca Valley small business owner Paul Chakalian announced his campaign to run for Congress against Republican Rep. Jay Obernolte in California’s 23rd district Chakalian said his democratic campaign is driven by dissatisfaction with the current representation San Bernardino County's delegate should support small businesses and working families not big corporations and tax cuts for the wealthy to give High Desert readers a closer look at the candidate's political perspectives and inspiration for running against incumbent Obernolte The Yucca Valley local expressed his firm stance on bettering the lives of the working people with issues like protecting social security and increased funding for healthcare at the core of his campaign Are you a lifelong resident of Yucca Valley?No, I was born in Sierra Madre in the foothills of Los Angeles. My family first moved to Yucca Valley in 2006, and I bounced around for school until moving back permanently with my family in 2019 when I started my business, the Joshua Tree Distilling Company I work from home to take care of my two sons under 2 years old due to the high costs of housing and childcare I interact with just about everybody in my community through my business and see how much people are struggling and I don't see Obernolte going out of his way to help alleviate the pressures of the working class District 23 residents are trying to do their best Read More: Obernolte booed off stage at public event; Republicans to suspend town halls nationwide Obernolte met my team and congratulated us on our grand opening I've noticed a lack of leadership at the federal level representing our district and various other elected officials in the Morongo Basin who have all expressed that they can't get a hold of Obernolte's office and don't feel supported by him our representative isn't providing anything for us and our region he's making the most extreme right-wing votes that are out of touch with the communities that he represents; it seems that he's more concerned with his status than improving the lives of families in this district I don't have experience in politics but what I do have are real-life experiences that are reflective of District 23 residents I bring day-to-day lived experiences that impact the community Obernolte is one of the richest members of Congress He lives in a mansion in Big Bear and flies a private plane I don't think he's in touch with what it's like to worry about the small things - affording a replacement for a popped tire getting to the DMV when you work the same operating hours paying for a birthday present with only $20 left in your checking account Obernolte has no idea what it's like to be a regular working-class person in this district like I do who are afraid of the constant threat of social security cuts Retiring with dignity in this country was a promise that was made a very long time ago We have enough to worry about aside from the government flirting with the idea of reneging on a commitment it already made Are you familiar with the needs of the community members in other geographic areas you would represent San Bernardino?Yucca Valley is technically the High Desert Yucca Valley and Victorville are both in the Mojave Desert and at the same elevation I have family - aunts and cousins - in Hesperia My big Armenian and Italian family is located throughout the Inland Empire and in the Southern California mountain towns I understand this frontier setting that we're in We're all homesteaders or agricultural workers or commuters I love living in a small town where I know all my neighbors but the desert is also one of the only places I We like limited government out here and being left to go camping or shooting whenever we want we expect the government to deliver on the promises it makes to us High Desert residents are concerned about the future of healthcare and protested proposed cuts outside Obernolte's Hesperia office in February and do you agree with the proposed cuts?There are many excellent hospitals and medical providers in the district there aren't nearly enough in a district with a population of nearly 800,000 inhabitants We need a trauma center in the Victor Valley especially when we're trying to build a high-speed rail corridor between Las Vegas and the High Desert We also need to make the ones that do exist more accessible and affordable for all workers The federal and state governments aren't doing enough right now to incentivize the development of healthcare infrastructure that we need A goal of mine is to make sure none of our residents live more than 45 minutes or an hour at most from quality healthcare I feel that our district is often ignored and overlooked by Sacramento and Obernolte doesn't seem to advocate for us the way he advocates for Trump's agenda Read More: ‘Hands off Medicaid’: Hesperia residents rally at Obernolte’s office with medical message Wade was unprofessional and out of sync with how the court traditionally acts to overturn a precedent that it set for so many decades I think reproductive healthcare should be a decision between women and their chosen physicians I don't think the government should be involved The government should be there to help support us and enrich us Your running mate Obernolte believes strongly in securing the southern border How does your campaign favor the Adelanto ICE Processing Center?I have concerns with how the current administration is handling deportations I do think that those in this country illegally should risk deportation in a legal sense as with individuals who break the law while on a valid visa I also have deep concerns about for-profit incarceration and believe the industry needs to be investigated No one should ever be jailed based on incentives but for justifiable reasons There is something backward in incarceration simply to increase the wealth of a private company Read More: Is the Adelanto ICE processing center closing? Here's what we know... I know how important it is to create jobs and how difficult it can be to retain those jobs as a business owner myself especially when the economic environment is uncertain It's incredibly difficult for businesses to plan when there are tariffs one week that are gone the next A very easy way to bring jobs into the desert is to provide consistency and stability to global financial markets That's necessary for businesses to make investments in things like jobs The addition of more healthcare facilities in our district would increase the number of jobs as well we need to invest in quality education to equip the future generation of skilled workers with resources for success Our kids are going to be exposed to more jobs that work with AI and robotics Investing in our education is investing in the future I'd like to see a four-year college in our area and more trade schools what kind of community outreach will you be doing from now until November 2026 How can people volunteer for your campaign and what does volunteering look like?Drop us a line We will be scheduling events and organized canvassing within the next few months We are working with qualified democratic representatives on this campaign to help guide us to the victory line I am really excited for what this campaign is going to look like once we launch and am even more excited about what we will be doing two or three months down the road McKenna is a reporter for the Daily Press. She can be reached at mmobley@gannett.com There's a local winner in the Mega Millions Lottery - Two tickets matched five numbers and one of those tickets was sold in Yucca Valley That lucky ticket came from the Hero Market on Old Woman Springs Road and is worth just over $226 thousand dollars Since no one picked all 6 numbers and there were no big jackpot winners there's still a chance to win on Friday night The estimated jackpot is now at $825 million dollars (KESQ) - A June 11 trial date was confirmed today for a 23-year-old woman accused of joining two young men in robbing and killing a Riverside man in his apartment Merlin Perales Ortiz of Yucca Valley was arrested in December 2020 following a Riverside Police Department investigation into the slaying of 20-year-old Wesley Flores Miranda conspiracy and special circumstance allegations of killing in the course of a robbery and killing for the benefit of a criminal street gang During a status conference Wednesday at the Riverside Hall of Justice Riverside County Superior Court Judge Joshlyn Pulliam conferred with the prosecution and defense regarding scheduling and the two sides agreed to make preparations for trial proceedings in the first half of June The defendant is being held without bail at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning Isaiah Israel Rodriguez and Cristian Alejandro Runkle pleaded guilty in October 2021 to second-degree murder Rodriguez admitted a sentence enhancing gun use allegation He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison the defendants went to Miranda's apartment in the 5200 block of El Cerrito Drive in the Canyon Crest neighborhood of south Riverside and confronted the victim at gunpoint Miranda was shot several times in the upper body They alleged the trio fled with an undisclosed amount of cash and other valuables Paramedics arrived a short time later and pronounced the victim dead at the scene Four weeks of collecting evidence culminated in detectives identifying the defendants all of whom were taken into custody without incident in San Bernardino County Court records show Ortiz has no documented prior felony or misdemeanor convictions she has been charged with assault resulting in great bodily injury for an unspecified confrontation at the Smith lockup The CIF-SS Division 12 football game between Yucca Valley and Wilson High was one of those high-scoring back-and-forth games that felt like the last team to have the ball would win Yucca Valley scored a late touchdown to erase a two-score deficit and take a 42-41 lead but left too much time on the clock as Wilson converted a 40-yard touchdown pass with less than a minute left and went ahead 49-42 The Trojans had one final possession and got inside Wilson territory but a long bomb on the final play fell incomplete as Yucca Valley lost a heartbreaker at home and saw their season come to an end with the seven-point loss "It was a barnburner and came down to the last play," said Yucca Valley coach Jeremy Johnson we were trying to kill as much of the clock as possible before scoring Wilson also scored twice on kick returns in this one It was the final game in the amazing career of four-year starting quarterback Michael Ramos Ramos had another monster game with four rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns in the loss He finished his career with more than 6,000 passing yards -- one of only four players in the history of desert football to accomplish that feat "He set all the records here for passing yards in a season "He set a new standard here and gave future players something to strive for." Yucca Valley finished the year with a 4-6 record and a second-place finish in the Desert Valley League Johnson said he's excited about the young core of talented players who will be coming back in the trenches and is already looking ahead to 2025 Yucca Valley property owners who aren't complying with a ban on septic tanks are beginning to feel the hammer from state enforcers who want an aquifer that supplies drinking water for the rural town off Highway 62 to stop being polluted with toilet waste runoff state water regulators have now issued cease-and-desist notices against three Yucca Valley homeowners for failing to hook up to public sewage lines and for discharging septic waste into the town's primary drinking water source they could face penalties of $5,000 a day and referral to the state attorney general for possible further sanctions None of the owners responded to requests for comment from The Desert Sun The notices are the first approved by the Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board under a policy dubbed the Yucca Valley Septic Prohibition While more than one million Californians with functioning "onsite water treatment systems" are waived every five years from complying with a state policy adopted in 2012 converting dangerous septic systems in areas where sewer treatment is available is a top priority for the board including in densely built parts of Yucca Valley commercial and industrial facilities have degraded the quality of the aquifer that Hi-Desert Water District relies on to deliver drinking water to Yucca Valley residents," says a news release this week from water board spokesman Dimitri Stanich "Septic discharges cause nitrates and other contaminants to be absorbed into the soil which eventually reach groundwater supplies Ingesting nitrates in drinking water poses a significant public health threat with pregnant women and infants having the greatest risk of becoming ill." the board adopted a ban on new and existing septic systems in Yucca Valley nearly four years ago and is now issuing cease-and-desist orders to property owners who have had access to a public sewer system since 2020 but have yet to convert their septic systems The Hi-Desert Water District has had sewage lines available within 500 feet of each of the homes for more than three years “We need property owners to take the septic system prohibition seriously and partner with us to keep wastewater from polluting critical drinking water supplies,” Peter Satin “The goal of these orders is to achieve compliance and stress the importance of eliminating the use of septic systems.” Homeowners in the downtown Yucca Valley area had 180 days to connect to the sewer system after it came online in February 2020 While Hi-Desert's website says that 95% of property owners covered by the ban have complied the owners who received the cease and desist orders still haven’t connected to the sewer system and are violating an area basin plan by discharging wastewater into the Warren Valley Groundwater Subbasin "a critical source of drinking water for thousands of homes and businesses in the Mojave Desert." These are the first such orders issued in Yucca Valley which is phasing in full bans in coming years and raising monthly rates to help cover sewage treatment facility costs It is not clear if the tough orders are the first in the state but there have been strict bans on fecal matter discharges or improvements required to septic systems in the northern city of Chico and numerous other communities outside of major cities Mission Creek and Desert Hot Springs aquifers Mission Springs Water District held a ribbon cutting last week for a waste treatment and water recycling plant last week that could keep 700 residences and businesses off of septic systems The three Yucca Valley homeowners who have received the orders to stop using septic systems are Pedro Luna and Krystyanne Green whose homes are on neighboring streets just north of State Route 62 who owns a home about two miles to the south None returned phone calls to a reporter seeking comment The water board says enforcement staff contacted each of them several times since 2021 including through letters encouraging them to comply with the septic system prohibition and offering information on financial assistance The property owners must now submit to the board a certification of connection from the Hi-Desert district by November 11 and comply with all aspects of the septic prohibition by December 1 Installing sewage lines and closing out old septic systems is expensive. The orders allow for extensions if warranted, and up to $4,000 in U.S. Department of Agriculture assistance is available for owners living below the federal poverty line The adopted cease-and-desist orders and tentative orders can be viewed on the board’s website The board is scheduled to consider additional orders for noncompliance in the future (This story has been updated to correct a typo.) Janet Wilson is senior environment reporter for The Desert Sun and co-authors USA Today Climate Point [This story has There was some question entering the 2024 football season as to what Yucca Valley High School would have on offense Record-breaking running back Myles Harper had graduated and record-breaking receiver Javin Hudson had Star lineman Aiden Solis and do-it-all athlete Malachi Harper were also gone from a team that reached a CIF Southern Section championship game last year But the Trojans had fourth-year starting quarterback Michael Ramos few could have envisioned just how good Ramos would be in his senior season In leading the Trojans back to the playoffs Ramos threw for 2,041 yards and 17 touchdowns and ran for 1,149 yards and 20 additional scores in just 10 games he became the first player from the area since Palm Springs' Dane Tiedeman in 2011 to throw for at least 2,000 yards and run for at least 1,000 yards in a single season Ramos is The Desert Sun’s 2024 offensive player of the year [More: Palm Desert's Zach Gibbs is our 2024 high school football defensive player of the year.] [More: Here's who you voted as the 2024 football MVP in the valley.] Ramos returned from his senior season having lost more than 40 pounds which helped him become quicker and downright elusive as a dual-threat playmaker “I was really dedicated to getting into shape for this season,” Ramos said following a win over Desert Hot Springs on Sept Ramos was a first team all-league selection as a sophomore and a junior but he looked like a completely different player as a senior Defenses simply could not contain him in the pocket He ran for more than 100 yards in five of 10 games He rushed for 257 yards and three touchdowns against Indio 129 yards and two touchdowns against Coachella Valley and 179 yards and four touchdowns in a postseason game against Wilson He threw for 400 yards and two touchdowns against Wilson 222 yards against Coachella Valley and 330 yards and three touchdowns against Rancho Christian a playoff team that lost just two games this season “He became such a dynamic playmaker for us this year,” Yucca Valley head coach Jeremy Johnson said following the Coachella Valley game on Oct “But he’s been a very good player for four years.” Desert Valley League coaches voted Ramos as the league’s co-offensive player of the year along with Coachella Valley’s star running back Aaron Ramirez Johnson has said multiple times that Ramos will undoubtedly leave his mark on the Yucca Valley football program as one of its most prolific quarterbacks ever Just two other players in the area’s history have thrown for more than the 6,731 yards and 71 passing touchdowns Ramos recorded during his high school career They are Will Olvera and Scott Saunders of Palm Springs High just 10 other area players have eclipsed the 41 career rushing touchdowns that Ramos scored during his high school career The numbers are impressive in part because Ramos began playing varsity football at age 14 but his career was ultimately a huge success “He concluded his high school football career with remarkable achievements,” Johnson said “While it is inherently risky to put a freshman in a starting position in varsity football Ramos demonstrated his exceptional abilities throughout his four-year tenure.” Andrew John covers sports for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network 2025-05-05T07:41:43-07:00May 5 2025-05-02T09:39:58-07:00May 2 2025-05-02T08:40:53-07:00May 2 2025-05-04T09:32:06-07:00April 30 2025-04-30T17:06:48-07:00April 30 Print YUCCA VALLEY tried asking for unity at his “community coffee” event “We’re not on team liberal or conservative; we’re not on team Republican or Democrat We all play for team United States of America,” Obernolte told the overflow crowd last month at the Yucca Valley Community Center Obernolte told constituents to call his office “when you have problems with your government.” A woman in the audience responded by singing to the tune of the “Ghostbusters” theme song: “Who ya gonna call The crowd was furious that Obernolte had defended the Trump administration’s mass firings of federal workers They yelled when he said he was glad billionaire Elon Musk who heads the Department of Government Efficiency was “looking at all of the waste” in the federal budget The scene in the solidly conservative, mostly rural 23rd Congressional District was mirrored in communities across the country over the last two weeks from California to Texas to Wisconsin and Georgia as Republican lawmakers returned to their home districts prepared to tout the Trump administration’s first month of accomplishments at town hall meetings many of those gatherings erupted in confrontation and reproof much of it focused on the power Trump has ceded to Musk as the administration takes a jackhammer to federal employment eliminating tens of thousands of middle-class jobs seemingly without regard to salary or what service a given employee provides including Joshua Tree National Park near Yucca Valley Republicans have dismissed the testy town halls as having been orchestrated by Democrats: “Paid ‘troublemakers’ are attending Republican Town Hall Meetings,” Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social “It is all part of the game for the Democrats it’s not going to work for them!” On Tuesday Republican campaign officials urged GOP members of Congress to hold town halls in a virtual setting In an interview with CNN House Speaker Mike Johnson blamed the blowback in red districts on “paid protesters” and “Democrats who went to the events early and filled up the seats.” it was clear from interviews that the audience included plenty of local residents; at least one wore a Trump hat and some in attendance were clearly displeased by the outspoken attendees Jay Obernolte was shouted down and met with boos at his Feb (Stacy Moore / Hi-Desert Star) In a statement to The Times Obernolte’s office downplayed the Yucca Valley gathering as “an anomaly,” and said he held six other gatherings in the district that had “more constructive discussions.” Although there “were some animated voices” in Yucca Valley many in the audience “attended with the intent to disrupt rather than engage in a productive conversation.” “maintains that our $36 trillion national debt is an existential threat to our nation and he supports efforts to root out waste Obernolte was reelected in November during a rightward swing in California, which has nine Republican U.S. House members and more than 6 million Trump voters California was home last fall to some of the nation’s most competitive congressional races giving the state an outsize role in determining the balance of power in the House The GOP has one of the slimmest majorities in history holding 218 seats while Democrats hold 215 But because Republicans control both houses of Congress and the White House They’ve had their 15 minutes on Fox or talk radio and there’s no reason not to deliver now,” Bowler said Obernolte’s vast district — which stretches across the Mojave Desert and San Bernardino Mountains — includes most of San Bernardino County and portions of Kern and Los Angeles counties The high desert towns around Joshua Tree have undergone fundamental shifts in recent years city dwellers and remote workers moved to the desert in search of more affordable housing and easy access to nature Properties were converted into vacation rentals And bumper stickers reading “Go back to L.A.” became a common sight on Highway 62 Voter registration in the district is about evenly split among Democrats and Republicans Obernolte won reelection by 20 percentage points The district includes both the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms and the Army’s Ft It is home to tens of thousands of military veterans It is also one of the poorest congressional districts in the state, according to analysis by the Public Policy Institute of California and the Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality. Many of the region’s better-paying jobs are positions with federal agencies. And its small towns rely upon tourism at Joshua Tree National Park. Park employees confirmed to The Times that at least six full-time workers in the fees division — tasked with collecting entrance and campground fees and staffing the visitor centers — were fired last month as part of the Trump administration’s cuts. California 14 firing of probationary employees has cost the National Park Service at least 1,700 permanent staff members this month At his Yucca Valley gathering, Obernolte was peppered with questions about the park service firings, as well as potential cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program which provides food assistance for low-income Americans Obernolte told the audience that he disagreed with the Joshua Tree cuts “It’s going to create a terrible experience for our visitors,” he said “It’s going to devastate our communities.” He lauded the administration’s decision to backtrack on eliminating thousands of temporary seasonal positions at the National Park Service after the cost-cutting move met with loud public outcry But the administration has forged ahead with firing about 1,000 probationary park service employees — generally people in their first two years of service — as part of a multiagency purge of probationary employees that will eliminate tens of thousands of jobs In addition, according to an internal email sent to park supervisors last month, more than 700 year-round National Park Service employees are taking part in the federal buyout program the Trump administration has pushed in its campaign to slash the federal workforce Asked about potential cuts to the social safety net Obernolte said there “has been a lot of angst and consternation about programs that everyone relies on like Social Security No one is talking about reducing benefits for people who depend on them,” he said a vacation rental host and registered Democrat who lives in Joshua Tree where he would be one of the few people with a dissenting opinion he started hearing “a lot of build-up,” and expected the meeting could become contentious “It honestly was more than I expected,” said Hamm who described the district as a “deeply impoverished” place where plenty of people rely on food benefits and Medi-Cal He said of Obernolte: “It’s just so frustrating to come face to face with guys like Jay He’s completely out of touch with his constituency.” a 38-year-old musician and lifelong Twentynine Palms resident kicked off public questions by blasting federal job cuts and potential cuts to food benefits in a community he described as “underprivileged “You talk about how the military isn’t paid enough because we don’t pay them enough,” Candelaria said Candelaria said in an interview that the outcry at the event was genuine and that he was angry about the attempts by Republican leaders to dismiss the blowback in red districts this community has been taken advantage of because we’re nice people Candelaria said that he is not registered with either major party but that he often attends local political events and has never seen one get so contentious He said of his own public comments: “I was told that I cussed too much.” Not everyone in the crowd expressed outrage at the first weeks under the new Trump administration Many attendees quietly nodded or clapped as Obernolte spoke was vocal in his approval as he left a Harbor Freight in Yucca Valley said he had not attended Obernolte’s event but was glad to see DOGE moving so quickly who worked in the grocery business for 35 years “We have this once-in-a-lifetime chance to straighten out our country financially Irwin described himself as an “outdoor person” who loves the national parks but believes government agencies need better supervision “How many people in the government are on the porn sites when they’re supposed to be on the job?” he said “How many people are getting transgender changes when they’re supposed to be actually on the job?” Branson-Potts reported from Los Angeles; Plevin reported from Yucca Valley This article is part of The Times’ equity reporting initiative, funded by the James Irvine Foundation, exploring the challenges facing low-income workers and the efforts being made to address California’s economic divide. Hailey Branson-Potts is a Metro reporter who joined the Los Angeles Times in 2011. She reports on a wide range of issues and people, with a special focus on communities along the coast. She grew up in the small town of Perry, Okla., and graduated from the University of Oklahoma. Rebecca Plevin reports on equity for the Los Angeles Times. Before joining The Times, she was an editor at the Fresno Bee, where she oversaw the bilingual Central Valley News Collaborative. She previously reported on immigration for the Desert Sun in Palm Springs and covered healthcare for public radio station KPCC-FM (89.3) in Pasadena. She grew up in the Washington, D.C., area and earned her journalism degree from Northwestern University. World & Nation Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map Investigators arrested a Desert Hot Springs man this week on suspicion of sex crimes against a child in Yucca Valley was being held without bail following his arrest on Wednesday morning in Palm Springs according to San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department officials and jail records He was booked on suspicion of two child molestation-related charges as well as one count of sending obscene material to a minor one count of production of child pornography and one count of burglary The arrest was the result of an investigation by Morongo Basin Station deputies into alleged sex crimes that took place in Yucca Valley, the sheriff's department said in a written statement it was determined Dakota Lessnau committed several offenses against the minor victim," according to the statement Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Lessnau as well as a search warrant for his home in the 12800 block of Calle Amapola in Desert Hot Springs The suspect was not home when deputies arrived about 7:30 a.m Investigators said they seized possible evidence related to the alleged molestation a rifle with an extended magazine and a suppressor 'Operation Consequences': 15 guns seized during latest round of police raids Deputies found and arrested Lessnau a little more than an hour later in the area of Palm Canyon Drive and Vía Lola in Palm Springs according to sheriff's officials and county booking records Lessnau was scheduled to make an initial appearance Friday in the Joshua Tree District of San Bernardino County Superior Court Anyone with information was asked to contact the Sheriff's Morongo Basin Station at (760) 366-4175. Information may also be submitted anonymously to the We-Tip hotline at (800) 782-7463 Deputies are asking for the community's help in finding a driver involved in a hit-and-run crash Wednesday morning in Yucca Valley that left a 74-year-old man with major injuries near the intersection of Grand Avenue and SR-62 (Twentynine Palms Highway) Authorities said the driver of a red hatchback traveling southbound on Grand Avenue struck the man as he was crossing Grand Ave at the intersection of SR-62 assisted the injured pedestrian to the nearby curb The pedestrian was later taken to the hospital with major injuries Officers from the Morongo Basin CHP Station and a helicopter from Sheriff's Aviation responded to the area and assisted deputies in searching for the suspect and associated vehicle; however the suspect remains unidentified and at large The suspect is described as a Hispanic male adult and black shoes at the time of the incident The suspect vehicle is described as an unknown make/model red hatchback The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect and suspect vehicle involved in this incident Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has information about the driver or vehicle is urged to come forward If you have any information regarding this case, please contact the Morongo Basin Sheriff's Station at (760) 366-4175. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are encouraged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or submit information online at www.wetip.com. (This story was updated to add new information.) Friday's scoresShadow Hills 30, La Quinta 29 (FINAL Coachella Valley 47, Yucca Valley 24 (FINAL) Palm Desert 35, Palm Springs 6 (FINAL) Rancho Mirage 14, Xavier Prep 7 (FINAL) Desert Hot Springs 33, Desert Mirage 0 (FINAL) Desert Christian Academy 40, Hamilton 31 (FINAL) The Yucca Valley Trojans lost their third high school football game in a row during their difficult non-league slate, falling on the road at Valley View 28-7 on Thursday night. Coach Jeremy Johnson was impressed by Valley View (Moreno Valley), but he felt like his offense was out of sync, likely because they had missed several practices and last week's game due to poor air quality from nearby wildfires. Quarterback Michael Ramos did hit Aiden Pope for a 20-yard touchdown in the first quarter to give the Trojans a 7-0 lead, but the rest of the game was all about the home team. Johnson was happy with his defense which turned in multiple interceptions and a pair of forced fumbles. The loss drops the Trojans to 1-3, but it should be remembered that last year's Yucca Valley team that made it to the CIF-SS final also started 1-3. The tough non-league slate helped them last season. The Trojans will see a familiar foe on Friday as they visit Desert Hot Springs in a matchup of former Desert Valley League teams. Show Search Search Query Submit Search Don't Miss Calif. — If there were a Mojave Desert treasure map it might lead you across the Morongo Basin and behind a shopping center A sign promising “junk to gems” points the way The hunt would end at a dusty plot where for decades vendors have gathered to sell everything from vintage western wear to kitchen goods to crystal bowls Of course, locals never needed a map to find the Sky Village Swap Meet in this town of 21,700 people. Many recall its days as a drive-in movie theater. They remember eating at the Sky Village Cafe, where Anthony Bourdain once ordered chili onions and eggs after a tequila-infused night at Pappy and Harriet’s a barbecue restaurant and music venue nearby They light up describing the bargains they’ve scored over the years The Yucca Valley swap meet has been in operation for more than five decades Residents light up describing the bargains they’ve scored over the years “The thing you need to know about the swap meet is sometimes you come here and maybe you don’t find anything but you have a good conversation somewhere,” said Yucca Valley shop owner Kime Buzzelli “Some guy needs to pay rent and he’s selling all of his turquoise jewelry Once I got a whole bag of rare Egyptian pendants.” But the swap meet closed suddenly last weekend after the family that owns the property was sued under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The complaint, filed in September in federal court in the Central District of California alleged that the owners failed to comply with federal and state standards related to parking spaces for people with disabilities and that additional barriers to accessibility would be identified after a site inspection has paraplegia and uses a wheelchair when traveling in public He has filed 71 ADA lawsuits this year including against a diner a vegan restaurant and an animal feed store in the high desert who has filed more than 2,300 ADA lawsuits this year Neither Boggs nor Kim responded to The Times’ request for comment whose family has owned the swap meet for 35 years said they expect to settle with the plaintiff but they haven’t yet met to discuss the terms They decided to close right away rather than upgrade the property because the cost to make the business ADA compliant — more than $200,000 Carr said she and her 72-year-old mother had been planning to eventually sell the swap meet property. Her father, Bob Carr, the heart of the business, died in 2018 and Carr didn’t see herself running it long term But the lawsuit early last month put the decision on high speed “Relationships have been made here,” she said Max Hoegele A chalk board with final offers and a “thank you for the memories” on the swap meet’s final day of operation litigation counsel for Disability Rights California said federal and state disability laws are commonly enforced through individual lawsuits because there is no government agency tasked with evaluating whether public locations are accessible or not but otherwise the business would just continue to be inaccessible to people with disabilities,” said Elliott who was unable to comment specifically on the swap meet case Boggs visited the swap meet in June and alleged in the complaint that he encountered several barriers that interfered with his ability to access the business including lack of proper signage marking accessible parking While the swap meet has parking for people with disabilities the suit alleged that the business failed to provide a van accessible space including an access aisle for wheelchair drop-off with a level surface “These barriers and conditions denied Plaintiff the full and equal access to the Business and caused Plaintiff difficulty and frustration,” the complaint said an attorney with the Karlin Law Firm LLP who is representing the Carr family or accessible parking that doesn’t fully comply with the law is “without a doubt the number one access barrier I see in complaints.” He said the overwhelming majority of his cases end in early settlement. Under the state Unruh Civil Rights Act plaintiffs can claim damages of at least $4,000 per visit to the business and the cost of addressing additional barriers Some defendants have expressed concerns that serial lawyers and plaintiffs are taking advantage of the nearly 35-year-old federal law, seeking out violations and damages. But recently, a state bill failed that sought to alleviate damages for such lawsuits by providing 120-day warning notices to correct violations said her organization doesn’t support this type of warning noting business owners have had several decades’ notice that they’re required to comply with the ADA only serves to decrease a business’ incentive to proactively come into compliance “There is a lot of inaccessibility out there which is a frustration to a lot of folks with physical disabilities,” she said “Any solution that doesn’t involve businesses actually becoming accessible is not going to be equitable for people with disabilities.” In this high-desert region where people seek out solitude on five-acre plots of land the market was a place to find weekly connections At a time of rapid gentrification in the Joshua Tree area it also provided a space for everyone to interact The swap meet represented “the joining of a few different worlds of people,” said Laurel Yancey who was trying to sign up vendors for a Facebook page to keep in touch she said the marketplace was “almost that center point of the infinity sign … where two parts meet.” When the Carr family bought the swap meet property in 1994 it had already been a drive-in movie theater and open-air market for decades The Sky Drive-In Theater opened there in 1959 according to the Morongo Basin Historical Society The weekend swap meet started operating in 1971 After they stopped screening movies in 1997 the Carr family constructed cabins and other structures where more permanent vendors could store their goods for a small fee Tailgaters could rent a space on the bare ground — BYO table and shade — $30 for Saturday In a town with a median household income of about $54,000 because it’s a strong buyer’s and seller’s market “It’s kind of a business that works in any scenario and before that during the Great Recession “people were pulling stuff out of their garages to make money to pay their rent .. a volunteer archivist with the Morongo Basin Historical Museum it’s this staying power that made the swap meet so endearing Flea markets these days are typically higher end or dominated by wholesalers The Yucca Valley swap meet survived for more than 50 years in part because it’s a strong buyer’s and seller’s market whose family has owned the property for 35 years Charlotte Burns browsed the swap meet while a man in a cowboy hat serenaded the crowd She grew up in the high desert and says the market has hardly changed since the 1990s when she recalls her mom buying her a Cabbage Patch Kids doll “I hope it doesn’t just turn into some gentrified market or something,” she said sold goods for nine years at the swap meet hand-carved signs and even Chihuahua puppies He recalled that Bob Carr once built him a concrete ramp so he could vend from one of the permanent structures sold goods at the swap meet for nine years “It’s the heart of the community,” he says who now runs a monthly flea market in nearby Landers predicted the vendors and buyers would survive Ramshackle buildings are cleared out Cowboy boots for sale inside Dakota Bob’s Western Wear “Everybody will eventually pick up out of the dirt You’ve got to have hard skin to get through out here Otherwise the desert will chew you up and spit you out.” Inside Dakota Bob’s Western Wear — the largest permanent building at the swap meet — owner Margo Sturges also projected resilience When a customer expressed disappointment about the swap meet’s closure and I do believe he has a better plan for us And so I’m just waiting to see what opens up and what is going to be revealed.” have been fixtures at the swap meet for two decades They started selling wagon wheels and teak twisted root furniture but switched to vintage Western wear amid the recession they’ve outfitted entire wedding parties in cowboy attire and have fit plenty of children for their first pairs of boots Sturges said she and her husband are looking to sell their goods at a spot in Joshua Tree With just 30 minutes left in the swap meet last weekend more than a dozen people gathered around the stand where Hamid Moazzam has sold gems handmade rugs and furniture for more than two decades Vendor Ruben Escobar packs away his merchandise as the Sky Village Swap Meet closes (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) As Moazzam lit some incense prepared to perform a farewell sound bath with the crystal and Tibetan bowls that they had sold for many years “This is a little way of saying goodbye,” Murillo said She began drawing a wand around the circumference of the bowls and their soothing vibrations sung out across the dusty market Times researcher Scott Wilson contributed to this report. This article is part of The Times’ equity reporting initiative, funded by the James Irvine Foundation, exploring the challenges facing low-income workers and the efforts being made to address California’s economic divide. Politics