Lucerne Valley Leader

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Victorville • A Lucerne Valley woman and her daughter are attempting to change their pleas from guilty to not guilty for the 2005 murder of the family’s father.

In February, April Gwen Benitez, 41, of Lucerne Valley, pleaded guilty in Victorville Superior Court to one charge of first-degree murder. Her daughter, Justina Marie Perry, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder at that time.

Speakers address a handful of listeners in debate

By KRIS REILLY, Editor

JOHNSON VALLEY • For the first time since the issue popped up on Lucerne Valley’s radar screen five months ago, there was an actual debate about Measure S. And there was hardly anyone there to see it.

All of the previous meetings regarding the general obligation bond measure on the June 8 ballot had been hosted by one side or the other. Last Saturday’s meeting at the Johnson Valley Community Center featured speakers from both sides.

By Mary Ann Milbourn, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Freedom Communications Inc., the parent company of The Leader, announced last Friday that it has emerged from bankruptcy reorganization, relieved of $450 million in debt but bringing to an end family ownership of a media chain that provided a unique voice in American journalism.

Three investment companies — Alden Global Capital, Angelo Gordon & Co. and Luxor Capital Group — and a group of lenders led by JPMorgan Chase will assume ownership of Freedom. A breakdown of their relative positions was not immediately available.

Plant manager hopes this will be ‘the last of it’

By KRIS REILLY, Editor

One of Lucerne Valley’s major employers is apparently still feeling the effects of a sagging economy.

Mitsubishi Cement Corporation had to make a workforce reduction last week, plant manager Jim Russell said. The plant cut six employees, leaving just under 140 workers at the site.

Mitsubishi temporarily laid off 49 employees earlier this year due to anemic sales, but all of them returned to work about a month later. These latest cuts are permanent, Russell said.

By KRIS REILLY, Editor

Roughly 40 people gathered last Saturday for a meeting regarding Lucerne Valley’s most hotly contested issue.

The meeting was hosted at the Lucerne Valley Community Center by Jeanmarie Taylor, who sat beside Jo Richards and addressed the audience. Both women expressed their skepticism about Measure S, a roughly $8 million general obligation bond which will need 55 percent of the vote on June 8 in order to pass.

If you don’t get The Leader in print, here’s what you missed this week:

-Four letters to the editor
-A “Worm Alert” from Jo Richards in preparation for this Friday’s Great American Worm Race
-Local photos, including “Lucerne Valley at Work”
-The Sheriff’s Blotter, the What’s Happening page, the Community Calendar and more!

BY KRIS REILLY, Editor

LUCERNE VALLEY • Vandals who damaged several Save Our Schools campaign signs will be prosecuted if caught, authorities said last week.

The SOS committee placed the signs supporting Measure S at various locations around Lucerne Valley about two weeks ago, and the vandalism started soon after.

Several signs were torn, and someone apparently snipped the wires that held up a sign near the elementary school.

By KRIS REILLY, Editor

Lucerne Valley has again been targeted by fraudulent phone calls asking for bank account information.

Local residents and businesses began receiving the calls on April 20. The calls contain a pre-recorded message asking for First Mountain Bank ATM card numbers and personal identification numbers, claiming that the information is needed to re-activate a de-activated card.

By KRIS REILLY, Editor

The Lucerne Valley Economic Development Association is asking for testimonials at its next meeting from citizens who are concerned about changes to county water hauling policy.

The next LVEDA meeting is set for Tuesday, May 4, at 5 p.m. at the Senior Center.

PHOTO BY KRIS REILLY

Michele McClowry, standing, discusses the situation facing local schools at the April 19 meeting at the Community Center.

BY KRIS REILLY, Editor

More than 100 people gathered for last week’s meeting regarding Measure S, and several of them spoke passionately about an issue that is threatening to divide Lucerne Valley.

The meeting was hosted at the Lucerne Valley Community Center on April 19 by the Save Our Schools (SOS) committee, which is campaigning in favor of Measure S.