Thursday, September 7, 2006
Getting on with the show
VICTORVILLE -- Stadium seating, surround sound and 16 screens are all coming to the Mall of Victor Valley this fall -- but 18 extra stalls for the women's restroom might just steal the show.

Wednesday, September 6, 2006
Costco: bigger and better
VICTORVILLE -- The building next to Costco has sat vacant for years, but the city is finally close to making good use of the space -- in a deal that could generate 315 jobs, according to city documents.

Wednesday, September 6, 2006
Developers strike deal to construct bowling alley
HESPERIA -- The clink of strikes and spares will soon fill a new bowling alley and entertainment center at Avenal Street and Mariposa Road, where construction could begin within the next four months.

Monday, August 28, 2006
Closing the gap
VICTORVILLE -- Tony Beckom and Keya Thomas have been trying to buy a home for a year. Even with two incomes, they have found the prospect daunting.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Developers, Victorville prepare for showdown
VICTORVILLE -- Homebuilders are breathing easier now that the city has substantially lowered proposed impact fee hikes, but commercial developers have little reason to celebrate.

Friday, August 18, 2006
Bridle Path would be AV.'s largest community
APPLE VALLEY -- A 660-acre housing development proposed to the Apple Valley Planning Commission on Wednesday night, will have to jump a few hurdles before receiving the Town Council's approval.

Thursday, August 17, 2006
A new look for Hesperia
With the new civic center and branch library scheduled to open in less than two months, the look of downtown Hesperia is beginning to change.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006
County considers $1 million road plan
SAN BERNARDINO --The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors is expected to approve today more than $1 million for road improvements in unincorporated Victorville and Wrightwood and Pinon Hills.

Monday, August 14, 2006
Bill might allow city fast-track bidding
VICTORVILLE -- A bill that would allow the city to combine design and construction bids on public projects, with the goal of avoiding delays and saving taxpayer dollars, is one step closer to passage in the California Legislature this session.

Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Wal-Mart plans three Supercenters
VICTORVILLE -- Wal-Mart is working on bringing 24-hour super-shopping to three locations in Victorville -- but not before an environmental review process.

Friday, August 4, 2006
Builders endure the slowdown
VICTORVILLE -- In response to a slowdown in home sales, builders in the High Desert are reacting in different ways -- some predictable, others not.

Friday, August 4, 2006
Victorville explores nuclear energy
VICTORVILLE -- The city has retained a Washington, D.C., law firm to help Victorville push further into the energy business, with the idea of eventually building an oil refinery and even, one day, a nuclear power plant.

Wednesday, August 2, 2006
No end in sight for retail growth
VICTORVILLE -- Several million square feet of retail space is being developed throughout the Victor Valley.

Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Meeting draws angry contractors
VICTORVILLE -- The anger of about 25 unpaid building contractors spilled into the City Council meeting Tuesday night after they learned that a payment deal was in limbo for work done at Southern California Logistics Airport.

Thursday, July 13, 2006
L.A. developer bets on Victorville
VICTORVILLE -- Developers don't usually build speculative projects unless they're sure they can fill them.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006
A slow down
VICTORVILLE -- It looks like making a quick buck by flipping a High Desert home is a phenomenon of the past.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Apple Valley unveils big plans
APPLE VALLEY --Developers are poised to unleash a pack of retail outlets in Apple Valley in the near future, a move that could eventually land area residents at least 2,200 new jobs, according to city officials and developers.

Thursday, July 6, 2006
Devore 2 project to put brakes on I-15
SAN BERNARDINO -- Traffic on Interstate 15 is about to become more of a nightmare.

Wednesday, July 5, 2006
Thousands flock to Apple Valley show
APPLE VALLEY -- Thousands turned out for Apple Valley's fireworks show Tuesday night, but Jacob Painter knew he had the best seat in the house.

Monday, June 26, 2006
Spruce up time in Hesperia
HESPERIA -- The roads within the city's original township between Seventh Avenue and Hesperia Road, north of Main Street, are so badly deteriorated one can almost see the remnants of wagon wheel ruts.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Home inventory surges
VICTORVILLE -- Home sales for May in the High Desert were down 18 percent from May 2005, and houses are starting to sit on the market.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Supervisors approve Oak Hills pizza restaurant
SANBERNARDINO -- Months of debate over a proposal to build a pizza restaurant near Baldy Mesa Elementary School came to an end Tuesday when the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the project.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Construction demands for water pose problems
BALDY MESA -- Home building consumes more than bricks and mortar -- it also claims vast amounts of water.

Tuesday, June 6, 2006
Developer snaps up Nisqualli corner
VICTORVILLE -- A Las Vegas developer is planning a 13-acre mixed-use business park on Nisqualli Road in a move to reap the benefit of the road's transformation into an east-west artery across Interstate 15.

Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Is Victorville ready? 100,000
VICTORVILLE -- Within the year Victorville will become a city of 100,000 residents, officials estimate.

Sunday, May 28, 2006
Will a yes vote on Measure N make Apple Valley healthier?
APPLE VALLEY -- A local doctor who wants to build a hospital in town and the Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce are at odds over changing Measure N.

Sunday, May 28, 2006
City mulls new development fees
VICTORVILLE -- Inflation and rapid development have prompted the city of Victorville to consider raising the fees it charges developers to build new projects.

Monday, May 15, 2006
VVC: Growth in the pipeline
VICTORVILLE -- More than 1,000 new students are expected to enroll at Victor Valley College in the fall. The campus grew 12 percent this year, two percent more than expected, college officials said. With so much growth comes expansion.

Saturday, May 6, 2006
Governor's plan would bring millions to desert
VICTORVILLE -- More than $8 million for transportation improvements will be available to the High Desert if voters approve the governor's "Strategic Infrastructure Plan" in November.

Wednesday, May 3, 2006
Water agreement moves Home Depot forward
APPLE VALLEY -- Developers are finally set to break ground on the Home Depot at Apple Valley and Bear Valley roads -- seven months after Apple Valley approved the plan -- now that negotiations have concluded between water providers for the county and town.

Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Builders ready to break record in Victorville
VICTORVILLE -- Construction in Victorville continues at a furious pace.

Monday, May 1, 2006
Infamous Mojave dip to get fixed
ADELANTO -- Sometimes its a wonder how things get built.

Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Buyer's market on upswing
VICTORVILLE -- The buyer's market appears to be gaining strength in the High Desert, as some real estate agents and home builders begin to offer incentives again.

Thursday, March 30, 2006
Town considers higher density project
APPLE VALLEY -- A pitch to build two Planned Unit Developments in the northern end of town is being received warmly by the school district and coldly by the Town Council.

Monday, March 27, 2006
Builders frustrated with plan checks
VICTORVILLE-- Concerned about what they say is a growing delay for plan checks, some builders and developers have asked the Victorville City Council to help them find a way to speed up the process.

Friday, March 24, 2006
More growth expected
LAKE ARROWHEAD -- San Bernardino County is currently ranked the fifth fastest-growing county in the nation and added more than 50,000 people in the past year alone.

Thursday, March 16, 2006
Council OKs loan for low-income apartments
HESPERIA -- The Hesperia City Council on Wednesday approved a $5.9 million loan to finance the construction of low-income apartments on C Avenue.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Mesquite paving awarded $900,000
SAN BERNARDINO -- A long-overdue paving project in Hesperia got a $900,000 shot in the arm Tuesday from the Board of Supervisors.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006
BLM gives nod to West Mojave Plan
BARSTOW -- The development of a 15-year-old plan to balance development and preserve endangered species and natural habitat is drawing to a close.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Real estate 'feeding frenzy' is over
VICTORVILLE -- Building permits for Victor Valley homes were at a two-year low in January, but analysts and builders say the market is still healthy.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Office condos to be built
VICTORVILLE -- A developer is getting ready to break ground on a two-story office building near the Civic Center to duplicate -- and refine -- a concept he tested on Bear Valley Road.

Monday, March 13, 2006
High Desert Corridor
APPLE VALLEY -- Roads are rivers in the desert.

Friday, March 10, 2006
Sewer connection fees more than double
VICTORVILLE -- To keep up with the increasing cost of construction and the fast pace of growth in the area, the Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority plans to more than double its sewer connection fees from $1,500 to $3,215.

Friday, March 10, 2006
Shopping center coming to Hesperia
HESPERIA -- Another developer has announced plans to build a large shopping center near the intersection of Main Street and I-15.

Thursday, March 9, 2006
No decision on AV. apartment rules
APPLE VALLEY -- Developers eager to build apartments and condominiums in town are still waiting.

Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Copper thieves tearing it up
VICTORVILLE -- If the threat of getting arrested isn't enough to stop criminals, perhaps the potential of being shot would deter them.

Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Landlords will need business licenses
VICTORVILLE -- Despite the objection of some landlords and housing authority representatives, the City Council introduced an ordinance that will require all landlords to acquire a business license to rent in the city.

Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Recycling manager sees copper from construction sites
HESPERIA -- It's all about copper.

Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Council OKs additional $90,000 for clubhouse
VICTORVILLE -- An additional 7,000 square feet will be added to Green Tree Golf Course Clubhouse as the Victorville City Council approved $90,000 in additional architecture fees Tuesday night.

Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Market ripe for affordable apartments
APPLE VALLEY -- As the price of new and existing homes in the High Desert soar in the past few years, many young and low-income families struggle to find affordable housing.

Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Apple Valley looks for ways to increase rentals
APPLE VALLEY -- Construction of apartments is a rare thing in this town.

Tuesday, March 7, 2006
Landlords vs. Rothschild
VICTORVILLE -- Viictorville Mayor Mike Rothschild wants the city to have greater control over problem renters, but landlords are questioning the effectiveness of his plan.

Tuesday, March 7, 2006
Road repairs nearly done
HELENDALE -- More than a year after a portion of the Indian Trail was damaged by severe flooding, reconstruction of the road is finally nearing completion.

Friday, March 3, 2006
Runner bill cuts building costs
SACRAMENTO -- State Sen. George Runner introduced a bill this week that would give the city of Victorville a faster and less costly option for new construction projects.

Thursday, March 2, 2006
SCLA to get dock facility
VICTORVILLE -- The private development partner at Southern California Logistics Airport announced an agreement to build a new 250,000-square-foot cross-dock facility at the airport.

Thursday, March 2, 2006
Building group requests delay on 'purple pipe'
VICTORVILLE -- Just as the City Council prepares to vote on its "purple pipe" requirement, the Building Industry Association has requested another delay.

Thursday, March 2, 2006
High Desert mayors going to Washington
APPLE VALLEY -- Mayors Mike Rothschild and Mark Shoup are teaming up to go Washington, D.C., on a mission to get funding for a Nisqualli/Yucca Loma bridge project.

Thursday, March 2, 2006
Mesquite Street paving project nears
HESPERIA -- After seven years of delays and government red tape, the paving of Mesquite Street will finally begin within two weeks.

Thursday, March 2, 2006
Road project to reduce school traffic in Phelan
PHELAN -- Residents here say the county's plan to pave Nielson Road starting later this month will help reduce traffic around schools and shorten the drive to Wrightwood and Highway 138.

Wednesday, March 1, 2006
Go west, says A.V. Council
APPLE VALLEY -- It's a matter of dollars and cents.

Thursday, February 23, 2006
Developers to pay more in Adelanto
ADELANTO -- Even with a proposed increase of more than $3,000 in new impact fees for residential development, Adelanto will have the lowest development fees in the Victor Valley.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Roelle will boycott Measure N meeting
APPLE VALLEY -- One Town Councilor is boycotting tonight's special meeting of the Town Council, protesting the Council's support of a proposed ballot item to clarify Measure N.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006
LAFCO to get Phelan plan soon
PHELAN -- Three months after Phelan and Pinon Hills filed a request to form a community services district, they are now closer to seeing it become a reality.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006
State-of-the-art theater under construction
VICTORVILLE -- High definition screens, deluxe surround-sound and stadium seating.

Monday, February 20, 2006
Road work focus may shift in A.V.
APPLE VALLEY -- The drive to widen Apple Valley Road may shift to building a bridge over the Mojave River.

Friday, February 17, 2006
Caltrans chief, Victorville mayor compare road maps
VICTORVILLE -- Caltrans District 8 Director Michael Perovich spent part of the week meeting local officials in Apple Valley, Barstow and Victorville to discuss future transportation needs.

Thursday, February 16, 2006
City Hall tour in hard hats
HESPERIA -- City Manager Mike Podegracz had the excitement of a new homeowner Wednesday as he gave city officials a tour of the nearly completed civic plaza.

Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Town puts Measure N on June 6 ballot
APPLE VALLEY -- By a 4-1 vote the Town Council approved placing an item on the June 6 ballot to clarify Measure N.

Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Nisqualli residents stand firm
VICTORVILLE -- Residents living along Nisqualli Road revealed Tuesday they plan to increase pressure on the City Council over the issue of sidewalks on their street.

Thursday, February 9, 2006
Nisqualli project
VICTORVILLE -- Residents along Nisqualli Road want a sidewalk included when the city expands their street.

Friday, February 3, 2006
Secret opinion surfaces at A.V. meeting
APPLE VALLEY -- Planned Unit Developments and confidential legal opinions were not supposed to be the topic, but they both came bubbling up through the cracks in Measure N on Thursday night.

Thursday, February 2, 2006
Town was warned of Measure N risks
APPLE VALLEY -- The town attorney knew.

Thursday, February 2, 2006
Hesperia readies for Wal-Mart Supercenter
HESPERIA -- The City Council took the first step in bringing a Wal-Mart Supercenter to Hesperia on Wednesday after approving a contract with Applied Planning to do an environmental impact report on the construction site.

Wednesday, February 1, 2006
New draft clarifies Measure N
APPLE VALLEY -- A draft ballot proposal to clarify Measure N and give the Town Council final authority over land use decisions will be unveiled to the public Thursday night.

Wednesday, February 1, 2006
Silverado in escrow
APPLE VALLEY -- The former site of the proposed Silverado theater development is in escrow.

Wednesday, February 1, 2006
Cities expect $120 million for roads
VICTORVILLE -- More than $120 million in county transportation funds will be spent in the High Desert over the next five years to improve roadways.

Tuesday, January 31, 2006
I-15/I-215 corridor a priority
SAN BERNARDINO -- In an effort to improve traffic flow, a redesign of the I-215/I-15 interchange has become a priority for state and county transportation authorities.

Thursday, January 26, 2006
BIA commercials praise builders
APPLE VALLEY -- The Building Industry Association is launching a pair of television advertisements Friday intended to bolster the home building industry's image in San Bernardino County.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Losing out again?
Design work on La Mesa/ Nisqualli Road interchange among projects threatened

Tuesday, January 24, 2006
A.V. development on shaky ground
APPLE VALLEY -- The Town of Apple Valley is poised to lose $640,000 in development impact fees. And local businesses are looking at losing $10 million in labor and materials.

Thursday, December 22, 2005
Apple Valley may get theater after all
APPLE VALLEY -- One of the central figures involved with the failed Silverado movie theater development says theater development companies are showing strong interest in buying the property and building Apple Valley's first theater.

Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Big Victorville development stalls
VICTORVILLE -- Customers who were hoping to shop in such stores as Old Navy or eat at Pat and Oscar's this holiday season will have to wait until next year.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Water plan OK'd
VICTORVILLE -- In a lightly attended special meeting Tuesday night, City Council approved a report recommending the city's planned takeover of the Victor Valley and Baldy Mesa water districts.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Mayor Shoup to push economic development
APPLE VALLEY -- The town's new mayor says he wants to advance an agenda that focuses on economic development, youth and heritage.

Friday, December 2, 2005
Developer is happy to build in Adelanto
ADELANTO -- In the next five years Springfield LLC anticipates building 10 retail centers offering tens of thousands of square feet of retail space in northern Adelanto.

Thursday, November 17, 2005
Housing market may be cooling
VICTORVILLE -- There are signs that the hot housing market in Victor Valley is starting to cool a bit as home inventories continued to climb and prices leveled off during the month of October.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Residents air out concerns
ADELANTO -- Issues of runway intrusions, lack of infrastructure and a lack of development standards suitable to a residential airport have been an annoyance to airport residents and city leaders.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Overpass paves way to commerce
HESPERIA -- State and city officials said Tuesday the newly opened six-lane interchange at Main Street and Interstate 15 will likely lead to more business growth for the area.

Thursday, October 27, 2005
Road projects targeted
VICTORVILLE -- A regional transportation committee is expected to earmark $10.39 million for key local road projects, including a Yucca Loma Road bridge over the Mojave River, an extension of Ranchero Road under the railroad tracks and the long-awaited La Mesa/Nisqualli freeway interchange.

Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Build it, and... more will be built
California Building Systems owner Will Graven said he is bothered because he knows the secret about the presence of the Southern California Logistics Airport is about to get out.

Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Apple Valley abandons Silverado
APPLE VALLEY -- By a unanimous vote the Town Council removed itself from financing any part of the Silverado movie theater development on Tuesday night.

Wednesday, October 26, 2005
History of the Silverado theater project
Since proponents of the Silverado theater project first approached Apple Valley officials nine years ago, the project has changed and evolved, brought on new partners and shed old ones. The project was first targeted for 140 acres on Highway 18 between Rancherias and Aztec roads. It was billed as an 18-screen theater with restaurants, a bowling alley, a fitness center, stores, and a 50- to 60-acre Silverado estates housing developments. Here are some of the highlights.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005
A $300 million plan for SCLA
VICTORVILLE -- Stirling International, the private development partner at Southern California Logistics Airport, announced plans Monday to invest $300 million in the next 30 months to develop 64 million square feet of industrial space.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Leading Edge moving to Victorville
VICTORVILLE -- When Leading Edge President Michael Manclark first heard about the possibility of coming to Victorville, he didn't think much of it.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Silverado: Final chapter?
APPLE VALLEY -- Like a mad slasher character in a teen-horror movie, the Silverado theater development just keeps resurrecting itself.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Some buildings not earthquake-safe
VICTORVILLE -- There are 135 unreinforced masonry buildings in the High Desert that are vulnerable to collapse during an earthquake, according to a state commission.

Thursday, October 20, 2005
Silverado deal may soon be settled
APPLE VALLEY -- A leasing agent for the proposed Silverado movie theater project said an 11th-hour skirmish among business partners should be resolved today -- perhaps saving the development first proposed nine years ago.

Thursday, October 20, 2005
Builder opposes drainage request
VICTORVILLE -- A drainage issue has the city and a developer in conflict after the Victorville Engineering Department determined the developer should build a diversion channel.

Thursday, October 20, 2005
ANOTHER VIEW: Ramping up the regulating
We know that property rights have taken a beating lately in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling in June allowing cities to use eminent domain for nonpublic uses, and in the face of a continuing onslaught of uncompensated regulatory takings.

Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Hesperia Council to decide which road to take
HESPERIA -- With the price of asphalt and oil rising sharply, the Hesperia City Council has a serious decision to make.

Wednesday, October 19, 2005
County buys Wrightwood library
SAN BERNARDINO -- The Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to purchase the building housing the new Wrightwood branch of the county library during their regular meeting on Tuesday.

Wednesday, October 19, 2005
City planners examine landscape restrictions
ADELANTO -- It is no secret the Victor Valley's water resources are being depleted. To preserve and extend the region's most vital resource, the city is considering strengthening its residential landscape ordinance.

Monday, October 17, 2005
Wicks to anchor new V.V. center
VICTORVILLE -- The massive addition of rooftops continues to attract national chains and this time Victorville will have its own Wickes Furniture store.

Monday, October 17, 2005
Coffee's on the agenda
VICTORVILLE -- Convenient lunch time options are limited for the several hundred employees at Victorville City Hall, the neighboring courthouse and adjoining sheriff's station.

Sunday, October 16, 2005
Huge development planned in west Victorville
VICTORVILLE -- Although construction for a 2,656-home development will not start until early next year, the city is already going through major planning to create the necessary infrastructure this massive project will require.

Thursday, October 13, 2005
Fearing peak is near, more homeowners selling
VICTORVILLE -- With some homeowners fearing prices are peaking, the number of local homes for sale jumped 23 percent in September compared to the previous month, according to Multiple Listing Service statistics.

Monday, October 10, 2005
Residents say there goes the neighborhood
APPLE VALLEY -- Just south of town, in unincorporated San Bernardino County, residents have enjoyed a rural lifestyle complete with dirt roads, large lots and open spaces.

Sunday, October 9, 2005
Silverado project appears doomed
APPLE VALLEY -- Skirmishes between the property owners and the Cipranic family may soon sound the death knell for the Silverado movie theater project.

Thursday, October 6, 2005
Target aims for Hesperia
HESPERIA -- Residents of Hesperia, get those credit cards paid off -- a new Target store is coming to your neck of the woods.

Thursday, October 6, 2005
Procurement conference set
SAN BERNARDINO -- The County of San Bernardino is hosting a Countywide Procurement Opportunities Conference with more than 50 exhibitors bringing their contract bid opportunities.

Wednesday, October 5, 2005
CSUSB president shows how High Desert extension can be reality
APPLE VALLEY -- Synergy, student demand, a network of community partnerships -- and lots of money -- are the keys for California State University, San Bernardino, to create a satellite campus in the Victor Valley.

Wednesday, October 5, 2005
Residents argue open space land rule
APPLE VALLEY -- Some residents are appealing a 156-lot development at the north end of Apple Valley Road because they say the planned subdivision violates the town's open space conservation development standards.

Monday, October 3, 2005
Mojave Narrows to get observation facility
APPLE VALLEY -- Plans are underway to build a $1.6 million nature interpretive center at Mojave Narrows Regional Park, according to San Bernardno County officials.

Sunday, October 2, 2005
Price is not right for landowners
VICTORVILLE -- The current dispute the city is having with property owners for construction of the rail spur has much to do with prices and little to do with negotiations.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Building with cat-like swiftness
Missy and Hugo Gomez bought a business in Rancho Cucamonga and moved to the High Desert to take advantage of the booming development.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Chinese businesses eye Barstow mall
BARSTOW -- A measure passed Monday night by the city planning commission will bring hundreds of small Chinese-owned businesses to the Barstow Outlet Mall and may help revitalize a business area that has seen a slump in sales.

Sunday, September 25, 2005
A view from the 'Mesa'
This outstanding home, located on the "Mesa" in Hesperia, must be seen to be ppreciated.

Saturday, September 24, 2005
Student numbers set new record
HESPERIA -- The High Desert is experiencing some of the fastest growth in San Bernardino County, resulting in record-breaking numbers for student enrollment.

Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Supply & Demand
VICTORVILLE -- Despite building the most new homes last year since 1988 the Building Industry Association is reporting a growing gap between those able to afford a new home and those finding their finances lacking.

Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Golden Pond RV Park to be razed
ADELANTO -- Two years after the Golden Pond RV Park was condemned by the County health department as a health hazard unfit for human habitation, the city is on the verge of razing the property.

Saturday, September 3, 2005
View, view, view in beautiful Oak Hills
Situated on a beautiful 2.42-acre cul-de-sac lot in desirable Oak Hills, this incredible home offers privacy, spaciousness and spectacular views. The huge 3,470 square-foot floor plan and expansive covered patios make it a great home for entertaining.

Friday, September 2, 2005
State questions town's housing policies
APPLE VALLEY -- The state Department of Housing and Community Development is scrutinizing the housing element of the town's general plan because of the Town Council's positions on Measure N and apartment density.

Friday, September 2, 2005
Architect says town doesn't make it easy
APPLE VALLEY -- Apartment construction is not a surging market for developers in town, but that is by design, according to some.

Friday, September 2, 2005
Victor Plaza's new look attracts shops, shoppers
VICTORVILLE -- Once regarded as an eyesore in the heart of the city, Victor Plaza is experiencing a reawakening that is keeping tenants happy and customers coming back.

Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Housing makes $4 billion splash
SAN BERNARDINO -- San Bernardino County's building industry made a $4 billion economic splash last year, accounting for more than 12 percent of jobs in the county, according to a new economic analysis released Tuesday.

Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Management of Mojave preserve draws concern
SAN BERNARDINO -- The Mojave National Preserve fires have been put out. But concerns associated with the National Park Service's management of the region are just heating up.

Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Task force to handle Hwy. 138 concerns
WRIGHTWOOD -- Residents living in communities linked by Highway 138 are concerned that closure of the highway next year for widening will effect everything from increased traffic on local roads to mail delivery.

Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Planning Commission to tackle PUD standards
APPLE VALLEY -- How does a Planned Unit Development fit into a community with half-acre minimum lot sizes?

Monday, August 29, 2005
Real Estate Trends by Caroll Yule
The percentage of High Desert households able to afford a median-priced home stood at 32 percent in June." (Daily Press, August 12,2005) By coincidence, this is the information I was working on for my column just the day before. But the actual numbers may not tell the whole story. What do these numbers mean to you as buyers and sellers?

Monday, August 22, 2005
Town to send Wal-Mart letter
APPLE VALLEY -- Wal-Mart is due to receive a letter postmarked Apple Valley.

Monday, August 22, 2005
Homes on multi-family lots debated
APPLE VALLEY -- Single-family homes should not be built on multi-family zoned land, or should they?

Sunday, August 21, 2005
Desert Mesa Estates in Phase One closeout
Artisan Real Estate is pleased to announce that Rylar Investments' new development -- Desert Mesa Estates -- is open from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.

Friday, August 19, 2005
Development worries Eagle Ranch neighbors
VICTORVILLE — Neighbors of an Eagle Ranch neighborhood have become concerned about a recent residential zone change that will allow a developer to build

Thursday, August 18, 2005
A.V. Home Depot OK'd
APPLE VALLEY -- Long lines of customers, both at the cash registers and in the parking lot, at Home Depot's Victorville store are driving it to build two more in the Victor Valley.

Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Adelanto builder assesses damage
ADELANTO -- A local developer is facing a $250,000 loss from damage caused during Sunday's torrential rains.

Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Builders, city seek fees deal by Sept. 6
VICTORVILLE -- City Council members and representatives of the business community agreed to have an accord on development impact fees for both residential and commercial properties by Sept. 6.

Tuesday, August 16, 2005
City, developers to discuss fees
VICTORVILLE -- City Council members and representatives of the business community are scheduled to discuss today an increment in development impact fees.

Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Low rates are sending renters to High Desert
VICTOR VALLEY-- The comparatively higher rental prices down the hill are sending more renters to the High Desert in search of lower rents.

Friday, August 12, 2005
Road rage directed at Congress
SAN BERNARDINO -- County and local officials reacted with disappointment to President Bush's signing of a $286.4 billion transportation bill that was expected to give San Bernardino County $225 million and it only amounted to a total of $31 million.

Friday, August 12, 2005
LAFCO to review Helendale request
HELENDALE -- Advocating the need for local control, a committee of residents here is applying to become a Community Services District, a step that could eventually lead to more police and fire protection.

Friday, August 12, 2005
Train project explored
BARSTOW -- A small committee has been researching passenger train service between Barstow and Kelso, a proposal that could create jobs and increase tourism.

Friday, August 12, 2005
Housing affordability continues to drop
VICTORVILLE -- The percentage of High Desert households able to afford a median-priced home stood at 32 percent in June, an 11 percentage-point decrease compared with the same period a year ago when the index was at 43 percent, according to a report released Thursday by the California Association of Realtors.

Thursday, August 11, 2005
Adelanto builder wins landmark case
ADELANTO -- In a court battle between the home-construction industry and the rights of individual homeowners, the construction industry has won a landmark case.

Thursday, August 11, 2005
Adelanto builder agrees to help fix runoff problems
ADELANTO -- Home developer Beazer Homes has agreed to ante up half the costs of fixing a wet and deteriorating problem.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Valley to get world's largest solar plant
VICTORVILLE -- A day after President Bush signed an energy bill encouraging production of alternative energy, Southern California Edison announced plans for the world's largest solar energy facility near Victorville.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Hesperia paves way in flood preparedness
HESPERIA -- The city is the first in the county and the third in the state to be certified StormReady by the National Weather Service -- good news for a community so prone to flooding.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Council decides it lacks a plan
APPLE VALLEY -- It was a reluctant majority that agreed to proceed with devising an economic development strategy for the town.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Postmus secures $90,000 for Lucerne High field
SAN BERNARDINO -- The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Thursday agreed to advance $90,000 in county funds to pay for an athletic field lighting system at Lucerne Valley High School.

Tuesday, August 9, 2005
Vallarta Markets to move into Victorville location
VICTORVILLE -- A new full-service, 71,000-square-foot Hispanic-owned grocery store is scheduled to open in Victorville Nov. 15.

Tuesday, August 9, 2005
OUR OPINION: This 'n that
One of our letter writers today notes, in commenting on the proposed Apple Valley location for a Wal-Mart Supercenter, that the company can be "ruthless," and that Wal-Mart "didn't get to be the world's number one retailer by being the nice guy."

Sunday, August 7, 2005
Moribund A.V. shopping center struggles with image
APPLE VALLEY -- For the past six years Peggy Confer has been styling hairdos at A Beauty Shop in the old Ben Franklin Shopping Center at the southwest corner of Navajo Road and Highway 18.

Thursday, August 4, 2005
Rock Springs repairs to start Aug. 15
HESPERIA -- Eight months after floodwaters washed out Rock Springs Road, crews are expected to start work by Aug. 15 to rebuild the major thoroughfare.

Wednesday, August 3, 2005
Rodeo appeal rejected
VICTORVILLE -- Despite pressure from a near-capacity crowd of mostly residents of Rodeo Drive opposed to an 86-home development near the Oro Grande Wash, the City Council unanimously rejected an appeal to a previous Planning Commission approval.

Wednesday, August 3, 2005
Town broadens code enforcement powers
APPLE VALLEY -- Town code enforcement officers will begin patroling proactively for municipal code violations starting today.

Tuesday, August 2, 2005
Alliance: Water wasters will harm local economy
APPLE VALLEY -- Failure of residents to implement water conservation measures may lead to local water rationing, higher water rates and lower property values, a regional water organization said.

Tuesday, August 2, 2005
Legislators bristle at eminent domain ruling
SACRAMENTO -- Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has given local governments the right to seize private property on behalf of private developers, local legislators are backing efforts to reign in that newly created right.

Tuesday, August 2, 2005
Code enforcement to get review
APPLE VALLEY -- The Town Code Enforcement department, which is getting two new officers this year, is getting a review by the Town Council.

Monday, August 1, 2005
Home Depot closer to reality
APPLE VALLEY -- On Wednesday night the Town Planning Commission will be hearing all the ins and outs of 15.9 acre development northwest of Bear Valley and Apple Valley roads, to be anchored by a Home Depot.

Monday, August 1, 2005
Barstow may let voters have say on casino
BARSTOW -- The City Council will consider tonight whether to let residents vote on Indian gaming and whether to move ahead on a casino-related contract with the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe.

Sunday, July 31, 2005
Hesperia district plans $300 million in new schools

Sunday, July 31, 2005
Three new-construction homes by Hughes & Associates
Hughes & Associates is proud to present three fabulous new homes currently under construction. Each of these homes feature a spacious 3,122 square-foot split floor plan design. A recent buyer of this plan is so happy with his new home that he allowed me into the home to photograph the standard amenities found in each of the new construction homes for sale.

Friday, July 29, 2005
Construction site shut down
HESPERIA -- City and fire officials halted construction at a housing tract Thursday because the developer allegedly began construction without the necessary permits and failed to comply with city and county fire codes.

Friday, July 29, 2005
Meetings public for Measure N
APPLE VALLEY -- A committee co-chaired by Mayor Scott Nassif and Councilman Mark Shoup to clarify housing density will have bimonthly meetings, open to the public.

Thursday, July 28, 2005
A.V. citizens call for truce
APPLE VALLEY -- Post-election sizzle has pervaded Town Council meetings ever since the 2004 elections, but the most recent meeting is seen as a possible turning point.

Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Town debates Measure N, Wal-Mart
APPLE VALLEY -- An overflow crowd lent their ears and their voices to the Apple Valley Town Council's discussions Tuesday night regarding the future location of a Wal-Mart Supercenter and the future applications of Measure N.

Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Apple Valley Road residents rallying against town
APPLE VALLEY -- Nearly 100 residents of Apple Valley Road are banding together to contest the compensation they are being offered for property needed to widen the roadway.

Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Council to hear residents' appeal
VICTORVILLE -- Rodeo Drive homeowners are expressing concern over the Planning Commission's decision to approve a housing development along the Oro Grande Wash.

Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Big box and big lots top agenda
APPLE VALLEY -- A majority of the Town Council is preparing to flex its muscle tonight on the location of a new Wal-Mart Supercenter.

Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Man wants Barstow to be new Las Vegas
BARSTOW -- A West Hollywood man envisions as many as 206 casinos in the Barstow area, and he's hoping California residents will share his dream.

Sunday, July 24, 2005
What do SVL residents want?
SPRING VALLEY LAKE -- The Spring Valley Lake Association board of directors is finalizing a survey that could determine the future of the unincorporated community and the services it renders to its members.

Sunday, July 24, 2005
Task force wants new life for Old Town
VICTORVILLE --Looking for ways to improve Old Town Victorville, city leaders called upon its residents to take to the streets on Saturday -- and they did.

Sunday, July 24, 2005
Jess Ranch Marketplace expansion planned
APPLE VALLEY -- An upscale project to construct seven new commercial buildings and two attached buildings at Jess Ranch Marketplace will go before the Planning Commission in August.

Sunday, July 24, 2005
Victor Junior to get new campus
VICTORVILLE -- The Valiants will be getting a new home now that Victor Valley Junior High School is scheduled to move.

Saturday, July 23, 2005
SCLA still holds promise of new jobs
VICTORVILLE -- Southern California Logistics Airport has been hailed as the future site of massive job growth that will benefit residents who now are forced to work down the hill, where the employment opportunities are more diversified.

Saturday, July 23, 2005
Retail growth follows home buyers to valley
VICTORVILLE -- Spurred by population growth, retail and residential building continues increasing in the Victor Valley.

Saturday, July 23, 2005
Low prices, relative safety still attract buyers
VICTORVILLE -- The cost of buying a home in the Victor Valley area continued to rise in June -- 4.9 percent over May, according to local Realtors.

Friday, July 22, 2005
Adelanto files in court to stop Nursery Products
ADELANTO -- The clean air of the High Desert was a major reason why Brenda Knox bought her home in Adelanto in 2001.

Thursday, July 21, 2005
Jury: Audit cost of illegals
SAN BERNARDINO -- San Bernardino County is developing a plan to track the number of illegal immigrants receiving county services as a way to control its budget, officials say.

Thursday, July 21, 2005
City breaks ground on H.Q. expansion
VICTORVILLE -- An 18-month-long City Hall expansion project got under way Wednesday when local politicians and residents celebrated with a groundbreaking ceremony.

Thursday, July 21, 2005
Builder vexed over changing standards
ADELANTO -- Charles and Maria Powell are intent on doing business in this city, even if it costs them tens of thousands of dollars more than any of their neighbors.

Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Safety gets a budget boost
SAN BERNARDINO -- A dramatic increase in assessed property values has translated into a windfall for public safety.

Sunday, July 17, 2005
Are Apple Valley's policies driving away developers?
APPLE VALLEY -- Growth is steering this town's ability to hold on to its rural heritage.

Wednesday, July 13, 2005
LETTERS
As Apple Valley, Adelanto, Yucca Valley and Helendale are in the process or attempting the process of leveling impact fees on developers, it seems to me premature for the Hi Desert Medical Facility and the Morongo Basin Schools to attempt to float bonds in order to raise funds. These bonds, if passed, would put many residents on fixed incomes in dire situations.

Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Measure N ballot plan tops council's agenda
APPLE VALLEY -- Should some housing developments in town be allowed lots less than a half acre?

Sunday, July 10, 2005
Buyers voice complaints against builder
VICTORVILLE -- Sal Calderas says his dream home has become a nightmare.

Sunday, July 10, 2005
Builders must deal with construction thefts
VICTORVILLE -- Hide the good china, jewels, valuables -- and your plywood?

Saturday, July 9, 2005
Property values hit new record
SAN BERNARDINO -- Assessed valuation of properties in San Bernardino County rose at a record-breaking pace last year, led by Victor Valley cities.

Friday, July 8, 2005
High Desert median-priced homes jump 31 percent
The median price of a home in the High Desert was $282,510 in May -- a jump of $68,040 -- or 31.7 percent -- from a year earlier, according to a report released Thursday by the California Association of Realtors.

Thursday, July 7, 2005
Happy trails in Apple Valley?
APPLE VALLEY -- After 31/2 hours of debate and public comment, the town Planning Commission approved a plan establishing multi-use/equestrian trail standards throughout Apple Valley.

Thursday, July 7, 2005
Survey reveals 'fear of crime' on rise
VICTORVILLE -- Forty-four percent of Victor Valley residents fear being a victim of crime, a 15 percent increase from last year, according to a survey released Wednesday.

Wednesday, July 6, 2005
High Desert IN BRIEF
APPLE VALLEY -- The town of Apple Valley Planning Commission will be hearing arguments for and against establishing equestrian trail standards tonight. The proposal, drafted by the Apple Valley Equestrian Committee, is opposed by the Building Industry Association.

Tuesday, July 5, 2005
ANOTHER VIEW: A partial fix for pensions
A House labor subcommittee has taken the first steps toward reforming the way private companies handle pensions. The issue has come increasingly to the fore in the wake of defaults in the troubled airline industry. United Airlines is scheduled to default on about $10 billion in pension obligations, of which $6.6 billion is scheduled to be picked up by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC).

Friday, July 1, 2005
Barstow council agrees to terms for new hospital
BARSTOW -- The Barstow City Council agreed to the terms to develop and construct a new hospital Wednesday night during a special session at town hall.

Thursday, June 30, 2005
Almond to run again for council
VICTORVILLE -- Many were under the impression that this was JoAnn Almond's last term in politics, but the councilwoman has revealed that she will be running for another term in November 2006.

Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Evey to reflect Shoup's views
APPLE VALLEY -- A new face has joined the town Planning Commission.

Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Landlords invited to crime-free housing class
ADELANTO -- A program that has for years helped clear apartment complexes of crime in the fast-growing High Desert is still well attended and effective, a Hesperia official who helps run the program said.

Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Victor Valley sheriff's station to get more help
PHELAN -- In one of the largest hiring efforts in recent years, more sheriff's deputies will soon be hitting the streets in Spring Valley Lake, Phelan and other unincorporated towns.

Monday, June 27, 2005
Developer wants to broker compromise
APPLE VALLEY -- A third generation developer, appointed to the Apple Valley Equestrian Commission last month, says he hopes to broker a compromise between developers and horse advocates.

Monday, June 27, 2005
Real Estate Trends by Caroll Yule
Buyers and sellers may be surprised at the number of Federal and State regulations covering the sale or purchase of a home. In most cases, the requirements place the burden on the seller and apply whether or not the seller is using the services of a realtor, attorney or third party provider.

Sunday, June 26, 2005
Hesperia faces taxation lawsuit
HESPERIA -- A lawsuit between the city of Hesperia and landowners Ellen and John Zunino is set to begin Monday over assessment taxes owed on land in the "Golden Triangle," an area between Highway 395, Interstate 15 and Main Street in Hesperia.

Saturday, June 25, 2005
Growing fees for growing community
HELENDALE -- Helendale School District's student enrollment could triple over the next five to seven years, and to meet the demand, the district is proposing to increase developer fees.

Friday, June 24, 2005
In Brief
CAR releases median home sales figures for May

Thursday, June 23, 2005
Mavericks Stadium losses top $1.9 million
Adelanto to spend more for enhanced road maintenance in 2005-06

Saturday, June 18, 2005
Neighbors protest plans to build homes near wash
VICTORVILLE -- A group of Rodeo Drive homeowners have decided to appeal a case to the City Council after the Victorville Planing Commission approved a development for 86 homes along the Oro Grande Wash.

Friday, June 17, 2005
Hesperia gets perks from growth
HESPERIA-- This year's city budget has doubled to $126 million -- giving a healthy dose of support to Hesperia's roads, redevelopment and public safety.

Thursday, June 16, 2005
Parents vent anger
VICTORVILLE -- Emotions ran high at the Victor Elementary School District board meeting as some 600 teachers and residents filled the Lomitas Elementary gymnasium.

Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Fastest growing
VICTORVILLE -- Hesperia, Adelanto and Victorville are among the fastest growing cities in all of Southern California, new figures show.

Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Fort Irwin finishes houses
FORT IRWIN -- Fort Irwin residents celebrated the completion of the first of many new homes Tuesday -- homes that are part of a plan to provide more housing for soldiers at the post.

Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Shoup toughens stance on middle-income housing in Apple Valley
APPLE VALLEY -- As he prepares to select a new planning commissioner, Councilman Mark Shoup is taking a hard line against middle-income housing developments favored by some seniors and first-time homebuyers.

Friday, June 10, 2005
Housing affordability drops
VICTORVILLE -- With the rapid appreciation of the housing market over the last few years, there has been an increase in purchases of second homes for investment purposes in the Victor Valley area, a local real estate professional said.

Friday, June 10, 2005
High Desert still state's most affordable region
VICTORVILLE -- While housing in the High Desert remains the most affordable region in California, only 34 percent of households can afford to own a house here, according to a study released Thursday by the California Association of Realtors.

Thursday, June 9, 2005
Builders, seniors criticize Apple Valley lot policy
APPLE VALLEY -- Town planning commissioners reached a general consensus Wednesday night that planned communities like Jess Ranch should be based on half-acre lots -- significantly larger than developers and many seniors would like.

Wednesday, June 8, 2005
Officials to weigh impact fee issues
VICTORVILLE -- A proposal that would increase development impact fees by 140 percent in the city will be heard again after the City Council decided further study was needed.

Wednesday, June 8, 2005
OUR OPINION: Off the roads again
It says here that San Bernardino County's property tax revenue will jump from $160.7 million for the 2004-05 fiscal year to $319.7 million for the 2005-06 fiscal year.

Tuesday, June 7, 2005
Shoup fires Fajardo
APPLE VALLEY -- Planning Commission Chairman Elliotte Fajardo was fired, apparently for holding views on growth that were incompatible with the town councilman who appointed him.

Tuesday, June 7, 2005
A.V. Plaza approved
APPLE VALLEY -- A proposed 14-screen movie theater/retail project was unanimously approved by the Town Planning Commission on Wednesday.

Tuesday, June 7, 2005
Victorville to study plan to raise development fees by 140 percent
VICTORVILLE -- Victorville City Council tonight will discuss a plan to raise city development impact fees by 140 percent.

Monday, June 6, 2005
PUDs debate heats up
APPLE VALLEY -- The chairman of the town's planning commission blamed a lack of planning for the town's housing scarcity.

Sunday, June 5, 2005
SVL to beef up security force
SPRING VALLEY LAKE -- After a series of crimes that motivated local residents to ask for a safer community, the Spring Valley Lake Association Board of Directors has resolved to nearly triple the number of security guards that patrol the affluent neighborhood.

Saturday, June 4, 2005
Interchange completion delayed
HESPERIA -- Construction delays for the Main Street freeway interchange are a sore subject for many residents who have grown tired of traffic backups.

Friday, June 3, 2005
Victorville builds two new parks
VICTORVILLE -- Two new parks costing $6 million are under development and will soon be ready to serve the city's growing population.

Friday, June 3, 2005
COMMENTARY: Schools, taxes and the budget
Two governors and state legislators of both parties have postponed California's day of fiscal reckoning for four years, running up tens of billions of dollars in short- and long-term debt to cover the state's chronic budget deficits rather than raise taxes or make serious reductions in spending.

Thursday, June 2, 2005
Small businesses feel unsupported
VICTORVILLE -- Small-business owners are near rock bottom when it comes to confidence in the business environment in California compared to other states.

Thursday, June 2, 2005
Baldy Mesa delays raising rates
VICTORVILLE -- Plans to raise rates at the Baldy Mesa Water District are on hold until the cost of removing arsenic from its wells is determined.

Wednesday, June 1, 2005
Growth, jobs hot topics for Rothschild
VICTORVILLE -- The city's commitment to local jobs growth and community services will likely be the top topics of Mayor Mike Rothschild's annual State of the City report this morning.

Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Horse trails stir controversy in Apple Valley
APPLE VALLEY -- Builders say they are being trampled by a proposal that would require them to build horse trails as part of future housing developments.

Monday, May 30, 2005
Barstow to seek annexation views
BARSTOW -- City officials are taking a second try to find out if some unincorporated residents want to be annexed into the city.

Monday, May 30, 2005
Commission to review proposed water rate hike
APPLE VALLEY -- The California Public Utilities Commission will hold hearings next week on Apple Valley Ranchos Water Co.'s

Sunday, May 29, 2005
VVWD fights consolidation
VICTORVILLE -- Some call it a hostile takeover. Others say it's a merger aimed at improving efficiency and planning control.

Sunday, May 29, 2005
Apple Valley Plaza goes to planning commission
APPLE VALLEY -- The 14-screen Apple Valley Plaza entertainment and shopping complex is headed to the town Planning Commission on Wednesday.

Friday, May 27, 2005
Half-acre rule too limiting, Dunn says
APPLE VALLEY -- The state's top housing official took aim at the town's Measure N, urging local leaders to be more flexible in providing a variety of housing choices.

Thursday, May 26, 2005
Doctor to build hospital in A.V.
APPLE VALLEY -- A Victor Valley cardiologist says he plans to build a 100-bed hospital at Apple Valley and Bear Valley roads in two years.

Thursday, May 26, 2005
Town to draft economic development master plan
APPLE VALLEY -- So how does the town plan to deal with inevitable growth?

Wednesday, May 25, 2005
New home sales boost older home prices
ADELANTO -- About two years ago Saul Seroano bought a small three-bedroom home with a two-car garage in northwest Adelanto for $67,000. Today it's worth $160,000, he said.

Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Leaders draft Barstow's 'vision'
BARSTOW -- A progressive High Desert community with small town advantages, preserving and promoting a quality environment in which to live, work and play.

Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Rezoning could cost town half a million
APPLE VALLEY -- The intent is to have the buzzing noise of planes intermingle with industry, but at half a million dollars some are experiencing sticker shock.

Sunday, May 22, 2005
Feds pledge help with traffic here
WASHINGTON D.C. -- Congressional leaders have pledged to increase funds for freeway interchanges in the Victor Valley, Mayor Mike Rothschild said following lobbying effort to Washington.

Sunday, May 22, 2005
High-tech Americold warehouse hiring 125
VICTORVILLE -- A new cold-storage warehouse will begin operations by August, bringing 125 new jobs.

Saturday, May 21, 2005
Victorville complex to offer 40 stores
VICTORVILLE -- A new $80 million retail center with 40 shops will soon break ground, creating bringing approximately 800 retail jobs, officials said Friday.

Friday, May 20, 2005
Barstow casino supporters breathe sighs of relief
BARSTOW -- Barstow is among the communities that are eligible for Indian gaming, based on a proclamation the governor released Wednesday.

Thursday, May 19, 2005
5,000 homes a year
VICTORVILLE -- In the next five years the building industry is anticipating constructing close to 5,000 homes a year in the Victor Valley, according to a report presented to members of the Building Industry Association's Baldy View Chapter on Tuesday.

Thursday, May 19, 2005
Planners buck trail standards
APPLE VALLEY -- A plan that would have forced developers of property in equestrian-zoned areas to add to a network of horse trails was postponed by the town Planning Commission on Wednesday night.

Monday, May 16, 2005
Cement plant cited 32 times
ORO GRANDE -- The Texas Industries Inc. cement plant was cited 32 times in less than 18 months by the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District.

Sunday, May 15, 2005
VVC dreaming up a new stadium
VICTORVILLE -- Victor Valley College administrators hope to build a 5,000-seat stadium on the school's lower campus sometime within the next 10 years.

Saturday, May 14, 2005
Major retail hub to break ground in June
VICTORVILLE -- Construction will begin next month on one of the biggest commercial centers in the High Desert, creating hundreds of jobs and injecting millions of dollars into the local economy, city officials said Friday.

Saturday, May 14, 2005
Sheep Creek keeps water restrictions
PHELAN -- Although local water production is rising, Sheep Creek Water Company probably won't be lifting water restrictions this summer.

Friday, May 13, 2005
Victorville homebuilder sued in Nevada
VICTORVILLE -- A major national builder of homes that has come under fire in southern Nevada is slated to start construction of a 475-home project in Victorville next month.

Thursday, May 12, 2005
Impact fees double in A.V.
APPLE VALLEY -- After hours of debate and public comment, the Town Council voted unanimously to more than double development impact fees on single-family residential homes.

Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Town Council debates fees
APPLE VALLEY -- Realtors and developers gave an earful to Town Council members about their plans to double development impact fees on single-family homes.

Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Developer fees spark debate
APPLE VALLEY -- Tonight's debate on raising development impact fees has sparked unrest in the community.

Sunday, May 8, 2005
Crime wave tops SVL agenda
SPRING VALLEY LAKE -- A Town Hall meeting at the Spring Valley Lake Community Building gave residents a chance to to vent their frustrations with the recent criminal activity here.

Friday, May 6, 2005
A.V. home development fees could double
APPLE VALLEY -- Although development impact fees are on the verge of being doubled, possibly fetching an additional $12.8 million for the town in the next year, some town leaders are expressing frustration that growth is outpacing public amenities.

Wednesday, May 4, 2005
Too much waste
Amid the sounds of saws, hammers and the beep, beep, beep of construction vehicles, there's growing pressure to recycle construction debris.

Wednesday, May 4, 2005
Growing city to get more parks
ADELANTO -- The city's already strained park system cannot keep pace with a population that is expected to double within five years, city officials said Tuesday.

Saturday, April 30, 2005
City rushes to buy land for rail spur
VICTORVILLE -- Construction of a railroad spur scheduled in July has city officials rushing to acquire the necessary land in hopes of making Southern California Logistics Airport a freight transportation hub.

Friday, April 29, 2005
A.V. Plaza moves ahead of Silverado
APPLE VALLEY -- The Apple Valley Town Planning Commission is scheduled to hear from the developers of the 14-screen Apple Valley Plaza theater project June 1.

Thursday, April 28, 2005
Theater project stays alive
APPLE VALLEY -- Instead of lowering the hatchet, town councilmen Bob Sagona and Rick Roelle fell in line with the rest of Town Council for what could be a last-gasp effort to build the Silverado theater project.

Monday, April 25, 2005
Silverado returns to Town Council this week
APPLE VALLEY -- Even as town staff is poised to suggest hiring a design firm for the Silverado movie theater project, some members of the Town Council want to wind up the doomsday clock on the plan.

Sunday, April 24, 2005
County intends to find new mental ward here
VICTORVILLE -- With the recent closure of the mental health unit at Victor Valley Community Hospital, county officials are now looking for another facility in the High Desert to treat psychiatric patients.

Friday, April 22, 2005
400-foot tower to rise over TXI plant
ORO GRANDE -- The most visible landmark in the High Desert -- a tower more than 400 feet tall -- will soon rise over the Texas Industries Inc. cement plant here.

Thursday, April 21, 2005
Victorville's new fire station opens Saturday
VICTORVILLE -- The city is opening a new $2.1 million fire station this weekend, with plans for two to three more in the next few years.

Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Inland Empire rated sixth most business friendly community
VICTORVILLE -- Holly Noel owns and runs two Baskin-Robbins in the Victor Valley.

Sunday, April 17, 2005
Rising home prices offer protection
VICTORVILLE -- Despite all of the available zero-down loans homeowners have undertaken, the number of foreclosures is stable here, real estate experts say.

Saturday, April 16, 2005
County attains 'full employment'
SAN BERNARDINO -- Unemployment in San Bernardino County dropped from 5.4 percent in February to 5 percent in March -- a rate officials consider "full employment," said Thomas Flournoy, a labor market consultant for the state of California.

Friday, April 15, 2005
Housing prices continue upward reach
HESPERIA -- The High Desert real estate market seems to be warming up again after a couple months of nearly flat month-to-month price increases.

Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Center adding 100 jobs
APPLE VALLEY -- The Wal-Mart Distribution Center in Apple Valley is adding 100 new workers to keep up with expansion, according to its general manager.

Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Program makes home ownership reality
APPLE VALLEY -- Linda Brangwyn has been a renter all her life. Today she is a home owner.

Sunday, April 10, 2005
Economic priority: Local jobs
SAN BERNARDINO -- The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors are expected to receive a report outlining a comprehensive countywide development strategy for possible adoption at Tuesday's board meeting.

Saturday, April 9, 2005
Some welcome, others dread The Crossings
VICTORVILLE -- Jose Zamora knows that his surroundings are in for a major change.

Saturday, April 9, 2005
Caltrans to demolish Main Street bridge
HESPERIA -- Local residents will need to plan ahead for Monday when the California Department of Transportation will close Interstate 15 at the Main Street interchange.

Thursday, April 7, 2005
Ranchos rate hike request sparks anger
APPLE VALLEY -- In the desert where water is king, Jess Ranch resident Robert Keaton feels like a serf.

Thursday, April 7, 2005
New homes in Hesperia to cost $3,460 more
HESPERIA -- The price of a new home will increase $3,460 after July 1, whether or not the kitchen counters are tiled.

Thursday, April 7, 2005
County slow to adopt 211 telephone service
SAN BERNARDINO -- In three months, Southern Californians will be able to dial 211 to get social and health-related services information and advice in solving personal problems.

Wednesday, April 6, 2005
Victorville to take over library
VICTORVILLE -- The City Council voted Tuesday night to approve a plan to withdraw the local library from the countywide library system and manage the service under the city.

Wednesday, April 6, 2005
Hesperia casino inches closer
HESPERIA -- The Timbisha-Shoshone Tribe of Death Valley is one step closer to having a casino in Hesperia.

Wednesday, April 6, 2005
Council approves large housing project
VICTORVILLE -- A 2,656-home project in Victorville cleared its last big hurdle before it can become a reality.

Wednesday, April 6, 2005
Drought-tolerant concept embraced by developers
The issue of water conservation has encouraged at least three developers in the Victor Valley to start offering an alternative to landscapes full of grass. The alternative to lawns, known as desert adaptive landscape, features rocks, gravel or sand with plants that will consume significantly less water than greenery, driving down the costs of water consumption.

Tuesday, April 5, 2005
Silverado deadline sought
APPLE VALLEY -- After 81/2 years of big dreams and broken promises surrounding the Silverado theater proposal, some Town Council members are pushing for a deadline.

Monday, April 4, 2005
Victorville looks to consolidate, absorb water districts
VICTORVILLE -- Mayor Mike Rothschild said the city will complete a takeover of the Victor Valley and Baldy Mesa water districts within six months in order to make Victorville a full-service city.

Sunday, April 3, 2005
A.V. Ranchos wants 19 percent rate hike
APPLE VALLEY -- Two public hearings will be held at the Town Hall on Tuesday to discuss water rate increases planned for residents served by Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company.

Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Some in Hesperia get new ZIP code
HESPERIA -- About 14 percent of postal customers here will get a new ZIP Code this summer to accommodate the booming growth, postal officials said Monday.

Sunday, March 27, 2005
School board plans to address growth
HESPERIA -- Building new schools, fixing up old ones and reinstating smaller class sizes will all be up for discussion for the Hesperia Unified School District board of trustees on Monday.

Wednesday, March 23, 2005
A.V. committee not horsing around
APPLE VALLEY -- Equestrians are galloping ahead with plans to create more horse trails that will maintain the town's rural character.

Tuesday, March 22, 2005
16 screens in mall by spring 2006
VICTORVILLE -- Cinemark USA will start building its new 16-screen, stadium-seating theater at the Mall of Victor Valley in July to replace the existing 10-screen theater, theater and mall officials said Monday.

Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Theaters: still all talk, no structure
APPLE VALLEY -- Residents' dreams of dipping fingers into butter-drenched, salted popcorn while visiting a wide screen somewhere in their town are still just that -- dreams.

Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Shopping center advances in A.V.
APPLE VALLEY -- High-density housing will not be part The Lewis Group of Companies retail development north of Highway 18, west of Town Hall.

Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Homes sell high in Adelanto
ADELANTO -- Adelanto's small homes are hot property.

Monday, March 21, 2005
New A.V. Airport hangars expected
APPLE VALLEY -- As Apple Valley Airport continues to grow, so does demand for hangar space.

Monday, March 21, 2005
PUD workshops face big questions
APPLE VALLEY -- As the town's Planning Commission grapples with the challenge of meshing Measure N's lot-size limitations with current development codes, it will conduct one or more workshops to help settle the issue.

Monday, March 21, 2005
Valley Voices by Joseph W. Brady
In my January 2004 column, we reviewed the results of building permit data for 2003 and I had made a bold prediction that we would see nearly 6,000 new single-family residential permits had been obtained in 2004.

Saturday, March 19, 2005
Qualified residents still waiting for jobs here
VICTORVILLE -- Danny Martinez just wants to work in the same community where he lives.

Friday, March 18, 2005
Two Adelantos
ADELANTO -- Most of the city's apartments are found north of Rancho Road, while construction in the south is producing an abundance of single-family homes, a situation one councilman said is creating an unacceptable disparity.

Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Sizzling February
Rainy days marked much of February for the Victor Valley and San Bernardino County.

Wednesday, March 16, 2005
County leaders optimistic on budget
SAN BERNARDINO -- A preliminary budget outlook presented Tuesday gave the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors a preview of the next year's fiscal playing field, including a $37.8 million rise in revenues and a possible $40.3 million in state budget cuts.

Wednesday, March 16, 2005
160 jail jobs on the way in Adelanto
ADELANTO -- The October opening of the Adelanto Detention Center will bring with it some 160 job openings.

Monday, March 14, 2005
A.V. business unfriendly, or culture conscious?
APPLE VALLEY -- With the recent debates over lot sizes and building sizes and whether town councilors should discuss pending developments before they ever reach the submittal process, one has to wonder: Is the town of Apple Valley business unfriendly?

Friday, March 11, 2005
Barstow to buy water, land rights for $4.3 million
BARSTOW -- The city will make a $4.3 million purchase of land and water rights as part of a settlement to end litigation that threatened a regional water-use agreement.

Thursday, March 10, 2005
Easy passage to fast times at dry lake
EL MIRAGE -- Off-road recreation enthusiasts and film location scouts have something to smile about.

Wednesday, March 9, 2005
A.V. Council shrugs off Wal-Mart's plea
APPLE VALLEY -- An attorney representing the world's largest retailer protested size limitations without success Tuesday night.

Wednesday, March 9, 2005
Scandia's Screamer roars to life
VICTORVILLE -- "Oh my gosh, I thought my brain was going to explode."

Monday, March 7, 2005
Gun shows draw smaller crowds
VICTORVILLE -- For the past 20 years, Anda Padgett and her family have promoted gun shows throughout the state.

Saturday, March 5, 2005
Desert Valley to expand
VICTORVILLE -- Desert Valley Hospital officials plan two expansion projects worth nearly $30 million that will add almost 150 beds to the facility in coming years.

Saturday, March 5, 2005
Housing continues to draw jobs
VICTORVILLE -- The number of jobless in the region nudged upward in January, but that didn't worry employment experts who say they continue to see signs that more professional-sector jobs are coming to the Victor Valley.

Thursday, March 3, 2005
Victorville plans to build two new parks by 2007
VICTORVILLE -- The city wants more than two acres of parkland for every 1,000 residents.

Thursday, March 3, 2005
Commission OKs temple
APPLE VALLEY -- Before a divided crowd of more than 100 people Wednesday night, the Planning Commission reversed an earlier decision and unanimously decided to allow a Hindu temple be built on Apple Valley Road, just north of Ottawa Road.

Thursday, March 3, 2005
Prime site
Construction started Wednesday morning on 25 acres at the northeast corner of Bear Valley and Apple Valley roads, hereafter to be known as the Apple Valley Towne Center.

Wednesday, March 2, 2005
Pumping up the sewer
VICTORVILLE -- The Victor Valley Waste Water Reclamation District is gearing up to spend millions to keep up with the jiggling of toilet handles and turns of the faucet.

Monday, February 28, 2005
Supervisors may consider passing new ordinances, beef up enforcement
VICTORVILLE -- The popularity of off-road vehicles is forcing the county to beef up enforcement of the rules, and perhaps initiate the drafting of new regulations.

Monday, February 28, 2005
50,000 come to Grand Prix
ADELANTO -- The 25th annual Grand Prix of Adelanto drew almost 50,000 people to town for the two-day event, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

Monday, February 28, 2005
Barstow City Council examines Main Street parking
BARSTOW -- City officials will be spending some time on Main Street today.

Saturday, February 26, 2005
Task force makes impression on Victorville's 1,200 gang members
VICTORVILLE -- The city of Victorville is bearing down on gangs with a special unit that has identified 1,200 gang members who reside in the city and belong to 133 different gangs.

Friday, February 25, 2005
More power with a tower
VICTORVILLE -- Hook Community Center and Victorville City Hall may get new additions -- 30-foot communication towers so people at both buildings can better talk with each other.

Thursday, February 24, 2005
State gives Hesperia, A.V. millions for housing
HESPERIA -- The state gave $4.3 million to Victor Valley communities to help more low-income families move into apartments and homes.

Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Need for goods, services rising
PHELAN -- Julie Lage looks around Phelan and sees an awful lot of home construction.And the community's many dirt roads mean a lot of flat tire repairs for her business, Phelan Tire and Brake.

Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Many area residents putting home equity to use
VICTORVILLE -- Craig Carlson has been in the mortgage business for 16 years.

Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Raising the price of development?
APPLE VALLEY -- The cost of buying a new home could be pushed up by more than $11,000 if council members adopt a spate of proposed development fees, and that might be enough to price some buyers out of the market.

Monday, February 21, 2005
COMMENTARY: Nuclear power our best bet
It seemed a great idea to most people, back in 1990, when Congress amended the Clean Air Act to require significant reductions in three harmful smokestack emissions from coal-fired power plants: sulfur dioxides, nitrous oxide and particulate matter.

Sunday, February 20, 2005
Hesperia builders stress variety
HESPERIA -- After renting a house in Adelanto for two years, Neto Juarez and his family are ready to plant roots and buy a home of their own.

Saturday, February 19, 2005
Casino plan loses some of its luster
HESPERIA -- A series of legal and philosophical hurdles between city officials, courts and the Timbisha-Shoshone Tribe may have tripped up the city's casino project.

Saturday, February 19, 2005
School districts may go on watch list
VICTORVILLE -- The Victor Valley Union High School District is one of 310 California districts that could be placed on program improvement status for not meeting federal requirements.

Friday, February 18, 2005
Shaping the new Hesperia
HESPERIA -- A shopping mall, a Super Kmart, an auto mall, several hotels and retail centers.

Friday, February 18, 2005
Hesperia officials working on desired auto mall
HESPERIA -- As part of the massive changes planned for Hesperia, residents will be able to buy new cars in the city within the next few years, city officials insist.

Friday, February 18, 2005
Industrial area, rail spur could be keys for new jobs
HESPERIA -- Myles Anthony has been looking for work since last August when he was laid off from T and K Welding in Long Beach.

Friday, February 18, 2005
Big names lining up to do business in Hesperia
HESPERIA -- Hesperia is taking the steps with developers to transform itself into a retail destination.

Friday, February 18, 2005
Sheriff glad to see lean times gone
SAN BERNARDINO -- After years of lean budgets, cutbacks and a hiring freeze, the Sheriff's Department is beginning to see a thaw.

Thursday, February 17, 2005
Rancherias condos win approval
APPLE VALLEY -- The Cove, a proposed 14-building condominium community opposite the Apple Valley Country Club, won unanimous approval from the town's planning commissioners Wednesday night.

Thursday, February 17, 2005
County control in Hesperia shows no adverse impact
HESPERIA -- San Bernardino County Fire Department officials said there has been virtually no change in response times since the county took control of Hesperia fire services last June.

Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Two Adelanto industrial parks nearly filled
ADELANTO -- Two of the city's three industrial parks are nearly filled to capacity, leaving city leaders wondering where to build the next one.

Tuesday, February 15, 2005
GOING UPSCALE IN APPLE VALLEY
Just beyond the north end of Apple Valley Road is a 173-acre housing development expecting to cash in on high-end home buyers moving to the Victor Valley.

Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Home price hikes slow down
HESPERIA -- Average sales prices for existing homes last month showed mixed results throughout the Victor Valley, but the area is enjoying a healthy market, real estate brokers say.

Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Courts running out of office space
VICTORVILLE -- San Bernardino County's court facilities have always been scrambling to catch up to its growing population.

Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Donations sought for cardiac center
APPLE VALLEY -- St. Mary Medical Center is on the way to getting a bigger and better cardiac center.

Tuesday, February 15, 2005
OUR OPINION: Nobody's business
There is a mostly unwritten compact between city officials and potential new businesses that says, in effect, please work with us on this in private until we are ready to make a public announcement about our plans -- or at least until those plans are submitted to you for review.

Monday, February 14, 2005
Tremors back in business
VICTORVILLE -- Tremors, one of the city's most popular nightclubs, is back in business.

Sunday, February 13, 2005
City takes over management of Baldy Mesa water
BALDY MESA -- Victorville officials have agreed to manage the troubled Baldy Mesa Water District, which serves customers both inside and outside the city's limits.

Sunday, February 13, 2005
What about those roads?
HESPERIA -- Ask residents one thing they want improved in the city and the No. 1 answer always comes back the same.

Sunday, February 13, 2005
Needed: Land and millions of dollars for schools
HESPERIA -- Lack of money and land are two hurdles Hesperia school board officials say they will face as they try to meet the anticipated growth projected for the city in the next five years.

Saturday, February 12, 2005
Chamber: Mum's the word
APPLE VALLEY -- The Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce is asking for quiet from the Town Council.

Friday, February 11, 2005
Mixed reviews greet Hesperia growth
HESPERIA -- Jason Hartley and his wife, Jenny, made a resolution after reading about the city's plan to spread out the welcome mat to dozens of new housing developments and commercial projects.

Friday, February 11, 2005
Raise in development fees could reap $4.25 million
ADELANTO -- New park and drainage fees OK'd by the City Council on Wednesday night could raise $4.25 million over the next year to build recreational and flood control facilities throughout the city.

Friday, February 11, 2005
Hesperia, Adelanto sheriff's commanders say goodbye
HESPERIA -- Sheriff's Department contract stations in Hesperia and Adelanto -- two of the fastest-growing cities in the Victor Valley -- will soon have new commanders.

Thursday, February 10, 2005
Major projects for Hesperia
A hospital, movie theater, restaurants and a shopping mall are among scores of projects that may break ground later this year, city officials announced Wednesday.

Thursday, February 10, 2005
Town to solve off-road problem
APPLE VALLEY -- After the Town Council heard extensive public comment Tuesday night on a possible ordinance to curtail off-road vehicles within town limits, a committee was formed to explore the issue.