Big Bear Lake News

Those traveling along Big Bear Boulevard in Big Bear Lake today may have noticed caltrans has wasted a bunch of money on a new signage that has been installed in front of the Big Bear Lake Fire Department at Main Street. The new sign, which looks like an electronic freeway sign from Orange County, is actually a permanent CMS, or changeable message sign, which was installed by CalTrans this morning, and is on the Boulevard’s northern side, facing west-bound traffic.

Those cuts, to be implemented over three years, include: the elimination of one high school counselor; a reduction in hours for the BBHS librarian; a $36,000 reduction in instructional materials; reductions in the conference and travel budgets, including $10,000 from the high school travel budget over two years; three management furlough days; and, in school year 2010/2011, the increase in class sizes for all grades which will effectively translate to the elimination of 14 teaching positions; and, in year three, the “realignment” or closure of a school site which, at this point, is still in the conceptual phase.

Within view of the buckwheat is the vast expanse of the Cadiz Valley and its surrounding mountain ranges, where several solar and wind developments are proposed to increase the country's energy production from renewable sources and decrease dependence on polluting fossil fuels. In an effort to meet renewable energy goals, the government has placed 11 projects in Riverside and San Bernardino counties on a fast-track application process.But Andre and other researchers say the magnitude and timeframe of the projects threaten one of the country's last intact and viable ecosystems.

Big Bear Lake, CA - Bear Valley Electric has announced plans to interrupt power for 15 seconds today, November 17, for power line maintenance. Bear Valley Electric Service is located at 42020 Garstin Drive in Big Bear Lake. (Photo by Rob H..) The outage is expected to begin at 7:15 a.m. and will impact Big Bear Village and all areas west of the Village. The utility company explained the interruption is necessary due to maintenance of power lines in the area.

INLAND EMPIRE - We’ll be riding the temperature see-saw this week. Tuesday will be the warmest of the week, up to 8-degrees above normal. High pressure ridges and low pressure troughs will switch off as the week ends with more clouds and cooling. There is an elevated fire weather hazard Monday as the latest bout of Santa Ana winds wind down. Nights will be quite cool except in windy areas. (INT) Story Date: November 16, 20

A plan to slash more than $500 billion from future Medicare spending, one of the biggest sources of funding for President Obama's proposed overhaul of the nation's health-care system, would sharply reduce benefits for some senior citizens and could jeopardize access to care for millions of others, according to a government evaluation released Saturday. The report, requested by House Republicans, found that Medicare cuts contained in the health package approved by the House on Nov. 7 are likely to prove so costly to hospitals and nursing homes that they could stop taking Medicare altogether.

But imagine multiplying those streaks of light by the tens or even hundreds of thousands. And transport yourself back to 1833, before anyone knew that meteors -- commonly known as shooting stars -- are tiny particles of comet debris that illuminate when they slam into the Earth's atmosphere. What would you have thought when you saw what appeared to be tens of thousands of stars falling from the sky? You might have thought it was the end of the world.

On University Avenue in downtown Riverside is an unassuming concrete and glass office building that may very well decide the fate of California's controversial medical-marijuana industry.

State and local officials seized roughly 4.5 million marijuana plants during the just completed growing season with a wholesale value of $17.8 billion, according to records just released by the Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP). CAMP teams found, confiscated and destroyed plants in 41 of California's 58 counties, including San Bernardino County. One of the most recent raids was in the Miller Canyon Area near Crestline and Silverwood Lake. Several other seizures took place in the county during the growing season

Veterans of all military branches will be honored at a Veterans Park ceremony Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. The public is invited to attend the event, which features music and guest speakers talking about those who have served to guarantee the nation's freedoms. Veterans Park is on Big Bear Boulevard at Knickerbocker Road in Big Bear Lake.

Upon arrival of fire crews, the structure was fully involved in fire and encroaching to a neighbor’s structure. Fortunately, all of the occupants were able to exit the building to escape any injury. The neighbor’s house to the east suffered damage as well, due to the extensive heat and flames. It took fire crews approximately 15 minutes to control the inferno, with the garage area being the most difficult to extinguish, because of the type of construction and consideration for the safety of the firefighters with potential of roof collapse. San Bernardino County Fire Department investigators were contacted to conduct a fire investigation with Big Bear City Fire investigators. The cause of this devastating fire appears to be hot embers placed on the back porch.

She has 3 little boys. (ages 1wk, 1, and 3) She was just diagnosed last week with Stage IV Melanoma. A day after finding out this news, Annie had to have an emergency c-section to delivery her baby boy 12 weeks early. To help raise money for medical expenses, food and travel for her family. Visit Busy Bee's ALL proceeds will go to Annie Leinen and her family until Nov. 14! So Hurry!!!

People all over the Inland Empire and mountain communities are pulling together to help a young mother from Big Bear, California who is fighting a fast-spreading cancer. Annie Leinen, 28, was diagnosed last week with Stage 4 melanoma, which has traveled to her lungs. Leinen is the mother of three sons, all under the age of four. Leinen was pregnant when her cancer was discovered. Because the cancer was hindering her reathing, doctors rushed to deliver her son by c-section. He was born 12 weeks premature. Copy and past the following link for information on Annie Leinen and the family. http://blogginbridget.blogspot.com/2009/11/melanoma-awareness.html

There's been a lot to pay attention to this week — Election Day, the World Series and leftover Halloween candy. But if you got a paycheck this week, here's one more thing you may notice: As of Nov. 1, more state tax is being withheld from your income with every check. Here's an explanation, with help from the Franchise Tax Board and local tax preparers, of what happened, why, and why you'll probably get that extra money back — eventually.

It was all about the forest Wednesday during a luncheon at the Knickerbocker Mansion in Big Bear Lake.

A 24-year-old woman is scheduled to be arraigned today on an allegation that she left her three children -- including a 7-month-old -- unattended in the family's home in Sugarloaf overlooking Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino County sheriff's officials say.

The California Highway Patrol has begun taking reservations for a teen driving safety course scheduled for Nov.

Fawnskin, CA - The Code Enforcement sweep conducted by the Big Bear Sheriff's Station resulted in an additional 34 vehicles, boats and trailers being towed. All the vehicles were in violation of state vehicle code or county ordinances. "This figure makes a total of 188 tows for similar sweeps conducted within the valley over the last six months," according to department spokesperson Tiffany Swantek. The Tow Day was the last planned sweep of this type for the year before the winter season.

Friday, November 6, 2009 Sugarloaf, CA - A report of unsupervised juveniles screaming inside a residence in the 100 block of San Bernardino Avenue in Sugarloaf brought a response from deputies at the Big Bear Sheriff's Station. The front door of the residence was locked and no one answered the door about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday, Shampo returned to the residence where she was taken into custody without incident.

Navy Seaman Recruit Kimberly A. Burns, daughter of Diane C. Burns-Bentson of Big Bear Lake, and Steven E. Smith of Lucerne Valley, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill.