March 2001 News

Habitat for Humanity to build AV home
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 1, 2001.
By BOB WILSON Valley Press Staff Writer
PALMDALE - Representatives from Habitat for Humanity were in Palmdale on Wednesday to rally support for the construction of homes for three needy families. [complete story]

City officials renew bullet train support
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 2, 2001.
By DON JERGLER  Valley Press Aerospace Writer
PALMDALE - California High-Speed Rail Authority staff members made a stop in Palmdale on Wednesday night to discuss a planned bullet-train system with members of the community at the Palmdale Performing Arts Center. 
[complete story]

Talented AV youth wow crowd at Baca fete
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 2, 2001.
By DENNIS ANDERSON  Valley Press Editor
LANCASTER - When Palmdale gets its new sheriff's station, some credit and maybe some beachfront property in the desert will be dedicated to a Los Angeles County supervisor who voted when it counted, Sheriff Leroy D. Baca said. [complete story]

SCAG team boosts outlying airports
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 3, 2001.
By DON JERGLER  Valley Press Aerospace Writer
LOS ANGELES - A group of Southern California officials has voted to oppose LAX expansion plans put forth by the Department of Los Angeles World Airports and instead support growth at outlying regional airports. 
[complete story]

Organizers Don't stop the carnival
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 3, 2001.
By BOB WILSON  Valley Press Staff Writer
PALMDALE - Organizers were expected to make a second attempt Friday to schedule a carnival outside the Palmdale International Shopping Mall after city officials denied a temporary-use permit for the outdoor fair. 
[complete story]

Tax cut draws cheers challenges
Partisans take sides over $1.6 trillion Bush proposal
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 4, 2001.
By LISA WAHLA  Valley Press Staff Writer
The question was barely asked before Marguerite Grayson rushed out a reply: "I love it. It's what we need and it's what he said he would do." [complete story]

Now you can worry about the water too
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 4, 2001.
By BRENDA ZAHN Valley Press Staff Writer
PALMDALE - This summer, a young boy will set up a makeshift lemonade stand in his front yard with a sign reading, "Lemonade - 25¢," taped to the front. [complete story]

SST too fast for slowdown
CEO cites favorable environment
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 4, 2001.
By ANN WISHART  Valley Press Business Editor
PALMDALE - Business and industry in the Antelope Valley is moving too fast to take time out for an economic slowdown, said the leader of one of the Valley's fastest growing companies. [complete story]

City's video fights traffic congestion
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 5, 2001.
By BOB WILSON  Valley Press Staff Writer
PALMDALE - In a small room on the second floor of Palmdale's Development Services building, traffic engineer Tom Horne sits and watches his big-screen TV. [complete story]

Democratic candidate for LA mayor lauds AV faithful
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 5, 2001.
By JOANNA PARSONS  Valley Press Staff Writer
PALMDALE - Los Angeles mayoral candidate Antonio R. Villaraigosa lauded the party faithful during the installation banquet of the Democratic Club of the High Desert on Sunday morning. [complete story]

Wind farm plan could endanger hilltop home of rare butterfly
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 5, 2001.
By SAL CHAVEZ  Valley Press Staff Writer
BAKERSFIELD - A wind farm in the early stages of planning in Jawbone Canyon may disrupt a natural habitat for a rare form of butterfly, an expert says. [complete story]

AVC renews efforts for Palmdale campus
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 6, 2001.
By JULIE M. DRAKE  Valley Press Staff Writer
LANCASTER - The idea of building a second Antelope Valley College campus in Palmdale isn't dead. 
[complete story]

AV called last valley with room to grow
Report: L.A. sprawl hits wall;
Valley still looks to good future
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 8, 2001.
By LISA WAHLA  Valley Press Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES - Don't let the shopping malls, cookie-cutter housing tracts and "big box" retail outlets fool you - suburbia L.A.-style is dead. [complete story]

Window of opportunity opens up for AV airport
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 8, 2001.
By DENNIS ANDERSON  Valley Press Editor  
LANCASTER - A window of opportunity to get airline service up and running at Air Force Plant 42 before the end of the year is opening, a first step to develop Palmdale Regional Airport, a consultant told Valley leaders Wednesday. [complete story]

House approves Bush tax cut plan
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 9, 2001.
By DAVID ESPO  Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - The Republican-controlled House voted Thursday for an across-the-board tax cut of nearly $1 trillion over the next decade, handing President George W. Bush a major victory only 48 days into his term. 
[complete story]

County might close High Desert Hospital
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 10, 2001.
By LISA WAHLA  Valley Press Staff Writer
LANCASTER - Los Angeles County health officials may close High Desert Hospital if proposed cost-cutting plans fail. [complete story]

Lawmaker wants shuttles to land at Plant 42
Incentives seen as key to possible aerospace revival
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 13, 2001.
By DON JERGLER  Valley Press Aerospace Writer
SACRAMENTO - Picture a space shuttle landing at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, arriving for modification and leaving from a one-stop shop. [complete story]

Promenade may get Krispy Kreme outlet
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 14, 2001.
By BOB WILSON  Valley Press Staff Writer
PALMDALE - Doughnut lovers will have their choice of the kreme of the crop if the city Planning Commission grants a conditional use permit for a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop on Rancho Vista Boulevard (Avenue P) at Country Club Drive. [complete story]

School-tipster immunity bill gains momentum
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 14, 2001.
By BOB WILSON  Valley Press Staff Writer
LANCASTER - Assemblywoman Charlene Zettel, R-Poway, joined Antelope Valley Assemblyman George Runner on Tuesday to support a "school-tipster immunity" bill that would provide protection from civil defamation lawsuits against students, teachers or others who warn authorities of potential school violence. 
[complete story]

Lawmaker to vie for state Senate seat
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 15, 2001.
By LISA WAHLA  Valley Press Staff Writer
It's official: Assemblyman George Runner announced Wednesday he will run for the state senate, perhaps clarifying one piece of the Valley's future political landscape.  [complete story]

Bush- Nation can't pay for all three new fighters
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 15, 2001.
WASHINGTON (AP) - President George W. Bush says the nation may not be able to afford all three new fighter jets the Pentagon wants. [complete story]

Phone center to start hiring
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 15, 2001.
By ANN WISHART  Valley Press Business Editor
LANCASTER - Attracted by the Antelope Valley's educated labor force, Interviewing Services of America Inc. plans to open a new market research telephone center at 639 West Ave. L-14 on April 16 and possibly enlarge within the year. [complete story]

GOP chief rips Davis power strategy
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 16, 2001.
By ANN WISHART  Valley Press Business Editor
LANCASTER - Saying the California governor's strategy for dealing with the energy crisis has been "uncoordinated," Scott Baugh, finance co-chairman for the California Republican Party, told listeners at the Antelope Valley Business Leaders Reception on Thursday night that taxpayers can expect energy rate increases, bailouts and bankruptcy before the energy problems are solved. [complete story]

Medical clinics completion date now end of May
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 16, 2001.
By BOB WILSON  Valley Press Staff Writer
PALMDALE - Time and effort needed to correct allegedly "substandard" materials for a new 24-hour health-care clinic under construction by Antelope Valley Hospital has pushed completion of the facility back to the end of May, according to the construction project's manager. [complete story]

Faith-based rehab backed
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 17, 2001.
By BOB WILSON   Valley Press Staff Writer
LANCASTER - Climbing aboard a train engineered by President George W. Bush, California Assemblyman George Runner will introduce a bill allowing religion-based drug programs to obtain funding now denied by the state.  [complete story]

Council to wrestle with lawn enforcement
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 20, 2001.
By BOB WILSON Valley Press Staff Writer
PALMDALE - After a month's delay, the City Council on Wednesday will pick up where it left off on a debate on whether to require property owners to keep up the appearance of their front yards. [complete story]

Violence erupts at School of Peace
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 21, 2001.
By BART WEITZEL  Valley Press Staff Writer
LAKE LOS ANGELES - Challenger Middle School - dubbed the "School of Peace" after last year's Increase the Peace Day - erupted with several acts of violence in recent days. [complete story]

Council debate to sprout anew on lawn order plan
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 21, 2001.
By BOB WILSON  Valley Press Staff Writer
PALMDALE - The City Council tonight will resume a debate on new lawn-keeping regulations that would apply to every homeowner in the city. [complete story]

Ledford plans to run for space authority board
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 22, 2001.
By DON JERGLER  Valley Press Aerospace Writer
PALMDALE - Mayor Jim Ledford says he plans to run for the board of the newly created California Space Authority, a position that will allow him to protect local aerospace projects. [complete story]

Council prunes landscape law
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 23, 2001.
By BOB WILSON  Valley Press Staff Writer
PALMDALE - For 3 1/2 hours Wednesday night, the City Council pruned, trimmed, hedged, edged and fertilized a proposed ordinance that would require residents to maintain landscaping standards in their front yards. 
[complete story]

Hospital's restructure not painless
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 24, 2001.
By BOB WILSON  Valley Press Staff Writer
LANCASTER - High Desert Hospital administrators have submitted a plan to "restructure" its care-delivery system in an attempt to avoid complete closure. [complete story]

Dan Walters: An absolutely incredible tale
Sacramento Bee, Published March 27, 2001
From the onset of his governorship two-plus years ago, Gray Davis has insisted, by both public words and private acts, that he and he alone would make his administration's major policy decisions.
[full article]

GOP groups president late in coming to political party
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 29, 2001.
By LISA WAHLA  Valley Press Staff Writer
LANCASTER - It wasn't all that long ago that June Spencer thought the Republican Central Committee was a GOP group from Central California. [complete story]