May 2001 News

Local GOP to Support Faith Based Army with Raffle
(PALMDALE) The combined Republican Volunteer clubs of Antelope Valley have joined forces to focus on an important and worthy cause. Recently, Captain Dan of the Salvation Army has been communicating the particularly dire need for funding for the organization that has helped so many needy souls in the past. He has taken his pleas to the airways and the newsrooms around the Antelope Valley in search of a helping hand. [full press release]

In hunt for scapegoat, Davis targets Bush
George W. Bush is making his first presidential visit to California this week. He can expect a chilly reception both from the state's politicos, led by Democratic Gov. Gray Davis, and the increasingly hostile California press. [full article]

The Bailout from Hell by Sen. Tom McClintock
The twin pillars of Gray Davis’ energy policy have been first, to keep electricity rates frozen regardless of the actual price of electricity, and second, to prevent the state’s utilities from declaring bankruptcy as a direct result of his first policy. [full article]

And the Elephant goes to...
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press May 20, 2001.
By DENNIS ANDERSON Valley Press Editor
LANCASTER - The Elephant goes to Dean Henderson. For those of you not steeped in arcana of partisan politics, the Elephant looks like it's going to be the local GOP's stand-in for Oscar. [full article]

Chairman says time golden for GOP comeback in state
This story appeared in the AV Press May 19, 2001.
By LISA WAHLA Valley Press Staff Writer
LANCASTER - It was a night to appreciate the Republican faithful, but the state GOP party chairman wasn't about to let the grassroots rest on their laurels. [full article] [photos]

Congratulations to Award Recipients! [photos]
June Spencer
Mary Miller
Joe Donahue
Melea Bork
Pat Sileo
Dixie Eliopulos
Linda Isaac
John Evans
Linda Gray

GOP groups unveil 'Republican of Year' nominees
This story appeared in the AV Press April 18, 2001. By LISA WAHLA Valley Press Staff Writer
PALMDALE - You may not know all their names, but the grassroots volunteers are the behind-the-scenes stars behind every successful political campaign.

This year, a coalition of Valleywide Republican groups is seeking to publicly thank those volunteers by instituting the Republican of the Year awards ceremony. [full article] [Awards page]

Housing market getting healthier
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press May 6, 2001.
By ANN WISHART Valley Press Business Editor
PALMDALE - With demand for affordable houses becoming more insistent throughout Southern California, builders in the Antelope Valley are opening new tracts to supply hopeful home hunters.
[full article]

Commissioner has many angles on life
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press May 7, 2001.
By JULIE M. DRAKE Valley Press Staff Writer
LANCASTER - Ron Smith wears many hats. He's an artist, illustrator, business owner, instructor, assistant Scoutmaster, deputy sheriff, bird watcher and, now, planning commissioner.
[full article]

Plans for new hospital dead on arrival
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press May 8, 2001.
By BOB WILSON Valley Press Staff Writer
LANCASTER - Antelope Valley Hospital Chief Executive Officer Mathew Abraham said Monday he was unsure whether they would be able to speed up plans for constructing a full-service hospital in Palmdale now that the city's negotiations with a private builder have fallen through.
[full article]

Valleys Democrats eye races in 2002
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press May 9, 2001.
By LISA WAHLA Valley Press Staff Writer
Democrats haven't fared well in Valley legislative races, but party activists are hoping the November 2002 contest will offer more opportunity, with veteran lawmaker George Runner leaving the Assembly because of term limits and apparently making a bid for the state Senate.
[full article]

Hollywood poster boy
Collector donating 1,050 posters to Oscar library
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press May 9, 2001.
By DENNIS ANDERSON Valley Press Editor
PALMDALE - Call Joseph Yore the poster boy for Hollywood posters.
Well, not a boy. Former Marine and Korean War era veteran. Actor, singer-songwriter, career movie extra, dabbler in property and career autograph hound. Retired, he's also a local environmental activist and a self-proclaimed City Hall "agitator." But that's another story.
[full article]

Runner renews bid to lower gasoline tax
Prices topping $2 across the state
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press May 10, 2001.
By LISA WAHLA Valley Press Staff Writer
With gasoline prices soaring, the Antelope Valley's assemblyman is remounting a crusade to ease the burden on taxpayers by lowering the gas tax.
[full article]

Runner to aim for state Senate, but not sure when
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press May 11, 2001.
By LISA WAHLA Valley Press Staff Writer
PALMDALE - Assemblyman George Runner promised to take his fiscal and social conservatism to the state Senate at his campaign's first major fund-raiser.
[full article]

New hospital branch slated for Palmdale
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press May 19, 2001.
By BOB WILSON Valley Press Staff Writer
LANCASTER - With one member absent, the board of directors of Antelope Valley Hospital voted unanimously Thursday to seek investors and lay plans for construction of a branch hospital in Palmdale.
[full article]

Jalisco governor greets AV
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press May 20, 2001.
By DENNIS ANDERSON Valley Press Editor
LANCASTER - The governor of one of Mexico's largest states ar-rived Saturday in the Antelope Valley, spreading a message of cross-border cooperation in eco-nomic development and friendly relations.
[full article]

CHP honors Rex Parris as Valleys Citizen of Year
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press May 22, 2001.
By BART WEITZEL Valley Press Staff Writer
LANCASTER - Lancaster attorney R. Rex Parris was honored recently by being named Antelope Valley Citizen of the Year by the California Highway Patrol's Southern Division.
[full article]

Auto dealer aids youth
Scholarships awarded to high school students
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press May 22, 2001.
By ALYSON MARTIN Valley Press Staff Writer
PALMDALE - Camacho Auto Sales has established a new scholarship and awarded it to 11 Antelope Valley High School District students.
[full article]

Report: Area Democrats gaining on Republicans
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press May 23, 2001.
By LISA WAHLA Valley Press Staff Writer
Though the month of May marks the midpoint between November elections, it's anything but downtime for Antelope Valley Democrats determined to improve their voter registration figures.
[full article]

Hispanic chamber funding triggers debate
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press May 24, 2001.
By BOB WILSON Valley Press Staff Writer
PALMDALE - Another monthly City Council meeting, another council vote and another council debate - this time over a proposal to provide funds to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
[full article]

Bush to Davis-Fuhgedabouddit
Two leaders disagree on price relief
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press May 30, 2001.
By CHELSEA J. CARTER Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES - Gov. Gray Davis said Tuesday he and President George W. Bush have a fundamental disagreement over whether California is entitled to energy price relief.
[full article]

Residents hold out little hope
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press May 30, 2001.
By GARY GENTILE AP Business Writer
LOS ANGELES - Californians who see themselves as unwitting victims of the state's failed experiment with energy deregulation have little hope that Tuesday's brief meeting between Gov. Gray Davis and President George W. Bush will result in any meaningful relief.
[full article]

Westside considers closing Neenach
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press May 30, 2001.
By JANNISE JOHNSON Valley Press Staff Writer
LANCASTER - Westside School District administrators will consider closing Neenach Elementary School because of a combination of low enrollment and rising energy costs.
[full article]

City wrangles over chamber
Council debates cash allocation
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press May 31, 2001.
By BOB WILSON Valley Press Staff Writer
PALMDALE - One of the smallest line items in the city's spending plan for fiscal 2001-02 generated the only controversy during a public workshop by the City Council.
[full article]

Ritter Ranch project may return again
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press May 31, 2001.
By BOB WILSON Valley Press Staff Writer
PALMDALE - Like a cat with nine lives, the Ritter Ranch housing project is on the verge of making yet another return.
[full article]

City OK's plan for power plant construction
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press May 31, 2001.
By BOB WILSON Valley Press Staff Writer
PALMDALE - The City Council gave a green light Tuesday to plans for construction of a new electric-generating power plant somewhere in the city.
[full article]

June Meeting Cancelled, July & August Dark
President Larry Hales was unable to attend the June meeting so he cancelled it. The summer meetings have been traditionally canceled do to scheduling conflicts. The next scheduled meeting will be September 26, 2001. One Topic of discussion at the September meeting will be the Candidates forum which will probably be held at the October meeting.

May Meeting Welcomes State President
Dennis Catron, the newly installed President of California Congress of Republicans was the guest speaker for the May 2001 meeting of the Antelope Valley Chapter. The meeting was held at the home of Larry Hales, AVCCR President, and was attended by a diverse cross-section of GOP leaders. Guests in attendance included: Mary Croxen, President of Palmdale Republican Women Federated; Mary Miller, Central Committee Member; Richard Loa, Chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly; and the full board executive board of AVCCR. Dennis Catron spoke about political strategy and chapter promotion.