San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino will be scouting models from now until Niv. 30, and one will be picked to be the new face of the 2010 SportsWatch print campaign.

Last year, San Manuel introduced the SportsWatch Calendar Girl contest.  Deejays from KCAL-FM's (96.7) "Morning Stiffy" show will host the contest every Monday night from the casino's Pines restaurant.

Each weekly winner will receive $500, and each winner will have their image grace the pages of the 2010 Sportswatch Girls Calendar. They also get a chance to compete for $1,000, the cover spot of the calendar, and to be the face of San Manuel's 2010 SportsWatch football campaign, which includes billboards and newspapers across San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties.

joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com

 

 

 

San Bernardino County Supervisor Paul Biane announced Friday he will be seeking a third term representing the county's second district, which includes the cities of Upland, Rancho Cucamonga and Fontana and the unincorporated areas of Crestline, Devore, Lytle Creek and Mt. Baldy.

Biane said in a news release he has achieved a strong record of success by working closely with second district communities to allocate more than $2 million for state-of-the-art libraries in Rancho Cucamonga and Fontana as well as $1 million for the new Scheu Family YMCA currently under construction on Foothill Boulevard in in Upland.

Biane has secured the support of Rancho Cucamonga Mayor Don Kurth and Sen. Bob Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga).

Biane was elected to the Board of Supervisors in November 2002 after serving eight years on the Rancho Cucamonga City Council. He served as board chairman from 2006-2008.

Though the filing period for the June 2010 primary election doesn't begin until Feb. 15, some have already pulled papers announcing their intention to run against Biane.

Crestline resident Peter Markovich has filed a candidate intention statement to run against Biane, said Kari Verjil, San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters.

joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com

A mental health specialist for the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health has been placed on unpaid administrative leave following her arrest Wednesday on suspicion of armed robbery.

A Los Angeles County sheriff's detective, accompanied by Ontario police officers, arrested Rachel Lorraine Davis, 39, at her place of employment - the county's Integrated Health Clinic in Ontario - about 5:15 p.m. Wednesday. She was booked at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Walnut station and subsequently taken to the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood.

It was unclear Friday is Davis had posted bail, which was set at $100,000. She was scheduled to appear in Pomona Superior Court Friday for an arraignment, according to booking information posted on the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Web site.

Spokesmen for both the Ontario Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department could not provide any information Friday as to the circumstances surrounding Davis's arrest or specifics on the armed robbery she has been accused of.

County spokesman David Wert said he too had no knowledge of the robbery for which Davis is accused.

"All we know is she was arrested at the clinic where she worked," Wert said. "The county doesn't have any details on the crime she is suspected of having committed."

Davis has been employed by the county since Feb. 18, 2006 as a mental health specialist for the county's Community Crisis Response Team. She is on unpaid administrative leave pending a human resources investigation, Wert said.

Joseph Ralph Ortiz, deputy director of the Department of Behavioral Health, declined comment Friday.

On Thursday, Ortiz advised several county employees of the incident via e-mail. He said in his e-mail that the program manager and clinic supervisor for the Community Crisis Response Team in the west end of the valley met with other staff members to debrief them on Davis's situation.

Ortiz concluded his e-mail by stating that Department of Behavioral Health management will work with human resources on any future developments in the case.

Davis couldn't be reached for comment Friday.

joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com, (909) 386-3874

For the last two two decades, Jerry Paresa has worn many hats while employed by the San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians.

He served as general manager for San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino, executive director of government operations for the tribe and executive director of intergovernmental affairs.

Now, he's been elevated to the tribe's top administrative position: chief administrative officer. Paresa began his new position on Sept. 1.

"He has the requisite skills and abilities to continue moving our tribal government organization in the right direction and contribute to our ongoing efforts to make our government a strong and effective presence among other governments, businesses and the community at large," said James Ramos, the tribe's chairman.

Paresa's primary role as CAO will be to serve as the front-line officer assisting the tribe's business committee with the day-to-day operations and administrative functions of tribal government, including organizational policies and procedures, said Jacob Coin, the tribe's spokesman.

In his 20 years working for the tribe, Paresa has seen San Manuel bloom into one of the most profitable, if not thee most profitable, gaming tribes in the nation. He helped develop the tribe's premiere gaming operation, which put the tribe on a path to self-sufficiency, Coin said.

When San Manuel's gaming compact with the state was renegotiated in 2006, Paresa took the lead in successfully moving the amendments through the state legislature. In addition, Paresa's work as executive director of intergovernmental affairs helped the tribe achieve strong and collaborative relationships with local governments, said Coin.

Paresa said he looks forward to continuing to serve the tribe in his new role as CAO.

"The tribe's culture and government are paramount to their success," said Paresa. "We as employees are stewards of their good will and resources and serve to advance their self-determination."

joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com

The Board of Supervisors today directed county counsel to order Oakridge Corp., at once ensnared in a bribery scandal involving former County Administrative Officer James Hlawek, to remove two billboards on county-owned land in Colton.

The county sued Oakridge in 2000 for bribing Hlawek, who along with others was also sued, prosecuted and convicted for their roles in one of the biggest scandals in county history.

Hlawek took bribes from Oakridge in exchange for the company getting the green light to erect the billboards at the junction of the 10/215 freeways in Colton.

"This is further evidence that the county is ready, willing and able to address corruption regardless of how long it takes, and it's a reminder to everyone that we have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to waste, fraud and abuse," Supervisor Josie Gonzales said in a news release.

The county won a $3.8 million judgment from Oakridge in 2005. Revenues from the billboards were seized by federal authorities and awarded to the county, which has racked in more than $717,000 in revenue from the billboards since then, according to the news release.

"I believe that no one should ever profit from those ill-gotten billboards,so they must be taken down," Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt said.

The county has won more than $35 million in judgments, settlements, and restitution, more than $18 million of which has been collected.

"These billboards stand as an insulting monument to the corruption scandal of the 90s, and taking them down is one way to put that dark chapter in the county's history behind us," Gonzales said.

joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com

 

The state Attorney General's Office will assist the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Public Integrity Unit in its ongoing corruption probe of former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus and his former staff.

A news release issued today by the District Attorney's Office stated that on Aug. 4, District Attorney Michael A. Ramos directed the Public Integrity Unit to prepare a formal request that the Attorney General's Office officially associate with the District Attorney's Office in its prosecution of former Assessor's Office officials. Attorney General's Office staff will also assist county prosecutors in their investigation into possible corruption involving the landmark Colonies settlement in November 2006 and the sell of a 1,200-acre chunk of county-owned land in Rancho Cucamonga, which was also once dicussed during the county's settlement negotiations with Colonies Partners, in which the business entity's co-managing partner, Jeff Burum, is at the center.

"We thank the Attorney General's Office for officially joining our effort. Their expertise and assistance will be a major asset as our continuing investigation expands," District Attorney Michael A. Ramos said in the news release. "Their agreement to directly participate is a further demonstration of the integrityof our efforts."

joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com

San Bernardino County residents can start making appointments to apply for medical marijuane identification cards on Friday, officials announced today.

The county Department of Public Health is administering the program.  Appointments are required, and will be available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Applicants must come in person to apply for the program.  It's important to prepare for the visit to ensure all the necessary documents are in order.  Full instructions can be obtained by calling 1 (800) 782-4264, or visiting the website at http://www.sbcounty.gov/pubhlth/programs_and_services.htm. 

 The fee for the program is $166, or $83 for Medi-Cal beneficiaries.  Cash payment must be in the exact amount, and personal checks will not be accepted.  The MMIC is issued by the California Department of Public Health for a term of one year, and is renewable on an annual basis.

Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  The Medical Marijuana Identification Card Program is located at the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, 351 North Mountain View Avenue, 2nd Floor, in San Bernardino.

joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com

 

San Bernardino County received a record 16 awards for programs and services by the National Association of Counties (NACo), and was the only Southern California honoree for 2009 at the annual awards ceremony.

"Our county consistently wins several of these awards, and this year is no exception," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Gary Ovitt. "Our county has every reason to be proud of the fine work county staff accomplish on behalf of service to our residents."

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday recognized and honored those responsible for making it happen. The following are San Bernardino County's winning programs and the departments that oversee them:

* Demonstration garden - Facilities Management Department

* We Can - Department of Aging and Adult Services

*Project ADAPT - Probation Department

* Office of Consumer and Family Affairs - Department of Behavioral Health

* First Sundays Free - San Bernardino County Museum

* Juvenile Court Behavioral Health Services - Department of Behavioral Health

* Scam Alerts - Department of Aging and Adult Services

* Employee Enhancement and Leadership Model - Department of Public Health

* Peer and Family Assistants Program - Department of Children & Family Services

* Assessor Workflow System - Information Services Department

* Heads-Up Log - Human Services, Transitional Assistance and the Department of Children & Family Services

* Your Workforce Expertise Can Enhance Your Budget - Workforce Development Department

* Environmental Science Day Camp - Regional Parks

* Automated Offender Mapping Tool - Probation Department

* BNSF Dispatcher Training Program - Workforce Development Department

* Remote Video Immigration Screening - Board of Supervisors, First District

joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com

 

 

 

An appeal to try and thwart a 50-acre zipline course south of Big Bear City was rejected by the Board of Supervisors today, paving the way for a new recreational facility in the San Bernardino Mountains.

Nine residents living in the area of Onyx Summit, located off Highway 38 about halfway between Angelus Oaks and Big Bear City, appealed the July 2 decision by the Planning Commission to approve a conditional use permit for Action Zipline Tours. Residents argued that such a facility, where recreators hang from pulleys suspended on a steel cable and whiz down the mountain, would be too noisy and destroy the quiet ambiance they have enjoyed for many years.

"I like these kinds of projects, but I don't know if it's appropriate in a community like this," resident Dottie Saville told the Board of Supervisors.

Dan Soterin also addressed the board, saying he owns land in the area didn't want it to be near an amusement park" should he decide to build a cabin.

"I think it's a good idea. It's a good idea for another area," he said.

Supporters of the project, which include the Big Bear Lake Chamber of Commerce, believe the course would boost the local economy, create jobs and provide a year-round recreational facility in the mountains not dependent on snow such as the Snow Valley, Bear Mountain and Snow Summit ski resorts.

Plans call for construction of 14 landing and launching pads, 2,650 linear feet of cable line and a hiking trail on about 50 acres of land on Hillcrest Road, about 10 miles south of Big Bear City.

Groups of 14 would be transported in vans from an office in Big Bear Lake to Laurel Pines Camp, north of Highway 38. From there, they would board a safari jeep to the launch site, where customers would begin their descent down the mountain on the ziplines.

Supervisor Neil Derry, whose district includes the San Bernardino Mountains, said he visited the site on Saturday, and believes the visual impacts and noise will not be a serious issue for residents.

He made a motion to deny the appeal and uphold the Planning Commission's previous decision, which was supported by all his colleagues on the board, making the vote unanimous.

joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com

 

By Stacia Glenn, Staff Writer

Former assessor Bill Postmus today questioned why county supervisors have not asked for the resignation of county employee Jim Miller following his arrest yesterday on a felony conflict of interest charge.

Miller, who has been a Grand Terrace councilman since 2004, was briefly jailed Wednesday after his arrest by District Attorney's Office investigators. He is accused of inappropriately voting on $18,000 worth of advertising contracts that were given to his wife's local newspaper, the Grand Terrace City News.

Miller, a county real-estate services manager, was placed on administrative leave Wednesday. None of his alleged wrongdoings occurred on county time.

"Accused felon and county employee Jim Miller should follow the example of Adam Aleman. Miller should resign immediately and if he refuses, the county board of supervisors should employ the Biane Standard in demanding Mr. Miller's resignation," Postmus said in a written statement.

"Anything less than a fair application of the Biane Standard is hypocrisy and a clear display of a double standard - one rule for the Postmus staff and another rule for other county staff engaging in questionable behavior."

Aleman served as assistant assessor until he resigned last year. He was arrested June 30, 2008, and charged with six felony counts, including three counts of preparing false documentary evidence, one county of offering false evidence, one public records violation and vandalism over $400. He has pleaded not guilty.

The charges stemmed from an investigation into the Assessor's Office, which also led to Postmus' resignation in February amid accusations of methamphetamine abuse and malfeasance that includes conducting political activity on county time, incompetence and widespread timecard fraud.

"Supervisor Paul Biane's statements regarding my office could easily be issued regarding the county's Real Estate Services Department, which the board oversees," Postmus wrote. "Furthermore, as was the case with Mr. Aleman, Mr. Miller is an exempt county employee who is held to a higher ethical standard. Clearly, according to the Biane Standard, Jim Miller's actions have 'stained' America's largest county and now county government must meet and pass the same test it supposedly faced one year ago."

When calling for Aleman's resignation, Biane spoke of how it only takes a few people to stain the county's reputation and that the true test of an ethical organization "is how it responds when problems occur."

stacia.glenn@inlandnewspapers.com