Daniel Lee Weber, who has severa; swastika tattoos and "white pride" inked on the back of both arms, is believed to be hiding in Twentynine Palms.

Weber is a white man who is 6'6 tall, weighs 250 pounds, blue eyes and brown hair. He has possibly shaved his head, deputies said.

Weber also goes by the names Christopher McKenzie, Chris Mul, Brian Mul or Danny.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call sheriff's deputies at (760) 366-3781.

stacia.glenn@inlandnewspapers.com

The equipment is being presented Friday during a short 11 a.m. ceremony outside the Adobe Road station. The grant came from the Fireman's Fund Insurance Company program, which distributes equipment, training and educational tools to fire departments nationwide.

Firefighters use the shelters as a last-line of defense during wildfires.  In cases where the fire overtakes them, firefighters are trained to cover themselves with the shelter as the fire burns over them.   The new shelters are built with the latest technology and consist of multiple layers of aluminized fabric to protect firefighters against high heat for extended periods of time.

"Our firefighters deserve to have the best available equipment to protect themselves during wildfires," said Twentynine Palms Fire Chief Jim Thompson.  "Ultimately, this will allow us to more effectively combat the fires."

Eight parks, conservation and wildlife experts testified at the three-hour hearing, which was chaired by Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz. It was intended to be an information-gathering meeting to possibly help shape future legislation.

All but one expert said that global warming is a huge detriment to national parks, which already are showing impacts such as growth of invasive plants, a shift in habitat range of plants and animals, decreasing rainfall and abnormally large wildfires.

There are more than just wilderness refuges at stake.

Healthy parks help support nearly 6.5 million jobs and generate $88 billion in state and national tax revenues, said Michael Cipra, the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association's California Desert Program manager. A 2006 Outdoor Industry Association study said that outdoor activities like hiking, fishing and wildlife watching annually contribute $730 billion to the U.S. economy.

The most passionate testimony, however, focused on what is happening within national parks.

One study estimates that there may be no Joshua trees left in Joshua Tree National Park within the next century because fires and old age are wiping out the existing trees, and not many new ones are sprouting.

"Joshua Tree National Park without (Joshua) trees scares me. It's hard to imagine, it's hard to contemplate," said park spokesman Joe Zarki. "The Joshua tree is a symbol of the Mojave Desert. I don't know what would be left, but it would be somewhat diminished."

Lance Corporal Brady A. Gustafson, a turret gunner from Eagan, Minn., is being awarded for helping fellow Marines fight their way out of an ambush in Afghanistan. On July 21, Gustafson and other Marines were fighting in the Farah province when Gustafson's right leg was severely injured.

Neverthless, he identified the enemy positions and continued firing his machine hun, which military officials said helped Gustafson's fellow Marines escape "the kill zone."

Gustafson is assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.

The Navy Cross is a high award for a Marine, second only to the Medal of Honor.

stacia.glenn@inlandnewspapers.com

Bryan Rodney was booked at the Morongo Basin jail on suspicion of child endangerment after a passerby around 4:30 p.m. reported seeing a 2-year-old pushing an infant in a stroller in the 61900 block of Twentynine Palms Highway in Joshua tree.

A San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy picked the children up and brought them to the station but could not determine who they were or where they lived.

Rodney was arrested after calling the sheriff's station and identifying himself as the father. His bail was set at $100,000.

stacia.glenn@inlandnewspapers.com