Desert Trail, May 11, 2017

The monthly community meeting was interesting and informative, as always. Battalion Chief Mike Snow gave an update on our fire department and provided us with April’s statistics. Unbelievably, we had more than 60 calls in April, 44 of which were outside Wonder Valley! Among other items discussed, the new charges required for use of our community center is a concern for many.

Following the community meeting, Dr Tim DeLorey gave a very interesting presentation on Permaculture. The easiest way to describe permaculture is that it’s practicing Earth Day every day! It’s a combination of reusing, recycling and not wasting anything, especially water. Most interesting were ways to keep “monsoon water” on your property so it trickles down into the aquifer underneath instead of running across your property and ending up in a distant aquifer. Some very clever ideas were presented.

The USDA Food Distribution will take place on Monday, May 15 at our Wonder Valley Community Center, 80526 ½ Amboy Road near Blower Road, from 10:30 to noon.

On a very sad note, longtime Wonder Valley resident and business owner Bill Yoakum has passed away. Bill was well-known by just about everybody in this valley. He owned Barnett’s Trading Post at the east end of Amboy Road, just before the curve. It was a very popular gathering place, cocktail lounge, restaurant, petting zoo and store, and church services were even held there for a long period of time until a church was built in Wonder Valley. As a matter of fact, our sister Donna, who now lives in Yucca Valley, was married at Barnett’s! Bill, along with his significant other Edna Adams, were always on hand to greet you, say a kind word, tell a joke or funny story or just chew the fat about all things Wonder Valley. Bill made Barnett’s into a Wonder Valley Landmark. After Bill sold Barnett’s, it unfortunately burned to the ground – what a loss for our community. Bill will always be remembered as a fun-loving person who enjoyed life. Our condolences go out to his family.

The Wonder Valley Book Program is like a little library where you can check out books of all kinds, movies and audio books for a month at a time at no charge. Come into our community center and check it out. Book Program cards are free.

Handy Hint: You can use baking soda to deodorize your refrigerator and carpet, brush your teeth and clean crayon marks from walls.

Thought for Today: “I’m just an obnoxious guy who can make it appear charming, that’s what they pay me to do.” – Bill Murray

Until next time . . . remember to take time to enjoy the WONDERs all around us.

May rainfall over the Bullion Mountains.