HOW DO WE KNOW what season it is in the High Desert?
Simple: if the wind is cold, it’s winter. If the wind is hot, it’s summer.
It’s a bit like the old “Indian weather gauge” — if the rock is wet, it’s raining.
Living in the High Desert takes a little getting used to, but once you adapt to its unique conditions, you realize just how special this place truly is.
As we mentioned in our last issue, we recently lost one of our beloved team members, Ann Miner. You can read her obituary in this edition. Her presence and contributions will be deeply missed.
Our focus remains on serving our Seniors and Veterans, and covering community events that matter to us all. We do not take sides, endorse political positions, or share personal opinions. That neutrality is what allows our readers and advertisers to trust in our content — and it’s a standard we proudly uphold.
We hope you’re enjoying the many wonderful events happening across the High Desert communities this season.
And a reminder: local schools are back in session starting August.
Please slow down near school zones and STOP for school buses when their lights are flashing. Our children’s safety depends on it.
Jim Conkle
Programa de Atención Integral a
Mitsubishi Cement Participates in Local Fourth of July Festivities
camas de hospital, cómodas, bancos de ducha)
Lucerne Valley residents braved sizzling temperatures in the 90s as they watched a procession of vintage automobiles, motorcycles, mini-tractors, a volunteer fire engine and other vehicles make their way down Highway 18. The parade was part of the Fourth of July festivities locals hold traditionally every year, culminating with a BBQ at Pioneer Park. Mitsubishi Cement Corporation (MCC) – which sponsored a fireworks show on June 28 – has taken part in the Independence Day celebration for roughly two decades. The company’s employees, including summer hires, and their families were on hand to help set up the event, fill up buckets of water along the parade route for water fights, and distribute free items to the community. They also waved from atop the 1986 Hahn fire engine owned by MCC Electrician Brian Grimes as it rolled along the highway.
The Lucerne Valley Chamber of Commerce also selected Maria “Cookie” McWilliams, MCC’s Plant Administrator, as Lucerne Valley Woman of the Year. McWilliams moved to Lucerne Valley at the age of 9. She attended Lucerne Valley Elementary School and later graduated from Apple Valley High School. McWilliams has held certifications as a tax preparer and notary public and taken courses in human resources and accounting. Although she now lives in Apple Valley, she said she considers Lucerne Valley her hometown. “Lucerne Valley is a small community with many loving and helping hands,” McWilliams said. “I’m honored to have been selected as Woman of the Year in the place I grew up in.”
Las personas mayores de 55 años
personas que viven en el área de servicio de High Desert PACE
Las personas que satisfacen el nivel de atención
MCC employees wave from aboard a fire engine at the Lucerne Valley Fourth of July Parade.
Maria “Cookie” McWilliams
Marcy’s Musings From Stone Age to Space Age on Route 66
ON SATURDAY JUNE 21
a small group of Mohahve Historical Society members and two guests met at the fountain on Third and Main Streets in Old Town Barstow for an exciting adventure. The expected “Main Street Murals Bus Mural Tour” came with an unexpected twist. Instead of the red bus, we encountered an unusual red “stagecoach,” powered not by horses, but by a noisy motor of another century. Other modern touches included bucket seats, orange plastic water jugs on the back, and oversized off-roading-type tires. And did I mention the lift elevator?
Our introduction included a walk through the park, where we learned about the four mineral-related murals: gold, silver, turquoise, and natural colored rock. Gold celebrated the 49ers, and silver the nearby mines and town of Calico. Turquoise is dedicated to our good friend and past supporter, Kay Whitecloud, who’s family carries on the Native American traditions of the area. Colored rock commemorates the late Bill Mann’s Brubaker-Mann Rocks and his six “Guides to Interesting and Mysterious Sites in the Mojave,” which we sell, by the way.
So with Jane Brockhurst, director of the non-profit “Main Street Murals” as our guide, and Rodney Rucker, creator of the
stagecoach as our driver, we were off to see most of the 36 murals that liven up Barstow, and serve to share the city’s unique history with locals and visitors alike. From the early days of the Old Spanish Trail, the Mormon Trail, camel caravans, twenty-mule teams, Native Americans, moonshiners, and old Barstow (relocated in 1915 after the third serious fire,) through the later Old National Trails Highway, the railroads, Harvey house, and Route 66 eras, to the present time, all is represented. With two additional murals being painted yearly, more history is continually added.
In addition to the professional artists and designers, community members and local students of all ages are involved through school programs and the “paint by numbers” one-day mural projects. Examples are “Animals of the Mojave Desert,” and “Wildflowers of the Mojave.” One very important mural celebrates
Barstow’s namesake William Barstow Strong, Santa Fe’s tenth President, pictured on the postcards. Another is “The Gateway to the Mojave,” an interesting two-part mural depicting the then and now of the First and Main Street intersection, at that time considered to be the busiest corner in the whole country! The most popular photo spot on the tour is likely “Barstow 66,” where you can fit right in posing along side well-known celebrities that frequented Barstow.
So here’s an idea: Instead of by-passing Barstow on the I-15 on your way to and from Las Vegas or the river, why not take a detour and spend some quality time on Main Street between First and Seventh “exploring California history from Stone Age to Space Age and celebrating the growing local art scene.” (Quote from Main Street Murals flyer.) Put that on your bucket list.
Get-Away at the Apple Valley Inn
DESPITE PARTS OF THE I-15 being closed due to flash flooding, and monsoon rains drenching Lucerne Valley and the Big Bear area, Apple Valley Inn did not get one drop of rain! So the planned movie night showing of "There's Always Tomorrow" went off without a hitch. Added attractions included entertainment by "Boni on the Keys," Apple Valley Inn cookies
and popcorn courtesy of Jeff and Kathleen Hardy, and eight "must have" raffle prizes, courtesy of the Apple Valley Legacy Museum, Victor Valley Legacy Museum, Happy Trails Children's Foundation, Town of Apple Valley, and Mohahve Historical Society.
Preceding the movie, Projectionist Eric screened his all-time favorite Disney cartoon, the 1935 "Silly Symphony." The
main feature rolled just as the sun set behind Bass Hill, on a hot July evening with (miraculously) no rain or wind! Recommended by our own Christy Berg, who grew up in Apple Valley during the glory days of the elegant Apple Valley Inn, the film stars Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray. While scenes of the family's home were shot somewhere in the Los Angeles area, the exciting steamy
rendezvous take place (where else?) here in Apple Valley. You may think that two long-lost lovers would be safely hidden away out in the desert at the "Palm Valley Inn," but not this time. The suspicious teenage son, suspecting a love triangle, makes not one, but two trips to the desert, to put a stop to this "nonsense" and save
his parents' marriage. Full of many unlikely coincidences, this entertaining film takes viewers back to the 1950's era of vintage toys, dial telephones, and glamourous clothing styles.
Now we know exactly why the far eastern Inn cottage, #51 in the movie, is known as the Barbara Stanwyck Cottage, and why the neighboring cottage, #61 in the movie, should probably be known as the Fred MacMurray Cottage. And as we gaze over the wall at the empty Inn pool, devoid of any water, we can envision the scenes from the movie: a cool inviting pool, full of water and happy vacationers! Who knows? Perhaps the Inn restaurant will actually open again soon. We're all waiting in anticipation.
Thank you, Christy, for recommending we screen this film right here at the once glamourous hot spot of the desert, the Historic Apple Valley Inn.
Flying High in July
THE TOPIC OF OUR THURSDAY
JUNE 27, 2024, Mohahve Historical Society meeting was the importance of the Mojave Desert to World War II military operations, in particular the training of bombardiers. The Victor Army Air Field, later to become George Air Force Base, operated a flying school during the late 1940’s. Board members Delvin Harbour, Eric Mandeson, Dennis Hom and I told the story of the many practice missions flown over Apple Valley and Lucerne Valley. Bombs filled with sand were dropped into gigantic bomb circles, some of which still exist in the area today. Our follow-up field trip the next day took us to the remains of three sets of bomb circles still partially visible in Apple Valley. At least four more circles exist in Lucerne Valley, but are more difficult to access, requiring a four-wheel drive vehicle.
Following our presentation MHS member Meera Maheswaran, Vice President of MOAA (Military Officers of America) recruited Delvin, Eric, and me to repeat our presentation at their Aug. 28, 2024, monthly meeting. I was more than a little
nervous about three civilians like us giving a talk to an organization that includes several fighter pilots from the Viet Nam era, along with other high ranking retired military officers. But we were well-received and thanked for our efforts.
After our talk, Major Jerome Johnson asked Delvin where he got those shots of the bomb circles. “Why, Google Earth, where else?” Jerome informed us we could get a better view from his plane. Oh, oh, Jerome, you opened a keg of worms. Are you volunteering to take us on a flying fieldtrip? “Well, that could be arranged,” he said, “one passenger at a time.” Hmmmm. Time passed.
Well out of the blue, ten months later, Jerome told me he was ready for action. So our July fieldtrip consisted of three separate flights three days in a row. We met our pilot at the Apple Valley Airport terminal at 8 am sharp, before the wind comes up. After soaring over one of the bomb circles on the Lucerne dry lakebed, we could make our own itinerary.
Delvin’s day was July 1. He had an unforgettable exhilarating experience and got some great photos of the bomb circle, and the Vietnamese Monastery we had visited last November. He got to strike the Hero’s Pose, for operating the controls so well on his first flight.
The following day, July 2, Eric was in the sky. He was excited to learn that the Lucerne bomb circle was only about a mile and a half from his property up in the Cove,
and he got some good ariel photos of both. Jerome also flew him over “the Apple Valley Labyrinth in the middle of nowhere” created by who knows who and who knows when. Then it was my turn, So on July 3, Day 3 of the July fieldtrip, we were off. After doing the Lucerne Valley portion, I asked the pilot if we could fly over some Apple Valley sites, and he was happy to do so. I got some great views of the Apple Valley Inn, the golf course area, my house, and Bell Mountain, modern views matching some old Apple Valley aerial photos from the 40’s and 50’s. It was a little hard to know what I was taking from a moving plane, but I sure had a good time studying the photos and zeroing in on all kinds of interesting things.
So this was another great MHS adventure. Within the past few months some of us have traveled across the water on the Big Bear Queen, across land in the Barstow stagecoach, and through the air in Jerome’s Beechcraft Musketeer. Thanks, Jerome, for this latest opportunity to learn more about the exciting desert area that we call home.
Tracking Spacecraft the JPL Way
IHAVE A HABIT
of going through old Mohahve Historical Society files and newsletters to see what the organization has been up to the last 61 years. Old fieldtrip files are the most interesting... lots of four-wheel drive adventures, hikes down the old trails, and trips to exotic places within driving distance like the Integratron and Giant Rock. Just recently a group of MHS members made it to both of these other-worldly places, often associated with science fiction movies. The trip did not disappoint.
Another place I never thought I'd see is the Goldstone Deep Space Complex inside Fort Irwin. MHS members visited it too, long ago, but the high security location had been closed to the public for
several years, just offering a simulation on the second floor of the Barstow Harvey House, probably to satisfy people's curiosity. Then I heard that it was once again open for tours, and that our friends in Trona had gotten in. OK, here we go. Opportunity!! Thanks to board member Dennis Hom, who went to a lot of trouble to arrange this trip, getting the group of ten through, not just one, but two security check-points on Wednesday, June 18. We had an awesome experience!
Our two "out-of-sight" guides, Diana and Leslie, are Community Outreach Specialists employed by Peraton, which runs all of NASA's stations connected to the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) in Pasadena. They are Jaxa, the Japanese hub; Isiro, the Indian hub; ESA, the European hub including Madrid, Spain; the UAE hub in Dubai; another hub in South Korea; and finally one in Canberry, Australia. Through these stations, which circle the globe, scientists can follow all 46 planetary missions reaching to the moon and beyond. And by working together, scientists from Goldstone, Australia, and Madrid, 120 degrees apart on the map, can track spacecraft 24 hours a day.
On our trip we made three stops: Echo Valley, Mars Valley, and Apollo Valley. We learned about the Near-Earth Network and the Deep Space Network, the Kaiper Belt, and the Goldilocks Zone. We saw gigantic spacecraft-tracking antennas up close, and observed scientists at work in the control room. We learned about the three categories of celestial bodies, planets, dwarf planets, and asteroids,
and how poor Pluto has been reduced to a dwarf! That all but ruined the children's mnemonic devise to remember the order of the planets in our solar system: My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas. What? No more pizza. (Nine Pizzas has been replaced with either Nachos or Noodles.) Poor sad Pluto!!
Continuing our lessons, we learned about Deep Space Station #14, built in 1966, that followed the Mariner Mission to Mars; Voyagers #1 and #2, built in 1977 and 1978; and the newer "triplets," DSS 24, 25, and 26, built in 1992, 1994, and 1996, with all controls operated from underground. At our last stop we met Amanda, an Operations Manager with a degree in Aerospace Engineering, who hails from Granada. An important thing we learned on this trip was the need for patience. A spacecraft which took off in October of 2024 is expected to arrive at Juiter's Ice Moon Europa in 2030. Now that's a nice long trip!
Most exciting to me was seeing GAVERT, the Goldstone Apple Valley Radio Antennae, used by the students at the Lewis Center for Educational Research right here in the Victor Valley. When I opened the Apple Valley Legacy Museum in 2015, the late great Rick Piercy came over and hung pictures of it on our wall. But on this trip I got to see the real thing! Well, all I'll say is I'm sorry if you missed this trip. It was truly spectacular!! It's totally amazing what our Lewis Center high school students are able to do, which all started with a crazy idea from a local kindergarten teacher. RIP Rick, and thanks for the bright future you have given to so many local students.
UpcomingCommunity Events
A North Star Part One
By J.P.Garner
(Author’s Note: the College Corner is devoted to news pertaining to Barstow Community College and to the initiatives the good people there are creating to meet the needs of potential employers and the demands of an ever-expanding job market. I have seen them at work first-hand and can attest to their dedication and hard work at supporting their students and seeing them achieve success. In meeting the challenges of the present, Barstow Community College is forging ahead and preparing students, young and old, for the future.)
THERE’S SOMETHING
MAGICAL happening in Barstow, there at the south end of town where, when it leaves the city, Barstow Road turns into State Highway 247. On the right, just off the wide expanse of pavement, is a grouping of red-brick buildings that, built in 1960 to keep high school graduates here and learn vocational and occupational skills, is now at the epicenter of a revival.
The radical idea that a community college should be about serving the community in which it operates is being resurrected by Dr. Eva Bagg, the District Superintendent-President, and the team at CTE, which stands for Career and Technical Education. Headed up by Laura Alvarado … who is also the owner of a hard-earned doctorate but she’d not be the first person to say so. What was clear, however, during my interview with Dr. Alvarado was the passion and zeal she brings to the daunting task of breaking from a past stigmatized by minimal effort and leading a charge into a future fraught with amazing opportunities.
Laura is familiar with radical change and the inherent difficulties of it. She came to Barstow by way of a 14-year career in law enforcement, followed by 8-years as a college counselor. She was that, she explains, by nature, then by training. Counseling was, she says, “… really important to me. I think I naturally gravitate towards serving people first.” Somehow, through all of that and by sheer force of will, she earned her doctorate in Community College Educational Leadership.
Becoming the Executive Dean for Strategic Partnerships and Workforce at Barstow Community College satisfies a deep need to serve. When stripped to the nuts and bolts, her job is, she says,” . . . to find out what our community needs, and then, how do we as a college meet that need, as compared to we're going to tell you guys what you need.”
When she said that, I paused and wondered if I heard her right? Was that like reverse psychology? Because it is certainly a reverse attitude from the distant past when Barstow Community College seemed intent on serving its needs and those of its employees. Being a “community” college was not necessarily reflected in its actions. But when Laura did her homework while applying for the job, she learned that Dr. Bagg had put “community” at the heart of the school’s efforts and programs.
“I called Dr. Bagg to ask some questions,” she says. “And after talking to her, I got excited because it just felt right. Her attitude … and the goals of what her vision was, and where she wanted the college to be for the city, and for the college district.
“And then when I saw the actual job announcement, I was enticed. Everything on there, every line item was something that … if I don't already have an idea of how to do that, I sure would love to learn.”
Now in the job for just under a year, Laura explained that she and her team assemble data. “We have to take the data in the region that's going to tell us where the jobs are. And then [ask,] do we have a community that wants to move in that direction? And, at the same time, making sure that we're not putting all our eggs in one basket. We want to service that industry, but there are many other areas in
our community.
“Making sure, [for example,] that the jobs are at a good wage. It doesn't do any good to help you get through [your ] education, and then you make minimum wage. It doesn't do anything. No … we want to start you off at a good wage, or it could be at a lower wage, but it has to have a huge room for progression.
“At the same time, we need to be mindful that we're not putting local businesses out of business. So, it comes down to knowing what's the need.”
The “need.”
Odd, in a poetic way, how that one word dominates their thinking. There was a time when, to fill the “need,” high schools trained students in specific trades like welding, auto repair, and whatnot. And then the great disappearing act occurred. Computers moved in, and trade training moved out. But the “need” did not. People who got sweaty and dirty working with their hands were not viewed with the same degree of awe or simple respect as a programmer or an analyst, and, yet, who among us would not give up a kidney or some lesser body part to know a mechanic or plumber we can trust? Other than Ghostbusters, who do we call most often? Ai? Maybe … one day.
And that’s where Dr. Bagg’s vision of trade training to meet specific community needs elevates the College back to
what was originally intended in 1960: a “community” college that provides not only training in technical skills, but vocational and occupational skills targeted at specific needs as well. Laura cited an example of a specific type of training they’re planning to develop at the college that meets a “need” people do not think about: automation maintenance technician. Sounds fancy, doesn’t it? It is, in a manner speaking. It’s the guy—or woman—who fixes the machines that, for example, sort our daily mail or pull and package the things we order from manufacturers and retailers.
Laura explains that “… the level of critical thinking that goes into that, the level of flexibility … you could go work at Amazon, you could go work in a post office, or you could go work in Boron. Our trade folks are phenomenal. We do not exist without the trades
“There's a term for it and it's called a “new collar.” It’s that line between a white collar and blue collar job. It’s folks [who] have
the intellect and critical thinking and skill and drive mixed with the hands on tactile, mechanical piece of the blue collar worker.
“We do research to find out what's going to be needed. That's where we take the data and figure that out. And then we develop a program. [For example,] we just finished a study on drones. How to fly drones. If BNSF needs drones for the security of their trains, or if they need to watch their trains or their yards, they can have a person driving up and down in a truck. or they can have a drone doing that. And we have two military installations. They use drones in different ways.”
Drones and sorting machines … and lions, tigers and bears. Oh my!
Laura pauses. We’ve been talking for over an hour. The subject is fascinating. I’m intrigued, mostly because of her energy level. It’s easy to get caught up in it. She’s excited about the work she does. It probably doesn’t even feel like work. She’s a true believer. Since 1960, the mission
of the college has essentially remained unchanged: to train local kids in the vocational and occupational skills needed in the real world. But because of Dr. Bagg and her staff’s shared vision, the priority has shifted from the college focusing on its needs, to the college now focusing on the needs of the community it serves. The phrase they use to symbolize their collaborative efforts to create countless success stories is: from enrollment to employment.
“Our Board of Trustees, our faculty, my President are phenomenal. I've never worked for someone like her, and I can't imagine not working for someone like her [given] the level of support I get doing the right thing … doing the right thing for this community. I mean, that's always first.
“We can be a North Star for Barstow.”
CONTINUED IN PART TWO: FROM ENROLLLMENT TO EMPLOYMENT
Senior Care Professionals
By Tanya Inglis
It’s Super Show Time!
WHY IS THE INGLIS CLASSICS SUPER SHOW different than any other Car Show, in the Victor Valley?
The Super Show happens every other year because of the immense planning & collaborations, made within the Automotive Industry & Community.
This show highlights different Non-Profit Organizations. This year we are bringing our efforts & support to the “Hesperia Leisure League Senior Center.” The Senior Center provides support, community & events for High Desert Residents ages 50 & up.
The Car Show is open to every year, make & model show cars, pedal cars & show bicycles, with over 20 category trophies, sponsored by local businesses & organizations.
Sultana High School Color Guard, led by 2nd Lieutenant, Leylany Duran Oseguera, will “Post the Colors” and lead the “Flag Salute.” Special guest, Actor Rodney Allen Rippy with follow, singing our “National Anthem.” He will also have a meet & greet area for autographs & merchandise.
Special Guests like Hollywood Car Designer, & Artist, “Fireball Tim” will be judging vehicles. Actor & Electrical Genius, “Mad Mike” from shows like “Pimp My Ride” & “Car Kings,” will be setup, signing autographs & selling merchandise! Professional Drag Racer & Auto Influencer, “Kelly Barr Anderson,” will be there with her Drag Racing Camaro, “Stacy,” meeting & greeting spectators. Famous Pin-striper & “Rat Fink” Artist from Las Vegas, “Fred Trevizo,” will be setup with artwork & pin-striping. Automotive Reporter & Influencer, “Kendra Sommer,” will be roaming around, filming & greeting spectators & Racing Influencer, “Nitro Allie,” will be graciously hosting the event on stage!
This years “Miss Inglis Classics” pinup contest will be themed, “That 70s Car Show!” Hosted by Ms. Jenn from “Lucky Tree Car Shows.” With 10 amazing
contestants, competing for the title! Everyone is welcome to dress up!
There will also be vendors, live music, DJ, food vendors, in the picnic area & is family friendly! Join Us this year, as we bring So. Cal. together for a day of fun in the Sun! Let’s celebrate the cars that built America!
Save the Date: August 23rd at 10am-3pm. Show Car Roll in at 9am. See you there!
“A Tribute to Texas”2023 Pin Up Contest Winners"
Ms. Lena Devine, Ms. Lady D & Ms. Anna June
The Lost Pegleg Mine: Flibbertigibbet’s Fancy
LOVE HIM OR HATE HIM, one has to admit Pegleg’s story is intriguing. It is clear people knew different versions of the same man, as their stories vary wildly. According to On the Trail of Pegleg Smith's Lost Gold: Legend and Fact Combined to Provide Fresh Clues to the Location of Pegleg Smith's Famous Lost Mine, his real name was Thomas Long Smith.
Some claim he was born in Kentucky, although Smith himself said he was born in Ohio. Pegleg claimed while as a scout for an expedition, an Apache shot him with an arrow in his leg. Gangrene set in, forcing an amputation just below his knee to save Smith’s life. It is said Smith performed his own amputation and almost completed it before passing out from the loss of blood.
However, in 1894 The Los Angeles Herald reported that Smith was shot in the leg by a drunk French Canadian trader shattering the bone, so others partially removed the leg.
Later, a 1921 The Bulletin newspaper said Smith was wounded on a train headed south from Fort Laramie, Wyoming, when a skirmish occurred in Utah from an Indian war party, thus wounding Smith necessitating a primitive amputation performed by Fortyniner Jonathan Tibbet Sr. and a few others. Tibbet claimed he was the one who made a tree branch prosthesis to assist Smith thus earning him the nickname Pegleg, who periodically worked on the Tibbet Ranch near El Monte, California. So, as you can see, the real story surrounding the loss of Smith’s leg is as clear as mud.
What’s in a name? Although Pegleg may have fancied himself of the same ilk, famous frontiersman Jedidiah Smith was not his brother, biological or honorary, as author A. J. Burdick opined in his book The Mystic
Mid-Region published in 1906, as did J. Smeaton Chase in California Desert Trails, published in 1916. Born just two years apart in different states, Jedidiah Smith’s death by the Comanche preceded Pegleg’s death by 35 years. And such is how legends are made.
By Jaylyn And John Earl
www.thedesertway.com
One may surmise the familial relationship is not one Pegleg would have denied, and perhaps even promoted. If you’re wondering why he didn’t claim to be somehow related to Francis Marion Smith, who was born 20 years before Pegleg died, it was because Smith didn’t become known as the “Borax King” for more than two decades after Pegleg’s demise.
Excerpt from: The Mystic Mid-Region: The Deserts of the Southwest by Arthur J. Burdick, 1906, “In 1837, a one-legged man named Smith found a mine of wonderful richness in the Colorado Desert. He was piloting a party over the desert from Yuma, when he came to three hills which rose out of the plain. Not being sure of his bearings, he mounted the taller of the hills to get a view of the surrounding country. Upon this hill, which seemed to be composed of black quartz or rock, he found out-cropping ore fairly sparkling with the precious metal. He took specimens away with him and learned, upon reaching his destination, that the metal was really gold. The mine became known as the “Pegleg Mine” from the fact that Smith wore a wooden leg and was known as “Pegleg.”
Burdick continued, “After conducting his party safely to Los Angeles, Smith returned
to the desert to investigate his find. He could not locate it. He could not even find the hills which had been the landmark upon which he depended. In 1861 or 1862, a prospector passed over the trail from Yuma to Los Angeles. In the Colorado Desert he chanced upon three hills, and upon the larger one he discovered gold. He reached Los Angeles with $7000 worth of gold nuggets. He told of his find and described the location. It tallied with the description given by Smith of his find. A party was formed for exploiting the mine, and the prospector was preparing to guide his associates to the spot when he was taken ill and died. The mine was again lost and has never been found. Note: “Pegleg” Smith was a brother of the famous trapper, Jedediah Smith.”
Someone claimed they found Pegleg’s mine in February 1965 and even sent a small black gold nugget to Desert Magazine, which was confirmed as authentic. The mysterious writer remained anonymous but included photos of alleged gold nuggets covered with desert “varnish” like Pegleg had described.
Curiosity about the mysterious gold mine grew. Several years later this tidbit appeared in Desert Magazine's Letter to the Editor column:
Page 26 / Desert Magazine / May, 1968
Let us concern ourselves only with where [Pegleg] found the gold, not with where he went later.
The key here is the New River and "bubbling mud marshland." The Salton Sea did not exist in 1829, but the mud pots near the south end of the Sea did exist. So let us proceed westerly and somewhat north of these mud pots, keeping in mind that in those days there were no roads, highways, nor civilization of any sort in this God-
The Mystic Mid-Region: The Deserts of the Southwest by Arthur J. Burdick, 1906.
In the tradition of Pegleg’s alleged whoppers…we think John found Pegleg’s missing wooden leg!
Open the mailbox at the original Pegleg Memorial to find a tiny library. Remember, if you take one, leave one. No fibbin’.
forsaken place.
The first long, low rise in the terrain is a group of low hills just north of Hwy. 78 and partially west of Hwy. 86 (Old Hwy. 99). There are three main hills from one to one-and-ahalf miles apart. Their elevation averages only 200 feet. They are covered with small buttes, hogbacks and saddles. Due to the sheer simplicity of their location, could this be the home of gold sought for so many.
Jack J. Pepper
Update: On April 23, 2024, Myth Hunters and Legend Detectives producer Steve Baldwin (not to be confused with actor Stephen Baldwin) wrote on our website, "My team has tried to track down than man, known as “Mr. Anonymous” and we know he was from El Cajon and we have actually filmed some of the nuggets he sent to Choral Pepper, the editor of Desert Magazine. However, there is no evidence this was Pegleg’s mine. Blackened gold has been found over 20 times all over the desert so it is not unique to Pegleg’s discovery. Moreover, the clues given by this particular Peg leg (sic) do not match the area described by Mr. Anonymous."
Although Pegleg may have led a colorful life in his era, it was wrought with an ill reputation that ran the gamut of masterful purveyor of bull excrement, pathological liar, alcoholic, human trafficker, bigamist and the most notorious horse thief in the southwest, depending who told the tales. Others embellish his skeptical virtues and heroic deeds, keeping Smith’s liar legacy alive.
Pegleg Smith sold maps and claims of the mine until his death in 1866 in a San Francisco hospital, yet a 1930 newspaper article claimed Pegleg died in a bar fight in Los Angeles in 1880. Although nobody has ever re-discovered the fabled mine, Pegleg’s legend lived on in books, television shows, movies and even an Oregon Trails II computer game. Bad fortune fell on whoever claimed they found the lost mine before it could be authenticated.
Update: Also on April 23, 2024, Steve Baldwin wrote to our website, "I’m with a historical research team called the Legend Detectives and would like to make a number of corrections here. Pegleg was born in Kentucky. We know exactly where and we have traced his lineage. He never said he was born in Ohio – that was someone else. Regarding his leg being amputated, there are five different accounts of this incident but only one account has been verified by people who were actually in attendance.
As for Tibbets, he couldn’t have amputated Pegleg’s leg as the amputation occurred in 1827 and Jonathan Tibbets Sr. was a farmer back east at the time. By the time Tibbets claimed to have helped Pegleg amputate his leg, it was 1853, 26 years later and after numerous newspaper accounts were published of Pegleg’s exploits — on one
Pegleg’s memorial was erected by Desert Steve Ragsdale in 1949 next to Harry Oliver’s original monument from 1947. The sign instructed anyone who wanted to seek Pegleg’s gold to leave ten rocks on the pile in the back.
leg — BEFORE the Tibbet incident. But there was indeed a man on Tibbet’s wagon train called Pegleg who lost a leg due to an Indian attack and I have held the saw used by Tibbet to carry out the amputation. We believe this particular Pegleg was named James Smith.
Bear in mind there are at least four different Peg legs who were involved with prospecting for gold during the 1800’s and at least two of them lost a gold mine. Many men lost a leg in those days and they were commonly referred to as “Pegleg.” However, the original Pegleg, whom your story is about – Thomas Long Smith – never found gold and the famous story of Pegleg finding blackened gold on the top of a butte was never even mentioned by the original Peg leg in the only two major interviews he gave to reporters shortly before his death.
Moreover there are NO accounts in any books or newspapers about Pegleg finding and losing a gold mine before 1850, which leads us to believe the lost gold stories are all traced to another Pegleg, a man we believe was named John Smith who was active after the original Pegleg was dead. For example, Burdick’s account was written in 1906 and the Stanislaus newspaper account was in 1893.
When the legend of Pegleg’s gold mine really boomed in the 1860’s, the original Pegleg was on his last legs in a veterans home and laughed when he heard about these stories. We have also tracked down accounts from a half dozen of Pegleg’s friends and acquaintances, including his trapping partner, George Yount, and all have said that the original Pegleg never found gold.
Nonetheless, the original Pegleg — Thomas Long Smith — was indeed a great American. He was one of the first white men to cross into California from the East. He was a trapper who blazed many of the early trails later used by the hordes of Americans who traveled westward. He started a trading post in Idaho alongside the Oregon Trail which assisted thousands of desperate travelers by giving them food, water, and fixing their wagons. He assisted Brigham Young with the new Mormon settlement in Salt Lake on a number of issues as evident by the correspondence between the two that I have located.
He stole thousands of horses from the large Mexican haciendas, greatly destabilizing the California economy. This activity, I believe, was encouraged by the US government which was engaged in a number of covert actions to force Mexico out of the Southwest, which, of course, eventually led to the Spanish American war. He was a translator for the US government in a number of Indian peace talks. He was the first whiskey distiller in the West. He avoided publicity so unlike Bridger, Carson and many others, his accomplishments are not well known but there is no doubt he was one of the greatest frontiersmen ever. And you can read more about this when my book comes out!"
Great stuff, Steve and thank you for this information. We look forward to the publication of your book.
California Historical Landmark #750 about Pegleg Smith was dedicated in 1960 in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park near a mailbox and a pile of rocks. In 1947 Harry Oliver established the original Pegleg Smith Monument which was a sign that read “Let those who seek Pegleg’s gold add ten rocks to this pile.” The mound of rocks continues to grow. Every year on the first Saturday in April, the Pegleg Smith Liars Contest is held at the park in his honor.
Directions: From Borrego Springs, the marker is a straight seven miles on Palm Canyon Road (S-22) to the east. At the seven mile mark, there is a signed turnoff for “Pegleg Road.” At this point, the sign, mailbox, and giant rock pile are visible. There are two modern outhouses within an easy walking distance from the marker and ample room for self-contained recreational vehicles. No potable water. The marker is very close to the Clark Dry Lake.
WARNING: Metal detectors are prohibited in Anza Borrego Desert State Park.
Citations and Resources
• McKenney, J. Wilson (1957). On the Trail of Pegleg Smith's Lost Gold: Legend and Fact Combined to Provide Fresh Clues to the Location of Pegleg Smith's Famous Lost Mine. Palm Desert, CA: Desert Press. ISBN 978-1479160747.
• Sketches from the Life of Peg-Leg Smith,” Hutchings’ Illustrated California Magazine, Vol. V, no. 5 (November 1860), 203–204.
• The Los Angeles Times, 21 Sept 1930
• Bulletin, 27 Nov 1921
• Los Angeles Herald, Los Angeles, California · 05 March 1894
• Stanislaus County Weekly News Modesto, California · Friday, June 09, 1893
• Burdick, Arthur, The Mystic Mid-Region: The Deserts of the Southwest, 1906.
• Chase, J. Smeaton, California Desert Trails, 1916.
• https://www.thedesertway.com/peglegsmith/
Navigating Life’s Toughest Moments A Powerful Day of Learning and Healing
The Strength In Unity workshop held on July 12, 2025, is receiving excellent reviews. Organized by the Today’s Woman Foundation (TWF), this expert-led event featured six engaging presenters who helped attendees understand and manage some of life’s most stressful issues.
The speakers—Cindy Bostick, Marlo Cales, Strech Suba, Theresa Shellcroft, Jessica Borzilleri, and Tom Ripley—shared insights, tools, and real-life experiences that left a lasting impact on everyone in the room.
One key topic was Disenfranchised Grief—a term that many had never heard before. Cindy explained it as grief that isn’t openly acknowledged or supported by others, leaving people feeling invisible, isolated, and sometimes even judged. Marlo shared thoughtful strategies for
helping children cope with grief, tailored to different age groups. Strech emphasized that grief is not linear and offered practical coping tools.
Theresa displayed several beautiful pieces of art she created as part of her own healing journey. Jessica helped clear up common myths about hospice and palliative care, and Tom shared practical
By Cindy Bostick
guidance on estate planning and avoiding probate.
Here’s what one attendee had to say:
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart because I learned so much more than I had known, and I was educated on the grief process, hospice, and estate planning. I also know a lot of healing went on today...” ~ B.
Now in its fourth year, this bi-annual event grew out of the grief and confusion many faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Loss touches every life, and TWF is committed to providing the education and resources necessary to help navigate life’s stormy seasons.
To learn more, please contact todayswomanfoundation@gmail.com.
Cindy Bostick, Executive Director Today’s Woman Foundation
The Distilling Expert Part Three
By J.P.Garner
PAUL SEBASTIAN THINKS
BACK … back to when he was a kid and he had seen people drink wine, and they were like, "Oh, this is Chateau Le Fitreux Chal from whatever place in France." He was amazed by how, just from the taste of it, they could pick out all this detail. And he thought, "I need to learn how to do that." It was just fascinating.
So, he started reading, on the internet, which was “kinda pricey” when he started out. “I used it to sort of learn about all the different distillers, about their qualities [and] how they put it all together, how did the processes all work together.”
The first thing he learned is that whiskey is not like wine. It doesn’t have what they call terroir, which are derived from the soil, grape skins and seeds. They are like antioxidants. They are not typically found in whiskey because it is distilled from grains and aged in barrels, giving it a higher alcohol content and different flavor profile.
Grains and grapes are different.
Paul explains that grains don’t have “years.” They have good years and bad years. But, surprisingly,
Grains don’t necessarily influence the flavor of whiskey. A little bit, yes, but they’re basically used to create the alcohol content in whiskey with some influence on the flavor. While there are different grains used, it is most often 2 row barley that is used when making single malts because
it yields the most alcohol. Rye is used to “flavor” bourbons with its spicy character but essentially grains are the starting point and inside the husk contains the starches that will be converted into fermentable sugars.
It’s the other stuff that influences the whiskey’s flavor. Primarily the yeast that’s put in there, how that reacts with the distillation process, particularly during the fermentation, where it converts sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. The specific yeast strain used significantly influences the flavor profile of the whiskey, impacting the aroma and taste. Barrel maturation is the biggest contributor to the flavor. As much as 50-65% of whiskey’s final flavor comes from the barrel used.
The key to the entire process, however, is the distiller because, according to Paul, “You’ve got a lot of people out there who went to Whiskey University, [and when they came out, they were given] a certificate that says [they’re] Master Distillers. It doesn’t mean crap.
“The only people who actually are distillers who have been in the business [and] producing Whiskey for years. They haven’t got a certificate. Some of them may not even have a high school diploma, but they know how to put these processes together. They’re very smart.”
The word whiskey comes from the Gaelic “uisce beatha” or “uisge beatha,” meaning “water of life.” It is an amber-colored distilled spirit made out of fermented grain
(most often rye, wheat, corn, or barley). Most whiskeys are aged in wooden casks before bottling and have a minimum of 40 percent alcohol. There are different types of whiskey, usually distinguished by their place of origin, types of grain, blending or aging process, and each will have distinctive flavor, but it is most often described as being warm, spicy, sweet, fruity, caramelly, or toasty.
“I started hearing about different kinds of whiskey. I started hearing about French [whiskey], [and] about Australian, and Japanese. What the hell makes them so damn good? Why do I pay, you know, say one hundred dollars for a bottle of Lagavulin and only eighteen for Evan Williams. But they’re both considered pretty good.
The word, Lagavulin, confounded me so I Googled it. As it turns out, it’s “… a renowned single malt Scotch whisky, particularly known for its intense peaty and smoky character. It's a complex whiskey with a rich, full-bodied flavor profile.
Then the word, “complex”, added to my confusion, so I looked it up as well. ‘A complex whiskey offers a multi-layered and intricate flavor profile, often with a wide range of aromas and tastes that evolve on the palate. It's not just about a single dominant flavor, but rather a symphony of notes that unfold as you experience it.’
A symphony of notes. It must mean the whiskey is pretty good.
But what is it that makes a whiskey “good?” The factors are many. How the blend is aged is one major factor. The barrels used are a critical factor. But they weren’t always used. Scottish distillers discovered the benefits of storing their whiskey in Spanish sherry barrels as it was shipped to Europe. They soon realized that the longer the whiskey aged in the barrel, the more exquisite its taste became. This led them to age all their barrels, and before long, Scottish whisky aged in sherry barrels gained immense popularity throughout Europe.
The wood inside the barrel imparts many of whiskey's signature flavors. As the alcohol content in whiskey acts as a solvent, it breaks down the compounds in the wood, drawing out natural oils like vanillins. Another confusing word. These are the oils that alter the flavor profile of the whiskey as it matures inside the barrel. Despite all whiskeys being aged in barrels, their unique flavor variations are influenced by the distillation process.
What’s really interesting is how a whiskey achieves its color. Seasonal variations play a role in how whiskey interacts with the barrel. In some countries their laws allow for a tasteless caramel coloring to be added but here in America our bourbon may only have water added to it. Any infusion of anything else and it becomes flavored whiskey. Shifting temperatures and pressures cause the whiskey to seep in and out of the porous wood, influencing both its flavor and color. As the whiskey ages in the barrel, it gradually darkens, with all of its rich color derived from the wood.
Fermentation is one of the key sources of flavor in the final spirit, but it’s the wood that makes it good . . . or great. But Paul is adamant when he says, “I never take anything for granted. I don’t assume that because something’s expensive that it’s good. I don’t assume that because it’s, say, a darker color, [it’s good too.] You have to study it. You have to understand what goes into it.
“You know, what Socrates said, that the ‘unexamined life is not worth living.’ Well, to me, the unexamined whiskey ain’t worth drinking.”
Panamint Springs
By John Beyer
ACCORDING TO BRIAN , selfproclaimed elder statesman for Panamint Springs Resort, business is picking up nicely day by day.
“I think people want to be out and about after the last couple of years we’ve had,” Brian said.
Laureen and I had stopped by Panamint Springs for a small bite and a beverage as we traveled our way here and there through Death Valley, enjoying the warm early afternoon looking eastward across the valley floor.
“Mainly foreign travelers right now, which is different,” Brian started, “usually at this time of the year it is Americans who travel through Death Valley. Foreigners, for some reason, enjoy the summer here.” What???
On July 10, 1913, the temperature at Greenland Ranch, now known as Furnace Creek, was recorded as 134 degrees Fahrenheit. One of the hottest temperatures ever recorded on Earth. Though, there is a rumor Rome registered 135 degrees Fahrenheit when Nero danced and played his fiddle on July 18th, 64, while the city burned.
Late Fall, Winter and Spring are the times to travel through one of hottest places on earth.
Summer, no siree.
A few years back, my buddy, Paul, and I decided to camp in Death Valley during July.
Laureen just looked at me. “Are you mad?”
“I may be when I get back,” I replied. “I understand it is hot enough to fry an egg on my head. I just want to see if it is true.” When I returned home after the camping
trip, Laureen asked if it had been hot.
My reply, “I will take the dogs out for an ice cream cone after I water the goats.”
It was really hot those three days we spent on the Death Valley floor.
But the temperature this trip was in the low to high seventies. Pleasant and beautiful.
“Where you two heading?” Brian asked. “Into the Valley,” I said. “The valley of fire.”
Both Laureen and Brian rolled their eyes.
Panamint Springs has real springs of fresh water. In fact, a few miles west of the Panamint Springs Resort along Highway 190, there is a place known as Darwin Falls. A year round twenty-foot waterfall that beckons locals and tourists, not only for the beauty of this natural wonder but, especially during the warm months, for the cooling effects of the waterfall and pools beneath it.
The resort was originally owned by Buffalo Bill Cody’s cousin, Agnes Cody, and her husband W.A. Reid.
Yes, that Buffalo Bill Cody – the rootintootin American soldier, ranch hand, wagon train driver, and all-around international western star.
In 1925, Herman William Eichbaum built
a toll road, which ran from Darwin Wash, just east of the town of Darwin, across the Panamint Valley ending at Stovepipe Wells Resort. Much of this route would later be incorporated into Highway 190.
Even though at the time, mining interests were the focus in the valley, Eichbaum knew with the evolution of vehicles, tourists would be soon flooding to see the geologic wonder of Death Valley itself.
Herman had plenty of experience in the tourism industry. Early in their marriage, Herman and Helene opened the Catalina Jaunting Car Company on the island of Catalina. Tourists would load into large vehicles capable of holding twenty people and then proceed to be bounced up and down as the trucks traversed dirt roads around the hillsides of the beautifully picturesque island a mere twenty or so miles west off the coast of Long Beach.
Herman was such an entrepreneur that he also opened the Venice Tram Company, which would take locals and tourists alike around Venice Beach in electric trams. He owned interest in this business until 1930.
He was one smart cookie, since he and his wife, Helene, owned Stovepipe Wells Resort, just east of Panamint Springs, the construction of a toll road would be right
John welcomes you to Darwin.
Great restaurant at Panamint Springs, Death Valley
up his alley.
Research showed Herman may have said to Helene, “I just heard someone whisper in my ear - If you build it, they will come.”
Of course, that could have been the actor Kevin Costner in the film, Field of Dreams, but sometimes I get confused with all the research I may or may not personally conduct.
Anyway, turned out that Herman had been correct – not only did they come to Stovepipe Wells Resort, but a lot of others came too.
Because of the success of the toll road and the gobs of visitors entering Death Valley, Agnes Cody and her husband soon opened a motel at their Panamint Springs Resort and watched as mobile tourists stopped by on the way into Death Valley.
A post office opened in 1940 at Panamint Springs Resort, putting the locale on the federal map, but the post office stopped receiving mail in 1946. Even with a lot of tourists, if there were not a lot of full-time residents, thus no reason for a post office, was the logical thinking of the feds.
During World War II, the United States Army operated the Panamint Spring Auxiliary Airfield two miles north on a dry lakebed. It was used as a training facility for wartime pilots, but after the war, the airport was abandoned by the military.
“Nope, no trace of it,” Brian told us. “It’s like it never existed. Too bad, quite a bit of history there.”
the traveler to Death Valley. Sitting at nearly two thousand feet above sea level, it is a bit cooler than the valley floor. And that is always something to ponder when traveling during the hotter parts of the year.
“No frying eggs on your head here during the summer,” a local may have mentioned once.
As we were leaving the restaurant, Brian mentioned the small town of Darwin west of Panamint Springs along Highway 190.
“Anything there?” I asked.
“Some mining, but the town has really shrunk through the years. Not much to see.”
“Well, then we must go and see for ourselves.” I nodded.
That is what we do on these adventures – see for ourselves.
Darwin, as well as Panamint Springs is in Inyo County. The community rests at an elevation of nearly four thousand eight hundred feet and is pretty much hidden from view.
There is no sign along Highway 190 pointing to it. In fact, when Laureen and I drove the twenty-four miles, we saw a Darwin Road sign as if it were simply a street sign.
“Must be to the left,” I said.
“Go right, and we’re at the bottom of a cliff,” Laureen replied.
We turned left and headed further into the Panamint Range.
Darwin was named after Darwin French. A prospector who traveled the area looking for rich minerals and especially the legendary lost Gunsight Lode, a rich vein of silver a pioneer had found in 1849 but abandoned due to the harsh weather and unforgiving terrain. Legend has it, the pioneer found the silver ledge, chipped off a huge hunk of silver and then later had that silver made into a new gunsight for his hunting rifle. The find was spectacularly rich but has not been re-located ever since.
Don’t we all love legends, especially ones dealing with lost treasures.
Aye Matey, we do.
The mining in the area produced rich results and a post office opened in 1875 and is still open today, even though the town, according to the most recent census has a population of around forty residents.
When Herman Eichbaum opened his toll road in 1926, it ran through Darwin and brought a respectable amount of traffic through the small community. But, in 1933, when Death Valley was declared a National Monument, the federal government bought the toll road from Eichbaum and created a more direct route, modern Highway 190, bypassing Darwin all together.
The town existed as a mining town, but the population continued to dwindle.
We drove in and noticed abandoned housing on the hillsides, small homes in town with vehicles parked beside them, a few buildings along what we considered to be Main Street, but not much more.
Brian, from Panamint Springs Resort did mention he had heard from someone that a new mining operation was in the works for Darwin and could possibly add hundreds of mining jobs.
We did not see much action in this arena.
Twenty minutes later, after wandering around a bit and taking photos, we were heading out of Darwin. In that time, we did not see anyone moving around. The weather was pleasant, the day young, yet no one.
Perhaps we hit the community at the wrong time. Perhaps we did not.
A side note, as we toured the area, we were struck by some beautifully mastered pieces of artwork adorning folks front yards. Primarily, white marble sculptures carefully created and a marvel to look upon.
Panamint Springs Resort is a small but comfortable place to visit, with incredible views to the east of the Panamint Valley. A small hotel, bungalows, gas station, campground, restaurant, and bar welcome
Darwin French was looking for the lost lode in 1860 but alas, did not find it. But other miners did find other deposits of silver and lead and a settlement was founded in 1874, named after Darwin French.
Maybe Darwin is turning into the next creative arts center in this part of the world. Is Darwin worth visiting? I believe every place is worth visiting. There is history everywhere and everywhere has a story to be told and an experience to be enjoyed.
• John can be reached at beyersbyways@ gmail.com
• For further information: http://www. darwinupdate.com/
Camping at Panamint Springs.
Front yards are decorated in art works.
Sculptures are everywhere in Darwin
The Darwin Dance Hall.
The Heartbeat of the High Desert
By Tiffanie Williams – Pulse of the High Desert
OUT IN CALIFORNIA’S HIGH DESERT, the land stretches wide and wild. The skies burn with color at dusk, the wind dances with dust, and life moves to its own rhythm — slower, tougher, and more rooted. But what keeps this place truly alive isn’t the scenery. It’s the people. More specifically, the people who open their shops at sunrise, keep the coffee hot, the tools handy, and the lights on for everyone else. The real soul of the High Desert lives in its small businesses — and they are the heartbeat of this region.
Every town scattered across this desert — from Apple Valley to Barstow, from Phelan to Lucerne Valley — is held together not by corporate logos, but by the faces behind family-owned cafés, tradesmen in dusty work boots, and shopkeepers who know your name before you even say a word.
In Apple Valley, Molly Brown’s Country Café is one of those places. Nestled right on Highway 18, it’s more than a restaurant — it’s a gathering place. It’s where locals fuel up with eggs and biscuits, catch up on life, and enjoy a little slice of comfort that hasn’t changed with the times. It’s a business that doesn’t need gimmicks because it has something better: heart.
In Phelan, the community knows the value of neighbors helping neighbors. J.Tidwell & Associates Real Estate has helped countless families plant roots in this desert terrain, walking with them through the process with honesty and local knowledge that no national agency can replicate. And when those homes need fixing, folks call Daniel Meredith Plumbing — a name trusted not because of ads or algorithms, but because of years of showing up, getting the job done right, and treating every customer like kin.
Meanwhile, in Hesperia, Inglis Classics restores more than just cars — they restore pride, craftsmanship, and memories. Behind each polished hood and roaring engine is a dedication to preserving history with your own two hands. And just down the road, Lucerne Valley keeps its smalltown charm alive with businesses that still operate the old-school way: face-to-face, full of respect, and grounded in values.
Then there’s Barstow, a town built on rails, resilience, and revival. The Downtown Barstow Association (DBA) has stepped in with the passion and grit needed to bring new life into old buildings, turn events into community connections, and ensure that Barstow’s best days aren’t behind it — they’re just beginning.
Further east in Newberry Springs, there’s The Barn — a rustic gem where folks come for cold drinks, live music, and desert sunsets that leave you speechless. It’s the kind of place that reminds you what matters: conversation, laughter, and community.
And threading through all of this is Pulse Publications, born in Phelan and now reaching deeper into the High Desert to tell the stories that matter — the ones behind the counters, behind the struggles, behind the dreams. Pulse isn’t just a newspaper. It’s a reflection of what makes this region thrive — its people.
Because supporting small business is about more than spending money. It’s about choosing to invest in each other. Every time you choose local, you’re helping a mom pay for her child’s dance lessons. You’re helping a teenager get their first job. You’re helping someone keep their lights on through another tough season. You’re saying “yes” to a version of life that’s richer in connection, deeper in meaning, and fiercely proud of where it comes from.
Big-box stores won’t sponsor the little league team. Amazon won’t ask how your grandma’s doing. But Molly Brown’s will. Tidwell will. Daniel Meredith will. The Barn will. Inglis will. The folks in Lucerne will. The DBA will. And so will we.
The High Desert has never needed gimmicks to shine. It shines because of its people — and those people shine through the small businesses they pour their hearts into every day. So take the scenic route. Stop in. Shake a hand. Support the businesses that make this desert a community.
Because out here, when we support each other, we don’t just survive.
We thrive.
Friends of the Apple Valley Library
14901 Dale Evans Parkway Apple Valley, CA 92307
Tuesday, Aug 12 - 11:15 AM
Speaker: Jonni Vindiola - Curator of the Big Bear Historical Museum
Topic: The Historic connection between the High Desert and Bear Valley & Info on Big Bear Historical Museum
Saturday, Aug 16
Used Book Sale at the Apple Valley Library
$8/ bag of books 9AM - 3PM Cash & Zelle accepted.
SWIM August Speakers
Aug 7 Longest Legal Slave Case in the U.S.
Aug 14
Aug 21
Aug 28
Theresa Shellcroft
Betterley Foundation
Barbara Betterley
Herbalist/Healer
Valerie Debesh
Making Food Local Again
Roy Granger
Seniors With Inquiring Minds (SWIM) meets every Thursday from 1:002:00 PM in the Percy Bakker Community Center located at 9333 Avenue “E” In Hesperia, CA 92345
Piñon Hills Chamber of Commerce
Networking
Ellen Ann Miner (Ann Miner)
November 10, 1938 – June 26, 2025
By Kat Miner
ELLEN ANN MINER , known to all as Ann, passed away peacefully on June 26, 2025, in Apple Valley, California, at the age of 86. She was born on November 10, 1938, in Canadian, Oklahoma.
Ann is survived by her twin sister, Jan Brown; her children, Michael Miner, Katherine Miner, and Jay Miner; grandchildren Jocelyn Miner, Eric Miner, Lauren Miner, James Miner, and Joshua Miner; and great-grandchildren Layla Miner, Theodore Ridge, Poppy Ridge, June Miner, and Landon Miner.
Ann grew up in Kiowa, Oklahoma. She moved to San Diego in her early teens where she met Jim Miner. They married in 1958. Not long after, Jim's service with the U.S. Army took them to Frankfurt, Germany where their first son, Michael, was born in 1960. They returned to San Diego in 1961 where daughter, Katherine and son, Jay were born. In 1964 Ann and Jim moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, followed by Tempe, Arizona in 1966 then finally to Victorville, California in the summer of 1969.
Ann served as district chairman and troop leader for the Camp Fire Girls, president of the local chapter of the Children's Home Society of California, and co-manager of a local bicycle store with her husband. She was very active with Church of the Valley, Apple Valley and was an Elder for the Youth group. In addition, she sung in the choir, played handbells and formed an ensemble called the Celebration Singers. She successfully organized a 24-hour bike marathon around the church grounds to earn money for a church bus.
Her faith guided her into leading "Divorce Recovery" workshops to help men and women recover from the trauma of divorce. Later she led workshops at the Pacific Conference on Prayer and Healing with her second husband, Burt. In 1986, she was honored as Woman of Achievement by the Apple Valley Business and Professional Women and 2024 was recognized by the Today’s Woman Foundation as a Woman of Excellence.
Ann earned her bachelor's degree in Hotel Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, at the age of 56. She also served as a worship leader at Green Valley Presbyterian in Las Vegas. A founding member of S.W.I.M. (Support
Women in Ministry), Ann lifted others up through spiritual mentorship, writing, and advocacy.
She marked her 70th birthday with a skydiving adventure over Lake Perris.
For 5 years Ann was volunteered as a "Citizen on Patrol" with the Apple Valley Police department. Later she volunteered as a Spiritual Ambassador at St. Mary's hospital where she was blessed to pray for patients and their families.
Through caring for her second husband, Burt, Ann became a passionate advocate for those touched by Parkinson’s disease – both patients and caregivers. As a writer, her column, "Parkinson's Postings”, was featured in the Victor Valley Daily Press for 8 years. She would later write a book called "A Chat about Parkinson's" filled with words of hope and encouragement for those whose lives were affected by the disease. After Burt's passing, she met and married her third husband, Ron.
Ann was an active member of the High Desert Branch of the California Writers’ Club. Through that organization, she was published in several anthologies, mentored young writers, and served as a juror for the National Scholastic Writing Contest. Her published works include two inspirational books, two children’s books,
and a memoir, A Childhood Remembered, with a second memoir in progress at the time of her passing.
Ann enjoyed travel and having lived in Europe, had friends on the continent and visited several times. In 1983, she took her three adult children on a two-month sojourn (by car) to Europe. They visited family and friends in London, Denmark and Germany and visited much of central Europe. In 2018, her daughter took her on her first visit to Italy where they enjoyed a leisurely time taking in the beautiful surroundings of Lake Como, Florence and Milan. Her final international trip was a solo excursion to Costa Rica for her 85th birthday.
Above all, Ann cherished her family and felt so blessed by her children, grand and great children. Her life was a wonderful example of faith in action. She will be remembered for her enthusiasm, humor, wisdom, and deep faith that touched many lives.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 2nd at 2pm at Church of the Valley, 20700 Standing Rock Ave, Apple Valley.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to the Parkinson’s Foundation or Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
In loving memory of Ann, and to continue her legacy of compassion and connection, we will be honoring her
Support Group meeting Ann’s kindness and strength touched so many lives, and her presence will be deeply missed. We are grateful to Nancy Ziebarth-Steinwand with VNAcare, who will continue leading the group. All are welcome as we come together Monday, August 4 at 1:00 pm th to support one another and remember our dear friend.
