Based upon the preliminary findings of an internal investigation, Mayor Paul Anthony Courtney has been temporarily barred from having direct access with anyone at City Hall other than City Manager Willie Hopkins.
By a 4-to-0 vote of the city council during a closed session of the city council Monday night, September 12, a decision to end Courtney’s privileges as an elected official at City Hall was made. His office was sealed off and his key and passcode disabled.
No authorized statement regarding that action has been publicly made, although a written statement was, according to an employee within the city manager’s office, under preparation on Tuesday. That statement has yet to be provided to the press or public. The city attorney is to make a public report of the situation at the next meeting of the city council. Continue reading →

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday chose Christopher Wilhite to replace the late Robert Dutton as county assessor for the next three-and-a-half months.
Dutton died July 23, a month and 16 days after he was reelected assessor for the second time without opposition to the position of the county’s highest-situated taxing authority.
Dutton was heavily involved in real estate speculation and development in the 1980s and 1990s, primarily in Rancho Cucamonga where he acceded to the position of chairman of the Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce. In 2000, largely on the strength of his family fortune and the support of the development and business community, he was elected to the Rancho Cucamonga City Council. Two years later, he successfully vied for the California Assembly. After a single term in California’s lower legislative house, in 2004, he ran to replace Jim Brulte, the Republican leader of the California Senate who was being termed out.
Once in place in California’s upper legislative house, Dutton served, essentially, as Brulte’s surrogate, effectively extending the latter’s tenure as a legislator not in name but in effect. Over the next eight years, Dutton followed Brulte’s instructions and in 2010, under an arrangement engineered by Brulte, Dutton assumed the position of Republican Senate Leader, heading that 40-seat legislative body’s 15-member GOP delegation. Continue reading →

The relationship between lame duck San Bernardino Mayor John Valdivia and Rod Pacheco, the attorney who defended him so passionately against a bevy of lawsuits and accusations of sexual harassment, abuse of his official authority and political corruption, has apparently gone south.
Pacheco, who a generation ago waged a battle to establish a niche for Hispanic politicians within the Republican Party, is credited by some with having created or at least partially created the atmosphere within which Valdivia was able to establish what just a few years ago appeared to be a promising political presence as arguably one of the more significant Latino officeholders in San Bernardino County.
A San Bernardino native who went onto a successful legal career, initially as a deputy prosecutor in the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, Pacheco in 1996 was elected to the California Assembly. In November 1998 he was chosen by his colleagues as the Republican Assembly leader, marking the first time in the state’s history that a Latino had served in that capacity. He narrowly missed out on becoming assembly speaker as a consequence of the Republicans having lost a net five Assembly seats in that month’s election rather than picking up two seats as had been the GOP’s hope going into that election cycle. In 2002, he was termed out of the Assembly and went back to being a lawyer. In 2006, he was elected Riverside County District Attorney, serving a single term in that role. Continue reading →

His intent in running for a position on the Rancho Cucamonga City Council is to prevent the burgeoning city from losing its quaint character, Erick Jimenez said.
“I moved to the city when I was in elementary school,” Jimenez said. “And even though the orange groves and grapevines have been replaced by tract homes and shopping centers, it still maintains its small-town values. I know that’s true of my community in Alta Loma, where my daughter can still play outside, and neighbors look after each other. That’s why I’m running for city council, so that my daughter can grow up in the same safe and prosperous community I was raised in.”
Jimenez is vying against Floyd Clark, Mary Hannah, Lawrence Henderson, Ashley Stickler and Rose Stephens Olmsted to replace the late Sam Spagnolo as the city’s District 1 councilman and serve out the remainder of his term through 2024. Spagnolo died in May, leaving the council at four-fifths strength.
“I have been active in our community for over a decade now,” Jimenez said, “involved with different civic organization in the city. I understand how local government works and I’m ready to start working for our community on day one. We need to address the specific issues of District 1, such as development and fire protection in our foothills and lack of services in our parks, trails, and facilities.”
Jimenez said, “I’m the only candidate with school age children, and if you are a middle-class family like mine, you know how expensive childcare can be. Childcare can run thousands of dollars a month for families. Currently, the city does not have a single, city-financed daycare center. There is one from the county for lower income families, but nothing for middle-income families. I want to propose we use our parks, city facilities and recreational department to establish a city-run daycare center in every district of the city, for those folks that qualify in the middle-class category of $50,000 to $120,000 in household income per year.” Continue reading →

It is the hope of preserving the conservative social milieu in Yucaipa that has motivated Erik Sahakian to enter the political fray in Yucaipa. 
“As a husband, father, and proud citizen, my desire to be the Yucaipa City Councilman for District 1 is founded on my vision to secure the future of our great city for its citizens, businesses, children, and all future generations who will call Yucaipa their home,” Sahakian said. “Yucaipa truly is a special place—a conservative, family-oriented community—and I plan to keep it that way.”
Together with Mark Taylor, Matt Garner and Sherilyn Long, Sahakian is seeking to replace District 1 Councilman David Avila, who is not seeking reelection this year. 
Sahakian said “My combination of experience, education, and management skills qualify me well for this position. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science with a concentration in public administration from California State University, Fullerton. I also graduated from the University of Redlands with a Master of Business Administration degree. With nearly 30 years of management experience, in both the public and private sectors, self-employment as an entrepreneur, as well as working for a non-profit, I know my background will be an asset on the council.” Continue reading →

The flooding and severe mud flows in Forest Falls, Oak Glen and other spots around the San Bernardino Mountains that followed in the wake of Tropical Storm Kay on Monday, September 12 have claimed at least one life and prompted the county to declare a state of emergency.
As excessive sheetflow was general all over the south-central area of the county, the burn areas created by 2020’s Apple and El Dorado fires experienced a rapid accumulation of water that contributed to a flash flood circumstance.
In Forest Falls, power was knocked out early and no one was able to get in or out of the area as the deluge began and authorities advised residents caught there to hunker down, as it was deemed too dangerous to brave the intense flows across Valley of the Falls Drive. Debris and mud flows rushing down the natural drainages and creek beds proved an overwhelming force throughout in Forest Falls. As the Lower Canyon was threatened by both cascading water and mud flows, an evacuation order for Forest Falls from Canyon Drive to Prospect Drive was given followed by another. Continue reading →

Notice is hereby given pursuant to Sections 3071 of the Civil Code of the State of California the undersigned will sell the following vehicle(s) at lien sale at said address below on: 009/23/2022 09:00 AM
Year of Car / Make of Car / Vehicle ID No. / License No. (State)
2016 INTERNATIONAL 1HTMLAFM64H610584 7D00756 CA
To be sold by AIR EXPRESSWAY TOWING 17393 JASMINE STVICTORVILLE CA 92395
Said sale is for the purpose of satisfying lien for together with costs of advertising and expenses of sale.
Published in the San Bernardino County Sentinel on September 16, 2022.

Notice is hereby given pursuant to Sections 3071 of the Civil Code of the State of California the undersigned will sell the following vehicle(s) at lien sale at said address below on: 009/23/2022 09:00 AM
Year of Car / Make of Car / Vehicle ID No. / License No. (State)
2009 FREIGHTLINER 1HTMLAFM64H610584 XP55431 CA
To be sold by CARLOS ZAMORA GONZALEZ 542 E CENTRAL AVE SAN BERNARDINO CA 92408
Said sale is for the purpose of satisfying lien for together with costs of advertising and expenses of sale.
Published in the San Bernardino County Sentinel on September 16, 2022.

Notice is hereby given pursuant to Sections 3071 of the Civil Code of the State of California the undersigned will sell the following vehicle(s) at lien sale at said address below on: 009/23/2022 09:00 AM
Year of Car / Make of Car / Vehicle ID No. / License No. (State)
2018 MAZDA JM1GL1VM8J1315762 8EMW271 CA
To be sold by COLLISION SOURCE 996 N MT VERNON SAN BERNARDINO 92411
Said sale is for the purpose of satisfying lien for together with costs of advertising and expenses of sale.
Published in the San Bernardino County Sentinel on September 16, 2022.

Notice is hereby given pursuant to Sections 3071 of the Civil Code of the State of California the undersigned will sell the following vehicle(s) at lien sale at said address below on: 009/23/2022 09:00 AM
Year of Car / Make of Car / Vehicle ID No. / License No. (State)
2017 TOYT 5TDXZ3DC4HS850443 7ZOA431 CA
To be sold by COLLISION SOURCE 996 N MT VERNON SAN BERNARDINO 92411
Said sale is for the purpose of satisfying lien for together with costs of advertising and expenses of sale.
Published in the San Bernardino County Sentinel on September 16, 2022.

NOTICE OF SALE OF VESSEL AND TRAILER

Notice is hereby given the undersigned will sell the following vessel and trailer at lien sale at said address below on: 09/23/2022 9:00 am
VESSEL
03 BOMB ZZN60554L203 5797PZ CA

TRAILER

03 ZIEM 1ZCS140173W310885 4ED2677 CA
DATE OF SALE- 09/23/2022
TIME OF SALE-09:00 AM
To be sold by JV MOTORSPORTS1744 S WILLOW AVE RIALTO CA 92376
Said sale is for the purpose of satisfying lien for together with costs of advertising and expenses of sale.
Published in the San Bernardino County Sentinel on September 16, 2022.
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE
NUMBER CIVSB 2215266
TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: SUSANA CORONA & MARCELINO DABALOS CORONA JR. filed with this court for a decree changing names as follows:
ISAAC MANUEL WOLFORD to ISAAC MANUEL CORONA
THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.
Notice of Hearing
Date: September 21, 2022
Time: 8:30 AM
Department: S16
The address of the court is Superior Court of California,
County of San Bernardino, 247 West Third Street, San Bernardino, CA 92415
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a copy of this order be published in the San Bernardino County Sentinel in San Bernardino County California, once a week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing of the petition.
Dated: 07/20/2022
Judge of the Superior Court: JOHN M. PACHECO
Attorney for Susana Corona & Marcelino Dabalos Corona Jr.:
Sandy S. Garcia, Esquire
Garcia & Miller, APLC
49459 Palo Verde Street, Suite 207C
Montclair, California 91763
(909) 321-9241
s.garcia@garciamiller.com
Published in the San Bernardino County Sentinel on 08/26/2022, 09/02/2022, 09/09/2022 & 09/16/2022.

Continue reading →

Based upon the preliminary findings of an internal investigation, Mayor Paul Anthony Courtney has been temporarily barred from City Hall. During a closed session of the city council last night, September 12, by a 4-to-0 vote a decision to remove him from City Hall was made. His office was sealed off and his key and passcode disenabled.
No authorized statement regarding that action has been publicly made, although a written statement is, according to an employee within the city manager’s office, under preparation. The city attorney is to make a public report of the situation at the next meeting of the city council.
More than eight months ago, on December 21, 2021. the Barstow City Council voted to censure Courtney, making an expression of disapproval for what its members said was Courtney’s use of his mayoral status and the city’s name and logo to engage in what was characterized as a political mailing camouflaged as an official handbill aimed at promoting the city but which Courtney’s critics maintained was intended to advance himself politically. He was further charged with overstepping his reach as mayor in effectuating official action.
Information as to what is being examined in the current investigation is being closely guarded by the city.
–Mark Gutglueck