Refugio Manuel Jimenez Jr. and his wife Angelina Renee Jimenez will go to trial on a total of 28 counts, including involuntary manslaughter, over their ill-advised use of a flammable device during a gender reveal celebration at El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa on September 5, 2020 that led to the ignition of what turned into the El Dorado fire, which raged out of control for 24 days, charring 22,680 acres, destroying five homes and damaging four others and resulting in the death of firefighter Charles Morton, who lost his life battling the blaze more than a week and a half after it started.
Originally, each was charged with the 29 counts, one felony count of PC 192(b), involuntary manslaughter; three felony charges of PC 452(a), arson that causes great bodily injury; four felony charges of PC 452(b), arson that causes an inhabited structure or inhabited property to burn and 22 misdemeanor charges of PC 452(d), unlawfully causing a fire of property. Continue reading →

Fourteen weeks after the The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department initiated “Operation Consequences,” intended to suppress criminal operations perpetuated by the community’s already identified criminal element, efforts to target those residing in the county who are violating the conditions of their parole or probation continue.
According to the sheriff’s department, the program is intended to focus in particular on the High Desert, where the sheriff’s department provides law enforcement service on a contractual basis to the cities of Hesperia, Victorville and Adelanto, the Town of Apple Valley and the unincorporated county areas surrounding and in between them, as well as those places surrounding the City of San Bernardino, which includes the unincorporated county areas there and the cities of Highland, Grand terrace and Loma Linda.
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors authorized funds to assist with county-wide crime suppression. “The intent is to provide additional funding to the Sheriff’s Department, allowing for increased law enforcement services related to quality-of-life issues affecting the communities in our county,” said Sheriff Shannon Dicus. Continue reading →

After more than a year, the San Bernardino City Unified School Board will return to its seven-member strength on February 7.
At that time, Felicia Alexander, who was appointed to fill the most recently vacated position on board, will be sworn in.
She is to fill the gap left by the departure of Gwen Dowdy-Rodgers, who was first elected to the San Bernardino City Unified School Board in 2015 and reelected in 2020 when the district changed to even-year elections, and who was elected to a position on the San Bernardino County School Board in November 2022, necessitating her resignation from that previous post. Continue reading →

To help improve the quality of life for the unincorporated community of San Antonio Heights, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors approved more than $7.5 million in infrastructure improvements on Tuesday. The project includes over 20 linear miles of roadway and concrete work for sidewalks, ADA compliant curb ramps, curbs, gutters, guard railing and painting roadway traffic stripes.
“Road repair and safe walking routes for our families is a priority I will continue to champion,” said Second District County Supervisor Jesse Armendarez. “More than 20 miles of roads will be improved along with sidewalks, curbs and gutters.”
The project will be funded by Senate Bill 1, The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. Senate Bill 1 was approved by the legislature and signed by the governor which invests $54 billion over the next decade. The funds are restricted specifically fixing roads, freeways, bridges and putting more dollars towards safety.
“We have a responsibility to ensure our unincorporated residents have safe routes to drive and walk,” Armendarez said.
The board approved an agreement with Calmex Engineering, Inc., a local company within San Bernardino County, to complete the project. It is anticipated the project will begin in February 2023 and be completed by end of July 2023.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME
CASE NUMBER CIVSB 2223055
TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner ANDREA MARIE NUNEZ filed with this court for a decree changing names as follows:
JOSEPH RUBEN SERNA to JOSEPH MICHAEL NUNEZ
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: FEBRUARY 21, 2023
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.
Filed: 12/7//2022
Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court: Veronica Gonzalez
Andrea Marie Nunez, In Pro Per
11786 Cedar Avenue
Bloomington, CA 92316
(951) 204-4941
Published in the San Bernardino County Sentinel on January 6, 13, 20 & 27, 2023.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME
CASE NUMBER CIVSB 2300040
TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner JACOB JOSHUA REYES filed with this court for a decree changing names as follows:
JACOB JOSHUA REYES to JACOB JOSHUA DIAZ
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: FEBRUARY 17, 2023
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.
Brian S. McCarville, Judge of the Superior Court
Filed: January 6, 2023
Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court: Brianna Johnson
Jacob Joshua Reyes, In Pro Per
Balfour Court
Redlands, CA 92374
(909) 557-6536
jacobdiaz204@gmail.com
Published in the San Bernardino County Sentinel on January 6, 13, 20 & 27, 2023.

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By the grace of Providence and the dogged perseverance of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Division in defiance of long odds, missing hiker Jin Chung has survived a three-day long ordeal in which it was widely surmised that he had joined Crystal Gonzalez-Landas, a mother of four from Covina, British film star Julian Sands and an as-yet-unidentified adventurer as the fourth death among those who had become lost while challenging treacherous 10,064-foot elevation Mt. Baldy this winter season. As it has turned out, however, Chung is yet alive after search and rescue members located the 75-year-old.
“Mr. Chung suffered some weather-related injuries and a leg injury but was able to walk out with the assistance of the crew members,” according to the sheriff’s department. “He was transported to a local hospital for treatment.”
No further information is currently available.
Chung was reported missing Sunday, after he had carpooled to the mountain with two others. Chung told those he had come with that he would meet them back at the vehicle at 2 p.m. that same day, but did not show at the appointed time.
The Sheriff’s Department is closing in on the second full week of the search for missing hiker, Julian Sands. Numerous ground and air search efforts have taken place in a so-far futile effort to find him.
“As of this time, Mr. Sands has not been found and no evidence of his current location has been discovered,” according to the sheriff’s department. “The search will continue, weather and ground conditions permitting.”
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Search and Rescue teams are comprised of trained citizen volunteers, who take on personal risk to help rescue lost and injured hikers. Many hikers, experienced or novice, underestimate the steep terrain, unpredictable weather, and high winds that present themselves the mountain areas. When combined, these circumstances and conditions place the hiker, search and rescue volunteers, and sheriff’s personnel at risk during dangerous search missions.
“Regardless of precautions taken by hikers, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department highly recommends hikers avoid hazardous mountainous areas, such as Mt. Baldy, at this time,” the department stated.
Exposure to the elements and falls contribute to Mt. Baldy’s growing mortality rate and the risk of avalanches prolongs rescue efforts. From 2017-2022, search and rescue teams conducted 233 missions on Mt. Baldy, with eight fatalities. Within that time frame, volunteers have searched 27,277 hours on Mt. Baldy, which equates to $775,578 estimated value, determined by the Office of Emergency Services.  From 2017-2022, sworn personnel and aviation support totaled 2,548 hours in service and $1.4 million in cost for Mt. Baldy rescue missions.
Although sworn personnel and civilian search and rescue volunteers brave the mountainous and snow-covered terrain, the area of Mt. Baldy lies within the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture, United States Forest Service (USFS). The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is committed to assisting with these search missions due to deficits in United States Forest Service staffing, resources, and funding. The closure of national parks and forestry is common in similar California terrains, due to extreme weather conditions. Following the 2019, in-the-line-of-duty death of search and rescue team member Tim Staples, former Sheriff John McMahon met with representatives from Congress in Washington D.C. and collaborative departments to implement temporary closures of remote and dangerous areas during severe weather conditions. Current  Sheriff Dicus supports closure of trails, as necessary due to extreme weather conditions. However, the sheriff’s current focus is on working with legislators to secure additional funding for the United States Forest Service, to implement a permit process for hikers visiting local mountains and rangers on the trails, to educate, ensure hikers have the proper equipment and training, and enforce the permits.
Sheriff Dicus said he is committed to public safety and will continue working with his department’s counterparts with the United States Forest Service and federal legislators to find solutions for managing the county’s vast wilderness. The sheriff’s department continues to urge the public to use extreme caution and avoid unnecessary hiking during dangerous winter weather.