Z107.7 Local News for Thursday 03/19/26 - Lo-Fi Lit Fest, MVCSD reorg, Chamber mixer
March 19, 2026·10 min
1. Z107.7 News Director Jeff Harmatz presents the local news for Thursday, March 19th, 2026, covering crime, local government, community events, and sports across the Morongo Basin.
2. The bulletin is produced by the Z1077 Local News team at the station known online as Z1077FM.com, serving the Morongo Basin and the Joshua Tree area of Southern California's high desert.
3. The episode's core purpose is to give Morongo Basin residents a daily digest of local government decisions, law enforcement activity, and upcoming community events.
4. Michael Ingram, 34, was arrested in Landers after allegedly returning to a restraining-order victim's home days after his release from West Valley Detention Center and threatening to kill the victim if they contacted law enforcement; he is held on $125,000 bail.
5. Brian Kelber, 55, of Morongo Valley was stopped for vehicle code violations near Yucca Valley just after midnight, found to have three active warrants, and a vehicle search recovered methamphetamine, heroin, psilocybin mushrooms, unidentified pills, and drug paraphernalia; held on $100,000 bail.
6. The Morongo Valley Community Services District Board of Directors met in regular session and reorganized: Randy Wilson became park commissioner, Christina Gorky retained the presidency, and Lance Fisher, Johnny Tolbert, and Steve Hayden kept their vice president, finance director, and fire commissioner roles respectively.
7. Fire Chief Katal Biano announced the department will receive a new Type 3 fire engine through the Federal Excess Property Program, replacing apparatus that has proven irreparable; all repairs will be handled in-house.
8. Arrowbear Lake Fire Chief Paul Lindley presented a one-year interagency support agreement, proposing $50 an hour at 15 hours a month to help MVCSD find alternative revenue through grants and non-tax routes, guaranteeing visible financial results by December.
9. Lindley cited his own track record: in four years he grew his department's operating budget from $289,000 to $738,000 with no additional tax increases or assessments, entirely through alternative revenue sources.
10. The board approved the interagency fire administrative agreement between MVCSD and the Arrowbear Lake County Water District.
11. The Yucca Valley Animal Shelter Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. at the Yucca Valley Community Center's Cholla Room to discuss microchipping, adoption events, spay and neuter programs, the shelter's county contract, and its volunteer program.
12. The City of 29 Palms Parks and Recreation Department office has reopened to the public Monday through Friday from 1 to 6 p.m. following a temporary closure for the Lucky Park ADA Parking Improvements Project.
13. The Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce hosts a mixer from 5 to 7 p.m. at La Caguama on Highway 62, open to members and non-members.
14. The High Desert Lo-Fi Lit Fest begins Friday: a free, all-access DIY literary and music festival spanning multiple venues across the Morongo Basin — the Palms in Wonder Valley, Z Club in Joshua Tree, Mojave Gold in Yucca Valley, and Corners 62 in 29 Palms.
15. Organizers Rob Roberge and Gina Frangello, who also run the Bombay Beach Lit Fest (founded 2019), describe the event as 'an antidote to high-ticket elite festivals' with a punk ethos — all volunteers and performers unpaid, all events free.
16. Musical acts include San Pedro punk veteran Mike Watt and Psychedelic Furs guitarist Rich Goode; Roberge and Frangello's band the Hitchcock Brunettes will also make their debut.
17. Literary programming includes panels on noir fiction, writing sex and desire, band books, travel and music writing, and filmmaking, with featured writers including Todd Goldberg, Jim Ruhland, Susan Rukeyser, and Rachel Resnick.
18. The bulletin closes with a preview of tomorrow's Z1077 Up Close show: host Gary Dineo speaks with guides Travis Pugliosi and Heather Clisby from Wandering Mojave Hiking Services about springtime at Joshua Tree National Park.
19. The 29 Palms High School Boys Varsity Tennis Team beat Coachella Valley High School 10-8 and travel to Coachella today.
20. The bulletin airs seven times a day, seven days a week, at 7, 8, 9, noon, 4, 5, and 6, and is available online at Z1077FM.com.
