A note from Supervisor Lovingood: Las Vegas train project passes major milestone

Late last year, I met with Virgin Trains USA officials and received an in-depth briefing on their plan to build a high-speed train between Victorville and Las Vegas. This week, Virgin Trains USA won an important approval as the state’s Debt Limit Allocation Committee staff recommended that the company be allowed to sell tax-exempt debt to private investors to fund the project.

The beauty of this plan is that it is financed by the private sector. Investors, not taxpayers, will take on the financial risk. The public will get the benefit of having an alternative route to Las Vegas that will remove an estimated 4.5 million cars from the road each year. Virgin Trains plans to lay tracks in the center median along Interstate 15 between Victorville and Las Vegas. Construction is expected to begin in 2020, with train operations beginning in 2023.

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Vaping-associated pulmonary injuries reported in the County

Two acute lung injury cases associated with vaping have been reported in San Bernardino County hospitals. California has a total of 36 pulmonary injury cases and one death in Los Angeles County as of Aug. 27. As of Sept. 11, over 380 cases of lung illness and six deaths associated with the use of e-cigarette products have been reported nationwide.

“Although the cause of vaping associated illness is still unknown, I urge anyone who is currently vaping or dabbing to stop,” said Dr. Maxwell Ohikhuare, San Bernardino County Health Officer. “As of now, this is the only way to prevent pulmonary injury.”

For more information visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Electronic Cigarettes page or contact the Communicable Disease Section at (800) 722-4794.

Virulent Newcastle Disease quarantine remains in effect

All bird owners within the Virulent Newcastle Disease regional quarantine area of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties should continue practicing enhanced biosecurity and not move birds. The regional quarantine will be lifted when testing shows that VND is no longer active in the area, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The department is working hard to finish testing. Please help by not moving birds, maintaining good biosecurity, allowing officials to test your birds when asked, and speaking out when someone is violating the regional quarantine. Bird owners under quarantine are not permitted to move their birds, because exposed birds may appear healthy but could be in the early stages of infection and highly contagious to other birds.

https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/newcastle_disease_info.html

“Meet & Clean” Hesperia Sept. 28

Hesperia is offering a new, easy program to help clean up neighborhoods. “Meet & Clean” was created as a means for individuals and groups to make a difference in the community on one day with no preregistration required. Want to help out? Simply show up at our cleanup location on the day of the event. It's that easy. All supplies are provided by the City for all volunteers including gloves, bags, and pickup sticks. Additionally, event sponsors may assist by providing food/snacks for volunteers. All minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. All events begin at 8 a.m. and end at 11 a.m. ​

• Sept. 28 - Escondido and Sultana, near Nolina Drive. 
• Oct. 26 - Cleanup Day locations around the City. 

For more information click on https://www.keephesperiabeautiful.com/ or email dsousa@cityofhesperia.us.

Lone Pine Canyon culvert project workshop set for Oct. 1

San Bernardino County Public Works Department will hold a public workshop on the Lone Pine Canyon Road culvert replacement project from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Wrightwood Community Building, 1275 Highway 2. The project is to remove the existing drainage structure on Lone Pine Canyon at Sheep Creek and to replace it with a larger arched culvert. The project includes reconstruction of 400 feet of roadway. Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in April 2020 and will last approximately six months. http://cms.sbcounty.gov/dpw/Home.aspx

Manufacturing Day 2019

The High Desert Manufacturers Council invites you to kick off Manufacturing Month with a tour of DeVoll Rubber MFG Group from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3. DeVoll Rubber has been in the High Desert for 13 years and is currently located at SCLA in Victorville. As a manufacturer of rubber washers, bumpers, grommets, tubing, edge protectors and any other rubber product you can imagine, DeVoll Rubber is able to work in all types of industry from commercial to automotive, oil and aerospace. To RSVP, call (760) 246-0142.

The High Desert Manufacturers Council provides manufacturers access to information regarding continuous education for incumbent employees and new hires. In addition to that, it brings manufacturers together to share knowledge about local governing, new manufacturing techniques, and innovation.

State of Education presentation set for Sept. 25

San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre will hold his State of Education Addresses from 3:30 to 5 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 25 at High Desert Church, 14545 Hook Blvd in Victorville. For more information email barbara.alejandre@sbcss.net or https://www.sbcss.k12.ca.us/

Did you know?

San Bernardino County offers a program to help older and disabled clients perform self-examinations and identify potentially life-threatening health issues such as skin cancer, breast cancer and heart disease. Mobile Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) clinics serve the High Desert at senior centers, churches and health fairs using anatomical models. Clients may touch the anatomical models and learn to identify possible life-threatening symptoms, while giving clients an active role in their own health. http://wp.sbcounty.gov/hs/