Victorville Daily Press
Authorities did not report any issues at Saturday’s “mask-free” event at the Jess Ranch Marketplace, organized by people online in an apparent protest of COVID-19 protocols.
A flyer made rounds on social media Thursday and Friday, and a Facebook user who shared the flyer posted that the event’s purpose was to “encourage people who want to be mask free but may be afraid, to take off their masks & to let businesses know that we will not tolerate discrimination for those of us who choose to live mask free.”
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Cindy Bachman said Sunday that she was unaware of any complaints or incidents that occurred at the Apple Valley complex.
Southbound lanes remain closed at this time
Victorville Daily Press
The southbound Interstate 15 lanes were reopened Monday morning after being shut down from Baker to the Mountain Pass for approximately four hours.
The southbound lanes were reopened just before 1:30 p.m., some two hours after the northbound lanes were reopened, according to California Highway Patrol spokesperson Steven Rogers.
The closure began at 9:30 a.m. and was in place from Kelbaker Road to Yates Well Road.
“It’s unknown at this time the length of time it will be closed,” Rogers said after the northbound lanes were reopened. “Once weather clears up and road conditions improve, we can open back up.”
Granite Hills High School s Alcántara-Rojas earns 40 Under Forty honor from Yamaha
Victorville Daily Press
Honored for “creativity, growth, action, and courage,” a music program director at Granite Hill High School has been awarded Yamaha’s 40 Under Forty recognition.
Javier Alcántara-Rojas, the director of instrumental music for the Granite Recording and Entertainment Arts Training Academy, was recently announced as one of 40 recipients for the honor.
Yamaha’s 40 Under Forty is meant to highlight young music educators who inspire students, colleagues and their communities.
Shane Churchill, the GREAT Academy’s director of vocal music, nominated his colleague for the award, saying Alcántara-Rojas is the “best thing” to have happened to Granite Hills’ performing arts.
Hesperia shootout suspect pleads not guilty to 5 felonies
Victorville Daily Press
A 39-year-old Hesperia man allegedly caught on video in a shootout after trying to force entry into a victim’s home pleaded not guilty to five felonies Wednesday, including murder.
While court records show that prosecutors charged Erick Javier Contreras with murder, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Taylor Reynolds, of the Hesperia station, said Contreras is not accused of murder, but attempted murder.
An inquiry left with the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office was not returned Thursday.
“In regard to his charges, it should be attempted murder for the incident,” Reynolds said in an email Thursday.
Lenwood man pleads not guilty to 14 sexual abuse felonies, bail set at $7M
Victorville Daily Press
A 28-year-old Lenwood man is being held on $7 million bail after prosecutors charged him with 14 felony counts of sexual abuse on Friday.
Mario Renteria, identified by San Bernardino County Sheriff’ officials as Mario Renteria Junior Gallegos, appeared via video in a Victorville courtroom Friday and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Ten of those charges carried allegations of aggravated circumstances, court records show.
Authorities arrested Renteria at his home in the 34200 block of Birch Road on Wednesday. Two days later, prosecutors charged him with five counts of lewd or lascivious acts, three counts of sexual penetration/oral copulation, two counts of sexual intercourse/sodomy, two counts of rape by force or fear, sodomy and sexual abuse of a child, court records show.