Helicopter - plane circling above

[SkierBob]

YES~~  Our son was held at gun point by 3 cowards
His lap top was stolen then they drove off in a brown van

That's horrible!  I can't wait to hear the rest of the story. 

[quadriders]

He was on his deck on his laptop
That is all they took.  He was afraid at first
now he is mad.  He gets to go to college tomorrow and tell the teacher  his homework was really stolen.  Poor kid
I'm so glad they didnt harm him.  We can always replace the computer but you cant replace a life.

[ChrisLynnet]

I am so shocked! I cannot even believe it... in Wrightwood, a guy is on his own deck minding his own business and he is threatened at gunpoint?

People are running around town armed?

I'm reminded of Hillbilly saying that some teens near his house had been talking about a gun in a threatening way.

Quadriders, thank God your son wasn't hurt. But how horrible! BTW I just got up, closed my windows and my shutters. My doors are already locked. Geez...

[WWMtnGal]

He was on his deck on his laptop
That is all they took.  He was afraid at first
now he is mad.  He gets to go to college tomorrow and tell the teacher  his homework was really stolen.  Poor kid
I'm so glad they didnt harm him.  We can always replace the computer but you cant replace a life.

I am so glad he was not hurt but it is just astounding that he was on his deck and they approached him!!  What the heck!

[mokandi]

I seriously hope he could give some information that would help the police arrest these guys.  The information my employee and a few others bravely gave the police regarding the sicko put him in jail.  I'm glad that he is okay!  So glad. 

[Moose]

Are there anymore details on the vehicle or suspects in this armed robbery so we can be on the lookout around WW?

[mgomerymom]

YES~~  Our son was held at gun point by 3 cowards
His lap top was stolen then they drove off in a brown van

Oh my, I am so sorry...thank God your son is ok and not harmed. Were the 3 cowards teens or adults? Did the brown van look like a local one? Seems like it'd have to be, why would a vehicle drive down Laura?

People are running around town armed?

I'm reminded of Hillbilly saying that some teens near his house had been talking about a gun in a threatening way.

Quadriders, thank God your son wasn't hurt. But how horrible! BTW I just got up, closed my windows and my shutters. My doors are already locked. Geez...

Chrislynnet, I know what you mean...I am home sick today, and after the kids left for the bus, I locked my doors and closed my windows. I even called my kids to make certain they made it on the bus and to school safely.  Geez....
I wonder if these are the same teens near Hillbilly's house who were talking about a gun?! 

Also, FYI, the little hoodlum teen who thinks he is invincible (the old yankee peddlers son) has borderline adult (meaing 18/19ish) friends coming up from LA threatening our local teens with knives....they too could have guns....by the looks of them, not judging just protecting myself and others. they are not good people. And you teens/parents, need to call the sheriff and turn them in. They come up quickly if you say you were threatened with knife/gun.

[Hillbillies]

Here we go folks.

Those of you who think that a youth center in towns is what is needed to prevent violent kids from growing up into violent hoodlems you are really living in a fantasy world.

Everytime I talk about getting tough on the trouble makers in town, somebody pipes up about a stupid a$$ skate park or youth center for our less fortunate kids.  There are plenty of towns with youth centers and skate parks, and guess what, these towns have crimes being committed by kids.

Go ahead and build your youth centers and your skate parks, and when crime is still being committed by bad kids you can go back to the drawing board scratching your heads and come up with some other ways to save our children!.

Until then, get off your arses and start filling out patrol requests at the sheriff's station because that's what this town needs NOW!

[KB]

One permanent cop, one month of clearing out the riff-raff; seems pretty simple. How about posting a map with all the "problem" resident's locations? Oh wait, that would be discriminating and slanderous against their good character and possibly threaten their entitlements that the rest of us pay for. Hillbilly, this patrol request; is it a collective patition or individual as-we-go requests? Knowing the kids you all are talking about, I wouldn't be surprised if it's part of our local bunch/your neighbors. Who's gonna' stop 'em, mom or dad? Ha!

[Chesslike]

This would be a good time to bring up that you have an asset available to you that you can take advantage of and make your community a better place, its called Wrightwood MAC meetings. The Wrightwood MAC meets the third Monday of every month and we will be meeting this coming Monday, September 15, 2008. You usually have the ear of law enforcement, the County Supervisor's office, County Roads and other agencies that deal with our town. Even if the agency that you wish to talk to is not there, one of the MAC members can usually contact the appropriate person on your behalf and have your concerns addressed. Those who say they are pressed for time should know that public comments are at the beginning of the meeting, so you can raise your concerns and be on your way in 15 or 20 minutes. People also say they have kids to watch and that they can't make the meetings because of that reason. Just know that other parent have brought their kids to the meetings when they had issues that they needed to bring up and no one was worse for the wear. You would be surprised what you can accomplish with the tiny bit of effort it takes to make these monthly meetings. The agencies and the MAC members are usually willing to help get your problems resolved, we just need to hear them from you and know about them so we can take action. Try going that extra step from just complaining on this forum and coming to a MAC meeting, you might be pleasantly surprised.

[Suhijita]

Yes... we ought to act instead of jumping down other peoples throats for citing violence and drug useage. Call the police, stand in the gap for our kids and families... but mostly - PARENT YOUR CHILDREN. Wake up parents, wake up WWE, wake up PMMS, wake up Serrano and wake up Wrightwood - we are passing our children through the fire....

Maybe it is time to ask tough questions, like why are we so selfish to have our "own life" our "own careers" and our own fun at the expense of our children?

Many combat this notion with "oh - I know a Serrano Graduate that excelled in this fashion,  or is a SCL at such and such university" or merely "turned out fine."

Do we want our kids to escape the system unscathed, or do we want to provide a situation where they can thrive immeasurably and our hands are not only clean, but they are catalysts to victory?

Fact: Most children are out of their parents' supervision for 35+ hours/week.

NOBODY EVER SAYS THEY WISH THEY WOULD HAVE SPENT LESS TIME WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND MORE TIME SERVING THEMSELVES....

[Tomas]

In my short time posting, I've learned that many people in this forum do "parent" their children. You're preaching to the choir.

Now, telling parents and the schools to "wake up..." You're the one that is dreaming thinking all kids have parents that care about them.

There are plenty of meth addicts in the high desert who's actions show they would rather serve them selves and their addictions than spent time with their kids. There are kids out there that do not know how to use utensils. I just met a kid this year that was hit in the head and beaten with a baseball bat by his mother.

I appreciate your passion Suhijita, unfortunately the good people have to help raise other people's kids if we really want to make change. There are a whole lot of great kids in the foster care system that need a lot of guidance before they start making bad decisions.

[Toolman]

Until then, get off your arses and start filling out patrol requests at the sheriff's station because that's what this town needs NOW!

 HB couldn't be more correct in that statement.

 For example:

Everytime we're on FS patrol we come across something that we write incident reports on. Especially up on Blue Ridge with campfire rings built at the Heath slide, Slover Cyn, Ball Flat  or turnouts along the FS roads. Last weekend Saturday, while training a new volunteer, a passing vehicle notified us of a campfire left in full involved flame at Guffy campground. We responded and it was infact fully involved, not just smoldering. We called it in and Engine 38 and patrol 38 were dispatched to assist. We were able to handle it with water we carry and shovels. I called off engine 38 but patrol 38 was almost on scene and that was a good thing.

 By reporting everything we come in contact with that's in violation of Forest Service regulations and we write it up, it justifies the need for continued patrols in our area known as area 12 or the "High Country" and funding from congress which supports what is needed to keep the patrols in service.

 At the top of the web page there is a link to ANF Dispatch. If you have a look you can see how small or large the incidents are... but reported non the less.

 BTW, while we were extinguishing the campfire at Guffy campground we got a vehicle and occupant description from a witness and I relayed the discription to Patrol 38. The vehicle was encountered by Patrol 38 on his way up the mountain as the campers were leaving the area. All three occupants were cited for leaving a developed campfire. A mandatory court appearance by all three and the bail will be set by the judge at that time from 75.00 and not to exceed 5k. Given they left a fully involved campfire, it will be pricey for sure.

 The point I'm trying to make is exactly what HB's statement implies, is to call or fill out in person requests and incidents to justify more uniformed LEO patrol presence.


 My trainee got his first good taste of you can't fix stupid  but you have to handle stupid the best you can.

[Bob C]

All three occupants were cited for leaving a developed campfire. A mandatory court appearance by all three and the bail will be set by the judge at that time from 75.00 and not to exceed 5k. Given they left a fully involved campfire, it will be pricey for sure.

Excellent! Sometimes, it amazes me that the whole ridge hasn't been on fire, because of loser idiots like these "campers".

[RobertW]

To go along with what "Toolman" said...

As Volunteers we've been putting out illegal campfires and educating the public about fire restrictions since the USFS Volunteer Group was formed three years ago. 

The difference of late is that we are now calling each incident in to "Angeles" so it is entered into the computer database ( http://63.196.254.151//Wildweb/WCANFrecent.htm) and doing the paperwork. 

Yes, it takes more time and is kind of a hassle, but it has been impressed upon us by VIS-34, REC-34 and Patrol-38, the paid USFS personnel in our area, that taking the extra time to fully document the incident will possibly benefit our part of the Forest in the future when it comes to possible funding or allocation of monies.

"The Squeaky Wheel gets the Grease!"

The same can be said with Wrightwood and people taking the extra effort and time in contacting the SBCo Sheriff's Office.

BTW, word will get out.  In the Forest we have adopted a "No Tolerance" policy with Illegal or out of ring campfires.  The fines can be hefty.  Not just that it will cost you a minimum of $75.  As Toolman mentioned, since 2005 you can no longer just mail your fine in, but you will be required to take time off to go down to the Federal Court building in downtown Los Angeles and appear before the judge.  If you don't, a Federal Warrant will be issued.  The Judge wants to personally impressed upon each fire restriction violator the seriousness of their actions.  The fine, $75 - $5,000 will no doubt be decided by the Judge based on the seriousness of the infraction and the violator's attitude.

With us advising people of this even if only a warning is given and not a citation, the word will get out.  People will be put on notice that this is NOT acceptable in the Forest.

The same thing can happen within the boundries of Wrightwood, if we take the extra effort and time.

[assilem]

I Agree!!! Great post Hillbilly.

Here we go folks.

Those of you who think that a youth center in towns is what is needed to prevent violent kids from growing up into violent hoodlems you are really living in a fantasy world.

Everytime I talk about getting tough on the trouble makers in town, somebody pipes up about a stupid a$$ skate park or youth center for our less fortunate kids.  There are plenty of towns with youth centers and skate parks, and guess what, these towns have crimes being committed by kids.

Go ahead and build your youth centers and your skate parks, and when crime is still being committed by bad kids you can go back to the drawing board scratching your heads and come up with some other ways to save our children!.

Until then, get off your arses and start filling out patrol requests at the sheriff's station because that's what this town needs NOW!

[mgomerymom]

Any updates...hopefully someone in custody??

we sort of got off subject....

He was on his deck on his laptop
That is all they took.  He was afraid at first
now he is mad.  He gets to go to college tomorrow and tell the teacher  his homework was really stolen.  Poor kid
I'm so glad they didnt harm him.  We can always replace the computer but you cant replace a life.

again....any updates???

[quadriders]

we havent heard anything yet
sure hope they catch them.

[Cherokee_Kid]

Large plane just flew very low over the hills between DFR towards Hwy 2/138. Is there a fire somewhere???

[clint]

Anything leaving the tanker base at fox and headed anywhere southwest will pass over you/us headed down the pass. Could be anywhere in the south half of the southland