Off the I-15

I still got it.

Another ride-along down, another arrestless night.

During the few hours I spent with the California Highway Patrol and the Barstow Police Department at their sobriety checkpoint, we arrested no one for driving under the influence. My ride-along record currently stands at only one arrest, made with the Barstow PD several months ago.

I suspect the lack of intoxicated drivers passing through the checkpoint on Saturday night had little to do with prospective criminals knowing I would be there, pen, pad and camera in hand and much to do with the fact that a gaggle of CHP and police cars had set up shop on East Main Street near Muriel Drive.

The checkpoint began around 8 p.m., and by 10, very few vehicles rolled down Barstow’s main drag. With signs posted as far up as Yucca Avenue and the checkpoint designed to give motorists “an out” — an opportunity not to pass through the checkpoint — I suspect many bar patrons, and many sober drivers avoided the area completely. Plus, CHP and Barstow PD officers said with in hours of setting up the checkpoint, every bar in town would know where it is and warn their customers about driving home.

 www.checkpointchecker.com.

CHP officer Zach Stumbaugh stops a car at the checkpoint on Saturday night.

CHP officer Dan Pence demonstrates a field sobriety test. In the background, Barstow police officer Lee Howard explains the test to new officer David Edwards.

CHP officers and Barstow PD officers search a car after a stop on Saturday night.

The rest of the High Desert may be in a drought right now, but on Tuesday, it looked like the Desert Dispatch had more water than it knew what to do with.

I returned from my daily routine of checking the police and sheriff’s logs to find much of the floor covered in water and newsprint. Most surprising of all, Ben Heldreth, a graphic designer, had a mop.

Apparently, a toilet malfunctioned and sent the water spewing into the office. Though I am not sure, I think the problem has been fixed. I really hope so.

Ben with a mop. He later wrote a song called, ‘This is why I mop.’

The Desert Dispatch staff simply asking, ‘What happened?’ and then finding a good use for newsprint.

In an e-mail to the entire staff, Ad Director Bea Lint wrote:

“Although you can’t see how much water was on the floor, everyone sprang into action by putting newsprint on the floor to stop it from migrating to the rest of the building - GREAT Thinking. Nothing got ruined due to their quick thinking.”

He’s not as well-known as Yertle, Dr. Seuss’ fictional turtle who sat atop a towering turtle throne, but he’s a distinguished High Desert resident. Desert tortoise Zeus is 100 years old, according to Art Basulto of the Bureau of Land Management. Zeus made an appearance at Barstow’s Fourth of July event, where he feasted on watermelon near the BLM table.

Zeus, who had been living under a house, was found after the tenant died, Basulto said, along with six others. Because of his calm temperament, Zeus was the one enlisted into education. He travels to schools with Basulto to teach kids about the desert tortoise.

— Stevie St. John

Newberry Springs:

Newberry Springs firefighters prepare for the flag ceremony before Tuesday night fireworks. Oscar Alvarez, an Army veteran, conceived of a special ceremony he said was meant to honor the country as well as fallen firefighters.

A float ready for the Newberry Springs parade. The community’s fireworks show was on July 3 as usual; the parade, however, was moved to the Fourth of July.

Angie Infante, almost 2, plays ball with Timothy Lindsay, 5, before the Newberry Springs fireworks show on Tuesday night. About 30 children played on the slide, swings and jungle gym near the community center before the show started.

Barstow:

Loren Bernal, 9, plays water tag at Barstow’s holiday celebration on Wednesday.

Hason Bell, 8, prepares for the plunge down the Thunder Rapids water slide at Barstow’s Fireworks Spectacular event.

— Stevie St. John