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Home > Desert Oracle Radio > JTNP recognizes Twentynine Palms businesses who stepped up during the shutdown


	Podcast:		Desert Oracle Radio
	Episode:		JTNP recognizes Twentynine Palms businesses who stepped up during the shutdown
	Category:		Society & Culture
	Duration:		00:00:00
	Publish Date:		2025-12-11 16:20:15
	Description:		Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent Jane Rodgers was at the most recent Twentynine Palms City Council meeting where she recognized some local businesses and residents who helped keep spirits up during the federal government shutdown. The 2025 federal government shutdown put a lot of things in question, including the status of the national parks and if they would stay open. Ultimately they remained open with a skeleton crew manning booths to give out info to visitors without collecting entrance fees. The Twentynine Palms Visitor Center was able to stay open thanks to efforts from the City Manager as well as the non-profit partner of the park stepping in to take over operations last March. Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center’s lease in Twentynine Palms recommended to be transferred to non-profit JTNPA Superintendent Rodgers addressed the Twentynine Palms City Council on Tuesday, saying “This is a night that I really want to celebrate the community of Twentynine Palms. We had a number of individuals who came forward to really show support and some love for my rangers. “I did want to acknowledge the Joshua Tree National Park Association, who has formally taken over management of the Twentynine Palms Visitor Center, so I’m very grateful to Executive Director Jackie Guevara and of course (City Manager) Stone James here for collaborating on making that happen. Last March, without those efforts, without Stone and Jackie working together, we would have been faced with closing that visitor center for the duration and instead we were able to keep that open.” Rodgers also acknowledged that City Manager Stone James’ also was responsible for helping put together a potluck for rangers in Luckie Park during the shutdown. Heidi Grunt from the Twentynine Palms Inn was also called up by Superintendent Rodgers, “to thank her personally for really opening up the doors of the 29 Palms Inn and welcoming in park rangers. Her and a number of her friends in the community made a fantastic dinner for us. You guys had a little music playing and it was just a great way to lift our spirits… and so Heidi on behalf of Joshua Tree National Park and the park service and my team, I just want to thank you for that.” Heidi then got up to the podium and thanked other businesses that also stepped up. Rocky’s Pizza provided pies for the gathering, Joshua Tree Distillery and Más o Menos kept the spirits flowing with drink deliveries, Campbell House Bakery provided cookies and baked goods and Chef Charlie Ohnstead from The Dez helped out getting some food delivered to the inn. She summed up her involvement saying “We just love the park and we love everybody from the park. It’s our home, you know, it’s our place to go.” The post JTNP recognizes Twentynine Palms businesses who stepped up during the shutdown appeared first on Z107.7 FM Joshua Tree.
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