The Desert Sun from Palm Springs, California • Page 11

Earning power Census numbers to be released next week will shed light on how much money Coachella Valley's working families make. COMING SOON The Desert Sun Thursday, May 9, 2002 Section 13 3Cskcj Kin "aiaoj' iso -n- i online Complete national wire report. www.thedesertsun.com assistant managing editordays Susie Forrester PHONI 778-4619 FAX 778-4654 e-mail: Susie.Forresteithedesertsun.com UKA ACROSS THE VALLEY Downtown rag Mete ma. g-)M fom mmml JAY CAUIEKON. Hiirni SUN Practice: Dick Beem (left), Norni Pollom and Bill Sebeny brush up on their game Wednesday at Marriott's Shadow Ridge Resort in Palm Desert, which will host the Desert Charities Invitational.

The event is sponsored by Marriott Palm Springs Area Business Council. Tourneys raise green for Charity golf at a glance A study in 1990 showed that local amateur golf tournaments raised $232 million that year. The estimate was increased to more than $250 million in 1997. like of the design. She said both the steps and the grade could pose problems for disabled or older patrons.

"This is really screwed to me. Can it be designed better?" she said. It could, said Director of Downtown Development Jerry Ogburn, but only if the elevator were placed on the far north end of the garage a distance of more than 100 yards to the restaurants and shops the garage would serve. ELEVATOR SITES: Other elevators are planned for the southwest corner of the structure near Palm Canyon and Baristo and on Indian Canyon near Fisherman's Market and Grill. Despite the concerns, councilmembers said they could revisit the issue as construction progresses.

Later, Ogbum said ques-tions surrounding the elevators could be overcome. "The council agreed that there needs to be three elevators," he said. "The only inconvenience is the middle elevator, but it's much better than there not being an elevator at all." Money raised at one-day events Number of annual events mm i Maximum number of customary "shotgun" Experts: Finding a winning formula can be challenging By Benjamin Spillman THB DESERT SUN The Coachella Valley, where miles of lush golf courses run interrupted only by the posh homes of those who live on the fairways, has the combination of golf and wealth that makes fertile ground for a philanthropic tradition charity golf. Using golf to raise cash for worthy causes has exploded in popularity in the years since 1960 when Arnold Palmer teed off in the Palm Springs Golf Classic, which later evolved into the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. SURPRISING: At that time, the event was one of the only golf fund-raisers in the valley and it raised eyebrows by raising more than 815,000 for charity.

The newest entry to the field is the Desert Charities Invitational. The tournament, spon sored by the Marriott Palm Springs Area Business 144 Stmt ww wet ft mi Hmt ku. IWnlty frtmuft cm $20,000. SOURCES: NATIONAL GOLF FOUNDATION; DESbRT GOLF EVENTS By Darrell Smith THE DESERT SUN PALM SPRINGS Palm Springs has taken its final step toward starting construction of a downtown parking garage. Palm Springs City Council, by a 4-0 vote Wednesday night, approved plans for the S6.8 million, 390-space structure at Indian Canyon Drive and Baristo Road.

Mayor Will Kleindienst was absent. The vote officially sets the clock in motion for the project, set to open by Thanksgiving. Crews are expected to begin clearing property and breaking ground June 1 Construction should begin July 1. But the council's decision did not come without concerns over one of the three elevators proposed for the structure. STAIRS NECESSARY: The elevator, slated for the center of the garage and designed to serve the west or Palm Canyon Drive side of the structure, would stop 3 to 4 feet below the grade of the garage's second floor, as presently designed.

Stairs would be needed to step from the elevator to the garage floor. From there, the floor rises at a slight grade. Councilwoman Deyna Hodges was clear in her dis Parking garage to Construction will begin July 1 on a four-story parking garage at Indian Canyon Drive and Baristo Road in Palm Springs. The building that houses Joe's World Famous Saloon will be demolished. Detail Arenas Rd Baristo PALM 'o SPRINGS Ramon Rd.

2: i i Suspected chop shop raided; man arrested THERMAL Authorities seized several stolen cars and parts and arrested one man after raiding a suspected chop shop Wednesday, the California Highway Patrol reported. Timothy Morreo, 26, of Thermal was booked into Riverside County Jail in In dio on suspicion of auto and theft-related offenses, CHP officials said. Bail was not available. The search took place about 9 a.m. at the property near Highway 195 and Av enue 69, CHP spokeswoman Laura Quattlebaum said.

Officers found parts for 75 to 100 vehicles that they be- lieve had been stripped, but it will take most of the week to determine how many had been reported stolen, Quattlebaum said. Los Angeles man found dead in spa CATHEDRAL CITY Author- ities say they are not sure why a man died in a spa at a hotel Wednesday. The name of the 38-year-old Los Angeles man will not be released until his family can be notified, the Riverside County Coroner's office reported. A preliminary investiga tion revealed that the death was probably natural or ac cidental, authorities said. The man was found by a friend about 12:33 a.m.

at the bottom of the spa at The Villa in the 67-600 block of Carey Road, authorities said. The friend apparently made the discovery when he returned after buying cigarettes, authorities said. Parolee wanted on 2 warrants surrenders INDIO A parolee wanted on two felony warrants since last year was arrested this week, Indio police report ed. Andrew "Nuchie" Archuleta, 40, was arrested on suspicion of forgery and drug possession. He was booked into Indio jail.

Police surrounded the Cielo Vista Apartments at 3:06 p.m. Tuesday in the 81-800 block of Shadow Palm Avenue and after 30 minutes of negotiations Archuleta surrendered without incident, police reported. California Department of Justice and the Coachella Valley Narcotics Task Force participated in the arrests. Deputies searching for robbery suspect PALM DESERT Riverside County sheriffs deputies are looking for a man in connection with a robbery Monday of A Valley Cabousine. A man wearing a dark hooded top entered the business in the 73-700 block of Highway 111 at 10 p.m.

with a handgun. He forced an employee to the ground and tied him up. Several items were taken from the business. Anyone with information should call Coachella Valley Crimestoppers at 341-STOP. Have Information for Across the Valley? Call The Desert Sun City Desk at 778-4619; fax, 778-4654.

CORRECTIONS We correct errors of fact promptly and courteously. If you have a correction or clarification, call the city desk, 778-4619. Parolee shot after release from custody charities Tournament What Desert Charities Invitational When: Friday. 11 a.m. luncheon and registration; noon shotgun start; 6 p.m.

cocktails and silent auction; 7 p.m. dinner reception Where: Tournament is at Marriott's Shadow Ridge Resort, 9002 Shadow Ridge Road, Palm Desert; evening events are at Marriott's Desert Springs Resort and Spa, 74-855 Country Club Drive, Palm Desert Cost: $225 per player Information: 674-2722 In 1997 the National Golf Foundation estimated more than $250 million was raised through tournaments in the United States, 7.76 percent increase since 1990. The approximately 110 courses in the Coachella Valley now host anywhere from 200 to 400 charity events annually, according to one estimate. But experts said many Please see GOLF, B2 "The suspect did not comply," Spike said. The man, who police said was armed with a handgun, allegedly turned and faced the officer.

The officer fired one shot, striking Perez in the leg, Spike said. The name of the officer involved in the shooting was not released, but he has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation, according to standard procedure. Officers recommend that if you return home and suspect a burglary, don't enter the residence. Instead call 911. Kenny Klein can be reached at 778-4640.

niEVAIlliVS promise Valley and Building Horizons, officials handed out 81,000 awards in nine categories. In an Academy Awards-style ceremony held at the Indian Wells Country Club, the "Night of 100 Stars" celebrated the students service to community and their de-sires to achieve more through education, said Jamie Sepulveda-Bailey of Valley's Promise. "These kids make a com Council, has already raised 840,000 for the Children's Miracle Network and the company's own Palm Springs Area Children's Charities, said Philip Lar-rivee, a tournament coordinator. And the one-day event doesn't happen until Friday. stolen car into a fire hydrant near Frontage and Las Vegas roads and then allegedly pointed a gun at an officer on Avenida Cerca.

Police said the night for Perez began when parole officers asked Desert Hot Springs police to arrest him at his home for a parole violation. But while police were waiting for parole officials to fax the warrant, Perez became ill and was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs. Desert Hot Springs police never received the warrant information from parole Officers and were forced to release Perez at the hospital on Indian Canyon Drive, police said. Shortly after the release, Frank Iannantuono, 60, ar Darrell Smith can be reached at 778-4669. be built downtown mimim' JE2I THE OBrSHRT SUN If 300 I 4 u.

fiMHuj fistonui'i Kj 1 LImmmI ij 75 Z- 1 1 Number of host courses i golfers allowed in a format tournament MICHAEL DONI.AN, THE DESERT SUN FAMOUS GOLF EVENT: The Palm Springs Classic wasn't the first charity golf event, but it might have been the most famous. In the ensuing decades, many organizations have tried to replicate the idea, with varying levels of success. rived at his apartment on Mel Avenue a block away from the hospital and found an intruder inside, police said. "The intruder held Iannantuono at gunpoint, tied him up and gagged him," said Palm Springs police Sgt. Mitch Spike.

After allegedly stealing Ian-nantuono's handgun, a rifle, credit cards and car, the intruder fled, police said. Minutes later, Iannantuono was able to free himself and call police, who quickly spotted the stolen car headed north on Indian Canyon Drive, Spike said. The chased ended in the Desert Highland community, where a Palm Springs police officer attempted to make an arrest, Spike said. Teens honored for oommunity service, education aspirations By Jeff Donaldson THE DI.SliH I SUN INDIAN WELLS More than 100 of the Coachella Valley's brightest teen-agers were honored with scholarships Wednesday during the second annual Distinguished Service and Scholars Awards. Sponsored by Allstate and presented by Valley's Promise, Boys and Girls Club of the Coachella -J'fL By Kenny Klein THB DESERT SUN PALM SPRINGS A parolee, who was released from cus tody Tuesday at a local hos pital, was shot and wounded during a confrontation with police a few hours later.

Ruben Perez, 25, of Desert Hot Springs was treated for a gunshot wound to the leg and booked into Palm Springs City Jail on suspicion of attempted murder of a peace officer, home invasion robbery and grand theft auto, police said. Perez is accused of breaking into a home, accosting the homeowner and stealing a car. Perez was taken into custody about 10:20 p.m. Tuesday night. Police said Perez crashed a Planned parking structure More than 100 distinguished students receive scholarships SOUKCB JAMES CIOFP1 ARCHITECT mitment to give back to their community and we make the commitment to give back to them," Sepulveda-Bailey said.

Valley's Promise, the local chapter of America's Promise, established in 1997 by Gen. Colin Powell, who is now secretary of state, gave scholarships to 63 students; Boys and Girls Club of the Coachella Valley awarded 27 scholarships; and Building Horizons, a school-to-carcer program, gave 1 1 awards. Union Bank of California recognized six students attending the valley' three continuation schools. Sepulveda-Bailey said a new scholarship al so has been established using funds from an anonymous donor who wanted to help ihc valley's Hispanic girls. The Ruth Fund recognized five teens who plan to attend College of the Desert and whose work will eventually lead them to help children in the Coachella Valley.

"These awards are actually an extension of many of our regular programs," sa id Jim Ducatte, executive director ricase see AWARDS, B4 AlUi IIYAK, I lib DliM.KI MjN Celebrating: Paul Navarro (left), Erika Abrille, Ryan Swauger and Christine Soto, recipients of The Valley's Promise awards, chat at Indian Wells Country Club on Wednesday..