The Desert Sun from Palm Springs, California • Page 13

THE DESERT SUN MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2012 Valley PARTY TIME Allene Arthur talks about traditional parties, and points out that sometimes those festive rules can be altered. Page B3 Breaking news on your cell phone iJM Text DSNEWS tO 44636 (4INFO) TO SUBSCRIBE OR REPORT A DELIVERY PROBLEM, CALL (800) 834-6052 OR GO TO WWW.MYDESERT.COMCS SENIOR EDITORNEWS JIM KELLY (760) 778-4767 or localnewsthedesertsun.com nss OaBIormSa HJSM crowned! By Debra Gruszecki The Desert Sun PALM DESERT Natalie Pack, a 22-year-old woman who plans to attend medical school, was crowned Miss California USA 2012 Sunday night in a pageant at McCallum Theatre. Moments after the diamond-studded tiara was placed upon her head, Pack was surrounded by admirers and photographers, and was asked how she felt. "Surreal," Pack said, as she flashed a radiant smile. For Pack, a 6-foot-tall candidate who likes bicycling, motorcycling and oil painting, and competed as Miss Hoag Hospital, the crowning capped a weekend long journey with more than 400 other contestants for Miss California USA titles.

The runner-up in the event that played to a full house was Miss Malibu, Brie Gabrielle. Brian Worley, who was one of the judges, a co-owner of said 278 young women competed for this title. The others in the group of 400 participated in Miss California USA and Miss California Teen USA 2012 crowns. "I think the judges did an amazing job narrowing the final candidates down," Worley said. "Our finalists are very impressive." Miss LA Native Frankie Vegas described the new Miss California USA 2012 as a great person.

"She's whole-hearted, honest real," Vegas said. "She's got the qualities to represent California well." As the finalists congratulated one another on stage, Gabrielle's grandmother Natalie Pack was crowned Miss DESERT SUN California USA Sunday during the pageant at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, taya grayspecial to the Last year's Miss California USA winner, Alyssa Campanel-la, moved on to win the Miss USA crown and be a top 16 semi-finalist at the Miss Universe 2011 pageant. This year's event achieved distinction as one having two openly gay contestants for the first time in the history of the state pageant: Jenelle Hutcher-son of Long Beach and Mollie Thomas of West Hollywood. Finalists for the Miss California USA 2012 title, in addition to Gabrielle, were: Jenny ANSWER MAN Overpass work means traffic delays on I-10 beamed and clutched a poster with Brie's picture and name. "I'm so proud of her," Evelyn Gabrielle said of the 22-year-old who attends Pep-perdine University and wants to be an entertainment lawyer some day.

Crowned Miss Calif ornia Teen 2012 was Alexa Jones, representing Orange County. "I feel awesome I'm so excited, and so calm," Jones said as she took the stage. "It was a very tough weekend but it was very rewarding." Thursday. Crews are going to install falsework overhead signs. "I'll stay away from there, thank you," Palm Desert resident Irwin Tello said when informed on the closure.

He uses 1-10 to get to work in Palm Springs and usually doesn't get home until about 11 p.m. which is not long after construction is scheduled to begin this week. "I'm going to take the back roads just in case," Tello said. All westbound lanes will be closed from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Tuesday and Wednesday. Similar closures will take place in the eastbound lanes from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Wednesday and Thurs desert- Visit our website at mydesert.com to see more images from the Miss California USA pageant. Miss California USA publicist Kenn Henman said the McCallum was sold out.

The pageant attracted so many people, he said a room was rented at the Renaissance Esmeralda in Indian Wells to handle the overflow. day, according to the transportation department. Drivers will be able to use on-and off-ramps to get around the closures during construction. Officials encourage drivers to plan their trips ahead of time to accommodate traffic delays. The $17 million project, which began in March 2010, is expected to wrap up early this year, according to project officials.

Once work is completed, the overpass will have three lanes and a bicycle lane in each direction. On-ramps will be widened and redesigned. Colin Atagi is a reporter for The Desert Sun. He can be reached at (760) 778-4645 or Colin.Atagithedesertsun.com 1 Wear that helmet; it's the state law Westbound lane closures begin on Tuesday and Thursday night By Colin Atagi The Desert Sun Commuters should prepare for detours and traffic delays on Interstate 10 this week while work takes place on a local overpass. The Riverside County Transportation Department is continuing construction on the Palm DriveGene Autry Trail overpass each night, Tuesday through Ting, second runner up, Miss Diamond Crest; Agueela Zoll, third runner up, Miss Carmel; and Brittany McGowan, fourth runner up, Miss Beverly Hills.

Finalists for the Miss Teen USA 2012 title were: Cassidy Marie Wolf, first runner up, Miss Riverside County Teen; Tanita Morgan, second runner up, Agoura Hills Teen; Rachael Maurer, third runner up, Los Angeles County Teen; and Chloe Hatfield, fourth runner up, Southern Counties Teen. Colin Atagi safety helmet." The Coachella Valley is home to plenty of motorcyclists, and there are plenty of places to buy equipment. So if you plan on jumping onto a motorcycle, grab a helmet. Whom to contact The California Department of Motor Vehicles, (800) 777-0133 New building Drivers are curious about projects taking place anywhere near busy roads. That's why this column answers Please see ANSWER, B4 from 'V'- i If A i 1 When The Desert Sun prints stories about motorcycle crashes one of the first questions we hear is if the rider was wearing a helmet.

Sometimes investigators will say no, which is unfortunate since helmets can minimize injuries in some crashes. A reader recently asked whether there was any way to encourage motorcyclists to wear helmets, other than telling them that the gear may protect them. How about the fact the law requires motorcyclists to wear helmets? The California Vehicle Code states the following: "It is unlawful to operate a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or motorized bicycle if the driver or any passenger is not wearing a safety helmet (and) it is unlawful to ride as a passenger on a motorcycle, motor-driven cycles, or motorized bicycle if the driver or any passenger is not wearing a Police nab two suspects at school Advice B11 Comics B10 Movies B8 Lottery B6 News from every city B2 Obituaries B6 Opinion B7 Puzzles B11 Weather B12 INSIDE LATIN AS TAKE THE STAGE The Most Beautiful Latina Showcase took place at the VIBE Nightclub at the Morongo Casino Resort and Spa on Sunday night. B4 A reverse mortgage could help you live more comfortably. By Sherry Barkas The Desert Sun DESERT HOT SPRINGS Two men from Moreno Valley were arrested Sunday on suspicion of burglary after police say they found them at Cabot Yerxa Elementary trying to escape with nearly 50 laptop computers taken from the school's library.

Police were called to the school, at 67-067 Desert View, at 3:48 a.m. and found three men running from the playground carrying large duffle bags. When an officer confronted the men, they dropped the bags and ran in different directions, Desert Hot Springs police Sgt. Gus Paiz said. One of the men was arrested after being found hiding underneath a car, Paiz said.

While checking for the other two suspected burglars, school security told police that a fourth suspect was in the school. Officers found that person hiding in a trash bin and he was arrested without incident, Paiz said. Arrested on suspicion of burglary were: Joshua Ligow, 25, and Martel Turner, 20, both from Moreno Valley. The duffle bags police confiscated contained 46 Apple laptops, Paiz said. It's unknown if this burglary is related to break-in at Palm Springs High School at about 3:20 a.m.

Saturday. Officers found two windows broken in classrooms in the school's music department. It was unknown Sunday what was taken, Palm Springs Sgt. Mike Kovalef said. Palm Springs Lt.

Mitch Spike said Sunday that comparisons would be made to see if the burglary may be connected to the break-in, but gave no more comment. Anyone with any information on the Cabot Yerxa burglary is asked to call the Desert Hot Springs police department at (760) 329-2904, Ext. 330. Call me to learn more about this important financial option MetLife Bank. CORRECTIONS INCORRECT INFORMATION The name of Coachella Valley philanthropist and community leader Dolores Hope was not spelled correctly Jan.

8 on page A2 in a story headlined "Clinton." Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were incorrectly identified as a married couple Jan. 8 on page A1 in a story headlined "Stars shine on Palm Springs" and on page A7 in a story headlined "Angelina Jolie puts passion on film." We correct errors of fact promptly and courteously. If you have a correction or clarification, please contact Senior Editor Jim Kelly at (760) 778-4767 or at jim.kellythedesertsun.com Clayton Behm MetLife Bank Reverse Mortgage Consultant 760-501-1279 cbehmmetlife.com MetLife All bans are subject to property appfoval Certain conditions and provided by MetLife Home Loans, a division of MetLife Bank, N.A. INC fees apply. Mortgage financing Egua! Housing Lender iJEj unm?.