The San Bernardino County Sun from San Bernardino, California • Page 16

DESERT The Sun I no WEDNESDAY, February 18, 1987 I DO KB Inventor's visit spark ed lifelong radio by IWl Arraignment set today on drug charges VICTORVILLE Three Apple Valley residents are scheduled to be arraigned to day in Municipal Court on charges of running a drug labo ratory and possessing stolen property. Porters started collecting old radios. They got the sets free or at reasonable prices because, after television arrived, people were throwing radios away. By the late 1960s, the couple owned about 1,200 radios horn speakers, crystal and one-tube sets dating back to the 1920s and 1930s and about 50 ham radios from the World War II era. The Porters opened a museum in an old hotel in Hornbrook, in 1969 and put them on display.

But they lost some of the radios during a fire in the hotel in 1975 and later others were stolen. They declined to say how many they own today. "I'd rather not tell," Porter said. "I've been robbed four times." About 30 of their radios, including a 1915 crystal set, are on loan to the Queen Mary in Long Beach. On the first and last By CARLA WHEELER Sun Staff Writer When John Porter was 12, one of his father's friends visited the family's farm in Pennsylvania and taught him how to make a radio out of wire, an oatmeal box and a crystal detector.

His teacher was Thomas A. Edison, and that early lesson from the famous inventor sparked the boy's interest in building radios and collecting more than a 1,000 sets. "To me, its been a wonderful thing in life to have met Thomas Edison," said Porter, 77, who lives with his wife, Grace, 66, in Hesperia. "He left an inspiration in you that made you want to go and do things." The Porters will talk about their lifelong interest in radios today at the Mohahve Historical Society meeting in Victorville. The Thursday afternoons of each month, the Porters volunteer as ham radio operators aboard the ship, where they also meet with the people who visit the exhibit.

On board, the Porters talk to amateur radio operators across the United States. "You find out what the weather is and what they do (for a living) sometimes," Grace Porter said. The couple dream of opening another museum on about 100 acres for displaying old radios and other antiques, such as farm and railroad equipment. They play the California Lottery with that goal in mind. "If I ever win the main prize in one of those things, we would give the money to the people of California in the form of a huge museum," Porter said.

"I'm 77 years old, and I doubt I'll ever have my dream accomplished, but that's my wish." program will start at 7:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Antelope Valley Savings Building, 14250 Seventh St. After meeting Edison, Porter said he used the inventor's instructions, built his radio and, using headphones, listened to KDKA broadcasting from Pittsburgh. "When he (Edison) told me how to build a radio, I thought it would be hard," he said. "But it was quite simple." As a young man, Porter earned his living working on farms and roads and in the coal mines in Pennsylvania.

But he remained intrigued by radios. Over the years, he made a few crystal sets and listened religiously to country music shows and programs like "Amos 'n Andy" and "Jack Armstrong: The Ail-American Boy." After moving to California in 1941, the Lorena Marie Casey, 27, Douglas Higginbothem, 27, and Joseph Stoops, 30, are accused of operating a methampheta-mine lab and possessing prop erty taken during a recent bur glary at US Rentals in Victorville, said Dave Smedley, a sheriff spokesman. The three suspects were ar rested early Friday during a raid at a house and two trailers on DeFrancesco Road near Fire destroys Big Pines forest center, historical displays Canyon Drive. Officers said they found equipment used to make meth-amphetamines, tools and a gen erator taken from US Ren tals about two weeks ago. Casey, Higginbothem and ends, Brady said.

Eight employees who work out of the center, including three who staffed the information counter, probably will report for duty at the Forest Service's District Office in Pearblossom until a more permanent solution is found, Brady said. in dollars and cents was the historical photographs and data stored in the center. The rustic wood-frame structure, which was accented with stone, was a stopover for thousands of visitors who flock to the Wrightwood and Big Pines area during summer and winter week The information center could be located temporarily in the Big Pines Station near Wrightwood where the Forest Service's fire crew is stationed, he said. Brady said investigators were still sifting through debris Tuesday afternoon looking for clues to the origin of the fire. By PRISCILLA NORDYKE Sun Staff Writer WRIGHTWOOD Historical photographs and displays were reduced to ashes Tuesday when fire swept through the U.S.

Forest Service's Big Pines Information Center two miles west of here. Flames ripped through the 65-year-old building, sending its 24 stories crashing through a wooden floor into the basement. "It was just too old a building and (the fire) too hot to save when it got that far," said Robert Brady, a public affairs assistant. Firefighters from the Wright-wood Fire Protection District were first on the scene after the fire was reported at 4:48 a.m. More than 50 firefighters from Wright-wood, the forest service and Los Angeles County Fire Department fought the blaze, which threatened a museum that is being restored next door, investigators said.

The buildings and contents were valued at $300,000, but Brady said the greatest loss one that cannot be replaced or calculated Two injured in car-truck crash Km Stoops were being held in the county jail here Tuesday in lieu of $10,000 bail each. Man killed in car crash BARSTOW A 29-year-old Victorville man was killed when his car rolled over on Highway 247 about halfway between here and Lucerne Valley. Carl Dean Moore died from head and internal injuries, said Richard Hostetler, a California Highway Patrol officer. A passenger in the Porsche, Steve Stoneking, 23, of Phelan sustained minor injuries, he said. Moore was driving more than 85 mph Friday night when he lost control of the car on a curve and it rolled over, Hostetler said.

Moore was thrown from the vehicle, he said. The accident happened about 8:45 p.m. three miles south of Sawtooth Canyon Road. Car rollover kills man, 22 BARSTOW A 22-year-old Barstow man was fatally injured Tuesday when his car went off Interstate 15 in west Barstow and rolled over four 0 SB APPLE VALLEY Three Victor Valley men were injured in a highway crash Monday when one of the men, who was traveling more than 80 mph, lost control of his car and collided with a pickup truck on Round Up Way west of Valley Vista Road, a California Highway Patrol officer said Tuesday. The car's driver, Douglas Boles-worth, 25, of Apple Valley, sustained head injuries and fractures to his pelvis and left leg, said a spokeswoman at Loma Linda University Medical Center.

He was listed in critical condition. A passenger in the pickup, Wil liam Black, 54, of Hesperia, was in serious condition in San Bernardino County Medical Center. He had head lacerations and complained of back, rib and neck pain, said CHP officer Bob Huizinga. Also hurt was the pickup's driver, Bill Roberts, 63, of Hesperia, who was in fair condition on Tuesday at Victor Valley Community Hospital. Roberts had lacerations to his left arm and right leg, Huizinga said.

Bolesworth was traveling between 80 to 100 mph in the eastbound lane of Round Up Way when his car went out of control and slid into the path of the westbound pickup, Huizinga said. 0 0 0 WE CM HELP Divorce? Drunk Driving? Business Problems? Injured? Need A Will? ROLLIN N. RAUSCHL A XD ASSOCIATES 14297 Cajon Ave. Suite 101 245-9327 Victorville (619) h'Z if if gs aP BRIAN R. SWEET M.D.

SPECIALIZING Diseases of Women Obstetrics Gynecology Infertility Laparoscopic Evaluation Is Happy To Announce His Association With TONY H. EASTON, M.D., times, the California Highway Patrol reported. The victim's name was being withheld until his family could be notified. CHP Officer Richard Hostetler said the vehicle was traveling west about 80 mph when it left the freeway's West Main Street offramp about 3 a.m. and overturned.

Officers said the man apparently had been drinking. The victim died later at Barstow Community Hospital. Gunman robs video store VICTORVILLE A gunman robbed a video store here Tuesday afternoon of an undisclosed amount of money, a sheriff's deputy said. About 3:50 p.m., a man asked the clerk at Dawn's Video, 14475 Seventh for the owner and left when told the owner was out but that he would return shortly, Deputy Dennis Henson said. The robber returned seconds later with a handgun and ordered the clerk into the store's back room, Henson said.

He took the money from the cash register and left. Scouts celebrate 75th birthday The San Gorgonio Girl Scout Council will celebrate its 75th anniversary during its annual meeting today at the National Orange Show's Blossom Room in San Bernardino. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and a catered lunch will be served for $5.75. Inc. "I find the most important part of my job as a journalist is to bring balance to the news.

To me, a news is important whether I'm covering a small story or a major story. It's very rewarding to help and inform people in the high desert through the articles I write concerning their communities. I feel very fortunate to live and work in the high desert. With its agressive leadership, natural attributes and wide open spaces, it has one of the highest potentials for growth in San Bernardino County today. As a result, there will be more news stories to cover and write.

Its going to present quite a challenge, and we 18031 Highway 18, Suite 242-3121 Apple Valley If Ao Answer Call 245-7777 7 plan to meet that challenge." APPLE VALLEY JR. HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION presents "News is what's happening next door. It's important not to fornot that 6 Priscilla Nordyke Roden, Bureau Chief, The Sun's Victorville Bureau If you have a news item for the high desert, call Priscilla Nordyke Roden at (619)245-8676. HOME BUYERS SELLERS PROTECT YOURSELF! From Unseen Financial COMMUNITY AWARENESS PROGRAM Thursday, Feb. 19, 1987 7 P.M.

Apple Valley High School Auditorium This special program offers everything you always wanted to know, but were afraid to ask about DRUGS, ALCOHOL AND SUICIDE Professional Speaker Community Resource Information Available A public service message from The Sun StMOt fMdha 1mm wry 1. If7 Jl he bwn The quality of your property is important! Avoid delays or doubts, let our expert eyes be your expert eyes, let us Inspect your home. PHOKE: 948-2016, 948-1479 or 1-714-820-3882 1II2S Male It, Salts Hasserta.