October 2008 Archives

WHITTIER -- A Whittier man shot by a deputy pleaded not guilty today to charges he tried to take the officer's gun, officials said.

     Xavier Michael Fresquez, 21,  was charged with a felony count of attempting to remove an officer's weapon, a felony count of carrying a concealed weapon and a misdemeanor count of exhibiting a firearm, according to Sandi Gibbons, spokeswoman for the DA's Office.

     Fresquez was arraigned today at Whittier Superior Court. His next court hearing is Dec. 3.

     He had been at St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood after the Oct. 23 shooting and placed under guard. The sheriff's booking records show he was taken this morning to the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles.

     Hospital officials referred calls to the agency investigating the case, which is the Sheriff's Department. Deputies didn't know Fresquez's current medical condition.

     Sheriff's officials said Fresquez was wounded in the upper torso, which to law enforcement refers to parts of the body above the waist. His relatives said he was shot in the head.

     Fresquez and another man are suspected of brandishing a gun at three men on Norwalk Boulevard earlier that night, according to Lt. Pat Nelson. And while deputies haven't recovered a weapon, Nelson said witnesses saw Fresquez with a gun.

      Fresquez's family disputed the department's version of the shooting, which happened in their back yard in the 11300 block of Waddell Street.

      Fresquez's father, Eric, said in a previous interview that his son was shot in the back of the head while on his knees. He said Fresquez was coming home that night, saw the two deputies and ran thinking they had a warrant for him for a court appearance. He and his wife woke to their son calling him and asking to be let in the back door.

     He said the deputy reached for his son's shoulder and at the same time, the gun went off.

     Two deputies from the sheriff's Pico Rivera station looking for the two suspects who threatened the men on Norwalk Boulevard saw Fresquez allegedly hiding behind a car on a driveway on Waddell Street. He ran and one deputy chased him.

     A department spokeswoman said Fresquez refused to comply with orders and during the struggle tried to take the deputy's gun from his hand. The deputy shot once.

The latest on our Web site is an update on a story to expect over the weekend. The story highlights a local hero, Davis Cruz, who spends his time and talents cooking for the sick and the doctors who treat them.

For more on Cruz and what he's done for Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital, check out this weekend's Whittier Daily News and watch our Web site.

 

One local chef has cooked for fancy restaurants and hotels, but now says hospital food is where it's at.
Davis Cruz, executive chef for Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital, says he's passionate about making food that's healthy, safe and tasty for patients and hospital staff alike.
"I like perfection," Cruz, 47, said.
He likes good food, too. But Cruz said rules about the preparation of food in a hospital make it hard to create a delicious meal. That's because of the high temperatures food must maintain for patients's safety. This means that overcooking is common and hospital food tends to be tasteless and colorless.
Cruz said he fights that problem at PIH by cooking in smaller batches and timing cooking carefully, so dishes don't sit at high temperatures for hours, drying out or getting soggy.
According to Cruz' boss, Director of Food and Nutrition Laura McNeil, his method is working.
"We receive lots of compliments," McNeil said, adding that people from the community often come to the cafeteria for lunch, as if it's a restaurant.

It rained today and may rain tomorrow. Naturally, that means we must be talking about the drought.

In today's newspaper, Rebecca Kimitch wrote about the state Water Project saying that as of now it can only deliver 15 percent of the water requested by the Metropolitan Water District.

In Sunday's edition, I'll be writing about the effect on our readers. Central Basin Municipal Water District has come up with a draft plan showing how it would allocate water in case MWD decides to implement its rationing plan.

It could be drastic, ranging from a 2 percent cutback at stage one to a 58 percent reduction at stage 10.
And water officials tell me not to get too overconfident it's raining. We had a good deal of rain early a year ago and yet we're still in a drought condition.

     Whittier Police are talking to several "people of interest" but haven't made any arrest in the case, according to department spokesman Jason Zuhlke.

     Investigators from Whittier Police and the sheriff's Norwalk station are looking for a Latino in his 50s with graying hair and mustache who drives a  '90s model red pickup truck, possibly a Toyota. He tried to entice five girls by offering them a ride or gesturing for them to get into his pickup. The incidents happened in Santa Fe Springs and Norwalk.

     Anyone with information is asked to call Whittier Police at (562) 945-8250 or sheriff's Detective Debra Jaime at (562) 466-5443.

So after speaking with George Miranda at the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's office Thursday morning about how the county is offering early voting to people in this county, I decided to beat the crush that some 4.5 million registered voters are going to be placing on county poll locations everywhere Tuesday and drove the six miles from the Whittier Daily News office to election central in Norwalk.

My first impressions were bad. Parking was tough and when I finally found the line of patriots waiting to cast their votes, it wound around half the building. I struck up a conversation with some guy who could pass for the Rev. Al Sharpton. He lived in Los Angeles and decided to vote early because he had the time Thursday and would be in Atlanta on Tuesday.

After an hour I was elated to get in the front door, only to be directed to the third floor. I walked in this huge room with about 100 hapless souls sitting on chairs holding three-digit numbers in their hands. As election workers created emergency ballots for us patriots that reflected local races and ballot measures in the cities where we live, I sat looking at the clock, thinking about how much work was piling up back at the office.

After another half an hour my number was called. I got my ballot and was herded to another small room with the most rudimentary voting machines ever. A plastic partitian and a black ballpoint pen. I carefully marked my choices through the rather long and historic ballot, found my way to the elevators and was out the door. From time in to time out: One hour, 35 minutes.

Not too bad, I thought, to have lived and contributed to a historic moment in our nation's history.

If you want to vote early and avoid Black Tuesday, the Registrar's office is at 12400 Imperial Highway in Norwalk. The early polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Election Day.

Visit lavote.net or call (800) 815-2666 for more information.

Vote. Be a true patriot.

 

 

     Arianna Varela, the 15-year-old La Serna High School student who was injured by a hit-and-run driver, is now awake and talking, according to her family.

     Her aunt, Catherine Del Ferraro, said Varela was awakened from her induced coma on Oct. 17 but  was nonresponsive. Her ventilator was removed last week. She started talking this Monday, Del Ferraro said.

     "She remembers everything but what happened to her," Del Ferraro said.

     The Whittier teen was crossing the street Oct. 3 to attend a football game at Cal High when she was struck by  a sedan. The car didn't stop. The driver hasn't been found yet.

     Varela sustained head injuries and was taken to UC Irvine Medical Center. She's been transferred to the pediatric ward and her condition is stable, Del Ferraro said.

A few weeks ago, we reported that the mayor had filed a formal complaint with the District Attorney's office, which said his opponents on Measure P (a one percent sales tax hike) were bending the rules when it came to campaigning against the tax.

Here's the latest on that story:

PICO RIVERA -- Staff in the District Attorney's office say they are not investigating a complaint by Mayor Ron Beilke that opponents of a tax hike violated campaign law.
Beilke filed a compliant Sept. 30 with the Fair Political Practices Commission and the District Attorney's office against Councilman David Armenta and two residents who oppose Measure P, which would raise sales tax by one percent in the city if passed on Election Day.
Beilke said a flier distributed by opponents of the measure did not have a mailing address posted on it and therefore violated law. Beilke said he also saw an advertisement in a weekly PennySaver and fliers stuffed in mailboxes.
"Their willfull failure to follow the required procedures in the law regarding distribution of political materials is against the law and we believe this should be prosecuted," Beilke said in his complaint.
Deputy District Attorney said his department will not take the case because they only prosecute in situations where the mailers were "hit pieces," or when the mail attempts to defraud voters.
"We are not going to take that case," Demerjian said. "I referred him to the Fair Political Practice Commission."
In his letter to District Attorney Steve Cooley, Beilke said Rose Rosales, Virginia Aguirre and Armenta distributed the fliers. Beilke chairs the Protect Vital City Services -- Yes on P Committee.
According to Demerjian, the law about illegal mailers only applies if information was actually mailed -- anonymous fliers handed out would not violate the law.
If charged under the Political Reform Act, the three could have faced up to $10,000 in fines and up to six months in jail.
Beilke said he saw Rosales distributing fliers at a Neighborhood Watch meeting, but that he had not seen Aguirre or Armenta distributing information.
Beilke said he was offended when Rosales interrupted him at the September Neighborhood Watch meeting for Norco Street. He and other council members had come to the meeting to talk about Measure P and support it. According to Beilke, Rosales interrupted him and spoke against Measure P.
He said he believed it was wrong for a resident to "demand the floor" at a Neighborhood Watch meeting.
Beilke plans to pursue action through the FPPC, but said he is not surprised that the district attorney will not prosecute.
"Honestly, this is small," Beilke said. "I can see that this is an issue that they're not placing great importance on, and that's alright, that's fine."
Armenta would not give his reaction to the news that he would not be investigated by the district attorney's office.
"I have nothing to say," Armenta said. "It's just sad that the mayor has put out all these politics. Pico Rivera deserves better."
Rosales was not immediately available for comment.
Aguirre said she's not surprised that she won't be charged by Cooley's office, and she had not worried about the complaint.
She said she has not been actively distributing fliers, but she supports the effort to do so and tells her friends and neighbors that she disagrees with Measure P.
"In the first place, it wasn't even true," Aguirre said. "That was fabricated to make us look bad. There was nothing there."

Representatives of Whittier-area nonprofit organizations laid out the challenges ahead of them and brainstormed on possible solutions this morning at Whittier College, which held another session of the "College and Community" program it started four or five years ago.

 

The program first started as a way to strengthen the ties between the college and the community. It brought community groups to the college and networked with them to create student internships and community service projects.

 

But now, the program has evolved, said Whittier College official Joyce Kaufman.

 

The groups -- ranging from the American Red Cross to schools and churches -- are now coming together to tackle common concerns. On Monday, they identified those concerns in order to get together an action plan that they'll try out before meeting again in December.

 

Check out Tuesday's paper for more details.

It appears that Whittier's economy is in a mess. In the last year, three car dealerships -- Board Ford, Chrysler and Mitsubishi have closed. Mervyns is going to close at the end of the year.

So just how will the city deal with these problems? In Sunday's newspaper, I'll write about the problem and what City Manager Steve Helvey plans to do about it. I know this is a tease, but let's just say I'm glad I'm not in his or the council's shoes. So make sure you pick up a copy of Sunday's newspaper.

Needless to say, 2009 figures to be a rough year for Whittier.

 

Norwalk Mayor and longtime Santa Fe Springs city leader Mike Mendez says he got the honor of a lifetime Friday when the Santa Fe High School gym was officially named after him.

 

Mendez, 61, graduated from Santa Fe in 1965 and has spent countless hours as a volunteer supporting that school and other campuses in the Whittier Union High School District, officials said.

 

The gesture was emotionally overwhelming for Mendez, whose voice was full of emotion in accepting the honor. It came during a homecoming pep rally at the school.

 

For more on this, pick up a copy of Saturday's paper.

 

In Sunday's paper, we'll present a story that's been a long time coming, since mailers to educate Pico Rivera voters began to surface several weeks ago.

The mailers, sent by the city with about $30,000 in cash approved by the City Council assert that city services will be slashed and public safety could be jeopardized if the tax is not passed to close a $4.8 million budget gap (the tax is expected to fetch around $6 million).

Opponents, like Councilman David Armenta, say the information campaign is about scaring voters into approving the tax, but city officials say they're within their legal rights with their campaign.

Roman Porter of the Fair Political Practices Commission said that as long as the city's campaign doesn't advocate for one outcome at the polls, they're in the clear. And though the city's campaign certainly leans in favor of the tax, it doesn't likely step over the legal line.

Read Sunday's Whittier Daily News for more information, and check out our Web site on Sunday to get a look at the mailers!

Whittier College is hoping to get the approval of the City Council next week for a plan to seek a $60 million bond issue to refinance its debt and free up some extra money for campus improvements.

 

The college is hoping to get enough money to replace its swimming pool and its equipment, as well as upgrade its Hoover Hall classrooms.

 

It's pretty much the same thing they did in 2004, when they went through the city to get a $60 million bond to pay off a 1993 bond and buy the Whittier Law School property in Costa Mesa, as well as pay for some other campus renovations.

 

The good news for the city is that the bonds are issued at no cost to the city or taxpayers. Whittier College is solely responsible for paying back the debt.

 

More on this story will be in Friday's paper.

For those of you in the Lowell Joint School District, we've been hearing the multimillion-dollar sale of the Grovedale Elementary School campus -- where the private Carden School is located -- may be in peril.

But Superintendent Patricia Howell says that's not the case, and the sale is still very much on.

Carden agreed to buy the school in 2006 for $8.3 million. But last year, they came up with an idea to split the property into two lots -- a big one and a small one --  so Carden would only pay $5.5 million for the bigger one while the district would keep the smaller one.

But that lot-split is what's holding up the sale, Howell says. Carden's busy trying to keep up with county paperwork on lot-splits.

"Escrow can't close until the county blesses everything and signs off on it," Howell said.

Right now, Carden has until May to get the lot-split approved, Howell said. But even if they don't make that deadline, she added, the school board could give Carden more time to work on it.

So far, Carden has paid about $800,000 toward the Grovedale sale, which is nonrefundable.

Well it turns out I was wrong about the need for a sleeping bag for tonight's Whittier City Council meeting. It took them about three hours or so to go through 28 items. I'll have a quick and somewhat short report on the main page in our update area in a while. Then, there will be a longer story for Friday's newspaper.

Needless to say, this plan is getting closer and closer to becoming a reality. The council is expected to approve it at its Nov. 18 meeting.

     Officials with the Orange County Coroner's Office released today the name of the driver killed in a 2-car crash in La Mirada.

     Bret Hawman, 50, of La Mirada died of his injuries yesterday at UC Irvine Medical Center.

     The collision happened at 6:21 p.m., Monday on Rosecrans Avenue and Jalon Road in La Mirada. Sheriff's Lt. Mark Wilkins said one driver was heading east on Rosecrans Avenue and the second driver was turning on Jalon Road from westbound Rosecrans.

Southern California Edison and construction workers were hard at work today trying to remove and replace a troublesome power pole along Honolulu Terrace in Whittier -- and it only took a helicopter, evacuations and a daylong power outage to a little more than a dozen homes.

Edison has been planning this power-pole replacement for months now, and it's one of the most difficult because of its location: in the narrow backyard of a hillside home.

About 2:15 p.m.. a helicopter was used to haul away the transformer from the old 45-foot power pole -- which ended up being chopped down on site -- then lifted the new 40-foot pole into place.

Residents were evacuated, roads were closed, and the power is out until later this afternoon, officials said.

Pick up Thursday's paper for the full story.

LA HABRA - The Shop & Taste La Habra Expo, featuring raffle mania, will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the La Habra Community Center, 101 W. La Habra Blvd.

Visitors can sample the best food, products and services La Habra has to offer and win some great prizes. About 40 prizes will be given away and this year's minimum prize value is $50.

Entrance to the expo is free. The cost for "taste of La Habra" is $8 and includes free samples from 15 food vendors. Raffle tickets are $1 apiece.

For "taste of La Habra" discount coupons and free raffle tickets, visit www.lahabrachamber.com. For information, call (562) 697-1704.

The latest from our Web site on the trial of Albert Robles, board member for the Water Replenishment District:

DOWNEY - Nearly one year after charges were filed against him, a water officials has been found innocent on charges that he violated campaign code.

Albert Robles, a member of the Water Replenishment District Board of Directors, had been accused of sending two campaign mailers without return addresses, and of making a cash contribution to a campaign of more than $100.

But on Tuesday, a jury declared his innocence in Downey Superior court after about 20 minutes of deliberation, Robles said.

"They went through the three counts and came back within 20 minutes because they were bulls***," he said. "From the very beginning they were bulls***."

Robles has maintained that the charges against him, which stemmed from mailers he sent in support of three 2005 Pico Water District candidates, were because of a personal vendetta District Attorney Steve Cooley harbors against him.

The district attorney's office has repeatedly denied these allegations, and Deputy District Attorney Gary Neilsen said Cooley was not involved in his prosecution of the case.

Neilsen said he spoke to just one of the predominately-female jury, a woman who said the jury believed it could have been the fault of the mailing house which processed the two mailers that no return address was included.

Neilsen said the jury may have believed Robles was in the clear for paying cash for the mailers because he was not a candidate in the race or part of a candidate's committee, but he does not believe this is the case.

"You don't have to be a candidate to violate count 1, spending more than $100 (in cash)," Neilsen said. "He just needed to be spending money towards the candidate."

Though Neilsen said he is disappointed in the jury's decision, he is grateful for their service.

"We always respect a jury's efforts," he said. "They do a citizen's duty when they come and hear a case and reach a verdict and I appreciate that."

 

Robles is running for re-election to his seat this November, but he said he's not worried about whether the trial could have hurt his chance to win votes.

Robles said some of the jurors expressed to him that they planned to vote him in on election day, and he believes having been cleared will help with voters' opinions after months of press about his trial.

"The only way that this hurts my candidacy is if your newspaper decides to support an unqualified candidate because of these charges," Robles told the Whittier Daily News.

WHITTIER - Samuels Diamonds will be holding its third annual American Red Cross blood drive from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday at a bloodmobile in Whittwood Town Center, 15948 Whittier Blvd.

Those who donate will receive a $50 gift card. To schedule an appointment or for information, visit www.givelife.org or contact Jessica at (562) 943-1141.

WHITTIER - A two-session workshop, Become a Nonsmoker with Hypnosis, will be held from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Thursdays beginning this week at the Whittier Senior Center, 13225 Walnut St.

The workshop is co-sponsored with La Habra Community Services and conducted by hypnotherapist Pamela J. Schmidt, M.S. The workshop is $29 and for adults only. For information, call (562) 464-3430 or (562) 905-9708.

WHITTIER - The Whittier Wheelmen will meet to pedal in and out of Irvine at 7:30 a.m. Sunday at Friends Park, 7634 Washington Ave.

Short-distance riders could see the inside and outside of five historic homes on the Neighborhood Tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The cost is $15 for tickets purchased before Saturday and $18 for tickets purchased the day of the tour. For ticket information, call (562) 464-9545.

WHITTIER - There will be a crime prevention fair from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Adventure County Park, 10130 Gunn Ave.

Everyone in the community is invited to attend. There will be a Halloween costume contest for kids, crafts, raffles and giveaways. There will also be information booths, entertainment and face-painting.

Seemore, the Neighborhood Watch mascot, will make a special appearance. For information, call (562) 698-7645.

I'm working on a story for tomorrow out of Pico Rivera about the return of a local business, Buck-A-Roo.

PICO RIVERA -- Two men have saved Buck-A-Roo of Pico Rivera, and they're passing on the savings to shoppers.

Chris Crawford and his uncle Terry Lee re-opened the bargain store at the corner of Telegraph and Passons boulevards a week ago. It had been closed since June, when the previous owners shut it down.

"Times being as hard as they are, everybody's looking for a way to save their money," Lee said.

Crawford said he is the original owner of the store which opened in 2002, and that he sold the business four years ago and continued to manage the store, which offers everything from eggs to televisions at deep discounts. Now, he and his uncle are back as owners and say they've gotten a good response from the community.

Lee said that on the day they re-opened, a crowd of about 50 people waited in line in the morning and cheered for cashiers when they unlocked the doors.

Cashier Lupe Avina, who worked at the store for more than two years before the close and returned after the reopening, said old customers are returning in droves.

"The first two days, it was like we saw everyone," Avina said.

According to Crawford, the 9,000-square-foot store isn't quite full yet -- inventory is still coming in for the store's grand opening celebration in early November. But the doors are open and shoppers are perusing goods including Nike shorts and sandals, Keebler cookies, Dell computer monitors and even a few television sets.

Crawford said they get their merchandise with big price cuts because of everything from overproduction to changes in packaging that make items less desirable to large retailers. What will be in stock is unpredictable, but items are usually discounted by 40 to 50 percent.

"It's a treasure hunt," Crawford said.

While most businesses are struggling and some are even closing under the weight of the current economy, Buck-A-Roo should do well, owners say, because their business focuses on helping shoppers hunt for a bargain.

For more about the Buck-A-Roo, check out tomorrow's Whittier Daily News.

 

     La Habra Police employees will be working as waiters and waitresses at Applebee's this Thursday to raise money for the Special Olympics Southern California - Orange County.
     Officers and civilian employees of the department will be serving patrons from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday. Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar is at 1238 W. Imperial Highway in La Habra.
     The Tip-A-Cop fund-raiser is organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Southern California.
     For over 18 years, officers and deputies have teamed up with area restaurants by volunteering their time as "celebrity waiters" and receiving tips to raise funds for Special Olympics.
     All Tip-A-Cop donations are tax deductible and the proceeds from the event are used to provide year-round sports training and competitions for special needs children and adults, ranging in age from 8 to 80, in Orange County.

     A Whittier man accused of robbing local banks as "The Beret Bandit" pleaded not guilty yesterday at his arraignment in federal court.

     Rick Thomas Maushund, 31, is scheduled for a Dec. 2 trial at the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and Courthouse in Santa Ana. Federal prosecutors have charged him with robbing the Union Bank of California at 3200 Yorba Linda Blvd. in Fullerton on Sept. 5 and the Southwestern Federal Credit Union at 11749 E. Whittier Blvd. in Whittier on Sept. 11.

     "The Beret Bandit" got his moniker from the FBI because he robbed a Whittier bank wearing a tan beret. The bandit is suspected of robbing eight banks in Los Angeles and Orange counties. 

     While sheriff's detectives aren't releasing too much details about yesterday's home invasion robbery in La Habra Heights, they would like to clarify one thing. No gold bars were taken from the house in the 700 block of Reposado Drive. The armed robbers who wore masks took cash and silver but no gold. And it's not piles of silver either.

     The two victims were tied up. Deputies said one managed to get out of the house. A neighbor helped free them.

For years, local school districts have been suffering the financial effects of declining student enrollment because state dollars are handed out according to attendance numbers.

But the East Whittier City, Little Lake City and South Whittier school districts are getting a break from that situation this fall, reporting slightly higher numbers of students on their campuses when compared to last year.

For South Whittier, it's all about the new full-day kindergarten program and after-school program, which are attracting more families, school officials say.

SWSD actually took some prospective students away from half-day kindergarten programs in East Whittier, officials said, but the good news for East Whittier is they saw a bigger jump in the numbers of middle-schoolers.

And at Little Lake in Santa Fe Springs, officials say it's hard to pinpoint exactly why they saw a slight rise in students is across the schools and grades this fall.

But it's better than losing more students.

Check out the story in Wednesday's paper.

I've been getting some calls from Republican who are upset about Monday's story about Democratic voter registration increasing and Republicans staying pretty much stagnant.
They say they're registered more than 600 Republicans at their Whittier headquarters.
As a reporter, I have no idea of whether that's true. All I can do is use numbers provided by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's Office. As I told one person, "The numbers are the numbers."

Here's the link to the office: http://www.lavote.net/Voter/Statement_Registration.cfm
You can make up your own mind.

It appears that there will be interesting times in Whittier this week.
On Monday, it started with the news that the Whittier Conservancy and California Domestic Water Co. had reached a settlement. You can see details of that already on our web site, with a more detailed story to come. This resolves an issue that dates back to the spring of 2007.

But there will be more.
I'll be writing Tuesday a story about problems in the Whittier Uptown Association. Sandra Hahn, owner of Crepes and Grapes, is leading a drive to oust Robert Ruiz as its president.
Assuming no major story pushes that back -- like say another auto dealer closing -- read about it in Wednesday's newspaper.

And at a special 6:30 p.m. Wednesday meeting , the City Council will take up the Specific Plan for Uptown Whittier. Jeff Collier, director of community development, has listed 27 items the council needs to resolve. The spectators and the council may need to bring sleeping bags.

WHITTIER - What caused the big noise or explosion as some residents described it on Sunday night is still unknown.
It was reported at 10:30 p.m. around Michigan Park at Michigan Avenue and La Cuarta street. Whittier police went looking for the source of the sound and even used a helicopter. But they could not find it.

     Deputies are looking for two men who robbed and tied up two residents this morning in La Habra Heights.

     The suspects were armed and wore masks and gloves. They took cash and precious metal (silver).

     It's not clear if the victims managed to untie themselves or were helped by a neighbor.
The home invasion robbery happened about 7 a.m. in the 700 block of Reposado Drive.

For years, Whittier -- home town of the late President Richard Nixon -- was a red city, i.e. it had a Republican majority in voters. Even the Watergate scandal didn't change it. Not until 1996 when Bill Clinton was president, did Democrats gain a plurality.

At the time, the Democratic lead in voter registration was attributed to Whittier's changing demographics, i.e. the increasing number of Latinos.

In Monday's newspaper, I'll take a new look at the numbers as they are in the fall of 2008.
It's not good news for Republicans. They're falling further behind Democrats, just like in Los Angeles County and California. I interviewed Democrats and Republicans to find out what they think.

If you want to see the actual numbers, you can access them here: http://www.lavote.net/Voter/Statement_Registration.cfm

Go here for statewide voter registration numbers: http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_u.htm

The news, with economic worries and the nasty rhetoric of the presidential campaign, is not a place right now to find inspiration, right?

Wrong. Read about Max Igoe, 10, who is continuing to raise money for breast cancer research.

The shy, blond-haired, boy began selling pink lemonade soon after family friend Elizabeth Rorman died from breast cancer in July 2003 at age 37.

She had battled the disease for seven years.

In the past five years, Max, with the support of his parents, Nicki and Michael, has raised about $45,000 of the $1 million dollar goal he has set.

Pick up Monday's paper to read the whole story.

You can also visit www.maxslemonadestand.com

 

Who says school is boring?

Students at Salazar High in Pico Rivera got to pore over three different crime scenes Friday  -- mock crimes created by Administration of Justice teacher Nestor Gonzalez -- as part of the final exam for their Introduction to Forensics class.

Was the boy on the bench done in by a flying hockey stick? And was alcohol a factor in a man's collapse at a golf course?

In less than 40 minutes, the students had used their newly acquired skills to figure out the victim, the weapon and the circumstances of the crime. But Gonzalez cautioned that in the real world, a crime scene investigation takes much, much longer.

Check out the rest of the story in Saturday's Whittier Daily News.

Veterans serve up spaghetti dinner
The Veterans of Foreign Wars will hold a spaghetti and meatball dinner from 5:30-8 p.m. tonight at VFW Post, 3752, 11912 Rivera Road.
 
The cost is $5, and proceeds will benefit veterans. For more information, call (562) 698-9059.
 
  
'Peter Pan' set at Center Theatre
The Whittier Community Services Department and Stagelight Family Productions have teamed up to present "Peter Pan" by the Whittier Junior Theatre at the Whittier Center Theatre, 7630 Washington Ave.
 
The shows are scheduled: at 7:30 p.m. today; at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; at 2 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday; at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24; at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25; at 2 and 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26.
 
For more information, call (562) 464-3430.
 
  
Community fair helps to prepare
NORWALK - Assemblyman Tony Mendoza will present a community preparedness fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Target Shopping Center, 12051 Imperial Highway.
 
Visitors will be given demonstrations on what to do in case of emergencies and tips from experts on what is needed to protect individuals and their families.
 
 Experts from state, county and local city offices of emergency services will answer questions and showcase programs and services. Each agency will have on display survival kits that can be used to ensure safety.
 
The American Red Cross also will be on hand with demonstrations, and visitors can learn what a magnitude 6.0 earthquake feels like in the state-of-the-art "Shakey-Quakey" earthquake simulator.
 
 The event is free and open to the public and is a reminder of the statewide drill known as "Golden Guardian" scheduled for Nov. 13-17. For more information, call (562) 864-5600 or (562) 409- 5036.
 
  
Trick or treat dinner at VFW
PICO RIVERA - The Veterans of Foreign Wars will have a trick or treat evening on Saturday at 7 at VFW Post 6315, 4865 Durfee Ave.
 
There will be music, a dance contest and a taquitos dinner by the VFW Auxiliary. The cost is $5 in advance and $7 at the door. For more information, contact Tino at (562) 693-2156.
 
  
DemsUnited hosts 'rally for change'
PICO RIVERA - There will be a "rally for change" for Barack Obama and Joe Biden supporters at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Smith Park, 6016 Rosemead Blvd.
 
The rally is sponsored by the DemsUnited for Obama and  California Democratic Party Region 15.
 
Bring family and friends to help raise energy on getting out to vote, motivate the undecided to vote for Obama, register voters and get involved. For more information, contact Louis R. Reyes at DemsUnited at (800) 277- 1675, Ext. 702.
 
 Do you have an event coming up? Send it to us at news.wdn@sgvn.com.

     A man suspected of robbing a Whittier supermarket  on Thursday apparently planned his getaway. He ducked into a restaurant's bathroom after the caper where he shaved off his mustache, ditched a baseball cap and changed his shirt.

     But his plans went awry. He walked out of the restroom when police came looking for the robber. He got nervous which drew the cop's attention. It didn't help when the owner told the officer the man was wearing different clothes when he first arrived.

    

More than 600 people are expected to attend the memorial service for Whittier oilman and philanthropist Edfred L. Shannon at 11 a.m. Saturday (Oct. 18) at the SkyRose Chapel at Rose Hills Memorial Park, 3888 Workman Mill Road.

Ed died Sept. 21 at the age of 82 with his wife, Ruth, and granddaughter at his side.

Because Ed was so well known, the overflow crowd may bring the likes of former Secretary of State Henry Kissenger and high-level oil executives from the Middle East.

A reception is planned after the service at Friendly Hills Country Club, 8500 S. Villaverde Drive in Whittier

See you there.

Tim Traeger

Editor

Whittier Daily News

Campaign finance statements in two local races will be the subject of a story in tomorrow's newspaper. I'll be taking a look at the Lowell Joint School District and Water Replenishment District of Southern California races.

In each each, there's one candidate spending significant money with the others staying below the $1,000 limit. That means the others don't have to file reports.

The information is all available on the second floor at the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's Office, 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk.

But if you want to look at reports filed for any of the state legislative or executives offices -- from governor to controller -- it's all available on the Internet.
Just go to http://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/campaign.

WHITTIER - A judge ruled Wednesday there was sufficient evidence to try a woman for allegedly stabbing another woman at a Whittier bar after an argument.
A preliminary hearing was held at Whittier Superior Court for Kathleen Cottle, 44, charged with one count of assault with a deadly weapon.
She will be arraigned Oct. 29 at Norwalk Superior Court.
Cottle fled in her mobile home after the Sept. 13 stabbing at the Embers Lounge, 11332 Washington Blvd.
Whittier Police said the victim was attacked when she went to the bathroom.
Police tracked down the mobile home to Guirado Park on Pioneer Boulevard on Oct. 1 and arrested Cottle when she showed up.

It's a banner year at the Lowell Joint School District, where board members Fred Schambeck and Gene Dunford are fighting off a challenge by two opponents for their seats in the Nov. 4 elections.

Why is it a banner year? Because it's been all of 14 years since board members actually had to run an election campaign.

During that time, board members automatically won back their seats because no one ran against them, or they were appointed by the panel when a seat was vacated. But challengers James Najera and William Hinz says that has to change -- and they say a fresh perspective is exactly what the district needs right now.

Check out what the candidates have to say in our Thursday edition.

In Pico Rivera politics, a strong three-person voting block typically dictates the City Council's actions. But at last night's meeting, the two councilmen usually left out in the cold blocked approval for construction of a new traffic signal, or at least delayed it until further information can be given.

It happened when Mayor Ron Beilke recused himself of a vote on the signal (on Washington Blvd. near LA Fitness), because his Wienerschnitzel restaurant is about 1,000 feet away, at the corner of Rosemead and Washington boulevards.

Beilke's abstention left his allies, Councilwoman Gracie Gallegos-Smith and Councilman Bob Archuleta, alone to vote in favor of the change. But Councilman Gregory Salcido voted against it, saying he had repeatedly expressed his concern about too many traffic signals in the city.

"We may have possible overkill on signals," Salcido said. "I'm open to sitting down and talking about it."

Councilman David Armenta voted against the measure without explanation.

This meant a split vote, 2-2, so the measure didn't pass.

Salcido said he might be willing to bring the item back if he gets more information that shows him the signal is necessary.

But the vote didn't simply drop as a defeated measure. Instead, majority voting block member Bob Archuleta quickly did all he could to circumvent the vote and pressured Salcido and Armenta to change their minds.

"I keep emphasizing the pedestrians and safety," Archuleta said.

City Manager Chuck Fuentes also quickly weighed in, saying money has already been spent on planning the signal and not placing it there could mean danger for pedestrians.

"To not do this is criminal neglect, in my opinion," Fuentes said. "If anything happens, the blood will be on whomever's hands."

The public is cordially invited to the Whittier Fall Business Showcase.

This free mini-expo is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Vinatero Wine Shop, 6531 Greenleaf Ave.

The event will feature 50-plus vendors offering samples of food, products and information.

The Business Showcase is produced by the Whittier Area Chamber of Commerce with the city of Whittier and the Whittier Uptown Association. This public event is expected to attract hundreds of visitors, so come out and learn more about the services and products available in the community.
For more information, call (562) 698-9554.</p>

The Whittier Wheelmen will meet to sample another favorite bakery's treats in Seal Beach at 7:30 a.m. Sunday at Friends Park, 7634 Washington Ave.

Short-distance riders can enjoy Panera's at 15630 Whittwood Lane in the Whittwood Mall. For information, call (562) 947-5771.

Bring the family to a free gem, mineral and jewelry show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Whittier Community Center, 7630 Washington Ave.

Participants can learn jewelry making, buy jewelry and gemstones, and see fine gemstone displays. For information, call (562) 696-3222.

     At 10:20 a.m., Tuesday, a 15-year-old being taken to a home for at-risk boys jumped out of a van while it was on Imperial Highway in Norwalk and fled. Kevin Tapia was reported as a runaway and the case is being treated as a missing case.

     Sheriff's Lt. Jenny Ha said the teen was part of  Lakewood Station's gang injunction. However, the probation department doesn't consider Tapia one of its high risk individuals. All those deemed high risk end up at probation camps.

     Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall had released him to be placed at Boys Republic in Chino Hills.

     Los Padrinos' procedure is when it releases minors ordered by the court to be put on placement, the facility is supposed to pick up the juvenile. Boys Republic did so on Tuesday morning.

     Lance Parks, associate director at Boys Republic, said the teen jumped out of the van before the vehicle got on the freeway. The van wasn't moving fast.

     The driver called the sheriff's station.

     Boys Republic is for minors on probation, he added. They typically stay six to nine months. It also has a high school.

The latest out of Pico Rivera City Hall:

PICO RIVERA -- Officials have called a special meeting of the Pico Rivera Water Authority for tonight at 6 p.m. to push a Water Master Plan toward completion.
According to Interim Public Works Director Al Cablay, an affirmative vote tonight at City Hall will mean the project moves from a first phase of information gathering to analysis and creating a plan for the future.
That plan is likely to improve rate increases, Cablay said. It will also address drought issues, the use of new technology to reclaim and recycle water, distribution and more.

The city is already finished going through the Water Authority's current situation with a fine toothed comb, and they now want to hire the consulting firm that did the first phase of the project to lead the charge on phase two, which will put together a strategy for the next several years on how to keep the city's thirst for qater quenched.

This plan is likely to include a rate hike, according to Cablay. He said City Manager Chuck Fuentes, along with Interim Finance Director John Herrera, are working on a graduated increase so there isn't too much sticker shock in the early phases of the hike.

No word on how much water rates would rise, as Cablay said it's too soon to know what the water authority will need.

According to Cablay, plans like these are usually revamped every ten years or so. They're expensive, however, so Pico Rivera hasn't gone through the process in more than 20 years.

If it gets a favorable vote tonight, the analysis process is expected to end in February 2009.

     Whittier Police responding to a shots fired call in the 5600 block of Pioneer Boulevard at 1:18 a.m. Sunday found a man with a gunshot wound to the foot.

     Officer Robert Wood said the wounded man was taken to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center. No arrests have been made. The suspect was described as having a shaved head and of thin build.

     Wood said a red Chevy sport utility vehicle and a dark-colored Honda Civic were seen leaving the location after the shots were fired.

     There were no other details available. 

    

 

 

The second of what will be several stories profiling the Whittier-area state legislative and congressional districts is expected to be in Tuesday's paper.

Last week, I wrote about the 56th Assembly District and today I'm preparing a piece on the 58th Assembly District. Tuesday's story will focus on taxes.

Since our area is broken up into a number of Assembly and congressional districts, I and our other reporters soon will be providing information on each of them.

This year, we're trying to run the stories sooner because we know that people are voting earlier and earlier. I hope the stories are informative and help you decide how to vote.

A water district official charged with misdemeanor violations of election code began his trial today, but he didn't want to.

Albert Robles, board president for the Water Replenishment District, asked today for a delay in his trial on four misdemeanor counts that could each cost him six months in jail, plus up to a $10,000 fine if he is convicted. He might also be declared ineligible to run for public office for four years.

Robles, 38, wanted to postpone the trial until after the November election, as he is in the middle of a reelection campaign for his seat.

He said it was because the entire case against him is part of District Attorney Steve Cooley's vendetta against him, and the goal of the case is to derail his reelection campaign.

Deputy District Attorney Gary Neilsen denied those allegations in court. Judge Larry S. Knupp refused to continue the case, and jury selection began today.

Robles was charged in November of last year for allegedly sending campaign mailers without a return address in the 2005 campaign of acquaintances in a Pico Water Board race, and for making a campaign expenditure of more than $100.

This June, he ran against Cooley for District Attorney.

For more on Robles and his trial, check out tomorrow's Whittier Daily News.

Readers can get a behind-the-scenes view of California High School math teacher Vickie Hemphill on this Monday's Student Life page, where we're highlighting her for being named the 2008-09 Teacher of the Year at the Whittier Union High School District.

She reveals why she become a teacher -- and in particular, why she's so passionate about mathematics and helping students learn it.

We've also got some Whittier-area students who made the National Honor Roll. For high-school seniors and college-bound students, we include a couple of opportunities to compete for some extra money to help them pay for their studies.

Our team of student panelists talk about schools and libraries, and journalist/mom Anissa Rivera shares the latest about her experiences as a stay-at-home mom of two rambunctious young boys.

 

Forget schools failing parents -- are parents failing schools?

They may well be when it comes to practicing traffic safety during morning drop-offs and afternoon pick-ups at Whittier-area schools, local officials say.

Instead of sporting an all-for-one attitude, too many parent drivers are being selfish and impatient at schools, local police say. And when you figure that 50- and 60-year-old schools weren't designed to see the kind of vehicle traffic they've got now, it can create some major safety challenges.

Whittier police have been at Hoover Elementary for most of the week, ticketing motorists for breaking the law and keeping cars moving after being "inundated" with complaints about the school's traffic.

And even that has triggered a new set of complaints.

To read the whole story, pick up a copy of Sunday's Whittier Daily News.

 

 

 

 

The headlines aren't too good these days with the stock market seeming on the way to crashing and burning. But what effect is this having on our local small businesses? That's what I'm trying to find out for a story that should run in Saturday's Whittier Daily News.

So far, I can say that it's not good out there, but some businesses can benefit from bad times.

 

     Just a reminder. Because of Columbus Day, courts in Los Angeles County will be closed on Monday.

     Among the notable local court cases next week include the Tuesday sentencing of Kelly Mahaffey, a La Mirada resident and former La Pluma Elementary PTA president. She was convicted in June of nine counts of identity theft, grand theft of a $4,650 check, possession of methamphetamine, multiple identifying information theft, theft of access card information with intent to use it fraudulently, grand theft of lost property, second degree-commercial burglary and forgery.

     The defense wanted probation for her while the prosecution says she deserves prison.

     Mahaffey was supposed to be sentenced in July but the judge ordered she be evaluated for 90 days by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The CDCR will make recommendations in a report submitted to the court.

And from the jaded crime beat, a little fluffy tale ...
Deputy Donald Naslund was flagged down this morning by a citizen who
found six newborn puppies.
The still-wet puppies were behind a Dumpster at the 76 gas station at
Fullerton and Colima roads in Rowland Heights, according to Sgt.
Thomas Wilson.
Naslund brought the little furballs to the sheriff's Industry Station
at 150 Hudson Ave. in Industry.
"They're being cleaned and fed by the jailer," Wilson said.
Animal Control was called to take custody of the wee pups.

Ever wonder what goes bump in the night? Join the spooky fun from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Santa Fe Springs City Library 11700 Telegraph Road. Those in attendance will enjoy an intriguing evening with a man who sees dead people and will discuss the true hauntings of Santa Fe Springs, Downey, Norwalk, and Whittier.

Albert Robles will finally have his day in court today in Downey on charges that he violated election code.

Robles, 38, is president of the board of directors for the Water Replenishment District and is up for reelection this year.

For almost ten months, he's been defending himself against allegations that he sent campaign mailers without return addresses on behalf of Pico Water Board members in 2005.

If convicted, he could face up to six months in jail for each of three charges and up to $10,000 in fines.

Robles says his actions weren't illegal and has been acting as his own attorney (he's a lawyer by profession).

 

I'm covering this event Friday,  Oct. 10:

For those who have some extra time in the afternoon and want a chance to win some great prizes, come out to meet KROQ radio personality Beer Mug from noon to 2 p.m. at Del Taco, 8650 Washington Blvd., Pico Rivera.

Del Taco is the only place you can get the latest KROQ stickers to put on your car bumper, notebook, skateboard or wherever.

Those adventurous enough can also take part in a number of "bold" activities including bobbing for salsa packets, burrito tossing and balancing a food tray while riding a tricycle.

Hope to see you there.

Sandra Molina, Staff Writer

A hearty welcome to Whittier Daily News' first leap into interactive cyberspace. This blog is intended for all who have come to love Whittier, Pico Rivera, La Mirada, La Habra, La Habra Heights, Santa Fe Springs and Montebello.

It provides an outlet for your gripes as well as your kudos. The Whittier Daily News staff encourages you to contribute to this effort and develop a community forum for sharing thoughts, concepts and ideas to advance the well-being of our communities.

So, folks, blog away. We look forward to great things from our readers and contributors.

As a first little tidbit, community spitfire Dorothea Boyd has reported that a group of well-wishers went into her home in Whittier's historic district and cleaned all her windows as a belated birthday present. Boyd recently turned 85.

Way to go, well-wishers. Keep up the good work.

Tim Traeger

Editor

Whittier Daily News