Southern California Edison (SCE) works to restore power to crisis areas after a destructive 70 mph windstorm hit yesterday early morning, and caused power outages in Pasadena, San Gabriel, Alhambra, Arcadia, Altadena, Monrovia, El Monte, Sierra Madre, Temple City, and San Marino.
Four men try to rob an Arcadia couple outside their home near Lovell Avenue and Camino Real Avenue. They are in the jewelry business and just got home after attending a trade show. The couple believe the robbers followed them home. Anyone with information should call Arcadia police detectives.
The trial for Isaac Campbell, charged with the murder of Liya "Jessie" Lu, has been delayed to give the Public Defender Jim Duffy time to transcribe a set of tapes from follow-up witness interviews from August. Lu went missing August 11, 2007 and her body was discovered a month later in the trash can of Campbell's friend's house in Arcadia.
Arcadia Police arrested Juan Lorenzo, 31, and Jose Antonio Cruz Ramirez, 26, both of San Gabriel, on suspicion of the stabbing murder of Anthony Berry, 18, of Pomona, at 1300 S. Golden West Avenue. The suspects are employees of Money Pot Shabu Shabu restaurant and became involved in an argument with Berry. Lorenzo will be arraigned January 5, 2012.
Juan L. Lorenzo, 31, of San Gabriel, was charged with one count of murder and one count of assault with deadly weapon in connection with fatal stabbing of Anthony Berry, 18, of Pomona, in the 1300 block of S. Golden West Avenue. Jose Cruz Ramirez of San Gabriel was initially also arrested, but was released. Lorenzo and Ramirez work at Money Pot Shabu Shabu restaurant and became involved in an argument with Berry. Lorenzo will be arraigned January 5, 2012.
Arcadia police arrested 3 burglary suspects after a high-speed chase on the 210 Freeway ended in a crash in Azusa yesterday. The suspects are Dominic Bertirotti, 23, of Monrovia, Salim Alayache, 23 of Pasadena and Salvador Esparza, Jr., 18 of Azusa. No one was injured seriously.
A sculptural 584-foot Metro Gold Line bridge, that will span the eastbound 210 Freeway, is under construction now. The $18.6 million bridge will be a dramatic gateway to the San Gabriel Valley. The bridge builder is Skanska USA Civil. The bridge's design concept of Native American baskets was designed by artist Andrew Leicester. The bridge should be completed in summer 2012. The bridge will have a built-in technology that can gauge damage to underground pilings after an earthquake. The entire 11.5 mile eastward Gold Line Foothill Extension through Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale and Azusa is due to be finished in 2015.
Southern California Edison (SCE) apologizes for power outages that left 430,000 San Gabriel Valley residents in the dark for days, and some for weeks after the November 30-December 1 windstorm.
Arcadia Methodist Hospital's new wing, a $140 million, 184-bed tower, that opened last month, largely replaces 2 hospital buildings built in 1957 and 1967. This new building helps as Arcadia Methodist Hospital (AMH) plans to address the risks of buildings collapsing during an earthquake. Joe La Brie, a structural engineer said AMH has addressed utility line hazards. Acute services are being relocated to the new tower. See related story about earthquake preparedness at other hospitals in the San Gabriel Valley (see same page).
With about a dozen Southern California cities, including Arcadia, potentially seeking new city managers this fall, some local officials are worried demand could drive up the salaries. Arcadia City Councilman Roger Chandler, whose city manager Don Penman is retiring in October, after 3 years as top administrator, said the opportunity to work for certain cities will outweigh the competitive market. He said this will not create a bidding war for city managers. Penman's annual salary is $214,032 plus $4000 in deferred compensation. He receives $14,076/year in medical benefits, 4 weeks vacation, 2 weeks management leave, and use of a car and BlackBerry.
Thousands of San Gabriel Valley customers will be receiving refunds from Golden State Water Company after state regulators ruled the San Dimas-based company failed to properly oversee contracts that led to overcharging customers. The CPUC ruled that Golden State must refund Northern California and Southern California customers $9.5 million over the next 3 years and/or lower rates. About $400,000 in refunds will be given to 100,000 Southern California customers, including customers in Charter Oak, Claremont, Covina, Glendora, La Verne, San Dimas, Walnut, San Gabriel, Arcadia, El Monte, Irwindale, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Rosemead and Temple City.
More high winds expected. Clean-up efforts remain ongoing across San Gabriel Valley. With Santa Ana winds expected to batter Southern California for several days this week, residents and work crews scrambled yesterday to clear downed trees, replace utility poles and restore power after the historic storm that hit Thursday, December 1, 2011. A small army of Southern California Edison (SCE) workers gathered in the Santa Anita Park race track parking lot--some waiting for orders, others moving the dozens of replacement transformers. SCE will need to bring power back to the 78,000 customers still without electricity as of yesterday afternoon.