James Dobson and Focus on the Family are discussed by former right-hand-man Gil Meogerle. Also see accompanying article about rise of Focus on the Family.
James Jason Stathum was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the videotaped fatal shooting of Arcadia resident Munther Farah Gharib. At the time of the shooting, Gharib was working in a La Puente convenience store.
Focus on the Family, a not-for-profit religious organization currently based in Colorado Springs, is raising moral issues of concern to its membership. The voice of Focus on the Family is former Arcadia resident and author Dr. James Dobson.
James Romo, an education attorney and school district volunteer, has been selected to fill the vacant seat on the Arcadia School board. He will replace Michael Lamb, who resigned from the board last month.
Jimmy Palma, 22, of Arcadia received a death-penalty recommendation for the April 22, 1995 massacre of five people in El Monte. A final decision on the matter will be announced by the presiding judge on February 19, 1997.
Arcadia police continue to heavily ticket cars that frequent the area around the Burger Palace on Thursday nights in an attempt to curb drag racing and curtail other potential problems. Since July 8, 202 tickets have been issued.
The Arcadia Board of Education passed a $32.5 million budget for 1993-4 with no cuts in classroom services. The budget included $22 million for staff salaries and $1.5 million for books and supplies.
A 20-year old baby sitter from mainland China testified about the events she said led to her enslavement by Arcadia couple Dianyi Zhia and Hua Jiang. See also Pasadena Star News, July 23, 1997, p. A1.
Two men, including 22 year old Arcadian Jimmy Palma, were convicted of five counts of first-degree murder for shooting three adults and two children last year in El Monte.
The citizen group Neighbors for Arcadia submitted a petition with over 5,000 signatures for a ballot measure to give voters final say over the use of Santa Anita Park. The City Clerk has until July 2 to verify whether the group has enough signatures to qualify for a special election.
Promoters expect 20,000 people a day to attend Festival Santa Anita, a Labor Day weekend event featuring Latin music, food, and arts and crafts. This will be the first major event at Santa Anita Park since the City Council decided in July to allow its use as a concert venue.
Diane I-Fan Chang, 22, a student at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, is an illustrator for the new UNITY LA., a non-profit magazine funded by corporate donations and individuals that is geared to the ethnically diverse youth in the Los Angeles area.
William Woolard, 50, Arcadia Planning Director for 22 years, resigned at the recommendation of City Manager Don Duckworth and a 4-1 City Council vote, with Robert Harbicht opposed. Woolard was asked to leave because of departmental reorganization, Duckworth said.
Diane I-Fan Chang, 22, a student at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, is an illustrator for the new magazine, UNITY LA. The non-profit magazine, written and designed for the multicultural youth of the Los Angeles area, is designed to create a more understanding society.
William Kelly, with 22 years of city government experience in Burbank, Brea, Baldwin Park and San Bruno, has been hired as Arcadia's first community development director and assistant to the city manager. This new position replaces the planning director job that had been vacant for several months.
Lou and Juli Costanzo, 37, are co-owners of Champion Sports Collectibles, which recently moved to Arcadia after 10 years in San Gabriel. They are profiled.
Julie Krone is probably the most famous of the female jockeys who make up 25 percent of all riders. She rides in California for the first time Saturday in a match race at Santa Anita Park.