Dana Middle School students released a weather balloon 80,000 feet into the air. It was made of latex and equipped with a tracking device that sent updates every 16 seconds to science teacher Mike Mora's laptop computer. The balloon reached its final resting place near California City, north of Edwards Air Force Base, about 150 miles from its launch point.
Due to lower enrollment, Immaculate Conception School (K-4th grades) in Monrovia and Annunciation School (5th-8th grades) in Arcadia will merge their resources and student bodies to stay open.
Angeles National Forest fire officials raise fire danger level to extreme, effective Friday, September 2. This change is in response to September's seasonal drying combined with the 5th year of a drought.
Arcadia High School gymnast Samantha Sakti crowned Balance Beam Champion, Silver Medalist on Floor and 5th All Around at Region 1 Artistic Gymnastics Level 10 Championships.
California State Assembly member Anthony Portantino (Democrat-La Canada Flintridge), who represents the 44th District, which includes parts of Arcadia, was named Legislator of the Year by the California Police Chiefs Association (CPCA) for his public safety measure banning the open carry of unloaded handguns in public places.
Americans of Japanese descent gathered at Santa Anita Park yesterday to reflect on the dark period of history when Santa Anita Park was the largest assembly center for interned Japanese-Americans. Nearly 20,000 were processed at Santa Anita Park and sent to internment camps. Several people who were once incarcerated at Santa Anita Park were among those who gathered there at the Cherry Blossom Festival Southern California's 11th Annual Camp Stories Award Show and Auction.
San Gabriel Valley police officers and firefighters, including Arcadia Police Department and Arcadia Fire Department, competed in a charity basketball tournament at Arcadia High School to benefit Special Olympics Southern California. It was organized by Arcadia Police detective Walter Ashby.
Veteran paddock guard at Santa Anita Park, John Shear, will be honored on October 1, for his heroic act of shielding a 6-year-old girl from a runaway horse on March 12, 2011, with a race named "The John Shear Hero Purse." The race will include a winner's circle ceremony in which 90-year-old Shear will be recognized.
John Shear (pictured), a 5-foot, 110-pound, 90-year-old paddock supervisor at Santa Anita Park, nearly lost his life when he threw himself in the path of a runaway horse on March 12 to protect a little girl he didn't know. He has worked seasonally for Santa Anita Park for nearly 50 years. He sustained a fractured pelvis and other injuries but is recuperating at home now. He is a hero.