Isaac Campbell, an Alhambra man charged with the murder of Liya "Jessie" Lu, appeared in court for a hearing on Tuesday and was ordered to return to court December 3, 2009. He is being held on $1 million bail. He allegedly stuffed her body in a trash can in Arcadia.
Arcadia High School junior cross-country runner Ammar Moussa wins the boys Division 1 and 2 sweepstakes at the Mt. San Antonio College Cross Country Invitational. Also included is a photo of Arcadia High School junior Catrina McAlister.
Natalie Innocenzi, 16, of Arcadia, who attends Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy in La Canada, was named the 92nd Rose Queen of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade. Princess June Ko of Arcadia High School and reigning Rose Queen Courtney Chou Lee, a graduate of Arcadia High School, congratulate her. Innocenzi and the six princesses will preside over the 121st Rose Parade and 96th Rose Bowl Game on January 1, 2010. Photos.
In this ailing economy, San Gabriel Valley property values have dropped significantly, as reflected in the county's home assessments. The county property roll is at $1.1 trillion, a nearly 1% decrease compared to 2008. Homeowners will have smaller tax bills but cities are having to reduce services and employees as they lose businesses, sales tax revenue, and property tax revenue. See a chart of Los Angeles County Assessor's Office property values report showing Arcadia and neighboring cities. Arcadia is a city whose 2009 value increased 2.2% compared to last year.
The California State Department of Education has released test scores and rankings. Every spring the state gives each public school two rankings from 1 to 10. A "statewide" rank compares each school in the state and the "similar schools" rank compares schools with similar demographics and populations. Oak Avenue Intermediate in Temple City Unified School District and Huntington Middle School and San Marino High School in San Marino Unified all got 10s in both categories. All schools in the Arcadia Unified School District earned a rank of 10 in the "statewide" category, but ranks varied in the "similar schools" category.
The preliminary hearing for accused murderer Isaac Campbell has begun in Alhambra. He is charged in the death of Liya "Jessie" Lu, who went missing August 11, 2007. Her body was found more than 1 month later, stuffed in a trash can at a home in Arcadia. The victim's last text message was scrutinized in court. So far, the proceedings have consisted solely of testimony by Lu's coworker and friend George Molina.
The 72nd $1 million Santa Anita Handicap is running today. Some of the top contenders are named Colonel John, Einstein, Cowboy Cal, Court Vision, and Matto Mondo. Helen Pitts is Einstein's trainer. Einstein is the son of horse Spend a Buck.
The Pamplemousse, which means "the grapefruit" in French, is a fast colt. Ridden by veteran jockey Alex Solis, The Pamplemousse won the 1-1/8 mile $200,000 Grade III Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park yesterday. His time 1:47.86 was the fastest in the Sham's 9-year history.
The Los Angeles Conservancy gave an F grade to Arcadia, Bradbury, Diamond Bar, El Monte, Industry, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Monterey Park, Rosemead, Santa Fe Springs, Temple City and Walnut, in a report card of local cities. The cities were judged on whether or not they had an ordinance allowing designation of historic landmarks, how many landmarks are designated, if cities provide for implementation of the Mills Act and other criteria.
George Fasching, shown in a photo, is no longer selling gas at Fasching's Car Wash in Arcadia because he is unwilling to comply with a state mandate, effective April 1, 2009, that requires gas station owners to purchase new equipment to reduce vapor emissions at the pump.
Arcadia seeks to extend the right to collect cell phone usage tax. Officials plan to hold a special election in May or June in 2009 for a ballot measure. If communicated to voters correctly, it should pass, because it would not raise the tax but protect the city's revenues. At stake is about $1 million in yearly revenue. To do that, voters must allow the city to legally redefine what a telecommunications tax is. Recent court rulings have suggested cities cannot tax cell phone use by relying on older telecommunications tax ordinances.
Arcadia mail-in voters reject proposal for new lighting assessment districts. Under the proposal, the single-family homes on well-lit streets would pay up for $24 a year. Those with "sporadic" lighting would pay up to $10.12 a year, while homes on streets without lights would pay nothing. The current lighting assessment districts expire in 2010. Out of 14,600 ballots sent out, about 1/3 were returned. The proposal failed by 70 votes. 2,457 ballots voted yes and 2,530 voted no.
City officials have extended a moratorium on issuing massage therapy business licenses by another 10 1/2 months. Believing that such businesses are often a front for prostitution, officials first enacted a 45-day ban on October 21 on all new license applications for businesses that supply massages as a secondary service. The extension would give authorities time to study the issue more.
The city council voted 4 to 1 in closed session not to accept Kare Youth League's offer of $2 million to purchase 1.5 acres of the Arcadia Par 3 Golf Course, which is owned by the city and is more than 20 acres in size. Councilman Gary Kovacic thinks the property is more valuable than Kare Youth League's offer.
A package of new and increased city service fees designed to eliminate a potential budget shortfall will take effect on September 1, 2008. The higher fees are expected to bring Arcadia nearly $512,000 in the new fiscal year, by increases in fire services, swim classes, business licenses, plan checks and library services.
After 21 years with the Arcadia Unified School District, superintendent Mimi Hennessy, 63, is retiring. Her last day will be July 1, 2008, and Joel Shawn will take her place.
Santa Anita Park cancelled horse racing Monday for the third consecutive day after 7-1/2-inches of rain fell on its Cushion Track, creating drainage problems.