70-year-old Mulji Patel of Arcadia was sentenced to 12 years in prison for hitting a workers' compensation attorney in the head with a hammer. The assault happened on January 31, 2006. Erwin A. Nepomuceno was the victim.
An Arcadia man, David Frederick Thornton, pleaded guilty to two counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud and one count of impersonating a federal officer. Charges included his defrauding donors to his Thornton Kidney Research Foundation.
An L. A. County Public Works employee found the remains of a human body in the flood control basin in northeast Arcadia. The age and identity are unknown.
Arcadia City Council appointed the following: Bob Hoherd to the Arcadia Beautiful Commission, Richard Cordano and Carmine Falabrino were reappointed. James Hanrahan was reappointed to the Human Resources Commission and John Fung to the library board. David Olsen will serve on the Planning Commission and on the relocations appeal board. Michael Cook and Randy Fowler were named to the Recreation Commission. Jim Lewis and Arlene Okamoto were reappointed to the Senior Citizen Commission, as were Carol Curtis, Harlene Hamann and Dick Milefchik.
The Arcadia City Council has approved a 12-month pilot program to expand its Dial-a-Ride service to include a new non-emergency medical appointment transportation program for seniors and disabled persons. The program includes service to five hospitals outside the city limits--Huntington Hospital, Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park, City of Hope Medical Center and Santa Teresita Hospital, both in Duarte, and Mountainview Dialysis Center in Monrovia.
Arcadia City Council rejected objections filed by Los Angeles County and declared a redevelopment district for South Arcadia. The district, which covers business properties along Las Tunas and Live Oak, will be operated as a non-contiguous part of the Arcadia downtown redevelopment district. The City Council declared the area does suffer from both economic and physical blight, and hope to spend $12 million to upgrade the district.
Arcadia High School graduate and former professional football player turned sculptor David Chapple will design a bronze peacock to be placed in the fountain at Peacock Corner in Arcadia Park. The sculpture will cost $30,000.
Arcadia police arrested a suspected carjacker named David Barragan, 24, of Los Angeles, after he crashed a stolen car into a utility pole during a 100 mph police chase.
Arcadia Police Chief David Hinig bestowed the Police Department's Medal of Merit on Detective Stan Flores and Life Saving medals on patrol officers John Jurman and Jennifer Casillas.
Arcadia resident David Frederick Thornton, charged with wire and mail fraud and embezzling money from the Thornton Kidney Research Foundation, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison.
Arcadia Weekly columnists: Mimi Hennessy, superintendent of Arcadia Schools, p. 4; Albert Ramirez, p. 12; Brian Lottman, "Seniors Page," p. 18; Ethel Mitty, "Seniors Page," p. 19; Mathy Mezey, "Seniors Page" p. 19.
Arroyo Pacific Academy will be allowed to begin classes Sept. 10, 2002 at its new site, 41 W. Santa Clara St. The private school for grades 7 to 12 will operate in a two story office building.
Based on the Census 2000 figures, Arcadia is now included in the San Gabriel Valley's 28th Congressional District. Incumbent Republican Rep. David Dreier will be challenged by Democrat Marjorie Musser Mikels of Upland and Libertarian Dr. Randall Weissbuch, an Arcadia physician.