Howard Jarvis, the father of Proposition 13, spent an hour in Arcadia, knocking down the "straw man" arguments he said were being put up against the property tax initiative. Prop. 13 would reduce property taxes in California to 1 percent of what market value was in 1975-1976, plus whatever is necessary to pay off current bonded indebtedness. A 2 percent annual inflation rate is written into the constitutional amendment.
A new office building is being constructed on the corner of Huntington and Indiana. It will occupy the site of the old service station run for man years by William Stockman, but which has been closed for some time.
Fourteen-year-old Ron Cheney earned $1,000 for the Arcadia Presbyterian Church's youth fund by eating chicken. In a contest sponsored by the Market Basket food chain, Ron ate 1.28 pounds of chicken in 10 minutes.
Mrs. Irene Wiley was freed on the charge that she was wilfully cruel to her 13-year-old daughter Susan Wiley, aka "Genie." The article was written by Lucie Lowery. A 13-year-old girl named Susan Wiley was reportedly a prisoner in her home for all her life until a social worker discovered the abuse. Susan's parents Clark Wiley and Irene Wiley were arrested. The family home is at 6722 Golden West Avenue, in a county area of Arcadia. Susan Wiley was living in an environment of total isolation and deprivation and was malnourished. She cannot talk, is deformed, barely able to walk and is not toilet trained. She has been placed in the care of Children's Hospital. The child has come to be known by the alias "Genie." See VF "Wiley, Susan" for hard copy.
"Captive Girl" Susan (aka 'Genie') Wiley's father Clark Wiley committed suicide. Clark Wiley shot himself minutes before he was to have appeared in Alhambra Municipal Court on charges of child abuse. The article was written by Dick Lloyd. With related stories "Note tells instructions for funeral (p. 1)," "A story he wanted to tell sealed by death of father (p. 6)," "Changed laws could have averted tragedy (p. 6)," and "Mrs. Wiley shelters at welfare agency: custody hearing Monday (p. 6)." A 13-year-old girl named Susan Wiley was reportedly a prisoner in her home for all her life until a social worker discovered the child abuse. Susan's parents Clark Wiley and Irene Wiley were arrested. The family home is at 6722 Golden West Avenue, in a county area of Arcadia. Susan Wiley was living in an environment of total isolation and deprivation and was malnourished. She cannot talk, is deformed, barely able to walk and is not toilet trained. She has been placed in the care of Children's Hospital. The child has come to be known by the alias "Genie." See hard copy in VF Wiley, Susan aka "Genie".
The Arcadia Planning Commission has scheduled at least 6 public hearings regarding the 30 acre, 21 lot residential development proposal submitted to the City by the Bluth Realty and Investment Co., an Arcadia firm.
Both the teachers and the Arcadia Board of Education ratified an existing contract, with some changes agreed upon by all involved. Salaries were excluded from discussion due to Prop. 13. The contract extends through June 30, 1980.
A brief dedication ceremony for the new chamber building at City Hall was held on April 15, 1977. Total cost, including the remodeling of old quarters for new uses, was $903,000.
City Councilman Bob Margett has pleaded "no contest" to a lawsuit charging malicious mischief for destroying campaign signs during the April election. He paid a $100 fine.
An Arcadia man with a rare neurological condition, David Ireland has authored a book entitled "Letter to an Unborn Child." These reflect compassion and understanding and were written to his child in the event he did not live.
Overall enrollment for the Arcadia schools was down by 470 on the first day of classes. The drop in enrollment coupled with Prop. 13 has resulted in a very small number of new teachers this year.