Police arrested eleven Asian-American high school students, nine of whom were Arcadia High School students, after a 2-month investigation of extortion and terrorist threats by suspected gang members against junior high school students.
Arcadia is taking a "zero tolerance" position against violence in the schools. The new program, called 'Peaceful Arcadia through Community Efforts 2000' or 'PACE 2000' is a joint effort with city officials, the Arcadia Police Department and school district leaders.
Arcadia High School and the Police Department will work together in the Youth and Educational Support (YES) program. A police officer will be assigned to the high school as a resource officer.
17 students at Arcadia Alternative High School signed up as owner/operators of Medi-Kit Company, part of a 13-week Junior Achievement program sponsored by the Arcadia Rotary Club. The Medi-Kit auto safety first-aid kits sell for $8.
P.A.C.E. 2000 (Peaceful Arcadia through Community Efforts) will be a new section within the Arcadia Police Department. It is a community-oriented policing effort headquartered at Santa Anita Fashion Park.
In response to requests from the local Chinese-American community, the Arcadia Police Dept. has agreed to perform an investigation into police conduct during the arrest of an Asian couple involved in a fracas at the Burger King Restaurant.
A gunman driving an off-white pick-up truck attempted to kidnap two 12 year old Arcadia girls as they walked through the parking lot of Camino Grove Elementary School on Sunday afternoon.
A White House Commission has selected 16 year old Arcadia resident Eugenia Kim as one of 500 finalists in the U. S. Presidential Scholar Program, "the nation's highest honor for high school students."
A cooperative effort between the Arcadia Red Cross, Post Office and Police Department has resulted in an innovative program for special need individuals called, "Hey, Mr. Postman, check on me."
The Arcadia Unified School District's scores on the California Assessment Program went up in math for all grades this year, but down in reading in the 3rd and 6th grades, while 8th grade students showed an increase in reading. Other figures are also given in the article, as well as a chart of scores for each AUSD school on page A-2.
Arcadia police arrested two Arcadia High School students 16, and 15, in connection with a December 11 racial incident in which a cross was burned and anti-Asian epithets were scrawled on the front yard of a home in the 200 block of Arbolada Drive. The two boys were booked for damaging property based on ethnic origin and were released to the custody of their parents.
Santa Anita Derby Day 5K started three years ago with less than 2000 participants but is expected to attract between 4000-5000 runners and walkers in the 5K's fourth year.