Fordyce Johnson, a former Arcadia resident, died late last month at his home in San Diego from the complications of old age. The 93 year old was former chief of staff at Methodist Hospital.
The revamped downtown debuts today with new streets, sidewalks, benches, palm trees and an all-day street fair. This marks the completion of the Downtown 2000 construction project.
The Outback Steakhouse, a 340-seat restaurant whose opening in December will coincide with the completion of Arcadia's Downtown 2000 makeover, has been criticized for having received special consideration by the City.
Dennis Lojeski, the city councilman and former mayor who won his narrowest election victory just four months ago, died Sunday of a brain aneurysm. He was 52.
Santa Anita Park has apologized for dumping 15,000 gallons of waste water containing manure, straw and other items into the Arcadia wash two months ago.
Ron Garner, 50, has been named to head the Police Department and replace retiring Neal Johnson. Garner has more than 21 years experience with the Beverly Hills Police Department, including the last 5 as Deputy Chief.
127 city employees have agreed to postpone their salary increases for 6 months to help close the city's projected $2.2 million shortfall. This action would save the city $466,000.
William Kelly, with 22 years of city government experience in Burbank, Brea, Baldwin Park and San Bruno, has been hired as Arcadia's first community development director and assistant to the city manager. This new position replaces the planning director job that had been vacant for several months.
Authorities suspect a deliberately set fire last month at the Serbian Orthodox Church was sparked by an internal conflict in the politically active congregation.
William Kelly has been appointed Arcadia City Manager after holding the Acting City Manager position for 7 months following the resignation of Donald Duckworth. Kelly began working for the city as a community development director in November, 1993.