A $3 million building project to increase stable capacity by 150 stalls is underway at Santa Anita Park. Completion, which is planned before the start of the Oak Tree meeting, will bring the total number of stalls to 2,100. The project is discussed in detail.
The $10.5 million renovation project at Santa Anita Fashion Park has begun, with a formal ground-breaking ceremony to be held January 26. The project is expected to last 10 months.
22-year-old Miguel Fernandez of Arcadia was thrown from the back of a pickup truck and killed when the truck careened out of control and flipped upside down at the intersection of Del Mar Boulevard and Hill Avenue.
The 76 members of the Arcadia Fire Department raised $14,521 for victims of the Bay Area earthquake by giving up one shift of paid vacation time each. The money will be donated to Santa Cruz County through the Arcadia chapter of the American Red Cross.
200 people turned out to honor retired Arcadia Tribune editor, Helen Schrader. The retirement party included mayors and public officials from surrounding communities served by the Foothill Inter-City newspapers which were edited by Mrs. Schrader.
The 1980 Oak Tree Racing Association season set records in attendance, parimutual handle, wagering and horsemen benefits. Awards for the meet are enumerated: John Henry was voted Horse of the Meeting. Sandy Hawley won the riding championship.
About 1500 people went to a hearing before the county Commission on School District Organization to discuss the possible transfer of Sierra Madre schools from the Pasadena Unified School District to the Arcadia Unified School District. The hearing is the first step in a long process that involves approval by the state Board of Education and local voters before an area can transfer to another school district.
According to West Covina Police Lt. David Shively, Arcadia High School student Matt Van Wickle was murdered during an argument he had with a man he met at Santa Anita Fashion Park.
Advocates of an ordinance advocating English as the official language for Arcadia squared off in heated debate with opponents before the Arcadia City Council.
After a personal appearance before the Arcadia City Council, State Assemblyman Richard Mountjoy won his appeal to have an office in an industrially zoned office. His office will be at 214 North First Avenue.
After presentations by 3 architectural firms Tuesday night, the Arcadia City Council voted 4-1 to ask one of the companies back for further discussion on doing a master plan for the city's proposed civic center project. The proposed center would probably be located on the Huntington Drive median where the city hall and police station are now located. Mayor David Hannah indicated that this could be a long-term project, perhaps lasting as long as 20 years.
Air conditioning is being installed at the track as part of $3.4 million in improvements being made this summer in preparation for the first season of inter-track wagering offered at Santa Anita Park this year from July 27 to September 14.
American Savings, which has been in temporary quarters at the southwest corner of Santa Anita Avenue and Wheeler Avenue in Arcadia since 1976, is seeking a new location. Site has been found at 30 South First Avenue but parking problem is proving to be a major stumbling block.
An application to construct a Burger King Restaurant on South Santa Anita Avenue at Alice Street was turned down by the Arcadia Planning Commission on a 4-1 vote. Commission members said they were concerned with noise and traffic problems. Residents also objected to the possibility that students from Arcadia High would congregate and make noise at the restaurant following evening sporting events.