The 14-year-old son of Arcadia real estate developer Charles Bluth shot and killed one of 2 intruders who had broken into the Bluth home in the exclusive Whispering Pines neighborhood.
According to the Arcadia Police Department's monthly activity report for the month of December, which reports statistics for the entire year, daytime burglaries increased while night burglaries decreased. Also, there were no murders, 3 rapes, 2 attempted rapes, 36 assaults with a gun and 13 arrests for indecent exposure in 1987.
According to year-end figures released by the Arcadia Police Department, the number of felonies for 1986 as compared to 1985 declined by 72, from 2857 to 2785.
After years of lengthy and frustrating negotiations, Arcadia is close to signing a new franchise agreement with Group W cable television company. An agreement, if reached, would more than double the size of the city's cable system and finally allow Arcadians who live south of the 210 freeway to receive service.
An application for state funds to make $8.5 million worth of repairs in 6 Arcadia schools is moving ahead. Funds for the repairs, from the Leroy F. Greene State School Building Lease-Purchase Program, a bond measure, have been exhausted. However, another bond issue, coming up in the June 1990 election, is expected to pass and provide money to continue the program.
An Arcadia man who didn't like a group of church Christmas carolers singing on his front lawn, brandished a gun at the group and threatened to kill them unless they got off his property. Police surrounded his house for an hour before he surrendered.
An evaluation panel of Arcadians for Arcadia has found each candidate running for the Board of Education to be well qualified. Their "best selections" are Mary Dougherty and Joann Steinmeier.
An international businessman was abducted from his Arcadia home and later released the same evening after his abductors demanded he pay them $1 million. He was told that he would be contacted the next day with instructions about where to put the money, but no money has been paid. This is the first kidnapping of this type in Arcadia, although there have been four other kidnappings in the San Gabriel Valley since last October.
Arcadia Board of Education candidate, Gene Shepherd feels it is unfair that he and 3 other candidates were not interviewed (as they had been in past years) by Arcadians for Arcadia. A spokesman for the group said it was pointless to interview Shepherd since the 3 incumbents "are doing a good job" while Shepherd "hasn't proven himself."
Arcadia Board of Education candidates addressed the questions of teacher proficiency, curriculum, censorship and tenure at a forum sponsored by the American Association of University Women and the Arcadia League of Women Voters. Candidates attending the forum were Robert Harris, Marilyn Perkins, Mary Dougherty, David Strauss and William Spuck.
The Arcadia City Council has decided not to reappoint Gary Kovacic to the Planning Commission. In a related story, Robert Harbicht's recent proposal to reduce the size of the Planning Commission from 7 to 5 members seems likely to be approved.
The Arcadia City Council has offered a $5000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murders of 2 Arcadia women who were slain at their homes in the past weeks.