$2 million in funding to help provide more homes. San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust gets state award for affordable, transitional housing. About 2 dozen cities have partnered, including Alhambra, Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, and others, to develop affordable housing.
A 2-year-old legal battle between the city of Arcadia and Taboo Gentlemen's Club, a strip club, will most likely result in the club being closed or sold off by April, 2009. The federal court case started when the city revoked Taboo Gentlemen's Club's business license for breaking the city's adult business codes. The club's owners Bill Badi Gammoh and Chawkat Jajieh sued in response, claiming city and police had obstructed business and violated their civil rights. The city's adult business ordinance prohibits lap dances, sexual contact, private dance booths and direct tipping. It requires licensed dancers to perform on an elevated stage.
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.
A 3-year-old boy died when the car he was riding in was struck by a stolen vehicle being chased by Arcadia Police. The suspect that stole the car has been identified as Sara Bravo, 26, of La Puente.
5 year old Arcadian Jeff Kettle got his wish to tour the Arcadia Police Department. Jeff, who is suffering from lymphoma, has only a 5-20 percent chance of living a year.
The 9-person team of Arcadia High School placed 3rd out of 73 teams in the county's 41st annual Academic Decathlon, thus performing the best ever in Arcadia High School history. The decathlon consists of speech, math, science, fine arts, social science/history, economics, language, literature and essay competitions.
10 year-old Arcadia resident Eddie Drain, who lost his hair after chemotherapy treatments, got a boost from his baseball league teammates when they got together and shaved their own heads.
The 11.5 mile light rail Gold Line extension from Pasadena to Azusa was awarded to Foothill Transit Constructors. Kiewit-Parsons, a joint venture company, will design and build the project. Funding comes from Measure R.
15 Arcadia High School students beat out 19 other schools to win the county competition of the Science Olympiad. The state competition is set for April 9, followed by the national competition in Arizona.
15-year-old Richard Ung was arrested at his parents' home in Arcadia, where sheriffs recovered nine guns, including an AK-47 assault rifle and an assault pistol. Ung is being investigated for alleged involvement in the stabbing death of Boo K. Lee.
The $16 million Arcadia Police Station building, built with bond money and city and CRA funds, is on target for completion in July. WWM Associates designed the building. Mallcraft of Altadena is the contractor and Construction Control Group is the manager of the project. The station is the first civic project constructed with bond funding.
A 16-year old boy was in custody Saturday after leading Irwindale police on a chase in a stolen car that ended when his vehicle collided with another car, killing its driver, 32-year-old Michael Lam of Monterey Park.
19 officers are in hangar at Ross Field in Arcadia as part of their training as Reserve Officers Balloon Personnel. J.H. Hoeppel in white shirt is on the right (kneeling). Lt.C.P. Kane, was in charge of the class. He is 4th man from left (next to balloon) in second row.