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 Chief of Police, Neal Johnson, has been appointed chairman of an anti-drug program sponsored by the San Gabriel Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Arcadia, E. O. Rodeffer, and Public Storage won a round in their legal dispute with the city of El Monte. On March 12, Superior Court Judge Norman Douds ordered El Monte to allow San Gabriel Valley Water Company to dig up El Monte streets to install water lines to a Public Storage building partially located in Arcadia.
Arcadia High School junior, Holly Melvin, was chosen queen of the Arcadia Tournament of Roses Association. Princesses on the Royal Court are Debbi Delong, Robin Henkels, Susan Keh, Dynese Schiffilea. See hard copy in VF "Tournament of Roses."
Arcadia High School students accepted a third-place trophy for their performance in the 40th Los Angeles County Academic Decathlon. The third-place award is for the North Los Angeles County region. Countywide, Arcadia ranked ninth, compared with its fourth-place finish in 1988.
Arcadia High School students had the highest math scores in 15 years on the SAT, 61 points above the national average, but verbal skills scored 16 points below the national average.
Arcadia joined the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito Abatement District, making it one of the last cities in the valley to participate in a mosquito control program. The program is designed to monitor mosquitos that transmit St. Louis encephalitis, a sometimes fatal viral disease.
Arcadia Lumber Company, founded in 1936, has grown to become the largest business of its kind in the San Gabriel Valley. The company's history is reviewed.
Arcadian Bob Knox has been scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 5 for 18 years. He has been awarded the "Good Scout Award" by the San Gabriel Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America.
Arcadian Dick Mittner believes life as a milkman is great in Southern California. It wasn't nearly as nice back in Erie, Pa. where he began his career.
Arcadia officials, fearing that Caltrans would squirm out of a promise to fix the earthquake damaged railroad bridge at 2nd Street and Huntington Drive, have asked the state to make that promise in writing.
Arcadia police, working with other law enforcement agencies, uncovered a major auto theft ring operating in the San Gabriel and San Fernando Valleys. Two men were arrested and four cars were recovered from a warehouse in Arcadia.
Article includes biographical information on Tony Walker, director of the West San Gabriel Valley Juvenile Diversion Project. The Project's work is also discussed.