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 13-year-old girl named Susan Wiley was reportedly a prisoner in her home for all of her life until a social worker discovered the child abuse. Susan's parents Clark Wiley and Irene Wiley were arrested. The family home is at 6722 Golden West Avenue, in a county area of Arcadia. Susan Wiley was living in an environment of total isolation and deprivation and was malnourished. She cannot talk, is deformed, barely able to walk and is not toilet trained. She has been placed in the care of Children's Hospital. The child has come to be known by the alias "Genie." See hard copy in VF Wiley, Susan aka "Genie"
The 49-year-old Anoakia School, facing a June deadline for relocation, has opted for local print advertising. Owner Lowry McCaslin apparently wants to develop the property at Foothill Blvd. and Baldwin Ave. However, the school also has numerous city fire code violations and a building that is not up to seismic standards. The school currently has 279 students from K-8th grade.
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.
The 134 - employee Dowty Avionics has been purchased by West Los Angeles based Whittaker Electronics and will close up shop this month when it is consolidated with Whittaker's Simi Valley division. It was formerly known as Resdel Engineering from 1958 - 1989.
The American Indian will be spotlighted on three floats in this year's Tournament of Roses Parade. Farmers Insurance Group's float will depict an Indian on horseback. Arcadia's float theme is "The First Americans" and the County of Los Angeles' float theme is "The Proud American."
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 association of various discontented areas seeking to secede from Los Angeles County has been formed, but the San Gabriel Valley has not yet joined. The six proposed counties are: San Fernando Valley, Canyon, Chumash, Santa Monica, South Bay and Peninsula.
An evaluation team from a consortium of Southland schools has generally commended Arcadia's Highland Oaks School. The team came up with 58 commendations, 23 suggestions and 15 recommendations.
Angeles National Forest fire officials raise fire danger level to extreme, effective Friday, September 2. This change is in response to September's seasonal drying combined with the 5th year of a drought.
An inquiry into whether Arcadia Mayor Donald E. Pellegrino violated state conflict-of-interest law in connection with a proposed office complex in the city is now in the hands of Los Angeles County District Attorney's office.
Anoakia property annexation papers drawn up. The City Council has instructed its staff to file an annexation application and environmental impact report. It would be in essence a re-annexation, as the area was once part of the city and was de-annexed in 1904. The proposed area also encompasses 16 single family homes.
Arcadia adopts comprehensive pension management plan, saving $85 million. It addresses the City's $154 million in unfunded pension liabilities. It focuses on:
-use of reserves to prepay existing liabilities
-refinancing existing debt to lower interest rates to free up cash flow
-prepaying costs with surplus funds from voter-approved Measure A sales tax increase
-financing long-term capital improvements
-using pension obligation bonds to lower the overall costs of pensions
-negotiating for more employee cost-sharing.
See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 3, February 27, 2020
The Arcadia Board of Education approved an agreement with the city for the installation of an all-weather track at Arcadia High School. Total cost of the project is estimated to be in the neighborhood of $175,000.
Arcadia Board of Education has authorized the administration to enter into an agreement with Performing Tree Inc. to provide Arts-in-Education programs for all schools within the district during the 1983-84 school year. Supt. Elb Souders said he would ask the Arcadia Auditorium Foundation to pick up the $2000 cost.
The Arcadia Board of Education has offered the California School Employees Association and the Arcadia Pupil Support Services Association a 4.7% raise for 1985-86. The Employees Association is made up of secretaries, custodians and non-teaching personnel while the Services Association is made up of psychologists, nurses, counselors, reading teachers, etc.
Arcadia-born Ruth Reeder, author of the recently published book, "Lemon-Twist: No Salt Added," will be the featured speaker at the Los Angeles State and County Arboretum on June 10, 1991.