Whittier Daily News back issues from May 2007:
CRL track finals Wednesday
May 01, 2007 ... 1:30 p.m.The Camino Real League track and field finals arescheduled Wednesday at Serra High School in Gardena. The meet ...
Cal-OSHA opens probe in circus death
May 01, 2007 ... -- Photo Gallery: Circus accident SOUTH EL MONTE - California Division of Occupational Safety andHealth officials have opened an investigation into the death of acircus trapeze artist who fell during a performance Monday evening,authorities said Tuesday. Roberto Valenzuela, ...
Couple recall years spent caring for Showcase House of Design
May 01, 2007; ... Many dream of living in a mansion on hill surrounded by acres oftrees and gardens. Don and Maggie Graf lived that dream with theirtwo sons for less than $100 a month. The Grafs lived in the Boddy House - the 2007 Pasadena ShowcaseHouse of Design - as caretakers from 1960 to 1997 ....
Springtime symphony
May 01, 2007; ... WHITTIER - Music and garden lovers will come together from thisweekend at the Rio Hondo Symphony Guild's 20th annual Whittier GardenTour. Tours of three gardens at Whittier homes will be offered from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. "It's a nice Sunday afternoon thing to ...
District weighs school closure
May 01, 2007; ... NORWALK - Facing a nearly $8.5 million revenue loss, Norwalk-LaMirada Unified School District officials are again consideringclosing Dolores Huerta Elementary School and moving its 325 studentsto Earl E. Edmondson School. "It makes no sense to keep two schools half-way filled when ...
Award will keep campus blooming
May 01, 2007; ... LA VERNE - Teacher Lisa Young's first-grade class at Oak MesaElementary wanted to plant a garden - filled with marigolds andpoppies - that would attract flittering and colorful butterflies. Through a $1,000 award from Orchard Supply Warehouse's SchoolGarden Program, Young's ...
Wanted: a few veterans
May 01, 2007; ... SOUTH EL MONTE - As 25-year-old Army veteran Evelyn Arguetastrolled from table to table at a job fair Tuesday, her militarybackground made her a clear favorite among law enforcementrecruiters. She had hardly finished speaking to the Los Angeles PoliceDepartment's recruiter when ...
Around Whittier
May 01, 2007 ... SANTA FE SPRINGS - A semi-trailer truck crashed through thecenter divider of the Santa Ana (5) freeway in Santa Fe Springs earlyMonday morning, causing a diesel fuel spill and blocking lanes on thefreeway for hours, authorities said. The non-injury accident occurred around 2 ...
Scheme to smuggle illegal fireworks into state foiled
May 01, 2007; ... ALHAMBRA - Authorities with a search warrant Tuesday foundmethamphetamine in the home of a man arrested with four others onsuspicion of felony possession of 4,000 pounds of Nevada-purchasedfireworks in Barstow early Monday morning, according to fireofficials. David Garcia, 27, ...
Craft captures new horizons near Jupiter
May 01, 2007; ... LA CAADA FLINT- RIDGE - New Horizons is one lucky spacecraft. As the Pluto-bound mission rocketed past Jupiter earlier thisyear, scientists said, the craft happened to be in just the rightplace at just the right time to capture unprecedented views of thegiant planet and its moons ....
Trapeze artist's death probed
May 01, 2007; ... -- Photo Gallery: Circus accident SOUTH EL MONTE - California Division of Occupational Safety andHealth officials opened an investigation Tuesday into the death of acircus trapeze artist who fell during a performance Monday night,officials said. However, Cal-OSHA spokesman ...
Thousands join rallies for immigration reform
May 01, 2007; ... -- Photo Gallery: Immigrant WorkersRights -- Photo Gallery: March for immigrants -- Photo ...
WALKOUT: 32 la Serna students briefly leave campus
May 01, 2007; ... -- Photo Gallery: Walkouts in Whittier -- Video: School walkouts WHITTIER - Tuesday's walkouts at local schools yielded a coupledozen protesters who left classes at La Serna High, but ...
School walkouts draw far fewer students this year
May 01, 2007; ... -- Photo Gallery: Walkouts in Whittier WHITTIER - Dozens of students -- not hundreds like last year --walked out of classes at Whittier-area schools Tuesday in support oflegalization for illegal immigrants and to protest raids byimmigration agents. Participation was down ...
Two vie to lead Rio Hondo College
May 02, 2007 ... WHITTIER - Rio Hondo College will host an open public forumWednesday afternoon for the top two finalists vying for job ofcollege president. Monte Perez and Ted Martinez Jr., both former community collegeadministrators, will speak to faculty, students and residents andanswer ...
Former Pico Rivera Mayor Patronite dies
May 02, 2007 ... PICO RIVERA - Former Pico Rivera mayor and City Councilman JamesPatronite has died, his family has announced. Patronite, who was part of a committee of residents that pushedfor Pico Rivera's incorporation ...
Officials gear up for Cinco de Mayo
May 02, 2007 ... SANTA FE SPRINGS - Before you order that next drink, theCalifornia Highway Patrol wants you to know that nothing - notcoffee, not a nap, not an energy drink - will sober you up enough todrive safely more than time itself. To clarify that point, CHP officials conducted a "wet ...
Students grow into Earth Day
May 02, 2007; ... -- Photo Gallery: Earth Day celebration EL MONTE - More than 100 elementary students showed off theirgreen thumbs Wednesday to help make the Earth a better place. As part of the San Gabriel River Earth Day 2007, about 150 fourth-and fifth-graders from Twin Lakes Elementary ...
DRL track finals moved to Friday
May 03, 2007 ... 8:10 a.m. The Del Rio League track and field finals, orginiallyscheduled to be held today, have been moved to Friday at Downey HighSchool. They will begin at 3 ...
Wally Schirra, original Apollo 7 astronaut, dead at 84
May 03, 2007 ... Astronaut Walter M. "Wally" Schirra Jr., one of the originalMercury Seven astronauts and the only man to fly on all three ofNASA's early space missions, has died at the age of 84, NASAofficials confirmed Thursday. Schirra, who commanded the first rendezvous of two spacecraft ...
10 Republican presidential hopefuls to meet in first debate tonight
May 03, 2007 ... Ten Republicans who often evoke Ronald Reagan hope the Gipper'smagic rubs off as they face each other at the late president'slibrary in the first GOP debate of the 2008 race. The setting and the state were fitting. The debate begins at 5 p.m. Republican top-tier ...
City replacing presidential portraits
May 03, 2007 ... LA MIRADA - Some of their faces have turned green, or are fadingto white. A few noses are missing. Each July for the past 31 years, the solemn images of 42 U.S.presidents have watched over traffic along La Mirada Boulevard -known locally as the Avenue of the Presidents - from ...
Police probe stabbing
May 03, 2007 ... WHITTIER - Police on Thursday were looking for two men who stabbedanother man in the chest Wednesday night. The attack happened shortly after 9 p.m. in the 6200 block ofPickering Avenue. The victim, who police said was a ...
Deputy's killer sentenced to death
May 03, 2007; ... NORWALK - A Norwalk Superior Court judge upheld a jury'srecommendation that Hawaiian Gardens gang member and convicted copkiller Jose Luis Orozco die for his crimes. Judge Philip Hickok told Orozco that it was clear the aggravatingfactors in the ambush murder of Los Angeles County ...
Rehab center to expand in Santa Fe Springs
May 04, 2007; ... SANTA FE SPRINGS - Choking back tears, Dr. Ethan Allen greetedsupporters, dignitaries and clients of L.A. CADA, an alcohol and drugabuse recovery organization, assembled Thursday at the groundbreakingfor the future home of the $1.5 million Rose Hills Foundation FamilyCenter ....
Looks like Norco, Lakewood for Showtime title
May 04, 2007 ... 2:25 p.m. It looks like Norco and Lakewood high schools will playfor the 5th Showtime Tournament championship Saturday at La MiradaRegional County Park. They are the only unbeaten teams (2-0) after last Saturday's firsttwo rounds of pool play. And both will be favored in their ...
Cultivating interest
May 04, 2007; ... WHITTIER - Local farmer Catherine Smith is very clear on theimportance of children eating more fruits and vegetables - not onlyis it good for them, but it ensures the survival of farmers likeherself for at least another generation. That's why she was delighted Friday when a group ...
Automobile dealer auction site's hue stirs a hue and cry
May 04, 2007; ... ROSEMEAD - The 18-acre Los Angeles Dealer Auto Auction was thefirst of its kind in California, opening nearly 60 years ago. Through the decades, the auction has seen its share of changes andupgrades. Today, it offers weekly auctions - some that last until 2a.m. - exclusively for ...
Students still need funds for D.C. trip
May 04, 2007; ... WEST WHITTIER - There are a few things that stand out in parentCathy Martinez's mind when she recalls the trip to Washington, D.C.she helped organize last year for Los Nietos Middle School eighth-graders. "We were in the bus, driving on the freeway, and one kid said,'Hey, I ...
It's Politics
May 04, 2007 ... Editor's note: It's Politics reports Saturdays on the ins and outsof Whittier-area politics and city government. Joseph Legaspi of Pico Rivera hasn't spent much time in politics,but so far it's been pretty exciting. Legaspi was involved in a tie vote and then won by four ...
Funds allocated to aid groups
May 04, 2007; ... WEST COVINA - Seniors, victims of domestic violence and thehomeless learned this week how much government money they willreceive this year through Community Development Block Grants. The grants, totaling $261,000, will be distributed to 15 programsthat benefit residents of West ...
Honoring Rotary equality
May 04, 2007; ... DUARTE - A woman whose admission to the Duarte Rotary Club sparkeda U.S. Supreme Court case that opened service clubs nationwide towomen said she was actually only admitted because her applicationused just her initials. "We were not women's libbers," Mary Lou Elliot said. "We just ...
Around Whittier
May 04, 2007 ... WHITTIER - The county's Department of Parks and Recreation willhold a Cinco de Mayo celebration from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today atAdventure County Park, 10130 S. Gunn Ave. Activities will include games, teens selling food and raffletickets, a flea market, a craft table and live ...
Drink and think
May 02, 2007; ... -- Photo Gallery: Impairment andIntoxication -- Video: DUI classes SANTA FE SPRINGS - Before you order that next drink, theCalifornia Highway Patrol wants you to know that nothing - ...
Perchlorate debate percolating
May 02, 2007; ... Environmental Protection Agency officials are balking at plans toset a national cleanup standard for perchlorate, a toxic rocket fueladditive that abounds in the nation's drinking-water supply -including the San Gabriel Valley's. The EPA's comments came during a House hearing last ...
Catch a tagger, get some cash
May 02, 2007; ... WEST COVINA - The City Council has approved a unique programdesigned to catch graffiti vandals and reward citizens who helppolice arrest them. A $100 cash reward will be handed to residents who turn in anyonecaught marking up block walls, bridges, culverts or buildings in ...
Around Whittier
May 02, 2007 ... WHITTIER - Three Carden School students won honors at the LosAngeles County Schools Science Fair, school officials announced. Eighth-grader Asimina Courelli won first place in the biochemistryand molecular biology junior division; eighth-grader Elizabeth Kohwon honorable mention ...
Remedy for renovation gone awry
May 02, 2007; ... PASADENA A home-renovation project gone awry in Pasadena will bethe subject of segments on two popular TV shows this month. The 1,700-square-foot house in the San Rafael Hills on RedwoodDrive will appear as a two-part episode titled "Pasadena 911" on theCanadian home remodeling ...
City ends its bid to annex
May 02, 2007; ... TEMPLE CITY - The City Council voted 3-2 Tuesday night to ceaseefforts to annex an unincorporated area north of the city. The area is bounded by Arcadia on the east, Eaton Wash on thewest, Huntington Drive on the north and Temple City's borders on thesouth. Residents who ...
Saving seniors from tax scams
May 02, 2007; ... Some of those who filed their income-tax forms at the last minuteare soon to receive their refund checks, and there are plenty ofpeople out there ready to help spend them.And some of those people - con artists - have ideas of their ownwhen it comes to separating tax refunds from ...
Driver in crash admitted drinking
May 02, 2007; ... WHITTIER - An El Monte man accused of causing a fatal crash whilefleeing from Whittier police last year tested positive for drugs andadmitted drinking three beers, according to court testimonyWednesday. Deputy District Attorney Brock Lunsford said William Brooker'sblood tested ...
Faster track on the 60 Freeway
May 02, 2007; ... INDUSTRY - Local officials broke ground Wednesday on a $125million car-pool project on the Pomona (60) Freeway, part of abroader effort to relieve congestion on the San Gabriel Valley'smajor east-west arteries. The project, which will add a car-pool lane in each direction ofthe ...
Pico Rivera's 'prince' and founder dies
May 02, 2007; ... PICO RIVERA - Every day for the past 15 years, James M. Patroniteread "The New Yorker" magazine over lunch at Barney's Coffee Shop inPico Rivera. Now friends and colleagues - some who often joined him there - areremembering the former mayor and councilman as ...
Rio Hondo presidential pool narrows to one candidate
May 02, 2007; ... -- Photo Gallery: Rio Hondo Open Fosrum WHITTIER Following a nearly three-hour special closed-sessionmeeting Wednesday, Rio Hondo College trustees narrowed down theirsearch for a new president to one finalist: Ted Martinez Jr., formerpresident of Grossmont College in east San ...
Around Whittier
May 03, 2007 ... NORWALK- A motorcyclist was killed Thursday morning when a driverlost control of her car and hit his motorcycle on the Artesia (91)Freeway in Norwalk, California Highway Patrol officials said. Authorities withheld the victim's name but said he was a 53-year-old South Gate ...
Firm makes blankets for children in need
May 03, 2007; ... WHITTIER - Employees of a local medical-supply company are notonly working diligently in the office, they also are working on theirdown time making blankets for local children's charities. "It's a way for our employees to give back to the communities theywork in," said Jeff ...
City takes step toward fire contract
May 03, 2007; ... LA HABRA HEIGHTS - City officials are taking the first step towardcontracting with Los Angeles County for fire services. At its next meeting May 8, the City Council will consider a motionasking the county to provide cost estimates for providing fire andemergency services ....
City seeks to rein in day laborers
May 03, 2007; ... BALDWIN PARK - The city is continuing a plan to curtail publicsolicitation by day workers despite critics saying it'sunconstitutional. On Wednesday, the City Council voted 3-2 to introduce a revisedversion of a no-soliciting ordinance, which if approved, would bancommercial ...
Combined celebration planned at state park
May 03, 2007; ... WHITTIER - The public is invited to free "Coming Home to Pio Pico"festivities at Pio Pico State Historic Park, on the corner ofWhittier and Pioneer boulevards, from noon to 4 pm. Saturday. The occasion will be a dual celebration of Cinco de Mayo and thebirthday of Pio de Jesus ...
2 sought in stabbing
May 03, 2007; ... WHITTIER - Police on Thursday were looking for two men who stabbeda transient three times in the chest Wednesday night. The attack happened shortly after 9 p.m. in the 6200 block ofPickering Avenue, police said. The 47-year-old victim also suffered contusions because he was ...
Presidential portraits to undergo face lift
May 03, 2007; ... LA MIRADA - Some of their faces have turned green, or are fadingto white. A few noses are missing. Each July for the past 31 years, the solemn images of 42 U.S.presidents have watched over traffic along La Mirada Boulevard -known locally as the Avenue of the Presidents - from ...
Deputy's killer sentenced to die
May 03, 2007; ... NORWALK - A Norwalk Superior Court judge on Thursday upheld ajury's recommendation that convicted cop killer Jose Luis Orozco diefor his crimes. Judge Philip Hickok told a packed courtroom that he weighed allthe aggravating factors and mitigating circumstances in the ...
Mayor scores a big assist in L.A.'s lobbying efforts
May 02, 2007; ... As California cities compete for billions of dollars forinfrastructure projects, Los Angeles wields two distinct advantages:the biggest lobbying budget and a charismatic, Sacramento- savvymayor. Last year, Los Angeles spent about $760,000 on lobbying inSacramento. And in ...
National Prayer Day marred by divisions
May 03, 2007; ... -- Photo Gallery: Day of Prayer Thursday's National Day of Prayer was once a symbol of Americanunity and faith in God that transcended boundaries. In recent years,though, the decades-old tradition has become mired in divisions. Across the nation, most celebrations are ...
Dispute snarls plan to record city meetings
May 05, 2007; ... MONTEBELLO - Local businessman Philip Wilcox says although hesigned a one-year contract to videotape Montebello City Councilmeetings, he has been told his services are not needed. Montebello's acting City Administrator Randy Narramore, however,tells a different version ....
A day of heritage
May 05, 2007 ... Festivities were held Saturday at Pio Pico State Historic Park, onthe corner of Whittier and Pioneer boulevards. "Coming Home to PioPico" was a dual celebration of Cinco de Mayo and the birthday of P ode Jesus Pico, the last Mexican governor of California, who was bornMay 5, 1801, and ...
Around Whittier
May 05, 2007 ... WHITTIER - A coroner's spokesman Saturday identified Pedro GustavoGamboa, 40, of Whittier as the lone fatality in a crash. The car Gamboa was driving Friday hit a truck parked on the sideof the northbound lanes of the San Gabriel River (605) Freeway northof Beverly Boulevard ....
Get along, little doggies, to finish line
May 05, 2007; ... -- Photo Gallery: Chihuahua races MONTEBELLO - Local aficionados of fine breeding and competitiveracing didn't need to travel this weekend to Churchill Downs to bedazzled at the Kentucky Derby. More than 200 Chihuahuas of all shapes, sizes and pedigreescompeted in one of ...
Girls comfort and care at hospital
May 05, 2007; ... LA MIRADA - Not many kids can appreciate being healthy, able-bodied children who get to run and jump and play outdoors with otherchildren their age. But there are some notable exceptions - including nine girls atHutchinson Middle School hoping to turn their small school ...
Va. Tech incident raises anxiety
May 05, 2007; ... NORWALK - A spike in "copycat" calls since the Virginia Techmassacre has left emergency responders in the Los Angeles areajittery as they cope with nervous teachers, parents and mental healthworkers. At the ACCESS Center in Norwalk - the hot line center and "brainstem" of the ...
Test-prep methods aid English learners
May 04, 2007; ... The measures taken by California schools to improve student scoreson standardized tests work just as well for English learners,according to a report released Friday. The report by EdSource, a nonprofit educational researchorganization, examined 237 California elementary schools of ...
Whittier man dies in freeway crash
May 04, 2007; ... Photo Gallery: Freeway crash leaves one dead A 41-year-old Whittier man was killed Friday after he lost controlof his car and hit a parked truck on the right shoulder of thenorthbound San Gabriel River (605) Freeway. A SigAlert was issued and two lanes of the freeway were shut ...
Man killed in crash
May 04, 2007; ... Photo Gallery: Freeway crash leaves one dead WHITTIER - A 41-year-old Whittier man was killed Friday when helost control of his car and it hit a parked truck on the rightshoulder of the northbound San Gabriel River (605) Freeway, accordingto the California Highway Patrol. A ...
Family center expansion begins
May 04, 2007; ... SANTA FE SPRINGS - Wiping back tears, Dr. Ethan Allen greetedsupporters, dignitaries and clients of L.A. CADA, an alcohol and drugabuse recovery organization, assembled Thursday at the groundbreakingfor the future home of the $1.5 million Rose Hills Foundation FamilyCenter ....
Bigger water bill on the way
May 04, 2007; ... LAKEWOOD - Look for area water rates to rise in the near future.Local water utilities are getting a double hit of 5.8 percentincreases each from the Water Replenishment District and theMetropolitan Water District. The replenishment district's board voted Friday to raise its ...