Category Archives: News By City

Walnut High Athletes Take Part in Fall Signing Day

Photo courtesy: Kelli Gile

By Kelli Gile

WALNUT—Six standout athletes made their college choices official during a lunchtime signing ceremony at Walnut High School.

Congratulations to the following students who received scholarships to play their sports in college: James Arakawa, University of the Pacific – Baseball; Trussi Li, University of Denver –  Golf; Cara Le, Fresno Pacific – Swimming; Stephanie Dye, York College – Soccer; Tyiona Watkins, University of Washington – Basketball; and Katherine Muzi, University of Southern California – Golf.

Families, friends, teammates and coaches gathered on November 15 as the seniors made their commitments final.

“What a great accomplishment!” said principal Brandon Dade while addressing the crowd gathered to honor the Mustang athletes.

“I want to congratulate each of you. This is something that doesn’t happen very often,” he said.

After introducing the elite group, athlete director Jerry Person gave the signal for the athletes to sign National Letters of Intent to join their choice colleges for the 2018-19 academic year.

“Go ahead, get your pens, and sign your letters!” he announced.

Star guard/forward Tyiona Watkins committed to play basketball at the University of Washington.

She is currently ranked as the No. 14 wing player in the class of 2018 by ESPN and No. 20 by Prospects Nation.

“Tyiona is an outstanding athlete and leader,” said Walnut High coach Lori Huckler.

“She works hard on and off the court to always improve as a player and a student.”

The 17-year-old said she was having a “tough choice” selecting a team, but once she stepped foot on the Huskies campus, the decision became easy.

“When I went up there, I just felt like it was home,” she said.

Her father, Charles, shared that the family has been working toward a signing day since Tyiona was just six-years-old.

“It was our dream and today is a total milestone. We have a lot to be thankful for!”

Shortstop James Arakawa will be heading to University of the Pacific in the fall.

“This means a whole lot,” the 18-year-old said after the signing ceremony.

Photo courtesy: Kelli Gile

Arakawa, who first picked up a baseball bat at age six, said playing with a chip on his shoulder has given him more motivation to succeed.

“My job is proving myself every day on the field,” he explained.

Arakawa’s parents, Sandra and Jamie, were also among the happy families present at the signing ceremony.

His mother attributes the prized athletic scholarship to hard work and dedication.

“We’re just so grateful!” she said. “He has passion and heart – and he’s good at it!”

Arakawa experienced the pinnacle of success when the Mustang baseball team captured the Division 3 CIF title last spring.

“All the practice and hard work definitely paid off,” he said.

“I guess I’m going to keep having that chip on my shoulder – it’s working for me!”

 

Dress For Success

By Mark Hopper

In a recent article, I shared about some of my experiences as a pastor when I visit people in hospitals. Thousands of people work in hospitals, Technicians, clerks, nurses, surgeons, security officers and janitors all work in hospitals.       Different employees wear different clothes and uniforms. The security people wear warm jackets. The doctor’s will usually wear lab coats. The custodial crew wears another kind of uniform. Nurses often wear bright, attractive medical outfits. The people in food service may wear hair nets and aprons if they handle food in the commissary or cafeteria.

I always enjoy speaking to the employees and volunteers at the information desk. Their help is invaluable when looking for a patient in a hospital.  The people at the front desk have access to the hospital data base and they can usually find the room number of a patient quickly.

There is one individual at the front desk of a large hospital in the area that stands out in my mind. Not only is he helpful and knowledgeable, but he is dressed for success! Unlike most of the people I meet at the info desk, this man is dressed up with a suit and tie.  He looks like he could be the CEO of the hospital, not one of the regular employees at the front door.

I don’t know his name, but he is both helpful and professional as he assists people walking through the front door. I have observed him helping patients who are checking-in to the hospital and he seems to put people at ease as he directs them to the hallway or elevator they are looking for.

His professional appearance gives you the sense that he knows what he is talking about and that the information he provides is accurate. He is the best dressed front desk hospital employee I know.

The Bible cautions us to not judge people by the clothes they wear.  James warned us to not show favoritism to people who wear fine clothes and warns us to not ignore those who are dressed poorly (James 2:1-9). There are times when my wife advises me on what shirt or tie I should or should not wear.  My friends and co-workers will tell you that I am challenged when it comes to fashion and style.

However, we should give attention to the way we dress for work. Teachers usually maintain a professional appearance. Coaches and PE teachers often wear shorts and dress more casually. But, one college coach told me that he never wears a pair of shorts to a meeting with his Dean. He always puts on a pair of long pants and a collared shirt when going to a meeting in the administration building.

Let me encourage you to dress for success. We live in a generation where casual is becoming more common.  Maybe you should consider dressing up a little more for work or take time to add a new shirt or blouse to your wardrobe. You will be glad you did and others will too!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

Jurupa Valley Deputy Involved Shooting

By Anthony Saude

Jurupa Valley – On Monday, December 4 a deputy from the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s station identified a vehicle that had been reported stolen earlier in the day. The deputy pulled the vehicle over to on a traffic stop near the area of Bellegrave Avenue and Van Buren to verify it was indeed the stolen vehicle.

During the traffic stop the suspect in the vehicle put the car in reverse and rammed into the the patrol unit several times and a deputy involved shooting occurred. The suspect took off and the deputy sped after the vehicle in pursuit. A short time after the pursuit began the suspect stopped and got out of the vehicle. He fled to the river bottom and ignited the car as well as the vegetation near Riverdale Place. Cal-Fire and Riverside County Fire responded to the report  of the fire to assist the Riverside City fire with the vegetation Fire.

It was reported that the Riverside Police Department assisted in locating the suspect, and after a brief struggle the suspect was arrested. Two Riverside Police Department officers sustained minor injuries during the struggle. The suspect, Clinton Althizer, 40 of Jurupa Valley was transported to a local hospital for a medical evaluation. The deputy whose car was rammed into by the suspect was taken to a local hospital as a precaution for observation. The Riverside County Sheriff’s department sent the Central Homicide Unit out to assume the investigation.

Althizer was released from the hospital as was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center located in the City of Riverside. He was booked for assault with a deadly weapon on a peace office, vehicle theft, and possession of stolen property, attempted assault on a peace officer, evading, and arson.

The deputy involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative as per Department policy. The deputy’s name won’t be released at this time. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department encourages anyone with information regarding the incident to contact Central Homicide Unit Investigator Stoyer at (951) 955-2777

Burglary, Vandalism at Pomona H.S,

By Anthony Saude

Pomona – On Monday December 4 at approximately 9:30 p.m. the Pomona Unified School district security office were monitoring 3 young me via surveillance camera inside the main office at Pomona High School. They called the Pomona Police Department to advise them about the break in and the suspects were still on sight.

The suspects broke into the office and it appeared they were removing items as well as destroying school property. When the officers arrived the suspects were still on the scene when they noticed the officers took off running. The officers took off after them on foot, the pursuit didn’t last long and all 3 suspects were apprehended and taken into custody.

Isiah Gonzalez 18 years old and two male juveniles 16 and 17 years old were taken into custody after they had allegedly damaged several computers, desks and other fixtures The entire area had also been tagged. They were booked for burglary and felony vandalism at the Pomona Police Station.

None of the suspects were students at Pomona High School.

If you have any information in reference to the incident please contact:

Pomona Police Department at (909) 622-1241

If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website: http://lacrimestoppers.org

I Can Fix It (Part II)

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Mark Hopper

A few weeks ago I shared that my lawn mower was broken.  I tried to fix it myself, but was unsuccessful.  Then I called my faithful lawn mower repairman but his phone was no longer in service. What a Bummer.

In desperation, I looked on the internet to try and find another repairman in the area. Several repair shops were listed in Pomona, San Dimas and Glendora. I decided to try the repair shop in Pomona. They came and picked up my mower. I waited to get their estimate on what it would cost to get my McLane, seven-blade front throw gas mower going again.

I sat by the phone, waiting for their call. What was their diagnosis? How much would it cost? Would it be worth repairing my old lawn mower?

When the call finally came, there was both good news and bad news. The good news was that it could be fixed.  The bad news was how much it would cost.

Actually, the basic repair was under $100. The mower needed a new pulley and a new belt. I was encouraged to hear that it could be fixed for under $100.  However, they also recommended a “tune up” – changing the oil, replacing the air filter and installing a new spark plug. The cost for that was about $50.  In addition, the repairman offered to sharpen the blades.  My McLane seven-blade mower has a lot of blades! How much would this cost? It would be around $100 more.

This was the moment of truth. Do I trust the repairman? Does the mower really need all of these fixes? Is it worth spending that much money on an old lawn mower? Should I just go for the basic repair and get the mower running again or should I spend more money hoping that it will work better and last longer?

Should I go for option number one, option number two or option number three? It sounded like the old TV game show”Let’s make A Deal”! What would you do?

Most of you who know me very well would assume I would go for option number one – settle for the band aide fix and save money. But, I actually chose option number three – spend the money and do all the repairs that the repairman recommended.

When they delivered my McLane, seven-blade front throw power mower to my house, it looked like a new mower! They had cleaned off the old grass. The new spark plug sparkled and the sharpened blades glistened in the sunlight. When the repairman fired up the engine, it purred like a kitten. When he invited me to try it out, I couldn’t believe how well it cut the grass. I was impressed!

I feel like my mower has been given a second chance in life. It has been saved from the junk pile and is cutting grass better than it has in years. I don’t know how long it will keep going, but my repairman deserves “five stars” on his Yelp review!

I suppose there are a lot of life lessons we can learn from my lawn mower adventure. There are some things in our lives that we cannot fix ourselves. We need to call on God to be the “repairman” in our lives. He can fix and He can forgive the mistakes and struggles that we cannot fix ourselves. He can restore broken relationships and repair broken hearts. The Bible says that God loves to take broken people and give us new life. One verse says that when we become a follower of Jesus, our old life is set aside and all things become new (II Corinthians 5:17).

Let me encourage you to call on God today in prayer. Confess your mistakes. Admit you can’t fix everything yourself. Ask Him for His help and forgiveness. Allow our heavenly repairman to do His work in your heart and give you a new start through faith in Jesus. You will be glad you did and He will too!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

(909) 594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

 

Updated Info On Olympic Trials In Walnut

Staff Reports

The Walnut City Council will be having a council meeting on Wednesday, December 13 at 7 p.m.  The question many are asking is: “Will the Olympic trials be on the agenda for open discussion this time?”

Earlier this year, Mt. San Antonio College (SAC) won the bid to have the Track and Field Olympic Trials at the campus. Whether or not they are able to get the school ready for the trials is still up in the air at this time. A stadium still needs to be built and the deadline to build in time for the trials is quickly approaching. It has been reported that the City of Walnut may not be in favor of the trials being held in their city. The reasons to date have been unclear and it has not been open for discussion as to why it hasn’t been on the agenda at past City Council meetings. Rumors are that it mostly likely won’t be approved by the council, which could cost Walnut and the cities in the surrounding areas an estimated $40 million dollars. That number is conservatively based on what Oregon claims they will lose because they didn’t win the bid.

The lack of information that has been released on the subject led to a misunderstanding that a final vote would take place at the Council Meeting on December 13. We were informed that there will not be a final vote and at this time, it is unclear if an open forum discussion will even be on the agenda. We also recently received information that the city may be seeking an injunction to stop construction of the stadium, which is needed to support the trials. It seems as though driving a truck loaded with dirt on a Walnut city street has been deemed unsafe and permits have not been issued to do so at this time.

Reports indicate that the entire estimated amount of $40 million in revenue won’t be given solely to the City of Walnut. It leaves us to wonder if that played into the decision to stall the construction until the point of no return? That is a question that we hope will be addressed at a city council meeting at some point. The estimated $40 million in revenue could benefit Walnut and the surrounding communities since Walnut doesn’t have hotels in the city. But unfortunately, the surrounding communities are not involved in the decision process.

So local business owners, sports fans and anyone that supports the building of the Mt. SAC stadium, mark December 13 at 7pm on your calendars so you can attend the City Council Meeting.  If the city does decide to have an open discussion about the project, let your voice be heard.

 

 

Walnut Valley Trustees Celebrate Star Students, Community Partners

By Kelli Gile

 WALNUT– In keeping with tradition, the Walnut Valley USD Board of Trustees honored outstanding students and community partners during the November 15 meeting.

C.J. Morris Elementary fourth graders Kailyn Park and Nyla Rivera authored “Everyone Has A Right”, a friendship book they wrote to raise awareness about students with special needs.

The caring students were commended with the Super Star Student Award.

Kailyn and Nyla spend time at recess getting to know students in the Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) class.  They model how to care about others and value differences.

Their advocacy work has created a more inclusive environment on campus. To date, they have donated nearly $200 to the ASD class from the book’s proceeds.

“They truly embody what it means to be I.B. students by showing that they not only care, but dare to act to make a difference,” said Principal Shehzad Bhojani.

Longtime parent volunteer Sheila Wright received the Partner in Education Award.

Sheila has been president of the C.J. Morris Community Club for the past four years.  Under her leadership, fundraising efforts, parental involvement and school spirt have steadily increased.

“She embraces an inclusive philosophy to address the needs of our culturally, ethnically and socio-economically diverse parent community,” Bhojani said.

Sheila has strong interpersonal skills and utilizes multiple platforms to communicate with the parent community.  She is a good listener who validates the ideas brought up by her team, and is open to suggestions in improving the effectiveness of the programs that are offered.

“Sheila is fully committed to improving the educational experience of our C.J. Morris students,” he added.

Parent volunteer Tom Jordan received the Partner in Education Award for South Pointe Middle School.

For the past three years, Tom has been an active member of the school’s Community Club and currently serves as president. He is also a School Site Council and District LCAP Committee representative.

If Tom isn’t providing the parent voice at a meeting, he is selling snacks at home games and performances, or organizing fundraisers.

“His innovation, enthusiasm, and infectious positive energy inspire parents, teachers, and students alike,” said Principal Susan Arzola.

South Pointe 8th grader Yssael Gutierrez, a.k.a. Ironman, was unanimously voted by staff, out of over 900 candidates, to receive the Super Star Student Award.

“He has inspired all of us to embrace life’s challenges and tackle them head on,” Arzola said.

Last year was probably the toughest of this young man’s life and yet he was able to overcome a huge challenge, she said.

“Yssael came back this year with a strong, positive “can do” attitude. We know nothing can hold him back!”

He is proud to be a Panther and cheers on his peers every chance he gets.  He puts his whole heart into all that he does from fundraisers to athletics.

“Yssael exemplifies the strength of character and community we can all only aspire to,” Arzola added.

Additionally, the Walnut High School boys baseball and girls swim teams received special recognition for reaching the highest level of success as Division 3 CIF Champions.

 

$8,000 In Stolen Cash and Coins

By Anthony Saude

Chino Hills – Deputy Livi was patrolling his area like any other night when he noticed a car with Utah plates parked on Riverside Drive and E. End Avenue that at around 1:30 a.m., ther were two men sleeping in it, said Sgt. Randy Naquin of the Chino Hills Sheriff’s station.

Deputy Livi requested backup, when it arrived the deputies identified the two sleeping men as Utah residents, Christopher Giles, 46 and 39-year old Kris Vanleuven. The deputies searched the vehicle after they received consent from the men. During the search they found the men to be in possession of Methamphetamine and Heroin, said Sgt. Naquin.

Continuing the search the deputies found over $8,000 in stolen cash, gold coins, possible burglary tools and a slungshot. A slungshot is a maritime tool with a weight, or “shot”, affixed to the end of a long cord or rope that is used to assist in throwing mooring lines over a distance. According to California Penal Code section 12020 it is a felony be in possession of one. There are several other states that it is a felony to have one as well.

Both Giles and Vanleuven were arrested and booked into West Valley Detention Center on suspicion of  possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell and for possession of a slungshot.

Sgt. Noquin said that they have contacted outside agencies to determine if any reported burglaries might similar stolen property that could be claimed. Detectives are still investigating the case. If anyone has any information about the case you are encouraged to call the Chino Hills station at 909-364-2000

 

Porch Pirates Beware

Photo courtesy: Google

By Anthony Saude

Chino – Chino Police Department is proactively fighting package theft in the city this holiday season with a little help from their friends.

“The Chino Police Department has partnered with several members of the community to deploy decoy packages with GPS tracking abilities in an effort to deter crime and aide in stolen package investigations,” says Tamrin Olden of the Crime Prevention Department. “We have done this on a much smaller scale in the past, targeting an area or neighborhood that had multiple reports of theft”. “Due to the season we are trying it out on a much larger scale this time”, said Olden.

“Olden said that the cost to the Department and the community is almost negligible due to the fact we use the GPS devices for other investigations all the time”. “Olden added that they also have boxes that are used for multiple purposes so there isn’t any cost there”. “We have a software license that allows us to print and use popular company names labels without any repercussions”.

The residents and this newspaper have parts to play in this wonderful idea as well, the more people we tell about this program the more criminals will be deterred from committing the crime at all. That means that more people will get their packages without incident. If the companies we shop with don’t have to replace merchandise at their expense it ultimately helps them keep their prices down for the consumer.

“Although some are crimes of opportunity some packages will lead us to other crimes, someone with warrants, teams of people, drugs or just career criminals into multiple things” says Olden. This is a win, win situation for everybody, except of course the people stealing packages. Please report any suspicious activity to the Chino Police Department 909-334-3000.

 

 

 

The Financial Architects

By Anthony Saude

Chino – Purchasing any kind of insurance in today’s market can be a very daunting task for the regular person out there. Question need to be asked like, who can you trust, did you get enough coverage, does it make sense for our age group, does it fit in our budget? All great questions say Richard and Cecilia Pesqueira who have been a licensed in California to sell Life and Health insurance agents for over a decade.

They understand how a person can be overwhelmed by all of the products and questions in making sure they are choosing the best products for their needs and desires. “We like to take our time to analyze all of our clients’ needs and wants before a decision is made”. “That way we can come up with a tailor made solution using the latest innovative ideas and products on the market today” says Richard and Cecilia Pesqueira, the managing agents.

Protecting families and all that they have worked for is our number one priority we do this by providing the right plan for their financial future. Whether it is Life Insurance, Health Insurance Annuities, Medigap Insurance or Medicare Advantage we have a long list of business partners we work with to make sure that the client walks away with peace of mind knowing they are protected for the long run. A little known fact is that if you aren’t a U.S. citizen you can still get life insurance and we have partners that can and will provide that to our clients.

Richard and Cecilia take great pride in helping their clients meet their current and future financial goals while protecting their existing assets. “We know that there are a lot of choices out there and we are dedicated to walking side by side through the process with each of our clients” says Richard. They will not quit until they are sure the client has the best deal available for their needs and are well informed about what they have when it is all said and done.

The Financial Architects are not only who they are but it is what they do and they love it. They will be there every step of the way to ensure your future will be secure no matter how circumstances may arise. Every good building has to start with a strong foundation or to ensure it can withstand the test of time. Things can change in this crazy thing called life and they know adjustments may have to be made for a myriad of different reasons. If that happens never fear Richard and Cecilia are just phone call away ready, willing and able to come right over and make sure that your future is safe and secure.

If you have any questions or want more information their phone number is (909) 450-3664 or go to the website: http://tfainsuranceadvisors.com/

They are located at:

The Financial Architects

5370 Shaefer Ave Ste. #B

Chino, CA 91710

 

Corona Man Charged With Murder

Photo courtesy: Corona PD

By Anthony Saude

Corona – On Thanksgiving Day Corona Police Officers responded to a family disturbance call that involved an assault with a deadly weapon in the 1700 block of Rainbow Ridge on the west side of the City of Corona.

The Corona Fire Department paramedics were dispatched to the scene and found 64 year old Corona resident Lidia Urrutia unconscious with life threatening injuries. The victim was transported to a local trauma center via ambulance. The result of the injuries left Lidia with no brain function and she was pronounced dead on Sunday, November 26.

Gilberto Urrutia Perez a 45 year old male was visiting his mother from San Bernardino for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Following up on some information, officers from Corona Police arrested Perez at Brentwood Park in the City of Corona in connection with the crime without incident. “On Tuesday November 28 Perez has been charged with 1 count of homicide and 1 count of cruelty to an elder or dependant adult”, said Detective Andy Bryant of the Corona Police Department. Court records show his bail has been set at $1 million and his arraignment is scheduled for November 29. Detective Bryant said, “t the investigation is still ongoing and there aren’t any outstanding suspects at this time”. If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact Detective Jurado at 951-279-3628 or via email at jesse.jurado@corona.gov. For inquiries relating to the filed criminal case, please contact Riverside County District Attorney Public Information Officer John Hall at 951-955-8662 or via email at johnhall@rivcoda.org.

 

Auto Accident Leaves 1 Dead, 5 Injured

Photo courtesy: Google Images

By Anthony Saude

Diamond Bar – A violent auto accident on the 60 freeway left one dead and 5 injured on Sunday, November 26. The accident took place at about 3 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of the 60 freeway in Diamond Bar where the 57 and the 60 freeway intersect.

A 2001 Chevy Impala had been involved in a minor traffic accident that took place in the carpool lane and left the Impala disabled just prior to the fatal crash. The Impala was being driven by 30 year old Melissa Murga from Pomona. She had 3 passengers on board a 29 year old male, also from Pomona, a baby and a little girl.

The Pomona man had unbuckled his and the baby’s seatbelt to exit the vehicle after the Impala had disabled when they were struck by a 2013 Chevy Pickup truck that was driving at an unsafe speed. The man and the baby – 1 year old Anna Franco, were ejected from the car and the 29 year old Pomona man was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Melissa and Anna sustained serious injuries and the child escaped the nightmare with only minor injuries. It was reported that Anna is in critical condition at the hospital.

The driver of the pickup, John Swick a 32 year old Hesperia man, had Ashley Stevens also from Hesperia, a 31 year old female with him as a passenger. It was reported by CHP in a written statement that Swick had been driving at an unsafe speed when the truck rammed into the rear of the Impala.

Swick sustained only minor injuries while his passenger, Stevens sustained major injuries and was transprorted to a local hospital via ambulance. All of the injured parties were transported to a local hospital to treat the injuries they had sustained. Swick was arrested at the scene and there is an ongoing investigation into the cause of the accident. Nothing has been reported about if alcohol was involved in either of the accidents at this time.

College Football

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Mark Hopper

One of the fun things that happens at this time of year is college football. The season has gone by so quickly and there is already a lot of talk about which teams will qualify to play in the post-season bowl games.

There is something about college football that appeals to me. College football is full of tradition.  Teams have their school colors and their school mascot.  Stadiums are filled with fans wearing t-shirts and sweatshirts proudly proclaiming their loyalty and support.

College football games usually include large marching bands that perform during halftime.  These bands add to the energy and pageantry to the game.  All through the game, the bands continue to play music and their school’s fight song to inspire their team and their fans.

Many years ago, my wife and I attended a college football game with some friends in Texas.  We had tickets in the student section.  The atmosphere was electric.  We were excited to go to a game at this university which was well-known for its football program.  But, what we didn’t realize was that the people in the student section don’t sit down. They stand throughout the game!

Since we stood during the whole game, I wondered why we bought a ticket with a specific seat assignment?  I must admit it was fun to be in the student section, but I was pretty tired by the end of the game.

Another tradition at this university was throwing the cheer leaders into the fountain if their football team won the game.  If they win, the cheerleaders got wet!

Photo courtesy: Google Images

Here in Southern California we have a number colleges and universities.  Several have nationally recognized football programs. You often see the names or logos of these schools on t-shirts and bumper stickers.  Many alumni proudly promote their school on the license plate frames on their cars and trucks.

Since most college football games are played on Saturday, there is often a lot of talk on the church patio on Sunday about the games the day before.  If your favorite team college team won on Saturday, you are glad to share the news with your friends on Sunday.  But, if your team lost on Saturday, you are more likely to talk about the weather than football!

I don’t know if there are any football fans in your family.  But, I suspect there are some college football fans in your neighborhood. Please be patient with them if they seem to get carried away with enthusiasm this time of year.  At the same time, if you are an avid college football fan, enjoy the moment.  The season will soon be over!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

(909) 594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

Mt. Sac Olympic Trials: $40 Million For Local Communities

Photo courtesy: Google Images

By Staff Reports

Walnut – On December 13, 2017 there will be a Walnut City Council meeting and it seems that a discussion about Olympic Trials at Mt. Sac will finally be on the agenda. “We are starting to move the dirt for the construction needed to have the trials because if we don’t start we will have to tell the powers that be we can’t have the trials,” said Doug Todd.” “We are going to begin and move forward with the confidence that the Council will vote for the Trials or until we get a stop work order from them”.

Mt. San Antonio College’s new incoming stadium was chosen for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, a move that could potentially bring in over $40 million in revenue for the area.

“The Olympic Trials in Eugene Oregon has historically brought in around $38 million dollars to their local economy for the 9 day period that the trials were held during 2012,” said Doug Todd, Director of Track and Cross Country for Mt. Sac. “We haven’t seen the projections for 2016 as of yet, but it should top over $40 million.”

Todd also noted that the national and international attention this event will bring to the city of Walnut and immediate surrounding cities, the San Gabriel Valley, the Inland Empire, and even the Los Angeles cities will benefit as well. “We hope for everyone to get on board and benefit from such a historic event.”

“As a long time resident of the City of Walnut, I was pleased to hear that Walnut will be hosting the upcoming US Olympic Trials,” said Walnut councilman Bob Pacheco. “It’s a honor and privilege to be selected. I look forward to working with Mt SAC to assure that the athletes receive a warm welcome so they may enjoy the beauty and resources of our community.

“We honored to be chosen over such prestigious institutions,” said Mt. Sac Board Member, David Hall in a phone interview Thursday morning. “Our long heritage, very successful trials in past years, the many records set at the college, and the new state of the art facility, are great factors for their choice.”

The USA Olympic Trials is the National Championship meet that is held every year, but in an Olympic Year, the National Championships become the meet where the US Olympic Committee chooses who will represent the United States in the Olympic Games in Tokyo.  It’s a wonderful, high stakes competition where the top three make the team and number 4 and below do not.  There is no appeal process, no automatic entry process for past performances, and no special dispensation for injury or illness.  On a certain day and a certain time in June of 2020 right here at Mt. SAC the best athletes in the country will run, jump or throw for the right to represent us in Tokyo, Japan.  It’s a real testimony to competition bringing out the best and, sadly, sometimes the worst in people.

The selection process wasn’t an easy one either. It started with the submission of a preliminary proposal.  Five colleges or Organizations did that.  After the initial submission the field was narrowed to three “finalists”.  Mt. SAC, along with the University of Oregon and California State University, Sacramento were each scheduled for a site visit and after the site visit had the opportunity to submit a final proposal. The final step was the opportunity to state our case at USATF’s Board of Directors meeting in Sacramento at this year’s National Championships.

“We were given 15 minutes to summarize our proposal and then to be ready for questions from the board,” added Todd. “Before that final presentation we were sent a list of things from our proposal that the board wanted clarification on.  We needed to discuss those items within our 15 minute presentation.”

Mt. Sac’s Hilmer Lodge Stadium is no stranger to such an event as the women’s Olympic trials were held there in 1968. Twenty world records have been set at Hilmer Lodge Stadium, the annual site for the annual Mt. Sac Relays for the last 60 years. The stadium is under renovations and is scheduled to reopen in 2019 with an expanded seating capacity of 21,000 capacity. The trials, scheduled for Jun 19-28, 2020, will select US track and field delegation for the Tokyo Games.

“I’m very proud of the team that helped bring this to fruition, and excited by the challenge” said Todd to OurWeeklyNews.com. “We are excited by the challenge and anxious to finalize the last few details for the organization to get the planning started.” Todd is the “meet manager” and Bob Seagrem, a former Olympic Gold Medalist, will be the chairperson of the committee.

The last three U.S. Olympic track and field trials were held at Hayward Stadium in Eugene, Ore., the city known as Track Town for its pervasive running culture. The 2000 and 2004 trials were held at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento. Attendance was robust in both cities and both made bids for the 2020 trials. Los Angeles, once the home of many professional track and field meets, hasn’t supported the sport at the pro level in recent years, leaving the Mt. SAC Relays the area’s most prestigious competition, according to the LA Times.

“Our team is cohesive and our historical successes are just many factors Mt. Sac is a great choice for this event,” David Hall concluded. “We are looking forward to another successful event.”

Lots of work and excitement went into the making of this event as an Olympic site, which is for the first time in Southern California since 1984 when the games were held at the Coliseum. The Walnut stadium was chosen in an 11-2 vote by the USA Track and Field’s board of directors for the Mt. SAC proposal.

Mt. Sac is also rebuilding several areas of Hilmer stadium and the plans are completed and being executed. “I couldn’t be happier with the design and the amenities built into the structure.  It’s going to be wonderful facility, one that will be worthy of the outstanding, world’s best athletes that will come here to compete,” added Todd. He also noted they are, based on conversations with the people on campus whose job it is to build this stadium, they’ve had been a few bumps in the road but abelieve that’s to be expected in any type of construction project large or small.

“You know we have an ‘Olympic Caliber’ crew of people working on this thing who not only understand every aspect of all that we are attempting to do but who also have an amazing track record, no pun intended, of bringing projects of this scope to completion on time,” added Todd.  “This entire goal of bringing the trials to Mt. SAC is a very big TEAM effort.  Jokingly I’ve told them a number of times that “if you build it they will come”. We’ve won the bid, the Trials are coming so now we just need to finish the build.    I’m confident our team will build it and complete it on time and I’d like to think they are equally confident that once completed we will host one heck off a great event.

Everyone across the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire is very much on board and appreciative of Mt. Sac’s efforts and the leadership of the city as the build takes place.

“Mt SAC is an important economic engine for Southern California. Hosting the 2020 Olympic pre-trials will expose the world to Mt SAC’s outstanding amenities and the vast resources it provides within the Greater Los Angeles Area and Southern California,” said Carolyn Anderson, long time advocate and Public Sector Solutions Manager for Waste Management Southern California.

Get Your Holiday Tamales at The Whole Enchilada

the-whole-enchilada-diamond-barStaff Reports

Diamond Bar – The holidays are just around the corner, so let the planning begin!  The Whole Enchilada will be your holiday partner with dozens of possibilities including catering, a night away from cooking during this busy season, and delectable holiday tamales.

From delicious platters and entrée meals to taco bars, The Whole Enchilada offers fresh, authentic Mexican recipes their resident chef brought from their homeland.  They guarantee you will enjoy your dining experience.

“All our food is made fresh daily,” says Lil Palmer of The Whole Enchilada. The restaurant has been in business for over 30 years, offering a variety of Mexican dishes ranging from enchiladas and burritos to carne asada and fajitas.

Planning a Christmas celebration?  The Whole Enchilada can help cater your event with handmade tamales – which are available year round. This traditional holiday dish is sold by the dozen and is available in pork, beef, chicken, green chili and cheese.  Other menu items, such as the taquito or street taco platters, are available for catering as well.

Whether it’s a holiday fiesta, business meetings or parties, promotions, fundraisers, birthdays, or just an evening out, The Whole Enchilada will dazzle you with their excellent customer service and delicious food.  They look forward to helping you celebrate the special moments in your life.

If you are looking for a delicious treat after your meal, try The Whole Enchilada’s Mexican Kaluha Flan, Rio Grande Mud Pie, or popular Deep Fried Ice Cream.

The celebration doesn’t stop with just one visit.  The Whole Enchilada has gift cards available for purchase in person or online.  It’s the perfect Christmas stocking stuffer, or that special someone in your life.  And be sure to ask The Whole Enchilada about the Combo Punch Card, Enchilada Bucks, and their Kids Club.  With a wide variety of reasons to visit, it’s obvious that The Whole Enchilada wants to become your favorite restaurant.

Don’t deny your taste buds this holiday season, visit the Whole Enchilada soon!

The Whole Enchilada is located at 1114 S. Diamond Bar Blvd., (at Grand Avenue, in Diamond Bar). You can reach them at (909) 861-5340, and visit their website at http://www.wholeenchilada.com.  See their ad on the back page of this publication.

Free Youth In Government Event

By Anthony Saude

Diamond Bar – The City of Diamond Bar is having a FREE event for youth ages 14 – 18 on Saturday December 2, at Diamond Bar City Hall, 21810 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar CA 91765, from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.  Registration is required for this free event.

The event will give Diamond Bar middle and high school students a chance to see behind the scenes of local and state government from the eyes of an actual elected official.

What are the requirements to become and elected or state official? What does it take day in and day out to perform the job at the level it requires to do it competently? This event will begin to answer those questions and more. Diamond Bar youth will have the unique opportunity to learn from elected officials what it looks like if and when they decide to get into local or state politics.

This is the first year that the city of Diamond Bar will have this FREE event available as they look forward to the future of the youth in our city. The City sees it as a huge advantage for the residents of Diamond Bar as well.

Knowledge is power and the hope is that the youth become more interested in local or state government in the future. Think about it to have more qualified, educated and enthusiastic candidates running the local or state government is a win win situation for the city or state in the future.

Presentations, interactive exercises as well as lots of opportunities for questions and answers will be presented to the youth at this FREE event.

Participation in the event is FREE space is limited so registration is required so don’t delay get registered TODAY!! For more information or to register, contact the City’s Administration Department at 909.839.7013 or email asantos@diamondbarca.gov.

 

Corona Pd Receives $75,000 Grant

By Marissa Mitchell

Corona, CA – Corona Police Department recently received $75,000 in grant money for traffic enforcement and crash prevention, resulting in some crackdown on impaired drivers.

The Corona Department has been given the money from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long programs. This program will consist of special enforcements, particularly in the case of impaired drivers, and public awareness efforts to prevent traffic-related deaths and injuries.

The $75,000 will be used to keep roadways safe. OTS Director Rhonda Craft states, “Unsafe behaviors account for 94 percent of traffic crashes. This grant emphasizes the two most effective ways to change behaviors – education and enforcement. The Corona Police Department, with assistance from the Office of Traffic Safety, will use these tools to help keep the City of Corona streets safe.”

The number of persons killed on roadways fell a record decade low in 2010, but since then it has risen almost 17 percent across the state, with 3,429 fatalities in the year 2015. Most notable is the climb of pedestrian and bicycle fatalities, now comprising nearly 25 percent of all traffic deaths. This has raised concerns of distracted driving and drug-impaired driving.

The grant funding will provide an avenue to combat distracted and impaired driving, as well as the problem of speeding and crashes at intersections.

“The rise in impaired drivers is very concerning,” declared Chief of Police Michael Abel. “The Corona Police Department is dedicated to reducing the amount of impaired drivers by education through our Drive 4 Life program, proactive enforcement operations, and our community outreach,” he continued.

The grant money presented will fund educational programs, DUI/DWI checkpoints, DUI saturation patrols, bicycle/pedestrian safety enforcement, motorcycle safety enforcement, distracted driving enforcement, Seat belt and child safety seat enforcement, and speeding/red light/stop sign enforcement.

Although alcohol remains the worst offender of DUI cases and crashes, the Corona PD will be supporting the effort of the OTS to increase awareness that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.”

Prescription medications and marijuana can impair the driver alone as a substance, or in combination with alcohol, resulting in a DUI or DWI arrest.

 

 

Chino Hills Grow House Fire

Photo courtesy: Anthony Saude

By Anthony Saude

Chino Hills – On November 17, 2017 Chino Valley Fire District firefighters and Sheriff’s Deputies from Chino Hills PD were dispatched to a house fire at 1807 Nordic Avenue in Chino Hills. When they arrived the residence was completely engulfed in flames.

While the firefighters were putting out the flames they discovered marijuana plants were being grown in inside the residence. The Sheriff’s Gangs/Narcotics joined in to assist with the investigation, search warrant in hand and assumed the lead in the investigation.

Chino Valley Fire Department and Southern California Edison also showed up at the scene to do their own investigation. It is believed that there were several hundred marijuana plants growing in the residence and most were destroyed in the fire.

Preliminary reports from the investigation have authorities believing that it was caused by faulty wiring due to the electrical meter being bypassed. This is a common tactic used to avoid detection by law enforcement of increased electricity use by the grow lights needed for an operation of this size.

Photo courtesy: Anthony Saude

It is very common for fires to start when using this method of utility theft, which of course is illegal itself. The loss of revinue to SCE in these cases will commonly be in the thousands of dollars.

The property owners leased their house to the residents through a property management company. This is an ongoing investigation. The San Bernardino County District Attorney will make the decision what criminal charges will be filed against the suspects. The charges they will be facing are utility theft, unlawful causing of a property fire, vandalism and marijuana cultivation.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Gangs / Narcotics Division at 909-387-8400. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463).

 

Eastvale Fire Station 31 Recognized in Firehouse Magazine

Staff Reports

Eastvale – In the November 2017 edition of Firehouse Magazine, Eastvale Fire Station No. 31 received a notable recognition in the Career Category 2 Fire Design section designated for stations built less than 15,000 square feet in size.

The 4th annual 2017 Station Design Awards showcased 43 fire and emergency services facilities in North America designed and constructed to meet the needs and responsibilities of its personnel and the community that it serves.

Fire Station No. 31 is a 6,004-sq.-ft. facility built by the City of Eastvale for the Riverside County Fire Department (RCFD). The corner site in the southern part of the city was built in a predominantly residential area. The station is designed to accommodate five firefighters in an individual dormitory setting. The station a two-bay and single-deep apparatus bay, administrative offices, a kitchen with a dining area, an onsite gym as well as a plethora of support spaces required for a facility of this type. Some of the other state of the art features include visitor parking covered firefighter parking, a separate storage building as well as an above-ground fuel station. The design of the station was heavily influenced by the how narrow the available space of the construction site. The apparatus bays are located as far from the corner as possible. The balance of the station follows the side street frontage, allowing for the drive-through requirements of the RCFD. The station was design was well thought out with the sole intention of the architectural style of the area. Sloped roof forms are used in conjunction with parapet areas designed to screen mechanical equipment. The station is scheduled to receive a LEED Silver rating based on the sustainable goals of the City of Eastvale.

Chandler Fire Station 31 is located at 14991 Chandler Street in Eastvale, CA and opened February 22, 2017.

For more information on Firehouse Magazine, please visit their website at www.firehouse.com/magazine.

 

Kindergartners Join Thanksgiving Feast

Photo courtesy: Kelli Gile

By Kelli Gile 

DIAMOND BAR—About 120 Evergreen Elementary students wearing pilgrim and Native American paper hats sat side-by-side for a Thanksgiving feast on Friday morning.

Kindergarten teacher Mona Warren, costumed in traditional dress and moccasins, opened the event with a Native American blessing.

The children echoed each line using hand gestures.

“And now may the great spirits, of all great spirits, be with all of you, now and forever more!” they said in unison.

Then the youngsters joined in a Thanksgiving song with Warren accompanying on guitar.

“The pilgrims came to America a long, long time ago. They sailed on the Mayflower a long, long time ago. They made friends with the Wampanoag a long, long time ago,” they sang.

Before the meal, Warren asked the children to share something they are thankful for with the person next to them.

Photo courtesy: Kelli Gile

“I’m thankful for my teacher and everything,” said five-year-old Jeremy Han.

“I’m thankful for my mom,” added classmate Christine Diaz.

“I’m thankful for my toys – all of them!” chimed Evan Tasker.

Then the youngsters began sampling the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, corn bread, and pumpkin pie.

Popcorn filled paper canoes decorated with teepee, buffalo, fire, love, and water symbols were at each place setting.

Some of the children gobbled up the traditional holiday meal, while others were content with a tiny taste of each dish.

“Mashed potatoes and popcorn are my favorites!” exclaimed Susanna Basilious wearing a white pilgrim bonnet.

“I like the popcorn and apple juice,” added five-year-old Orlando Perez.

The children also created keepsake handprint placemats and macaroni necklaces for their feast.

Evergreen teachers prepared the food, while about 20 parent volunteers were on hand setting up and serving the November 17 meal.

“We’ve been learning about the Wampanoag nation and the pilgrims,” said kindergarten teacher Diana Rogers.

Kathleen Riddle’s transitional kindergarten (TK) class wore decorated vests made from grocery sacks and headbands with feathers.

“The Wampanoag typically only had one or two feathers,” said the 19-year veteran teacher.

“I’m thankful for my TK students, I just love them,” Riddle added. “And for all my grandbabies!”