Monthly Archives: December 2014

Whoville comes to Walnut on Dec. 13

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Walnut will turn into a wintery “Whoville” Wonderland this holiday season. The parking lot at Walnut Senior Center Parking Lot will be filled with snow on Dec. 13 from 6 to 10 pm.

For $8, residents can enjoy unlimited sled rides, ice skating, games, snow ball battlefield and live entertainment. This year’s entertainment includes community groups as well as the Filharmonic, featured in NBC’s “Sing Off” competition, at 8 p.m.

Families should bring blankets for a showing of the “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” at 8:30 p.m. with hot cocoa.

For more information, call the Walnut Senior Center at 909-598-6200. The center is located at 21215 La Puente Road in Walnut.

 

Diamond Bar has to fill Chang’s vacant council seat

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Bye-bye Ling-Ling. Diamond Bar City Council has to decide how to fill Ling-Ling Chang’s seat now that she has been sworn into the California Assembly.

Council has 60 days to take action to fill the remaining three years in Chang’s term, which expires in November of 2017. They plan to discuss the matter in tonight’s council meeting.

“We can appoint someone to fill her seat or call for a special election,” explained Mayor Pro Tem Steve Tye.

The city has faced similar situations on five previous occasions. It decided to appoint a replacement four times, while calling for a special election in 2005.

Since Los Angeles County will not be holding an election in June, Diamond Bar can’t consolidate the special election with the county as it does with the regular municipal elections in November. The city would have to pay for all the costs, including election materials and equipment, ballots, precinct workers and vote tabulations.

“Should the city council choose to call an election to fill the seat vacated by former council member Chang, it is estimated the city would incur election-related costs of approximately $150,000,” said Deputy City Manager Ryan McLean in a report.

These costs would be in addition to the costs for the regular election in November.

“I’m leaning toward appointing someone to fill the position because of the high costs for a special election,” Tye said. “People elect us to make difficult decisions, so I think we should interview candidates and appoint someone ourselves.”

City council isn’t legally obligated to even advertise the vacancy, seek applicants or interview them before appointing someone to fill the council seat. Council may choose any process it feels is appropriate.

Read more in Rich Irwin’s story VACANCY.

Rowland Heights man hurt in home-invasion robbery

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Three masked robbers forced their way into a home in Rowland Heights and pepper sprayed one of two brothers inside before fleeing with valuables late Friday, authorities said.

The three robbers smashed a rear sliding-glass door about 7:40 p.m. to get into the home in the 17800 block of Calle Barcelona, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Steven Tousey said.

The home-invasion robbers encountered a 21-year-old man and his teenage brother, who were upstairs when the intruders broke in, the sergeant said.

A robber pepper-sprayed one of the brothers before the three bandits fled with cash, jewelry and an iPhone, Tousey said. No other injuries were reported.

A detailed description of the robbers was not available, Tousey said. All three wore ski-masks during the crime.

Tousey said the robbers were last seen running from the home. It was unclear if a getaway car was involved.

Anyone with information can reach the sheriff’s Walnut-Diamond Bar Station at 909-595-2264.

Archer surrenders at standoff in Rowland Heights

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Deputies surrounded a home Sunday, after a man armed with a crossbow holed-up inside for more than four hours before ultimately surrendering, officials said.

The incident began just before 10 a.m. Sunday with a report of a fight between a father and son in the 18000 block of Mescal Street, Sgt. Pauline Panis of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau said.

When deputies arrived, the son — initially described only as a man — retreated into the home and displayed a crossbow to deputies, Panis said.

It was not believed that he had fired the weapon at anyone. In a written statement, sheriff’s officials described the holed-up man as a suspect involved in an assault with a deadly weapon involving a crossbow, though further details of the alleged assault were not available.

Deputies summoned a sheriff’s SWAT team to the home to take over the standoff, officials said.

“The suspect is believed to be the sole occupant in the residence,” sheriff’s officials said in a written statement. “For the safety of the public, surrounding homes in the area have been evacuated.”

After slightly more than four hours, officials persuaded the suspect to exit the home and surrender about 2:05 p.m., deputy Amber Smith of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau said. The crossbow was recovered.

His identity was not immediately available, nor were the charges he was expected to be booked for. Officials at the sheriff’s Walnut-Diamond Bar Station declined to comment, referring all inquiries to the Sheriff’s Information Bureau. No further details were released.

Person struck by truck on 60 Freeway in Diamond Bar

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A person was hospitalized in unknown condition after being struck early Saturday by a truck on the 60 Freeway. The incident occurred on the westbound lanes beneath the 57 Freeway about 2:45 a.m., California Highway Patrol Officer Tony Polizzi said.

The began with a single-vehicle crash with either the center divider or the right shoulder wall of the freeway, causing a gray Cadillac to catch fire, according to CHP logs.

The Cadillac appeared to have had two occupants, according to Los Angeles County fire officials and a videographer at the scene. At least one of them exited the car, officials said.

A person, described only as male, was trying to put out the fire when he was struck by the truck, fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Al Jackson said.  Paramedics took the injured person to the UC Irvine Medical Center, according to authorities.

The second person inside the Cadillac was not hospitalized, officials said.

Diamond Bar nonprofits invited to Winter Snow Fest

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The City of Diamond Bar’s popular Winter Snow Fest event will again provide local nonprofits a fun way to raise awareness of, and cash for, their causes.

Nonprofits have until Friday, Dec. 5, to apply to work the event as a food vendor, game booth operator or craft area monitor.

In exchange for their work, nonprofits that staff the entertainment areas will receive a portion of proceeds from the wristband and game/craft cards sales; food vendors keep all their profits.

Winter Snow Fest event takes place on Saturday, January 17, 2015 from 9am until 3pm at Pantera Park. For additional details and a copy of the application, visit www.DiamondBarCa.gov/wsf or call 909.839.7067.