City Manager Reports on Monrovia's Response to Fake Shooter Report at Monrovia High

City Manager Dylan Feik reported on the city's response to the false report of an active shooter at Monrovia High:

Today Monrovia Police Department (MPD) received a single call at 11:45 AM of an active shooter on the 2nd floor of Monrovia High School (MHS) which involved victims. MPD responded and the campus was immediately placed on lockdown while officers began sweeping the 2nd floor. MPD officers were on-site within three minutes from the time dispatch received the call to entry of the 2nd floor of the high school. There were no visible or audible signs or indication of a shooting so officers began sweeping rooms. MPD stationed a command post at the perimeter of the school to coordinate our response across the school campus where sweeps were already underway, but also to coordinate with incoming police units from outside agencies reporting to the call. In situations like these, neighboring law enforcement agencies will assist and receive directions from the command post where to go. Monroe Elementary was also placed on lockdown due to its proximity to the high school and after receiving a report of suspicious person walking around. The person was quickly identified as the parent of a student. The first high school building was cleared within 20 minutes of the call and MPD continued a thorough check of the entire campus, each room, as a precaution. The campus was ultimately cleared within approximately 90 minutes of the call.

Both Monroe Elementary and Monrovia High School lockdowns were lifted by 1:35 PM. At MHS, a reunification plan to reunite parents with their children was used. However, school remained in session through the remainder of the day for the students who were unable to go home, unable to be picked up by a loved one, or who simply wished to stay. MPD maintained a presence on site and throughout the remainder of the day. MPD will continue to investigate the source of the false threat and any reports received today. Other communities are reporting similar threats reported and the MPD is already working to report this incident to the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

- Brad Haugaard

Superintendent Says No Evidence of Shooter at Monrovia High - Schools Still Shut to Be Safe

Superintendent Ryan Smith reports that Monrovia High School (and Monroe Elementary because of its proximity to MHS) were locked down today because someone called 911 to report an active shooter at Monrovia High.

He adds that, "There is no evidence of an active shooter at the high school and there has been no violence of any kind.  This may have been a "swatting" incident where a fake call is made to law enforcement in the hopes of eliciting a massive emergency response.  We have heard that schools in other districts may have received similar calls." t.ly/NDsC

The city added that "Other agencies in the area have received similar calls today."

UPDATE: City Manager Dylan Feik reports: "We have cleared Monrovia High School (MHS) and are releasing MHS from lockdown. The school has a reunification plan to reunite parents with their children, if desired. MHS will remain in session through the remainder of the day for the students who can't go home at this time. MPD continues to maintain a presence on site but have not found any evidence or threat of an active shooter. The City will continue its investigation into the call and any reports we've received today. The City will provide a formal update later with specific information about today's incident."

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Seasoning Alley

Dinner at Seasoning Alley, at the northeast corner of Myrtle and Lime. Got the chicken shawarma plate for $16.24 and a beer for $4.49. Good and filling  

- Brad Haugaard 

Georgie - a Wallflower Ready to Blossom

Georgie is a beautiful five-year-old German Shepherd mix who is ready for her forever home. She took some time to get comfortable at the shelter, but now that she has made friends, she gets so excited to see them that she’ll happily bark hello and run up to greet them with a full-body tail wag.

Shy dogs like Georgie can easily get overlooked, but this wallflower is ready to blossom into a wonderful family member. Her favorite people report that she loves getting attention and scratches and will gently nudge your hand if you stop petting her to urge you to keep going. She walks well on leash, knows several commands and is keen to learn more.

At a young five years old, she qualifies for our Seniors for Seniors Program.  This means if an adopter is a young sixty years old or more, then Georgie's adoption is free.

The adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines. 

New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet. 

View photos of adoptable pets and schedule an adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are available every Sunday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. 

Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.

- Brad Haugaard 

A Moment in Monrovia History: An Easter Cross In Front of the Old Monrovia Library

Easter cross at Carnegie Library.  From the Kim Anderson collection. See full details here.

For more historic photos and papers, see the Monrovia Historical Society’s complete Legacy Project collection here. Learn more about the Monrovia Historical Society here.

- Brad Haugaard

Boat From USS Monrovia Discovered as Shasta Lake Dries Up

Photo from Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

As the drought continues a boat from the attack transport USS Monrovia has been uncovered in Lake Shasta, California. The USS Monrovia, not named for Monrovia, California, but for President James Monroe's birthplace, Monroe, Virginia, was built in 1942 and served in Europe and the Pacific during World War Two. The ship was sold for scrap in 1968 but how one of its boats ended up in Lake Shasta is unknown. t.ly/FaJn

- Brad Haugaard

Bulky Items Drop Off Oct. 22

- Brad Haugaard

School Board: Increase Developers Fees; Parent Engagement Course; Care Before and After School; Etc.

At its next meeting (agenda: t.ly/2Z7P) the Monrovia Board of Education will consider ...

~ Approving a resolution increasing developer fees to the maximum allowed by the state. The increase would be from $4.08 to $4.79 per square foot for residential construction, and from $0.66 to $0.78 per square foot for commercial/industrial construction. The resolution says the fees will be used only to finance the construction and reconstruction of school facilities. t.ly/yI4b

~ Contract with Parent Engagement Academy of Whittier to provide a "parent engagement" online course "focusing on the social, emotional, and physical development of children from low-income families." t.ly/BU7L

~ Contracting with the Boys and Girls Club of the Foothills to provide before and after school child care programs at Mayflower Elementary School. t.ly/BJgZ

~ Recognizing October as "Filipino American History Month." t.ly/OfsY

~ Naming Oct. 23 through Oct. 31 as Red Ribbon Week - "Celebrate Life. Live Drug Free." t.ly/L4sa

- Brad Haugaard

School District Trying Out Flexible Furniture

A Wild Rose teacher is trying out this flexible, white-board furniture that can be put together in all sorts of arrangements. Superindent Dr. Ryan Smith writes that the district is, "Looking forward to scaling this district wide."

- Brad Haugaard

City Releases Document Analyzing Its Debt

The city has released a document extensively analyzing its debt. Here: t.ly/zKFF

- Brad Haugaard

Trick or Treat Halloween Bash Oct. 31

- Brad Haugaard

See Firefighting Techniques Oct. 15 at East Lemon Fire Station

On October 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. stop by Fire Station 101, 141 E. Lemon Avenue, for various fire-related educational activities such as live (controlled) fire demonstrations, discussions on holiday fire prevention, CPR demonstrations, Beat the Firefighter Turnout Drill, and more. For more information contact Monrovia Fire & Rescue at 256-8181. 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Old Town Fall Festival October 15

- Brad Haugaard

Weekly Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 33 More Cases, No More Deaths

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 12 p.m., 10/05/2022. Changes since 09/28/2022.

City of Monrovia: 10,634 cases (up 33), 109 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 1,135 cases (up 4), 5 deaths (unchanged)

- Brad Haugaard

ABC7 Does Report on the Show Highlighting Hispanic History in Monrovia

ABC7 TV did this report on the photo display of Latinos in the city's history put together by the Monrovia Latino Heritage Society and Monrovia Unified School District.

The show, Monrovia’s Past and Future Legacy, featured Hispanic heritage-themed artwork from fourth- and fifth-grade students from all five elementary schools. More than 60 percent of the student population and more than 40 percent of Monrovia residents are Hispanic residents.

 

- Brad Haugaard