Monrovia Dads Keep Eye on Mayflower School | 39% Chance of Rain

~ Watch DOGS (Dads of Great Students) patrol Monrovia's Mayflower School, even before the Connecticut shootings. http://goo.gl/nIssO

~ Thirty percent chance of showers in Monrovia today. http://goo.gl/sJQTd

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Spokesman Dan Bell Moving On

Monrovia Spokesman Dan Bell is taking a new job in Glendale. http://goo.gl/GMTm8

Comment: Well, that is too bad for Monrovia but good for Glendale.
I've had dealings with Dan and he is a real professional. Best wishes,
Dan.

- Brad Haugaard

Cold Weather for Monrovia

In Monrovia "Cold temperatures ... generally around 10 degrees below normal ... are expected to continue through the weekend," according to the National Weather Service. http://goo.gl/fckwp

- Brad Haugaard

Army Picks Monrovia's AeroVironment | Another Library Elephant

~ US Army picks Monrovia's AeroVironment and four other companies to compete for supplying the Army with up to $248 million in small drones. http://goo.gl/deidJ

~ An unnamed Monrovia Library board member has adopted another elephant, part albino, named Faraja for the library's Adult and Circulation Services group, according to a library Facebook posting.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovian Discovers Old Bone Belonged to Dinosaur

Monrovia woman discovers old family treasure is a stegosaurus bone. http://goo.gl/BeVRh

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Che Guevara Wallet Robber, Honey Oil Fire, iBurglary, Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Jan. 3-6. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend's highlighted issues and events.

 

Traffic Collision / Felony Driving Under the Influence / Child Endangerment - Suspect Arrested

January 3 at 4:04 p.m., a traffic collision involving three vehicles occurred at Madison and Foothill.  Officers responded and determined the female driver who caused the collision was intoxicated.  Her 13-year-old daughter was injured in the collision and was taken to a nearby hospital.  The female driver was arrested for felony driving under the influence, child endangerment and driving with a suspended license.  The Los Angeles County Department of Children Services was notified of the incident.

 

Driving Under the Influence - Suspect Arrested

January 5 at 1:08 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 500 block of West Duarte regarding a driver that was heading eastbound on Duarte and collided into three parked vehicles.  Officers arrived and determined the driver was intoxicated and was driving under the influence.  The driver was arrested and taken into custody.

 

Armed Robbery

January 5 at 3:45 p.m., police responded to the report of an armed robbery.  A 20-year-old, male subject was at a coin-operated car wash in the 400 block of West Duarte Road when he was approached by a male suspect.  The suspect displayed a handgun in his waistband and demanded the victim's wallet and cell phone.  The victim gave his wallet to the suspect and told him he did not have a cell phone.  The suspect took the wallet and fled westbound on Duarte Road.

 

The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, 20 to 30 years old, wearing a black T-shirt with a picture of "Che Guvarra" on it and the name written in white letters, baggie blue jeans, and Adidas tennis shoes.  The suspect is approximately 5' 8" tall, thin build, with a black moustache.  There was a light grey, 1990's Acura Integra that pulled up to the area where the suspect fled and the car may be associated with the suspect.  The loss was a wallet containing approximately $70 and miscellaneous credit cards.  There were no injuries.  Police searched the area and notified surrounding agencies.  The suspect was not located.  The investigation is continuing.

 

Residential Burglary

January 5 at 6:30 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 500 block of North Alta Vista.  The resident left his home at 5:00 p.m. to walk his dogs and left the house and garage unlocked.  He returned at 6:30 p.m. and discovered someone had taken an iPhone and two iPads from his residence.  There were no signs of forced entry.  The investigation is continuing.

 

Structure Fire With Injuries

January 6 at 5:01 a.m., officers responded to the report of a structure fire in the 200 block of East Walnut.  Upon arrival, they found a residence engulfed in flames.  It appears three male occupants were attempting to make a substance called honey oil from marijuana in the home and caused the fire.  Making honey oil in a confined, poorly ventilated space like a bedroom is extremely dangerous.  The Monrovia Fire Department is investigating to determine the exact cause of the fire.  

 

All three suspects were seriously burned and were taken to a hospital for treatment for their injuries.  They are expected to survive.  The homeowners were in another room and were able to escape unharmed.  Monrovia officers are investigating the possibility these men were making honey oil illegally and will file charges if the investigation reveals they have committed a crime.   

 

Critical Missing Person Located

January 6 at 5:27 p.m., police were dispatched to a home for the elderly in the 100 block of South Myrtle regarding a critical missing person who had walked away from the location.  The elderly male subject wears a Project Lifesaver bracelet, which is a tracking device that can be used to locate him.  Officers were able to utilize the Project Lifesaver System and located the elderly man at a nearby church.  He was not injured and was returned to the facility.  The missing subject was located quickly once the Project Lifesaver was activated.

Wednesdays in Old Town | Run for Monrovia Office | Giant Clue Game | Old Carriage House | CIF Celebration | 80+ Fastest Growing Monrovia Group

~ Wednesday, Jan. 9, is the kickoff for a weekly "Wednesdays in Old
Town" program, a 4-8 p.m. Sidewalk sale with live entertainment,
between Lime and Olive.

~ If you want to run for a Monrovia political office, hop over to the
City Clerk's office to get nomination papers by the deadline, Jan. 11.

~ Giant Clue game for teens (sixth to ninth grade) at the Library on
Saturday, Jan. 12, 7-9 p.m.

~ Jim Wigdon, head of Monrovia's historic preservation group, reports
there is an old carriage house at Encinitas and Greystone that needs
to be moved. Problem is cost, about $40,000.

~ Monrovia Schools is planning a celebration at Monrovia High for the
football team's third consecutive CIF championship, according to
School Board Member Ed Gililland. No details yet.

~ Fastest growing group in Monrovia is seniors 80-plus, according to
the head of the Monrovia Providers Group.

- Brad Haugaard

Windy Today? | Interview with Monrovia's Assemblyman | YMCA Fundraiser

~ National Weather Service says "damaging wind gusts around 60 mph are likely" today until 4 p.m., with the possibility of "downed trees and power lines along with power outages." http://goo.gl/thiKD . The Weather Channel, on the other hand, is predicting winds of just 11 mph in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/zNome

~ Interview with Monrovia's Assemblyman, Chris Holden. http://goo.gl/76Kgx

~ Santa Anita Family YMCA annual fundraiser. http://goo.gl/4hiZA

- Brad Haugaard

Three Burned in Monrovia House Fire

Men burned, marijuana found, in Monrovia house fire. http://goo.gl/LQCIT

- Brad Haugaard

Robbery at Monrovia Car Wash

Man robbed at Monrovia coin-operated car wash. http://goo.gl/GOYWG

- Brad Haugaard

Brooks Memorial Service | Work at Monrovia Train Maintenance Yard | Rain Sunday?

~ Memorial service for Monrovian William "Bill" Copland Brooks, volunteer with Monrovia- Duarte Elks Lodge #1427. http://goo.gl/AoIhP

~ Work progresses on Monrovia's Gold Line maintenance yard. http://goo.gl/Qqmt5

~ Sixty percent chance of rain tomorrow here in Monrovia, Sunday. http://goo.gl/CpFMg

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Peach Cafe

Lunch at Peach Cafe, about a block east of Myrtle on Colorado. Got a pesto chicken salad for $11.95, plus tea, tax and tip. It came with corn bread (delicious!). Good meal, especially when eaten on the front porch on a beautiful day.

- Brad Haugaard

Count of Homeless in Monrovia

Volunteers will help count the number of homeless in Monrovia on Jan. 29. Details: http://goo.gl/oeHqT

- Brad Haugaard

Mayor's State of the City Address | Plan Monrovia Workshop

~ Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz will deliver her State of the City Address on Jan. 28, 7 p.m. at the Krikorian in Old Town. To attend, call 932-5555 x1401. Space is limited. Following the event, the speech will be available on the city website and on KGEM TV.

~ Plan Monrovia community workshop Jan. 12, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Calvary Chapel, 123 W. Pomona Ave. (just west of Myrtle and just south of the freeway). Comment: If you have thoughts on what Monrovia's priorities should be, attend. I went to one and it was pretty painless.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Congresswoman Happy About Fiscal Cliff Legislation

Rep. Judy Chu, who represents Monrovia, writes about the fiscal cliff legislation, saying that, "After months of negotiating, every middle class American can rest easier knowing that their taxes will not spike in 2013." She blamed Republicans for "refusing to negotiate until the very last minute." http://goo.gl/81J5h

Comment: Who were  the Democrats negotiating with for months if the Republicans refused to negotiate until the very last minute?

- Brad Haugaard