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Crash on 210 in Monrovia | Monrovia History

~ Seven hurt in 210 freeway crash this morning in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/B6mVS2

~ In case you were curious, the Monrovia Library's Heritage Room wants you to know that Monrovia is a General Law city. Now you know. Details: http://goo.gl/YWnY71

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Relief Organization Prepares for Typhoon Haiyan | Gunshots?

~ World Vision - a Christian relief agency based in Monrovia - is preparing for super typhoon Haiyan, which is expected to hit Vietnam and Laos after smashing up the Philippines. World Vision works in 56 districts in Vietnam, supporting some 71,500 children through its sponsorship program, and in Laos, it works in 24 districts, supporting more than 40,000 children. http://goo.gl/WsJdaF

~ Several people have reported to me (Brad) that they heard one or two loud explosions last night, about 2 a.m. Saturday, in north Monrovia. Some thought it sounded like a gunshot or perhaps a transformer exploding.

- Brad Haugaard

Aztec Hotel Owner Applies for an Extension

The Aztec Hotel owner is asking the Monrovia Planning Commission for a one-year extension that would allow a restaurant in the building - not yet operating - to serve alcohol and to have up to three live musicians. City staff recommends the request be granted. Planning Division Manager Craig Jimenez writes in the staff report: "Over the past year, some restoration work on the building has been completed, however, the focus has been on other parts of the property." http://goo.gl/tgqTf4

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Over San Marino :-) | Vets Day in Library Park | Black Alumni Dinner-Dance

~ Monrovia wins over San Marino tonight in football, 62-21, to win Rio Hondo league title. http://goo.gl/SxNbKA

~ Veterans Day ceremony at Library Park, tomorrow, Nov. 9, at Library Park at 9 a.m.

~ Monrovia Duarte Black Alumni Association dinner-dance fundraiser Nov. 9. Details: http://goo.gl/Wl5SUD

- Brad Haugaard

Honoring Retiring Monrovia School Board President; Salary for Behavior Intervention Specialist

At its Wednesday, Nov. 13, 6:45 p.m. meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/adg8b2 ), the Monrovia Board of Education will ...

- Honor retiring Board President Chris Rich for his eight years as a member of the Board of Education.

- Consider setting the salary range for a Behavior Intervention Specialist at $6,890 to $7,554 (per month, I guess, thought it doesn't say). What's a BIS do? "Administers programs and services for behaviorially or emotionally disturbed students." http://goo.gl/gE4mWd

- Brad Haugaard

Help Monrovia's Centre Stage | Christmas Tree and Parade | E-Waste | Handel's Messiah

~ Monrovia's Centre Stage was recently burglarized of about $30,000 of lighting and audio equipment. If you'd like to donate to help it out, here's how: http://goo.gl/Ae1vZr

~ Christmas tree lighting and parade, Thursday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. in Library Park. Parade starts at 7 p.m. Comment: It's a fun small-town event.

~ E-waste recycling Dec. 7 and 8, Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. near the corner of Pomona (the south-side freeway access road) and Myrtle. They'll take devices you can plug in, but not light bulbs, batteries and hazardous waste. More details here: http://goo.gl/rzoGFP

~ First Presbyterian Church of Monrovia, at Myrtle and Foothill, will present Handel's Messiah Christmas Concert on Dec. 8th at 7:30 p.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Citrus College Honors Vets


In commemoration of Veterans Day, hundreds of students, faculty and community leaders gathered at the Citrus College campus to celebrate the men and women who have served the United States and helped preserve its freedoms at the eighth annual "Saluting Our Veterans" event on Thursday, Nov. 7.

Citrus College, which serves Monrovia, and Azusa Pacific University (APU) partnered with the cities of Glendora and Azusa to pay tribute to members of all branches of the U.S. military and celebrate the contributions they have made to preserving America's freedoms.

Source: Citrus press release

- Brad Haugaard

Laying Track at Monrovia Rail Maintenance Yard


Crews have begun installing six miles of light rail track at the $265 million Gold Line maintenance yard in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/Boulbp

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Sunday's Old Town Bistro


Lunch at Sunday's Old Town Bistro, on the east side of Myrtle just north of Colorado. Got the Chicken Marinara Sandwich for $8.95 and an iced tea for $1.95.  $11.88 with tax. Nicely seasoned sandwich and I left well fed. 

- Brad Haugaard

Sixth Monrovia Area Partnership Class Graduates


The sixth class of MAP (Monrovia Area Partnership) leadership academy graduates honored by the City Council.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Woman Arrested on Charges of Falsely Reporting Assault; 110 Years for Murder; Drunk Driving; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Nov. 4-6. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 447 service events, resulting in 88 investigations.

Grand Theft Auto
November 4 at 6:15 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 200 block of East Colorado. Unknown suspect(s) took the victim's white Honda Civic from the front of his home.  The victim did not know the license plate number of the vehicle because he had just bought the car the day before. The investigation is continuing.

False Report to an Officer/ Misuse of 9-1-1 – Suspect Arrested
November 4 at 8:37 a.m., Irwindale Police Department received a 9-1-1 call from a cell phone.  It was an open line, and the dispatcher could hear a female subject talking to a male subject, saying he had hurt her wrist, and then the phone went dead.  The Irwindale dispatcher called back and the female answered, whispering into the phone that the male subject was now in the shower and he had in gun in the bathroom with him.  The female stated he had hit her in the ribcage and was requesting paramedics. The subjects were at an address in the 500 block of East Colorado in Monrovia.  Irwindale advised Monrovia Police Department and officers responded and set up containment of the location.

Monrovia dispatch called the residence and the male subject answered the phone.  He was asked to step outside.  The subject complied and calmly walked outside with his hands in the air; he was detained without incident.  After a thorough investigation, it was determined that the female had made a false report to police.  She was arrested for making a false report to an officer and a false 9-1-1 call.

Driving Under the Influence / Failure to Yield – Suspect Arrested
November 5 at 7:25 p.m., an officer was on patrol near Chestnut and Fifth when he saw a vehicle driving south on Fifth with a flat tire.  The vehicle continued to Huntington and Fifth without pulling over.  The officer activated his lights and siren to get the driver to pull over, but the vehicle failed to yield and continued east on Huntington to Monterey, where the driver eventually pulled into a business parking lot.  The officer contacted the driver and determined the driver was intoxicated.  He was arrested for driving under the influence and failing to yield to an emergency vehicle.
 
Burglary Suspect Arrested and Charged
In June, officers took a report of a burglary from an apartment in the 1400 block of Alta Vista.  Several female subjects were mentioned as possible suspects, but the leads on the case needed to be followed up.  In October, Officers took a report of a burglary from a business in the 500 block of Huntington and the suspect was apprehended. The handling officer found the suspect he had in custody was listed as a possible suspect in the burglary from the apartment.

A burglary detective was then assigned to assist in the investigation and was able to produce more evidence and facts confirming the suspect in custody had, in fact, committed the burglary in June.  Due to the good work of both patrol personnel and the detective, two felony counts of burglary were charged against the suspect.

Murder Suspect Sentenced to 110 Years
In October of 2004, a male subject was murdered in an alley off the 200 block of West Olive, when the suspect shot the victim with a .22 revolver in the back of the head.  No witnesses initially came forward and the crime appeared to be gang related, so few potential witnesses were willing to admit any knowledge of the incident.  The case was not solved initially and was later assigned to a special task force assigned to the gang related crimes occurring in the city at the time.  A Monrovia Police Department detective was assigned to the task force and has worked relentlessly on the case for the past four years.

After the tireless work of many from the Monrovia Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, the suspect, a documented gang member, was given a 110 year sentence on October 30, 2013. The success of the prosecution relied on hard work and new developments in the processing of DNA-based evidence.

Pasadena Humane Society Taking Over Monrovia Animal Control

The City of Monrovia approved an animal control contract with the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA (PHS) at Tuesday's city council meeting. The new contract is effective January 1, 2014.

Services included in the contract include animal rescue, dog barking complaints, cruelty investigations, picking up and transporting stray animals and dog licenses. Monrovia residents will also have access to affordable spay/neuter and vaccination clinics, too.

"We are happy to partner with the City of Monrovia to provide the best care possible for its animals," says Steve McNall, president/CEO of the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA. "We are looking forward to being an invaluable community resource for animals and pet owners."

Monrovia joins Arcadia, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, San Marino, Sierra Madre and South Pasadena served by the PHS. The Pasadena Humane Society is located at 361 S. Raymond Avenue, Pasadena 91105. Hours of operation are Tuesdays-Fridays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed on Mondays. For more information, visit www.pasadenahumane.org.

Source: Pasadena Humane Society press release

- Brad Haugaard

Intersection of California Ave. and Duarte Rd. Closed Thursday


Thursday, November 7th: 7 AM to 7 PM

Tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 7, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., the intersection of California Ave. and Duarte Rd. will be closed to through-traffic to allow crews to reconfigure the traffic lanes and re-stripe the road in preparation for future grade crossing construction.

During the intersection closure, detour routes will be in place and signage will be posted to guide motorists around the construction activity.

Following the closure, Duarte will re-open to one lane of traffic in each direction and California will remain closed north of Duarte.

Source: Gold Line Construction Authority press release

- Brad Haugaard

Citrus College Dean Honored

Citrus College's interim executive dean, Dr. Martha McDonald, has been recognized by Cal State Fullerton's College of Education as a distinguished alumna. Citrus College serves Monrovia.

McDonald served in the Marine Corps, becoming the first female instructor in the Corps' Security Forces School; she earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Chapman University, and now oversees Citrus student government programs, school relations and outreach, campus safety, the student health center and veterans' programs. She helped Citrus become one of 15 colleges and universities in the nation to receive a Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success grant from the Department of Education in 2009. In addition, the college has also been named a Military Friendly School by G.I. Jobs magazine for four consecutive years.

Source: Citrus press release

- Brad Haugaard

Thieves Steal $30,000 of Equipment from Monrovia's Centre Stage Theater Group

Thieves have stolen $30,000 of lighting and audio equipment from Monrovia's Centre Stage nonprofit theater group. http://goo.gl/WrcX4X

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Board Election: Williams and Zucco Win

Williams and Zucco win seats on the Monrovia School board.

Final results

Terrence Williams: 1,127
Alexandra Zucco: 933
Ruhiyyih Nikole Yuille: 732
Scott Pomrehn: 493

...with 15 of 15 precincts reporting.

- Brad Haugaard

Former Monrovia Assemblyman Tim Donnelly Announces Run For Governor

Conservative Republican Tim Donnelly, who represented Monrovia in the State Assembly prior to redistricting, has officially announced his candidacy for governor on Facebook. He writes: "Today, I was proud and honored to officially announce my candidacy for Governor of California." He adds, "I'm in it to win." His website: http://goo.gl/2qjzvC

Comment: I think this is a long shot, but then I thought his race for the Assembly was a long shot and he surprised me. Anyway, it will add spice to the governor's race.

- Brad Haugaard

Sports Reporter Picks Monrovia Over San Marino

Star-News sports reporter Steve Ramirez is predicting a win for Monrovia in this Friday's championship football game against San Marino (7 p.m. in San Marino). Steve Ramirez says both teams are good at scoring but Monrovia's defense looks stronger. http://goo.gl/DgefSS

- Brad Haugaard

Voting Day in Monrovia - Two School Board Positions Open

It is voting day in Monrovia. You can select up to two candidates to fill two open positions on the Monrovia School Board. Your voting location is on your voting pamphlet. And if you need a refresher about the candidates, here's some info: http://goo.gl/WOUQXL

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Stabbing on a Bus; Stolen Vehicles; Drugs and Driving; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Oct. 31-Nov. 3. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Downtown Monrovia Halloween Event
On October 31, over one thousand people dressed in costume attended Monrovia’s Halloween event on Myrtle Avenue.  During the event, one female adult suffered a seizure and was cared for by police explorers until officers and paramedics arrived.  The explorers also assisted in locating a missing purse at the event.  The street was closed from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for the Halloween event.

Outside Assist / Assault with a Deadly Weapon – Suspect Arrested
October 31 at 6:02 p.m., dispatch received a call reporting a stabbing on a bus at Longden and Peck, involving two victims.  The suspect was last seen running north on Peck toward a nearby church.  Monrovia Special Enforcement Team officers responded and conducted a search, locating the suspect in the church.  He was detained and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department was notified after it was determined the incident occurred in the county area of Arcadia.

Grand Theft From a Vehicle
October 31 at 10:00 p.m., an officer responded to the 700 block of West Foothill regarding a theft from a vehicle.  The victim reported that someone had entered her vehicle and had stolen her laptop, iPad, and backpack.  The vehicle was parked on the street and had no signs of forced entry.  The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
November 1 at 2:25 a.m., an officer stopped a vehicle at Myrtle and Huntington for a vehicle code violation.  After investigation, the driver was determined to be driving under the influence and was arrested.

Stolen Vehicle – Suspect Arrested
November 1 at 11:00 a.m., an officer was investigating a vehicle theft that had occurred the day before at a business in the 100 block of West Chestnut.  The business owner suspected an employee, as a vehicle had gone missing before.  The vehicle was recovered by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department around the corner from the employee's residence.  The officer spoke to the employee, who admitted taking the vehicle.  He said the vehicle broke down on him and he was unable to return it before the business opened.  The employee was arrested for grand theft auto and held for bail.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
November 2 at 2:32 a.m., an officer stopped a vehicle on Huntington and Myrtle for a vehicle code violation and discovered the subject had been drinking.  The driver was determined to be driving under the influence and was arrested.

Stolen Vehicle
November 3 at 2:27 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 1000 block of Royal Oaks.  The victim last saw his car in his parking space on November 1.  When he returned to his vehicle on November 3, it was missing.  The victim had left the keys in the car.  The investigation is continuing.

Stolen Vhicle
November 3 at 4:35 p.m., an officer responded to the parking lot of a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain regarding a stolen truck.  The victim had parked his work truck, a blue, 1999 Nissan containing gardening equipment, in the parking lot.  When he returned to the area where he parked the truck, he found broken glass on the ground and the truck missing.  The investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
November 3 at 7:31 p.m., an officer on patrol in the 100 block of West Foothill observed a speeding motorist.  The motorist was stopped and found to be an unlicensed driver.  A computer check revealed the motorist had an outstanding warrant for his arrest issued by the Glendale Police Department and he was also found to be in possession of marijuana.  The subject received a citation for the unlicensed driver and possession of marijuana charges, and the Glendale Police Department responded and took custody of the subject for the warrant.
 
Special Enforcement Team Weekly Activity
On November 2, Special Enforcement Team officers conducted an Alcoholic Beverage Control Party Patrol from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.  One male adult was cited for an open container of an alcoholic beverage at a park in the 300 block of South Myrtle.