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Citrus College to Confer a Record Number of Degrees

Citrus College, which serves Monrovia, will hold its 98th commencement ceremony on June 14. This year, the college will award 2,119 associate degrees to 1,296 students, breaking its record for the fourth consecutive year.

Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Big Rig vs. Motorcycle; Catalytic Converter Stolen; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for June 9-11. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 388 service events, resulting in 64 investigations. 

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance / Resisting Arrest Causing Injury – Suspect Arrested
On June 9 at 9:34 a.m., officers responded to Myrtle and Huntington regarding a male subject walking in and out of traffic. Officers arrived and located the subject, who was exhibiting signs of being under the influence of a controlled substance. When officers attempted to arrest him, he pulled away and a struggle ensued. The suspect was taken into custody. One of the officers was injured in the incident. 

Residential Burglary
On June 9 at 10:32 a.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 600 block of Ranchito Road. The residents left for work at different times. When they returned from work, they found their dogs had been separated and locked separate rooms. The master bedroom was ransacked, and a wallet and jewelry was taken. The investigation is continuing. 

Commercial Burglary
On June 9 at 2:17 p.m., a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain called police to report a burglary that had just occurred. A male suspect walked in and selected electrical switches. He walked past open registers and exited without paying. He fled in a waiting vehicle. An employee of the business took a photo of the vehicle, which turned out to be a rental. The officer obtained the name of the renter. A DMV photo was obtained and compared to photos provided by the business. The suspect was positively identified and a wanted person entry was made into the law enforcement system computer for the suspect. The investigation is continuing. 

Commercial Burglary – Suspect Arrested
On June 9 at 7:24 p.m., an officer was on patrol in a shopping center in the 500 block of West Huntington. An employee of a business ran outside and reported a theft that just occurred. The employee provided a description of the suspect and the suspect vehicle. Another officer in the area located the suspect vehicle, parked, with the suspect seated in the right, front passenger seat. The suspect was detained and arrested for commercial burglary. The store merchandise was recovered from the suspect vehicle and returned. 

Warrant / Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
June 10 at 2:58 a.m., an officer on patrol near Myrtle and Pomona observed suspicious subjects walking around in the area. Officers detained one of the subjects and determined she had an outstanding warrant for her arrest. The suspect was also determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance. She was arrested and taken into custody. 

Grand Theft
On June 10 at 1:20 p.m., the victim of a grand theft came to the police department lobby to report the crime. The victim parked his vehicle, a 2002 Honda Accord, across the street from his residence in the 100 block of South Madison. When he returned to the vehicle, he started it up and heard a loud noise. He looked under the car and saw the exhaust pipe had been cut and the catalytic converter was missing. The investigation is continuing. 

Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
On June 10 at 7:34 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a business in the 900 block of West Huntington regarding a disturbing subject. The subject entered the store the day before and caused a disturbance by yelling and throwing trash on the floor. The subject had now returned to the location and continued his bizarre behavior. The subject refused to leave, as requested by store management and was placed on a private person's arrest for trespassing. The subject was arrested and taken into custody. He was later released on a citation to appear in court. 

Traffic Collision with Injuries
On June 11 at 5:48 a.m., an officer responded to Evergreen and Myrtle regarding a traffic collision. It appears the drivers of a big rig truck and a motorcycle were both attempting to make a right turn from Evergreen to southbound Myrtle. The motorcycle was attempting to make the turn by passing the big rig on the right. The motorcycle was hit by the trailer of the big rig and dragged a short distance. The motorcycle rider sustained a broken right leg and some minor abrasions. He was taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries. 

Theft from a Vehicle
On June 11 at 8:09 a.m., a theft from a vehicle was reported in the 1200 block of Orange Avenue. The victim's GPS was taken from his work van sometime during the night. The investigation is continuing. 

Congresswoman Introduces Bill to Create Rec Area Above Monrovia

Monrovia's congresswoman, Judy Chu, has introduced a bill in Congress to create a National Recreation Area in the mountains above Monrovia. Her draft proposal included land within Monrovia city limits, and the City Council specifically asked that Monrovia be excluded from the NRA. http://goo.gl/zZewnv

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Rotary Helps Explorers

The Monrovia Rotary Club has donated more than $1000 to the Monrovia Police Department Explorer program. http://goo.gl/kvk8Qh

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Summer Reading Program for Kids, Teens... and Adults

Summer Reading is not just for kids and teens... Adults can join in the fun too! The City of Monrovia encourages readers of all ages to join the Summer Reading Program. Read books and get prizes. You don't want to miss this FREE program!

The Monrovia Public Library is presenting the annual Summer Reading Program from Monday, June 16 through Saturday, August 2. The Library is located at 321 S. Myrtle Avenue, in Old Town Monrovia's Library Park.

Registration begins Monday, June 16. Sign up at www.cityofmonrovia.org/library and click on the Summer Reading tab or visit the Library for assistance.

Readers must have a valid Monrovia Library Card to sign-up. To obtain a Library Card, please visit the Customer Service Desk for more information.

Library hours are Monday through Wednesday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Source: Monrovia press release

- Brad Haugaard

Holden's Obama Bill Passes Senate Committee

A bill by Assemblymember Chris Holden, who represents Momrovia, to "encourage" schools to recognize the full significance of President Obama as the first African American Presiden,t has unanimously passed the Senate Education Committee on a vote of 7 to 0.

Source: Holden press release

Comment: I guess Mr. Holden has a rather low opinion of the state's educational establishment if he feels the legislature needs to butt in even down to this level of detail in curriculum development.

- Brad Haugaard

Fire at King's Ranch Shopping Area

A fire shut down the King's Ranch shopping center. http://goo.gl/mlnHUi

- Brad Haugaard


Henry Ford, a Fan of Monrovia

Pioneer car maker Henry Ford preferred Monrovia groceries and baked goods to those of Pasadena. Who knew? http://goo.gl/N5NeXP

- Brad Haugaard

New Monrovia Weather Station

Monrovian Brad Hori reports that he has recently put his Personal Weather Station (PWS) on the Internet for the Monrovia area. Data is updated every couple of seconds and his weather station is 25+ years old and has been operating for that long).

"This is real time info, not what you would get from the TV news, which maybe hours old or not from this area, as stuff like temperature, humidity, wind and rain will vary, even blocks away.

"I try to keep my sensors calibrated (within reason) as I have calibrated equipment at work that I can use and portable equipment."

His station, one of a number of Monrovia stations, is called Route 666 Monrovia, KCAMONRO6, and you can see it here: http://goo.gl/S5v5KE

- Brad Haugaard

AeroVironment Drone Gets Over-Land Permission | Citrus Best | Mason Joins Staar Board

~ The FAA has granted a first-ever over-land restricted type certificate to the AeroVironment Puma AE Drone for use in operations at the BP-operated Prudhoe Bay oil field on Alaska's North Slope. AeroVironment is based in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/qkQBBp

~ San Gabriel Valley residents have voted Citrus College as the best community college in the region in the 2014 Readers Choice Award for Best Community College in the San Gabriel Valley's Best competition, which is conducted annually by the Pasadena Star-News, San Gabriel Valley Tribune and Whittier Daily News. Source: Press release.

~ Caren Mason has been elected to the board of Momrovia's STAAR Surgical. http://goo.gl/ZBRqpv

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Softball Star in All-Star Game

Monrovia's Elise McCarthy and three other softball MVPs will be featured in the 10th annual private vs. public all-star softball game in Temple City. http://goo.gl/qFVleu

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Bad Dating Relationship, Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for June 5-8. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events. 

Theft from a Vehicle
On June 6 at 4:00 p.m., a theft from a vehicle was reported in the 300 block of West Foothill. The victim parked and locked his car in front of his home, but did not roll the windows up all the way. An unknown suspect reached inside and removed the handicapped placard from the rearview mirror and fled with the item. 

Domestic Violence
On June 7 at 3:27 p.m., a female subject ran into the police department lobby to report an incident of domestic violence. She is in a dating relationship with the suspect. They were driving in a car in the 500 block of West Maple when they began to argue. The male suspect slapped the female victim in the face a couple of times, causing injury. The victim jumped from the car and ran to the police station. The male suspect was not located. A wanted person’s entry was made into the law enforcement computer data base for the suspect. 

Yet Another Monrovia Bear Video

Moma bear and cub caught on video. http://goo.gl/l2Ofhv

- Brad Haigaard

Monrovia Has Second Fastest Runner in State

Monrovia's Cravon Gillespie wins second place in statewide track competition. http://goo.gl/MPNXJI

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Board: Budget, Congratulate Track Members, Etc.

At its June 11, 7 p.m. meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/8MjsD8 ), the Monrovia School Board will ...

~ Consider a 2014-15 combined general budget with revenue of $53,142,291 and expenditures of $53,827,927 - $685,636 more than revenue. http://goo.gl/xugnn3

~ Congratulate Monrovia High Girls Varsity Track Team members Madison Herrera, Elise McCarthy, Sydney Mosley, and Jordyn Tucker as the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 Champions in the 4x100m Relay.

~ Congratulate the Monrovia High Varsity Track members who qualified for the CIF State Championships: Sydney Mosely - 100m Hurdles; Crayvon Gillespie - 100m Dash; Aubrey Mosely, Seth Raines, Octavius Spencer, Crayvon Gillspie - 4x100m Relay.

~ Hear a report on the district's Latino Family Literacy Project. http://goo.gl/hGBwMH

~ Hear a report on concussion training for coaches. http://goo.gl/ZmDPz2

~ Hear a report on the outcomes of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress.

- Brad Haugaard

Salad Restaurant Coming to Monrovia

There is a new restaurant called The Salad Bistro going into the building that was occupied by The Irish Gardener. Just below Lemon on the east side of Myrtle. 

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Something Healthy


Lunch at Something Healthy, just north of Huntington on the east side of Shamrock. Got the cold roast beef sandwich ($6.60) and an iced tea ($1.50). Nice sandwich. It had a tangy sauce I really liked.

- Brad Haugaard

Religious Diversity Hikes

June 14, Boy Scouts Religious Diversity Hikes. Five-mile hikes with check-in at 5:45 a.m. and 7:30 a.m., at First Baptist Church at 223 S. Encinitas. Religious leaders from various faiths will speak on various topics. Open to boys and girls of any youth organizations and their families. Details: http://goo.gl/1Bg86M

- Brad Haugaard

Gold Line Sound Walls Installed in Monrovia

The Gold Line Construction Authority reports its crews have completed installation of these concrete sound walls from the Santa Anita Wash to Mayflower Ave. Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

Ice Cream Bowls Fundraiser

Buy an artistic bowl and have it filled with ice cream. A fundraiser for Foothill Unity Center, Saturday, June 21, 4-7 pm. Details: http://goo.gl/y8StWn

- Brad Haugaard