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Monrovia Drunk Driver Checkpoint Friday, September 24

Monrovia Police Department will be conducting a DUI / CDL checkpoint on Friday evening, September 24, 2021.  Vehicles entering the checkpoint will be stopped.  Drivers will then be evaluated for being under the influence of alcohol and checked for having a valid driver’s license.  

Over the course of the past three years, there have been 290 DUI investigations with 27 of those resulting in collisions with injuries, harming our citizens and neighbors of Monrovia. 

In California, this deadly crime led to countless deaths because someone failed to designate a sober driver.  Alcohol and drug-impaired deaths still make up the largest category of overall vehicle fatalities, with 29% of all deaths being caused by a drunk driver.  

Monrovia Police Department offers these reminders to ensure you have a safe night of fun without a DUI:

• Always use a designated driver – a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab or public transportation

• See someone who is clearly impaired try and drive?  Take their keys and help them make other arrangements to find a sober way home. 

• Report drunk drivers – Call 911.

• Hosting a party?  Offer nonalcoholic drinks.  Monitor who’s drinking and how they are getting home. 

Getting home safely is cheap, but getting a DUI is not!  Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the impact of a first time DUI arrest to be upwards of $13,500.  This includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses not to mention possible jail time. 

Funding for this checkpoint is provided to Monrovia Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Source: Monrovia Police press release

- Brad Haugaard

With Love and Patience Dolly Blossoms


Dolly is such a sweetheart! This seven-year-old dog is a little shy and reserved in the shelter environment, but one of our volunteers spent some quality time with Dolly and observed that she just wants pets and attention. In fact, she even paws gently at you if you stop petting her. Dolly needs a little time to get to know you, but with some love and patience, this sweetie will blossom!

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: Library Park in 1908

Monrovia's Library Park postcard 1908.. See full details here. From the Myron Hotchkiss collection.

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

Market Grill Back in Monrovia - For a Day

 For those who miss The Market Grill, it will be taking over the kitchen of the newly revamped Gem City Bar and Grill (north side of Olive just east of Myrtle) on Saturday, Sept. 25, from noon to 4 p.m.

"Serving those crazy amazing hand ground burgers served on those great homemade buns, Impossible burgers for the vegetarians, plenty of regular fries & chili cheese fries, with sides of spicy ketchup and homemade ranch. We're including packs of Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies, too!"

21 and older, RSVP, masks required.  https://www.facebook.com/themarketgrillmonrovia 

- Brad Haugaard

Local Council of Governments Asks Governor to Veto Bill Allowing Four Houses on Single-Family Zoned Lots

Monrovia City Council member Becky Shevlin, who also serves as president of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, said "Senate Bill 9 will drive real estate speculators to purchase homes in order to split parcels, build duplexes on each lot." 27 San Gabriel Valley  cities have signed a letter urging Governor Newsom to veto the bill. https://is.gd/wRGokG

- Brad Haugaard

Soap Box Racing and Classic Cars

Soap box racing and classic cars in Old Town Monrovia today. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Weekly Coronavirus Count: 61 New Cases, No New Deaths

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 09/09/2021. Changes since 09/01/2021. (Actually 8 days of data here; the health department was late posting its update.)

City of Monrovia: 3,769 cases (up 61), 80 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 433 cases (up 7), no deaths

- Brad Haugaard

Authors to Speak at Library on California Desert Curiosities

Alan and Claudia Heller of Duarte will speak about their book, Curiosities of the California Desert at a free presentation in the Monrovia Library Community Room on Friday, September 17, at 6 p.m., sponsored by Monrovia Historic Preservation Group. No RSVP. Just show up. Refreshments provided.

The couple has spent time over 50 years exploring and photographing California – Salvation Mountain, Cerro Canyon, the Integratron and Giant Rock, Willie Boys Grave, Devils Hole, and more.

- Brad Haugaard

Car Show and Soap Box Derby Tomorrow

Street Rods Forever and the Old Town Soap Box Derby will return tomorrow, Saturday, September 11 at 9 a.m. in Old Town. Derby details: https://is.gd/hZCtQA

- Brad Haugaard

Community Meeting About Possible Dog Park

- Brad Haugaard

Tomorrow: 20th Year Remembrance of September 11

Tomorrow, Sept. 11, is Patriot Day and Monrovia Fire & Rescue invites you to a community remembrance at Fire Stattion 101 (141 E. Lemon) to remember the innocent lives lost and to honor the selfless service and valiant acts of the first responders.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Car Spins Out on Foothill, Driver Arrested; Drunk Driving; Shoplifting; Antique Pistol Stolen; Man Jumps In Front of Cars on Myrtle; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for September 2-8. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 337 service events, resulting in 62 investigations.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
September 2 at 1:56 p.m., an employee of a business in the 900 block of S. Myrtle called police to report a subject on the property that was refusing to leave. Officers arrived and contacted the individual. One of the officers saw drug paraphernalia in plain view while speaking with the subject. The subject was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Vehicle Burglary
September 2 at 8:24 p.m., a vehicle with a broken window was reported in the 100 block of E. Lime across from the police station. Officers responded and determined that a vehicle burglary had occurred. A subsequent search of the area revealed two other vehicles had also been broken into and burglarized. This investigation is continuing.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
September 3 at 1:54 a.m., an officer on patrol near the intersection of Mountain and Central conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driving the wrong way on a one-way street. During the contact with the driver, the officer saw drug paraphernalia in plain view. Further investigation revealed that one of the passengers was on probation for narcotics and the contraband belonged to him. He was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Non-Injury Traffic Collision
September 3 at 2:34 p.m., a caller reported a traffic collision at the intersection of Huntington and Ivy. Officers arrived and checked on the well-being of the occupants. An investigation was conducted and it was determined the motorist at fault was traveling at an unsafe speed and rear-ended the other party. The driver at fault was issued a citation.

Injury Traffic Collision
September 3 at 6:37 p.m., officers responded to the intersection of Lemon and Alta Vista regarding the report of an injury traffic collision. A vehicle was traveling north on Alta Vista, approaching Lemon, when suddenly a second vehicle entered the roadway and a collision occurred. Paramedics responded to the scene and transported one of the drivers to a local hospital for treatment. A citation was issued to the driver who was at fault for the collision.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
September 4 at 12:34 a.m., an officer working a DUI suppression detail observed a vehicle commit several traffic violations near the intersection of Peck and Live Oak. The officer conducted a traffic stop and found the driver was exhibiting symptoms of alcohol intoxication. A DUI investigation determined the driver was too intoxicated to operate a motor vehicle. The driver was arrested and held for a sobering period.

Drug Activity / Weapon Offense – Suspect Arrested
September 4 at 12:34 a.m., an officer contacted a subject he recognized from previous encounters near the intersection of Alta Vista and Short. The subject is currently on probation for burglary. During the contact, the officer obtained consent to search the subject's vehicle and personal backpack. The officer discovered drug paraphernalia and ammunition. The officer confirmed the subject was a convicted felon and arrested him for possession of ammunition and possession of drug paraphernalia. The subject was taken into custody.

Assault
September 4 at 12:45 a.m., a fight was reported in front of a local bar in the 400 block of S. Myrtle with a subject bleeding from the head. Officers arrived and secured the area for paramedics to respond. Officers found a male subject lying on the ground, bleeding from the head. The subject was so intoxicated he could not remember what had occurred. A witness was located that stated she saw the intoxicated subject in the bar earlier, drinking and making unwanted advances to women. The witness said she later saw the same intoxicated subject standing outside, arguing with an unknown male. The intoxicated subject was punched in the back of the head, causing him to fall to the ground. The suspect fled before officers arrived. The victim was transported to a local hospital for his injuries and intoxication. This investigation is continuing.

Non-Injury Traffic Collision / DUI / Mental Evaluation – Suspect Arrested
September 4 at 12:10 p.m., a caller reported a vehicle stopped on the curb near the intersection of Myrtle and Pomona. There appeared to be damage to the vehicle. Officers arrived and located the vehicle and the driver. The driver displayed symptoms of intoxication. A DUI investigation was conducted and it was determined the driver was under the influence of alcohol. She was arrested and held for a sobering period. During the booking process, the subject stated that she wanted to kill herself, and it was determined she needed to be evaluated by a mental health professional. She was transported to a local facility for treatment.

Reckless Driving – Suspect Arrested
September 5 at 2:19 a.m., an officer patrolling the 400 block of W. Foothill saw a vehicle driving recklessly and spinning out in the middle of the roadway. The vehicle then sped away in excess of 60 miles per hour. The officer conducted a traffic stop and arrested the driver for reckless driving.

Shoplifting
September 5 at 8:25 a.m., an employee from a business in the 700 block of E. Huntington called police to report a large dollar amount of merchandise was taken the previous day. An officer obtained evidence of the crime and took a report. This investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting
September 5 at 9:14 a.m., an employee from a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill called police to report that her backpack was taken by a customer while she was working. Officers arrived and obtained evidence of the crime. This investigation is continuing.

Non-Injury Traffic Collision
September 5 at 9:57 a.m., a caller reported that a vehicle struck a parked car in the 1000 block of E. Lemon. Officers arrived and checked on the occupants of the vehicle. An investigation was conducted and the motorist at fault was issued a citation.

Vandalism
September 5 at 2:30 p.m., a shattered window was reported at a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington. An officer arrived and determined no one was inside. The business is vacant and the owners could not be reached. This investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
September 6 at 1:27 a.m., an officer on patrol saw a vehicle commit several traffic violations near the intersection of Myrtle and Evergreen. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver showed symptoms of alcohol intoxication. A DUI investigation determined the driver was too impaired to operate a motor vehicle. The driver was arrested for DUI and held for a sobering period.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
September 6 at 9:42 a.m., the manager of a grocery store in the 100 block of W. Foothill reported that a male suspect just left the store with merchandise without paying for it. Officers stopped and detained the subject. After investigation, he was arrested and taken into custody for shoplifting.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
September 6 at 6:36 p.m., an employee from a business in the 1600 block of Mountain called police to report they had someone detained for shoplifting. Officers arrived and were told the adult male had entered the store and concealed several knives in his backpack. The suspect then exited the store without paying for the items and was stopped by employees. The suspect was arrested.

Shoplifting
September 6 at 9:46 p.m., an employee of a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill advised that an adult male had just left the store with merchandise without paying for the items. Officers arrived, but the suspect had already fled the area. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
September 7 at 10:50 a.m., an officer was patrolling a park in the 600 block of S. Shamrock when he saw a subject whom he recognized from previous encounters. An investigation revealed the subject had a warrant for his arrest. The subject was detained and found to also be in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
September 7 at 4:38 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 1300 block of S. Mayflower when he saw a bicyclist commit a traffic violation. He stopped the bicyclist, who was then found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. The subject was arrested.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
September 7 at 6:58 p.m., a female subject in the 600 block of W. Huntington called police to report that a driver just hit her vehicle in a parking lot and was refusing to exchange information with her. The subject left the area prior to the officer’s arrival. This investigation is continuing.

Theft
September 8 at 1:34 p.m., a male subject in the 700 block of W. Foothill called police to report a theft. The reporting party is a collector of antique pistols. He reported that a perspective buyer looked at one of his collectible pieces, and shortly after the subject left, the caller was unable to find the item. This investigation is continuing.

Mental Evaluation – Subject Evaluated
September 8 at 3:50 p.m., police received a report of a male subject at a park in the 300 block of S. Myrtle who was walking in the middle of the street and jumping in front of vehicles. Officers arrived and recognized the subject from previous encounters. An investigation determined that the subject was a danger to himself and needed to be evaluated by a mental health professional. He was transported to a local facility for treatment.

Citrus College To Require Vaccinations Or Weekly COVID Test


Students and employees of Citrus College, which serves Monrovia, will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing in order to be on campus. The college's board of trustees approved the requirement on Sept. 7. The measure requires that by Nov. 1, employees and students enrolled in fall on-campus classes must either provide proof of vaccination or agree to regular testing and produce proof of negative results. For students enrolled in winter or spring on-campus classes, the requirement will be in effect no later than Jan. 3, 2022.

Source: Citrus College press release

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner from Church’s Chicken

Dinner from Church’s Chicken, at the corner of Huntington and Shamrock. I got the three-piece Texas Tenders with creamy jalapeño dipping sauce. There’s no dining at the restaurant so we ate at home. I got four pieces of chicken (by accident?) and it came with a side (I picked coleslaw) and a drink, all for $7.99. Nothing fancy but tasty chicken at a good price. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia 3M Donates School Supplies

3M Monrovia recently donated six barrels of requested back to school items in partnership with Foothill Unity Center. Through its Supplies for Schools program, 3M donates products such as office supplies, hand sanitizer, tapes, glues, adhesives, highlighters, masks and sponges. https://is.gd/0Gqo7d

- Brad Haugaard

Country Music and Line Dancing Oct. 2 in North Monrovia


The announcement says: "Denim and Diamonds" is a 90-minute showcase of local performing talent and an opportunity for the audience to sing along with, dance, even learn to line dance. It's at a private residence, large yard, bring a chair, some grub, and set a spell! Beware of parking restrictions on Cloverleaf Drive and do not park on Cloverleaf above Lotone Ave in front of house. The road is very narrow and fire department has restrictions on parking. Some parking can be done below the bridge in the dirt area in front of location, below Lotone on Cloverleaf Drive and even down to Alta Vista and Heather Heights area. A few spots may be available north of the house on Cloverleaf or Hidden Valley Rd but please read parking signs. We may have shuttle making the rounds to pick up stray cowboys and cowgirls!

- Brad Haugaard

Lots of Vintage Items Still Available from Monrovia Historical Society Sale


In June the Monrovia Historical Society held a very successful sale of vintage items that either did not fit its mission or where surplus, the proceeds of which will go to re-plaster the ceiling of the historic Anderson House at 215 East Lime.

Some items, however, have not sold, and have now been marked down. A dresser, chairs, Victrola records, maps, tableware, and more. You can see and purchase the items here: https://monroviahistoricalsociety.org/sale

- Brad Haugaard

One-Year-Old MJ - Still Full of Kitten Energy and Playfulness


One-year-old MJ is an active and playful cat who still has that kitten energy! MJ would do best with an adopter who can give her lots of enrichment, mental stimulation, toys, and scratchers. She especially loves wand toys. MJ loves to be the center of attention, and would do best as the only pet in the home. This tabby girl is confident and adventurous, and can’t wait to have lots of fun with you!

The adoption fee for cats is $100. All cat 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: Who Wants a Pony?

Monrovia Day c. 1940 drawing to win a Shetland pony.. See full details here. From the Myron Hotchkiss collection.

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

Monrovia Woman Shot on Freeway Identified as Betty Hernandez, 36

The 36-year-old Monrovia woman who was shot on the eastbound 210 freeway near Baldwin Avenue Saturday morning has been identified on social media reports as Betty Hernandez, a mother of three young children. A GoFundMe page has been set up to pay for her funeral expenses:  https://is.gd/kh3MWw

Update: The Pasadena Star-News identifies the victim as Bertha Hernandez, and her age as 35.

- Brad Haugaard