Mountain Views News          Saturday, June 15, 2013

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, June 15, 2013 

MONROVIA POLICE DEPARTMENT 
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL DISPATCHER 
CHRISTAL STUBBE By Joan Schmidt

 In last week’s issue of the Mountain 
Views News, there was a picture of 
Monrovia Police Chief Jim Hunt, Captain 
Alan Sanvictores and four outstanding 
members of their fine department who 
received prestigious awards. A short bio 
was included about each honoree. However, 
the Press Release omitted why Dispatcher 
Christal Stubbe received the Distinguished 
Service Medal. One call to Alexis Newell at 
City Hall and the following information 
submitted by Chief Hunt was sent to this 
publication.

 During the early hours of February 
4, 2013, Police Communications Officer 
Christal Stubbe and her family were 
returning home from the Big Bear area 
in the San Bernardino Mountains. While 
descending Highway 38, Christal and her 
family were following a large tourist bus 
that appeared to be having brake problems. 
Despite the driver’s best efforts, the driver 
lost control during a turn on the highway 
which caused the bus to overturn.

 As a result of the accident, eight 
of the passengers were killed and 46 
remaining passengers sustained injuries, 
many of which were serious injuries. After 
the collision occurred, Christal stopped 
and used her previous experience in emergency medical training. She and her husband began to 
immediately assess the victims and render medical aid. Christal had her three-year-old daughter with 
her, and carried her while assessing and rendering aid to assist the injured passengers. She continued 
to assist these victims for well over an hour, remaining on scene for over three hours.

 Members from the Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) of the California Highway 
Patrol described the scene as resembling a war zone with the number of injured parties and the 
severity of the injuries. One officer on the MAIT team described the accident as “one of the most 
horrific in his twenty years of service”.

 During the awards ceremony, Chief Hunt said, “For her selfless dedication to public 
service, going above the call of duty and keeping with the highest traditions of the Monrovia Police 
Department, Police Communications Operator Christal Stubbe is hereby awarded the Monrovia 
Police Department’s Distinguished Service Medal.” A most deserving award indeed.

CARRYING THE TORCH FOR SPECIAL 
OLYMPICS By Joan Schmidt

 In 1981, Chief Richard 
LaMunyon of the Wichita 
Kansas Police Department 
created the Law Enforcement 
Torch Run as a way to involve 
his officers in the community by 
running a torch relay for their 
local Special Olympics. That first 
run involved six officers, and no 
money was raised, but it began 
an effort that has skyrocketed to 
include SEVERAL fundraising 
events nationwide for this great 
cause! (They include the recent 
Ti-a-Cop dinners, Plane/Fire 
Truck Pulls, 5K/10K Runs, 
Raffles, Car Shows, Bike Rides, 
Polar Plunges, Adopt-a-Cop 
programs, Golf Tournaments 
and more!)

 Special Olympic athletes 
may look at law enforcement 
as heroes, but the officers find 
the Special Olympic athletes 
to be the real heroes! Perhaps 
that is why so many officers 
throughout the county put their 
heart and soul into the various 
fundraisers. 

 Last year Southern California’s 
Law Enforcement Torch Run 
involved more than 2000 
officers who carried the Special 
Olympic Torch more than 500 
miles through more than 150 
communities! This year saw 
officers from local, county, state, 
federal and military agencies 
run across San Diego, Orange, 
Riverside, San Bernardino and 
Los Angeles counties beginning 
in May 28th. Dozens of law 
enforcement officers carried the 
Torch through the San Gabriel 
Valley as part of a nine-day 
Torch Run. 

 This past Wednesday, 
the torch traveled from San 
Bernardino to the San Gabriel 
Valley. Officers from La Verne 
P.D., San Dimas Sheriff’s 
Station, Glendora P.D. and 
Azusa P.D. participated. Police 
Chief Rob Castro (graduate of 
Annunciation School, Arcadia) 
and City Manager Chris Jeffers 
were among the Glendora 
runners. On Thursday, June 
7th, runners carrying the torch 
began in Irwindale at 7:30 a.m. 
They traveled to West Covina, 
Baldwin Park, El Monte, 
Monrovia, Arcadia, Temple 
City, San Gabriel, Monterey 
Park, Montebello, Pico Rivera, 
Downey, Santa Fe Springs, and 
ended near Buena Park. I drove 
down to Live Oak/Peck/Myrtle 
intersection and observed 
Monrovia P.D. Runners. 

 They included Lieutenant 
Zeke Cerecerez (We go back 
over 22 years!), Sergeant 
Nick Manfredi, Detective 
Mike Garcia, Officer Adam 
Villalobos, and Officer Yolanda 
Gutierrez. At the Red Lobster 
Parking Lot in Monrovia, the 
Torch was passed to Arcadia 
P.D. 

 Driving into the parking lot I 
met Monrovia Chief Jim Hunt, 
Captain Alan Sanvictores, 
Sergeant Glen Coleman and 
Detective Rob Wilken among 
the cheering section/support 
groups. Motor Officer Jim 
Meade had led the way for the 
runners; also assisting were two 
police units and a van with their 
banner followed. The Monrovia 
runners were congratulated by 
the Arcadia P.D. runners and 
support group (Including Tom 
Levesque), and then the Torch 
was passed. 

 For the Arcadia Police 
Department, the bike officers 
were Detectives Turner and 
Hernandez; runners included 
Sergeant Crowther, Detectives 
Trabbie and Lopez, Officers Tea 
and Castillo, Reserve Officer 
Hoefflin, and Cadets Vinopal 
and Walton. Arcadia carried the 
Torch down to the intersection 
of Baldwin/ Las Tunas where it 
was passed to Temple Station 
Personnel. From there the 
Torch went to San Gabriel, 
Monterey Park, Montebello, 
Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs 
and ending near Buena Park. 
(There is a Sheriff’s Station in 
Cerritos.)

 Glendora PD released a 
statement that best describes 
the event, “This is the largest 
grassroots fundraiser and public 
awareness vehicle for Special 
Olympics in the world.” Special 
thanks to all the awesome 
participants!


Christal Stubbe and Chief of Police Jim Hunt

BROWN BAG WORKSHOP: ADDING YOUR PERSONAL BRAND TO RESUMES 
THAT LAND INTERVIEWS

The Monrovia Public Library will host this timely workshop on Wednesday, June 26 from 11:30 a.m. 
– 1:00 p.m. in the Community Room. The Library is located at 321 S. Myrtle Avenue in Monrovia’s 
Library Park.

 Thorsten Hoins provided a guide to creating a personal branding statement in his June 19 Brown 
Bag Workshop. For job searchers, this personal brand is your unique selling proposition and your job 
search mission statement – highlighting what employers want. 

 Bring a copy of your resume and learn how to incorporate your unique selling proposition in a 
resume that lands interviews. 

 All attendees receive an annotated webliography of resources and a list of suggested print resources 
in the Monrovia Public Library.

Registration is encouraged. Visit www.monroviapubliclibrary.org and click on the calendar icon. 
Click on the event to sign up. No Internet? Stop by the Adult Reference Desk or call 626-256-8274, 
Walk-ins welcome.

Wednesday, June 26

Library Community Room 

6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Free 

MONROVIA COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION 
PLAN MEETINGS SCHEDULED

The Monrovia Fire Department has scheduled neighborhood meetings for each of the fire hazard zones 
located within the Community Wildfire Protection Plan area

Fire Zone West: 

Wednesday, June 19 (tentative), 6:30-8p.m.

Fire Zone West-Central: 

Thursday, June 20, 6:30-8p.m.

Fire Zone East: 

Sunday, June 23, 3-4:30p.m.

Fire Zone East-Central: 

Tuesday, June 25, 6:30-8p.m.


MONROVIA SUNDAY MORNING FARMERS' MARKET

That's right- it's back! From 10am - 2pm on Myrtle Avenue, shop for 
fresh produce at the Sunday morning Farmers' Market in Old Town 
Monrovia.


MONROVIA CLASSES FOR SENIORS

AARP 55 – Alive Mature Driving Course 

Thursday, July 11 and Friday, July 12, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Community Center. 

The two-day course will focus on current driving laws and provide participants with 
helpful hints to improve their driving skills. FEE: $12 for an AARP member and $14 
for a non-member; payable by check only to AARP. Reservations must be made in 
advance, please contact (626) 256-8246.

Weekly senior stretching and exercise class.

NEW TIME every Monday at 2 p.m. at the Community Center.

The fee for the approximately one hour class is $2, and includes stretching techniques 
geared toward seniors over 50.

Active Adults Stretching & Walking Class

Every Friday at 9 a.m., at the Community Center, $2 per class.

The class meets for approximately one hour and begins with stretching followed by a 
walk around Old Town Monrovia. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable 
clothing, and bring a towel and bottle of water.

Monthly Blood Pressure Screening, 50 years + 

The free program is hosted by Methodist Hospital, and is offered on the second 
Tuesday of the month, from 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., at the Community Center. 

Weekly Social Crafter’s Class, 50 years +

The program is free and is held every Wednesday, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., at the 
Community Center. This program is designed to provide social opportunities while 
crocheting or knitting.

Monthly Afternoon Movies and Munchies at the Library

Last Friday of each month at 12 p.m. in the Library's Community Room. 

This month's movie will be screened on Friday, June 28, featuring a British comedy-
drama film about a home for retired musicians that is soon to play host to a new 
resident, an eternal diva and the former wife of one of the residents; staring Maggie 
Smith, Tom Courtenay and Billy Connolly. Can you guess the movie? This program 
is free and open to Monrovia seniors 50 years and older.