Mountain Views News          Saturday, January 3, 2015

6

Mountain View News Saturday, January 3, 2015


Ex Public Works Employee 
Charged with Embezzling 
$6.4 from City Slush Fund

Pasadena 
News Briefs

Alleged DUI Driver 
Arrested Driving 
Golf Cart on the 210 
Freeway

 A man was arrested Thursday 
night after confessing to 
stealing a Rose Bowl golf cart 
from the stadium and then 
driving it onto the 210 freeway 
—the man told officers he was 
trying to get to his car in East 
Pasadena.

 CHP officers arrested 
19-year-old Andrew Aldridge 
around 10:45 p.m. after officers 
received 911 calls from people 
saying a man was driving a golf 
cart, without headlights in the 
slow lane, on the eastbound 
210 near Lake Avenue. 

 California Highway Patrol 
officers arrested Aldridge, 
form Dana Point, on Corson 
Street after he exited the 
freeway at Hill Street. He was 
the only person in the cart 
according to a CHP statement.

 The cart had stickers on the 
side indicating it was from the 
Rose Bowl CHP officers said.

Earlier in the day, the Rose 
Bowl stadium hosted the 
college football semifinal game 
where the Oregon Ducks beat 
Florida State, 59 to 20.

 Aldridge was booked into 
Pasadena Police Department 
jail on suspicion of drunk 
driving. 

Four People Hurt in 
Freak Wind Accident

 Just 24 hours before the Rose 
Bowl game, a freak wind event 
Wednesday afternoon left four 
bystanders injured as video 
posted on YouTube shows 
people running for cover as 
tents and tables were picked up 
and slammed to the ground. 

 Pasadena Fire Public 
Information officer Lisa 
Derderian said three of the 
injured had minor injuries 
and a four individual had a 
slight finger injury, all were 
treated at the scene she said. 
The incident happened around 
1:30 p.m. outside Lot H as 
crews were getting ready for 
the Rose Bowl game. 

 According to Senior weather.
com Meteorologist Nick 
Wiltgen, the “dust devil” was, 
most likely, caused by strong 
north winds coming over the 
San Gabriel Mountains that 
induced turbulence in lower 
elevations. 

 As of Friday the viral video, 
“Tornado at the Rose Bowl” 
had over $2.3 million views on 
You Tube. 

 The Los Angeles County 
District Attorney’s Office 
announced Tuesday the arrest of 
Danny Wooten, a Management 
Analyst IV in the Engineering 
Division of the Public Works 
Department and a 12-year 
employee, after an investigation 
by the City of Pasadena and 
the District Attorney’s Office 
revealed the misappropriation 
of public funds. 

 Wooten was arrested 
in connection with 
misappropriation of public 
funds and embezzlement of up 
to $6.4 million from Pasadena 
over the past 11 years. He pled 
not guilty at an arraignment in 
court Wednesday. 

 “Embezzlement and theft of 
public funds is an affront to 
the people of Pasadena and to 
our hard-working employees. 
We will not tolerate criminal 
misconduct by city employees 
and we will fully cooperate 
in their prosecution,” City 
Manager Michael Beck said in a 
statement. 

 “We are grateful to District 
Attorney Jackie Lacey and her 
team for their cooperation 
and professionalism in the 
investigation and pursuit 
of those responsible. I am 
immensely disappointed 
that one of our former city 
employees allegedly exploited 
his position and leveraged our 
internal processes for personal 
gain by stealing taxpayer money 
and betraying the public’s trust. 
We will use this experience to 
reinforce our commitment to 
good governance through our 
policies and procedures,” Beck 
said. 

 The city council will receive a 
briefing from the City Manager 
and staff at a public meeting 
beginning at 5 p.m., Monday, 
in the Council Chamber of 
City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave., 
second floor. 

 A city audit completed in 
November documented that 
Wooten allegedly provided 
as many as 296 potentially 
fraudulent invoices to the city 
on behalf of four vendors he 
was affiliated with for check 
payments in excess of $6.4 
million. The money came 
from the 
Underground 
Utilities Fund that covers 
the cost of moving overhead 
power and communications 
lines underground. Revenues 
to the Fund come from the 
underground surtax paid by 
electric customers.

 Along with Wooten, Tyrone 
Collins and Melody Jenkins 
were arrested, both also pled 
not guilty.

 According to the Los Angeles 
County District Attorney’s 
Office Wooten allegedly 
directed more than $2 million 
of the stolen money to Collins, 
who owns Collins Electric. 
Wooten also allegedly gave 
Jenkins, who was a temporary 
Pasadena city employee, more 
than $40,000 in stolen city 
money.

 In addition, Wooten is 
suspected of setting up bank 
accounts in his name and 
directing city money to two 
churches he was affiliated 
with – the Southern California 
Evangelist Jurisdiction Center 
and the New Covenant 
Christian Fellowship Center in 
Pomona.

 Wooten’s employment with the 
city was terminated on July 25, 
for personnel matters unrelated 
to the investigation.

 At this time, Beck said, it is 
not believed that any other 
city employees had criminal 
involvement in this theft of 
public funds. 

 If convicted, Wooten faces 
up to 28 years in state prison. 
Collins faces up to 18 years in 
state prison. Jenkins faces up to 
four years in state prison.


Danny Wooten

 
Under crisp blue skies, 40 floats, 
over 20 marching bands and 
19 equestrian units entertained 
thousands that lined Colorado 
Blvd. Thursday morning with 
near freezing temperatures.

 Those that braved the cold saw 
firsthand, everything from the 
city of Torrance’s float “Louis 
Zamperini — A Race Well Run” 
to zappos.com “Lily the Hippo” 
opening its mouth to a stream of 
blue balloons bubbles to the cast 
of the 80s TV show “The Love 
Boat.” The parade ended with a 
surprise when retired Army Sgt. 
Dominic Perrotte III was given 
a new home in Virginia through 
the Military Warriors Support 
Foundation.

 Highlights also included 
The Tournament of Roses 
honoring the memory of Grand 
Marshal Louis Zamperini, who 
unfortunately passed away on 
July 2. Zamperini’s children 
and their spouses rode in a 
1936 Packard Standard Eight 
once owned by Joseph Stalin. 
Queen Madison Elaine Triplett 
and the Royal Court make their 
way down the parade route and 
Mayor Bill Bogaard with his wife 
Claire rode down the parade, 
the last year as Mayor, as he has 
decided not to seek reelection.

 2015 President Rich Chinen, 
his wife Kim, and daughters 
Megan and Erin and their 
families (pictured above) rode 
in a 1925 Yellowstone Touring 
Bus fully restored after being 
found abandoned in a canyon in 
Elko, Nevada.

 Float winners included 
Best Theme given to City of 
Torrance, “Louis Zamperini - A 
Race Well Run,” the Sweepstakes 
for Most Beautiful went to Dole 
Packaged Foods “Rhythm of 
Hawai’I,” The President’s Award 
went to American Armenian 
Rose Float Association “Cradle 
of Civilization” and the Grand 
Marshal’s Trophy went to 
Singpoli “A Bright Future.” 
(pictured above). 

 South Pasadena’s “Still 
Winning,” (pictured above 
center) is the oldest Self-built 
Float in the Rose Parade. 

Dazzling 
Parade 
Brings Cold, 
Splendor

Cheeseburger 
Week Returns

 Forty eateries celebrate the 
invention of the cheeseburger 
during Cheeseburger Week 
from January 11 to January 16, 
honoring Lionel Sternberger’s 
the genius behind being 
the first to put cheese on a 
hamburger and serve it at the 
Rite Spot in Pasadena in 1924. 

 Forty of Pasadena’s favorite 
restaurants, lounges and 
burger joints will offer their 
signature burgers, some special 
creations and a deals during 
Pasadena Cheeseburger Week. 
Green Street Restaurant, El 
Portal, La Grande Orange, 
Lucky Baldwin’s and Whole 
Foods Market-Arroyo 
are among those offering 
specially created burgers for 
Cheeseburger Week.

 Special events are planned 
for Cheeseburger Week, as 
well. Look for a special wine-
pairing event as well as the Dog 
Haus Slider Eating Contest 
that kicks off Cheeseburger 
Week 2015.

 Who makes your favorite 
lunch counter burger? Who 
serves your favorite turkey 
burger? Who makes your 
favorite veggie burger? Who 
serves the best beverage with 
a burger? You decide during 
Cheeseburger Week, January 
11th through January 16th.

 For more 
information visit www.
pasadenarestaurantweek.com.

Public Invited To Silver 
Gloves Boxing Tournament 

 

 The public is invited to watch 
more than 200 Olympic-
style boxers compete in the 
Region XIII Silver Gloves 
Boxing Tournament Jan. 
9-11, 2015, at the Victory 
Park Community Center 
gymnasium, 2575 Paloma St.

 Hosted by the City of 
Pasadena’s Human Services 
and Recreation Department, 
the three-day tournament 
consists of matchups 
between amateur boxers ages 
10-15 representing Arizona, 
California, Colorado, 
Hawaii, New Mexico, 
Nevada and Utah. Finalists 
will advance to the national 
tournament February 5-7, 
2015, in Independence, Mo.

 Tournament bouts will 
begin at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9; 
two sessions will be held at 
12 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, 
Jan. 10; and the tournament 
will conclude Sunday, Jan. 
11, with final bouts starting 
at 11 a.m. 

 Admission is $8.00 per 
session for adults, $5 per 
session for children ages 
6-12 and free for children 
5 and under. Tickets will 
be available at the door on 
tournament days only.

 For additional tournament 
information, contact 
Bill Davis, Recreation 
Coordinator, at (626) 
744-6523 or bdavis@
cityofpasadena.net.

Public Meetings for Director 
of Public Health Recruitment

Pet of the 
Week

 The public is invited to 
provide comments and other 
input at three community 
meetings as the City prepares 
for a nationwide recruitment 
of a new director for the 
Pasadena Public Health 
Department.

 Community information 
and feedback sessions are an 
important part of the process. 
The sessions will be hosted 
by the City Manager’s Office 
and the Human Resources 
Department as follows:

 Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015 

 – 6:00 p.m.

 Victory Park Recreation 
Center Gymnasium 2575 
Paloma St.

 Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015 – 
12:00 p.m. City Hall Council 
Chambers 100 N. Garfield 
Ave., Second Floor.

Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015 – 
4:30 p.m. Jackie Robinson 
Community Center 1020 N. 
Fair Oaks Ave.

 Community members who 
cannot attend a session or 
who would like to submit 
comments electronically 
can do so through a short 
online survey at http://
cityofpasadena.net/ 

Director-Public-Health-
Recruitment/. The survey will 
be available until Jan. 31, 2015.


5th Annual 
Lunar New 
Year Festival

 Rudy is a friendly 8-year-
old male Chihuahua. 
He’s a very calm, sweet, 
and lovable little guy. He 
enjoys sitting in laps and 
going for walks. Rudy also 
qualifies for the Seniors 
for Seniors program which 
waives the adoption fee for 
adopters age 60 and up. The 
mandatory microchip fee of 
$20 still applies.

 The regular dog adoption 
fee is $125 which includes 
the spay or neuter surgery, 
microchip, vaccinations, 
and a free follow-up health 
check at a participating vet.

 New adopters will receive 
complimentary health and 
wellness exam from VCA 
Animal Hospitals, as well 
as a goody bag filled with 
information on how to care 
for your pet. 

 Call the Pasadena 
Humane Society & SPCA 
at 626.792.7151 or visit at 
361 S. Raymond Ave. in 
Pasadena. Adoption hours 
are 11-4 Sunday, 9-5 Tuesday 
–Friday, 9-4 Saturday. Pets 
may not be available for 
adoption and cannot be 
held for potential adopters 
from phone calls or email. 
Directions and photos of all 
pets can be found at www.
pasadenahumane.org.

Learn How to Produce 
Your Own TV Show

 USC Pacific Asia Museum’s 
5th annual Lunar New 
Year Festival celebrating 
Year of the Sheep takes 
place Saturday, January 31, 
from 11 am to 5 pm, with 
performances, crafts, a puppet 
show, artist demonstrations 
and access to the museum 
galleries. Admission is free 
and open to the public. A 
full schedule is available at 
pacificasiamuseum.usc.edu.

 The museum welcomes a 
delegation of 42 performers 
and traditional artisans from 
the Guangdong Province in 
China, and will also showcase 
the cultures of Korea, 
Cambodia and Vietnam who 
all celebrate the Lunar New 
Year as well. Performances 
and demonstrations will take 
place under a large tent in 
the museum’s parking lot, 
while activities and crafts are 
available in the courtyard 
and auditorium. Food trucks 
around the parking lot provide 
a varied selection all day long. 

 This program is made possible 
in part by Guangdong Province 
and the Ministry of Culture of 
the People’s Republic of China, 
the Consulate General of the 
People’s Republic of China in 
Los Angeles, Beauty Media 
Inc. and ICN TV Network. 
Special thanks to media 
sponsor KPCC.

 
New Citizen Journalism 
training starts Wednesday 
nights, learn how to report 
news using social media 
skills.

JPL January Calendar of 
Events

 

 With the opening of 
the new Pasadena Media 
studios at 150 S. Los Robles 
Ave, they are offering free 
television-training programs 
for producers. Plan to attend 
an orientation to discover 
the right classes for you. 
Producers’ Training teaches 
how to produce shows for 
The Arroyo Channel. Studio 
Production/ Equipment 
training is also offered to 
volunteer crew members. In 
addition, on-going training 
will soon be available in 
citizen journalism and 
digital film groups. Call the 
office (626) 794-8585 or go 
to PASADENAMEDIA.ORG 
and explore what Pasadena 
Media has to offer.

JAN. 15-16: FREE 
LECTURE -- LOW 
DENSITY SUPERSONIC 
DECELERATOR

As NASA plans ambitious 
new robotic missions to Mars, 
the spacecraft needed to land 
safely on the red planet’s surface 
necessarily become increasingly 
massive, hauling larger 
payloads to accommodate 
extended stays on the Martian 
surface. The heavier planetary 
landers of tomorrow, however, 
will require much larger drag 
devices than any now in use to 
slow them down -- and those 
next-generation drag devices 
will need to be deployed at 
higher supersonic speeds to 
safely land vehicle, crew and 
cargo. NASA’s Low-Density 
Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) 
Technology Demonstration 
Mission, led by the Jet Propulsion 
Laboratory, has conducted full-
scale, stratospheric tests of these 
breakthrough technologies high 
above Earth to prove their value 
for future missions to Mars.

Free lectures on Jan. 15 at 
JPL; Jan. 16 at Pasadena City 
College; both at 7 p.m.

JAN. 29: SMAP 
SPACECRAFT LAUNCH AT 
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE 
BASE, CALIFORNIA

The Soil Moisture Active Passive 
(SMAP) mission, scheduled for 
launch on Jan. 29, will measure 
the moisture in the top few 
inches of soil with greater 
accuracy and higher resolution 
than any preceding mission. 
SMAP’s observations have the 
potential to improve seasonal 
forecasts of water availability 
and forecasts of flood and 
drought risks. Changes in future 
water resources are a critical 
societal impact of climate 
change, and SMAP will help 
policy makers by providing a 
scientific understanding of how 
these changes may affect water 
supply and food production.

Class offerings days and nights weekly

Station Schedule 

Closed - Studio and Administration Office

Through Sunday January 4, 2015 11:00 a.m. 

Orientation & Tour

Monday January 5, at 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

PCAC Board Of Directors - Regular Meeting

Tuesday January 6, at 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Studio Cameras & Floor Manager

Wednesday January 7, at 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Citizen Journalism Training

Wednesday January 7, at 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.