SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2015

VOLUME 9 NO. 35

HUNDREDS TURN OUT TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE 
OF SMVFD CAPT. CHRIS MORRISON

(Below are excerpts from Bill Coburn’s coverage of the event. For the full story and video, go to: www.sierramadrenews.net.) 

 The flag at the Sierra Madre Fire Station was at half mast Saturday as hundreds of Sierra Madreans, turned out to Memorial Park 
to join the Sierra Madre Fire Department in celebrating the life of retired SMFD Captain Chris Morrison, a volunteer firefighter 
for more than 20 years. Chris passed away Aug. 15th following an extended battle with cancer. His love of his home state of Ohio, 
where he lived from age 8 through 13, was reflected in the crowd, many of whom wore Cleveland Browns or Indians jerseys and 
colors in his honor. 

LAST CALL FOR SIERRA MADRE FIRE CAPTAIN CHRIS MORRISON

Activate station 41 tones

“Captain Chris Morison – Verdugo”

Activate station 41 tones (2nd time)

“Captain Chris Morison – Verdugo”

Activate all Verdugo stations and BC tones

“Attention all Verdugo stations

 It is with deep regret that we announce the last call for Retired Fire Captain Chris Morison of the Sierra Madre Fire Department.

Chris served with the Sierra Madre Fire Department for 20 years. Today we honor a legacy of volunteerism, friendship, community, 
and a zest for life. His presence in quarters will forever be remembered.

The bell has been struck for his last alarm.

 Captain Morrison’s tasks are done,

 His tour of duty is complete, He is going home. Verdugo clear”

SIERRA MADRE CERT GRADUATES 
18 NEW MEMBERS


The Sierra Madre 
Community 
Emergency Response 
Team (CERT) 
graduated 18 new 
members on Saturday, 
August 22nd from their 
CERT Basic Training 
class. The training, 
which took place 
over two Saturdays 
and three nights, is 
a FEMA certified 
training course for 
CERT organizations 
taught throughout the 
Country. The class is 
designed to ensure 
citizens have the basic 
skills to act safely while 
assisting themselves, 
their families, and 
neighbors during 
a major disaster, 
when emergency 
services are not 
immediately available. 
The participants 
were mainly from 
Sierra Madre but also 
included students from 
Altadena, Arcadia, El 
Monte, and Pasadena.

This year’s simulated 
disaster took place at 
the Sierra Madre City 
Yards where over 50 
people were involved, 
including 24 “victims” 
suffering from 
everything as minor 
as cuts and bruises, 
to severe burns, an 
arterial bleed, a broken 
leg, and a severe head 
wound causing “death”. 
What made this 
exercise more fun and 
realistic was that Emily 
Stouffer and her group 
of teens used their 
moulage (makeup) 
skills to depict the 
injuries. The broken 
bones were especially 
realistic!

Following a written 
test and evaluation, 
the participating 
students were awarded 
FEMA certificates by 
the Sierra Madre Fire 
Department’s Chief 
Stephen Heydorff, 
Los Angeles County 
Sheriff’s Department 
CERT Instructor 
Dudley Rainey, and 
Sierra Madre CERT 
President Robert 
Gjerde. 

Sierra Madre CERT 
has provided training 
since 2009 and operates 
under the authority of 
the Sierra Madre Fire 
Department. CERT’s 
purpose is to educate 
citizens for emergency 
preparedness and 
to assist the City of 
Sierra Madre when 
called out by the Fire 
Department. As part of 
educating the citizens 
of Sierra Madre, CERT 
distributes disaster 
preparedness material 
at the Wistaria Festival, 
Fire Department 
Pancake Breakfast, 
Police National Night 
Out, Great Shake-
out, Fourth of July 
festivities, Halloween, 
and when asked by the 
City for special events. 

Many thanks to the 
City of Sierra Madre 
for the use of the Youth 
Activity Center as our 
training base; Bruce 
Inman and Chris 
Cimino who allowed 
us to use the City 
Yards; and to the Sierra 
Madre Volunteer Fire 
Department for their 
assistance with our 
disaster drill including 
fire suppression, 
cribbing and basic 
first aid. The exercise 
could not have been 
so successful without 
our moulage team 
and the 24 “victims” - 
friends, family, Sierra 
Madre Middle School 
students, Civic Club 
members, and other 
Sierra Madre citizens 
who stepped in on a 
very busy Saturday 
to volunteer for the 
training exercise.

Team members 
assisting with the 
class and running 
the command post 
were De and Pat 
Alcorn, Art Bogad, 
Roger Brown, Daniel 
Brownell, Stephanie 
Coyne, Robert Gjerde, 
Jon Gollihugh, Lucy 
Guerrant, Kathleen 
Lucas, Richard Mays, 
and Simmie Salembier. 

The operation of 
Sierra Madre CERT 
is made possible 
through the generous 
support of FEMA, 
Athens Services, 
ExxonMobile, Rotary 
Club, Sierra Madre 
Civic Club, Sierra 
Madre Police Officer’s 
Association, Sierra 
Madre Woman’s 
Club, and Southern 
California Edison. 
For information 
on attending the 
next Sierra Madre 
CERT class, send an 
email to training@
sierramadrecert.org.

Inside this week: 

 


CALENDAR Pg. 2

SIERRA MADRE NEWS

 Pg. 3

PASADENA/ALTADENA

 Pg. 4

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

 Pg. 5

ARCADIA NEWS Pg. 6 
MONROVIA/DUARTE Pg. 7

EDUCATION & YOUTH

 Pg. 8

FOOD & DRINK

 Pg. 9

THIEVES TARGET HOME DELIVERIES

In the last week, SMPD sent an alert to 
all Neighborhood Watch groups after a 
rash of thefts of packages from private 
homes.

Theft 

 This incident occurred on Thursday, 
08-27-2015, at about 1100 a.m., in the 
200 block of Wind Wood Ln. 

 The victim stated she saw a male 
walk up to her residence and drop off 
a package. The male then picked up a 
package and left the area. The victim 
walked outside and discovered the 
package the male had dropped was an 
empty box. Total loss is estimated at 
$70.00 dollars. 

Theft 

 This incident occurred on Thursday, 
08-27-2015, at about 1155 a.m., in the 

400 block of E. Orange Grove Ave. 

 The victim stated she arrived home 
and noticed some boxes had been 
delivered and where left on the porch 
of her residence. The victim stated she 
then walked inside her residence but 
did not pick up the boxes. The victim 
returned about an hour later to find the 
boxes missing. Total loss is estimated at 
$700 - $800 dollars. 

 Anyone with information regarding 
these incidents please call the Sierra 
Madre Police Department at (626) 
355-1414. 

 As a reminder, please be prompt in 
reporting suspicious activities in your 
neighborhood. 

BEST FRIENDS

 Pg. 10

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

 Pg. 11

THE GOOD LIFE

 Pg. 12

BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

 Pg. 13

THE WORLD

 Pg. 14

OPINION Pg. 15

 
LEGALS Pg. 16