Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 5, 2015

8


Mountain Views-News Saturday, September 5, 2015 

MONROVIA POLICE BLOTTER

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 
DIRECTOR STEVE SIZEMORE 

IS RETIRING THIS YEAR, 

CRAIG JOMENEZ TO STEP 

IN AS NEW COMMUNITY 
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

I wanted to share with you all some bittersweet news regarding a key 
member of our Department Head team. Our Community Development 
Director, Steve Sizemore, has shared with me that he plans to retire at the 
end of this calendar year. While I am delighted for him and his family, 
I am also simultaneously sad for our organization as we will be losing a 
tremendous individual who has served Monrovia with great distinction.

 Steve originally started with the City back on March 25, 2002, and since 
that time, he has played an instrumental role in leading just about every 
key development project that has occurred here in Monrovia. The Gold 
Line. Station Square. The Parks at Station Square. Paragon. Colorado 
Commons. These completed projects have Steve’s fingerprints all over 
them, and he has without a doubt left Monrovia so much better off than 
when he first joined the organization.

 Since Steve first informed me about his decision to retire, I have spent 
quite a bit of time deliberating the best way in which to fill the Community 
Development Director position upon his retirement. Based on a host 
of factors, I am so excited to also be able to share with everyone that I 
intend to name Craig Jimenez, our current Planning Manager, as our next 
Community Development Director. 

In addition to being an exceedingly brilliant planning professional, 
Craig has an approach to leadership that I believe aligns with our key 
organizational values. I have observed Craig in a number of situations 
where he has put the good of the organization ahead of his own personal 
ambitions, and he constantly is striving to find a better way of doing 
things. 

 I hope you will all join with me in congratulating Steve as he gets ready 
to begin this next phase of his life in retirement!

MONROVIA RENEWAL 

AND PROPOSITION 218 WATER 
/ SEWER RATE ADJUSTMENT 
COMMUNITY MEETINGS 
SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 19TH 
AND SEPTEMBER 29TH

As you may recall, the City is currently in the midst of coordinating a 
Proposition 218 Hearing on October 6, 2015, to consider proposed 
adjustments to our water and sewer rate structures that have been 
developed to address our current deferred maintenance related issues 
connected to our water system and sewer system. In addition, the City 
has developed a comprehensive multi-year capital improvement program 
called Monrovia Renewal, which seeks to repair our road infrastructure, 
sidewalk / curb / gutter infrastructure, water infrastructure, and sewer 
infrastructure over the course of the next 3-5 years. 

In an effort to provide additional background related to the Monrovia 
Renewal capital improvement initiative, along with detailed information 
regarding the proposed water and sewer rate adjustments, the City has 
coordinated two community meetings, which are set for the following 
dates / times:

Saturday, September 19, 2015 from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at the Library 
Community Room (321 S. Myrtle Avenue) 

Tuesday, September 29, 2015, from 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. in the City Council 
Chambers (415 S. Ivy Avenue)

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 
414 service events, resulting in 62 investigations. To see a complete 
listing of crimes reported, go to http://www.crimemapping.com/map/
ca/monrovia for crime mapping. For Police Department news and 
information, visit our website and follow us on Twitter.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested

 August 31 at 9:02 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the area of Longden 
and Myrtle when he saw a female he recognized at a gas station. He 
knew the female had an outstanding warrant. A computer check 
confirmed the warrant, which was issued out of Orange County. The 
officer contacted the female; she was arrested and taken into custody 
for the warrant.

Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug 
Paraphernalia / Possession of Marijuana / Warrant – Suspects 
Arrested

 September 1 at 9:44 p.m., an officer observed an illegally parked vehicle 
occupied by two females in the 2600 block of South Myrtle. A DMV 
computer check of the license plate revealed the registered owner had a 
suspended driver’s license and an outstanding warrant for her arrest. As 
the officer was checking the plate, the females drove away in the vehicle.

 The officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and found the 
registered owner was the passenger and her friend was driving the vehicle 
without a license. The driver was issued a citation for driving without a 
license and during an inventory search of the vehicle prior to storing it, 
several pipes used for smoking methamphetamine were found, along 
with 60 grams of marijuana. Both suspects were arrested and taken into 
custody.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested

 August 31 at 9:02 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the area of Longden 
and Myrtle when he saw a female he recognized at a gas station. He knew 
the female had an outstanding warrant. A computer check confirmed the 
warrant, which was issued out of Orange County. The officer contacted 
the female; she was arrested and taken into custody for the warrant.

Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug 
Paraphernalia / Possession of Marijuana / Warrant – Suspects 
Arrested

 September 1 at 9:44 p.m., an officer observed an illegally parked vehicle 
occupied by two females in the 2600 block of South Myrtle. A DMV 
computer check of the license plate revealed the registered owner had a 
suspended driver’s license and an outstanding warrant for her arrest. As 
the officer was checking the plate, the females drove away in the vehicle.

 The officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and found the 
registered owner was the passenger and her friend was driving the vehicle 
without a license. The driver was issued a citation for driving without a 
license and during an inventory search of the vehicle prior to storing it, 
several pipes used for smoking methamphetamine were found, along 
with 60 grams of marijuana. Both suspects were arrested and taken into 
custody.

LIBRARY FEATURES 

ROUTE 66 EXHIBIT 

DURING PARADE MONTH

A lone female driver 
(victim) was pulled over 
by an unmarked sedan 
with flashing red and blue 
lights in the vicinity of the 
1400 Block of Buena Vista 
Street in Duarte.. She was 
contacted by a male suspect 
who is described as white, 
between 40-50 years of age, 
blonde hair, blue eyes, 6’ foot, 
approximately 220 pounds 
and was dressed similar to 
police officers wearing a 
green “polo” style shirt. No 
other suspect(s) were seen.

 The suspect threatened to 
arrest the victim and without 
provocation, physically 
assaulted her. The victim 
sustained minor injury. The suspect drove east on the 1300 
block of Central Avenue, City of Duarte and out of view. The 
victim described the suspect’s vehicle as a light colored, late 
model, full size, 4-door, sedan with tinted windows.

 Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged 
to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s 
Temple Sheriff’s Station at (626) 285-7171. If you prefer to 
provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime 
Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the 
letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using 
the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

LOS ANGELES SHERIFF’S 
DEPARTMENT, TEMPLE STATION 
DETECTIVES SEEK INFORMATION 
CONCERNING A SUSPECT 
IMPERSONATING A PEACE OFFICER.


Alan & Claudia Heller courtesy photo

The Duarte Library is now exhibiting Route 66 memorabilia, photos 
and books from the collection of Duarte authors Alan and Claudia 
Heller in honor of the Salute to Route 66 parade scheduled for 
September 26.

The Hellers traveled Route 66 from Santa Monica to Chicago in 2010 
and subsequently published through History Press a book entitled 
Life on Route 66: Personal Accounts along the Mother Road to 
California. They have led several trips along the Route for the Duarte 
Senior Center. The Library exhibit includes dozens of souvenirs and 
photos from the Road. The display will remain through September. 

The Library is located at 1301 Buena Vista Street in Duarte and is 
open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. 
to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. For more information call (626) 
358-1865.

VECTOR CONTROL URGES 
RESIDENTS TO HELP THWART 
INVASIVE MOSQUITOES

For the fourth year in a row, two Los Angeles County vector control 
districts are tackling potentially dangerous, invasive mosquitoes and 
the public health agencies are asking residents for help.

 The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District 
(GLACVCD) and the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control 
District (SGVMVCD) have been working together since 2011 to 
control these invasive mosquitoes.

 Three recent mosquito introductions now impact Los Angeles 
County residents - the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), yellow 
fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) and Australian backyard mosquito 
(Aedes notoscriptus). These mosquitoes have been found in and 
around San Gabriel Valley. They are excellent at colonizing new areas 
and vector control officials warn that these invasive Aedes could be 
anywhere in the county.

 The Asian tiger mosquito currently poses a larger threat compared 
to the other two invasive mosquitoes since it is the most pervasive 
in L.A. County. Discovered in 2011, there are now 15 communities 
experiencing Asian tiger mosquito infestations - up from three 
communities since the beginning of 2014.

 Much of the fight against these six-legged invaders occurs in the 
backyard. Invasive Aedes are able to lay eggs on the walls of small 
containers, including buckets, plant saucers, and even in recyclables 
that can hold standing water. Their ability to adapt to urban 
environments makes these mosquitoes extremely difficult to control 
in cities around the world.

 The presence of invasive Aedes increases the risk of residents being 
exposed to tropical diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and yellow 
fever. These viruses are currently not transmitting locally.

“It’s not a matter of if, but when,” says Susanne Kluh, Scientific-
Technical Services director for GLACVCD. “It takes just one traveler 
infected with chikungunya or dengue fever to be bitten by the invasive 
mosquitoes in L.A. County to start local transmission.”

 Vector control officials actively monitor and control invasive species 
wherever they are found through grassroots door-to-door inspections, 
source reduction, mosquito control, and education programs. 
Year-round population monitoring yields crucial data necessary to 
determine the best control options.

 “Our focus is to suppress populations of these mosquitoes wherever 
they are detected and to limit their expansion into surrounding cities,” 
says Dr. Wakoli Wekesa, Scientific Programs Manager at SGVMVCD. 
“It’s critical we utilize all the tools and resources available to us - from 
traditional management techniques to the latest, environmentally-
friendly technology - to combat this urban threat.”

 Vector control is calling upon all residents to do their part by 
following these steps:

· REPORT any sightings of small, black-and-white mosquitoes, or 
if you are being bitten by mosquitoes during the day! Residents can 
contact SGVMVCD at 626-814-9466 or GLACVCD at 562-944-9656 
or online at www.ReportMosquitoes.org.

· Dump and drain all water around your home. Eliminate plant saucers 
and other unnecessary containers and thoroughly scrub outdoor pet 
water dishes weekly to remove eggs.

· Do not transport or share plant stems rooted in water. Do not keep 
outdoor buckets full of water.

· Use insect repellent containing CDC-approved active ingredients, 
such as DEET, Picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus, to avoid bites.

· For more information please visit the districts’ websites at www.
glacvcd.org and www.sgvmosquito.org

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DUARTE HOSTS 
HONOR 
AMONG ASHES 
SEPTEMBER 11, 
2015; A DAY OF 

REMEMBRANCE 
AND UNITY

DUARTE, CA, September 2, 
2015 –Duarte will conduct 
its annual, memorial tribute 
to the victims of 9/11, 
“Honor Among Ashes” on 
Friday, Sept. 11, 2015 at 
8:30 a.m. on the grounds 
of Northview Intermediate 
School and Performing 
Arts Center located at 1401 
Highland Ave. The public 
is invited to share in a time 
of inspiration and reflection 
during a ceremony that 
includes Northview 
students who will be singing 
patriotic songs and reciting 
inspirational readings. 
Local Representatives from 
the City, School, County and 
State offices plus members 
of the Los Angeles Sheriff 
and Fire Departments will 
also be in attendance.

For more information, 
contact Duarte’s Promise; 
The Alliance for Youth at 
626 357-7931, ext. 260.

About the City of Duarte

The City of Duarte was 
incorporated on August 
22, 1957. With integrity 
and transparency, the City 
provides exemplary public 
services in a caring and 
fiscally responsible manner 
with a commitment to our 
community’s future. For 
more information visit 
www.accessduarte.com or 
call (626) 357-7931. Follow 
the City of Duarte on 
Twitter @CityofDuarte.