Missing Orange County woman found safe in Glendale

From the Los Angeles Times:

A woman reported missing Friday from her home in Rancho Santa Margarita was found unharmed Tuesday night at a hotel in Glendale, authorities said.

Kavishka Tokevich Lebrook, 33, was staying at the hotel and was in good condition, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said.

“She is fine,” said Lt. Mike Jansen.  He said there was no suspicious activity involved with her disappearance.

… Continue Reading: Missing Orange County woman found in Glendale

Interim role turns permanent

From the La Cañada Valley Sun:

The Rev. Clifford L. “Skip” Lindeman was formally installed as pastor and teacher of La Cañada Congregational Church during a special service Sunday afternoon, marking the end of Lindeman’s seven-year tenure as the church’s interim pastor.

Moments before services were scheduled to begin, Lindeman was found in the church’s Fireside Room, talking with colleagues. Asked what going through his mind seconds before entering the sanctuary, Lindeman said: “I am relieved and very grateful. I am grateful for the love of the people of this church.”

La Cañada Congregational Church Moderator Priscilla Garcia began the service with a statement that seemed to echo what was on everyone’s minds: “Thank you for joining us on this very special day, one that we have been waiting for, for seven-and-a-half-years,” she said, as the congregation laughed.

…Continue Reading: Interim role turns permanent

Analyst: Emissions reductions could hurt job growth

PHOTOS: The Station fire burn areas from above

The Glendale Police Department took a Glendale News-Press photographer on a helicopter ride for an aerial view of the the Station fire burn areas.

A mountain of debris trucked in from the various debris basins in La Crescenta and La Cañada Flintridge rises at Deukmejian Wilderness Park in Glendale, to the north, on Tuesday, March 9. Dunsmore Canyon can be seen on the right side of the photo. (Raul Roa/News-Press)

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Police: Former Dodgers player and Burbank resident died Tuesday

Burbank resident and Former Dodgers outfielder Willie Davis, 69, died this morning, police said.

Authorities continue to investigate and are waiting for the coroner’s report detailing cause of death, Burbank Police Sgt. Robert Quesada said.

Davis, who made his debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1960, was a speedy outfielder during his baseball career, with 20 or more stolen bases in 11 consecutive seasons. He retired with 2,561 hits, 398 steals, 182 homers, and a .279 average, according to The Baseball Page.

His 31-game hit streak in 1969 was the longest in more than 25 years.

Police: BUSD teacher had sex with 14-year-old student

Jordan Middle School sixth grade teacher Amy Beck dressed in togas with other teachers for the celebration of the school's annual Greek Day in April 2009. Police say she turned herself in for having sex with a 14-year-old student.

From the Burbank Leader

A Burbank Unified School District teacher turned herself in Monday for having sex with a 14-year-old student from March to September last year, police said.

Amy Beck, 33, a sixth-grade teacher at Jordan Middle School, surrendered Monday afternoon to Burbank police with her lawyer, and was being held on $400,000 bail, Burbank Police Sgt. Robert Quesada said.

“We’re still trying to piece everything together, what happened, where, what kind of sex acts, how many, and how long it’s been going on,” he said. “She walked in with her attorney . . . and said, ‘Hey, I came to surrender for what I did.’”

Beck, a Burbank resident, was scheduled to be arraigned today in Burbank Superior Court. Prosecutors charged Beck with four counts of unlawful sex with a person under 16 and one count of oral copulation with a person under 16. Prosecutors will request that bail be set at $175,000, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

For the record: Beck turned herself in on Monday.

… Continue Reading: BUSD teacher had sex with 14-year-old student

Downtown Dash fundraiser lunch at City Hall today

The city’s Community Services & Parks department and Redevelopment Agency this afternoon will host a lunch at City Hall to raise funds for the Glendale Downtown Dash.

The Glendale Downtown Merchants’ Assn. will host the third annual 5K run/walk event this Sunday starting at 8 a.m to raise money for Glendale Adventist Medical Center’s stroke services.

At today’s fund raising lunch from 11:30 to 1 p.m. in the City Hall Plaza, city officials will be serving cheeseburgers, chips, soft drinks and cookies for a $5 donation.

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High winds and surf predicted for Southern California

From the Los Angeles Times

Gusty winds are blowing into Southern California.

The National Weather Service issued a high-wind warning from 9 a.m. Tuesday to 3 a.m. Thursday, saying gusts of up to 60 mph are possible, especially in the Antelope Valley and mountains of Los Angeles County.

Winds with sustained speeds of 20 to 35 mph could reach destructive levels as they strengthen and become more widespread through the morning, said officials with the National Weather Service.

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Obama declares Station fire area federal disaster

A volunteer cleans up the destroyed home of Henry and Damaris Laguna on Manistee Drive in La Cañada Flintridge on Feb. 13. (Raul Roa/News-Press)

President Obama declared the neighborhoods affected by the Station fire and subsequent debris flows a disaster area Monday, paving the way for federal assistance with cleanup efforts.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced a federal disaster declaration for neighborhoods in the Station fire burn area that have been affected by recent debris flows.

The declaration makes city, county and state agencies eligible for reimbursement for up to 75% of the costs incurred during mitigation and cleanup efforts that started Jan. 17.

Damage assessments identified $59.1 million in eligible reimbursements from FEMA and another $33.3 million in reimbursements through the Federal Highway Administration, according to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office.

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Glendale, Burbank schools prepare for pink slips

Glendale and Burbank unified school districts are on track to meet the first of several turning points in the teacher layoff process, one week after officials approved eliminating a combined 197 teaching positions.

California education code mandates that public schools notify employees of potential job loss by March 15. Two months later, districts must have informed the employees who will be affected.

“The March 15 and May 15 deadlines are really there to protect teachers so they can go out and get jobs,” said Katherine Strunk, an assistant professor of education and policy at the USC Rossier School of Education. “They are great for that, but they are upsetting because teachers who won’t get pink slips in the long run still have to be notified they could.”

… Continue Reading: Schools prepare for pink slips