News
- Two men shot, one killed in Newhall: Not many details on this homicide yet - the second within a week in the SCV-, but Carol Rock at KHTS reports that two men were shot and one died early Sunday morning on Arch Street in Newhall. No names, ages, or other details have been released. Link
- Stabbing Victim Speaks out: Chad Weitz was the other victim of the Thanksgiving weekend brawl in Stevenson Ranch that claimed the life of Joshua Pipho, 20. Weitz, who was stabbed over a dozen times and hit by a car during the fight, spoke with Jim Holt by phone after being released from the hospital. "We were actually checking for a pulse, and then it hit us 'Oh my God. He's dead,'" he said, noting that was the time he heard the screeching tires," Weitz told Holt about the moment he saw his friend Pipho on the ground Link Meanwhile, the suspect in that case was to be arraigned on Friday, but arraignment was postponed. Pipho's mother broke down in tears outside the San Fernando Courthouse where the suspect, Michael Stephens, was to be arraigned. Pipho's funeral service and interment will be held today.
- An arrest in the other stabbing: On November 29, a 27 year old man in Canyon Country was stabbed in his home on Sierra Highway. The Sheriff's Department has made an arrest in that case, announcing yesterday that 27 year old Jeff Doleshal was arrested after a brief vehicle pursuit in Palmdale. Authorities say the victim and suspect in this case knew each other and that the dispute was over property. Parimal Rohit reports in today's Signal.
- Attack of the Drones! KHTS got the scoop on a military drone aircraft that was used to help firefighters in the October blazes that scorched Santa Clarita. Carol Rock says the drone, named the Predator in its military role but the Ikhana (Intelligence) in its firefighting role, beamed down infrared and other images to a laptop coomputer within five minutes of flying over a burning area. Apparently Buck McKeon "arranged" for the drone to be used in the Castaic and San Diego fires, and it helped firefighters deploy crews and equipment quickly. Link
- Happy Birthday City of Santa Clarita: I suppose technically it's a bit early (December 15 is the date on the seal), but Pat Aidem had an excellent look-back at the city's founding and some of the things the largest-ever incorporation in 1987 accomplished for local residents. A bonus for you annexation junkies : Aidem talks to both Dave Bossert and Ken Pulskamp about the future of the SCV.
- Newhall Redevelopment : Negotiations underway? So says Blogger/Realtor Linda Slocum, who reports that the owners of the CarQuest building on the Corner of San Fernando Road (or is it Railroad at that point?) and Spruce street have reached an agreement with the City of Santa Clarita for the purchase of the property. Slocum also says that negotiations for that property were simple since it's not owner-occupied; negotiations for buildings like the Antique Flower Garden and White Light Chirpractic will be more difficult for the city. She also adds in some fresh skepticism over the city's plans for a new library in the area and questions whether the entire Newhall Redevelopment project is feasible given other retail developments in the City. Slocum
- Holiday Cheer in the SCV: Over 1,000 people showed up to light up the tree in front of Henry Mayo Hospital on Sunday, and the city's holiday children's parade on Saturday -which included 25 tons of snow from Newhall Ice Company- was a hit. Tammy Marshlian has more on the parade. Also, the LDS church will host a Christmas musical at the COC PAC this week that includes a "160 voice choir and a 40 piece orchestra of studio musicians." more details
- All Hail the Princess: Princess Cruises employs some 1800 people, making it the largest private employer in the Santa Clarita Valley. It also rents out some 7 different buildings around town, including the large office complexes on Town Center Drive. Pat Aidem has more on the company that was lured to the SCV with a 15 year tax incentive in 1998.
- The Avenue at Santa Clarita: Linda Slocum has more details -including a graphic rendering- of the Avenue project, which would be built on the old Smiser Mule ranch property wedged between Interstate 5, Wiley Canyon, and Calgrove Blvd. The project is indeed quite massive : 800 townhomes, a 300 room hotel, a 12 story building, 1.2 million square feet of office and retails space, and some 5,300 parkin spaces. For the rest, visit Slocum's website
- And then there was one: The Hart Indians will take on the St. Bonnie Seraphs for the Southern Section Northern Division (how's that for a play on words) football title next week. The Indians manhandled Newbury Park on Friday night. Saugus' amazing season ended at the hands of the Seraphs on Saturday night.
- Mike Cruz on "Field of Dreams" Saturday's Signal had an interesting op/ed from Mike Cruz on the proposed field of dreams ball park in the SCV. His points were largely similar to Councilmember Boydston's comments during council meetings. It's not online, but I'll post a link when it is.
- Two from IHeart: I Heart couldn't bring himself to go to the tree lighting ceremony at Henry Mayo Hospital. "Today, the lovely conifer hears angelic voices carolling, but tomorrow (figuratively), it hears the buzz of the chainsaw. I will not willingly participate in any efforts to lull the tree into a false sense of security," he says of the Mayo Hospital expansion plans. Also, I Heart illegally broke into the post office and read some SCV mail to Santa Claus, including one letter from someone who asked the jolly fat man for a " freak-hurricane to take out homes and trees along several blocks of McBean Parkway."
View Larger Map Daily Brief – December 3, 2007
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