- Hundreds scream “NOOOOOOO!!!!” after getting trapped in SCV: Escaping the SCV northbound proved pretty much impossible for most of yesterday as the OMG-ARCTIC-SNOWSTORM!! dropped so much white stuff on Interstate 5 and Highway 14 (as well as Sierra and Soledad Canyon) that the CHP decided to shut both highways down. That, in turn, lead to motorist strandings; The Signal reported some 30 motorists were stranded, but a friend of mine who lives in eastern Canyon Country estimates there were over 250 cars parked in and around Shadow Pines Road due to the 14 Freeway closure. There were so many cars the city or some other agency put porta-potties out last night for the motorists. KHTS cleverly put up an article and broadcast information on what to see and do in the SCV if you’re stranded. Local hotels gave discounts to stranded motorists. As of this morning, both Highway 14 and the 5 remain closed, according to KHTS and a frost advisory is in effect. Also, LA Times has some reporting on the storm.
- Secret Two Month reign of BB Gun Terror now finally over: I say secret because we only learned about this story on Monday, but in fact, a group of teens have allegedly been shooting at moving vehicles, bicyclists, and little girls in Canyon Country for over two months, according to The Signal and the Sheriff’s Station. Yesterday, the Sheriff’s station announced it had made two more arrests in the case after “an alert resident spotted individuals in a silver Honda Accord shooting at vehicles with a BB gun near Sierra HIghway and Soledad Canyon.” They’re being charged with vandalism and assault with a deadly weapon. The Sheriff’s Station says the teens were using a BB gun that looked alot like an AR-15 assault rifle, and even have a picture of it at their website. Daily News, Signal, SCV Sheriff.com
- Deputies bust three in Newhall run ‘n gun pursuit: Three men were spotted looking into cars at an apartment complex in Newhall, which concerned some residents enough that they called the Sheriff’s station. The fuzz bounced over there, found the suspects who then fled in their vehicle. They didn’t get far and crashed into a parked car, then fled on foot. During the foot chase, one of the suspects allegedly pointed a gun at the Deputies, who responded by firing four shots at the suspect. All shots missed and the three male suspects, ages 31, 24, and 17, were found and arrested. Link
- Fatal Accident on SFR near Highway 14: Sadly, some vehicles hit a patch of black ice resulting in a multi-car collision, which claimed the life of one motorist according to KHTS.
- New CEO for CalPers: The state pension fund has a new CEO after what’s pretty much been a disastrous 18 months for the nation’s largest pension fund. The Times says CalPers problems started with bad real estate investments and reports that CalPers expects to lose much of the $970 million it invested in Newhall Ranch.
- VeCo Star wants you to give an earful to Smyth/Runner: A state ordered work-stoppage due tot he budget crisis has The Star spittin’ mad: “Among the local projects impacted: a $5.5 million Fillmore school project, a $29 million Highway 118 widening project” and more. It continues in an Editorial:”Local residents need to start giving their lawmakers — Pedro Nava, Tony Strickland, Audra Strickland, Fran Pavley, Julia Brownley, George Runner and Cameron Symth — an earful” Link
- Good Water Column: It’s kind of the last thing on our minds now given the recent weather, but I liked Cam Noltemeyer’s column this morning anyway.
December 18, 2008 – Daily Brief *
Attributed to Jeff Wilson (editor-supplied)