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May 27, 2011· scvtalk.com · WordPress (SCVTalk 3.0) · Wayback capture

Another good reporter gone from The Signal

By Jeff — Jeff Wilson

Jonathan Randles, the talented and sharp crime/courts/politics reporter at the Signal, is moving on. He wrote a letter to us on SCVTalk:

This message is to let you know, but to really let Petz know, that my final day reporting for The Signal will be tomorrow. I got a job covering courts in Los Angeles for an online publication.

The past 19 months at The Signal have been some of the strangest and most interesting of my life. It’s been a blast and I consider Canyon Country my adopted home. But the Santa Clarita Valley, no matter how Awesome, will never replace where I grew up: Tustin, home of not one but TWO Costcos.

I’ll miss covering Tea Party rallies. If you haven’t been, go. You will not regret it.

Save Our State trying to get me fired; Daniel Henriquez’s missing military and education records; that one time I got shot with a laser beam at Pitchess Detention Center.

All memories I will cherish.

The stories were good, the people were better. I love SCVTalk, but keep reading the newspaper. Godspeed!

Best,

Jonathan

 

Ahh indeed those were high times for Randles, The Signal, and SCVTalk.

Most Signal reporters come and go without establishing a reputation or becoming well-known outside of a small community. But not Randles. Randles reached the upper echelon of Signal journalists known to the community at large, evidenced by the fact that he earned not one but two nicknames from local conservatives. Petz nicknamed him the “Bearded Liberal,” and when the rabid anti-immigration group Save Our State was upset with how Randles covered their rally (impartially and fair) in the wake of Kellar-gate, they tried to get the Signal to “flush the little turd” and fire the “SOB.”

But Randles survived that and went on to cover City politics, crime, court matters and more with aplomb and dedication to the story.

Alas, we knew it must end. Someone as talented as Randles deserves more pay than a fry cook at McDonalds and so, he, like Parimal Rohit, Brian Charles, Josh Premako, and several other top-notch reporters before him, is moving on to bigger and better things. We wish him the best and thank him for keeping us informed and educated on local news.

Comments (38)

  1. mikecMay 27, 2011 at 10:14 am
    Jonathan, I will miss your reporting. However, since you will be in downtown LA, maybe we can do lunch…Congrats on the new gig and Im serious about getting together for lunch! As for the Costco remark…we have three Walmarts!
  2. MikeMay 27, 2011 at 10:19 am
    Instead of getting put out on a boat like McNulty, Randles kept following his nose, like a young Lester Freemon. Now, like Lester, he gets a chance to work downtown. Given his skills, I expect he’ll make a bodies-in-the-vacants-type-discovery one day. Johnny, keep up the good work. Your did good by this community. I look forward to reading your new stuff. Also, don’t shave.
  3. Capt. GeneMay 28, 2011 at 7:38 am
    Jonathon, remember to check your sources, never trust anything Mary says.
  4. MikeMay 28, 2011 at 3:44 pm
    G, my sources report your pastor is an expert BBQ’er. Truth?
  5. Capt. GeneMay 29, 2011 at 6:47 am
    Is your source some mysterious guy you meet over drinks?
  6. MikeMay 29, 2011 at 8:00 am
    Reliable source. And you should recall, I don’t drink.
  7. Capt. GeneMay 29, 2011 at 9:36 am
    You personally can’t prove I’m the birther you say I am, why should anyone trust one of your “sources”? As for whether or not you drink, I don’t know and I don’t care, because apparently you don’t need alcohol to make a fool of yourself.
  8. MikeMay 29, 2011 at 9:59 am
    Why so blustery?
  9. Gang FangMay 30, 2011 at 12:15 am
    Kick it into low gear there, G. Discussions over a clergyman cooking up some choice meat should bring smiles, not soundbites.
  10. RAmenPirateMay 27, 2011 at 11:01 am
    According to SCV Talk’s Yelp Reviews in the SCV sidebar, Cindy just rated Del Taco at 4 stars. What? That’s topical … Cause that’s just a crime. So there’s a job opening at the Signal for this stuff now right? Reporting crimes? What?
  11. RAmenPirateMay 27, 2011 at 7:24 pm
    Seriously? Thumbs down? Seriously?
  12. MikeMay 28, 2011 at 3:45 pm
    Whining gets thumbs down. Nothing personal, just equal application of the BGH doctrine.
  13. PetzMay 27, 2011 at 12:51 pm
    Petz will miss that uber left wing bearded wonder at the Tea Parties as the campaign cycle heat up. Best wishes-Petz
  14. Timothy Myers SR.May 27, 2011 at 12:58 pm
    McLovin! You know that Daniel Henriquez’s files were not “missing,” they were just super duper secret. You have to admit that an overweight, chain smoking middle aged tax preparer has got to be the greatest cover for an ex secret agent.
  15. NateMay 27, 2011 at 5:36 pm
    Smart Move Johnny! You will be missed.
  16. LarMccMay 27, 2011 at 8:59 pm
    My favorite Jonathan article was the recent one where he referred to someone getting arrested for marijuana possession as someone getting busted for “weed.” His writing fit right in with a hometown newspaper.
  17. PetzMay 28, 2011 at 6:10 am
    One has to wonder how LA courts could be as interesting as preacher Yancey telling folks to shut up and watching a Minuteman chase the guest speaker (Sen. George Runner) of the stage at an immigration rally. Time to reconsider?
  18. PetzMay 28, 2011 at 6:38 am
    Luckily for the SCVTALK community , Petz is not resigning and will report the truth regardless of consequence. It is clear that PC is creeping north out of LA into our fair valley. Yesterday while spending quiet time at Veterans Historical Plaza he noticed that the plaque recognizing the Viet Nam conflict had it ending in 1975-the year that the North violated the Paris accords that ended hostile action with the signing of the Paris Peace Accord (January 1973). Last week certain Talkers criticized Petz for discussing how a Democrat congress failed to honor US obligations under the treaty. It is a rewriting of history and an attempt to imply military failure to mark the end of the war in 1975. Now we have a Fourth of July Parade that celebrates “women’s right to vote” rather than the elements of Declaration of Independence that the day is meant to celebrate. The Delaration was meant to declare the colonies as Free and Independent States-let us get back to the essence of the document.
  19. LarMccMay 28, 2011 at 8:04 am
    Petz - Tell me more about the parade celebrating womens right to vote. Is this something planned for this years parade? I do not recall it in years past.
  20. TaTonkaMay 28, 2011 at 7:10 am
    Hot scoop for jonathan…. Congressman Weeners erection. http://bigjournalism.com/pjsalvatore/2011/05/28/weinergate-congressman-claims-facebook-hacked-as-lewd-photo-hits-twitter/
  21. Leon WordenMay 28, 2011 at 8:41 am
    The permanent theme of the Santa Clarita Fourth of July Parade is “Celebrating America’s Independence.” Every year, the parade also has a separate, one-year-only, secondary theme — such as “SCV’s Earthquake Heroes” or “Movietown USA.” This year’s one-year theme is “Centennial of Women’s Right to Vote.” Women won the right to vote in California in 1911 (or, as some SCV Talkers might say, “Men gave women the right to vote in California in 1911″). Nationally, women had to wait till 1920. Sign up to enter the parade -> http://www.scvparade.com
  22. PetzMay 28, 2011 at 9:34 am
    What’s next “Harvey Milk Rememberance”? This is the opportunity to educate the youth and community about the Declaration of Independence and introduce them to the concept of federalism. Petz stands athwart history and says No !
  23. Leon WordenMay 28, 2011 at 11:27 am
    A Federalist parade? The Democratic Republicans might not feel very welcome…
  24. MikeMay 28, 2011 at 1:54 pm
    What did the Declaration of Independence have to do with federalism?
  25. PetzMay 28, 2011 at 2:54 pm
    The Declaration did not create a nation state, it declared the “United States” to be indedendent colonies to be Free and Independent States. These later came together to form a national government—given Limited powers. These are the foundation of the federal government-hard as it may seem to believe in the 21st century.
  26. Gang FangMay 28, 2011 at 1:57 pm
    Yet another yawn inducing baiting attempt drawing only tepid nibbles. That said, the “youth” are way ahead of you. The kids are alright.
  27. IHeartSCVMay 28, 2011 at 11:23 am
    Do the people of Santa Clarita have the right to vote for a better theme?
  28. Leon WordenMay 28, 2011 at 11:29 am
    Absolutely. Those who volunteer to help organize the parade absolutely have the right to vote for the theme — and did so. Shoot us an email if you’d like to help out next year.
  29. PetzMay 28, 2011 at 1:39 pm
    Let’s commemorate the 151st anniversary of the Civil War – fulfilling the promise of the Declaration
  30. PetzMay 28, 2011 at 1:43 pm
    Thanks for your help at having a successful parade each year. It is really a great community event.
  31. Gang FangMay 28, 2011 at 1:54 pm
    If the theme is approved by a middle class straight white man?
  32. MikeMay 28, 2011 at 1:53 pm
    Keep up the good work, Leon.
  33. MikeMay 28, 2011 at 1:52 pm
    People will complain about everything.
  34. IHeartSCVMay 28, 2011 at 2:45 pm
    I know. It’s so annoying.
  35. PetzMay 29, 2011 at 2:56 am
    Petz has not considered the suffrage movement in any detail until this parade issue came up. Frankly embarassed that he did not recognize it as “federalism” in action since each state decided for itself as per the US Constitution. It was not some activist court enforcing an action outside it’s judicial authority. Men approved the 1911 ballot measure overwhelmingly after defeating it in 1896. Adam gave them a rib and men gave them the franchise. Sounds like a float theme. http://theautry.org/explore/exhibits/suffrage/suffrage_ca.html Have a safe and meaningful Memorial Day !
  36. Leon WordenMay 29, 2011 at 3:17 am
    The suffrage movement in California also was a component of Hiram Johnson’s busting of the Southern Pacific (along with the ballot initiative, referendum and recall). BTW – One way we would expect to see some parade participants interpret this year’s theme is by honoring today’s U.S. troops who are enabling democratic ideals to take root abroad, as seen most poignantly in the restoration of women’s right to vote.
  37. PetzMay 29, 2011 at 3:44 am
    Next time Petz stands athwart history, we hope he has the sense to keep his mouth shut.
  38. Capt. GeneMay 29, 2011 at 6:54 am
    Hats off to Petz. Demonstrating such a simple yet noble idea; admitting you were wrong. There are so many here that could learn from your example.

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