- UPDATE: Powerhouse Fire now at 1,400 acres, 15% contained- first tweet of the day from @lacfd. And new evacuations have been ordered, though it's not clear if they're in Green Valley. FACEBOOK
- A fire dubbed the Powerhouse Fire has burned over 1,000 acres near Bouquet Reservoir, Spunky Canyon and San Franciscquito Canyon. As I drove in to work today, the sun was a brilliant ball of orange as smoke from the blaze blew south into the SFV. The absolute latest report I could find on this is from KTLA, filed about 6:10 am, in which the reporter says it's still out of control. That's different than news reports last night which said the fire had died down a bit and evacuation orders for the tiny mountain hamlet of Green Valley had been lifted. Also conflicting reports about whether a group of hikers (up to 9) are missing or accounted for; as of 8pm last night the TIMES reported they were still missing and S&R Deputies from the SCV Station were assisting in the search. But KPCC said at 9pm that the hikers walked out on their own.
- There is concern that the fire could damage DWP power lines the run over the mountains and into Southern California. The KTLA reporter said the lines were a critical electrical artery that comes from the Central Valley and powers parts of Los Angeles and CBS 2 says lines have been damaged. But DWP officials say they've re-routed power. One DWP structure has been damaged. LA TIMES with some photos of the blaze and a 5:15am report from the DAILY NEWS quoting a Forest Service spokesperson who says the fire is 0 percent contained and "the growth potential of this fire is great." Indeed; the first report of the fire came at 3:30pm and it was a 2-3 acre fire; by 6:45pm, it had hit 1,000 acres! SIGNAL
- It's expected to heat up to the upper 90s by Saturday, so no assist from mother nature on fighting the fire. If your'e a Twitter user, @lacfd & @lacofdpio are probably your best sources to follow.
- Also, another fire was reported Thursday near the Holiday Inn Express off Magic Mountain parkway. This one burned a 100 square foot area, but firefighters knocked it out quickly. SIGNAL
- Has the nearly $1 million we, the taxpayers of Santa Clarita, have and are expected to give to the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation paid off? A few weeks ago, when funding the EDC for $600,000 over the next three years was on the Agenda, Councilman Boydston asked for a simple list "so taxpayers are assured that if they're using taxpayer money, it's being effective." The EDC responded by issuing a partial list to the Council, saying it helped represent 45 companies and create or save 1,474 jobs in the SCV. The Signal's Jana Adkins has the full list though and called a few companies up and asked them what, specifically, the EDC did for them. In one case, the EDC helped Regents Aerospace take advantage of Enterprise Zone tax credits and created 52 jobs. Other companies report that the EDC helped them secure leases or stay in town. SIGNAL
- Rhondi Durand, principal of Arroyo Seco Junior High School, was arrested on a DUI charge after a crash on Wednesday night. Deputies say she crashed her Lexus into a parked car at Jakes Way & Sierra Highway. Hart Board member Messina says the District will follow the "letter of the law" on this and be careful how they handle it, while an official statement from the Superintendent's office says this is a "personnel issue currently under review." SCVNEWS. Signal commenters outraged.
- A man in Littlerock who owned the four pit bull dogs that attacked and killed a a woman will be charged with murder. The Coroner's office did DNA analysis on the victim and the dogs and presented a case to the DA for prosecution. KHTS
- And the mother of a man killed in that Acton helicopter crash back in February is suing the helicopter's operators, the estate of the Valencia pilot (who also died) and the reality show's producers. As you'll recall the helicopter was filming a military reality show at Polsa Rosa Ranch when it crashed February 10. SIGNAL
- The DUI Checkpoint announced earlier this week took place last night at Soledad & Golden Oak Road. Deputies found & arrested one drunk driver, impounded three cars, and cited or sent to court 23 drivers for various violations. 1,075 vehicles were screened. The press release went out at 12:53am but the checkpoint ran from 6pm to 2am.
- Fran Pavley, one of two Democrats that represent parts of the SCV in the State legislature, has had her bill regulating hydraulic fracturing or fracking pass the State Senate. According to her press release, California has "thus far lagged behind states such as Texas and Wyoming" when it comes to regulating fracking. SCVNEWS
- And over in the Assembly, Democrats voted to increase California's minimum wage from $8 an hour to $9.25 an hour over the next three years. Republicans & businesses say such a move is a job killer, but I say Bob Kellar is right; retail, consumption & shopping is the foundation of our economy, so let's at least make sure the Toys 'R Us worker & the Jack in The Box guys can make a living. LA TIMES
- City of Santa Clarita launches "Council Meeting Recap," a brief, and I mean very brief, list of actions the City Council took in its latest meeting. It's not very useful unless there's a delay in the Minutes being posted. Too bad we don't have a video archive of Council meetings. CITY BRIEFS
- Assemblyman Scott Wilk pens a column for the Signal complaining about the lack of transparency and the bizarre ways of the Assembly. I remember Cam Smyth talking about the same thing a few years ago. It's Byzantine up there in Sacramento. SIGNAL
- On this date in 1963, during the height of California's Golden Years, the state proposed to build Highway 79, a 9.4 mile route that would have connected Castaic Junction to Sierra Highway. Sound familiar? That's what the Cross Valley Connector is today. Big John Boston blames government inefficiency for the delay, but I recall that locals in the SCV killed the highway idea. Also on this week in 1973, our vital retail-based economy got a major boost when K-Mart opened. TIME RANGER
Nine years of the Valley’s town square · 2006–2015
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