15
UG READERS CHOICE 2011 EA
Starting a new Business?
LA
Register your name at
FileDBA.com
ST
C AN
V TE
CH
ONLINE
pasadenaindependent.com Thursday, AUGUST 11 - AUGUST 17, 2011
Volume XVI, No. XXX
Community News, Arts & Opinions Since 1996
Breeders’ Cup World Championship Horse Racing Returns to Santa Anita Park Nov 2 - 3 , 2012
Chairman of California Horse Racing Board, Keith Brackpool ( above) speaks at a press conference in Los Angeles Wednesday. Meanwhile actress and CHRB board member Bo Derek was also on hand with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to help announce the news. – Photos by Terry Miller
(THIS WEEK VOTE ON PAGE 17)
BY TERRY MILLER It’s now official: Returning to the site of some of the most successful events in its 27-year history, the 2012 Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, on Friday, Nov. 2 and Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, Breeders’ Cup Limited announced Wednesday at a press conference at LA Live inside the JW Marriott. On hand for the announcement in Los Angeles was Arcadia’s Mayor Gary Kovacic, city manager Don Penman, and Mayor Pro Tem Bob Harbicht along with officials from Santa Anita and Breeders’ Cup. Mayor Kovacic said “We are thrilled that Breeders’ Cup has decided to come back to Arcadia. Our hope is that people will come and enjoy city, our world class restaurants and keep coming back to Arcadia long
Please see page 10
Monrovia Hiker Falls to his Death in Monrovia Navy Veteran, Herb Stevens, 91, Overwhelmed with Emotion upon Hearing of Selects Eaton Canyon Park Attack on Navy SEALs Saturday Morning New Police A man died Saturday hiker died in a similar area BY TERRY MILLER morning when he fell from of Eaton Canyon. And on Chief a 50-foot cliff at Eaton Can- Friday, a man broke his The City of Monrovia is pleased to announce the hiring of Jim Hunt as the new police chief. Chief Hunt was selected after the exhaustive and highly competitive selection process. Jim is a 20 year veteran of the Monrovia Police Department. He was first hired in 1991 as a Police Officer. He progressed through the ranks and was appointed to the rank of Police Sergeant in 1998, Police Lieutenant in 2002 and then to Police Captain in 2008. He was appointed to the position of Interim Police Chief in May, 2011 upon the retirement of former Police Chief Johnson. Mayor Mary Ann Lutz said, “I have known Jim along time, and he is definitely the right man for the job. Monrovia has many challenges ahead and I am confident Jim will lead this department with integrity and wisdom.”
Please see page 13
yon Park in the Angeles National Forest. The victim’s girlfriend unsuccessfully attempted to rescue him. She was safely airlifted and was transported to a local hospital where she was treated for minor injuries. On July 31, another
legs when he fell from this same cliff and had to be airlifted to a local hospital. Authorities are now warning visitors about safety at Eaton Canyon after a series of accidents at the popular trails.
Please see page 12
California Controller Chiang Announces State Revenue down $538.8 Million or 10.3% State Controller John Chiang released his monthly report Tuesday covering California’s cash balance, receipts and disbursements in July, showing revenues were down $538.8 million (-10.3 percent) below projections from the recently passed state budget.
“While July’s revenues performed remarkably similar to last year’s, they still did not meet the budget’s projections,” said Chiang. “While we hope for better news in the months ahead, every
Please see page 2
AMY LEONG AND ANDREA OLIVAS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS STORY
“I was sick, I’m sick right now…” Herb Stevens told the Monrovia Weekly Monday morning. Stevens was talking, of course, about the helicopter that was shot down killing 22 Navy SEALs and several other military personnel and a K-9 by Taliban forces in Afghanistan Saturday. As he wiped the tears from his eyes, the 91 year former Naval officer whose official job title was ‘Specialist X’ – told Beacon Media that he knows, even though not one himself, a Navy SEAL is, by far, the “ most stressful occupation in the military “ and said this is the branch of the Navy for which he has the highest regard. Early Saturday morning, officials reported that helicop-
Please see page 7
Herb Stevens salutes Old Glory in the front yard of his home in Monrovia. Stevens lowered the flag to half staff in honor of those who lost their lives Saturday in the helicopter attack in Afghanistan – Photo by Terry Miller