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Fire burns CSUF housing projnBLAZE: Officials reported three homes under construction were destroyed and one was damaged By Rita Freeman
Daily Titan News Editor An arson fire destroyed three homes under construction and partially damaged one at the University Gables housing project in Buena Park, Sunday morning, officials said. The four structures of the 86-unit site, built to be single detached, two-story family homes, were in framework stage. Stephen Miller, captain of the Orange County Fire Authority, said damage was estimated at about $250,000.
Officials said the fire department received a call around 4:05 a.m. Sunday reporting that a fire was burning several units at the construction site. A second alarm was called a short time later, but the fire was controlled within 23 minutes. On the property, officials found several fire-starting devices and some unsuccessful devices, which showed that the suspects intended on destroying many more structures, Miller said. “Though a second alarm was called, it took about 20 firefighters to control the blaze,” Miler said. “On the property, there was one [fire starting] device in a house that was unsuccessful. We’re hoping to be able to potentially get some prints from the device.” Officials added that numerous witnesses who were at the scene noticed two vehicles flee the scene. Due to an ongoing investigation, no
additional details about the description of the suspects or the vehicles were available, Miller said. “The investigators have a lot of interviews to conduct still regarding it,” he said. William Dickerson, executive director of the Cal State Fullerton Housing Authority, said one of the things that struck most was that there were witnesses at the scene and other evidence were found. “Capt. Miller told me that some devices were left and may have left fingerprints,” Dickerson said. “The fact that [the firefighters and investigators] were encouraged, encourages me to think that they will be successful in finding the guilty parties.” In a statement released by Ambling Companies, the three burned structures will have no impact on delivery sched-
ule. Mike Kosulandich, Ambling Companies senior construction manager, said all 86 homes will be completed and ready for occupancy by August 2002. The University Gables housing project is a residential neighborhood built through Cal State Fullerton that provides affordable housing for faculty and staff. Averaging around $250,000 per unit, Dickerson said that about 30 homes have been currently purchased. Of the 86 units, 50 are detached while 36 are attached homes. “I don’t know why anybody would do this,” Dickerson said. “This [project] benefits everyone – the city, the university, faculty and most of all the residents.” Miller said that if anyone had information regarding the fire to call the arson tip line at (800) 540-8282 and leave information anonymously.
KATHLEEN GUTIERREZ/Daily Titan
Coast builders discovered the apartment remains on Monday.
Shooting injures 2 females
Coaster Crazies
nPOLICE: Orange County is a site for another violent crime. Two victims received wounds to arm and hand By Alma Castillo
Daily Titan Staff Writer
JAIME NOLTE/Daily Titan
Coaster enthusiasts feel at home riding Knott’s Berry Farm’s “GhostRider,” one of the largest and longest wooden roller coaster in the world.
Adrenaline junkies search for fix
nENTERTAINMENT: Knott’s Berry Farm hosted the exclusive third annual “Winter Coaster Solace” for American Coaster Enthusiasts By Kathleen Gutierrez
Daily Titan Managing Editor It is difficult to imagine a mailman as an adrenaline junkie, but Orange resident Jeff Johnson is just that. During the week, he spends his days delivering letters, catalogs and bills, but on his days off he goes coasting – roller coasting.
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“I stopped counting at 612,” Johnson said as he stood in line for “GhostRider” at Knott’s Berry Farm on Saturday. He appeared unfazed by the number of times he had ridden the coaster, as if this was just another day in the park. But it was not. For the third year in a row, Knott’s hosted the “Winter Coaster Solace,” an exclusive event for roller coaster lovers like Johnson and his friends. Those willing to show up for the 7 a.m. opening received three hours of exclusive ride time on “Montezuma’s Revenge,” “Jaguar,” “Boomerang,” “Timberland Twister,” “Supreme Scream” and one of the highest and longest wooden roller coasters in the world, “GhostRider.”
Johnson and most of the 200 other thrill seekers are members of the American Coaster Enthusiasts club. The group, which boasts more than 7,000 members, is dedicated to the preservation of classic wooden coasters. It even lists criteria on their Web site that all wooden coasters must have before reaching “Classic Coaster Status.” “It mainly has to do with the coaster cars,” said Matt Crowther, ACE’s preservation director. The cars must remain in original 1920s era specifications, including bench side-by-side seating and traditional lap bars to keep riders in the car. “We might implement a Golden Era status next year,” the Atlanta resident said.
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Two females sustained minor injuries from stray bullets on Monday at Rosa’s Pizza in Placentia from a separate gang altercation, police reported. Officials said the two females, who were between the ages of 15 and 20 years old, had gang ties. “A lot of guys started screaming and one of the girls was saying that her hand was hurting. Some of the guys ran toward the park,” said Mario Casarez, a worker for Elsie’s Travel Inc., a travel agency located next to Rosa’s Pizza. At 12:25 p.m., the Placentia Police Department received an anonymous call that a shooting occurred at the pizza place. The two females were passing time at the restaurant. “One girl was shot in the hand while the other received a bullet in the arm but nothing serious,” said Armando Marentes, principal of Valencia High School. “It was an altercation between outsiders exchanging gun fire who shot two females — one of them was a former student between the age of 19 and 20 and the other girl was 15 years old.” The restaurant where this incident occurred was left with a broken window leaving a gap so large that it could be confused with one of the entrances to the building. The owner had to deal with two issues: the glass left from this window shattered on the floor, which he was sweeping, and after police finished the report, the restaurant had no customers for a while. To make sure that everything was safe and to get every detail of the shooting, Placentia police officers blocked the area so they could receive more information. Lt. Ward Smith of the Placentia Police Department said, “It seemed that it was in the west side of Placentia between the Plas gang members and La Jolla gang members; it all started earlier in the campus with an exchange of words.” The Placentia Police Department has a lead regarding who the suspects are and investigators are still working on the case. After the shooting, dozens of students were interviewed by the police officers. These interviews were held at Rosa’s Pizza and others were at Valencia High School.
Deadline to win AS scholarships approachnFINANCE: March 15 is the application due date to win one of the five $1,000 awards or other monetary prizes By Theresa Salinas
Daily Titan Staff WriterAs Monique Macalinao prepared for her scholarship interview, she shook with nervousness. Her palms were sweaty. Her speech was jumbled. But she never wavered from her mission. The 19-year-old sophomore needed the award. She’s raising a 2-
year-old son on her own and works two jobs to make ends meet. Ultimately, Macalinao impressed the selection committee and, along with five other students, received a $1,000 Associated Students scholarship for the fall 2001 semester. “I was so happy when I heard that I won,” Macalinao said. “We were jumping up and down. Even my son was jumping, although he didn’t know why.” AS is now preparing to give out spring 2002 scholarships. The organization is offering five $1,000 awards and 35 book scholarships to help students subsidize the cost of textbooks. The awards are designed for students with various educational backgrounds.
Competition is open to students of all majors. Applicants should have a minimum cumulative Cal State Fullerton grade-point average of 2.5. Applications are available in the AS Executive Offices, located in TSU 207. The deadline to turn them in is 5 p.m. on March 15. “We look for well-rounded students,” said Edgar Zazueta, AS executive vice president and chair of the scholarship committee. “We take financial need into consideration, but we also look for students who hold a campus leadership role or volunteer in the community.” The Richard M. Nixon Memorial Scholarship recognizes students who are active on campus and in the community. Competition is open to
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full-time graduates and undergraduates. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.5. The Titan Student Union Governing Board Student Excellence Scholarship is for students who have a strong history of campus involvement. Competition is open to fulltime graduates and undergraduates with a minimum GPA of 2.5. The Virginia McGarvey Memorial Scholarship also recognizes students who are active on campus and in the community. The competition is open to full-time graduate and undergraduate students with a minimum GPA of 2.8. The Carol Burke Memorial Scholarship is aimed at campus athletes. The competition is open to full-
time undergraduate students who participate in CSUF sports clubs or intramural teams. Applicants must also be involved on campus or in the community and must have a minimum 2.8 GPA. The Adult Re-entry Scholarship is geared towards older students. Part-time or full-time graduate and undergraduates can apply for the award. Undergraduates must be at least 25 years old. Graduate students must have graduated at least four years ago. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.8. In regards to the 35 book scholarships, applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and must be
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