The Signal Fourth of July 2019

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Bear, cub spotted in Castaic neighborhood By Perry Smith and Brennon Dixson

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Signal Staff

Santa Clarita Valley sheriff’s deputies responded to yet another “bear in the backyard” sighting Wednesday, as a mother bear and her cub were seen in a Castaic neighborhood. Deputies arrived at the scene around 2 p.m, according to Shirley Miller, spokeswoman for the SCV Sheriff’s Station. “I heard we received several phone calls from residents who

said they saw a mother bear and her cub in a tree on Oak Valley Road in Castaic.” The situation concerned local residents, who also contacted The Signal with reports the animals had been rummaging through their trash cans, walking through backyards and even cooling off in local pools. One neighborhood resident,

Cara Cherry, said she and her next-door neighbor had children outside playing while the bear showed up just feet away, walking on their backyard fence. “(The bear) walked up the side of my neighbor’s house and went up the wall into her backyard, crossed over and came onto our wall,” Cherry said. “The mama went over the wood fence and the baby couldn’t figure out how to get See BEARS, A8 Dan Watson/The Signal

A bear cub peeks out through the branches as it and its mother huddle in a tree in the backyard of a residence on Oak Valley Road in Castaic on Wednesday.

It’s a grand old flag SCV-area residents wave flags proudly for the Fourth

State budget includes funds for community college tuition By Brennon Dixson

By Emily Alvarenga

Signal Staff Writer

Signal Staff Writer

The tuition of firsttime, full-time students at California community colleges will now be covered by California after state leaders agreed to dedicate more funding to higher education that will be used to expand the state’s promise program. California and College of the Canyons’ promise programs both already allowed students

F

or more than 200 years, the American flag has been flown across the nation as a symbol of allegiance and pride, and the Santa Clarita Valley is no exception. In fact, Santa Clarita is known as a patriotic town by many. Flags proudly wave on light poles down many of the streets, at homes across the city and at various schools and businesses, including some especially large flags at Camping World of Valencia and Schwartz Oil Co. at Castaic Junction. “People tell us they love seeing (the flag) from the freeway,” Camping World spokeswoman Melissa Manning said to The Signal in a previous interview. “It’s loud and proud, and it never comes down, unless it has to be repaired.” The massive 40-by80-foot flag was put up three years ago, and stays up year-round, after officials at Camping World in Lincolnshire, Illinois, announced that all of the chain’s stores would be flying the massive flags See FLAGS, A8

to waive their first year of tuition, but thanks to the millions of dollars that were set aside by the state Legislature in the budget signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, students will now receive a second year of tuition-free schooling. COC recently celebrated the growth the Canyons Promise program has seen since its inaugural year, but school officials believe See PROMISE, A8

Former coach gets 9 years in sex case Haggerty’s sentence part of plea deal for sex assault charges By Perry Smith Signal Managing Editor

Jeremy Haggerty, a former youth basketball coach who worked at a number of local schools, was sentenced Wednesday to nine years in prison as part of a plea deal for sexual assault charges. Cory Rubin/The Signal

“He pleaded no contest,” said Greg Risling, spokesman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. “(The sentence) was part of a negotiated plea agreement.” Haggerty pleaded See HAGGERTY, A8

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A flag flies in front of the Valencia Atrium, casting multiple images in the building’s mirrored windows.

Vet groups plan holiday festivities By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

As the nation prepared to ring in its Independence Day, a number of veteran groups in Santa Clarita were preparing to celebrate those who served in the name of independence. The American Legion Post 507, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6885 have all planned to either be in the Santa Clarita Fourth of July Parade or host events for the day that are open to the community. American Legion Post 507 is planning to both participate in the parade and host a free lunch afterward. “We are participating in the parade, and with the Blue Star Moms and our three different agencies

(The American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary and the Sons of the Legion), are sponsoring our float together,” said Steve Blumenfeld, commander of American Legion Post 507. “The American Legion Riders participate in the parade as safety marshals.” Following the parade, the American Legion has invited the community over for a free lunch at the post, which will include hamburgers and hot dogs. “It’s cool, it’s free,” said Blumenfeld, “and you can come meet your neighbors while staying in town.” The barbecue is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, located at 24527 Spruce St., Newhall. In addition to the American Legion, the Vietnam Veterans of America plan to participate in the parade.

According to members of the VVA Associates, who are helping to organize the event alongside the VVA members, they will lead their section of the parade with a float that celebrates The Signal and freedom of the press, which is the theme of this year’s parade in commemoration of the newspaper’s 100th anniversary. “We’ll start out with our color guard, then I’m not sure whether our military jeeps or the Andy Gump Eagle Truck,” said Sharon Ventrice, an event organizer for the Associates of the Vietnam Veterans of America, and whose husband is a VVA member and Vietnam veteran. Ventrice added that all the military jeeps and vehicles used in the VVA’s portion of the parade will all be vintage See VETERANS, A8

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