La Mirada Blog
Articles by Tony Aiello
Man Fatally Shot in La Mirada on Bona Vista Lane
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| St. Paul of the Cross Church towers in background as officials continue investigation of fatal shooting at a home in La Mirada Photo Tony Aiello |
La Mirada~Officials continue to investigate the fatal shooting of a man in La Mirada that occurred in the early morning hours Sunday. This is a developing story and we are ascertaining further.
Witnesses on the scene told the La Mirada Blog the shooting occurred at 13409 Bona Vista Lane. The witness stated four shots rang out and as many as three cars sped away. The witness indicated to us the incident occurred around 12:05 a.m. Reportedly, the house has had past gang affiliations.
It is unclear at this time if the victim was shot outside of the home or if the shooter entered the house.
021614 13:01 UPDATE: A La Mirada Blog Facebook fan has said there was more than four shots. Also, a name was also given on the page as the victim, but we cannot confirm it at this time.
Lieutenant Smitson told the La Mirada Blog this afternoon, "Homicide is still investigating and witnesses are still being interviewed."
He elaborated as to how the event unfolded, "We received a call of shots fired at 12:40 a.m. Officers were investigating the area of Foster Road and Bona Vista when we were contacted by Whittier PD advising us of a gunshot victim at Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital."
The victim was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
Smitson said it appears the victim was privately transported to the facility and that the name of the victim has not been officially released.
Follow our Twitter feed for the latest here and check out the current video of the incident here.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
LMHS Basketball Girls Walk Out on Head Coach
SPORTS
021114 17:20 UPDATE-Girls Basketball coach Darryl Gowens has been fired by La Mirada High principal Bill Seals.
Gowens told the La Mirada Blog that after a positive morning meeting at the school he was then pulled aside by principal Seals around 4:45 p.m., moments before boarding the bus to traveling to John Glenn for a scheduled game.
La Mirada~Most of the La Mirada Girls Varsity basketball team walked out of practice this past Thursday due to an apparent dispute with head coach Darryl Gowens, resulting in a forfeiture of Friday night's scheduled contest against Cerritos High.
The issue seems to stem from some of the girls and their parents claiming the first year coach has been over-aggressive in his style.
Gowens says he has encouraged the girls all season and has Facebook posts to prove it and added, "At the end of the day it's about maturity, it's about growing up and it's about accountability".
Two of the girls parents from the programs booster club wished to remain nameless, but they did talk to us and disagreed with Gowens assessment saying he has "mentally abused" the girls with words and other actions.
It is unclear at this time how this will affect the Matadores last two games of the season tomorrow at John Glenn and the final game of the season at home against Norwalk on Thursday, which is also senior night.
More Changes for LM Blvd/Imperial Intersection
La Mirada~A car wash, not a car wash. There is a long-term lease for the car wash to remain a car wash for a very long time. Any changes would trigger a rezoning process which scares a lot of perspective builders away. One thing for sure it is certainly in the top 5 of La Mirada community eyesores.
McDonald’s appears to still be in the picture. It is possible Carriage will be torn down to be replaced by McDonald’s. There are a lot of things possible at this time. McDonald’s could go elsewhere in center, or they could not build at all. It’s just that the name keeps coming up.
Owners of the Crossroads center, Rich Development are tight-lipped but have told us they hope to lease out three stores currently being built between Walmart Neighborhood Market and the Bank of America. We have heard a cell phone provider is going in. Also have heard the possibility of a Bistro.
Popular Spaghetti Dinner Renamed in Honor of a Great Community Friend
Great food, tons of prizes, great cause! Mark your calendar and stop on by!
JUST ADDED: A Barbershop Quartet and a Beauty Shop Quartet from La Mirada High School's VAPA program will be part of the entertainment lineup.
La Mirada~The popular annual Spaghetti Dinner, hosted by La Mirada Kiwanis and Meals on Wheels (MOW), will be held Friday evening, January 24, 2014. This year the event will be named the Lou Piltz Memorial Spaghetti Dinner in honor of the beloved member who gave so much to his community throughout his life.
Lou’s personal career in the City of La Mirada was in the original Hiram’s Market where he made a mark as a great manager and customer pleaser. His political career included membership on several commissions and ultimately as councilman and mayor. His service career was endless including many years as a KIwanian, hours of comfort and support for wayward boys, tutoring of elementary school children, and computer lessons for the older folk.
Children were his love, and he learned magic to amuse them at schools and other community events. Lou was a favorite member and faithful servant at the La Mirada Temple Beth Ohr. Humility and humor were his personal trademarks.
La Mirada Radio Shack Robbed
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| La Mirada Sheriff's Deputies converged on the Radio Shack in La Mirada Tuesday evening shortly after a armed robbery occured |
La Mirada~The Radio Shack in La Mirada was robbed last night.
Around 8:15 p.m., a man approached the cashier with miscellaneous electronic items in his hands and showed the cashier a black handgun in his waistband, according to a Sheriff's broadcast of the incident.
The broadcast also indicated the cashier feared for his life and surrendered the entire cash register drawer to the suspect containing around $300.00.
Witnesses and employees said the man was white and seemed to be in his 50's and was last seen running toward Adelfa Drive, away from he store.
Nobody was injured in the incident.
Moments after the incident, the manager and employee of the store told the La Mirada Blog they were unable to comment.
When contacted by this website, on-duty watch commander for the Norwalk Sheriff's, Lieutenant McDaniel acknowledged to us there was a robbery, but they were still working out the details.
Check out our on-scene video coverage here.
Read more details as events unfolded on our Twitter feed here.
©La Mirada Blog
One Injured in Head-On Collision at Imperial Highway and Marquardt Avenue
Santa Fe Springs~One man was transported to the hospital as two vehicles collided early Saturday evening at Imperial Highway and Marquardt Avenue along the La Mirada and Santa Fe Springs border.
The accident occurred around 6:40 p.m. as a black SUV was traveling eastbound on Imperial Highway The driver of the SUV, an male appearing to be in his 50's complaining of arm pain, said an older model truck traveling westbound on Imperial Highway pulled in front of him while attempting a turn onto Marquardt.
The driver of the pickup, a man appearing to being is 40's, had to be extracted from the vehicle. He was conscious and transported to a local hospital with unknown injuries.
See the video moments after the incident here.
See additional photos of the incident here.
Photo Matt Gush
Dulles Elementary K-Kids Host First Campaign & Philanthropy Conference; Elect New Officers
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| The spirit of giving and learning how to campaign for office were combined at the 1st Annual Campaign & Philanthropy Conference at Dulles Elementary School in La Mirada. The students are flanked by, l to r, Dulles K-Kids Advisor Stephanie De La Torre, L.A. County Supervisor Candidate April Saucedo, Dulles Principal Robin Padget and Olive Branch Calvary Chapel Pastor Dicky Velasquez. |
See the print version in this weekend's La Mirada Lamplighter Newspaper!
La Mirada~A group of fourth and fifth graders at Dulles Elementary in La Mirada recently hosted and participated in the school’s first annual Campaign & Philanthropy Conference.
The conference was a prelude to the recently completed election of officers for the on-campus Kiwanis K-Kids Club.
About 25 students are active in the on-campus service club which is organized by the Dulles K-Kids advisor and parent, Stephanie De La Torre.
The K-Kids is a branch of Kiwanis International that in coordination with local Kiwanis clubs takes on the responsibility of participating in community service projects at the elementary school level.
De La Torre put together the conference which was attended by Dulles principal Robin Padget and featured two special community role model guest speakers, each invited to talk about the different aspects of the conference.
The conference focused on the importance of community service and giving to others and De La Torre explained the event is also designed to give the students some of the tools they need to campaign for office, including public speaking techniques, creating a campaign platform, judging your peers and creating personal confidence.
De La Torre said the conference was modeled after many she has attended and the idea is to get kids to be independent thinkers through a conference experience, “A lot of times if you’re just leading, they’re just doing what you tell them to do. I want them to be critical thinkers and make decisions on their own.”
La Mirada Resident Ran Over and Killed While Crossing the Street
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Officials investigated well into the morning in La Mirada following a fatal pedestrian accident at Valley View Avenue and Foster Road. |
Detective: Pedestrian appears to have had the right of way
La Mirada~An elderly woman was killed as she was crossing the street, apparently in the crosswalk, this morning in La Mirada.
The incident occurred around 7:20 a.m. at the intersection of Valley View and Foster Road in the number one northbound lane.
Conner Penfold reported the incident to the La Mirada Blog hotline at 7:33 a.m., moments after it happened saying, "there was a crowd of people around the vehicle and a woman crying hysterically on the phone and another woman comforting her."
This afternoon, Detective Anna of the Norwalk Sheriff Station traffic division told the La Mirada Blog it appears the victim was crossing the street in the crosswalk and had the right of way.
He did not indicate whether the driver, who was driving a Honda CRV, was going against a red light or not.
"The driver has been fully cooperative, is licensed, fully insured and at this point of the investigation there is no indication of high speed, alcohol or drugs being involved," Anna said, "It seems to be a tragic accident."
Anna confirmed the victim was 80 years old, a La Mirada resident but withheld her name at this time. The identity of the driver is also being withheld at this time.
Anna said, "We will be conducting a thorough investigation," to determine the cause.
See additonal photos on our Flickr feed here.
©2013 La Mirada Blog
Red Robin La Mirada Remains Closed
La Mirada~The Red Robin restaurant in La Mirada hopefully will reopen under the same name as patrons were caught off guard recently when the eatery suddenly closed.
The La Mirada Rotary Club were surprised when member Hal Malkin showed up for the meeting recently and the door was locked, forcing the club to move across the street to the Elephant Bar.
Director of Sales and Marketing for the Holiday Inn Select Garry Abel told the La Mirada Blog that the hotel has outsourced the banquet and restaurant operations, which is part of the hotel building, to La Mirada Restaurant Inc. for the past 15 years.
He said the owner of the hotel, Cathedral Hill Associates (CHA) has now taken over the lease and the kitchen and banquet operations.
CHA also owns two other hotels, the Doubletree Guest Suites in Seattle and the Doubletree Hotel in Dallas.
Abel said, “We are currently negotiating with Red Robin to hopefully have them stay (here in La Mirada).”
As of now, the restaurant remains closed.
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