News
Valley View Grade Separation Project Continues to Move Forward Ahead of Schedule
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| The northbound lanes of Valley View will be open soon and will be used for both directions of traffic while the southbound lanes are completed and the detour road is demolished. photo Tony Aiello |
Originally slated to be completed in early 2015, lack of rain provides for an Autumn 2014 complete opening
La Mirada~The Valley View Grade Separation Project continues to make steady progress and is on track to be completed by early September.
With the railroad tracks successfully installed on the new bridge structure crossing over Valley View Avenue, crews have been busy completing excavation work to create the underpass. More than 103,000 cubic yards of dirt have been excavated from the site. The excavated dirt was transported and used as fill material on a separate construction project at the Port of Los Angeles.
Construction of the roadway has begun and will occur in two phases. The first phase will see construction of the northbound lanes. Once that is complete, phase two construction of the southbound lanes will begin. During this time, all traffic will be moved onto the newly built northbound lanes, with two lanes in each direction, and the current temporary detour road will be closed for removal.
See all of our photos from this story on our Flickr feed here.
Fire Destroys Vehicles at Mattress Factory
La Mirada~Residents were awakened in La Mirada to the sound of sirens early this morning around 3:00 a.m. after a fire erupted at the Ortho Mattress Factory Showroom at Valley View Avenue and Artesia Boulevard along the Cerritos border.
When firefighters arrived on the scene they were greeted by three bobtail trucks fully engulfed in the parking area of the building. The three trucks and two private vehicles appeared to have been destroyed.
NBC4 is reporting that fire officials are saying the incident is suspicious, yet they are are still calling it accidental at this time, as arson officials continue their investigation.
Fire units quickly doused the flames and no structural damage was reported.
BREAKING: Two Lanes Remain Closed on NB I-5 at this Hour After Truck Fire
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| A big rig rests in the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 in La Mirada early Sunday morning shortly after firefighters extinguished it. The blaze closed the freeway for an hour. Photo Dennis Simms |
Only two lanes remain open at this hour just east of Valley View Avenue as authorities clean up mess
La Mirada~A big rig caught on fire early this morning in La Mirada and temporarily closed Interstate 5 as fire crews battled the blaze.
The incident occurred in the northbound lanes just east of Valley View Avenue.
The truck laid to rest directly in front of the Dale Tiffany Outlet Center on Firestone Boulevard.
According to La Mirada Blog social media reports, the incident occurred at around 3:00 a.m.
Firefighter Joel Entreken from Los Angeles County Fire Station 49 in La Mirada told the La Mirada Blog that when they arrived the tractor/cab was “fully involved” and about three-fourths of the trailer was on fire.
Entreken said the driver was the only occupant of the truck and he escaped unharmed.
The driver said he hit an object on the freeway, rupturing his fuel pump, causing it to drag and catch on fire, according to Entreken.
Entreken said the freeway was fully closed for about an hour and it took firefighters about 30 minutes to knock out the fire.
About 100 feet of the guardrail along the freeway was very badly damaged.
LA County Fire Station 35 from Cerritos also responded to the scene along with units from the Orange County Fire Authority and two units from the Anaheim Fire Department.
Earthquake Centered in La Habra Shakes Area
La Mirada~A large earthquake has just hit the La Mirada area.
The preliminary report indicates a 5.3 mag centered in La Habra.
This follows two quakes earlier centered in La Habra at 8:03 and 8:16 p.m. as reported on our Twitter feed.
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Mowles Begins Term as New Mayor of La Mirada
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| Larry Mowles was selected to serve as Mayor of La Mirada at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Pauline Deal was selected to serve as Mayor Pro Tem Photo Tony Aiello |
La Mirada~The La Mirada City Council selected Larry Mowles to serve as Mayor at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Councilmember Pauline Deal was selected to serve as Mayor Pro Tem. The Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem each serve one-year terms and are elected by the City Council.
Mayor Mowles has served on the City Council since 2011. He has been a resident of La Mirada for more than 35 years and works in the insurance industry. This will be his first term as Mayor.
Prior to serving on the City Council, Mayor Mowles served on the Planning Commission from 2009-2011. He also served on the Public Safety Commission from 2007-2009, and the Community Services Commission from 2000-2007.
Mayor Mowles is a founding member and Past President of the La Mirada Community Foundation where he served from 1999-2007. During this time, he was responsible for the operation of the “4 La Mirada Kids” Community Carnival, which raises funds for youth programs and community organizations.
Mayor Pro Tem Deal was first appointed to the City Council in 2011 and re-elected in 2013. She has been a resident of La Mirada since 1980 and serves as the Assistant Controller for an area business.
Prior to serving on the City Council, Mayor Pro Tem Deal was elected to the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District Board of Education four consecutive times, serving from 1995-2011. She twice served as President of the School Board in 1999 and 2006. She also served on the Southeast Regional Occupation Program (R.O.P.) Board for four years.
Mayor Pro Tem Deal has been active locally in youth sports leagues, where she served as the Treasurer/Board Member and Coach for the La Mirada Girls Softball Association for seven years. She has also been active with the Parent Teachers Association for the past 26 years, where she has served in several capacities, including as Auditor for the Norwalk-La Mirada Council of PTA’s and President.
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| The La Mirada City Council. [l to r]Councilmember Andrew Sarega, Mayor Pro Tem Pauline Deal, Mayor Larry Mowles, Councilmembers Steve De Ruse and Steve Jones Photo City Services |
Also serving on the City Council are Steve De Ruse, Steve Jones, and Andrew Sarega.
Detectives Continue to Work Stubborn Bona Vista Case; Asking for Public Help
La Mirada~Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau continue to investigate the recent shooting death of a young man and are asking for the public for help.
Officials have concluded Dominique Mendoza, 20, of La Mirada was shot outside the home at 13409 Bona Vista Lane in La Mirada on February 16th sometime before 12:41 a.m. when they received the shots fired call.
When police arrived they found evidence of a shooting but no victim.
A bit later, an unknown person dumped Mendoza’s body in the parking area of the emergency trauma center at Presbyterian Hospital in Whittier. A passerby noticed the body lying on the ground.
Sgt. Ken Clark told the La Mirada Blog yesterday that Mendoza, “May have known the people who shot him.”
“We’re asking for help, Clark said, “We believe there is someone out there who witnessed what happened.”
Because the investigation is still ongoing, Clark offered very little more about the details of the case at this time.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Sgt. Ken Clark or Sgt. Tim Cain at the Sheriff’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.
Shooting Victim in Norwalk Was La Mirada Resident
La Mirada~A shooting victim found on the 12000 block of Lowemont Street in Norwalk this past Sunday morning has been identified as a La Mirada resident.
Carlos Aguilar, 25, of La Mirada was pronounced dead at the scene at around 1:42 a.m. according to the La Mirada Lamplighter Newspaper.
Officials are continuing their investigation, anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
EXCLUSIVE: La Mirada to Reconvene Gang and Drug Task Force
La Mirada~The City Manager has called for the reconvening of a community group that has sat idle in recent years.
Jeff Boynton told the La Mirada Blog the Gang and Drug Task Force, which existed for a number of years in the city in the past, will be reconvening beginning with the initial meeting last evening (Thursday).
Boynton told the LMB the group will include representatives from the “Sheriff’s Department, District Attorney’s Office, Probation, School District, clergy, counseling services, and City staff.”
In the past the group met periodically to discuss general issues in the community, primarily involving youths, the idea being that the members of the group could serve as mentors and a resource for the kids.
No McKidding; Road May be Paved for McDonald’s to Replace The Carriage
La Mirada~Whatever you think of the concept, a McDonald's may be opening in La Mirada for the first time ever.
The La Mirada Blog has learned the La Mirada Planning Commission will be voting at its March 20th meeting whether or not to grant a McDonald's franchisee a conditional use permit to allow a drive-thru at the proposed new restaurant.
The meeting is open to the public and begins at 6:30 p.m.
Latest La Mirada Crime Report; Two Window Smashes on Santa Gertrudes
The following is the crime report for La Mirada for Feb. 17 - Feb. 23, 2014
Aggravated Assault-A domestic dispute was reported on the 14000 block of Estero Rd. The victim was punched and bitten their significant other.
Other Structure Burglary-A burglary was reported on the 12700 block of Valley View Ave. No items were stolen from the location. A burglary occurred on the 15900 block of Alicante Rd. Miscellaneous food items were taken from the location.
Vehicle Burglary-Two separate window smash burglaries were reported on the 12000 block of Santa Gertrudes Ave. Purses were stolen from the vehicles in both incidents. A MP3 player and case was reported stolen from a vehicle on the 14400 block of Valley View Ave. A purse and tablet computers were stolen from a vehicle on the 14300 block of Firestone Blvd.
Grand Theft-Cell phones were stolen from a business on the 14900 block of Imperial Hwy. Copper wiring was reported stolen from an electrical shed on the 14200 block of Imperial Hwy.
Grand Theft Vehicle-A vehicle reported stolen by the Long Beach Police Department was recovered on the 14400 block of Firestone Blvd.
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