New Santa Ana | Monthly Archives: February 2015

Mayor and City Council urge residents to shop in Santa Ana

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Business, Civic Affairs, Santa Ana 2 Comments

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO SHOP LOCAL. SHOP SANTA ANA.

SANTA ANA, CA (February 19, 2015) – With multiple award-winning restaurants, the City of Santa Ana has been recognized as a destination for food lovers and according to Forbes Magazine, as one of the Coolest Places in the Country to live. Now, the Mayor and City Council want to encourage residents to explore all the City has to offer in their new ‘Shop Local. Shop Santa Ana’ video. Continue reading→

Southwest announces non-stop service from John Wayne Airport

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Airplanes, Santa Ana, Transportation, Travel Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jenny Wedge, (949) 252-5182, jwedge@ocair.com

SOUTHWEST ANNOUNCES NEW NONSTOP SERVICE FROM JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT

SANTA ANA, Calif. – More nonstop flights are taking off from John Wayne Airport (JWA). Travelers will be able to fly on Southwest Airlines to Seattle (SEA) and Chicago (MDW) beginning June 28, and to Portland (PDX) beginning August 9, 2015. Southwest also announced its plans to increase the number of daily, nonstop departures between John Wayne Airport and Dallas-Love Field (DAL) and Denver (DEN) effective August 2015. As previously announced, the airline plans to inaugurate daily service to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (PVR) on June 7, 2015, subject to governmental approvals and to Austin (AUS) on June 28, 2015. Continue reading→

Rabid bat found in Huntington Beach

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, Huntington Beach, Nature, Orange County Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: February 19, 2015

Contact: Nicole Stanfield, nstanfield@ochca.com, 714-834-2178

Bat Found in Huntington Beach Tests Positive for Rabies

(Santa Ana) – A live, rabid bat was found on the ground in the Big Lots shopping center parking lot located at the corner of Warner and Golden West in Huntington Beach on Sunday, February 15, 2015. Anyone who had recent contact with a bat in the vicinity is asked to call Orange County Health Care Agency Epidemiology at (714) 834-8180 from 8am to 5pm or (714) 834-7792 after hours so a nurse can evaluate the risk for rabies. Continue reading→

Young Latina disappears after partying late in Irvine

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Costa Mesa, irvine, Latinos, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org/Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840, EOsterberg@ocsd.org

SPECIAL BULLETIN: MISSING PERSON / ATTEMPT TO IDENTIFY

NAME: ALONSO, Erica Melissa – 3/26/87
DESCRIPTION: Female, Hispanic, 5’3”, 110 lbs., long Brown hair, brown eyes
CLOTHING: Unknown
VEHICLE: 2014 Honda Civic EX, white, 4-door, CA License #7FSS563
LAST CONTACT: Sunday, February 15 @ 4:00 a.m.

Continue reading→

Recovered body identified as missing Laguna Beach swimmer

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Beaches, Orange County Leave a comment

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org; Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840, EOsterberg@ocsd.org

Recovered Body Identified as Missing Laguna Beach Swimmer

SANTA ANA, Calif. – (February 19, 2015) – On Wednesday, February 18, 2015, a body was discovered near the rocks at Shell Beach, in the area of Monarch/Three Arch Bay. The body has been positively identified as Anthony Parnell, 18, Las Vegas. The area Parnell’s body was discovered is approximately one-half mile south of 1000 Steps Beach, the area he was last seen. Continue reading→

Public assistance sought in identifying a dead man found in Crystal Cove

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Beaches, Crime, Orange County Leave a comment

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org; Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840, EOsterberg@ocsd.org

Investigators Seeking Public’s Assistance Identifying John Doe

SANTA ANA, Calif. (February 19, 2015) – Investigators have recently compiled the sketch of a John Doe missing since Tuesday, December 24, 2013. Investigators have determined the person had been deceased for as long as several weeks prior to discovery.

At that time, the body of a male was found floating approximately one mile off of the Newport Beach Coastline in the Crystal Cove area. The victim may have suffered unknown head trauma and had been weighted down with a 35lb iron dumbbell. The subject was wearing a dark colored ‘Champion’ nylon sweatpants with zippered legs, size 11 black ‘Asics’ tennis shoes and a black ‘Timex’ watch with a black plastic band. While his age is unknown, it is believed he is older than 30 and as old as 50, height of 5’8”-5’9”, approximately 165 lbs with dark hair. Continue reading→

2015 O.C. Tet Parade set for Feb. 21 in Little Saigon

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Santa Ana, Westminster, Working Families, Youth Activities 1 Comment

The Annual Orange County Tet Parade for 2015 is set for Sat., Feb. 21, from 9 am to 12 p.m. (pre-parade starts at 8 am) on Bolsa Ave., main stage at Magnolia St.

The Little Saigon Tet Parade is Organized by the Vietnamese American Federation of Southern California. The purpose is to Celebrate the Lunar New Year and to preserve and Promote Vietnamese culture to the younger generations and to the greater community.

The Parade Festival is supported by the National Vietnam Southern California organized with support from many organizations and international children in the community. The purpose of the New Year Parade in order to preserve and promote traditional Vietnamese culture to future generations as well as your community and mainstream America. Continue reading→

SAPD investigating death of Ricardo Arriaga Villegas in motorcycle accident

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Santa Ana Police Department – Traffic Division Investigates Single Vehicle Fatal Traffic Collision

Deceased: Ricardo Arriaga Villegas (29) Santa Ana

On 02/18/15, officers responded to the scene of a single vehicle traffic collision involving a motorcycle near the intersection of Ross Street and Richland Street. Continue reading→

Spurgeon Intermediate on lock down after shots fired nearby

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Education, Santa Ana, SAUSD 1 Comment

The Santa Ana School Police Department has reported that shots were heard at around 3 pm by Spurgeon Intermediate School and it was placed on lock down temporarily as a precautionary measure.

The School Police and the SAPD responded to the area of 5th and Fairview in reference to the shots that were reported. Continue reading→

Wood burning ban in effect in Orange County through tomorrow

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Air Quality, Environment, Fires, Health and Medical, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

NO-BURN ALERT: MANDATORY WOOD-BURNING BAN IN EFFECT TODAY AND TOMORROW FOR RESIDENTS OF THE SOUTH COAST AIR BASIN

All Indoor and Outdoor Residential Wood Burning Prohibited Due to High Air Pollution Predicted for Wednesday, February 18 and Thursday, February 19

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) has issued a residential no-burn alert effective Wednesday, February 18 and Thursday, February 19, for all those living in the South Coast Air Basin, which includes the greater Los Angeles area, Orange County and the Inland Empire. SCAQMD reminds residents in these areas that burning wood in their fireplaces is prohibited today and tomorrow, through midnight on Thursday. No-burn alerts are mandatory in order to protect public health due to a high concentration of fine particle air pollution forecast for the area. The no-burn prohibition also applies to manufactured fire logs, such as those made from wax or paper. Continue reading→

Smoke advisory issued after explosion at the Exxon-Mobil refinery in Torrance

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Air Quality, Environment, Fires, Health and Medical Leave a comment

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

SMOKE ADVISORY

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

A explosion at the Exxon-Mobil refinery in Torrance has caused smoke and ash in surrounding areas. At this time the impacts are local.

In any area impacted by smoke: Everyone should avoid any vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should remain indoors. Keep windows and doors closed or seek alternate shelter. Run your air conditioner if you have one. Keep the fresh air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent bringing additional smoke inside. Continue reading→

Young, tattoed woman a person of interest in hotel robberies

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Hotels, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: UPDATE: Detectives Request Additional Media and Public Assistance in Identifying Female of Interest

On Tuesday, January 6, 2015, Santa Ana Police Department detectives initiated an investigation after an attempted robbery at the Double Tree Hotel located at 201 E. MacArthur in the city of Santa Ana.

Detectives suspect Christopher Herrera approached the victim from behind as he entered his room and demanded money. After the victim refused, Herrera physically assaulted the victim before fleeing the area of the room and exiting an elevator with two unknown females. Continue reading→

Fatal collision at Ross and W. Richland

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Fatal Collision – Avoid Area for Several Hours

Please be advised of a fatal collision between a motorcycle and a parked vehicle.

Avoid the 600 – 800 block of South Ross St. and the 300 – 500 block of West Richland St. for several hours. Continue reading→

Discovery Cube to celebrate Engineer’s Week from Feb. 21 to March 1

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Orange County, Santa Ana, Science, Youth Activities Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Dan Nasitka, Discovery Science Foundation, (714) 913-5018

Discovery Cube Celebrates National Engineer’s Week with Exhibits, NASA Guest Speaker and Egg-Drop Competition

Future engineers will learn about the principles of S.T.E.M. education during this interactive week

Santa Ana, Calif. (February 18, 2015) – Aspiring engineers are invited to learn and experiment at Discovery Cube Orange County and Discovery Cube Los Angeles between February 21 and March 1, 2015. The Cube is celebrating National Engineer’s Week with a lineup of friendly competitions, hands-on activities, and a special guest speaker from NASA to engage young minds in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Continue reading→

The SAPD issues a warning about IRS and Sheriff phone scams

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Santa Ana Police Department Advisory – Phone Scams

The Santa Ana Police Department advises the public to be aware of two current phone scams involving suspects who pretend to be IRS or Orange County Sheriff’s Department employees. Since January 29th, 2015, the SAPD has several reported cases involving these scams where victims have lost approximately $10,000.

IRS-Impersonation Telephone Scam:

An aggressive and sophisticated phone scam targeting taxpayers, including recent immigrants, has been making the rounds throughout the country. Callers claim to be employees of the IRS, but are not. These con artists can sound convincing when they call. They use fake names and bogus IRS identification badge numbers. They may know a lot about their targets, and they usually alter the caller ID to make it look like the IRS is calling. Continue reading→