Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Monthly Archives: February 2016

Arrested taggers suspected in several robberies in Santa Ana and Garden Grove

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Gangs, Garden Grove, Santa Ana Leave a comment

A group of half-a-dozen losers were arrested today in Garden Grove after police officers spotted a vehicle that matched the description of a vehicle connected to a tagging incident on Saturday afternoon, at 3:50 p.m., at the Staples Store on Harbor Blvd., according to the O.C. Register.

The suspects turned out to be wanted in connection with a series of robberies in Santa Ana and in Garden Grove.

The suspects were pulled over and arrested at the 13000 block of Roan Road, in Garden Grove. The suspects included five adults and a juvenile. Continue reading→

Santa Ana apartment complex could be converted into a 60 unit drug rehab center

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Drugs, Phil Bacerra, Planning, Redevelopment, Santa Ana 4 Comments

There is an effort underway by Rock Solid Recovery to convert the Mauna Loa Garden Apartments in Santa Ana to a 60 unit residential development to a behavioral health facility – essentially a drug rehab center, at 1311 Washington Place, in Santa Ana, just south of the Target store located at N. Grand Ave. and 17th. St.

This proposed drug rehab center will be located a half mile south of Sierra Intermediate School and the adjacent Northeast Santa Ana Little League.

This seems like a bad idea. For one thing the proposed location in our city is ringed by crime. But to see how bad an idea this is check out these Yelp excerpts regarding Rock Solid Recovery, which currently offers rehab facilities in Costa Mesa: Continue reading→

Local Boy Scouts to host two pancake breakfasts in Santa Ana this month

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Food, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Support your local boy scouts! Santa Ana’s historic Troop 28 is hosting two pancake breakfast fundraisers this month and our boys really need your support. Show up and have a great breakfast cooked by the Boy Scouts!

The first pancake breakfast will be held on Sunday, February 7, 2016, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Santa Ana United Methodist Church located at 2121 N. Grand Ave – in the Fellowship Hall. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man sentenced to three years in prison after fatal DUI crash

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Ulises Mendoza, a Santa Ana man who crashed while driving under the influence, leaving a passenger dead and three others seriously injured, was sentenced Friday to three years in prison, according to the O.C. Register.

Mendoza plead guilty to a felony vehicular manslaughter charge and a misdemeanor driving without a valid license, under a plea deal. Continue reading→

Free O.C. blood pressure screenings on Love Your Heart Day, 2/11

Posted on by Posted in Health and Medical, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: February 8, 2016

Contact: (714) 834-2178

FREE BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENINGS ON “LOVE YOUR HEART DAY,” FEBRUARY 11, 2016

(Santa Ana) – With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, many of us think about matters of the heart. This year, give yourself and loved ones a healthy gift from the heart by getting a free blood pressure screening on Thursday, February 11, 2016.

The County of Orange Health Care Agency (HCA) joins community partners and Live Well San Diego to celebrate “Love Your Heart” – a one-day event that empowers participants to take charge of their health by knowing their numbers. Continue reading→

The Old OC Courthouse will host Valentine’s Day Marriage Ceremonies

Posted on by Posted in Hugh Nguyen, OC Clerk-Recorder, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

HUGH NGUYEN, CLERK-RECORDER

For Immediate Release: February 03, 2016

Contact: David Cabrera,  Phone: (714) 834-2083, david.cabrera@rec.ocgov.com

Clerk-Recorder to Offer Valentine’s Day Marriage Ceremonies

For those looking to tie the knot on Valentine’s Day, look no further. To accommodate couples, Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen will be opening the Old County Courthouse in Santa Ana on this Valentine’s Day from 9 am to 2 pm to perform marriage ceremonies only, even though the special day falls on a Sunday.

In order to take advantage of this opportunity, couples must obtain a marriage license, pre-pay for their ceremony and make an appointment for this special Sunday opening prior to 3 pm, February 11. Couples can obtain and pay for their marriage license, pre-pay for their ceremony and make an appointment by visiting any of the department’s locations. Appointments are limited and will only be available to couples who have already pre-paid for their marriage license and ceremony. Continue reading→

Transient convicted of beating and seriously injuring an elderly man in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Crime, homeless, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15CF2232

Date: February 4, 2016

TRANSIENT MAN CONVICTED OF ATTACKING AND CRITICALLY INJURING 83-YEAR-OLD VICTIM

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A transient man was convicted today for attacking and critically injuring an 83-year-old man. Demarrea Chante Barnes, 29, pleaded guilty today to one felony count of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, one felony count of elder and dependent adult abuse, a sentencing enhancement for great bodily injury, and three state prison priors for drug possession in 2005 and 2008, and assault on a peace officer with injury in 2012. He is expected to be sentenced to nine years in state prison at his sentencing Feb. 25, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-49, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

The City of Santa Ana receives a strong AA issuer credit rating

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Santa Ana 1 Comment

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: City of Santa Ana Receives Strong AA Issuer Credit Rating

The private and independent credit rating firm, Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, has assigned the City of Santa Ana its first city issuer credit rating. Not only is this a first for the City, the outstanding credit rating of AA is a significant statement about Santa Ana’s financial health.

An issuer credit rating is an independent evaluation of the credit worthiness of an issuer. Credit ratings are forward-looking opinions about credit risk and express the agency’s opinion about the City’s financial ability to meet its financial obligations in full and on time. The AA rating differs from the highest possible credit rating of AAA only by a small degree. The AA rating indicates a very strong commitment from the issuer to meet its financial commitments. Continue reading→

Landfill Harmonic to screen at Calle Cuatro’s Frida Cinema on Feb. 7

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, mexico, Movies, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: “Landfill Harmonic” On Historic Calle Cuatro

EXCLUSIVE SCREENING OF “LANDFILL HARMONIC” ON SANTA ANA’S HISTORIC CALLE CUATRO

Final Film in OCCTAC’s Latino Music Film Series at Frida Cinema!

Orange County Children’s Therapeutic Arts Center (OCCTAC) Fresh off the film festival circuit, “Landfill Harmonic – A Symphony of the Human Spirit” will be screened on Sunday, February 7 at 2 p.m. at The Frida Cinema, located on Santa Ana’s historic Calle Cuatro at 305 E. 4th St., Santa Ana, CA 92701.

Orange County Children’s Therapeutic Arts Center (OCCTAC) is proud to present this exclusive screening in collaboration with The Frida Cinema. This is the third and final film in OCCTAC’s Latino Music Film Series, presented with grant assistance from the Santa Ana Arts & Culture Commission, which funds projects and special events with the intent of enriching and invigorating the Santa Ana arts and culture landscape. Continue reading→

OC Sheriff Hutchens won’t provide updates on the OC Jail escape investigation

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NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lt. Mark Stichter, 714.904.7042, MKStichter@ocsd.org; Carrie Braun, 714.552.5795, CBraun@ocsd.org

Update on Jail Escape Investigation

SANTA ANA, Calif. (February 4, 2016) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has initiated an internal administrative investigation into the circumstances of the jail escape in January of 2016 involving inmates Bac Duong, Hossein Nayeri, and Jonathan Tieu from the Central Men’s Jail.

“I have been very clear from the onset of the jail escape investigation that I am deeply concerned about the length of time it took to recognize that three maximum security inmates were unaccounted for,” said Sheriff Sandra Hutchens. “I have initiated an internal administrative investigation to determine the facts of what occurred, contributing factors to the escape and inmate count procedures. Until the investigation is complete, I am unable to discuss it further. Please know that we have taken immediate action to ensure that this situation will not happen again. There have been no personnel changes as of this time.” Continue reading→

Career College of California’s CEO speaks out about why they shut their doors

Posted on by Posted in Education, Santa Ana 3 Comments

We reported on Jan. 28 that Career College of California, which was located in DTSA, closed down. For whatever reason the mainstream media has completely ignored this story. And Career College has not issued a formal press release explaining why they shut their doors.

However Career College’s CEO, Caleb Everett, contacted me yesterday with more information about what they have done to help their students to move on to other schools.

Career College has posted an their website that they closed down because “their expenses were greater than their revenues.” Apparently they lost their funding as well and could not continue to stay in business. Continue reading→

The Bowers will host a women’s heart health event on Feb. 5

Posted on by Posted in Health and Medical, Santa Ana, Women Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: Latina Women’s Heart Health Event at Bowers

The Bowers will be holding a free Spanish-language workshop to promote women’s heart health this Friday, February 5th at 11am, as part of the American Heart Association’s Go Red Por Tu Corazon campaign raising awareness that heart disease, the number one killer of women that develops in Latinas ten years earlier than other groups, is also preventable. The Bowers will also be offering two-for-one admission to people wearing red on Friday. Continue reading→

Man suspected of robbing several 7-11 stores arrested by the SAPD

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Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory – UPDATE: SAPD Robbery Detectives Arrest Suspect In Series Of 7-11 Robberies

Arrested: Hernan Sanchez (25) Placentia, Booked on Charges of Robbery (2)

On 01/28/2016, based on information obtained from community members seeing the media stories and based on a tip received from Orange County Crime Stoppers, SAPD Detectives were able to identify, locate and arrest Hernan Sanchez at his place of employment. Detectives believe Sanchez is responsible for a series of robberies that took place at multiple 7-Eleven locations throughout Orange & Los Angeles Counties dating back to September of 2015. Sanchez has been positively identified in two Santa Ana cases. Sanchez was booked into the SAPD Jail and is being held on $100,000 bail. Continue reading→

Get ready for upcoming freeway closures

Posted on by Posted in Cars, Orange County, public works, Traffic, Transportation Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Advisory – Caltrans: Upcoming Freeway Closures

During February, Caltrans will conduct three significant road projects that could impact Santa Ana residents and commuters. Please be advised of the following dates and locations. Additional details can be found by clicking of the web links for each project. Detour signs will be posted to alert motorists of the closures.

Please note that during the weekend of Feb. 19 to 21, all lanes of the 91 freeway between the 71 freeway and Interstate 15 in Corona will be closed, weather permitting. Continue reading→

The City Council may grant City Manager Cavazos both a bonus and a contract extension on Tuesday

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, David Cavazos, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Santa Ana City Manager, David Cavazos, is going to ask the Santa Ana City Council not only to affirm his unwarranted bonus tomorrow night but also to hand him a contract extension – even though Cavazos remains under investigation for romancing a subordinate city employee.

Cavazos’ contract will be extended to Feb. 19, 2019, if the City Council votes to approve Cavazos’ bonus and contract extenion. Currently his contract is slated to end on Oct. 21, 2017. Continue reading→