New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: Orange County

Teens invited to apply for the OCTA Teen Council

Posted on May 29, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in OCTA, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 29, 2015

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713; Eric Carpenter (714) 560-5697

Teens Invited to Apply for OCTA Council

Applications are open to Orange County high school students and are due July 31

ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority is accepting applications for its teen council, a group that allows high school students to participate in transportation-related discussions and projects with their peers and OCTA staff.

Applications are due by July 31 and can be found at www.octa.net/teencouncil, and at some Orange County high school administrative offices. Continue reading→

Orange County Memorial Day events and services

Posted on May 23, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Military, Orange County, Santa Ana, Veterans Leave a comment

SANTA ANA
Fairhaven Memorial Park’s 23rd Annual Memorial Day Service
Monday, May 25 at 10:30 a.m.
1702 E Fairhaven Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92705
More Information

SANTA ANA
Memorial Day Program at the Santa Ana Cemetery
Monday, May 25, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.
1919 Santa Clara Ave., in Santa Ana.
More Information Continue reading→

Southwest Airlines announces nonstop service from John Wayne Airport to Missouri

Posted on May 16, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Airplanes, John Wayne Airport, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 14, 2015

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

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES® ANNOUNCES NEW NONSTOP ROUTES FROM JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Today, Southwest Airlines announced new nonstop service from John Wayne Airport (JWA) to St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri. Southwest routed their specialty plane, Missouri One, through John Wayne Airport this morning to introduce the new destinations. Service to Kansas City (MCI) and St. Louis (STL), Missouri, will begin on November 22, 2015. Todd Spitzer, Chairman, Orange County Board of Supervisors; Dave Harvey, Southwest Airlines’ Senior Director of Network Planning and Performance; and Laura DeSoto, Chair, Orange County Business Council Board of Directors shared their excitement for these new routes during a media event overlooking John Wayne Airport’s Thomas F. Riley Terminal and airfield.

“We are fortunate to have a world-class airport right here in Orange County. JWA is beautiful, convenient and generates over six billion dollars in annual economic impact – it is a powerful engine that helps drive our economy,” shared Board of Supervisors Chairman Todd Spitzer. “That engine will be even more powerful come November with thanks to Southwest Airlines and the launch of new nonstop service to Kansas City and St. Louis.” Continue reading→

Should the OC GOP get behind Loretta Sanchez for the U.S. Senate?

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2016 Elections, Loretta Sanchez, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 7 Comments

There are no viable Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate seat that is being vacated by U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer in 2016. There are a few former California Republican Party Chairmen sniffing around but they don’t have much name I.D. and won’t be able to raise money. For all effects and purposes Boxer will be succeeded by another Democrat.

Given this scenario should the Republican Party of Orange County – and other local GOP groups such as the Lincoln Club, get behind U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez for Boxer’s Senate seat – now that she has confirmed that she is running?

The idea sounds nuts but think about it. She is the ONLY Orange County resident with a shot at Boxer’s seat. And Sanchez was born and raised here, in Anaheim, and still lives here, in Santa Ana (yes we know she has another home in Virginia). Continue reading→

The campaign to recall Judge Marc Kelly reacts to his arrogant response

Posted on May 12, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2016 Elections, Courts, Crime, Judge Marc Kelly, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana 1 Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Contact: Kelsey Eiben (714) 676-8879

Advocates of Recall Judge M. Marc Kelly From The Bench Campaign Release Statement On Judge Kelly Response

(Santa Ana, CA)-Today, Bryan Scott, Founder and Chairman of the Recall Judge M. Marc Kelly campaign, and Patricia Wenskunas, Founder and CEO of Crime Survivors, Inc., released a statement in reaction to Judge Kelly’s official response to the petition of notice to recall.

“Judge Kelly can talk about other decisions he has made throughout his career, which I find to be arrogant, but it will never make up for his horrific decision to go easy on a child sexual predator. This recall is a way to show support and protection for crime victims everywhere; past, present, and future,” said Patricia Wenskunas. Continue reading→

John Wayne Airport celebrates National Travel and Tourism Week and unveils a trading card

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Airplanes, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 4, 2015
Contact: Jenny Wedge, (949) 252-5182, jwedge@ocair.com

JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT CELEBRATES NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK; UNVEILS COLLECTIBLE TRADING CARD

SANTA ANA, Calif. – As part of National Travel and Tourism Week and in conjunction with U.S. Travel Rally Day, John Wayne Airport (JWA) will debut its first ever trading card. The “SNA” card reflects JWA’s official airport code and is part of the North American Airport Collectors Series™, which was created to offer aviation enthusiasts a unique collectible to commemorate their travels through U.S. and Canadian airports.

On Tuesday, May 5, JWA employees will distribute the new SNA trading card to passengers on selected flights. Two airports, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Salt Lake City, will hand out their own trading cards to passengers arriving from Orange County. JWA is encouraging passengers to take pictures of themselves with their SNA trading card and share them on social media using #AirportCards. Continue reading→

Two men who robbed businesses in four counties arrested in Chino Hills

Posted on May 3, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Press Release

Date/Time Occurred: Friday, May 1, 2015

Chino Hills – Detectives arrest two suspects clearing 16 robberies that span over 4 Southern California Counties

Suspect(s): Oddie, Anthony Edward, 20 years old, Chino Hills and Gomez-Quiroz, Richard, 20, Riverside

Summary: Chino Hills detectives arrested two men late Friday night and early Saturday morning in connection with more than 16 robberies throughout four Southern California Counties in which the suspect wielded a firearm and a machete.

Anthony Edward Oddie and Richard Gomez-Quiroz were each arrested on a $1,000,000 arrest warrant after an extensive investigation, spanning nearly two months, regarding a series of robberies that started in Chino Hills and spanned throughout neighboring cities and counties. Oddie and Gomez-Quiroz robbed more than 16 convenience stores throughout the cities of Chino Hills, Artesia, Fountain Valley, Diamond Bar, Riverside, Santa Ana, Orange and Newport Beach, often returning to a store more than once during the series. Chino Hills stores were victimized a total of six times, with a Circle K and Pizza Hut each getting hit twice. Continue reading→

Mayor Pro Tem Sarmiento used almost a million gallons of water last year

Posted on May 3, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Miguel Pulido, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento, Water 3 Comments

Vince Sarmiento’s Estate. Picture Courtesy of Google Maps.

In these times of drought we are all trying to cut back on water usage. But a recent expose by the Orange County Register revealed that a number of Orange County’s local politicians are actually wasting more water now than ever before.

Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Vince Sarmiento was one of the politicians highlighted in the article. He said that “he plans to abandon his expansive front lawn and switch to drought-tolerant landscaping and synthetic turf.”

Sarmiento has used more water each year for the past five years, starting at 556,000 gallons in 2010 and jumping to nearly a million gallons last year. He blamed a family of five that is now renting a carriage house on his property, which is about three-quarters of an acre. Continue reading→

Three businessmen charged with ripping off their workers on public works projects

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Orange County Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15CF0737

Date: April 27, 2015

THREE BUSINESSMEN CHARGED FOR TAKING WORKERS’ WAGES ON PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT

SANTA ANA – Three businessmen have been charged for defrauding employees by taking their wages on a public works project. Saeed Kenari, 54, Tujunga, is charged with four felony counts of conspiring to take a portion of workers’ wages on a public works project, 34 felony counts of taking workers’ wages on a public works project, 20 felony counts of failure to pay taxes, four felony counts of conspiracy to commit a crime, and 10 felony counts of conspiring to file a false or forged document with a sentencing enhancement allegation for property loss over $200,000. If convicted, Kenari faces a maximum sentence of 56 years and three months in state prison. Kenari is being held on $340,000 bail and was arraigned today. He is scheduled for pre-trial on May 15, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

Co-defendant Rina Arakelian, 62, Glendale, is charged with four felony counts of conspiring to take a portion of workers’ wages on a public works project, 34 felony counts of taking workers’ wages on a public works project, four felony counts of conspiracy to commit a crime, and 10 felony counts of conspiring to file a false or forged document with a sentencing enhancement allegation for property loss over $200,000. If convicted, Arakelian faces a maximum sentence of 27 years in state prison. Arakelian is being held on $340,000 bail and is scheduled for continued arraignment on May 15, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center. Continue reading→

What the politicians had to say at the 2015 O.C. Victims’ Rights March & Rally

Posted on April 26, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Janet Nguyen, Michelle Steel, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana, Todd Spitzer, Tony Rackauckas Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Remarks for Orange County Victims’ Rights March & Rally

April 24, 2015

Tony Rackauckas:

Good Morning!

Every year we’ve had this event it’s been too hot. This year I prayed for cooler weather… I must have prayed just a little too hard.

Come rain or shine:

Remembering those we have lost, honoring those who have survived, and celebrating the tenacity and strength of the people who carry on the fight for justice – Welcome to the 7th Annual Orange County Victims’ Rights March & Rally. Continue reading→

DUI driver charged with vehicular manslaughter after teenager killed in accident

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Alcohol, Crime, OCDA, Orange County 2 Comments

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15CF0864

Date: April 23, 2015

DRUNKEN DRIVER CHARGED FOR ROLLING VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF 16-YEAR-OLD PASSENGER

SANTA ANA – A drunken driver was charged today for crashing and rolling vehicle several times ejecting his 16-year-old passenger who died at the scene. Antonio Jesus Escamilla, 21, was charged today with one felony count of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated without gross negligence, one felony count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury, one felony count of driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or more causing bodily injury, and a sentencing enhancement for causing great bodily injury. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of six years in state prison. The defendant is scheduled for pre-trial on May 28, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

At approximately 1:40 a.m. on Sept. 9, 2013, Escamilla is accused of driving a Honda Civic while under the influence of alcohol, traveling southbound on Santiago Canyon Road, north of Silverado Canyon Road in unincorporated Orange County. The defendant is accused of having three other passengers in his vehicle at the time, including 16-year-old Marie Johnson who was sitting in the right rear passenger seat. Continue reading→

Driver on meth convicted of hit and run crash that killed a cyclist

Posted on April 22, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Drugs, Orange County, Tustin Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 14CF1047

Date: April 21, 2015

DRIVER UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF METHAMPHETAMINE SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS IN PRISON FOR KILLING CYCLIST IN HIT-AND-RUN CRASH

SANTA ANA – A driver was sentenced today to 11 years in state prison for driving under the influence of methamphetamine and killing a cyclist in a hit-and-run crash. Sommer Nicole Gonzales, 19, Tustin, pleaded guilty today to one felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated, one felony count of hit and run with death, one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance, one misdemeanor count of use and under the influence of a controlled substance, one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance paraphernalia, and a sentencing enhancement allegation for fleeing the scene of a vehicular manslaughter.

At approximately 6:55 a.m. on Feb. 2, 2014, Gonzales drove under the influence of methamphetamine in her Toyota Corolla sedan southbound on Santiago Canyon Road, in unincorporated Orange County near Loma Ridge Road, and veered into the bike lane. She struck 21-year-old Joseph Robinson, who was lawfully riding his bike within the marked bike lane. Gonzales fled the scene without stopping to render any assistance to the victim or reporting the accident. A witness, who was driving in the vicinity of the hit and run, saw substantial damage to Gonzales’ vehicle and called 911 to give a description of her car. Continue reading→

The State awards $17.5 Million for a new County Juvenile Probation Center

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Orange, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

State Awards $17.5 Million for New County Juvenile Probation Center

By Supervisor Lisa Bartlett

The California Board of State and Community Corrections has awarded $17.5 million to the County of Orange to build a multi-purpose rehabilitation facility at the Juvenile Hall and Youth Leadership Academy campus in Orange, including a visitation center, meeting rooms and a gymnasium.

The funding was the most received among eight counties splitting nearly $80 million to improve housing and program space for youthful offenders. Continue reading→

Scumbag criminal defense lawyers stand up for pedo-loving Judge Marc Kelly

Posted on April 12, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

As expected Orange County’s criminal defense lawyers are defending the pedo-loving Judge Marc Kelly, who came under fire recently after he reduced a possible 25 years to life sentence to only 10 years, for Santa Ana resident Kevin Jonas Rojano-Nieto, who sodomized a 3-year old little girl, who turned out to be his stepsister.

The OC Weekly published the official response to the public demand, led by three Orange County Supervisors (Todd Spitzer, Shawn Nelson and Lisa Bartlett), that Kelly resign, from the Orange County Defense Bar Association: Continue reading→

The OCTA seeks volunteers to serve on two advisory committees

Posted on April 12, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disabled, OCDA, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 10, 2015

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713, Eric Carpenter (714) 560-5697

OCTA Seeks Volunteers to Serve on Advisory Committees

Applications for advisory committees are being accepted through May 8

ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority is seeking community leaders to fill seats on its Citizens Advisory Committee. OCTA is also seeking volunteers who represent individuals with disabilities and senior citizens in the county to serve on its Special Needs Advisory Committee.

These 34-member committees meet throughout the year to provide input on a broad spectrum of transportation projects, studies and outreach activities and offer input to OCTA staff and its board of directors. Continue reading→