Imperial Valley Press Quick News

Masked man robs liquor store

By SILVIO J. PANTA

A masked man wielding a shotgun robbed a liquor store Friday afternoon before fleeing on a bicycle.

No one was hurt during the 1:38 p.m. holdup at 401 State St. where the suspect, dressed in black garb but wearing a white ski mask, had fled the business on a beach cruiser-type bicycle in a southwest direction, said El Centro Police Officer Andrew McFadden.

Police did not say how much the suspect fled with, but a number of officers in patrol cars drove around nearby residential streets in search of the gunman. Police were examining video surveillance tapes of the crime at the store. If anyone with any information about the armed robbery can call 352-2111.

Man robs CVB

A man was taken into custody by the El Centro Police Department after robbing Community Valley Bank in El Centro at around 2 today.

The man walked into the bank, located on Imperial Ave., said he had a bomb on him and took an undiscoled amount of money from CVB. He left the bank on foot and was apprehended by El Centro Police at the Imperial Valley Plaza.

The man's name and address were not released. Police did not know how much money he took from the bank. El Centro Police Lt. Ron Meredith said the man was being questioned by El Centro Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Meredith also said the agencies were looking for a possible second suspect.

Meredith said more information would be provided later today.

Sheriff's authorities investigating fatal home invasion robbery

By SILVIO PANTA, Staff Writer

An 82-year-old woman was killed Wednesday night during a home invasion robbery on Danenberg Road where authorities also found her car missing.

Imperial County Sheriff’s Sgt. Miguel Leon declined to say too much about the murder, but said that the victim, identified by a deputy coroner as Elsa Hechanova, was found inside the home with unspecified injuries "on her body."

Leon said the victim’s car, a white 2001 Volvo S40 that had Nevada license plates of 922NXC, was being searched by authorities that included police in Mexicali.

El Centro Police initially received a 9:30 p.m. call of the slain elderly victim but sheriff’s took over the case and stayed at the crime scene overnight sifting through whatever evidence they could find.

Entrance to Hechanova’s home was cordoned off by yellow tape as sheriff’s homicide detectives and technicians were searching for clues inside.

Authorities investigate murder of local woman

By SILVIO J. PANTA

Authorities are investigating the murder of an 82-year-old El Centro woman who was apparently killed at her home Tuesday night. Imperial County Deputy Coroner Charles Lucas identified the woman as Elsa Hechanova. Initial reports suggest that the victim may have died in a home invasion robbery. No other details were immediately available at press time.

Filner announces Veterans' Clinic bid

It looks like the long-awaited Veterans Clinic will finally become a reality.

Congressman Bob Filner announced today Sterling Medical has been awarded a contract with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to develop an outpatient clinic for local veterans.

Filner promised local veterans last year that he would ensure a clinic was brought to the Valley to serve their needs exclusively after many argued the two-hour drive to the VA hospital in La Jolla was time consuming and primarily relied on the good deeds of volunteer drivers.

The new clinic will be located on Imperial Ave. in El Centro.

Look for a story about the clinic in Thursday's Imperial Valley Press.

- Brianna Lusk, staff writer

Liberty Energy throws in the towel

Luis Plancarte, of Liberty Energy, on Tuesday announced to the Imperial County Board of Supervisors that Liberty will not pursue its sludge plant in Niland.

Bakersfield-based Liberty had proposed a waste-to-energy facility that would take biosolids and biowastes from throughout Southern California and truck it in to the northend Imperial County site.

On the February ballot voters passed an ordinance that would make it illegal to import sludge into Imperial County.

"Liberty has made a business decision to withdraw its application for a sludge plant in Niland," Plancarte told supervisors.

>> Eric Galvan

Imperial pastor injured in wreck

A local pastor was seriously injured Monday after colliding into a car on his motorcycle.

Pastor Wayne Mudge of Imperial Community Church was riding his motorcycle east on Barioni Blvd Monday when a car allegedly pulled out of the Imperial High School parking lot directly in front of them, witnesses said.

Mudge sustained a broken shoulder, a broken nose and several deep lacerations to the face.

Staff Writer Jonathan Dale

Mudge was taken to El Centro Regional Medical Center before being airlifted to a San Diego area hospital.