Imperial Valley Press Quick News

County civil grand jury to investigate Heffernan Memorial Healthcare District

CALEXICO --- The foreman of the Imperial County Civil Grand Jury confirmed today that an investigation will be launched on the four-member board of the Heffernan Memorial Healthcare District.

Citing privacy issues, foreman Randy Carson declined to specify what will be the specific allegations will be but a critic of the district, Ray Falcon, said that the probe will focus on misappropriation of public funds, mismanagement of public funds and incompetence tied to a land deal to purchase 15 acres of land located southeast of Highway 111 and Jasper Road.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Calexico city council votes against giving Carrillo a pay raise

CALEXICO --- City council members voted 3-2 today against approving a pay hike of $145,000 to City Manager Victor Carrillo.

In spite of Mayor David Ouzan's assertions that Carrillo is underpaid, and while Council member John M. Moreno said Carrillo is deserving of a pay increase, council members Luis J. Castro, Daniel F. Romero and Guillermo Hermosillo all disagreed and voted against the motion.

Castro and Hermosillo said that while to look favorably on Carrillo's job performance, they wanted the city to take several more months before making a decision. The three city leaders who turned the pay raise down wanted to see what the economic health of Calexico looks like before going ahead and giving Carrillo a raise.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

IID Board approves QSA appeals resolution

The Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors voted 4-1 Tuesday to approve the new resolution regarding the tentative invalidation of the Quantification Settlement Agreement. Directors Stella Mendoza, Anthony Sanchez, John Pierre Menvielle and Jim Hanks voted in favor, and Director Michael Abatti voted against it.

Read tomorrow's edition of the IVPress or see it online on the Web site.

-DAVID STEFFEN, Staff Writer

El Centro tops nation for November unemployment rate

The El Centro metropolitan area had the highest unemployment in the nation for November, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics employment summary released Tuesday.

El Centro had 29.2 percent unemployment, which is lower than October's rate of about 30 percent. Yuma followed with 21.1 percent.

Of the 17 areas with unemployment above 15 percent, 11 were in California.

Unemployment rates throughout the country were higher in Nov. 2009 than Nov. 2008, according to the summary. One hundred and twenty five areas had unemployment rates above 10 percent.

Eighty areas had a rate below seven percent, a sharp decline from Nov. 2008 where 255 areas were below seven percent, according to the summary.

Read Wednesday's edition online or in print for further details.

-- ELIZABETH VARIN, staff writer

Name of San Fernando man in fatal wreck released

The name of the San Fernando man who died Saturday in a single-vehicle crash off of Forrester Road has been released.

Benjamin Miranda Zazueta, 65, was the passenger of the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt that veered across the  lanes of Forrester Road and ended up overturning into a cement lined canal that had eight feet of water, according to the California Highway Patrol. Miranda was identified by Imperial County Deputy Coroner Thomas Garcia.

Miranda was pronounced dead at El Centro Regional Medical Center following the crash that was reported at about 6:11 p.m. The sedan Miranda traveled in was heading north on Forrester Road. The driver, who was not identified, survived the crash but suffered major injuries, the Highway Patrol reported.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer