Imperial Valley Press Quick News

El Centro car fire may be arson

A fire that billowed smoke into the street is being investigated for possible arson after a pick up truck caught on fire at about 12:30 a.m. Saturday morning.

Residents in a house on the 500 block of Desert Garden Drive heard noises and came out to investigate only to find their Ford pick up on fire, said Capt. Alex Romero of the El Centro Fire Department.

Both fire stations in El Centro were called in, though only one was needed, he said. It was mainly a precaution.

When fire officials arrived, smoke was pouring out from beneath a carport, he said.

It is likely that arson was the cause of the fire, he said. The residents heard noises outside, and there have been other attempts to break into the neighbors house, though there are other reasons as well.

Police were also called in and will be investigating the incident, said El Centro Police Sgt. Jerrold Novak.

"We're going to treat it as a possible arson, though we don't know for sure yet," he said.

For more information read Sunday's edition online or in print.

-Elizabeth Varin, staff writer

Helicopter clips power line and causes electrical outages

About 130 Imperial Irrigation District customers were affected when a helicopter clipped a power line on Cooley and Aten Roads in Imperial, IID spokesman Kevin Kelley said.

The customers did not have electricity for about one hour, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

No injuries were reported, Kelley said.

For more information read Saturday's edition online or in print.

-Brooke Ruth, Digital Media News Editor

Magnitude 4.1 earthquake hits Thursday evening

A magnitude 4.1 earthquake that was centered 26.8 miles southeast of Calexico shook Calipatria Thursday evening, a resident said.

The earthquake hit at 6:35 p.m.

For more information read Saturday's edition online or in print.

-- Brooke Ruth, Digital Media News Editor

Brawley man arrested on burglary charges

Brawley resident Johnny Rubio, 39, was arrested and booked into the Imperial County Jail on charges of burglary Tuesday afternoon.

Rubio was arrested after Brawley police officers responded to a call reporting a possible burglary in progress. Rubio was arrested and booked into the jail after being found in a storage structure on a property on the 1300 block of I Street in Brawley.

- Brooke Ruth, Digital Media News Editor

Stolen vehicle located, three arrested

A Kia Spectra that was reported stolen on Monday was located Tuesday in the north alleyway of 1000 Main Street in Brawley, according to a press release.

The three vehicle occupants - Brian Perez, 19, Jorge Ibarra, 18,  and Jose Saldana, 18 - fled on foot in different directions and were arrested in separate locations. All three are El Centro residents and were booked in the Imperial County Jail on suspicion of possession of stolen property and resisting a peace officer.

--Brooke Ruth, Digital Media News Editor

Supes approve sewer district rate study, grant application

The Imperial County Board of Supervisors approved a rate study for the Country Club Sewer Maintenance District Tuesday.

This will allow the study to become a recognized public document so that the county can meet with residents and start answering questions that were not possible before, said Public Works Director Bill Brunet.

The board also created an ad hoc committee to deal with the rate's questions. Supervisors Wally Leimgruber and Louis Fuentes will be a part of it.

In addition, the board approved a grant application to increase energy efficiency by replacing old air conditioning units at the Sheriff's Office, jail, juvenile detention center and more.

The current units require a lot of maintenance and use more energy that the proposed units will not use, said Public Works Director Brunet.

The board also approved the addition of an infraction as a possible punishment for violating the animal control ordinance.

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

-- ELIZABETH VARIN, staff writer

Supervisors reorganize; Fuentes voted new chairman

Supervisor Louis Fuentes was elected the new chairman of the Imperial County Board of Supervisors Tuesday morning.

With a unanimous vote the newest supervisor was named the new supervisor, and he later thanked the board for their support, saying that it was an honor to have the position.

He said he looks forward to working with the supervisors, county staff and the community.

As his first act as chairman, he called for the election of a vice-chairman to fill in if the chairman were unavailable.

In another unanimous vote district two Supervisor Jack Terrazas was elected as vice-chairman.

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

-- ELIZABETH VARIN, staff writer

Imperial County Ag. Commissioner announces retirement

Agriculture Commissioner Stephen Birdsall announced his retirement at the Imperial County Board of Supervisors Tuesday morning.

Birdsall, who is also the airport director, sealer of weights and measures and former air polution control officer, will retire in July 2010, he said to the board.

He told the board he looks forward to working with it for the next six months.

He has been working with the county for almost 30 years, he said. In 1987 he was appointed as agriculture commissioner, air pollution control officer and sealer of weights and measures.

He was also appointed airport director in May 2004, he said.

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

-- ELIZABETH VARIN, staff writer

Parolee wanted in connection with stabbing in Brawley

BRAWLEY --- Police here are searching for a parolee suspected of repeatedly stabbing a man last week in a dispute over property, Brawley Police Cmdr. Brett Houser said today.

The 48-year-old alleged victim is expected to recover from the injuries he received Thursday night at the hands of Anthony Donato Cortez outside a home in the 600 block of Stanley Place, Houser said. News about the attempted homicide was not made public and Houser said he had just learned about it until today.

Police suspect Donato, 32, of stabbing the victim once in his stomach and slashing him twice across his neck, Houser said. Donato was on parole for statutory rape, Houser said.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer