Imperial Valley Press Quick News

Updated school closure list

Five school districts in Imperial County have closed due to heavy rains and flooding.

San Pasqual Valley, Mulberry, McCabe Union, Holtville Unified and Heber school districts are closed, said Laura Franco, administrative assistant to the Imperial County Office of Education Superintendent. These closures are in effect throughout Friday.

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

-Elizabeth Varin, staff writer

Imperial County unemployment rate falls

Imperial County's unemployment rate fell from November's 29.2 percent to 27.7 percent in December, according to data released Friday by the California Economic Development Department.

Imperial County was the highest in the state, and one of three with percentages higher than 20 percent, according to the data. Colusa County was the second highest rate with 25.9 percent, followed by Sutter County with 20.1 percent.

The lowest unemployment rate was Marin County with 7.8 percent unemployment.

California's overall rate remained unchanged between November and December.

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

-Elizabeth Varin, staff writer

Some Imperial County roads closed

Some county roads have been closed due to flooding, and there is snow on Interstate 8 between Imperial County and San Diego.

The following roads are closed due to flooding, according to the county's Public Works Department Web site:

Forrester Road from Andre Road to Worthington Road
Ogilby Road from Highway 78 to Interstate 8
Dunaway Road from Interstate 8 to Evan Hewes Highway
Imler Road from Forrester Road to Huff Road
Huff Road from Imler Road to Worthington Road
English Road from Highway 111 to Coachella Canal Road
Araz Road from Interstate 8 to Quick Road
Picacho Road from White Road north
Imperial Dam Road from Senator’s Wash to east end
Aten Road from Forrester Road to Austin Road
Azure Road from Treadwell Road to Combs Road
Silsbee Road from Hackelman Road to Evan Hewes Highway
Martin Road from Howenstein Road to Bannister Road
Boley Road is closed at Huff Road and Westmoreland Road
Azure Road from North Marina Road to Rodeo Road
Dolphin Avenue from North Marina Road to South Marina Road

Cuff Road will be closed from Beal Road to Coachella Canal Road from January 20, 2010 thru January 27, 2010 due to flooding and debris on roadway

Wilkins Road will be closed from Beal Road to Hobbs Road from January 20, 2010 thru January 22, 2010 due to flooding and debris on roadway

Heber Avenue will be closed between Highway 86 and 7th Street until 3:00 pm today, due to a power pole being down

All county landfills are closed

View Imperial County roads closed Jan. 22 in a larger map

McCabe schools remain closed

There will be no school at both McCabe and Corfman schools have been closed Friday, according to the McCabe Union School District Web site.

No reason's were cited, though photos on the McCabe Union School District show a flooded courtyard and outdoor passageways.

Both schools were also shut down Thursday.

Check quicknews for updates.

-- ELIZABETH VARIN, Staff Writer

Holtville schools closed due to weather prediction, saturated ground

All Holtville Unified schools have been canceled for Friday, according to the district superintendent's blog.

Hazardous outlooks for the eastern part of the county from the National Weather Service partially prompted the close, according to the blog. There is a chance of thunderstorms, possibly some hail, strong winds and deadly lightning.

The weather services warning is for portions of southeast California, including Joshua Tree National Park, Riverside County and the eastern desert of Imperial County, according to the weather service's warning.

Another reason that the Holtville schools were closed was because the ground was saturated from Thursday's storms, according to the superintendent's post. More rain could cause hazardous conditions for students.

Check quicknews for updates and more schools closing across the county.

-- ELIZABETH VARIN, Staff Writer

Tornado warning issued for northeastern Imperial counties

Rain storms have become so heavy today that the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for northeastern Imperial County.

That area encompasses Yuma and Blythe, according to local meteorologist Jim Christopherson. No one has reported seeing a tornado actually touching ground, Christopherson said. The National Weather Service reports that a tornado watch remains in effect until 9 p.m. today for southwestern Arizona and southern California.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Rain floods McCabe Union District schools and forces cancellation of classes

Classes for both Corfman and McCabe Union schools are cancelled today because the schools have been flooded because of heavy rain, a school employee said.

It was not immediately known when the schools will be reopened.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Six people arrested this week in Brawley drug bust identified

BRAWLEY --- The six people arrested on suspicion of drug charges this week at a home in the 600 block of South Eastern Avenue have been identified, Brawley Police Cmdr. Brett Houser said today.

The suspects, identified aa Martha Rodriguez, 72, Gilbert Rodriguez, 50, Guadalupe Rodriguez, 27, Alexis Rodriguez, 19 and Michael Sosa, 47, were all arrested Tuesday on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance for sale, Houser said. Heroin said was found at the home in a police operation that took authorities eight months to investigate.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Third suspect wanted in connection with graffiti outbreak in Imperial arrested

IMPERIAL --- A third suspect has been arrested in connection with a rash of graffiti markings to at least seven different businesses throughout the city, a sergeant said today.

The suspect whose identity was not known was arrested for an alleged role in marking up the locations, authorities said. Two other suspects, a 17-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man, identified as Eduardo Torres, were arrested early Sunday on suspicion of felony vandalism, conspiracy and other charges. Both the boy and Torres are from Imperial, police said.

Please read Tuesday's issue of the Imperial Valley Press for more information on this story.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Marijuana found in mini-van at checkpoint

SALTON CITY --- The driver of a mini-van faces faces criminal charges following the discovery last week of more than $135,000 of marijuana inside the trunk of the suspect's vehicle at the Highway 86 checkpoint, according to a press statement issued Monday.

The driver, an unidentified United States citizen, and the vehicle was turned over to authorities with the Drug Enforcement Administration Thursday after Border Patrol agents found 132 vacuum sealed bags that contained a "green leafy" substance that was consistent with the properties of marijuana, the statement read.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer