Imperial Valley Press Quick News

Man stabbed in El Centro late Thursday

An argument between two individuals resulted in one man being stabbed late Thursday night in El Centro.

The stabbing occurred at 7th Street and Brighton Avenue when the suspect, a hispanic male in his 20s, stabbed the victim in the arm, said Sgt. Theresa Quinn.

The victim was transported to El Centro Regional Medical Center by his family. He is still being treated at the hospital at this time.

The suspect has not yet been arrested and the investigation is ongoing, Quinn said. 

-Brooke Ruth, digital media news editor

Packages of unknown substance found in railroad car

Eight packages of an unknown substance were discovered and removed from a railroad car traveling from Mexico today at 8:15 a.m., Calexico Fire Department Capt. Wally Castro said.

The fire department assisted railroad police and United States Customs officers in removing the packages that were about two feet by two feet by one foot, Castro said.

The train was stopped in Calexico on Cesar Chavez Boulevard and Grant Street.

No other information was available at this time. U.S. Customs is not currently answering questions and is currently preparing a press release, a spokesman said.

For more information visit Quick News.

-Brooke Ruth, Digital Media News Editor

Decision made on Calexico Superintendent's contract extension

After a closed session meeting, the president of the Calexico Unified School District Board of Trustees, Salvador Pacheco, announced that Superintendent Christina Luna's contract would not be extended into the 2011-2012 school year.

"Her evaluation has been completed and no action was taken," Pacheco said. "Her contract will stay as is."

The Superintendent's contract is set to end on July 31, 2011.

- ROMAN FLORES, Staff Writer

Calexico City offices to close on Fridays starting tomorrow

CALEXICO --- In order to implement furlough days that all city labor unions agreed to on Wednesday, the hours of operation for City Hall, the Camarena Library, the adminstration of the Calexico Police Department and other offices will be closed every Friday starting tomorrow until June 3, 2011, a press statement read.

Other city offices affected by the Friday closure are the recreation department, the Carnegie Technology Center, the General Services Department and the administration for the Calexico Fire Department, according to the statement.

Public safety staff will continue to provide service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the statement reported.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer 

Judge upholds Proposition 8 for now

The Associated Press reports that Judge Vaughn Walker will place gay marriages in the state of California on hold until Aug. 18 at 5 p.m., at which point the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will decide on gay marriages.

-STAFF REPORTS

Calexico Unified granted 10 days of attendance waiver from Anne Mallory

Imperial County Office of Education Superintendent Anne Mallory has decided to waive no more than 10 instructional days in response to the Calexico Unified School Districts "Request for Allowance of Attendance Because of Emergency Conditions" waiver, according to her letter to the California Department of Education.

Included within the packet sent to State Superintendent Jack O' Connell, Mallory included all communications between ICOE and CUSD with regards to the earthquake repairs and attendance waiver request.

For more information regarding Superintendent Mallory's response read Friday's edition of the Imperial Valley Press in print or online.

- ROMAN FLORES, Staff Writer

Brush fire in Winterhaven under investigation, official says

WINTERHAVEN --- A cause behind a brush fire is under investigation today after it  charred five acres through an old channel near the All American Canal late Wednesday afternoon, Winterhaven Fire Protection District Fire Chief Steve Taylor said.

Winds blew embers from the site off of Aaron Road and caused multiple spot fires that warranted calling out for another fire engine from the Imperial County Fire Department, Taylor said. The brush fire that was reported at about 5:15 p.m. injured no one and caused no damage to a nearby church and house, Taylor said.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Planning Commission gives the Wind Zero project the green light

Despite strong opposition to its presence in the Ocotillo community, the county's Planning Commission unanimously approved today to recommend the three phase development of the controversial Wind Zero training facility.

During a 7 1/2-hour meeting the seven-member commission went through approving all the plans and reports tied to the project that would be built on about 944 acres in western Imperial County and located within the Ocotillo-Nomirage community. Among its includes a facility for police and fire fighter training.

Today's vote by the commission now leaves it up to the Imperial County Board of Supervisors to give its final approval on the commercial project Sept. 14. Construction would then start in about nine months from then.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Gas leak causes area in downtown Calexico to be evacuated for two hours

An area in downtown Calexico was evacuated today after a clean-up crew hit a gas line at a store on 112 East Second Street, said Calexico Fire Chief Pete Mercado.

The clean-up crew was removing debris from the earthquake damaged building when the incident occurred. Once the gas line was hit the crew was able to plug the line until the gas company arrived to turn the gas off.

During the incident, which occurred at 11:10 a.m., the cleaning crew and nearby businesses were evacuated. Business in the downtown area resumed to normal by 1 p.m., Mercado said.

-Brooke Ruth, Digital Media News Editor

CUHS District approves land lease, responds to Civil Grand Jury Report

In an unanimous "yes" vote in a Tuesday night meeting, the Central Union High School District board voted to approve the lease agreement between the district and Ben Abatti Farms, LLC.

The 55.13 acre plot of land 50 acres off of McCabe Road near the Imperial Valley Mall will be leased by the district at $175 per acre, according to Superintendent C. Thomas Budde's recommendations to the board.

Budde said the district's first prorated payment will not be due until Jan. 5.

The district also unanimously approved Superintendent Budde's response to the Imperial County Civil Grand Jury report concerning both the SAVAPA program and a hostile work environment claim.

For more information on the land lease and the district's response to the Civil Grand Jury report read the Thursday edition of the Imperial Valley Press in print or online.

- ROMAN FLORES, Staff Writer