Imperial Valley Press Quick News

Cocaine and methamphetamine seized in two incidents at Highway 86 checkpoint

SALTON CITY --- Drugs were seized by U.S. Border Patrol agents in two separate incidents Thursday at the Highway 86 checkpoint, a press statement read.

About $140,000 worth of methamphetamine was found hidden within the battery of a pickup truck in the secondary area of inspection.

During a second inspection later in the day cocaine that carried an estimated value of $1.13 million was found hidden within the rocker panels of a sedan that approached the checkpoint, the statement reported. Both drivers in the two separate incidents, along with the drugs and vehicles, were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer 

El Centro Vons roof collapses

A portion of the Imperial Avenue Vons grocery store roof collapsed earlier today.

It was not known what caused the collapse over the bakery and liquor sections of the store. Calls to store officials were not returned immediately, and the manager could not give a statement.

The aisles were clear as of 2:30 p.m. Friday with staff working to mop up water.

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

-- Elizabeth Varin, staff writer

$1.7 million grant approved for Seeley water district

Congressman Bob Filner, D-Chula Vista, announced Thursday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved a grant of $1.7 million for the Seeley County Water District.

The funds come from the Rural Development division of the Department of Agriculture and will be used to replace the deteriorated water distribution valves and hydrants.

Rural Development financial programs support essential public facilities and services such as water and sewer systems, housing, health clinics, emergency service facilities and electric and telephone service.

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

--Elizabeth Varin, staff writer

Suspect arrested in death of Yuma man in Winterhaven

WINTERHAVEN --- Authorities yesterday have arrested a 26-year-old Yuma man in connection with the multiple shooting death of a man whose body was found in Winterhaven, an Imperial County Sheriff's press statement reported today.

The suspect, Gerardo Montes, is one of two people held for the killing of Adrian Chee, a Yuma resident who was found dead Aug. 29 at San Pascual School Road and Ironwood Avenue. The second suspect, Ernesto Valera, who is in custody at Arizona State Prison on an unrelated parole violation, was tied to Chee's slaying, said Imperial County Sheriff's Sgt. Manuel De Leon.

Montes was arrested on a $1 million warrant Thursday at about 2 p.m. at his home in the 100 block of North 10th Street in Yuma by members of an Arizona Department of Public Safety police team. Montes, who is in custody at the Yuma County Jail, is awaiting extradition proceedings to face charges in Imperial County for Chee's death, De Leon said.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer 

El Centro metropolitan area No. 1 for nation's unemployment

The El Centro metropolitan area had the highest unemployment rate in the nation for August, reported the Bureau of Labor Statistics Wednesday.

The El Centro area had an unemployment rate of 30.4 percent, followed closely by Yuma with 30.2 percent, according to the data.

The lowest unemployment rate was in Bismarck, North Dakota with 3.1 percent, followed by Fargo, North Dakota with 3.7 percent, according to the data.

Overall the national unemployment rate was 9.5 percent, according to the data.

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

-- Elizabeth Varin, staff writer

IID, County, respond to pesticide spill in Holtville canal

Imperial Irrigation District has been working with Imperial County to respond to a fungicide spill in the South Alamo Canal in Holtville.

IID Spokesman Kevin Kelley said the spill took place on Monday but IID did not become aware of the spill until Tuesday. A farming operation released the chemical into the canal by accident, he said. IID alerted the affected residents on Tuesday afternoon and cleaned out their cisterns. He said residents don't use the water to drink.

IID hazardous material crews continue to work at the site. An IID zanjero flushed out the system when he discovered the problem.

-Continue following Quick News throughout the day for more information. Read tomorrow's online and print editions for the latest, too.

-DAVID STEFFEN, Staff Writer

 

Wind Zero talks continued until November by Imperial County Board of Supervisors

The Imperial County Board of Supervisors voted to continue a public hearing about a controversial law enforcement training center near Ocotillo.

Discussions will pick up at 9 a.m. Nov. 8 about the Wind Zero development. Wind Zero is an almost 1,000-acre training facility for public safety and law enforcement, consisting of classrooms, lodging, a high-speed track and firearms ranges.

Supervisors cited a lack of time to read all of the documents and comment letters given to them the night before the meeting. To make sure enough time is given for the thousands of pages of comments, official papers and more, written comments will only be accepted until 5 p.m. Oct. 8 to the Clerk of the Boards office.

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

-- Elizabeth Varin, staff writer

Bill to work toward Salton Sea restoration plan signed by Governor

A bill, signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Monday, will work toward a restoration plan for the Salton Sea.

The bill, authored by Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny, D-San Diego, would establish the Salton Sea Restoration Council as a state agency in the Natural Resource Agency to oversee the restoration of the sea, according to the bill. The council would evaluate plans and give a report to the Governor and Legislature with a recommended plan by June 30, 2013.

An executive committee would be the governing body of the council and provide guidance and oversight on behalf of the restoration program, according to the bill.

 

The executive committee will be made of 16 voting members:

• The Director of Fish and Game
• The Director of Water Resources
• The Director of Parks and Recreation
• The Chairperson of the State Water Resources Control Board
• The Chairperson of the State Air Resources Board
• The Treasurer
• The Director of Finance
• One public member appointed by the Governor, who is not an elected official and who represents a statewide public health organization
• One public member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, who is not an elected official and who represents a statewide hunting or fishing organization
• One public member appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, who is not an elected official and who represents a statewide environmental organization
• One member from, and selected by, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors, if that board agrees to do so
• One member from, and selected by, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, if that board agrees to do so
• One member from, and selected by, the Board of Directors of the Coachella Valley Water District, if that board agrees to do so
• One member from, and selected by, the Board of Directors of the Imperial Irrigation District, if that board agrees to do so
• One member selected by the Tribal Council of the Torres Martinez Band of Desert Cahuilla Indians, if that council agrees to do so
• One member selected by the Tribal Council of the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, if that council agrees to do so

 

There would also be eight nonvoting members:

• The lead scientist
• One representative of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• One representative of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
• One representative of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• One representative of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• One representative of the U.S. Geological Survey
• One representative of the federal Bureau of Land Management
• One representative of the U.S. Department of Defense

Some locally have criticized changes to the bill as they said it doesn't offer enough local control of the council. Only six of the 10 voting positions are appointed from local officials.

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

-- Elizabeth Varin, staff writer

Border Patrol agents arrest convicted sex offender over weekend

CALEXICO --- A convicted sex offender was arrested over the weekend by U.S. Border Patrol agents two miles west of the downtown Port of Entry after the suspect was caught crossing the border fence, according to a press statement issued today.

The suspect, identified in the press release as Francisco Avila, was found during a routine records check Saturday to have had a prior conviction involving indecent exposure and was previously removed from the U.S.

Avila, the statement read, is a registered sex offender in California and "is an aggravated felon." Avila is in custody at the county jail pending prosecution, the statement reported.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Details of CHP report won't be made public yet, official says

Details about a lengthy investigation by California Highway Patrol authorities into a fatal crash nearly a year ago that involved a federal agent won't be made public because more information is needed by prosecutors, an official said today.

Consequently, the investigation into the Dec. 29, 2009 crash that occurred at Heber and Bowker roads is still ongoing, said Highway Patrol Officer Pablo Torrez. Findings by the Multidisiplinary Accident Investigation Team was presented today to the Imperial County District Attorney's Office that needed more information about some unspecified aspects of the case, Torrez said.  

Cole Dotson, an on-duty U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, drove past a posted stop sign on northbound Bowker Road and plowed into a Dodge minivan that was heading east on Heber Road, killing three people that night. Imperial County DA Gilbert Otero said the MAIT report is very "voluminous" and requires a thorough review before any decision about what charges, if any, would be filed in the case.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer