Police Chief has Big Plands (Press Enterprise 082306) RIALTO: The new boss wants to step up recruitment to build the city's department.

Police chief has big plans

RIALTO: The new boss wants to step up recruitment to rebuild the city's department.

10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, August 23, 2006

By MASSIEL LADRÓN DE GUEVARA
The Press-Enterprise

Police blueprint A plan authored by Rialto City Administrator Henry Garcia and interim Police Chief Frank Scialdone to overhaul the city's Police Department calls for: Replacing the deputy chief position with two captains -- one to oversee all police operations, and the other to handle administration. Dividing the city into three sections, with each commanded by a lieutenant. Filling vacancies and buying police equipment. Realigning beats. Improving computer technology.

RIALTO - The man chosen to rebuild the city's Police Department began his first week on the job Monday with a goal of stepping up Rialto's recruitment program.

Chief Mark Kling, former head of the Baldwin Park Police Department, has spent his time meeting with officials, officers and interim Chief Frank Scialdone to get acquainted with programs and top issues.

Feedback from supervisors made it clear recruitment is the department's paramount issue so it will get immediate attention, Kling said.

"We are going to fire up the recruitment machine and start getting qualified officers," Kling said.

The department staff is down 25 percent, Scialdone said.

At full staff, the department has 115 officers. There currently are 88, Scialdone said.

To get prospective officers to the interview and background stage quicker, Scialdone said he has worked with human resources to cut the process down three to four months.

In the past, applications from officers working for other departments were held until there were 30 to process them all at once.

"Now, as soon as an officer from another department applies, the application is processed immediately," Scialdone said.

Kling said he agrees applications shouldn't be held and will meet with human resources this week to see if there are any other ways to expedite the process.

"A lot of Chief Scialdone's ideas ... will continue because I believe in the processes that he has started," Kling said.

The efforts made at Rialto's East Jackson Street and Willow-Winchester area have been good, Kling said.

East Jackson Street was the setting of high-profile raids in March that focused on crime and living conditions in apartment buildings.

The Willow-Winchester area also was plagued with crime and poor living conditions. It is now part of a $38 million project that will rehabilitate condominiums and offer social programs to residents.

As chief, Kling said he will work to continue those good efforts.

Getting to know officers' expectations of him also is important, Kling said, so he'll meet with small groups in the coming week.

Scialdone, whose last day was Wednesday, said he will be pushing Kling toward community policing, which encourages city officials, social service providers and the community to work with police to prevent crime.

Lt. Joe Cirilo, who has been with the department 27 years, said he believes Kling is going to bring the organization focus and direction.

"He comes with a lot of energy and excitement, and that is transcending to the organization because we see a leader who is ready to take this department on ... and elevate the standard to make us a premier organization once again," Cirilo said.

Rialto's new top cop helped rebuild the Baldwin Park Police Department when he was appointed chief there in April 2001, officials there said.

The year before, the Baldwin Park City Council was looking at disbanding the city's department and contracting with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The council narrowly voted to keep the department despite recruitment problems and a lack of unity.

Today, the experience of getting Baldwin Park to that point will help in Rialto, Kling said.

Cirilo said the renovation of the Baldwin Park Police Department is a good indication of what will happen in Rialto's department.

"The city of Baldwin Park was under similar conditions and (Kling) took an organization that nobody had any hope in and he turned it around," Cirilo said.

"He said he would bring that same effect here ... and we look forward to the challenges that face us and we look forward to working with him."

Reach Massiel Ladrón De Guevara at 909-806-3054 or mdeguevara@PE.com

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Rialto Police Department has not been at this low of Police Officers since the Early to Mid Eighties!! Maybe the late seventies, that is how low the employment has been!! I certainly hope that they first thing that he does, is starts to think about getting people Hired!! The City Council would not allow Scaldone hire people he was just there to Head hunt the current people and clean up the "Corruption" and Clear out anyone that didn't "Really" want to be at Rialto, so now that he has done his job, and very well I might add. Frank Scaldone is a very good Police Chief, and He is probably very burned out doing it and that is why he had left and sought to get elected to the City Council of Fontana! Just to see what it is like at the real administration side of life. I mean if you think about it many chiefs do this Farmer from Rialto did it, he was Mayor for six years before hanging up his political career and becoming a PI, Like Magnum. LOL..

Seriously, They need to hire on at least twenty (20) to twenty five (25) people! This will not be an easy task there are a few brick walls that Chief Kling will have to go over and around. The first is that the city does not offer a good retirement Plan! Sure they offer a retirement plan and it is what it is, but it is not what 98% of the rest of the California Departments are offering now.

See More then 96% of all the Police Departments Offer a Retirement Plan Known as a 3% @50. This means that at the age of 50 years old you get 3% of your highest earned pay at that time for the rest of your time on this planet. In other words you will make just about what you made without overtime for the rest of your life at the age of 50 years old. Instead of pushing around Squad car, and chasing these kids that are 16, well 15 you can retire and reap what you sown and take care of what yourself and relax.

The other plans out there are the Plan that San Bernardino Police Department has and that is 3% at 55, so they can retire at 55 rather then at the other one which is 50. Rialto still has the old broken down system and Rialto city has not, will not write away from it and that is the famous or not so famous 2% at 50. You can retire with this package when you are 62 with a full retirement. I am sorry, but I don't think that I could be a copper at the age of 59, chasing the children that are out there, but I guess you have to stay young in your mind and continue to march and then continue to work no matter what. Maybe the City Council, Personnel Manager, City Administrator, all are wanting to keep it at the current status quo! This will make it cheaper for the city since they only pay in that 9% towards their retirement, the only thing that they loose is when the City Employee gets an early out like mine did such as an accident or a shooting where the employee is crippled for the rest of their natural life. Then they can collect 50% of their income Tax Free, if it is a 100% disability or even a 48% disability for that matter can be approved for a 100% tax free disability retirement, they better not get rid of this retirement especially for the Employee that can no longer work again, such as my self.

I can never Work again and if I were to have to pay Taxes, forget it!! We ( my wife & I would never make it!! ) the small amount of pay that we get compared to what I used to get or what I could be getting today!! instead of what I get now, I would be so much better Off!! Why I could afford that new pick up truck!! That Dodge 3500 Ram 1 Ton Flat Bed, W/Duels!! That is my next dream truck!! well it has been my dream truck since I had my old truck. My 1963 3/4 Ton Flat Bed w/Duels!! It had a Standard cab. The 3500 that I am talking about will have a slid in locking 5-wheel hitch lock/platform. it would be like the mini version of the big rig diesel King Pin hitch plate for the fifth wheel. he he he ..

I would have the back seat on this truck it would be white..THAT'S RIGHT!! A Stone White Dodge truck, with a crew Cab, not the Mega Cab, but the regular crew cab six speed diesel, and oooh yea, the Jake brrreak!! brrrrrrrrrr..I will be adding all the banks super supped up equipment to give my six speed all the power that I can ! I just wish I was ready to make the purchase of said new truck.

I don't know how I got onto the subject of the truck, but I guess it is just wishful thinking since my accident and not being able to afford new truck or car for that matter, we will have to come to the understanding that that is the way that it is and so I will have to work through that with my BLOG's and so here I am!! Take care have a great Day!!

I just hope and pray that Mark Kling is everything that they have been writing about for him. because when they close out the hiring at Rialto Police Department and suddenly when the coast is clear so to speak they raise the glass and toast the new hiring of the replacement for Kling's position was Chief Lopez, a long time person form Baldwin Park PD. Baldwin Park's City Council didn't even dust off any list's they just walked up to Lopez and said, Okay you start Monday!! That's totally 'OLD SCHOOL'!!

BSRanch

Is Perchlorate Cleanup Slipping from our Grasp? (Daily Bulletin 090306) Guest Columnest, Josie Gonzales, District Five Supervisor

GUEST COLUMN Is perchlorate cleanup slipping from our grasp? JOSIE GONZALES, Guest Columnist

In spite of what you may have been told about Tuesday's unproductive meeting between the County of San Bernardino and the city of Rialto, I have stayed focused on what is important – the containment and cleanup of perchlorate contamination in Rialto's groundwater. The city has sued the county and about 40 other parties who city leaders claim have polluted the city's water. The city's filing of a lawsuit before state environmental enforcement agencies have assigned responsibility for the perchlorate contamination cleanup presents two major problems: • While the parties argue over who may owe what in monetary damages to the city, the eastern plume of perchlorate pollution flows steadily toward more drinking water wells and the Santa Ana River. • And, by whipping up everyone into a litigious frenzy, the city has made it more difficult for the State Regional Water Quality Control Board, Santa Ana Region, to secure the cooperation of the potentially responsible parties to investigate the extent of the contamination and develop solutions to contain it. While I disagree with the city's strategy, I acknowledge its right to pursue it. However, I cannot wait for the lawsuit to solve the problem. Lawsuits take years and millions of dollars to resolve. The residents of Rialto and Colton do not have that kind of time or money. City wells have been shut down because of two perchlorate plumes originating in the north end of the Rialto-Colton Basin. The county is working to contain the western plume of perchlorate in the Rialto-Colton Basin. We have accepted responsibility for cleaning up this plume, because a private aggregate mining operation on county-owned land flushed perchlorate out of the soil near the Mid-Valley Sanitary Landfill. The county has fully cooperated with the State Regional Board. We have spent roughly $7 million during the past four years investigating the contamination flushed by the mining operation and to construct a treatment facility to stop its advancement. The county-built treatment facility at the Rialto Airport started delivering clean drinking water to Rialto residents in early June. The county plans to spend at least $3 million more to expand the treatment facility. And, we will likely spend more than $500,000 per year to operate that treatment facility. As a result of the county's proactive measures, the perchlorate pollution from the private mining operation has not affected the city drinking water supply. In addition as a responsible neighbor, the county reimburses the city for water the city has to import because of the perchlorate contamination. I'm not sure why the city believes the county owes it another $6 million when we've already done so much to clean up perchlorate. Unfortunately, during our meeting Tuesday, Councilman Ed Scott chose to focus on disruptive, unrelated issues rather than explain how the county has damaged the city. I will not pay the attorney's fees for the five law firms the city has hired. The city chose to sue the county a year and a half after the county started its investigation and cleanup measures and a year after the county accepted a cleanup order from the State Regional Board. The city did not need to sue the county. I have offered to meet with city leaders again about their lawsuit if they demonstrate a commitment to contain and clean up perchlorate. I have asked that they sign a memorandum of understanding regarding the pursuit of federal funds for the perchlorate contamination cleanup by Sept. 14. This shouldn't be difficult as the City Council approved the MOU back on March 21. The county, cities of Rialto and Colton, West Valley Water District and Fontana Water worked for nearly a year to draft an Initial 5-Year Groundwater Cleanup Approach white paper. The city demanded the MOU, which every other party has now signed, except Rialto. The city's failure to sign its own MOU calls into question the sincerity of its leaders' stated commitment to protect Rialto residents from the cost of the perchlorate contamination cleanup and provide them with clean drinking water. Our local congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., has made it repeatedly clear to all of us that we will only continue to receive federal funding or be given future consideration if the group stays united. Sen. Feinstein and Congressman Baca were successful in getting authorized this year a $25 million fund for groundwater cleanup in the Santa Ana River watershed and Santa Clara County. We must be ready to submit a joint grant application as soon as funding is appropriated to the program. If Rialto is not on board, I must know now so that I can start working to secure funds without the city. I will not have the important cleanup work held up any longer by the city's baseless demand for a $6 million payment. – Supervisor Josie Gonzales represents the 5th District of San Bernardino County, which includes south Fontana, Rialto and Colton.

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We here at the BS Ranch Look thought the Report to see what we can come up with on our thoughts. It seems that I have a few of my own reading this peace by Josie. I have never met Josie Gonzales, and I have to say I felt out of fairness of Politics I would sign the recall Petition that went around against her, again Not knowing but what I read about her and what was said at the table by first hand witnesses or they claimed to be witnesses to Josie's Altercation with one of the people that used to run the Muscoy MAC. I felt the leadership that she displayed was a little like that of someone that was a little bit to much bossy, in the area, I know people that live in Muscoy and you cannot treat them the way that she treated them. Anyway, getting back to the Rialto and Perchlorate.

It seems that the Lawyer might be leading the fight or the ear of Council Member Ed Scott, See I have this feeling that the Rialto City Attorney Owens is thinking that if he can get the County or the Federal Government in the Court Room he will win the money needed to clean the Six Wells that are in Rialto, that are of need of clean up of the Perchlorate. The Thing that concerns me and that concern those who live in the City of Rialto is that are the city Council Member's considering me or the money that it would cost. Which is more important, me or the cancer that I would be catching??

If it was me, and I was leading the city, I would do every thing I could do to clean up those wells, I would look into Federal grants, I would work with the County, the West Valley Water District, the East Valley Water District, and see what they could do for me, and what kind of grants have they heard of! That is what I would be doing. THE COURTS WOULD BE THE FURTHEST THING FROM MY MIND!!

Now what Josie is writing here is frustration! She is frustrated with the city of Rialto, it seems that they have been trying to work with the city of Rialto in anyway that they can,but the city seems to want the county to foot the bill for the problem.

Owens?? OWENS. let me tell you about Owens. he should be gone by now. I felt after the losses that he had between the County and the City Police Union/City Public that he should be gone, but he is not. Why?? That question is waiting to be answered by this BLOGGER, at the BSRanch? Owens is such a great Attorney he had taken the Rialto Public "Voice United" and the "RPBA" (Rialto Police Benefit Assoc.) to court three times, three times they had been to curt on the Vote to go to the Sheriff's Department from the 70+ year old Rialto Police Department. There was a Court Order stating that they could not Make a Contract with the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department until a few things were met. regarding the Clarification of the MOU (City's Charter or Rules of Operation or Modus Operandi).

Just before they went before the attorney, Owens had hired a Man from Sacramento Flew him to San Bernardino, Put him up in a Motel, and had him testify in court that the method that the Voice United/RPBA were using to gather signatures for their petitions were Illegal!! Owens Argument was that the signature gatherers didn't live in the city of Rialto and that was in clear violation of the law and all signatures that were obtained by these individuals should not be allowed as good signatures.

This was done during a council meeting and he used Visual Aids, as to keep the people that were watching at home interested in what he had to say, even though it was the most boring speech I had to hear! I sat through it at the Council meeting. The highlight was when the Lawyer representing the RPBA/Voice United Raised his hand to speak and indicated how good of a lawyer he was, since several times during this three hour speech that Owens did he had put down the Lawyer hired by the Police Union. However Owens failed to say that he had LOST EVERY PREVIOUS TIME THAT HE WAS IN FRONT OF A JUDGE, AND THE ATTORNEY FOR THE RPBA/VOICE UNITED STATED A GUARANTEE HE WOULD WIN THE FORTH TIME!!.

Now Owens Stated that he doubted that he would lose since he had this secret weapon from Sacramento, the man that was used, and consulted with to look at the Voting Laws reference the Recall of Gray Davis.

The Fourth time in front of the Judge came on that Friday, and Owens brought his high Paid Attorney!! All Paid for by the city! They had the court room adjourned and they were in hearing for approximately ten minutes and Owens went on to Lose that case too, even with his high Paid Lawyer who was an Expert on Voting Law!! The Judge didn't like the back door tactic that was being displayed to untimely rid a city of a well respected Police Department without Proper Review!! There for, he forced them to take the time to make that proper review.

I have to say that Voice United, Chaired by a Disabled Rialto Police Sgt. whom was Disabled from an Off duty Off Road Quad Motorcycle Accident. He used paid Signature Gathering People that are used all the time by signature gathering People all the time, You run into them all the time outside of Wal-Marts or Rit-Aid's and the like. Now I cannot remember if it was 2300 signatures or 3200 signatures that was needed, but they gathered 4900 signatures, just under 5000 for the City Charter Change to make it a City Wide Vote Rather then a City Council Vote only to change the Law Enforcement Protection for the city. well when the signatures were turned in they were reviewed by the City Clerk Barbara McGee. Barbara, more then likely taking the advice from the city Attorney Owens said that there was approximately 3000 or so signatures that were not gathered by a person that was eligible to gather signatures in the city of rialto.

Now, I myself have gather signatures in the city of Rialto, and The city of Fontana on the same sheet, so I know that the Form that he had what ever he was reading he was Ill-advised. completely wrong in this, and he tied the forms up stating this. People on the out side of the city were at the council meetings asking for a second opinion and there was no second opinion to be given right away, they went by their over paid Under Educated Lawyers advice who to this day will point the finger to Barbara McGee and say it was all up to her, in stead of himself. Now she is an Elected Official and has ran Unopposed for years, but she could have someone want her job because of what this attorney advised her!!

Owens makes approximately $750K a year, I cannot say how the city is getting their money's worth!!

AS FAR AS THE PERCHCLORATE IS CONCERNED THEY ARE SPENDING MORE MONEY FIGHTING THIS, TRYING TO PIN THIS ON THE COUNTY OR THE FED'S, THEN IF THEY WERE TO STOP THE CLOWNING AROUND AND CLEAN IT UP!!

Then maybe they would get the County and the Federal Government on their side to help them clean it the rest of the way!! But starting by fighting anyone and anything is just the wrong way to get anything done!!

JUST WHERE ARE THEY WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE?? WITH ALL THE FIGHTING INSTEAD OF THE CLEANING, WHERE ARE THEY WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE?? WHEN WILL THEY START WORKING FOR YOU AND FOR ME??

BSRanch

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Kling Swarn In as Rialto Police Chief

Kling sworn in as Rialto police chief -- Jason Pesick

RIALTO -- City Clerk Barbara McGee officially swore in Police Chief Mark Kling at Tuesday night's City Council meeting. Kling, 49, served as the police chief in Baldwin Park until taking the position in Rialto. He began work in Rialto on Aug. 21. One of Kling's primary duties as chief will be to recruit new officers to replace those who left the police department in the last year, when the City Council attempted to disband it.

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Rialto Police Department will be a Department more then 25% Rookies, The reason I say that is because there really will not be anyone that will lateral to Rialto because they don't offer anything that is better unless it is pay, because we know it will not be Retirement. 3% @50 will make them a more invitation to a broader market of Patrol Officers that want to get to the Inland Empire or Southern California. But Most officers will not trade down to a lower standard of earnings, it just isn't done. I am sorry!!

So, Rialto will be 25% Rookies fresh out of the academy, they will not have much investment into the Neighborhood or not as much as someone that has been there a long time. The guy that has been there time and time again is the guy that is going to offer the better Growth to the city. That is my feeling, Just like the Police Chief that stays at the Police Agency that he worked at for the last 20 years. I know what I am saying that I have a lesser point of Respect for Mark Kling then I would for say, Lopez, the guy that replaced Kling. Lopez has 25 years with Baldwin Park Police Department, he is a vested man with that community. Mark Kling is a guy looking for an opportunity, that is what and how I feel about it now. He was even quoted as saying so in the San Gabriel Paper. I am Leaving Baldwin Park Police Department for "Better Opportunity".

We have our eye on you Mark and we hope that you are here to invest yourself in the Inland Empire, because if you look at a map, Rialto is the Heart of the Inland Empire!!

BSRanch

String of Resignations Worries City (San Gabrial Valley Tribune 083106)

String of Resignations Worries City
By Nisha Gutierrez San Gabrial Valley Tribune 083106

BALDWIN PARK - The latest resignation from a member of the city's executive team has left some city officials concerned about the lack of permanent directors running Baldwin Park.

Matthew Lamb, the city's head of the community development department, submitted his resignation letter Aug. 21 and will be in Baldwin Park until Sept. 21. He has been with the city since January.

Lamb's resignation follows that of former Police Chief Mark Kling who quit earlier this month to take the top spot at the Rialto Police Department.

Baldwin Park officials said the finance, public works, human resources and police departments are now managed by interim directors. However, the city plans on making its interim police chief, Edward Lopez, permanent once contract negotiations are completed.

Lamb could not be reached for comment Monday but Kling said he left for a better opportunity.

Mayor Manuel Lozano said the string of resignations is raising questions.

"I will be requesting a formal investigation into these occurrences to be able to address particular concerns and issues," he said.

Councilwoman Marlen Garcia said she is also worried about the resignations and called Lamb "a tremendous loss for the city."

"We are out there recruiting people but they see all the challenges taking place at City Hall and no one wants to touch Baldwin Park," Garcia said. "I truly believe this is another example of upper management at City Hall that has been ineffective."

Vijay Singhal, the city's chief executive officer, attributes the shortage of permanent directors and spike in resignations to competitiveness.

"The city has had a very hard time recruiting department heads in the past," Singhal said. "The finance director position has been vacant for almost two years and before Matt Lamb, community development was vacant for a long time, the problem is we are not able to attract quality candidates and it's been that way for a long time, not just recently."

Singhal said permanent employees are hard to find because Baldwin Park has been perceived as unstable for many years and more importantly because the city is not willing to pay competitive wages.

"The chief left because he got a very good job that pays very well and it offers more civil service protection," Singhal said. "As for Lamb he said he is going to the private sector and they pay so much more."

Other city officials agree the reason for employees leaving has to do with money.

"It's tough being in a city like Baldwin Park where you provide great training for people that work in the public sector and then private sectors offer to pay them more than we can ... it's about private sectors swooping in and taking our people," Councilman Anthony Bejarano said. "They got offers they could not refuse and I doubt it has anything to do with city management."

Most city officials maintain having interim directors does not negatively affect the way the city operates because the people in the interim positions are highly qualified, but they say they would still like to find out why people are leaving Baldwin Park.

"I am concerned as mayor of Baldwin Park about what's going on and I hope it stops," Lozano said.

nisha.gutierrez@sgvn.com

(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2109

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The string of Resignations grow fear into the city council's Hears and minds? why? Well it looks like the biggest reason that is sited as to why the New Chief Mark Kling left Baldwin Park and came here to Rialto was because of the Benefit Package!! Kind of makes you stand back and go HUMMM....What do you think the Police Officers that are currently working for Rialto that are on Probation going to do. They have gotten the best Training ever, because they will never have to work this hard for any other city that they work for, so when they get off their Probationary status they will think long and hard about that 3% @ 50 Retirmenent Plan, See the longer that they stay and work for Rialto's 2% @50 or 55 I am not even sure of what the cut off is for the 2% but I Know that they should be worried about loosing most of the people that they have because they don't have the current Retirment system. Having the New Chief is great and everything, but if he doesn't Back the Police Officers on this they might not back him so well.

I am just saying that Rialto should think about this. Think about the Three percent at Fifty Reteirement plan, for the employee's because sooner or later they will start to think about that. Riverside Police Department Officers will not go to Rialto PD, because they don't want to give up that retirement that they are currently getting. I don't Blame them one bit!!

BSRanch

Vegas Water Plan Gives Critics Deja Vu (The Salt Lake Tribune 090606)

Vegas water plan gives critics déjà vu Includes Utah sources: They fear the city will share L.A.'s insatiable 20th-century thirst By Joe Baird The Salt Lake Tribune

BAKER, Nev. - Greg James knows a little bit about the politics of water. And he says he has heard this pitch before: Officials from a large, well-financed and hugely influential government agency propose a massive water project in a sparsely populated desert valley. They promise to be good neighbors while taking only what they need to quench the thirst of their rapidly growing urban population. And they warn, in the most dire terms, that a water crisis looms if their plan isn't implemented. That represents the guts of the case being made by the Southern Nevada Water Authority to tap groundwater resources in eastern Nevada's arid valleys - including some that sit underneath Utah's west desert - and ship it 200 miles south to Las Vegas via a pipeline network. But James, an attorney from eastern California's Owens Valley, and the former water department director for Inyo County, warned area residents and visiting legislators here last week to be skeptical of such claims. The Southern Nevada proposal, he says, has been taken from the same basic sales blueprint Los Angeles officials used nearly a century ago to wrest water from his community, with disastrous consequences. "There are a lot of parallels here," James said. "In the '20s and '30s, William Mulholland [the Los Angeles water superintendent] was also saying 'Don't worry.' Los Angeles assured Owens Valley residents that there was plenty of water. "They came to take only a little," he continued. "But as the city continued to grow, they couldn't stop themselves." Los Angeles originally sought only surface water from the Owens Valley - primarily in the form of snowmelt from the adjacent Sierra Nevada range. And the city's original proposal called for taking water only from half of the valley. But as Los Angeles grew, so did the scope of the water grab. The city began buying up more property and water rights, and by the 1930s owned nearly all of the valley's farm and ranch lands. Environmentally, Owens Valley has never been the same. Fifty miles of the lower Owens River dried up in 1924, about a decade after the construction of the first aquifer in 1913. Water diversions killed off Owens Lake in the ensuing years. And the construction of a second aqueduct and groundwater pumping parched the valley's springs, seeps and meadows by the 1970s. Only the passage of California environmental laws and lawsuits that took decades to resolve halted the pillaging. Today, the county and Los Angeles have a joint water-management agreement. Some water resources have been restored and groundwater supplies have been stabilized. But what was once a largely agricultural valley is now known more for its dust problems. There's a lesson here, says James, a 30-year resident of Owens Valley, especially now with the Southern Nevada Water Authority buying up ranch properties in the region in a bid to expand its hold on water rights. The water authority began staking claims in 1989. "Las Vegas is telling you to trust them," he told residents of the Snake Valley, which straddles the Utah-Nevada border. "But when you go to Owens Valley, you can see what happens when big cities own ranches. There's not much ranching going on." While not disputing what occurred in Owens Valley, Southern Nevada officials dismiss attempts to link their proposed groundwater project to what Los Angeles did decades ago. "In 1913 there wasn't a [National Environmental and Policy Act] and there wasn't an [Endangered Species Act] and there weren't any water laws in California that offered any protection," said Kay Brothers, the water authority's deputy general manager. "The Owens Valley mantra is those dry river and lake beds and what happens when surface water is taken out. But we're not taking any surface water. This is apples and oranges." The Southern Nevada Water Authority proposal calls for the removal of about 180,000 acre-feet of groundwater annually. About 91,000 acre-feet would come from Spring Valley, where the LDS Church owns a large cattle ranch and has expressed concerns about the project. Another 25,000 acre-feet would come from Snake Valley. The project is vitally necessary, water authority officials argue, because Las Vegas is less than a decade away from reaching the limits of its current water resources. Because 70 percent of the Snake Valley aquifer lies on the Utah side of the line - Nevada accounts for about 60 percent of the groundwater recharge - Utah water officials must sign off on the Southern Nevada project before it is approved. The two states are close to finalizing a water-sharing agreement. But that deal will precede the completion of a U.S. Geological Survey study of the region's groundwater resources. And that is where much of the contention lies. Area ranchers and environmental groups want the Nevada state engineer to withhold approval of the project until after the USGS study is complete. The state engineer will begin hearings on the Southern Nevada Water Authority's permit application next week. "If they build that pipeline, they'll take the water, and they'll keep on taking more and more water because they have the money," said Cecil Garland, a rancher from Callao, on the Utah side of the line. "And if that happens, you're going to have a bunch of dead valleys." Brothers, the water authority's deputy general manager, insists that won't happen. Continual monitoring of groundwater wells, and regular rotations of the wells, she maintains, will prevent the groundwater tables from becoming depleted. "To say we're going to dry everything up is just not true. That's just not what's going to occur," Brothers said. James, however, urged area residents and political leaders to be vigilant. Don't wait until it's too late. "You have a lot of challenges," he said. "Use the power of that Utah-Nevada agreement. Get the studies done. Demand automatic triggers [stopping water withdrawals] so you're not arguing while water is being drawn down. Define what you'll accept. You can't afford to be unsure about this." jbaird@sltrib.com

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Having lived in the Owens Valley I got to see first hand how Los Angeles Department of Water & Power Turned the Upper Owens Valley into a Desert Community first. The Ground water used to feed the grass in some of the Pasture Lands and in the Winter all the way to the middle of June then by Sept. they would get wet or moist again, however the ground water pumping that DWP did Pulled that Water down to a level below that which there was a varying height each year. The Pasture would stay dry all year instead of feeding the reeds that we used to make our forts with, and Ironically that is what the Indians of the area used to make their huts to live in was the same type reed witch needs moist almost muddy ground to grow in. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is and Has changed the Valley forever!!

BSRanch

Perchlorate meeting conducted calmly (Daily Bulletin 090206)

Perchlorate meeting conducted calmly
Daily Bulletin 090206

RIALTO - About 50 residents and local officials showed up to a meeting at Rialto City Hall on Friday night to hear about the city's perchlorate contamination problem and what is being done to clean it up.

Perchlorate is a chemical that can interfere with the functioning of the thyroid gland, causing development and metabolic problems. Perchlorate is used in the production of explosives, such as fireworks, flares and rocket fuel.

Despite fears that the meeting would turn into a political slugfest in which city officials would attack San Bernardino County officials, the meeting remained calm.

Gerard Thibeault, the executive officer of the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board, said the board will hold hearings at the end of the year to determine what role a number of corporations played in the water contamination and what those corporations should do to clean up the contamination.

City leaders called the meeting earlier this week and drew complaints from local officials and perchlorate experts because of the last-minute notice.

City Councilmen Ed Scott and Joe Sampson released a letter to the community that listed local officials as invited guest speakers at the meeting. However, the invited guest speakers did not receive an invitation prior to receiving the letter, which was addressed to Rialto residents.

- Jason Pesick, (909) 386-3891

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It seems that Ed Scott and Joe Sampson got off a dog and pony show to try to ease the feelings of the Perchlorate that is getting into 6 Rialto City Drinking water wells. They however called this meeting earlier today, and were expecting that no one or very little would show up. The 50 that did show up was a surprise to the people that were putting the meeting on. See, by announcing the meeting in the local news paper, and in only on paper at that, they only figured that about maybe 10 would show, but 5 times that showed up which was a Thankful message to the Internet!

I don't know about you, but to call such an Important meeting like this one at the last minute like this one, means they didn't have much to say, and they didn't want that many people there. Well when they got 50 people there we have to wait to see what they did have to say!!

Well it would be really nice to know what they had to say, other then it was said nicely! I am happy that what every they said was said nicely! Never mind that it was not important or anything, but it was all calm, and Nicely put!

So please don't worry, be happy, and remember to be calm and nice, that is the message that came out of this meeting. Because they obviously didn't talk much about the Perchlorate that is going to kill us all that are stuck having to drink the water here in Rialto!! Please God Save us all!! Our News paper, Reporters have lost their way on reporting the news and the news has lost their way to the people on getting to the people!

The Daily Bulletin Great Paper...NOT!

BSRanch

Calm Reigns at Perchlorate Meeting (SB Sun) About 50 Poeple attended the meeting that was given less then 12 hours notice to attend!!

Calm Reigns at Perchlorate Meeting
Jason Pesick SB Sun Staff Writer

RIALTO - About 50 residents and local officials showed up to a meeting at City Hall on Friday night to hear about the city's perchlorate contamination problem and what is being done to clean it up.

Perchlorate is a chemical that can interfere with the functioning of the thyroid gland, causing development and metabolic problems. Perchlorate is used in the production of explosives, such as fireworks, flares and rocket fuel.

Despite fears that the meeting would turn into a political slugfest in which city officials would attack San Bernardino County officials, the meeting remained calm.

Although one of the city's attorney's, Christian Carrigan, complained about the county's role in a lawsuit the city has filed against it, the U.S. Department of Defense and 40 corporations, city officials remained collegial.

Gerard Thibeault, the executive officer of the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board, said the board will hold hearings at the end of the year to determine what role a number of corporations played in the water contamination and what those corporations should do to clean up the contamination.

City leaders called the meeting earlier this week and drew complaints from local officials and perchlorate experts because of the last-minute notice.

Councilmen Ed Scott (cmcq) and Joe Sampson (cmcq) released a letter to the community that listed local officials as invited guest speakers at the meeting. However, the invited guest speakers did not receive an invitation prior to receiving the letter, which was addressed to Rialto residents.

Some officials had plans to be out of town for the holiday weekend and said they wondered why a meeting about a serious topic would be scheduled for the Friday night before Labor Day.

City and county officials scheduled a meeting for this past Tuesday to discuss the city's lawsuit. The meeting lasted only minutes before dissolving into bickering.

On Thursday, county Supervisor Josie Gonzales (cmcq), who was at Friday's meeting, sent a letter addressed to Rialto Mayor Grace Vargas and to the City Council asking for the city's cooperation in dealing with the perchlorate contamination.

In the letter, Gonzales lays out two conditions for having another meeting. The first is that city and county officials agree on the meeting's format. At the last meeting, there was a dispute as to whether it was a public or private meeting.

Gonzales also writes that the city must sign a memorandum of understanding relating to the use of federal funds to clean up the contamination.

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I must say this about this whole thing. Why fight the County over this Perchlorate. Lets work together and get the problem out of the drinking water. It would be a whole lot cheaper then fighting each other for blame and who will pay for what. If everyone pays for their part in the clean up then there would not be a problem with the clean up or who is going to pay for what.

Fighting the system like this or bucking the system costs a lot of money, and the county has more money then the City of Rialto does to fight this issue then we do. There Insurance will stay and fight the whole way! While Rialto will fight and then Rialto city will not have any money left of the Utility Tax that they were able to get so comfortably priced ahead. Then they will try to fight the Cable company for switching from Adelphia to Time Warner Cable Company, and we will keep our channel 13. Who knows.

I say, lets stop the fighting of the whole thing!! I have said this before I am saying it again. do not fight the County over the Perchlorate Contamination Clean Up in the Water table, we will loose and loose lots of money in the process. Because the County will sue for their court fees and chances are with our lawyer they will win!! and we will be paying for their lawyer fees, just like the City did for the Voice United People, when the City reimbursed the Lawyer for the Law Firm in Riverside for just under $120,000.00.

If you think that is expensive just think and wait on how much the counties Bill will be for the repayment for their lawyers. Just think, if the city of Rialto's Lawyer makes Oh, about $750K then the counties must make at least a million or more. guessing maybe they make less like the guy in Riverside because Rialto is the one that is dumb enough to be over priced for a lawyer and continue to pay for it.

BSRanch

Rialto City Stop Fighting the County of San Bernardino, and work Together!! to clean up the counties Water Table!! BSR

Boys and Girls Club Target Learning (SB Sun 090206).

Boys and Girls Club Target Learning
Canan Tasci, SB Sun Staff Writer

The Boys & Girls Club of Fontana has created a match made in heaven with Target to receive $2,000 toward their "Project Learn: Making Minutes Count."

"The funding from Target will enable us to provide more learning activities to the children," said Terrie Schneider, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club in Fontana. "Project Learn reinforces and enhances the skills and knowledge young people learn at school during the hours they spend at the Boys & Girls Club."

According to Target spokesperson, Kristi Arndt, since opening their first stores in 1962, Target has partnered with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.

"Target provides grants to initiatives and programs that inspire learning and improve access to education," Arndt said. "Target gives back more than $2 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs."

donating to Project Learn: Making Minutes Count the Boys & Girls Club of Fontana will be able to enhance and expand their program to provide the children with new opportunities at their facility. "The purpose of the Boys & Girls Club is to inspire and enable all young people especially those from disadvantaged circumstances to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens," said Schneider.

Dedicated to making a difference in programs, Target has supported the Boys & Girls Club of Fontana for the past several years.

"We hope that through our support of Project Learning: Making Minutes Count, we help improve access to education and inspire children to learn," Arndt said.

To Schneider, donations are essential to aid in growth with in the club and the children.

"The Boys & Girls Club keeps kids as busy as possible and it allows them to have fun and gives a sense of belonging," Schneider said. "They know it's a safe place and they stay out of trouble."

With as many as 300 children between the ages of 6 and 18 participating in daily activities, Schneider stresses the importance of the facility.

"This is a safe a stable environment for the children to interact with other kids and the staff and have a great time," Schneider said. "We've opened the door with this program to help the kids with homework assistance, tutoring, high yield learning activities such as memory games and scrabble and anything else that can and will stimulate a child's brain."

"I think when people walk in and see that the kids are utilizing their time in a constructive manner it's impressive -- I'm impressed all the time," Schneider said.

providing updated facilities with computer software, internal radio stations, and a library with books, dictionaries and encyclopedias and school supplies the children are able to be resourceful in their time. "It's important that people know about the Boys & Girls Club because I think they think it's just a place where kids can go but it's not, it's a great place for kids to go and feel accepted and motivated," said Amy Grimm, director of education at the Boys & Girls Club of Fontana.

As the tutor in the Library Learning Center, Grimm also said she believes the center provides the kids with the help they need on their homework and motivates them to want to continue learning.

"Sometimes at their schools the classes are so over-packed with other students they might not get the help they need and so that's why the come and see me," Grimm said. "It's nice to know that the kids want to do their homework and that they want to read."

Motivating the children to want to learn is what Grimm said is the purpose of the learning center and Project Learn.

"This program motivates the kids to want to learn and have fun while they are doing it," Grimm said.

Grimm hopes that the money also will go toward buying extra books for the children.

"Many of the kids do not have books or their parents can't afford it or afford a tutor or simple things like pencils or paper, but we can and we can provide all those tools to encourage them to want to learn and do their homework and succeed," Grimm said.

Making a difference in the children's lives is what Shantee McKinney, 16, said is the most important reason why she joined the Boys & Girls Club.

"This is something I like doing and I like the kids, they look up to me," Shantee said. "That's important because I'm older and they can see how I act around them and the staff, I have to be that role model because they look up to me."

To many children, if not for the Boys & Girls Club's Learning Center they would be in their room away from their friends and play with their stuffed animals.

"If I didn't come here I would go to my room and listen to my radio or watch television," said Ayssa Samano, 11. "I feel like I get a lot of help from the learning center."

playing an important role in stimulating and motivating the learning process Grimm said she believes Project Learn is creating a long term effect in their future. "It is important for the kids to get involved with their education now because it is instrumental in their future, career and as they get older," Grimm said. "Once they can see they can do their homework they feel confident to go to college and not be discouraged. This is a great place for kids to go and feel accepted and motivated."

Canan Tasci can be reached by phone at (909) 987-6397 Ext. 425.

FYI: WHO: Boys & Girls Club of Fontana, Almeria Middle School Campus WHERE: 7723 Almeria Ave., Fontana WHEN: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday INFORMATION: (909) 822-4988 or www.bgcfontana.org

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There is not much more to say on this story, other then it is a heart felt story, that really has a good feeling to it. Target Stores has done some good hear and I hope that they equal the gesture next year or later this year to the Boys and Girls club of Rialto, located in the 100 block of East Baseline, here in Rialto. I am sorry I have a little Rialto bias. LOL..

Anyway, Thank you Target, that was great and I hope that you find it I your heart to donate every year to both Rialto and Fontana!!

BSRanch

ON THIS DATE: Inland Empire Hespanic News Debuts!! (SB Sun 090206)

ON THIS DATE: Inland Empire Hispanic News Debuts!!
Staff Reports

On this date in 1987, The Sun reported that the Inland Empire Hispanic News hit the streets of San Bernardino, bringing a two-year dream to publish a weekly newspaper a reality.

Publisher Graciano Gomez and marketing vice president Aurelio De La Torre tossed the idea around for the 12-page tabloid, and decided to go for it.

"We were disappointed in the coverage we saw in the Hispanic community and decided, "Why don't we try and put a paper together," De La Torre said.

The newspaper's goal was to cover city and county government meetings, school issues, art, music and sporting events that involved Latinos.

The first edition was delivered to 6,000 homes in central San Bernardino, with another 3,000 mailed to businesses, schools and elected officials.

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ON Sept 2, 1987 the Inland Empire Hespanic News Hit the rack. They are still in circulation today to almost 6000 homes and that does not count the 3000 that are mailed to the homes and businesses & elected officals to keept track of what is going on with the Hespanic vote.

I am thinking back to when this paper was started I was just working towards going to the Police Academy, and getting it all set up. wow, what time flies. not it drags on when you don't have much to do during the day!

BSRanch

PS; never get hurt to where you have to be Disabled and Retired to no work ever...sucks!!

Busy Roadways Expected (SB Sun 090206) DUI Patrols, heavy traffic mearge this weekend.

Busy Roadways Expected
DUI patrols, heavy traffic merge this weekend
Melissa Pinion-Whitt SB Sun Staff Writer

FONTANA - While the taste of a couple cold ones and the roar of the race at California Speedway may seem like a great match under the hot Southern California sun, it could prove costly for people who over-imbibe.

About 15 CHP officers plan to look for motorists driving while under the influence on Interstate 10, Interstate 15 and the Interstate 210 extension around the Speedway from 4 p.m. into the evening Sunday until race traffic begins to dwindle.

"This is the first time we've had concentrated (DUI) enforcement on the freeways around the raceway," said California Highway Patrol Officer Sean Cooper. "We're just trying to be innovative and aggressive in combating this problem."

Officers have previously conducted roving patrols inside the Speedway, but they say the number of drunken-driving crashes outside the gates has been an ongoing problem.

Other agencies will also be focusing on drunken driving as people make the last mad dash out of town for the last holiday weekend of the summer.

Rialto police will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint today at an undisclosed location and time. Drivers approaching the checkpoint will see signs warning them the checkpoint is ahead.

Traffic is expected to increase slightly this Labor Day weekend over last year, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California. Nearly 3.1 million Southern Californians an increase of 1.1 percent over last year will drive, fly or ride to holiday destinations. Nearly 80 percent will drive at least 50 miles.

Caltrans officials said freeway construction projects will continue through the weekend but shouldn't cause any additional lane closures.

A paving project along I-15 in Barstow will be handled mostly at night and other projects will be off to the side of the freeway, said Caltrans spokeswoman Traci Peterson.

A bridge-replacement project along Interstate 40 through the desert will also continue. All but one lane in either direction will be closed on a 17-mile stretch from Kelbaker to Essex Road west of Ludlow.

Officials recommend Inland Empire motorists return from their trips prior to Monday and either travel early in the morning or late in the evening.

"Leave early, be patient, plan ahead," Peterson said. "If you're going across the desert, make sure your car is in good working order. Bring water, food and medication."

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Oh boy did they have the enforcement out the whole Weekend long. I don't know if you were out driving around, but they had the Sig Alert signs all Lit, Asking for people who see DUI Drivers to call 9-1-1 and report the driver to the Police. They were setting up the DUI Check points like they have listed here in the paper, which is the first protocol to setting up the Check Points, they have to properly notify the public to allow the public to know that they are or should not drive if their driving has been altercated changed by Drinking. They advertised heavily on the television with the men driving the liquid drinks in the cars and stating that you were going to get caught if you drove drunk. It was a very good campaign this year.

I don't drink and I was nervous this year!! terribly nervous to drive!! so wow. I drove we went to Ojai and had a good time, but it was such a long drive from here that we drove right back home. and it was fun however. We might do it again sometime. but I don't know when.

Well, I hope that you didn't drive drunk, and if you did I hope that you got caught! but that is just me!! sorry!

BSRanch

Councilmen Organize Meeting to Discuss Contamination, But FEW EXPECTED TO SHOW!!!!!

Councilmen organize meeting to discuss contamination, but few expected to show
By Jason Pesick, Staff Writer

Two Rialto city councilmen have called a 6 p.m. town hall meeting today in council chambers to discuss the city's perchlorate contamination and cleanup efforts, but it remains unclear just exactly who will show up or what will be discussed.

A flier attached to a letter signed by Councilmen Joseph Sampson and Ed Scott advertises an "Urgent Town Hall Meeting on Perchlorate" and touts a number of invited guest speakers.

However, many of the guest speakers listed say they were never invited - the flier and attached letter were the first they ever heard of the meeting scheduled for a Friday evening before a holiday weekend.

The councilmen explain that the letter and flier were intended to serve as invitations to the guest speakers, which included assemblymen, county supervisors, as well as school district and local water officials.

"I don't think anyone knew about it until the letter went out," said Davin Diaz of the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, one of the few guest speakers who expects to attend the meeting.

"We don't think it's the correct way to run a meeting," said Manny Hernandez, chief of staff for City Council candidate Joe Baca Jr. Hernandez said he did not know if his boss would be able to attend due to the late notice, but would try to send a representative.

The letter was issued the night before a meeting between city and county leaders intended to discuss a lawsuit filed by the city against 40 corporations regarding perchlorate contamination in the city's north end. The chemical used in rocket fuels and other explosives has contaminated wells throughout Rialto and is believed to cause thyroid problems. However, that meeting quickly devolved into a bickering match that ended after 20 minutes with nothing resolved.

The invited guest speakers listed in the letter include Carole Beswick, chairwoman of the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board; San Bernardino County supervisors Bill Postmus and Josie Gonzales; California Assembly members Gloria Negrete McLeod and Baca; Diaz; and Sujatha Jahagirdar of Environment California.

Jahagirdar and Diaz said they are likely attend today's meeting. Most of the other invited guests said that while they may not attend, they may send staffers.

The letter states that the purpose of the meeting is to hold "the responsible polluters accountable for the cleanup."

"We didn't try to do anything to hamper people attending it," Sampson said.

Scott, when told of the guest speakers' complaints, said, "They can either show up or not."

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I had sent this report out earlier, and in my comments I suggested that the City of Rialto was not cleaning the water and spending all their time trying to get litigation to gain money so that they can perform water cleaning efforts. It was not until now that I found out that the City of Rialto has been cleaning water or putting forth and effort to clean water, but they also have been putting forth an effort to have someone else pay for the cleaning of said water.

Know this, Rialto should pay for their own filtering of the Perchlorate from the water wells that they have. The County and City's should work together to clean up a very potentially dangerous Water contaminant! I pray that my Child or my child's children don't have that problem if they decide to live in Rialto. However they might decide to live where it is cooler. I long for the very dry heat of the summer days of the high Sierra, Living up there during the summer as a child chasing Thunder Storms with my Two best friends in the whole world I would trade everything I have to go back to that right now. I am sorry, but I am crippled now, so of coarse I am going to want to go to a time when I was not Messed up with chronic pain. sucks to be me!!

I am sorry that I sent out the bad remarks about the City Council for thinking that they were out for money over the public Safety, in regard to the Perchlorate. I thank God that I was wrong about them on this manor. However the Limits for the Perchlorate was set to high, it needs to be set lower, I know that every notch lower is more expensive to clean out, but it is just that much safer for our CHILDREN WHO DRINK THE WATER @ School and the like!!

Again, I hope that the City Council accepts my apology when it came to the filtration of Perchlorate from our Six Wells in the City of Rialto. Thank You!!

BSRanch

San Bernardino Deputy to Face Trial In Videotaped Shooting

San Bernardino deputy to face trial in videotaped shooting Desert Channel 3 News

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. A judge has ruled that a former sheriff's deputy who was videotaped shooting an unarmed man must stand trial for attempted voluntary manslaughter.

Judge Michael Smith says there is enough evidence to try former San Bernardino County deputy Ivory J. Webb for the January shooting.

The judge heard four hours of testimony and watched video that shows Webb shooting Elio Carrion, an Air Force senior airman who had just returned from a tour in Iraq.

On the video, Carrion appears to be following the deputy's commands.

Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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I wish the Deputy Luck in this trial, it is always hard when all you have is a small frame and you cannot really get a full view of what happend. Oh, I know that the Prosecuetion will try to say that they have a full view of what happend in this shooting, but there is a whole other side of the incident that is not being shown and that is the other side of the Suspect in this case. The one that the Deputy shot. I am not anyone that is any expert in this, but I have been falsly accused before it is not fun!! In fact is't down right scary all the way through the whole thing, until you get vidication for your name to be cleared then you feel Just okay, you never feel alright afterwards. So I say good luck.

BSRanch

Councilmen organize meeting to discuss contamination, but few facts to show (Daily Bulletin 090106)

Councilmen organize meeting to discuss contamination, but few facts to show
By Jasen Pesick, Staff Writer Daily Bulletin

Two Rialto city councilmen have called a 6 p.m. town hall meeting today in council chambers to discuss the city's perchlorate contamination and cleanup efforts, but it remains unclear just exactly who will show up or what will be discussed.

A flier attached to a letter signed by Councilmen Joseph Sampson and Ed Scott advertises an "Urgent Town Hall Meeting on Perchlorate" and touts a number of invited guest speakers.

However, many of the guest speakers listed say they were never invited - the flier and attached letter were the first they ever heard of the meeting scheduled for a Friday evening before a holiday weekend.

The councilmen explain that the letter and flier were intended to serve as invitations to the guest speakers, which included assemblymen, county supervisors, as well as school district and local water officials.

"I don't think anyone knew about it until the letter went out," said Davin Diaz of the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, one of the few guest speakers who expects to attend the meeting.

"We don't think it's the correct way to run a meeting," said Manny Hernandez, chief of staff for City Council candidate Joe Baca Jr. Hernandez said he did not know if his boss would be able to attend due to the late notice, but would try to send a representative.

The letter was issued the night before a meeting between city and county leaders intended to discuss a lawsuit filed by the city against 40 corporations regarding perchlorate contamination in the city's north end. The chemical used in rocket fuels and other explosives has contaminated wells throughout Rialto and is believed to cause thyroid problems. However, that meeting quickly devolved into a bickering match that ended after 20 minutes with nothing resolved.

The invited guest speakers listed in the letter include Carole Beswick, chairwoman of the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board; San Bernardino County supervisors Bill Postmus and Josie Gonzales; California Assembly members Gloria Negrete McLeod and Baca; Diaz; and Sujatha Jahagirdar of Environment California.

Jahagirdar and Diaz said they are likely attend today's meeting. Most of the other invited guests said that while they may not attend, they may send staffers.

The letter states that the purpose of the meeting is to hold "the responsible polluters accountable for the cleanup."

"We didn't try to do anything to hamper people attending it," Sampson said.

Scott, when told of the guest speakers' complaints, said, "They can either show up or not."

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It was obvious to me that they didn't want or care that the citizens that Voted them into power Were there to give them input!! Typical Rialto Politics! Ed Scott wanting to be the dictator, gets his marching orders from the City Attorney, who more then likely said that they city was not responsible for the Perchlorate Poisoning of the grown water, they should blame the county. Owens the Feared Apostle who is a Champion for the cause. and always gives his Client the right Council. Owens may sometimes fudge on the right advice to his client, but he is always the right Council to Propose your problem and then plead your case. Why would you not want one of the highest paid lawyers in the state of California on your side to promote your case.

Never mind that when the City Council the main Client that he has wanted to Change from their 75+ year old Police department to Contract with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, Owens brought out ever thing that he could, Case law, Frivolous law, full fledged Civil Law, Voter's Registration Law, Voters rights law, He stood before the Judge in Court Four times to be heard or was it five? Well Every time that he was in front of the Judge He presented just a great Case, that he was interrupted in the middle and told that he was not going to listen to Minor case law that was going to disrupt the court and cause a huge scene, so the court was closed and an injunction was placed and each time the High Paid, City of Rialto Lawyer Lost!!

Now rather then work with the County of San Bernardino, and the city of Riverside, and Colton, the City of Rialto has found it in their hearts to fight with the County of San Bernardino once again to try to shovel the cost of the clean up of the Perchlorate from the water to the county from the City Owned Wells (6 City wells have been known to be effected). Rather then try to cut the cost for the services to everyone and clean the water, they want to make it cost more then ever for everyone!!

Why, does Ed Scott, Owens, Sampson, Robertson, Hanson, Garcia, and the rest think that they are not responsible for their wells producing the Perchlorate in their area????

The people that are actually responsible have long since past away, and are sitting 6' underground in the Rialto Cemetery, San Bernardino County Cemetery, the Fontana' city Cemetery. Because they were the ones that fought in the world war one. World war two. they are the ones that stored the Ammunitions at the Rialto Airport, Mind I say that they were stored at the Rialto Airport. I know that at one time that was all county land and that might be what their argument is, but again it is a mute argument. lets get on with the project and work for the people that have elected you to the position that you currently hold... NOT Calling LAST MINUTE MEETINGS, SO NO ONE WILL SHOW!!

BSRanch

Deputy Shoots Robbery Suspect (Daily Press 083106) Officials say man likely linked to several cases!!

Deputy shoots robbery suspect

Officials say man likely linked to several cases

By KATHERINE ROSENBERG Staff Writer

VICTORVILLE — The investigation into a rash of takeover robberies ended early Wednesday night when a suspect was shot by a deputy outside the Travelodge hotel on Mariposa Road near Bear Valley Road.

The identity of the gunshot victim was not being released late Wednesday, although authorities from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Hesperia and Victorville stations identified the man as a suspect in four takeover robberies and one attempted robbery. He was being pursued at the time of the shooting, officials said.

Sgt. Ross Tarangle had been leading the team at the hotel prior to the shooting and confirmed the gunshot victim was related to the takeover robberies.

"We were here to apprehend an armed and dangerous parolee at large, and during the contact, shots were fired. This was part of that ongoing investigation," Tarangle said.

Michael Stenerson / Staff Photographer Medics tend to an injured man in the parking lot of the Victorville Travelodge hotel Wednesday. The man is a suspect in a series of takeover robberies.

On Monday, a man entered the Del Taco on Hesperia Road near the Von's shopping center, robbing the business at gunpoint in a takeover. Detectives from the Victorville station determined the suspect in that robbery was the same person who tried to rob the Spirit Shop on Seventh Street, but that robbery was foiled.

There were three takeover robberies in Hesperia between July 30 and Aug. 13. The Mc-Donald's at Main Street and Maple Avenue was robbed, takeover style, twice. Another Del Taco location, at Main and Eighth streets was also hit, according to Roxanne Walker, spokeswoman for the Hesperia station. Investigators from both stations were able to determine they were after the same suspect for the robberies — the unnamed gunshot victim. Reportedly Hesperia officials have also identified an additional suspect in their cases.

Heavily armed Specialized Enforcement Detail team members were on hand to give support.

All this, just one week after the arrest of two men by Victorville detectives on suspicion of four other takeover robberies. Investigators say the abundance of risky robberies is more a coincidence than a trend.

"It's a recurring thing — we've had rashes of them in the past, and it's cyclic, just like anything else. I don't know if you can attribute any rhyme or reason to it. By virtue of the population up here, the more people you get the more crimes you're going to see," said Sgt. Robert Boyd of the Victorville station.

Onlookers watch as authorities surround the Travelodge Hotel located in the 1200 block of Mariposa Road where an officer involved shooting took place Wednesday afternoon. Mariposa Road was blocked off from Bear Valley Road north to Monarch Boulevard.

Detective Sgt. Bob Hughes, also of the Victorville station, oversaw a team that served a search warrant in Adelanto about 9 a.m. Wednesday at the listed parole address for the suspect. That proved fruitless and deputies from the Hesperia station are believed to have served another search warrant at the house of the suspect's girlfriend. They later learned the man was hiding out in a room at the Travelodge and spent much of the day trying to coax him out before the shooting took place about 6 p.m., officials said.

A car is seen in the bushes of the Travelodge hotel's parking lot. One man was injured and airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center.

Authorities said the man was identified in the robberies after he was involved in a single- vehicle accident. While a deputy was investigating the crash, a resident came out of their home and said that they found a gun in their backyard. Evidence from other robberies was found in the vehicle as well, which led authorities to identify the suspect. The suspect who was shot and the second suspect identified by Hesperia deputies are gang members, officials said.

It was unclear how the officer-involved shooting began, as investigators were on scene waiting for the man to emerge from his hotel room. The shooting took place around 6 p.m. and Mariposa Road was blocked off from Bear Valley Road to Monarch Boulevard, the eventual site of the helicopter landing. Dozens of bystanders who were unable to exit restaurants like Marie Callendar's, Carl's Jr. and KFC gathered behind yellow police tape to find out what happened.

As is usual, members of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Homicide Detail were called to investigate the shooting and details were not released late Wednesday night.

Steve Rotuna was staying in the Travelodge and had just left his hotel room when he heard the shots.

"They were chasing someone, and I came out of my room and heard them yelling, 'Hold it, hold it,' and then it's pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop. I'm ducking down because I didn't hear the bullets ricocheting and that's the last thing I want — to get shot," Rotuna said.

He said he was ordered to go back into his room, but when he told authorities where his room was they told him to get down the stairs and out of the way.

"It sounded to me almost like blanks, like a movie, but I wasn't taking any chances. It sounded so close, that's real enough for me," Rotuna said.

Medics tend to an injured man as they wheel his stretcher to a Mercy Air helicopter Wednesday afternoon. The man is a robbery suspect.

The suspected robber was flown by air ambulance to an area trauma center for treatment, but his condition was not available Wednesday night. The shooting will remain under investigation by the Homicide Detail.

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This is one of the best Robbery Arrests that I heard of in a long time. I feel that I owe the Deputy a round of High BSRanch Marks for his great work in not only Catching the suspect but taking great caution and aim in saving his life and the lives of many others. That is really All that I am going to say on this. other then Good job. well done.

BSRanch

Rialto Pollution Talks Go Nowhere (Press Enterprise 082806) NO DEAL: At issue is how much SB County owes the City for the cleanup of 6 wells

Rialto pollution talks go nowhere

NO DEAL: At issue is how much San Bernardino County owes the city for the cleanup of six wells.

10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, August 29, 2006

By NAOMI KRESGE and MASSIEL LADRÓN DE GUEVARA
The Press-Enterprise

Settlement talks over payment for perchlorate cleanup broke down on Tuesday between Rialto and San Bernardino County.

The settlement meeting was the first since last August between county supervisors and Rialto City Council members, and each side blamed the other for its acrimonious end.

County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Postmus and Supervisor Josie Gonzales left the morning conference with Rialto councilmen Ed Scott and Joe Sampson. Scott had asked a representative of state Rep. Nell Soto, D-Pomona, to leave, and then the two sides began to argue about the case.

At issue is whether and how much the county owes Rialto to compensate for perchlorate contamination in groundwater from the Mid-Valley Landfill in north Rialto.

City officials say they had a tentative agreement with the county for $6 million, of which $3.5 million would be repaid.

County officials say there was never a deal.

"I think things have pretty well broken down, is what it looks like to me. Unfortunately, the settlement demand on the county will increase in the coming months and years," said Robert Owen, Rialto's city attorney. "Ultimately the county is going to have to pay for their fair share."

The city and its utility sued the county and 41 other agencies and companies in January 2004 over perchlorate contamination in groundwater. Perchlorate, a component of rocket fuel and fireworks, is believed to interfere with thyroid function and brain development. Fetuses and newborns are most at risk.

The chemical has contaminated six of Rialto's wells.

Soto, whose district includes Rialto, is chairwoman of a state Senate committee on perchlorate. Her spokesman, David Miller, said a staffer contacted the county and asked about sitting in on the Tuesday meeting.

Scott said the city told county officials it didn't want the meeting to be confidential. But Scott said it wasn't proper for a third party to be in the room during the talks.

"It was a misunderstanding. I think the bottom line is, we share their commitment to getting the perchlorate out of the drinking water," Miller said.

Bob Page, Gonzales' chief of staff, said the two sides argued over providing information and whether each had returned the other's calls.

City officials say that in a closed-door meeting with Postmus and Gonzales last August, they reached a tentative agreement for the county to pay a $6 million settlement.

Over the course of a year, the two sides said, talks turned to the county paying $2.5 million, plus a $3.5 million advance on future legal costs that would be repaid from money recovered from other defendants.

But Gonzales said there were contingencies because the county didn't have the money.

The $2.5 million payment was contingent upon approval from the county's insurer, Page said. Gonzales said the $3.5 million advance was contingent on the sale of county land in Ontario.

The county hoped to get $52 million to $54 million but only got $47 million, she said, not enough to fund the advance.

"I told them that when they have their priorities straight and are serious on moving forward they could call me and I would reschedule," Gonzales said. "Ed Scott said he would call my office."

Reach Massiel Ladrón de Guevara at 909-806-3054 or mdeguevara@PE.com

Reach Naomi Kresge at 909-806-3060 or nkresge@PE.com

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In the time that they are fighting and discussing the water problem, there is no one cleaning up the water. So the People that Voted them into their positions that they were elected to do something, such as provide clean water, they are fighting this. The fighting of the water rights or what is presumed to be water clean up monies.

Rialto is saying they promised he promised, but in the mean time reality sets in no one actually promised is there no money in the General funds to clean out the wells and the City of Rialto is stalling the clean up of their 6 wells, because they don't have the said monies that they claimed earlier in some reports that they had some $20 Million on hand, but now they don't have any, because why, what have they done to close off or rid themselves of $20 million dollars and they need to stall the city council or the city people so that they cannot find that money. or where that money might be.

This allegation is all to scary, since this could say that they are using or misusing city funding and well, what is going on here. I tell you something might not be right here.

BSRanch

PS: who would look to see where the money would be?

Fontana PD to try Booking, Jail Service (Daily Bulletin 082806).

Fontana PD to try booking, jail service

FONTANA - The Fontana Police Department will implement a pilot program to contract out its booking, jail and transport services. Contracting out the service, which was approved last week by the City Council, can save officers' time, typically 90 minutes for a standard booking and transport, according to a city staff report. The Police Department makes 3,127 arrests a year and contracting out the service will save 4,690 hours of work time, according to the report. "As a result of the time saved, officers would be able to remain in the field on active patrol and respond to calls for service or perform proactive patrol duties," according to the report submitted by Chief Larry Clark. Correctional Services Inc. will be the contractor providing the service. Several law-enforcement agencies use that company, including Ontario, Whittier and Downey. The nine-month pilot program will start Oct. 1. -- Leonor Vivanco, (909) 386-3891 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rialto Police Department has been using the Booking agency since my accident. I cannot say personally that I have seen their success, and how well they work, but I can give this remark based upon the friends that I have that work at Rialto Police Department regarding the Booking Officers and what a convince that they have become. They have become such an easy way to go that it keeps that one or to extra people on the street that would normally be gone to book for sometimes 40 minutes, 1.5 hours. Then you are left covering your area and theirs while they are booking suspects that are left from last shift and your shift. I have been gone with Jail checks for 1.5 shifts before 12 hours for Jail Checks, because we used to meet the other agencies at the back door of the emergency room and wait our turn to get our prisoners looked at. I took a Dog Bite Prisoner to the ER, and that was it HE needed some serious stitch work and 12 hours later I was returning with an overtime slip, and looking at the next shift Sgt. fun stuff back in the day!! Now the booking Officer, you show up hand them your completed booking forms and they are off, and so are you. Back to cover your beat, so no one else does, and you don't get it in the locker room later at the end of shift. Take care and happy hunting out there...as they used to say on my one time favorite police show. Get them before they get you!! BSRanch