LANCASTER – Firefighters in the Antelope Valley battled another fire Tuesday, this one at the Wendy’s restaurant at 45101 10th street west, between Avenue I and Jackman Street. The fire started around 4:30 p.m., according to a Wendy’s employee who did not want to be identified. “I hope everyone made it out okay,” the...
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LANCASTER – Local entrepreneurs now have a low-cost option for launching their dream businesses – right on The BLVD! The City of Lancaster and private partner InSite Development Tuesday unveiled the Start Small Incubator Program, an initiative that allows aspiring entrepreneurs to launch their business ventures on The BLVD with free-standing kiosks. “This is...
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ANTELOPE VALLEY – Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) is alerting customers to be aware of a scam that has impacted other utility customers in several states across the country. The scam claims President Barack Obama is providing credits or applying payments to utility bills. In some cases, scammers have asked for social security numbers...
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LANCASTER – The Lancaster Neighborhood Vitalization Commission (LNVC) and the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station will team up to host a Town Hall Meeting for residents of the El Dorado neighborhood and surrounding area on Thursday, May 24, from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m., at El Dorado Elementary School, located at 361 East Pondera in Lancaster. Captain...
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LANCASTER – The Teamsters Local 848 has voted to approve a new contract with Veolia Transportation. Saturday’s vote of 44 to 33 means the threat of a strike by bus drivers is over. The new five-year contract will be retroactive to January 1, 2012. “We are pleased that the contract has been approved and...
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LANCASTER – Onlookers on The BLVD around 3:30 p.m. Saturday were treated to a dance performance courtesy of Antelope Valley Belly Dance. The local group showed off a variety of belly-dance moves as part of a worldwide “Shimmy Mob” to celebrated World Belly Dance Day. Locally, the event was also to bring awareness to...
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PALMDALE – Friends of the Gentle Barn raised more than $2,300 Friday evening for a non-profit organization that helps abused and neglected farm animals. About 50 people showed up to the Hilton Garden Inn in Palmdale to enjoy a cocktail hour, silent auction and fashion show for The Gentle Barn. “I had a blast,”...
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LANCASTER –Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered residents and their allies are encouraged to attend a Town Hall Meeting this Saturday. The second annual event is being held by The Outreach Center and takes place at 5 p.m., Saturday, May 12 at the Antelope Valley Transit Authority, located at 42210 6th Street West, north of...
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LANCASTER – The Antelope Valley Belly Dancers will join thousands of dancers around the world for the 2nd Annual “Shimmy Mob” this Saturday. Similar to a flash mob, the Shimmy Mob will involve groups of belly dancers appearing at various locations around the world and breaking into choreographed hip-shaking routines. However, unlike flash mobs,...
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LANCASTER – The City of Lancaster is encouraging residents to help keep the Antelope Valley beautiful by reporting wayward shopping carts found in Lancaster neighborhoods. The make this process simple, the City has contracted with the California Shopping Cart Retrieval Corporation. There are three easy ways for residents to report stray shopping carts. Call...
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LANCASTER – The recent surge in murders and burglaries in Lancaster has left many residents wondering what is happening and who is responsible. Some have pointed fingers at the parolees being released early into Lancaster due to the state prison realignment that began in early October. Not so, says the city’s Criminal Justice Analyst...
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LANCASTER – Fourteen young scholars and their families were recognized at an ‘Ice Cream Social’ held recently at the Antelope Valley Country Club in Palmdale. The event was hosted by the Greater Antelope Valley Association of REALTORS® (GAVAR) as part of their 10th Annual Scholarship Program, which awards annual scholarships to young men and...
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* LANCASTER – Hundreds of residents came out this past weekend for the grand opening of Lancaster’s new Museum of Art and History (MOAH). The nearly 20,000 square foot museum features five galleries, a store, and a unique rooftop patio offering a view of The BLVD. MOAH’s grand opening was free and open to...
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LANCASTER – The Westside Union School District Board of Trustees this week voted to create the Hillview 6th Grade Honors Academy. The new program will add 6th grade honor students to the school, which is currently comprised of 7th and 8th grade students. This program is the latest effort by Westside Union School District...
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LANCASTER – Service provider Veolia Transportation announced Tuesday that the company has reached a tentative agreement with drivers who operate service for Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA). Teamsters Local 848 members will vote on the agreement on Saturday, May 12, 2012. If approved, there will be no threat of a strike. The two sides...
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LANCASTER – Antelope Valley College students are hosting a fashion show and silent auction on May 11 to help raise money and awareness for abused or neglected farm animals. The event is part of the final project for a Small Group Communications class, where students were asked to find a charity that means something...
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Updated 5/9/12: Matthew Ridgway has been charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, making criminal threats, battery, dissuading a witness, false imprisonment, and brandishing a firearm. He pled not guilty to all counts Tuesday and was denied a request to be released on his own recognizance, according to court records. His...
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LANCASTER – Family, friends and military personnel gathered at the Center for Spiritual Living Friday to honor and remember the 30-year-old veteran who was murdered in Lancaster last month. Nathen Crocket Taylor was a former Sergeant in the U.S. Army. His eight years of service included three tours of duty, twice to Iraq and...
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LANCASTER – Officials were making final preparations Thursday for the grand opening of Lancaster’s new Museum of Art and History (MOAH). “We’re putting labels on all the artwork, touching up painting and cleaning,” said Curator Andi Campognone. “We’re super close.” On Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. the City of Lancaster will host...
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LANCASTER – The family of a 30-year-old Army veteran shot to death in Lancaster last month is holding a public memorial service this Friday. Nathen Taylor will be honored and remembered from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Friday, at the Antelope Valley Center for Spiritual Living, located at 1030 West Ave. L-8, in Lancaster....
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LANCASTER – The criminal case against David Grajeda, the 26-year-old man charged with disrupting a public meeting based on his actions at a Lancaster Criminal Justice Commission meeting, ended Wednesday morning when both sides agreed to a resolution in the case. The misdemeanor charge against Grajeda for disrupting a public meeting was dismissed; in...
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LANCASTER – Driving to his second day of work at Antelope Valley Harley Davidson, 19-year-old Zac Lutz was involved in a motorcycle accident. Zac was driving north on 45th Street West the morning of April 24, heading toward Quartz Hill Road, when a woman in ’99 Dodge pickup truck u-turned in front of him,...
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LANCASTER – Steven was a daily target for bullies. They kicked him, punched him, pushed him and called him names every single day, he said. One day Steven ran away to avoid being hit, but a friend-turned-bully pushed him to the ground mid-run, and Steven sustained the worst injuries he’s ever had. With his...
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LANCASTER – About a dozen leaders from various segments of the Antelope Valley community gathered Saturday afternoon at the Agape Church for a Community Roundtable. Organizer and community activist, Abdul Majeed Askia, said the purpose of the roundtable was for various community leaders to pool their knowledge and resources together to tackle the most...
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LANCASTER – The race is on to get tickets to see country music’s original super-group Sawyer Brown live at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center on Saturday, April 28. Hailed as the Rolling Stones of country music, Sawyer Brown is one of the biggest names on LPAC’s Season roster. Sawyer Brown broke into the country...
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ANTELOPE VALLEY – Residents have a chance to safely get rid of old or unused medications tomorrow. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Lancaster and Palmdale Stations will be taking part in the 4th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 28, 2012. If...
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LANCASTER – Starting Thursday, May 3, the BLVD Farmers’ Market will switch to its summer hours of 3 to 8 p.m. The BLVD Farmers’ Market is held year-round on Thursdays in downtown Lancaster, along The BLVD between Date Avenue and Fig Avenue. It currently includes more than 25 vendors, with the intention of expanding...
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Construction zones with traffic flow restrictions within the City of Lancaster through May 5, 2012. Lancaster BLVD will be closed on Saturday, April 28th between Date and Fig from approximately 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm for a “Take Back the Night” march to promote awareness of domestic violence and abuse. Members of the public...
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LANCASTER – The Antelope Valley Transit Authority has been given a reprieve from the threat of a strike, according to a news release issued by AVTA Wednesday afternoon. The Teamsters Local 848 has agreed to delay a work stoppage until after bargaining units meet on May 7. Union Representative Eric Tate met with the...
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LANCASTER – The Antelope Valley Transit Authority is in the process of developing a contingency plan should the Teamsters Local 848 decide to strike. Efforts are currently underway to obtain substitute coach operators who are presently providing transit service in other areas. AVTA has been assured by its contractor, Veolia Transportation, that all Commuter...
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LANCASTER – Council members Sandra Johnson and Ken Mann were sworn in to office by city clerk Geri Bryan at Tuesday night’s city council Meeting. Johnson, who was the top vote getter in the April 10 election in her first bid for office, said she’s looking forward to getting right to work for the...
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LANCASTER – Two years ago, an Antelope Valley family of 11 was in dire straits. The mother was a pregnant fugitive on the run with a substance abuse problem, and the father was fresh out of prison struggling to care for nine children on his own. The children, ages one to 15, were eventually...
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LANCASTER – The City of Lancaster continues to receive accolades for its downtown revitalization efforts. The City was presented with the California Redevelopment Association Award of Excellence for “The BLVD Transformation Project,” at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. Lancaster was selected from among California’s more than 400 redevelopment agencies for the annual award, which...
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LANCASTER – Thousands of people descended on Lancaster City Park Saturday for the 21st Annual California Poppy Festival. The festival grounds, which covered 35 acres, offered more than 400 vendors, four stages of live entertainment, a children’s carnival, exotic animal encounters, a classic car show, a farmers markets, the Taste of Lancaster and more....
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LANCASTER – Tomorrow, hundreds will walk together to create a world free of multiple sclerosis. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Walk MS will kick off at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, April 28 at Lancaster Marketplace, located at 44950 Valley Central Way in Lancaster. The event is rallying point for the MS movement – a day...
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LANCASTER – The National Healthcare Volunteer Week is celebrated this year during the week of April 15 – 21. This is a time when healthcare organizations all over the country take time to recognize the volunteers who give so much of their time and talents, free of charge. Antelope Valley Hospital (AVH) will recognize...
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LANCASTER – More than 25,000 pounds of electronic waste and nearly 1500 gallons of used oil were collected this past weekend at the City of Lancaster’s Electronic Waste and Used Oil Recycling Event, which was held at the City Maintenance yard. The goal of this event was to raise awareness and reduce illegal dumping...
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LANCASTER – Another BLVD project, headed up by Insite Development’s Scott Ehrlich, is on the way. This one will be constructed on the corner of Date Avenue and The Blvd — on the grounds of the former Woolworth’s store. InSite developers joined city officials Tuesday for a press conference to announce details of the...
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QUARTZ HILL– Cancer survivors, caregivers, family members and supporters took to Quartz Hill High School’s track this weekend for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Lancaster. The 24-hour event took place from 9 a.m. on Saturday to 9 a.m. on Sunday and included 110 teams from organizations around the Antelope Valley –...
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LOS ANGELES – Awards and recognition continue to pour in for the Lancaster residents who saved a deputy from being attacked on the side of the road this past January. Gale Smith, Mario Barrera, and Tyson Ray Beers received Courageous Citizen Awards Friday from Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley. Courageous Citizen Awards are...
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LANCASTER – Are you a resident or business owner in the Lancaster Station service area who is concerned about public safety in your community? If so, then you may want to add your name to the list of residents being considered for the Lancaster Station’s Community Advisory Committee, slated to be in place by...
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LANCASTER – Lancaster Station Captain Bob Jonsen and Sgt. Theresa Dawson held an open and candid conversation with about a dozen residents Thursday morning as part of ‘Coffee with the Captain,’ an event aimed at bridging the gap between the Lancaster Station and the community. Some residents brought specific problems to the captain’s attention,...
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LANCASTER – Live shark shows and ziplining are just two of the new attractions attendees can expect when the Poppy Festival bursts into bloom next week. The 21st Annual California Poppy Festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 21 and 22 at Lancaster City Park, located at 43011 10th Street...
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Lancaster – In less than six months, the Vex Robotics team at Joe Walker Middle School has gone from upstart rookie to nationally ranked challenger. Next week, the 10-member team will test their mettle at the Vex Robotics Middle School World Championship competition, to be held from April 18 to April 21 in Anaheim....
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LANCASTER – With signs such as “Students say stay cool, don’t close the pool” and “New Stadium = closed pool?” Antelope Valley College students protested the possible closure of the campus pool Monday evening during the Board of Trustees meeting. In early March, Coach Jackie Lott received an email stating that the pool would...
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LANCASTER – Lancaster Station Commander, Captain Bob Jonsen, is inviting you to join him this Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., at The Bandstand coffee house, located at 706 W Lancaster Blvd. in Lancaster. Captain Jonsen will be available for any questions you may have concerning public safety in Lancaster and will also...
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LANCASTER – Jambalaya, red beans and rice, and seafood gumbo are just some of the entrees on the menu at Brittany’s on the Boulevard, a new restaurant on The BLVD specializing in Cajun/Creole cuisine. “It’s all Louisiana,” said head chef Anthony Grove. “We’re offering Cajun cuisine in a nice easy going atmosphere.” Monday several...
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LANCASTER – Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris reacted strongly to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor’s recent approval of a policy that allows homeless probationers and parolees to qualify for government-subsidized housing and cuts the criminal history review period for drug-related and violent crimes from three to two years. The policy changes are...
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LANCASTER – Students, parents, teachers, and art enthusiasts gathered at Lancaster City Hall Thursday evening for an artist reception to kick off the 27th Annual Antelope Valley Unified High School District Art Show. Now in its 27th year, the art show encourages and supports the artistic experimentation and expression of student artists from schools...
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LANCASTER – By not announcing which lawsuits are being discussed in closed sessions, taking action on items not on the agenda, and convening council meetings without a quorum, the Lancaster City Council is flagrantly violating California’s open meeting law, alleges a complaint filed against the City of Lancaster this week. The complaint, which claims...
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LANCASTER – Five people were injured, included two deputies, when an Antelope Valley Transit Authority bus collided with a sheriff’s patrol unit and then crashed into the side of an ice cream shop Wednesday night. The collision occurred around 8 p.m., Wednesday in the intersection of Avenue I and Division Street in Lancaster, on...
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LANCASTER – Lancaster City Hall was alive with color Wednesday. Colorful knitted spider webs covered hedges, flamboyant scarves and sweaters wrapped around tree trunks, crocheted lollipops and God’s eyes hung from branches, and vibrant pom poms sprouted out of potted plants. The decorative flair was added by 18 art students from R. Rex Parris...
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LANCASTER – The City of Lancaster Tuesday welcomed Sassy Couture, a women’s clothing and accessories boutique, to The BLVD. The store showcases chic, trendy items from sweaters and tunics to semi-formal wear, especially popular for special events such as Vegas trips and cruises. “The BLVD was created with independently-owned establishments like Sassy Couture in...
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LANCASTER – At age 44, University of Antelope Valley Culinary student John Delgado will tell you he still feels young at heart. It’s a good thing, because he’s about to spend six months at the Happiest Place on Earth. As John nears completion of his Certificate in Culinary Arts, he and his family prepare...
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LANCASTER – The 27th annual Antelope Valley Union High School District Student Art Exhibition will display at Lancaster City Hall from April 5 – May 20, 2012. The exhibition will open with a free public reception from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, April 5, with more than $1,000 in cash awards presented to student...
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Updated 4/3/12 at 5:30 p.m. The man shot to death, in the parking lot of Snooky’s Sunday night, has been identified as Vyacheslav Berzer, 33, of Reseda, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office. LANCASTER – Late Sunday night a 33-year-old man was shot and killed by a security guard outside an adult...
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LANCASTER – Hundreds of people, young and old, marched through Lancaster Thursday wearing hoodies in memory of the unarmed Florida teen who was shot to death last month. “I’m here because of Trayvon,” said eight-year-old Cunnisha Moten, attending the march with her grandmother, Brenda Cochran. “I’ve been in Martin Luther King marches, a few...
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LANCASTER – Nearly 200 gathered in front of e-Chaps Computer and More Wednesday evening to celebrate the life of Reed Keith, the beloved Lancaster business owner murdered during a robbery at his store on March 23. Attendees lit candles, embraced and cried quietly as family members, close friends, customers and even those who didn’t...
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LANCASTER – Area residents are expected to don hoodie sweatshirts tomorrow in a community rally and march in remembrance of the unarmed Florida teen shot to death last month. The “Hoodie March for Solidarity Against Stereotypes in Remembrance of Trayvon Martin” will kick off at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 29, at the Lancaster Metrolink...
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LANCASTER – At the Lancaster City Council meeting Tuesday, Quartz Hill High School senior Hayden Zimmerman, a three time individual wrestling Golden League Champion, was presented with the Mayor’s Athlete of the Month Award by Mayor R. Rex Parris. Zimmerman has helped lead his team to three Golden League team championships at Quartz Hill...
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LANCASTER – Prosecutors Tuesday upgraded charges against an alleged drunk driver accused of causing a crash that killed a Lancaster woman and critically injured the woman’s husband. Jodi Lyn Biers, 28, is now facing a murder charge for the collision on March 13 that killed Angelica Goins-Jones and put Patrick Jones in the hospital...
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LANCASTER – Family members and friends will be holding a candlelight vigil for Reed Keith, the Lancaster business owner murdered during a robbery of his computer store on March 23. The vigil will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 28, in front of e-Chaps Computers and More, located at 2007 W. Avenue K...
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LANCASTER – Lancaster HEAL Zone Partnership partners Tuesday announced the launch of their HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living) Zone Community Action Plan to encourage healthy eating and active living in the City of Lancaster. The Lancaster HEAL Zone Partnership is a recipient of a $300,000 grant, as part of a larger Kaiser Permanente investment...
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LANCASTER – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors are strongly encouraging residents countywide to participate in the 11th Annual César Chávez Community Service Week by volunteering at county public libraries, local food banks, and homeless shelters. This year’s César Chávez Community Service Week takes place from March 26 through March 30. “César Chávez...
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LANCASTER — The Lancaster Neighborhood Vitalization Commission would like to hear from you. The Commission will hold a public meeting Thursday, March 29 from 2 to 6 p.m. to hear directly from citizens and social service providers regarding the support services being provided to Lancaster residents. The meeting will be held in the Lancaster...
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LANCASTER – Two alleged gang-affiliated brothers are in jail awaiting trial on a host of charges, including assault with a deadly weapon and attempted murder, for beating up a man in a Lancaster convenience store last month. The attack could have gotten much worse, and may have even turned deadly, if not for the...
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LANCASTER – The City of Lancaster’s Museum of Art and History (MOAH) will open to the public on Saturday, May 5, 2012. ”The MOAH opening has been anticipated with great excitement,” said Mayor R. Rex Parris. “It marks a new era for the City of Lancaster, providing the public with another spectacular venue where...
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LANCASTER – The criminal trial for David Grajeda, the man charged with interfering with a public meeting based on his actions at a Lancaster Criminal Justice Commission meeting, was scheduled to begin Monday, but was postponed to late April instead. Grajeda and his attorney, David Harris, appeared briefly before Superior Court Judge Akemi Arakaki...
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LANCASTER – Former LA Lakers All-Stars A.C. Green and Norm Nixon made a special trip to the Antelope Valley Saturday to sign autographs, pose for pictures, answer questions, and play some one-on-one with a couple of lucky fans. The former NBA players were the highlight of the second annual “Healthcare Basketball Follies,” a three-on-three...
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LANCASTER – The suspected drunk driver involved in Tuesday’s collision, that killed a Lancaster woman and critically injured the woman’s husband, cried throughout her court appearance Thursday. Jodi Lynn Biers, 28, was charged with five felonies – gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, two counts of driving under the influence and causing injury, and two...
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LANCASTER – David Paul is on the ballot again this year as a candidate for Lancaster City Mayor. “This is my fourth time running so I consistently believe I would be the best mayor,” Paul said. As an active member of the community, Paul said he has been sharing his ideas with the Lancaster...
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LANCASTER – The Second District State Court of Appeal Thursday reversed a decision rendered in 2010 by the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, which had upheld the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared for The Commons at Quartz Hill shopping center, to be located at 60th Street West and Avenue L in the City...
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LANCASTER – The Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles has discriminated against non-African Americans looking to participate in the Section 8 program, has engaged in discriminatory racial steering practices, and has failed to enforce the terms of the Section 8 program it administers. This is what the City of Lancaster alleges, according...
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LANCASTER – This Thursday, March 15, the City of Lancaster will present the “Enhanced BLVD Farmers’ Market,” kicking off the spring season of Farmers’ Markets. The Enhanced Farmers’ Market will bring a new crop of vendors to the weekly event, along with live music and activities. “One of the main benefits of the Farmers’...
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LANCASTER – In honor of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness month in March, Antelope Valley Hospital (AVH) is hosting a free colorectal cancer screening and information session from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday, March 19 at 44105 15th Street West (the corner of Avenue J-5 and 15th Street West), on the 4th floor, in...
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LANCASTER – John E. Allen; Ryan Clark; George Delgado; Chris D. Leon; Joseph Lopez; Matthew Ramsey, Marvin R. Sprayberry III; Ian Wesley Stewart; and Allan Walker. Having made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, these nine men are memorialized on banners along the length of The Blvd. A crowd of about 200 gathered at...
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LANCASTER – A 42-year-old Lancaster woman was killed early Tuesday morning in a collision with a suspected drunk driver, according to authorities. The collision occurred at 10th Street West and Avenue L at around 12:54 a.m., said Lancaster Station Spokesman Michael Rust. “The victim was headed eastbound on Avenue L and she was going...
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LANCASTER – More than 300 friends, family members and coworkers came out Saturday to say their final goodbyes to Beau Josh Owen Fluker and Jeffrey Gilstrap, the two Walmart employees who lost their lives in a car crash on Feb. 26. The joint memorial service was held at Grace Chapel in Lancaster. “We’re not...
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LANCASTER – The City of Lancaster will host a “Hometown Heroes Tribute” at 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 13 at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center, located at 750 W Lancaster Blvd. The event is being held in conjunction with the City’s BLVD Banner Program. Launched in the winter of 2010, the BLVD Banner Program is...
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LANCASTER – The Vacation Watch Program, speeding in school zones, and neighborhood crime mapping were just a few of several issues brought up at the first monthly “Coffee with a Deputy” meeting, which took place Thursday morning. The program is designed to create a comfortable atmosphere where community members can meet with deputies from...
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LANCASTER – The Linda Verde Wellness Home held its grand opening Wednesday morning in Lancaster. “It’s for the people in the neighborhood,” said Elizabeth Brubaker, director of Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization. “They educate people, they have counseling, they have services for people who have just had children…there’s just a ton of services, anything you...
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LANCASTER – In a written statement Wednesday Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris announced he was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Read his statement below: “Last week, my doctors notified me that I am suffering an aggressive but very treatable form of prostate cancer. During a routine checkup, my PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels were found...
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LOS ANGELES– As The AV Times reported last month, grandmother of six and local pastor, Rev. Dr. Gale Smith, jumped out of her car and ran to help a female deputy who was in the struggle of her life with a carjacking suspect on the side of the road. (Read more here.) Tuesday, Smith...
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LANCASTER – The first campaign finance disclosure statements in the Lancaster mayoral and city council races are in. In the city council race, incumbent Ken Mann has raised and spent the most cash so far. In the race for mayor, incumbent R. Rex Parris is the only candidate who exceeded the threshold – $1,000...
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PALMDALE/LANCASTER – The Palmdale and Lancaster Sheriff’s Stations are in the process of selecting 50 interested residents from the station areas to participate in the Antelope Valley’s Twenty-Sixth Community Academy. This program will focus on the Sheriff Department’s operational procedures, as well as sessions ranging from criminal law to undercover operations. Participants will go...
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LANCASTER – Antelope Valley Hospital (AVH) will host a Town Hall Meeting on Thursday to update the community on the hospital’s progress and future plans. Edward Mirzabegian, AVH Chief Executive Officer, will discuss expansion and renovation plans, improved customer service, new procedures and future goals for the hospital. The audience will have an opportunity...
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LANCASTER – A Hispanic man who was killed in an alley six weeks ago by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies was shot at least four times, according to a copy of the autopsy report obtained by The AV Times. Christian Cobian, 26, suffered a potentially fatal gunshot wound to the right side of the...
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LANCASTER – Over 20 members of the community read to the children of West Wind Elementary Friday in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday and National Read Across America Day. “I like the opportunity to hear people from a variety of professions,” said Janine Simi, a teacher at West Wind Elementary, “(who) not only read...
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PALMDALE – A female teacher’s aide pleaded no contest Wednesday to sexually molesting a 13-year-old male student whom she was tutoring, the District Attorney’s office announced. Holly Marie Polson, 35, pleaded no contest to all four counts of lewd act on a child under 14, said Deputy District Attorney Valerie Little. The married Palmdale...
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LANCASTER – Antelope Valley Hospital celebrated the grand opening of its Comprehensive Wound Care Center Tuesday evening. The center, which opened Dec 27, 2011, has a staff equipped to deal with every kind of wound. “The number of people who may be in need of the wound center is in the millions,” said Dr....
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LANCASTER – At the Lancaster City Council meeting Tuesday, Desert Christian High School senior Scott Acton, was presented with the Mayor’s Athlete of the Month Award by Vice Mayor Ron Smith. Acton, the Boys Cross Country team captain, helped lead his team to a second place finish at the State Cross Country meet, where...
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LANCASTER – A suspected drunk driver involved in an early morning crash Sunday that killed two Walmart employees is facing eight felony counts, including two counts of second degree murder, according to court records. Tommie Lee Cole, 24, appeared briefly in an Antelope Valley courtroom Tuesday before Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Steven Ogden...
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LANCASTER – Candles, flowers and handwritten notes marked the spot where Beau Josh Owen Fluker, 26, and Jeffrey Gilstrap, 23 lost their lives in a car crash early Sunday morning. A note with pictures of both men read: “R.I.P. Beau Fluker & Jeffrey. You are at a better place now.” Excerpts from a full...
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LANCASTER – A 26-year-old man and a 23-year-old man died early Sunday morning after a suspected drunken driver crashed into their vehicle at a Lancaster intersection, according to Lt. Richard Daniels of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station. The incident happened about 2:26 a.m. on Avenue J and 20th Street West in Lancaster. The victims were...
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LANCASTER – The duo behind the advice website “Everyone is Gay” dropped by the Antelope Valley College campus Saturday and delivered an engaging performance that combined humor and serious discussion to raise awareness on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) issues. Bursting out from behind a projection screen, Kristin Russo and Dannielle Owens-Reid...
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LANCASTER – Last week gang detectives from the Sheriff’s Department descending on the Trading Post Pawn Shop and the duplex directly behind the store, after obtaining information that employees of the pawn shop were taking in stolen property and dealing drugs, according to a news release by the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station. Read more here....
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LANCASTER – Six candidates running for city, county and state offices outlined their platforms Wednesday to a crowd of about 60. Hosted by the Democratic Club of the High Desert (DCHD), the event was billed as a Question and Answer Forum to allow candidates to introduce themselves to Antelope Valley residents. Candidates were given...
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UPDATE: MISSING WOMAN FOUND – Rickie Ann Jones was located Thursday morning, around 8:30 a.m. at Denny’s Restaurant at 20th West and Avenue K in Lancaster, according to Lancaster Station spokesman Michael Rust. Rust said Jones was not harmed and has been returned to her family. LANCASTER – Have you seen the woman in...
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LANCASTER– California State Senator Sharon Runner has announced that she will not seek re-election to the State Senate this November. “Serving the people of our community over my lifetime has been an amazing blessing and I am so very thankful for their support throughout each of my elections and my tenure in office,” said...
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LANCASTER – A least eight candidates running for various state, county, and municipal offices have confirmed their attendance at a ‘Candidate Question & Answer’ forum, to be hosted by the Democratic Club of the High Desert (DCHD) on Wednesday, Feb. 22. Scheduled to attend are: Lee Rodgers – Candidate for Congress, 25th District Laura...
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LANCASTER – Fans at the Los Angeles SLAM home game Sunday were treated to a special halftime performance by Dazzler Cheer. Proud parents with cameras in hand rushed to the sidelines as more than 100 cheerleaders rushed the court. Girls as young as three-years-old kept pace with teenagers in an athletic routine that included...
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Quartz Hill – Applications are in for the new Gregg Anderson School. With more than 900 applications and only 733 seats available, Westside Union School District held a lottery Wednesday afternoon for the random selection of students. Parents and students gathered at Hillview Middle School to watch the projector for their name to appear....
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LANCASTER – Four years ago, Lancaster City Council Member Ken Mann successfully ran on a platform of reducing crime, curbing Section 8 fraud, solving the city’s water problem and getting Lancaster to become more fiscally responsible. This year, Mann is running on a similar platform. If reelected, crime will continue to be his top...
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LANCASTER – A recent visitor to Del Sur Elementary School has caused quite a stir. Last week, in the early morning hours, students discovered a small owl tangled in the campus soccer nets. The owl – now fondly referred to as Bella – was rescued from the nets by the school principal and other...
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LANCASTER – Two architectural planners for the Kaiser Permanente Antelope Valley Medical Center will speak about the new project at the Business Outlook Conference from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24. The Antelope Valley Board of Trade is hosting the region’s premier business event at the Poppy Pavilion on the AV...
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LANCASTER – Gang Detectives from the Sheriff’s Department’s Operation Safe Streets unit, along with deputies from the Lancaster Station’s Burglary Suppression Team early morning descended on the Trading Post Pawn Shop located on Sierra Hwy in Lancaster, and a duplex directly behind the shop in the 500 block of Oldfield Street after obtaining...
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LANCASTER – More than two dozen local students Wednesday got some hands on experience on how city government works, thanks to Lancaster’s Youth in Government program. Now in its 22nd year, the program is much more than the typical shadow-a-government-official-for-the-day program. “It really prepares our kids to be engaged in government, to be responsible...
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LANCASTER – Lancaster was profiled Wednesday as part of the ongoing “Strong Cities | Strong State” campaign highlighting local government success stories across California. “Strong Cities | Strong State” is a project of the League of California Cities and the California City Management Foundation (CCMF). “Cities play an integral role in the daily lives...
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LANCASTER – The Lancaster City Council Tuesday approved an agreement with Organic Energy Corporation to develop a facility in Lancaster that would convert city garbage into various forms of renewable energy. The proposed material recovery and conversion facility (MFR) would use state-of-the-art technologies to convert unrecyclable solid waste into useful products, such as green...
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LANCASTER – In an ongoing effort to promote change and awareness of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer issues through humor and honesty, The OUT Project and the SOAR Gay/Straight Alliance are offering a free presentation of “Everyone Is Gay.” The program will be held from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Cafeteria...
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LANCASTER – At 10:30 p.m. tonight, Lancaster’s Del Sur middle school will be featured in the nationally broadcast PBS premiere of Not In Our Town – Class Actions, a documentary which profiles students and community members who are creating change in the wake of racism, anti-Semitism, and the traumatic consequences of bullying. The half-hour...
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LANCASTER – The City Council will vote Tuesday on an agreement with Ecolution, an advanced solid waste separation and renewable energy developer, for the development of a Materials Recovery and Conversion Facility (MRF) in the City of Lancaster. “The City of Lancaster stands to be the first Net-Zero City in America,” says Mayor R....
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LANCASTER – If you have attended, or watched on television, any Lancaster city council meetings in the past year, then you may recognize Michael Rives as the man who addresses the city council multiple times at each meeting. “I’ve attended every meeting and I’ve spoken at every meeting for the last year or year...
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LANCASTER – Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris gave the annual State of the City address at a luncheon hosted by the Antelope Valley Chamber of Commerce Wednesday. He addressed Lancaster’s challenges – one in particular — before highlighting the city’s economic growth and strides in health, wellness, education, and solar energy. “The biggest threat...
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LANCASTER – The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) is joining forces this week with transit agencies nationwide expressing strong opposition to provisions in House bill H.R. 3864, the federal American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Financing Act. The bill would eliminate dedicated federal fuel taxes for public transit and create long-term uncertainty for public transportation...
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LANCASTER – Several wiped away tears as 10-year-old Stephany Cobian spoke of the deputy-involved shooting on Jan. 21 that claimed the life of her big brother Christian Cobian, 26. “I don’t understand why the police had to shoot him just because he was riding a bike without a light,” Stephany Cobian said. “If I...
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LANCASTER – At a press conference Wednesday, local civil rights activists joined family members in calling for elected officials to create a civilian oversight board to look into the recent deputy-involved shootings of Darrell Logan Jr., Christian Cobian and Donald Handy. However, Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris says such an entity is not needed...
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LANCASTER – On Tuesday, Jan. 31, a grandmother of six was the first person to come to the aid of a female deputy who was being attacked on the side of the road on Avenue M in Lancaster. Sheriff’s officials say the 63-year-old woman’s actions quite possibly saved the deputy’s life. Ironically, Rev. Dr....
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LANCASTER – David Grajeda, the man accused of interfering with a pubic meeting based on his actions at a Lancaster Criminal Justice Commission meeting, was scheduled to begin trial Monday at the Antelope Valley courthouse, but his case was continued to March. His recently appointed defense attorney, David Harris, asked for more time to...
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LANCASTER – Boxing Legend Sugar Ray Leonard will replace NBA Basketball Star Earvin “Magic” Johnson as the keynoter for the Business Outlook Conference because Johnson cancelled due to the NBA rescheduling the all star game and his contractual obligations with ESPN. The Antelope Valley Board of Trade’s 40th annual conference is slated for 7:30...
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LANCASTER – An eight-year-old boy living in a malnutrition center had a distended stomach, off colored skin and weighed only 19 pounds. Six months after getting food from Feed My Starving Children, Omar gained 54 pounds, and his stomach and skin color are returning to normal. Because of a year-long fundraiser in the Antelope...
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Updated: 2/3/12 at 5:30 p.m. Read the Final Court Order here. LANCASTER – The City of Lancaster, Antelope Valley Chevrolet, and Sierra Toyota are free from a lawsuit filed against them in 2010 by the City of Palmdale, regarding the opening of the new Antelope Valley Chevrolet dealership in Lancaster. This according to a news...
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LANCASTER – City of Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris reacted strongly to the City of Palmdale’s decision to enter into a settlement agreement in the Section 8 discrimination lawsuit involving both cities. Parris issued the following statement Friday: “I am extremely disappointed with the actions and comments made by the City of Palmdale regarding their recent...
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PALMDALE/LANCASTER – Crime rates in Palmdale and Lancaster for 2011 have dropped to their lowest levels in at least 20 years, according to press releases issued by the cities of Palmdale and Lancaster Thursday. Palmdale’s crime rate plummets for 2011 With a 2.71 percent decrease in the number of Part I crimes reported and...
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Updated: 2/3/12 at 6:30 p.m. The 68-year-old man shot dead by deputies Wednesday night is Donald Handy, according to his live-in girlfriend of eight years, Phyllis Pearson, 49. LANCASTER – A 68-year-old White man wielding a sword was shot and killed by deputies Wednesday night in Lancaster, according to Lieutenant Mary Leef of the Sheriff’s...
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LANCASTER – John Kiramis, one of the candidates for Lancaster city council, has been in public service since he was 21 years old. After retiring as a police lieutenant in 2004, Kiramis said he missed public service and decided to run for city council in Foster City. He was later elected to Foster City...
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LANCASTER – A 63-year-old woman was one of many citizens who stopped their cars and jumped out to help a female deputy who was being attacked on the side of the road Tuesday, according to Lancaster Station spokesman Michael Rust. “We’re thankful for the people that intervened,” said Rust. “It quite possibly saved the...
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LANCASTER – A Rite Aid employee was arrested early Wednesday morning for stealing thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from the company and then selling the stolen goods on the Internet, according to the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station. Detectives also seized several firearms and ammunition from the employee’s home. The following is the news release...
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LANCASTER – Volunteers are needed at Journey Church this weekend to help members of the community pack meals for the Feed My Starving Children organization. Jodi Jones and her husband Alan decided to raise $24,000, which would provide 100,000 meals to starving children in the world. “I feel like God spoke to me and...
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LANCASTER – Construction zones with traffic flow restrictions within the City of Lancaster through February 11, 2012. Lancaster BLVD will be closed every Thursday from Date Avenue to Ehrlich Avenue from approximately 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for the weekly farmer’s market. Parking in this area will not be permitted beginning at 11:00 a.m....
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LANCASTER – Jose Manriquez has dreamed of opening his own restaurant since he was a little boy. His dream became a reality Tuesday when “1800: Simply the best burritos and tacos” officially opened for business on The BLVD. “I’m really excited,” said Manriquez. “I’ve been working with food for the last 25 years, so...
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Quartz Hill – Construction began Monday on the Quartz Hill Drain Project, a flood control system in the downtown Quartz Hill business district and adjacent areas expected to improve the long term maintenance and condition of the roads and remediate the flooding issues that have plagued area residents and motorists for years. The multimillion...
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LITTLEROCK – A 36-year-old man died Saturday after sustaining injuries from being thrown from his pickup truck and then pinned underneath the vehicle in the Little Rock Wash, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Abel Hernandez. Moises Vizcaino, of Palmdale, died at the scene and was the only person inside the vehicle, Hernandez said....
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LANCASTER – After more than 10 years of preparation, construction is slated to begin on a state-of-the-art medical complex in Lancaster. Los Angeles County officials joined City officials Monday for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the new High Desert Health System Multi-Service Ambulatory Care Center (MACC). The complex will be constructed on a 15-acre site...
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LANCASTER – Tonight Season Ten American Idol winner Scotty McCreery will be at the PEC to perform songs from his debut album, Clear As Day, including his Top 15 hit, “I Love You This Big”. Scotty rose to fame when he appeared on American Idol and immediately made a name for himself with his...
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LANCASTER – The man who held up a check cashing store in the Quartz Hill Town Centre in broad daylight 10 days ago is in jail, along with his get-away driver, thanks to new facial recognition software, according to a Sheriff’s press report. A clear image of the suspect’s face was captured on a...
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LANCASTER – University of Antelope Valley is bringing some big names in entertainment to its Pioneer Event Center (PEC) this weekend. On Saturday, R&B legends, Bel Biv DeVoe will be at the PEC. BBD is credited as pioneering the “New Jack Swing” sound of the early 1990s, combining hip-hop, funk, soul, and pop music....
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LANCASTER – Broadcasting profiles of fugitives through local media channels paid off for detectives at the Lancaster Station last year. In 2011, 61 of the 89 suspects highlighted on the Lancaster Station’s weekly Most Wanted list were captured, according to spokesman Deputy Michael Rust. “We want to let the public know how much we...
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LANCASTER – At a press conference Thursday, civil rights groups lauded the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for approving a settlement agreement in response to a lawsuit that accuses Lancaster and Palmdale of discriminating against Section 8 tenants. The groups called on the two cities to follow the County’s lead. Not going to...
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PALMDALE – Civil rights organizations suing Lancaster and Palmdale over its treatment of Section 8 tenants held a press conference Thursday to celebrate a recent victory for their cause – a settlement agreement with Los Angeles County, which bars deputies from riding along on Section 8 compliance checks and prevents the cities from receiving...
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LANCASTER – Reacting to the proposed settlement by the County Board of Supervisors that addresses Section 8 discrimination allegations, Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris issued the following statement: “The public should be outraged that the County entered into a backroom deal to settle litigation (litigation that the County isn’t even a party to) which...
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LANCASTER/ PALMDALE – Deputies can no longer ride along on Section 8 compliance checks, law enforcement can no longer know which homes are Section 8 homes, and there will be no extra Section 8 housing investigators for Lancaster and Palmdale. This according to the details of a proposed settlement agreement approved late Tuesday by...
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LANCASTER – The NAACP in the Antelope Valley is outraged by the statement from City leaders backing deputies involved in Saturday’s shooting, which left a 26-year-old Hispanic man dead. “They are standing behind the deputies no matter what, without knowing the facts themselves,” said AV NAACP President Juan Blanco. “The City leaders of Lancaster...
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LANCASTER – Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris says he paid his own way to attend the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) in Abu Dhabi last week. “That trip cost me personally about $45,000, that’s the cost for me to travel with my staff,” Parris said Monday. “It didn’t cost the City anything for me.”...
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LANCASTER – Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris and members of the City Council Monday released a joint statement addressing the recent deputy-involved shooting that left 26-year-old Christian Cobian dead. “The deputies involved in this incident and their families have the full support of Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris and City Council Members during this...
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QUARTZ HILL – Hundreds of families, parents, and educators flocked to Joe Walker Middle School Saturday for the 5th Annual Parent Symposium, hosted by the High Desert Alliance of Black School Educators. This year’s event was arguably the best turn out the program has seen since its conception, despite the cold, wet weather. Organizers...
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LANCASTER – Animal control officers this weekend caught the stray dog they say bit a toddler in the face just before Christmas, according to the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control. The white Pit Bull/Labrador mix dog was caught Friday near the 1700 block of Lancaster Boulevard, said public information...
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LANCASTER –Family members have identified the 26-year-old Hispanic man shot and killed by Lancaster deputies Saturday night as Christian Cobian. “The detective told me it’s my son,” said mother, Carmen Cobian. “I don’t understand why they had to shoot him.” Carmen Cobian joined about 20 family members Sunday at the scene of the shooting...
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LANCASTER – CT/KDF Community Development Partners has placed $16.15 million of its New Markets Tax Credit allocation with a subsidiary of InSite Development to be used to redevelop four properties along the The BLVD. This third phase of redevelopment involves the acquisition and redevelopment of an office/retail building, conversion of a former church into...
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LANCASTER – During Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District’s Board of Directors, the board unanimously elected Lancaster Council Member Marvin Crist as its new Chairman of the Board. Crist will serve a one-year term, with Palmdale City Council Member Mike Dispenza remaining as vice chair. Crist was nominated by...
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