Whittier Daily News

Man Suffers Burns in Garage Fire

WHITTIER - An 18-year-old man suffered first- and second-degree burns to his hands, arms and neck Wednesday night after gas fumes were ignited by the pilot light of a water heater in a garage, fire officials said. Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Patrick Dolan said the man was working on a chain saw.

Beatitudes of Our Lord School to Hold Community Festival

LA MIRADA - Beatitudes of Our Lord School will hold its its annual community festival today through Sunday. This year's theme is "A Community Together for Education." It will be from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Three-Car Collision Ties Up 605 Near Imperial Avenue

SANTA FE SPRINGS - Four-or-five cars collided at about 12:15 p.m. Friday on the north 605 Freeway just south of Imperial Avenue, blocking five of the six lanes, according to the California Highway Patrol. The CHP issued a Sig alert for 30 minutes starting at 12:28 p.m.

Around Whittier

Two die in fiery crash SANTA FE SPRINGS - Two men were killed early Friday when their speeding car left the freeway, hit a tree and burst into flames.

It's Politics: 'Amateur Hour' Lost All Sense of Time

Editor's note: It's Politics reports Saturdays on the ins and outs of Whittier-area politics and city government. Assemblyman Charles Calderon has seen some ugly budget fights, but those in the past do not compare to this one.

Band Donor Hits the Right Notes

Mail Service Previously Suspended Because of Dog, Restored to Street

WHITTIER - The days of having to take time off work in order to pick up the mail at the Michigan Avenue Post Office are over for Dolores Perez. The U.S. Postal Service on Friday restored mail delivery to her and 12 neighbors in the 8900 block of Mills Avenue.

La Mirada Trash Bid Process Nears End

LA MIRADA - Mayor Hal Malkin has a message for trash company representatives: Don't talk to me, don't approach me and just keep away. City officials are evaluating four bids received for a trash- hauling franchise. The existing one with Consolidated Disposal Services expires June 30.

Dye Is Cast for Bank Robber

WHITTIER - A masked man robbed a credit union Friday but abandoned his haul when a dye pack exploded. Whittier police Cpl. Brad White said the robber discarded a backpack containing the money because of the dye. The robber is still on the loose, police said.

Woman Found at Hospital Psychiatric Ward

BALDWIN PARK - A nurse at a county hospital notified authorities that a 27-year-old missing woman had checked into a psychiatric ward there, police said Friday. It was unclear how long Elizabeth Duer, 27, was at the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center psychiatric ward, according to police. The discovery ended the hunt for the woman who had been missing since Sept. 7.

Jobless Rate in County Climbs to 7.9%

Los Angeles County's unemployment rate climbed for the sixth straight month in August, hitting 7.9 percent, higher than at any time since 1996, according to figures released Friday. The August figure is up from 7.5percent in July and 5.3 percent in February, when the jobless rate began rising.

Fate of Taxpayers Stirs Concerns

Governor Will Sign Revised Budget Plan

With Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announcing he intends to sign a revised budget deal passed Friday by the Legislature, advocates and lobbying groups are already priming for what they call an inevitable budget fight next year. Tax experts say the state's revenue projections are overly optimistic and believe the price the state paid for Republican support was corporate tax cuts that will lead to future revenue shortages.

Bones Found Along Freeway Could Be Those of Missing Man

MONTEBELLO - Authorities say skeletal remains found by Caltrans workers clearing heavy brush along the 60 Freeway on Sunday could be those of an East Los Angeles man who has been missing for eight years. Officials did not release the name of the missing man, saying they needed to match medical records - such as X-rays - to the bones.