Month in Review – Snapshots of September’s most significant news and developments

by | Oct 1, 2015 | Community

West Ranch students to appear on PBS
The West Ranch High School television class, WRTV, was selected as one of 95 schools in the country to air news segments on PBS News Hour, based in Washington, D.C., according to a news release from the district. The students are able to participate in this program because they’ve been named a Student Reporting Lab by the wide-reaching public access station.  As a Student Reporting Lab, WRTV will have the opportunity to provide four news stories throughout the school year, to be aired on the daily one-hour newscast hosted by Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff. “It’s all about the students, and they get to have their voices heard,” said Jennifer Overdevest, WRTV teacher.  “I think a lot of times teenagers feel like they don’t get to have a say in the big world topics. So this really allows their voices to be heard and my kids get to produce this work on a national level. And that is really what excites me.”

Deputy saves father from
jumping off freeway pass
By the time Deputy Russell Deloof arrived, a 26-year-old man was perched on the edge of the overpass railing. From the Interstate 5 overpass in Castaic, the man stared blankly down at the traffic passing below. Deputy Deloof slowly approached the man, who he later found to be a father of two young children, and he spoke calmly as he inched closer. “Jumping is a permanent solution to a temporary problem,” the deputy reminded him, to which the man responded with tears. Deputy Deloof extended his hand, and to the relief of many, the man accepted, according to a news release. He later said to the deputy that, if it were not for the deputy’s kindness, he would have jumped. Deputies transported the man to a local hospital so he could receive proper mental health care.

CEMEX contracts terminated
After 16 years of contention, the Bureau of Land Management terminated two 10-year contracts with CEMEX, effectively banishing the 56 million-ton sand and gravel mine from the Santa Clarita Valley, according to a news release. “Today is a historic day in Santa Clarita.  We have worked hard for the last 16 years to make sure our community was protected from the effects of a mega-mining project and that hard work by many including our City, our elected officials and those at all levels of government has paid off,” said Bob Kellar, Mayor Pro Tem and CEMEX City Council sub-committee member. If the CEMEX mine had been successful, it would have added up to 1,164 truck trips a day to local roads and freeways, as well as causing air quality issues and potential negative impacts to local nature.

CalArts alumnus connected to
“Straight Outta Compton”

Chronicling the rise and fall of the groundbreaking rap group NWA, the recently released film “Straight Outta Compton” depicts the influence of a few young men on the rap music industry. The biopic borrows its name from NWA’s 1998 debut studio album, which is considered one of the best albums of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. The record’s album art has proven to be just as iconic: The six members of the group stare from above into the camera lens as Eazy-E points a gun directly at the camera. The unforgettable image was made by photographer and CalArts alumnus Eric Poppleton, a 1986 art major who earned his Master’s degree in fine arts, according to a news release. Poppleton and his friends followed the group around Downtown Los Angeles to get the shot, experimenting with different angles and natural lighting.

Connie Worden-Roberts bill passes Senate

Assemblyman Scott Wilk’s bill to rename a local bridge in honor of the late Connie Worden-Roberts successfully passed both houses of the legislature. Assembly Concurrent Resolution 89 renames the Golden Valley Road Bridge over State Highway Route 14 in the City of Santa Clarita to the Connie Worden-Roberts Memorial Bridge. “I’m thrilled that Connie’s legacy will be forever ingrained in our community. Her tireless effort to build the Cross Valley Connector will never be forgotten,” Wilk said in a news release. “Connie Worden-Roberts demonstrated extraordinary service to the Santa Clarita Valley community and it’s a privilege to carry legislation on her behalf.” Worden-Roberts championed the development of the valley’s transportation network for nearly four decades, serving as the vice-chair of the City of Santa Clarita Formation Committee and serving on the city’s first planning commission. She also served as chairwoman of the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles County, founder of the Valley Industry Association, former chairwoman of the board and director of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, and as a member of many more community organizations.

End of life bill passes
Championed by a terminally ill local resident, ABX2-15 was passed by the Assembly on September 9 and the Senate on September 11, and the bill is now waiting for the governor’s signature. Once enacted, the bill authorizes terminally ill adults to request aid-in-dying drugs, as approved by their physician. Santa Clarita resident Christy O’Donnell has brain cancer, which has spread to multiple parts of her body. The nature of her disease makes the possibility of her daughter finding her body likely, she said in an interview with People Magazine, and that’s not how she wants to die. Since she was diagnosed, she’s been fighting for the right to die on her own terms, which to Christy, is in her own bed, holding her daughter’s hand. “It’s likely I won’t be alive by the time this bill passes,” Christy said months earlier, as she testified in front of government. Now, if Governor Jerry Brown signs the bill, she may get her final wish.

Deputy delivers baby
Signaled by a motorist, Deputy Roger Bertola had no idea what he was getting himself into when he pulled over and approached a stopped vehicle on Soledad Canyon Road in Canyon Country. Looking closer, the deputy realized a woman in the car was in labor and could not make it to the hospital in time. After calling for medical support, Deputy Bertola assisted in delivering the baby in a parked car, according to Shirley Miller, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station public information officer. Shortly after, mother and baby were taken to receive medical care, and Deputy Bertola was able to visit the baby in the hospital later that day. Mother and baby were in good health.

Bill passes to restore Bouquet Creek
A bill to maintain and bring water flow to Bouquet Creek passed the Senate on September 9 and the Assembly on September 10. The legislature was introduced by Assemblyman Tom Lackey and co-authored by Senator Sharon Runner. After a devastating wildfire in 2002 and a historic flood in the winter of 2004 and 2005, the environment was severely damaged. In addition to providing maintenance and the restoration of water flow, the bill authorizes the Department of Fish and Wildlife to take a rare fish, the unarmored threespine stickleback.

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