The West Ranch Beacon – News & Commentary for the Santa Clarita Valley

With Halloween only a few days away, parents, teachers, and physicians are warned to closely inspect children’s candy, soda, and snack items to ensure children do not accidentally ingest a concentrated drug. (Photo: Drug laced candy packaged like real candy.) (more…)

(From the nytimes.com) It is the home stretch in the battle over Proposition 19, the ballot initiative that would legalize and regulate marijuana in California, and at “Yes” headquarters in downtown Oakland last week, young volunteers were hustling for votes. (more…)

(From the sacbee.com) Kicking off a three-day get-out-the-vote tour with a visit to Sacramento, GOP Senate candidate Carly Fiorina urged Californians Saturday “to finally retire” Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, calling the incumbent a career politician who has not done enough to bring new jobs to the state. (more…)

(From the AP) An earthquake has rattled a remote area outside of South Lake Tahoe. The U.S. Geological Survey says a quake with a magnitude of 4.3 was recorded about 30 miles southeast of South Lake Tahoe, or about 103 miles east of Sacramento, a little after 6 p.m. Saturday. A dispatcher at the South Lake Tahoe Police Department says there have been no calls for service because of the quake.

A sheriff’s deputy on patrol in Lancaster early Saturday morning nearly lost his life when he was shot at with an automatic weapon.  At about 3:40AM, October 30, the deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a car for not having a front license plate (a vehicle code violation), near 10th Street West and Jackman Avenue, Lancaster. (more…)

The Department of Public Health today reminded residents that Halloween can be a great opportunity to enjoy outdoor physical activity while teaching kids important lessons about nutrition and safety. “Halloween is a ‘teachable moment’ for your kids,” said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health and Health Officer. “Try incorporating healthy habits into the festivities by getting physical activity while neighborhood trick-or-treating, showing children how to be safe around moving traffic when walking through the neighborhood, and enjoying treats in moderation.” (more…)

Heavy rain swept into the Los Angeles area before dawn Saturday morning, causing the National Weather Service to issue a flood advisory for the L.A. Basin and the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys. The National Weather Service said treacherous driving conditions caused hydroplaning on the 405 Freeway Saturday morning, and that urban flooding was expected through L.A. County through to 6:30 a.m. Flooding was also reported on the 110 and 91 freeways. (more…)

The City of Santa Clarita has closed escrow today on 842 acres in Elsmere Canyon.  Elsmere Canyon is located in the Newhall Pass and is adjacent to the Angeles National Forest, and the protected lands in Whitney and Placerita Canyons. Elsmere Canyon is an area of significant importance as it provides connectivity to existing wildlife corridors and increases the City’s greenbelt of protected open space. (more…)

(From the nytimes.com) Officials searched for suspicious packages in the United States and other countries after two shipments containing explosives, sent from Yemen and addressed to synagogues in Chicago, were intercepted in Britain and Dubai. (more…)

(From the nytimes.com) The discovery of two explosive devices shipped by cargo planes has reignited a long-running debate about how thoroughly cargo needs to be screened on its way into the United States. (more…)

(From the ft.com) The US economy grew at an annual rate of just 2 per cent in the third quarter, cementing the case for a new round of monetary easing by the Federal Reserve when it meets next week. In what will be a pivotal week for the US economy, the central bank is now poised to commit to a new program of quantitative easing – so-called QE2 – on Wednesday, the day after midterm elections to Congress. (more…)

(From the sacbee.com) Funding cuts that were scheduled to go in effect Monday to a state program that provides child care assistance to low-income families have been at least temporarily delayed. (more…)

(From the AP) Virgin Galactic’s six-passenger spaceship has performed a second glide test after being dropped from its mothership over the Mojave Desert. Builder Scaled Composites LLC says in a summary on its website that the latest flight of SpaceShipTwo was conducted Thursday and all objectives were met. (more…)

The Community Hiking Club will be traversing Slide Mountain on Saturday, October 30, 2010. This is a 13 miles round trip on a steep trail. An Adventure Pass is required for parking in the Angeles National Forest. Bring lots of water, lunch, snacks, and hiking poles will be helpful. (more…)

(From Science Daily) It’s a prediction often met with worry: In 20 years, there will be more Americans over 60 than under 15. Some fear that will mean an aging society with an increasing number of decrepit, impaired people and fewer youngsters to care for them while also keeping the country’s productivity going. (more…)

The following is political activity for Friday, October 29, 2010, going on in Washington and across the nation. It is courtesy of Scott Wilk, Community Organizer, and Anchor Consulting group. The Beacon will be posting these daily as they become available. (more…)

The photo, if I’ve done my job right, is here in this post. What appears to be Scotch Casks turned out to be much, much, more. So much more that I’m planning a field trip with other students of the current Wine & Spirits Education Trust so that they too can sample Spirits, Liqueurs and more “From The Cask”. (See the e-mail from one of the owners of Vom Fass, and my story, below.) (more…)

Greetings,
It’s been a few months since my last message and substantial changes in our policing strategy have been implemented. After a measured assessment of the state of the station and the community we serve, I have outlined key components of a law enforcement strategy that is critical to maintaining the quality of life and relatively low crime rate we enjoy here in Santa Clarita – even during these challenging times. (more…)

Deputies responded and contacted a FW/17 (Canyon High School student) who stated she was on an Off- Campus Run during a P.E. class when a slow moving dark blue van drove up along-side her. The driver (sole occupant) MH/20-30 yrs. repeatedly asked her if she wanted a ride. (more…)

(From the latimes.com) The California Department of Fish and Game issued a warning Thursday against eating parts of the California spiny lobster and rock crabs. High levels of toxins have been found in the organs of the lobsters and crabs taken from waters near the northern Channel Islands. (more…)