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

Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau detectives are continuing their investigation into the death of a woman at a condo complex located in the 25000 block of Silver Aspen Way, Valencia.  At approximately 11:30 on Thursday morning, a maintenance worker at the location discovered the body of a female White adult in her apartment.

At this time the cause of death is unknown and will be determined by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau, 323-890-5500. If you prefer to provide information ANONYMOUSLY, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org. 

Heat is the number one weather-related killer. On average, more than 1,500 people in the U.S. die each year from excessive heat. This number is greater than the 30-year mean annual number of deaths due to tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and lightning combined. In the 40-year period from 1936 through 1975, nearly 20,000 people were killed in the United States by the effects of heat and solar radiation. In the disastrous heat wave of 1980, more than 1,250 people died. In the heat wave of 1995 more than 700 deaths in the Chicago, Illinois area were attributed to this event. And in August 2003, a record heat wave in Europe claimed an estimated 50,000 lives. (more…)

(From Science Daily) Top sirloin steaks have been getting a grilling in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) food safety studies. USDA microbiologist John B. Luchansky and his colleagues are conducting experiments to help make sure that neither the foodborne pathogen Escherichia coli O157:H7 nor any of its pathogenic relatives will ruin the pleasure of eating this popular entrée. (more…)

The West Ranch Town Council will hold its regular monthly meeting Wednesday, July 6, 2011, at the Tournament Player Club in West Ranch located at 26550 Heritage View Lane in the Westridge neighborhood at 6:30 PM. The meeting will include regular updates from Los Angeles County, the CHP and the Sheriff’s Department. The agenda here: (more…)

The following is political activity for Thursday, June 30, 2011, 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…)

A top of the last Thursday in June of 2011 to you, saddlepals. Our big Fourth of July parade is coming up this Monday and sure hope all of you will be out there. It promises to be one grand fandango. To the matter at hand, we’ve got some time traveling ahead, saddlepals. There’s parades and heat waves, bizarre motorcycle accidents and a pitchfork fight between two cowboys. (more…)

Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau detectives are continuing their investigation into the death of a woman, Renata Klein, whose body was located June 15, 2011, in the Angeles National Forest. On the morning of Sunday, June 26, 2011, a citizen reported a suspicious vehicle parked behind an abandoned building in the 2700 block of East Lake Mead Boulevard in North Las Vegas, Nevada. (more…)

(From the sacbee.com) Gov. Jerry Brown has signed eight budget-related bills, including controversial measures to abolish state redevelopment agencies in their existing form and to require online retailers such as Amazon.com to collect sales tax on purchases made by Californians. (more…)

(From the latimes.com) Triple-digit temperatures will hit parts of Southern California for the Fourth of July weekend and could combine with rising humidity to create dangerous heat levels, the National Weather Service said Wednesday night. (more…)

The Community Hiking Club will hike from the Lockwood Valley Boy Scout Camp to Sheep Camp on Saturday, July 2, 2011.  This is a great hike for those looking for both a strenuous or moderate hike. Choose 13 1/2 miles with 3000′gain or for a moderate hike, 7 1/2 miles with 1000′ gain.  The trail starts at the end of Boy Scout Camp road.  Those interested will hike on a dirt road to a 45′ waterfall.  On the way you’ll take a side trail (3/4 mile) to view the hoodoo’s of Frazier Park.  The dirt road turns into a trail at the waterfall and will lead us to Lilly Meadows.  For those looking for a moderate hike this would be a good spot to turn around. Return from this point is on your own. From Lilly Meadows to Sheep Camp is another 3 miles the last 2 are uphill.  The beauty of this portion of the hike is the forest, views, and wild flowers. (more…)

The Stevenson Ranch July 4^th Fireworks show is back once again this year! The Stevenson Ranch Community Association and the Los Angeles County Department of Parks & Recreation will be staging a spectacular Fireworks show on Monday, July 4, 2011 from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM at the Dr. Richard Rioux Memorial Park in Stevenson Ranch. The park will open at 6:00 PM and parking is limited; the community is encouraged to walk to the park.

(From Science Daily) Southern California’s Salton Sea, once a large natural lake fed by the Colorado River, may play an important role in the earthquake cycle of the southern San Andreas Fault and may have triggered large earthquakes in the past. Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the University of Nevada, Reno, discovered new faults in the Salton Sea near the southern end of the San Andreas Fault. (more…)

The following is political activity for Wednesday, June 29, 2011, 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…)

“If you want a place in the sun, be prepared for a few blisters.”- Abigail Van Buren; My legs could use some sun. This statement is actually the White Person’s Disclaimer for: “I Am Not Dark Enough, Society Will Look Down Upon Me & There Goes My Fragile Self-Esteem Out The Window.” (Photo caption: Actor George Hamilton is famous for having a tan. And he doesn’t even do yardwork.) (more…)

On a motion by County Mayor Michael D. Antonovich, the Board of Supervisors will send a five-signature letter to the United States Forest Service, the Secretary of Agriculture and California congressional leaders asking for a review and further investigation into the Forest Service’s intention to reduce aerial application of fire retardant during wildfires. (more…)

“The state’s realignment plan is a Trojan Horse that will financially break the backs of  local government,” said County Mayor Michael D. Antonovich. ” While nationally, Democrat and Republican governors are providing leadership in renegotiating labor agreements, cutting costs and lowering taxes, Governor Brown is taking California in the opposite direction.” (more…)

(From the latimes.com) The Legislature passed an austerity budget Tuesday night that would cut from universities, courts and the poor, shutter 70 parks and threaten schools but would not — by officials’ own admission — restore California’s long-term financial health. (more…)

The City of Santa Clarita is proud to announce the launch of the Santa Clarita Public Library system at the Canyon Country, Newhall and Valencia branches, beginning on Friday, July 1. Celebratory grand re-openings will be hosted on Friday, July 1, for the Canyon Country Library at 10 a.m. and the Newhall Library at 2 p.m., with the Valencia Library opening on Tuesday, July 5, at 10 a.m.  The grand opening celebrations are free and open to the public. (more…)

I’m off again! But this time it’s for pleasure. Every year for the better part of nearly two decades I have taken a 7-10 day “sabbatical from life” in the great state of Maine. During the summer time every year I head up to the same sparsely populated area in the northern part of mid-coast Maine, by myself, for a little R&R; a battery re-charge if you will. This year I am doing something a little different, I’m taking two weeks off; something I haven’t done in more than twenty years. (more…)

County Mayor Michael D. Antonovich reminds residents preparing to celebrate the Fourth of July that fireworks of any kind are illegal in Los Angeles County. “While some cities allow “safe and sane” fireworks, fireworks, of any kind, are illegal in Los Angeles County,” said Antonovich.  The penalties for possession or use of illegal fireworks can range from a fine of up to $1000, to one year in county jail. (more…)