Archive By Author - Jim Holt
‘Bumper boats’ on the 14
A 52-year-old Sun Valley man is charged with hit and run today after allegedly playing "bumper boats" with another motorist on Highway 14 Saturday.
Magic Cup heats up
Attention sports drink sponsors - more than a thousand thirsty young soccer tournament players competing on perhaps the hottest weekend this year could your use your help next time.
Mowing down air pollution in SCV
Saving green at cutting green while going green. That's what more than 200 lawn mower owners did Saturday when they traded in their dirty old grass-cutting machines that pollute the air for clean "green" ones that do not. Everyone who took advantage of the Mow Down Air Pollution exchange program at the College of the Canyons on Saturday morning saved at least $250. "I'm going green while I'm cutting the green," said Mike Eskilson who ...
Rodriguez attacks ‘Grim Sleeper’
SAN FERNANDO - Convicted child-killer Antonio Rodriguez attacked suspected "Grim Sleeper" serial killer Lonnie Franklin while the two were being escorted from court by law enforcement officers last week, a Superior Court jury heard Wednesday.
Killer’s life in jury’s hands
Parents who still shudder about the day 5-year-old Desarie Saravia's body was dumped on a front lawn on their quiet cul-de-sac in Castaic say the man convicted of killing her deserves the sentence he now faces.
5.4 quake rattles, leaves no major damage
You can call it wobbly, you can call it undulating, but you cannot call Wednesday's earthquake harmful in any way - at least in the Santa Clarita Valley.
Jury deliberates in Rodriguez trial
SAN FERNANDO - Jury deliberations are under way this week in the murder trial of Antonio Rodriguez, 29, who is charged with sexually assaulting his girlfriend's 5-year-old daughter and killing her in a Castaic park bathroom.
Defense rests in Rodriguez trial
SAN FERNANDO - There is no evidence that 5-year-old Desarie Elizabeth Saravia was sexually assaulted by the man accused of beating her to death inside a Castaic park bathroom, the man's defense lawyer said in closing arguments Tuesday.
Prosecution closes case with photos
SAN FERNANDO - The prosecution wrapped up its case against accused child killer Antonio Rodriguez on Friday by letting some of the more than 100 injury pictures tell the stories of brutality in the savage beating death of 5-year-old Desarie Elizabeth Saravia.
Businesses balk at fees
A planned sewer-system hookup fee - part of a package of sewer-fee rate hikes proposed Santa Clarita Valley-wide - is necessary to avoid future bond measures, a sanitation district official said this week.
They called him ‘Daddy’
SAN FERNANDO - Lawyers representing a man accused of beating to death his girlfriend's 5-year-old daughter wrapped up their case Wednesday with further testimony that he was a caring man whom the little girl called "Daddy."
Locals hope to flush out truth about potential sewer-rate hike
Sanitation District officials who held the first of a series of public information meetings on a proposed sewer-rate hike met with criticism and confusion from about 50 people who attended.
Family testifies accused was father figure
SAN FERNANDO - Antonio Rodriguez, who is accused of beating to death his girlfriend's daughter, was a caring father figure who took the child and her brother to his mother's house every day to feed them, according to testimony offered in court Tuesday.
Murdered girl’s blood found in motel room
SAN FERNANDO - Prosecutors wrapped up their case against accused murderer Antonio Rodriguez on Monday with crime analysts saying they found blood belonging to the murdered girl, Desarie Elizabeth Saravia, and her brother inside a blood-splattered Van Nuys motel room.
The sewage-rate hike’s salty effect on business
Hiking Santa Clarita Valley business owners' fees to pay for a salt-ridding machine is not the way to encourage new business to locate here, some owners say.
Articles By Author - Jim Holt
Stevenson Ranch: Truck fire slows traffic on I-5
A big rig caught fire in the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 near Lyons Avenue today, slowing traffic and shutting down the freeway's slow lane, a fire official said.
Canyon Country: Bamboo reported to be weapon in assault
Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's deputies were searching Wednesday for two men believed involved in an assault in Canyon Country. The weapon was reported as a piece of bamboo.
Man arrested after deputy finds seven different ID cards
Good patrol work led to the arrest of a young man on probation this morning when a local sheriff's deputy stopped him and found seven pieces of identification - none of which belonged to the man, a sheriff's spokesman said.
Valencia: Trial scheduled in New Mexico for slaying of local man
A California man accused of stabbing a Valencia man to death last summer in New Mexico is scheduled to appear in court there Monday charged with second-degree murder, court officials said.
Santa Clarita: Woman makes court appearance in blond scammer case
The alleged accomplice of the blond scammer - who stalks other women at grocery stores, steals their wallets and uses their IDs - appeared briefly in court Tuesday, a court clerk said.
Santa Clarita: At least 2 more eyeing 2014 race for City Council
Alan Ferdman and Dante Acosta are taking a long, hard look at the next race for Santa Clarita City Council, but neither is ready to announce a candidacy, both said separately Monday.
Canyon Country: Motorcyclist remains in serious condition more than a week after collision
A motorcyclist remains hospitalized and in serious condition Monday more than a week after the Canyon Country traffic collision in which he was injured, according to hospital and law enforcement sources.
Canyon Country: Driver in Sunday crash arrested on DUI count
A 23-year-old Fontana man is in custody today, charged with impaired driving causing injury in connection with Sunday morning's rollover collision that sent a woman to the hospital, court papers show.
Falconer, fowl become fast friends
Animal keeper David Stives wears his heart on his sleeve, and his heart belongs to Apollo - a five-pound turkey vulture.
Cyclist hit by car
A cyclist suffered a minor leg injury Sunday following a "bump collision" with a car, a local sheriff's deputy said.
UPDATE: Riderless horse prompts Canyon Country search
The day-long mystery of a riderless horse that showed up in a Canyon Country park has been solved.
Two injured in rollover at Golden Valley Road
Two people were taken to the hospital with undisclosed injuries this morning following a two-vehicle rollover collision on Highway 14 at Golden Valley Road, a Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman said.
Deadline looms for cleanup of Whittaker-Bermite site
The Whittaker-Bermite site's nearly 1,000 acres in the center of Santa Clarita needs to be ready for development by 2016 - and the state plans to ensure that happens, an official said recently.
Burglaries increase during first 2 months of year
The city of Santa Clarita's crime rate rose slightly during the first two months of this year compared to last, with burglaries showing the greatest increase, Capt. Paul Becker of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station said Thursday.
2 probation officers added to SCV Sheriff’s Station
Two county probation officers have joined the ranks of local sheriff's deputies to help deal with criminals released into the community as part of the state's realignment program.
