Archive By Author - Jim Holt
County specific measures
A local measure on water softeners and a county measure on a utility tax appeared headed for victory in Tuesday's election, but another county measure that would increase sales tax for mass transit was too close to call.
Salty softener owners may get shaken
Local homeowners could be fined $1,000 and hauled in front of the District Attorney if they keep their salt-rendering water softeners. But enforcing the law might be tough, said the man who has to enforce it.
Prop. 8 and the school debate
No student in Santa Clarita Valley will be taught comprehensive sexual health education, which includes teaching about alternative marriage, regardless of the vote on Proposition 8, local educators said.
Violence ushers in the new year
One man was shot in the chest and another stabbed multiple times in separate Canyon Country incidents on the first day of the new year, officials said.
Taking the (polar) plunge
Two dozen brave swimmers made a splash at the third-annual Glacier Slide Polar Bear Swim Thursday.
Alleged I.D. thief wants trial
A man charged with four theft-related felonies for allegedly using his girlfriend's credit card to run up thousands of dollars in purchases is going straight to trial without a preliminary hearing.
‘Pirate ship’ docks in yard
Families looking for an exciting non-scary Halloween event can find one in Canyon Country where a couple just finished building an elaborate pirate ship.
New homes sought in Acton
One plucky developer is trying to push through red tape to build 16 homes in Acton near 38 homes that are in foreclosure.
Agency not waiting for a drought
New home construction is slow, but local water officials are pressing forward with six work projects that require changes to pipelines, treatment plants and pumping stations in anticipation of a massive increase in demand for water over the next 20 years.
On Election Day, all this man wants is your vote
Yeah, it's funny - until someone loses an election. Funny, that is, for local presidential candidate Stephen Thomas, who actually seems to make sense on issues that don't involve flatulence, infomercials and "noogies." "If elected, I promise to do absolutely nothing," he said. Thomas, a 38-year-old married Valencia man with a 9-year-old daughter, is running for president, and he is on the campaign trail drumming up support. He urges anyone swayed by his promise to ...
Trade group questions source of river salt
A trade group is challenging Measure S on November's ballot, saying water softener manufacturers are made a scapegoat for other agencies that dump salt into the Santa Clara River.
Political signs take a beating
Republican or Democrat, residents of the Santa Clarita Valley are waking up to destruction or elimination of their political lawn signs, and they're united in their anger.
Project never teed off
A woman in a plush white bathrobe leisurely looks over her balcony at beautiful rolling green hills and a professionally designed golf course called Los Valles.
One valley, one water supplier, official says
Tenth story in "The Big Picture," The Signal's series on plans for growth in the Santa Clarita Valley. Today we look at water, and why some officials think one agency should handle the SCV's water supplies. Click here for the rest of the stories.
Exec: Las Lomas not dead yet
Officials for the Las Lomas project believe they can resurrect the moribund 5,500-home development despite a stop-work order, a failed lawsuit, a president's resignation and two cities' resistance.
Articles By Author - Jim Holt
Hearing postponed in fatal Sand Canyon crash
SAN FERNANDO - The preliminary hearing of two men charged with murder in a Sand Canyon street racing death was delayed today over issues of evidence.
Valencia Water customers spout anger at rate increase
News of 20 percent hike in water rates over the next three years upset some Valencia Water Company ratepayers recently, but not as much as having missed the chance to file a formal complaint, according ratepayers who contacted The Signal.
Time tunnel invites visitors to Placerita Canyon Nature Center
Hawks with wings frozen in midair, turtles halted mid-step and snarling mountain lions - all preserved through taxidermy - compete for attention with a lesser-known attraction at the Placerita Canyon Nature Center: a time tunnel of sorts.
Police ID pedestrian killed on Interstate 5
Officials with the Los Angeles County Coroner's office have identified the pedestrian killed early Saturday morning after he was struck by an SUV in the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 but are still trying to reach his next of kin, a spokesman said Sunday.
DA reviews charges in boy’s death
Criminal charges are pending in July's fatal boating crash on Pyramid Lake that claimed the life of a 16-year-old boy visiting from Russia, a sheriff's spokesman said.
Chess players compete for championship
There was a beach party at the Hyatt Regency Valencia this weekend and partygoers brought their own boards - chess boards that is.
Motorcyclist taken to hospital after crash
A motorcyclist was taken to the hospital Sunday afternoon following a traffic collision in Canyon Country.
Suspect arrested in blond scammer thefts
A woman suspected of being the blond scammer for allegedly stalking other women at grocery stores, stealing their wallets and then using their IDs to obtain cash or expensive jewelry has been arrested, a local sheriff's spokesman said.
Driver unhurt as car rolls over
A motorist rolled his car several times Thursday after he reportedly pulled onto the gravel shoulder to let a "tailgater" pass on San Francisquito Canyon Road, said a man who towed the wrecked car from the crash site.
UPDATE: Woman returned from Oregon to face charges of killing mother
A former Saugus High School student was in jail in Van Nuys Wednesday accused of murdering her mother after homicide detectives brought her back from Oregon, said the detective in charge of the case.
Attacker sought in Canyon Country condo assault
Despite an arrest made in last week's attack of a woman inside her condo complex garage in Canyon Country, local sheriff's deputies are still looking for a second man wanted for a similar attack on a woman nearly a year ago at the same complex, a local sheriff's spokesman said Wednesday.
Canyon Country man sentenced to 14 years in extortion case
A Canyon Country man who shot up the American Beauty condo complex with a machine gun eight years ago pleaded guilty to five criminal counts in a more recent series of offenses, including two counts of felony battery on a peace officer and three counts of extortion, a deputy district attorney said Wednesday.
Trial delayed for pair charged in shotgun holdup
Trial was put off until March today for a couple who allegedly held up a Valencia home-improvement store with a shotgun last September, a court clerk said.
1 injured in Bouquet Canyon head-on collision
One person was rushed to the hospital with undisclosed injuries this morning following a head-on collision in Saugus, according to emergency response officials.
Turkish man charged in Valencia crash is working a deal
A 20-year-old Turkish man charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter for a car crash last summer that killed a young Turkish woman was represented in court today by a lawyer trying to work out a deal for him.
