Archive By Author - Jim Holt
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.
Experts describe wounding of lifeless little girl
SAN FERNANDO - A veteran emergency room physician said Friday he had never seen a patient injured as badly as tiny 5-year-old Desarie Elizabeth Saravia when she arrived lifeless at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital one afternoon in 2004.
Tragic details unfold through pictures
SAN FERNANDO - A crayon drawing done by a badly beaten boy three days after his 5-year-old sister was savagely beaten to death in a Castaic park bathroom gave jurors a glimpse into the children's shared suffering Thursday as a murder trial continued. On Nov. 15, 2004, Brian Saravia, then 6, remained silent when a doctor specializing in cases of child abuse asked him a few questions at the University of California Los Angeles ...
Meadows works out with the best of ’em
Having exercised with students almost every other day for a month, teachers at Meadows Elementary School will have little problem jumping for joy today when they learn their school is a finalist in a statewide challenge to keep kids fit.
Reliving Desarie’s final moments
SAN FERNANDO - Two Castaic women described in court Wednesday what happened the day a lifeless, naked young girl ended up on their quiet suburban street.
High cost of salt wars
The victor of a water war over chloride levels in the Santa Clara River, pitting upstream suburbanites against downstream farmers, could be determined with the flourish of a pen on two emerging fronts this summer, The Signal has learned following a month-long investigation.
Articles By Author - Jim Holt
Sand Canyon residents remember youth killed at oak tree 32 years ago
While Kevin and Michelle Schlumpberger prepare for the funeral of their daughter, Brittany, killed last week in a single-car crash on Sand Canyon Road, others in Canyon Country recall a teen who died at the same spot 32 years ago today.
UPDATE: Suspect in deputy-involved shooting was hit in hand, officials say
A suspect arrested for allegedly pointing a handgun at officers last week was shot in the hand, possibly by local sheriff's deputies, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said Tuesday.
UPDATE: Police chase in Valencia nabs 3 suspects
Three people suspected of burglary for allegedly stealing a safe from a Saugus home were behind bars Tuesday after a wild ride through the Santa Clarita Valley, and a foot chase across the Santa Clara River, officials and witnesses said.
Prolific graffiti vandal sentenced to 270 days in jail
A young man described as a prolific graffiti vandal having spray-painted property across the Santa Clarita Valley 160 times was sentenced to 270 days in jail and ordered to clean up his mess after he pleaded no contest today to four felony counts, court officials said.
UPDATE: Crashes slow travelers on rain-slick SCV freeways
Monday morning commuters making their way to work on local rain-slick roadways encountered at least three multi-vehicle crashes on both Highway 14 and Interstate 5, emergency response officials said.
Family of Sand Canyon crash victim warns drivers
The father of a popular woman killed in a single-car crash on Sand Canyon wants Santa Clarita Valley's young drivers to take greater care travelling on local roads.
SUV flips in two-car collision on Highway 126 near Val Verde, officials said
Three people were injured and taken to the hospital Sunday when two vehicles collided on Highway 126, near Val Verde, fire officials said.
Celebrities raise money for sick children at soccer game
More than 100 people showed up Sunday to watch some of their favorite celebrities raise money for sick children by playing each other in a friendly match of soccer.
Spring break school burglar sentenced to 1 year in jail
A 20-year-old suspected gang member arrested for spring break school burglaries in the Santa Clarita Valley was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading guilty, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office said Thursday.
Alleged ‘blond scammer’ pleads not guilty
SAN FERNANDO - The woman suspected of being the so-called "blond scammer" - part of a ring that stole women's wallets from shopping carts and impersonated credit card holders to obtain cash or expensive jewelry - entered a plea of not guilty in court Wednesday to charges of identity theft and burglary.
Pool to reopen following $325,000 in repairs
A Valencia swimming pool destroyed by vandals last summer reopens today after $325,000 and more than nine months spent in repairs - and still no arrests for the damage.
Massive valley oak collapses in Valencia shopping center
The huge, 150-year oak tree that graced the Bridgeport Marketplace parking lot has broken apart, prompting city tree experts and property owners to contemplate its future, they said.
Part of SCV east side left in dark overnight
More than 100 residents of Santa Clarita Valley east side communities were left in the dark overnight after an electrical transformer blew in their area Monday night, a utility spokeswoman said.
1 injured, 1 arrested in skateboard towing incident
A 20-year-old Valencia man faces a felony count today for allegedly towing his 19-year-old friend on a skateboard behind his car and crashing into a curb, injuring the friend, a California Highway Patrol spokesman said.
One SCV water district sues another
A local water retailer announced Monday it has sued the Santa Clarita Valley's water wholesaler, saying proposed rate changes are unfair to its customers.
