Archive By Author - Jim Holt
Pedophile Jack McClellan loses appeal
A self-proclaimed pedophile who promised to return to Santa Clarita Valley to watch young girls in public areas has lost his appeal of a statewide ban keeping him away from children.
Locals clean up to save condors
Katherine Squires picked a shard of green glass from the dirt and showed it to her sister, Caroline.
UPDATED: Officials hope to breathe life back into Las Lomas
Las Lomas Land Company, LLC company lawyers announced Friday they will appeal a Superior Court ruling that snuffed construction of 5,500 houses into the hilly terrain that straddles the Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys.
Las Lomas appeals court ruling
The Las Lomas Land Company, LLC announced today it will appeal a Superior Court ruling last month dismissing its lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles.
Lifeguards wanted for summer staff
One local agency is bucking the unemployment trend by hiring about a dozen people who can swim a 1,000 meters in less than 18 minutes.
Jessica’s Law challenged
State Senator George Runner defended Jessica's Law Wednesday in response to a report that claims the proposition is ineffective, expensive and leaves sex offenders homeless.
Stimulus package infrastructure funds may not reach SCV
Congressman Howard "Buck" McKeon doubts any of the economic stimulus package proposed by President-elect Barak Obama will find its way to Santa Clarita Valley.
Saugus wells to pump clean water
The two formerly perchlorate-tainted Saugus wells shut down for more than a decade should be pumping fresh, clean drinking water for more than 30,000 customers of the Newhall County Water District by April, said the newly elected president of the water district that owns them.
Owner fights for county approval to build Castaic hotel
County officials extended a permit Tuesday for a Bakersfield woman who continues her struggle to build a hotel on the main road to Castaic Lake despite the county's ongoing road repairs and a sagging economy.
High hopes for an auto tax credit
Congressman Howard "Buck" McKeon wants to jump-start the economy by supporting a tax credit for new-car buyers.
Water board honors outgoing president
R.J. Kelly and Peter Kavounas hold the two top posts at the Castaic Lake Water Agency after its board of directors named them president and vice-president respectively Monday night.
Few surprises for CLWA election
Santa Clarita Valley residents overwhelmingly returned sitting board members to the Castaic Lake Water Agency during Tuesday's election, early returns indicated.
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.
Articles By Author - Jim Holt
Firefighters respond to Agua Dulce brush fire
Firefighters responded to a half-acre brush fire near Agua Dulce today on the north side of Highway 14 just north Escondido Canyon Road, a fire official said. About 1 p.m., officials with the Los Angeles County Fire Department were dispatched to a brush fire north of the highway's southbound lanes, said Inspector Scott Miller. "We had a report of four small spot fires in that location," he said. Officers with the California Highway Patrol reported ...
Alleged SCV graffiti vandal ordered to preliminary hearing
A preliminary hearing was set Wednesday for a young man described as a prolific graffiti vandal who allegedly spray-painted property across the Santa Clarita Valley 160 times, a court clerk said.
UPDATE: San Fernando Valley man arrested in boating death last summer
A 29-year-old man has been charged in the boating death of a young Russian man on Pyramid Lake last summer, court papers show.
Chloride plan offers four alternatives
In a bid to stave off more chloride fines levied by the state, local sanitation district officials Wednesday have released four proposals for reducing the amount of salt discharged into the Santa Clara River.
San Francisquito Canyon body not murder victim
A woman whose body was found wrapped in a tarp and dumped at the side of San Francisquito Canyon Road two weeks ago does not appear to be the victim of foul play, the lead investigator said Tuesday.
UPDATE: Canyon Country: Child airlifted to L.A. hospital
An 8-year-old boy who lost consciousness after he fell from play structure at a Canyon Country elementary school was airlifted to a hospital in Los Angeles Tuesday morning, the school's principal said.
SCV Chloride plan due to be released Wednesday
When Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District officials release their proposal Wednesday to remove chloride from the Santa Clara River, with it will come close to a million dollars of advising, polling, presenting and translating "engineer-speak" into English, organizers say.
UPDATE: Newhall stabbing victim recovering in hospital
A 29-year-old Hispanic man is recovering in the hospital Tuesday after being stabbed an estimated seven times in an alcohol-fueled altercation in Newhall Monday night, a sheriff's official said.
Misdemeanor battery filed in skirmish over flag football game
An alleged "bad call" at a flag football game resulted in misdemeanor battery charges filed against the teen who refereed the game and the coach of one of the teams, a sheriff's deputies said.
Saugus swap meet turns 50
The thunderous roar and squeal that made the Saugus Speedway a local fixture in California for more than half a century has given way to the muffled sounds of bargain-hunters shuffling booth to booth at a swap meet that marked local legacy.
Car thefts reported at hospital
Three motorists reported property stolen - or had their cars vandalized in an attempted burglary - while their cars were parked at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, according to the incident log maintained by deputies of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station.
Is 'blond scammer' crime spree related to others?
Detectives in four jurisdictions are scrutinizing the actions of a woman suspected of being the so-called "blond scammer" - a woman believed at the center of a ring that stole wallets from shopping carts and impersonated credit card holders to obtain cash or expensive jewelry.
West Ranch: 1 student taken to hospital, 1 girl in custody in alleged pot-laced cookie case
A West Ranch High School student was treated at the local hospital Thursday after another girl allegedly gave her pot-laced cookies to eat, a sheriff's official said.
UPDATE: Red flag warnings issued for fire danger
High winds triggered local house alarms and fanned the flames of a brush fire in the Newhall Pass Thursday as the National Weather Service called a red flag warning for the Santa Clarita Valley and other areas in Los Angeles County.
Daughter pleads not guilty in mother’s slaying
A former Saugus High School student accused of killing her mother pleaded not guilty Thursday to a felony charge of first-degree murder, a court official said.
