Featured Articles from the Burbank Leader

For the first time since the body of her husband - missing FBI agent Stephen Ivens - was discovered July 30, Thea Ivens on Thursday opened up during a prayer vigil about coping with his death after holding out hope for 80 days that he'd be found alive. Surrounded by friends and family at St. Francis Xavier Church in Burbank, Thea Ivens recalled the tenuous search effort that all but ground to a halt with few leads after her husband's disappearance. His decomposed body was discovered under a shrub by hikers about 300 feet from the church, the cause of death later determined to be from a self inflicted gunshot wound.

Two men were arrested Tuesday by police who say the pair was about to rob a bank in Burbank. The men -- Spencer Wygle, 26, of Burbank, and Evan Kent, 27, of Glendale -- reportedly took a cab to Chase Bank in the Pavilions parking lot on West Alameda and allegedly told the cab driver they couldn't pay the cab fare. Police were dispatched to the scene at 12:35 p.m. when someone reported the disturbance. When police arrived, Wygle was allegedly seated in the cab with what police believe was a heroin-loaded syringe.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) on Tuesday said he would fight any move to close the Glenoaks post office in Burbank to cut costs at the financially-strapped U.S. Postal Service. In a letter to U.S. Postal Service Postmaster Gen. Patrick Donahoe, Schiff urged that the branch - located at 1634 N. San Fernando Blvd. - remain open, calling the strategy of closing locations to ease financial woes "misguided. " While the potential closure of the small office has been discussed for two years, a final determination has yet to be made, said U.S. Postal Service spokesman Richard Maher.

Our reporters are hard at work nailing down the details of the deliciously ridiculous "Shift It" music video-slash-auto commercial-slash-Internet meme, but I couldn't let another second go by without embedding the video on our sites. For those as-yet-unaware, the video is an ad for Arlen's Transmission, near the corner of Burbank and Edison boulevards, starring its owner, Gorgen Zargarian, in a Persian-style music and dance routine. In a world that can sometimes seem a bit unfair, harsh or cruel, it's refreshing to see such a piece of sublime, and joyous, weirdness.

Record high temperatures were reached across Southern California on Monday as the region baked in summer-like weather. Bob Hope Airport in Burbank topped out at 103 degrees, breaking a 100-degree record for the day that had stood since 1976, the  National Weather Service  said. Lancaster recorded 98, topping by one degree the record set in 1996. In Ventura County, Camarillo recorded a high of 86. That broke an 83-degree record set in 1996, according to the Weather Service.

WOODLAND HILLS - Clamoring for the toughest competition he could find in his hopeful journey back into the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Jared “The Jackhammer” Papazian found a worthy foe in Brandon “The No. 1 Contender” Bender. On Saturday night at the Warner Center Marriott in Woodland Hills, Papazian's trip back to the big stage took a hit, as he was submitted in the first round by Bender in the main event of the National Fight Alliance MMA's Valley Invasion 3. Papazian, one of four fighters who train at Burbank Gracie Barra who competed on the card, was submitted via rear-naked choke in 2:01 of the opening round of the featherweight tilt.

Two women suspected of loitering with the intent to commit prostitution were arrested at a Burbank hotel Thursday night after officers reportedly discovered incriminating text messages, condoms and oils in their possession, police said. At 10:10 p.m., police noticed a 35-year-old Sacramento woman, Shaneese Day, sitting in a parked car outside the Ramada Inn, located on the 2900 block of San Fernando Boulevard, said Burbank Police Lt. Eddie Ruiz. Upon approaching Day, police smelled - and later recovered - a small amount of what appeared to be marijuana, according to police reports.

A 30-year-old North Hollywood woman who allegedly forged prescription slips to snag drugs from Magnolia Pharmacy in Burbank was arrested Thursday, police said. Aline Ghirard allegedly presented three forged prescriptions at the pharmacy, located at 2211 West Magnolia Blvd., on Tuesday in an effort to get more than 20 prescription pills, said Burbank Police Sgt. Darin Ryburn. Burbank police served a search warrant at her home Thursday, which led them to other items indicating fraud, including pill bottles, Ryburn said.

The Colony Theatre in Burbank continues its fight for survival due to serious financial shortfalls, but you'd never know it from the venerable mid-sized venue's fine season-ender, "Falling for Make Believe. " This world premiere musical by Mark Saltzman, developed by the Colony, delves into the troubled life of lyricist Lorenz Hart through actual events, deft fictional constructs and a feast of glorious Rodgers and Hart songs. The musical opens in 1943, on the day of Hart's New York funeral.

As the clock’s hands inched closer to 7 p.m. on Friday evening, photographer Cynthia Alarcon’s eyes darted around the Burbank Creative Arts Center giving everything a final visual nod of approval. In just moments the doors of the gallery would open to unveil her “One Woman’s Journey” exhibit that photographically documents her travels and experiences over the past two decades. The reception, staged to celebrate the opening of Alarcon’s retrospective, was not just a beginning, but also a culmination of a 20-year journey and a yearlong period of reflection.

Finding a quality left-handed relief pitcher is a rare commodity in major league baseball these days. Thus, former Burroughs High baseball star Mike Magnante has enjoyed success and a fine career as a pitcher for 10 years with four major-league clubs. Late Tuesday, Magnante, 37, was designated for assignment by the Oakland Athletics, just days before he was due to be eligible to receive his major-league pension. Players must have at least 10 years of major-league service to earn a pension.

A Burbank gun store cited for violating weapon registration laws is closing this month, but new owners hope to relaunch the business. While the current owners of Gun World on Magnolia Boulevard declined to comment, a sheet of paper taped to the door tells the company's side of the story: "Because of the even stricter gun laws which have made operating our businesses next to impossible, Gun World has decided to close its doors. " Its last gun sale was Aug. 21. The sign said the store will stay open to sell accessories through Sept.

Members of the Burbank City Council this week decided not to give themselves raises after one councilman had a last-minute change of heart. On Tuesday, three of the five council members voted to give themselves a 5% raise, but just a few hours later, Councilman Gary Bric asked to change his vote. “This isn't about economics for us, it's our heart and desire to serve,” Bric said. Councilmen David Gordon and Bob Frutos, along with Bric, had originally voted for the raise, which would have boosted their pay by $54 a month.

Joyce Rudolph The competition was stiff during the first Tennis Ball dinner dance. But no one was near a court. Instead, a superb array of silent auction gifts kept guests running back and forth to the bidding sheets during the fundraiser for the Family Service Agency, now known as Families First in Burbank. City Manager Mary Alvord was mistress of ceremonies and welcomed the more than 200 guests to the Oct. 8 event at The Castaway. A steak-and-salmon dinner was served and dance music was provided by the band Orange Colored Sky. Mayor Marsha Ramos presented Kermit Floyd, president of the board of directors, with a Mayor's Commendation for his financial guidance of the agency.