Golden State Freeway

Bible school offers treasures of Nile HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- An imaginary trip to Egypt to search for biblical treasures is part of an upcoming vacation Bible school sponsored by the Magnolia Park United Methodist Church. Biblical stories, songs, crafts and puppets will be offered during the week-long session, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 4 to 8. The school is free for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. The church is at 2828 W. Magnolia Blvd.

Jenna Bordelon BURBANK -- Being able to speak in normal tones rather than having to shout to be heard will be a nice -- and long overdue -- change, neighbors of the Ventura (134) Freeway said. The state Transportation Commission voted to allocate $226 million to build soundwall barriers along California's freeways. Locally, the Ventura and Golden State (5) freeways will be affected. Construction will begin in 2002 and take about a year, Caltrans officials said.

GAINS SIBLING REVELRY Extending a warm welcome to the city's extended family, civic officials and hosts gathered at Burbank Central Library to greet 12 students from Ota, Japan who arrived Thursday for a two-week stay. Although Burbank actually has four sister cities -- the others are Solna, Sweden, Gaborone, Botswana and Inchon, Korea -- the student exchange program is limited to Ota, which is about 60 miles north of Tokyo. Since 1982, students from the two cities have been visiting the other's homeland, alternating on a yearly basis.

State transportation officials on Thursday announced a slate of ramp and lane closures on the Golden State (5) and Ventura (134) freeways starting Friday as crews continue work on new carpool lanes. Both projects combined carry a price tag of nearly $179 million and are expected to be completed in late 2014, according to the California Department of Transportation. For a list of all the lane and ramp closures, visit the Caltrans information page for the I-5 corridor improvements.

A man who was killed after he apparently jumped off the Olive Avenue overpass onto the southbound Golden State (5) Freeway in Burbank Friday morning was from Texas visiting local family members, police said. The man, identified by authorities as Raffi Roobenbakhamian, was seen climbing over the overpass railing about 9:22 a.m., where he hung from for a few seconds and then let go, according to the Burbank Police Department. He was then struck by an oncoming big rig. A Sigalert was issued at 9:43 a.m. after the three right lanes of the southbound I-5 were closed for five hours during the investigation, with traffic stopped from Hollywood Way. Police directed and stopped westbound access to Front Street, police said.

Lolita Harper MEDIA DISTRICT NORTH -- A man and a woman were arrested Thursday on suspicion of grand theft auto after leading police on a 40-minute chase that started in Burbank and ended in Reseda. Marcus Bryer, 22, and Shayla West, 24, both from Reseda, allegedly were driving a 1994 Chevy S10 truck southbound on San Fernando Boulevard at 2:42 a.m. when they refused to pull over for minor traffic violations, Sgt. John Dilibert said. Burbank officer Fernando Rojas ran the license plates on the truck and learned it had been reported stolen from Santa Clarita.

A man was killed this morning in Burbank after he jumped off the Olive Avenue overpass and was hit by an oncoming tractor-trailer on the southbound Golden State (5) Freeway, police said. The man, whose identity wasn't immediately known, was struck in No. 4 lane about 9:20 a.m., according to Burbank Police Lt. Matthew Ferguson. A Sigalert was issued at 9:43 a.m. after the three right lanes of the southbound I-5 were closed for the investigation, with traffic stopped from Hollywood Way. Police were directing traffic and stopped westbound access to Front Street, Ferguson said.

Is it just me, or is anyone else getting tired of smelling that open cesspool at Burbank Boulevard and the Golden State (5) Freeway? Aren't there laws about the types and amounts of noxious gases that can be released from such facilities? Perhaps when they rebuild the Burbank Boulevard overpass they can put a lid on that stench. Gary McCarter Burbank

Amber Willard and Darrell Satzman TRANSPORTATION CENTER -- A 19-year-old Burbank woman was in critical condition Tuesday after a confrontation between drivers that left the car she was riding in riddled with bullets from an automatic weapon, police said. A 19-year-old Burbank man received minor injuries in the shooting, which occurred at 11:50 p.m. Monday in the 300 block of Front Street at the Golden State Freeway onramp. Police were looking Tuesday for the shooter, identified by witnesses as the driver of a Honda Civic.

A truck driver who led authorities on a slow-moving chase from Quail Lake to Burbank on Friday was arrested at the Burbank Boulevard exit of the Golden State (5) Freeway. The driver, who was not immediately identified Friday, came to a rest about 1:30 p.m. near the center divider. California Highway Patrol officials said the trucker was weaving in and out of traffic, but kept going at a steady pace. Authorities said they were investigating why the driver refused to stop, including possible complications stemming from a medical problem.