Santa Clarita

The city of Santa Clarita continues to rake in millions of dollars each year through TV and movie filming, according to data that shows a recent increase in the economic impact of such projects. Officials recorded 909 film days and issued 372 permits in fiscal year 2011 to 2012, which represents a 4% increase in film days and an 8% increase in film permits compared with the previous fiscal year, according to the Santa Clarita Valley Film Office. The overall economic impact of local filming has increased from around $18,777,500 in 2011 to $21,141,500 - a rise of 13%, officials said.

Officials are warning Santa Clarita residents of at least one aggressive coyote in the area that chased a jogger and killed a dog. The coyote killed the dog Tuesday in Valencia Summit Park. A 6-year-old girl and her mother were walking the small terrier on a leash when a coyote dragged the dog into the bushes, KTLA-TV reported . In the same neighborhood Friday, a jogger reported a coyote chasing her until a man walking two large dogs scared the coyote away, according to KTLA-TV . Continue reading > > -- Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times

A man suffered severe burns after an explosion this week in a Santa Clarita apartment that authorities said was being used as a marijuana grow house and laboratory for the extraction of tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC and the active ingredient in reefer. Tenants in the apartment building in the 17700 block of Scherzinger Lane  reported an explosion about 2:45 p.m. Wednesday and deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department found "possible narcotics and fireworks inside an apartment," according to a news release from the agency.

Two men have been arrested in connection with the death of a Santa Clarita Valley woman who was a passenger in a car that crashed during what authorities say was a street race.  According to a statement from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station, Colt Sean Doherty was driving the car that Dakota Demott was riding in when the car crashed in January about 10:50 p.m. on Sand Canyon Road in Canyon Country. Demott, 19, of Canyon Country was killed.   A felony complaint filed Monday with the Los Angeles County district attorney's office charged Doherty, also 19 and from Canyon Country, with one count of second-degree murder, one count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and one count of driving under the influence causing injury, said D.A.'s spokeswoman Jane Robison.

A seven-car pileup had drivers trapped on the northbound 5 Freeway in Santa Clarita on Friday afternoon, after a crash that authorities said began with a hit-and-run left four lanes of the roadway blocked for an hour. California Highway Patrol officials said that about 11:12 a.m. they began receiving calls concerning a multi-car pileup on the freeway north of Gavin Canyon near Calgrove Boulevard, the L.A. Times reported. Seven cars were involved in the crash, which clogged the highway between downtown L.A. and the canyon communities, officials said.

BURBANK — As Santa Ana winds stoked wildfires this week, Burbank and Glendale have largely steered clear of the havoc breaking out across Southern California. “All things are quiet in Glendale, but everywhere else is burning away,” Glendale Fire Capt. Tom Propst said. But that doesn’t mean the area was not affected in some way by the chaos surrounding it. Burbank sent all five of its engine companies, a battalion chief and a water tender to help contain the blazes that have charred thousands of acres in Southern California, Burbank Fire Capt.

Following weeks of closed-door meetings, the Burbank City Council on Tuesday unanimously appointed Santa Clarita City Manager Ken Pulskamp as Burbank's interim city manager. He's slated to start on Dec. 3. The announcement follows City Manager Mike Flad's surprising decision last month to step down from his post. Though discussions to hire Pulskamp were secret, personnel decisions are legally shielded until being finalized. In an email he sent to city employees, Flad describes Pulskamp as a “seasoned and respected leader” and having the “knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to successfully lead the transition of our city.” Pulskamp announced his intent to retire from Santa Clarita in August - he's been its city manager since 2002.

Tracee Border and Justin Miller have announced their engagement after a romantic beach-side proposal. Tracee is the daughter of Bob and Cheree (Clark) Border of Santa Clarita. She is employed by RE/MAX Select Properties, Inc. in Loudoun County, Va. Justin is the son of Brian and Joanne (Lento) Miller of Burbank. He is employed as a firefighter in Prince William County, Va. The couple will wed in May in Santa Clarita followed by a honeymoon in Jamaica.

Ryan Carter BURBANK -- Only days before he was cut down by a bullet while on duty, L.A. County sheriff's Dep. Hagop "Jake" Kuredjian was enjoying the simple pleasure of riding his motorcycle with a good friend, sheriff's Sgt. Bob Norlemann. It was for a good cause. The two were raising money for fellow slain officers. Norlemann remembered Kuredjian's enthusiasm on that August morning. "When I walked over to him, he looked at me, we shook hands and he had that big old Jake grin on his face and he said, 'That was awesome,' " Norlemann said.

Ryan Carter The Burbank Fire Department hazardous materials team doesn't just clean up messes in the city -- this week, members were sent to assist in a street chemical incident near Santa Clarita. The call Tuesday ended up being canceled, but if Los Angeles County firefighters such as the ones in the Santa Clarita area need Hazmat aid again, Burbank would assist because of a recent agreement. Burbank and Los Angeles County officials agreed on a mutual-aid deal that would send local Hazmat teams to county incidents mostly in the west Valley if county Hazmat crews can't get there soon enough.

Officials are warning Santa Clarita residents of at least one aggressive coyote in the area that chased a jogger and killed a dog. The coyote killed the dog Tuesday in Valencia Summit Park. A 6-year-old girl and her mother were walking the small terrier on a leash when a coyote dragged the dog into the bushes, KTLA-TV reported . In the same neighborhood Friday, a jogger reported a coyote chasing her until a man walking two large dogs scared the coyote away, according to KTLA-TV . Continue reading > > -- Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times

A seven-car pileup had drivers trapped on the northbound 5 Freeway in Santa Clarita on Friday afternoon, after a crash that authorities said began with a hit-and-run left four lanes of the roadway blocked for an hour. California Highway Patrol officials said that about 11:12 a.m. they began receiving calls concerning a multi-car pileup on the freeway north of Gavin Canyon near Calgrove Boulevard, the L.A. Times reported. Seven cars were involved in the crash, which clogged the highway between downtown L.A. and the canyon communities, officials said.

Authorities are looking for a woman they suspect of stealing wallets from three women as they shopped in the Santa Clarita Valley, later using their credit cards to buy jewelry and get cash. Three women reported their wallets were stolen from their purses in separate incidents Saturday as they shopped at various grocery stores, the L.A. County Sheriff's Department said in a statement. Following the thefts, the victims' credit cards were used to purchase expensive jewelry and withdraw cash from various banks, authorities said.

A few hundred faithful pass through the doors of Pastor Bob Childress' sanctuary every Sunday, but he worries that sometime in the next decade a 220-mph bullet train may take their place. The future route of the train, as currently drawn, takes dead aim for the Church of the Canyons, an evangelical refuge on Sand Canyon Road in Santa Clarita with a congregation of 450. "This will be an excellent test of our faith," Childress said. California's bullet train has generated plenty of opposition in the areas around the San Gabriel Mountains.

A man suffered severe burns after an explosion this week in a Santa Clarita apartment that authorities said was being used as a marijuana grow house and laboratory for the extraction of tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC and the active ingredient in reefer. Tenants in the apartment building in the 17700 block of Scherzinger Lane  reported an explosion about 2:45 p.m. Wednesday and deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department found "possible narcotics and fireworks inside an apartment," according to a news release from the agency.

Following weeks of closed-door meetings, the Burbank City Council on Tuesday unanimously appointed Santa Clarita City Manager Ken Pulskamp as Burbank's interim city manager. He's slated to start on Dec. 3. The announcement follows City Manager Mike Flad's surprising decision last month to step down from his post. Though discussions to hire Pulskamp were secret, personnel decisions are legally shielded until being finalized. In an email he sent to city employees, Flad describes Pulskamp as a “seasoned and respected leader” and having the “knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to successfully lead the transition of our city.” Pulskamp announced his intent to retire from Santa Clarita in August - he's been its city manager since 2002.

Cyclists are praising the county's decision to grant them access to a popular Santa Clarita Valley nature trail, despite the objections of hikers' groups. Bikes were prohibited from Canyon Trail in Newhall's Placerita Canyon Natural Area until 2007, when the county mistakenly posted a "multi-use" sign at the trail head. The nearly two-mile route quickly became a cyclists' favorite. But hikers complained and last year the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation corrected the signs.

State agricultural officials have declared war on the Oriental fruit fly in the Santa Clarita Valley after five flies were trapped there over two days last month. The action is the first for the Santa Clarita area but is one of several in Southern California since the invasive flies turned up in Pasadena in 2010. Slightly larger than a housefly and marked by a black "T" on its yellow abdomen, the fly is typically found in Hawaii and Micronesia. It poses a threat to scores of fruits and vegetables here, including dates, avocados, tomatoes and peppers.

Re: “ Crime motivates Walmart opposition ,” Mailbag, Sept. 26. The letter writer says, “The type of people the store (Walmart) attracts and the crime would be bad for the rest of the businesses in that area,” meaning the Empire Center. She goes on to say we have a Costco, Target and a Kmart nearby. Well, I was in line in the Kmart store on Wednesday with three women together in line ahead of me. They bought $96 worth of merchandise, argued with the cashier over the total, and they tried to pay for it with a bogus credit card.

Two men have been arrested in connection with the death of a Santa Clarita Valley woman who was a passenger in a car that crashed during what authorities say was a street race.  According to a statement from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station, Colt Sean Doherty was driving the car that Dakota Demott was riding in when the car crashed in January about 10:50 p.m. on Sand Canyon Road in Canyon Country. Demott, 19, of Canyon Country was killed.   A felony complaint filed Monday with the Los Angeles County district attorney's office charged Doherty, also 19 and from Canyon Country, with one count of second-degree murder, one count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and one count of driving under the influence causing injury, said D.A.'s spokeswoman Jane Robison.