Belmont Beacon
MONDAY, JULY 7, 2014 - JULY 13, 2014
belmontbeacon.com
VOLUME 1, NO. 10
Design issues and soil conditions delay Skunk new bridge for Port in Long By JENNIFER schlueter Beach tests positive for rabies First rabid skunk to test positive in Los Angeles County since 1979
10 years in federal prison, more than the maximum seven-year term provided for under state law. The Orange County District Attorney agreed to dismiss the existing state charges to facilitate the federal prosecution and Barbour was remanded to federal custody Friday afternoon. The District Attorney’s Office noted, however, that if the probe leads to the identification of any Orange County victims, new state charges may be lodged.
The City of Long Beach Health Officer reminds residents to vaccinate their pets and avoid contact with wild animals following confirmation of a case of rabies. The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (LBDHHS) confirmed a skunk found on Thursday, June 26, 2014 near the corner of Wentworth Street and Snowden Avenue in the 90815 area of Long Beach tested positive for rabies. The person who notified authorities about the skunk handled the situation correctly; she made no attempt to pick up or capture the animal, and immediately called Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) officials to remove the skunk after she noticed erratic behavior by the animal. The skunk was taken by ACS officers to the LBDHHS Public Health Laboratory for testing. At this time, officials are not aware of any human or animal contact with the skunk. While bats in the area have tested positive for rabies in past years, this is the first confirmed case of rabies in a skunk in Los Angeles County since 1979. Further testing is being done at the State lab to determine the strain of rabies. “Residents need to avoid any contact with wildlife and ensure their domestic pets are vaccinated for rabies to avoid the dis-
Please see page 2
Please see page 3
Design of the replacement bridge -Courtesy Photo
Long Beach is currently working on the replacement of the nearly 50 year old Gerald Desmond Bridge, named after a Long Beach councilman and city attorney. An important harbor connector, the Desmond Bridge carried about 15% of the nation’s waterborne cargo. Traffic often congested the Desmond Bridge, and ships had difficulties to navigate because of its low height. The new bridge is designed to improve traffic flow on top and underneath it for both cars
and ships. Designers are constructing the new cable-stayed bridge as a design-build model, which means it will be designed as construction goes on. According to the LA Times, only 70% of the replacement bridge have been designed. Originally expected to open by 2016, officials now predict constructions to last until late 2017 or early 2018. That will also increase the estimated budget of $950 million. The cost of the new bridge re-
cently has been raised almost $300 million to $1.26 billion. In earthquake-stricken Southern California, bridges have to be built with even more utmost care and precision. The soils that are supposed to hold the new bridge’s foundation at several locations vary immensely. The labyrinth of underground oil wells and utility lines only enhance the difficulties. At a recent Harbor CommisPlease see page 2
Kids’ dance contest emcee charged with federal child pornography offense A 33-year-old Long Beach man who emceed children’s dance contests nationwide is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court Monday following his arrest on a federal child pornography charge. Paul Michael Barbour, who worked for Cypress-based Kids Artistic Review (KAR), fell undersuspicion late last month after a digital video camera belonging to the defendant was discovered in a dressing room used by teenage girls taking part in a dance contest at Cypress College. Bar-
bour was originally taken into custody June 1 by detectives with the Cypress Police Department on state charges filed by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office accusing him of possession of child pornography and possession of a controlled substance. On June 26, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California filed a criminal complaint against Barbour charging him with possession of child pornography. The violation carries a possible penalty of up to