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Volume 3, No. 25
Unmaintained Swimming Pools Becoming Breeding Grounds for Mosquitos By Terry Miller
Holden Says “Help out We’re in a Drought” Assemblymember Holden Hosts Drought Workshop June 25
Pasadena PD Air Operations commenced an aerial search by helicopter for suspect pools in the San Gabriel Valley Wednesday morning. This particular pool is located in Alhambra and is full of algae – a perfect environment for mosquitos. – Photo by Terry Miller
On Wednesday morning, Lt. Mike Ingram, Air Operations for Pasadena Police Department, arranged for Vector Control specialist 1, Leslie Conner to fly around the Valley in search of more pools
that may be contributing to mosquito population and thus increasing the chance West Nile Virus. Pasadena Independent went along for the ride with pilot TJ Gonzales and Sean Porter- Tactical
Flight Officer. Lt. Ingram pointed out that Vector Control San Gabriel Valley and Pasadena Police Air Operations also work in conjunction with FASTFoothill Air Support Team
and routinely service about 26 cities and advise Vector Control of questionable pools this time of year, in addition to assisting cities with crime prevention. Each year at the begin-
ning of summer, Pasadena Police Department works concurrently with Vector Control to assess potential dangers lurking in unmain-
Education Code, to have their teaching credentials revoked for life in the State of California. At the time of the crimes, Lippert was a teacher at South Hills High School in West Covina and Ghirelli was an employee with the Covina-Valley Unified School District. Lippert organized a trip that was not approved by the school or district by sending
The case against a former employee of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) who was charged with more than two dozen felony counts for allegedly misappropriating more than $4 million in public funds began with an anonymous tip to the Los Angeles City Controller’s Fraud, Waste and Abuse Hotline, L.A. City Controller Ron Galperin announced. The circumstances and investigation that eventually led to Thursday’s arrest of now-retired DWP employee, Audio-Visual Techni-
cian Thatcus “T.C.” Richard, started back in 2012 with a call to the Controller’s Hotline -- which was then immediately referred to the LADWP Security Services’ Office of Special Investigations, which then launched its inquiry. Richard was arrested and charged with defrauding the DWP and ratepayers, violating conflict of interest laws, and using DWP resources for personal gain, according to the DWP. “This case shows that the Controller’s Office’s fraud detection and reporting initiatives are working,”
Two Former Female Teachers Sentenced for Unlawful Sexual Intercourse With Student
Two former female high school teachers were convicted and sentenced today for unlawful sexual intercourse with an underage male student during alcohol and drug fueled camping trip at San Clemente State Beach. Melody Suzanne Lippert, 38, Covina, pleaded guilty to one felony count of unlawful sexual intercourse. She was sentenced to three years formal probation and three months in jail stayed pending completion of 15 days of
CalTrans. Co-defendant Michelle Louise Ghirelli, 30, West Covina, pleaded guilty to one felony count of unlawful sexual intercourse and one felony count of furnishing a controlled substance. She was sentenced to three years formal probation and 180 days in jail stayed pending completion of 180 days in a lock-down rehabilitation facility. The defendants’ conviction in this case qualifies them, under the California
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California is in the midst of a historic drought with no end in sight. That's why Assemblymember Chris Holden and Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena are teaming up for an evening of waterwise tips on living with the drought. Come and learn ways to outsmart the drought: learn about rebates available, see live demonstrations and hear practical advice from: -Jet Propulsion Lab - the science behind the drought -California State Water Resources Control Board -Pasadena Department of Water and Power -Theodore Payne Foundation Join us for interactive workshops for elementary age kids and adults on water conservation, drought gardening tips, household rebate programs and more Each guest will receive a family pass to visit KidPlease see page 2
Tip to L.A. Controller’s Fraud Hotline Leads to Arrest of DWP Employee said Controller Galperin. Galperin oversees a Waste, Fraud and Abuse Unit in his office, which maintains a 24-hour phone hotline for the reporting of waste, fraud and abuse. Callers can report concerns about waste, fraud and abuse by phone or by e-mail. Tipsters can remain anonymous -- and tips are confidential. Thanks to a special service with which the Controller’s Office contracts, callers can make their reports in more than Please see page 2