and Jarely Sandoval work on an ocean-themed buttercream cake during the 2025 Culinary Skills Event on May 1 Students at Table 3 prepare their dishes during the 2025 Culinary Skills Event on May 1 at the Cambria Hotel in El Centro and Karizma Pollard prepare their Mediterranean-themed cake during the 2025 Culinary Skills Event on May 1 at the Cambria Hotel in El Centro Calipatria High School culinary students won the 2025 Culinary Skills Event at the Cambria Hotel on May 1 IMPERIAL — Calipatria High School culinary students won the 2025 Culinary Skills Event at the Cambria Hotel on May 1 notching the overall winner award based on cumulative scoring high school chefs whipped up Mediterranean-inspired appetizers Culinary Arts students from Brawley Union High School and Calipatria High School competed in the categories: Knife Skills Challenge The student competitors used the food service and hospitality skills they learned in class to cook their food keep their workspace clean and present the final culinary creations for judging A panel of local chefs and industry professionals evaluated the students’ work and gave feedback executive chef at Cambria’s 1905 Bar and Grill; Larissa De La Torre a registered nurse and professor at Honor Health Sciences; and Elsa Ordona founder of Sweet Nothings Pastry and Coffee Shoppe in El Centro All offered insights after judging the students’ food When they brought their Mediterranean bites to the judges’ table for evaluation the student chefs explained that they used feta cheese Mora emphasized the value of using local ingredients and the chefs confirmed that they used locally sourced basil and tomatoes along with their olives and parsley The judges praised the balance of flavors and the balsamic acidity in the bites Three seniors from Calexico — Christian Aguilera and Santiago Gutierrez — also crafted a dish with garlic bread These chefs used a paring knife to skin the tomato to make it appear like a rose the judges said they appreciated the dish’s creamy taste three seniors from Calipatria — Natalie Lara and Nahomy Gonzalez — presented their salmon The judges agreed that the plate looked inviting and noted that the warm salmon and cheese made for a flavorful entree Another part of the competition was the Knife Skills Challenge said she practiced different cuts in the challenge Lyerly explained that she is taking a beginning culinary class at school and wants to take the advanced level next year she has learned some of the science behind cooking and knows how to combine flavors to create a mouthwatering dish Aubrey Wells and Karizma Pollard displayed their Mediterranean-themed cake The chefs had left orange slices to dry overnight then added these dehydrated pieces to the outside of their cake BUHS seniors Mia Romero and Jesus Rodriguez crafted an Italian cream cake with cream cheese frosting to look like the Roman Colosseum Romero explained that she looked up pictures of famous buildings and sketched out her idea before deciding to create it as a cake walnuts and cream cheese as the main ingredients to make the cake which had sparrows and a flower resting on top of the Colosseum base which had ombré shades of blue frosting around the outside This vanilla-and-pineapple flavored cake had buttercream and sweet cream cheese between layers and yellow frosting that looked like lemon slices around the top and Jarely Sandoval created the masterpiece The judges praised the cake’s Mediterranean theme buttercream gradation and “natural color dissipation.”  Mora introduced the students to two chefs at work and emphasized the importance of organization and preparation He demonstrated how to make Peruvian Ceviche we have to do it particularly.” Mora tossed the fish lightly with oil and added salt to enhance its natural flavor “Everything is very methodical — it’s not just like you cook it put it on a plate and eat it,” Mora continued encouraging the students to think about how to distinguish flavors within a food they are eating He showed them how to garnish the fish with corn and sugar-pickled serrano pepper to add hints of spice and sweetness Mora demonstrated how to add three radishes to the plate and garnish it with greens last saying the green makes the dish pop with color Mora stressed the importance of cleaning utensils and items while cooking “I’m always cleaning my cutting board” while preparing food Mora showed the students how to cook poblano pasta “water as salty as the ocean” and specific large-rimmed pasta pans He added Parmesan cheese to the dish and invited students to line up at the counter to sample the pasta a culinary arts teacher from Calipatria High explained that students need to be dedicated and put in time to practice their cooking skills and prepare for a culinary skills event like this one She said that teachers submitted recipes that they liked and IVROP randomly chose the recipe that students were assigned Participants were allowed to add one extra ingredient to personalize their assigned dish and permitted to plate the food however they wanted Gomez said she wanted students to learn that hard work pays off and explained that through the competition the participants learned how to manage their time and work under pressure in the kitchen the culinary students learned how to work as a team “One thing that I do love about doing this is that we come together as we are preparing,” Gomez said We see what we like and what we don’t like It really builds a conversation between students.”  BUHS culinary teacher Cathy Shank said that her students started practicing two weeks before their spring break She said that her team of nine second-year culinary students grew more confident as they prepared for the competition Shank said the chefs learned how to communicate well with each other to stay within the allotted time frame and follow the recipe correctly saying they “really exemplified top-notch skills I brought them down here to compete and have fun and just showcase what they know how to do.” The culinary skills competition was meaningful to the Cambria Hotel as well explained that this event is Cambria’s “way of interacting with the community.” He said the event gives students real-world experience that will serve them well if they enter hospitality or culinary careers Mora emphasized the Cambria staff is there as a resource to help mentor students and assist them if they go on to culinary school explained that she oversees all events that happen at Cambria Hotel She said that when the Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program reached out to Cambria the hotel “jumped at the chance to have the event here.”  Martinez noted that since the hotel has only been open since September this was the first time Cambria has hosted the Culinary Skills challenge “This is the first of many that we hope to do,” Martinez said emphasizing that Cambria wants to partner with local schools and community organizations to host other events Knife Skills Challenge1st Place – Calexico2nd Place – Calipatria3rd Place – Brawley Appetizers1st Place – Calipatria2nd Place – Brawley3rd Place – Calexico Entree1st Place – Brawley2nd Place – Calipatria3rd Place – Calexico Cake Decorating1st Place – Calexico2nd Place – Calipatria3rd Place – Brawley all participating students received a certificate of recognition from Sen Email notifications are only sent once a day The Imperial County Board of Supervisors has refused to disclose why they fired the CEO and the Clerk of the Board there are no recent results for popular videos In a report from the Office of California’… Read moreWe applaud Assemblymembers Krell and Gonzalez for standing for sex-trafficated children  A groundbreaking report released yesterda… Read moreNew Study Proves Abortion Pill Harms Women At An Alarming Rate We are protesting the billionaire takeover… Read moreImperial Valley workers join #MayDayStrong to fight billionaire takeover, demand better future It was immigration day at the White House … Read moreImmigration Day at the White House Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Covering stories that matter to the community Potential Grant Funding Would Be Used for a Park in Calipatria; Supervisors Also Approved Grants for Veterans' Services and more EL CENTRO — The Imperial County Board of Supervisors approved the ratification of a resolution to submit an application to the California Energy Commission’s Geothermal Grant and Loan Program seeking funding for a geothermal-themed outdoor park in Calipatria Deputy County Executive Officer of Natural Resources Bari Bean presented the proposal at the board’s Jan aimed at connecting residents and visitors to geothermal energy and lithium resources in the region “As you can see from the visuals on the screen one-of-a-kind initiative that we’ve created here at the county,” Bean said “It’s truly an opportunity for our residents and visitors alike to take a journey to the core of the earth.” Bean explained that the county previously applied for funding under the same grant program for a different project — the Legacy Initiative an educational program — but was eligible to apply for multiple categories The geothermal park application falls under Category K “This loan is designed to really support a lot of different categories and to support communities that have geothermal as well as advancing things like socioeconomic impact which is new in the last two years within this program,” Bean said Renderings shown during the presentation depicted a colorful interactive park with a rubberized surface displaying geological layers and educational features highlighting geothermal and lithium technologies Bean emphasized that these were concept images rather than final designs These are ideas of what it could look like,” she said “The final design has not yet been completed.” The project is planned as an extension of Calipatria’s ongoing Community Park Initiative which was partially funded by the California Department of Parks and is being developed with contractor GAFCON the geothermal-themed portion would be integrated into the existing plans “We’re really pleased to be collaborating with the city of Calipat and their letter of commitment to help support the funding of this park if this grant is awarded,” Bean said the ownership of this park would be transferred to the city of Calipat and they would have ownership of this park moving forward as well as all maintenance and any liability associated with it.” The initiative has received support from local legislators the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers the North End Alliance and Geothermal Rising a national geothermal advocacy group that has committed to providing educational resources with community advocate William Cooper strongly opposing it executive director of The Becoming Project in Calipatria “And none of those meetings have I ever heard one community member say we need a monument to geothermal in Calipatria.” Cooper argued that while Calipatria needs shaded spaces those needs could be met within existing parks rather than through a specialized geothermal-themed space “What you do hear is that they can’t use a geothermal museum but they can use some actual training for geothermal drive “Things like these are just going to give the community more information about geothermal The community of Calipatria has information about geothermal Cooper also connected his opposition to broader concerns about the county’s relationship with the geothermal industry arguing that local governments have prioritized the industry’s interests over community needs “When you hear about things like the Good Neighbor Program the Board of Supervisors have been good neighbors to the industry The city of Calipatria has been good neighbors to the industry,” he said “The industry hasn’t been good neighbors to Calipat.” board Chair John Hawk referenced the lawsuit Comite Civico del Valle filed against Imperial County regarding the development of Lithium Valley Cooper explained why community organizations sometimes resort to legal action because we don’t have any other recourse,” he said Supervisor Martha Cardenas-Singh asked whether the community of Calipatria had been consulted about the park’s design “Have we had an opportunity just to have this kind of discussion or conversation where we can get feedback from the community in regards to what this park would look like?” she asked Bean responded that while Calipatria had gathered input for its overall Community Park Initiative discussions specifically about the geothermal-themed portion had not yet occurred “As it pertains to this geothermal park initiative those conversations have not happened yet because the design is not at the point yet where those could be shared,” she said She also clarified that the grant program is restricted to geothermal-related projects “This particular grant is from the California Energy Commission and it is a geothermal grant and loan program meaning that it does have to fund the development and implementation of geothermal energy projects or those associated with it,” Bean said Supervisor Ryan Kelley addressed Cooper’s broader criticisms stating that the county’s application was bound by the funding’s requirements and that unrelated community needs could not be addressed through this grant “This is a distinctive allocation to be used in this manner,” Kelley said “The issues that you (William Cooper) brought up about Calpatria’s needs for their own infrastructure and their own service area are outside of what this funding could be used for.” Kelley also responded to Cooper’s remarks about the Comite Civico lawsuit defending the county’s position and criticizing the legal challenge it is based off of very dubious information and then it is dismissed and denied by the court,” Kelley said “That caused a significant delay in what we’re trying to do Board Chair Hawk acknowledged the differing perspectives but expressed appreciation for the discussion “I think we have a lot of clarity here,” Hawk said and the issue is we all want the prosperity of Calipat and the surrounding areas.” The board ultimately approved the ratification with Supervisor Jesus Escobar commending Bean’s efforts “I just want to thank Bari for her hard work in this and everything lithium related,” Escobar said The board approved the application unanimously Alongside the geothermal park grant ratification the Board of Supervisors approved three other funding measures at its Jan including grants for veterans’ services and Imperial High School’s Future Farmers of America program The board unanimously authorized the signing of the California Department of Veterans Affairs Medi-Cal Certificate of Compliance and the Subvention Certificate of Compliance for fiscal 2024-2025 Imperial County’s veterans services officer explained that his office acts as a liaison between local veterans and federal benefits educational waivers and health care access “We were able to see and put claims in for 1,757 veterans and that was an award of $2.2 million new dollars given out to our veteran community and their dependents,” Hernandez said “We also did 257 waivers … over $2 million given out to the dependents of veterans and veterans themselves.” The county board also approved a $150,000 Agricultural Benefit Program grant to the Imperial County Farm Bureau to support the “Burn a Bale a program aimed at preventing arson-related agricultural fires funded entirely by mainly the farming and the local community.” the board approved $120,000 in funding for Imperial High School’s FFA program The funds will be used to upgrade equipment purchase tools and vehicles and improve safety measures “With our growing community and our growing program hopefully (this funding will) benefit our community and our kids as well,” said Lindsey Stiff an agriculture teacher at Imperial High School All three funding items were approved unanimously and website in this browser for the next time I comment For advertising and submission of legal notices or inquiries email: info@calexicochronicle.com Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article Print CALIPATRIA Calif. — The little desert town of Calipatria It struggles with poverty. It’s in the middle of Imperial County, where the 20% unemployment rate is California’s highest. And some days, its dusty air carries the stench of the polluted Salton Sea eight miles west Sitting 184 feet below sea level, Calipatria is the lowest incorporated town in the Western Hemisphere. (Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park is lower Calipatria takes pride in what it does have A flagpole that was once world’s tallest: a 184-foot staff from which Old Glory flies at sea level called it “the shining star” of the Imperial Valley this month He was setting out barrels of concrete to anchor 11 strings of white lights that would be hoisted to the top of the pole to create a very tall Christmas “tree” visible for miles around but we’re trying to get it going again,” Self said “This community is very low income,” added Self whose family has lived in this town 30 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border for several generations This is one of the things we get to do for the community.” In this little town surrounded by agriculture fields and solar farms, summer temperatures exceed 110 degrees, and many homes have lawns of dirt instead of grass. The biggest employer is Calipatria State Prison there are not many businesses to draw in tourists The flagpole — marked on Google Maps as the Highest Flagpole — is the kind of road-trip oddity that has beckoned Canadian snowbirds, Bombay Beach bohemians and leather-clad Harley-Davidson riders passing through this town where pastors used to joke that their low-elevation parishioners had to pray harder because they are closer to hell Employees at City Hall across the street often step outside to take flagpole photos for tourists sometimes lying on the ground to get the best angle Even better than the pole is its backstory — an only-in-California tale for which city workers led by an intern with an encyclopedic knowledge of its twists and turns are trying to get official state recognition But locals know it really stands in honor of the late Takeo Harry Momita and his wife, Shizuko Helen Momita. The Japanese American couple lived in Calipatria after being incarcerated with their three children at the Poston War Relocation Center in western Arizona during World War II Momita was a pharmacist who was born in Hiroshima moved to California with his parents at age 8 and graduated from USC he ran drugstores throughout the Imperial Valley “You see, in those days, it was difficult for a Japanese to operate a drugstore successfully,” his daughter, Louise Momita, said in a 1958 episode of the TV series “This Is Your Life.” “As social pressures increased Daddy would have to find a new location and start over again.” After Japan’s 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, paving the way for the imprisonment of 120,000 people of Japanese descent — two-thirds of whom were American citizens — in desolate detention camps told The Times that his family was living in El Centro in the spring of 1942 when they were forced to board a bus bound for the Poston camp his elementary school classrooms were in converted barracks where the children stood every day to say the Pledge of Allegiance “I pledged allegiance to the flag of the United States of America put into camps and without having committed crimes — just the fact that we were Japanese.” The Momitas were incarcerated for three years a retired pharmacist who lives in Contra Costa County “I’m happy to say that my two sisters and myself That’s where Momita became president of the Chamber of Commerce and opened another drugstore It was a beloved hangout where wife Helen served coffee and locals served up chitchat We’re known affectionately as Helen and Harry,” Momita said on “This Is Your Life.” the couple were driving to Los Angeles to visit their then-grown children when a car slammed headfirst into them in Colton The 18-year-old driver of the other vehicle The mayor of Calipatria and the chief of the police hustled to the hospital They persuaded Momita to hand over the keys to his pharmacy They even recruited a pharmacist from nearby Brawley to fill prescriptions for three hours a day Helen Momita’s female friends “kept the coffee hot and waited on the customers and dusted and cleaned,” said one of those women on “This Is Your Life.” Host Ralph Edwards noted that her husband had been “killed in the Pacific” during World War II and her son was then serving with the U.S The townspeople collected $500 for flowers for Helen Momita‘s funeral But Momita said his humble wife would not have wanted a big memorial He suggested putting the money toward something that local officials had pitched years earlier but that the town could not afford: a flagpole reaching up to sea level He was so touched by his neighbors keeping his store afloat that he gave an additional $500 from his own savings The story made national news and was featured in Time magazine which noted that the Imperial Valley had come a long way “since the old days — and Pearl Harbor days — when inflamed feelings against Japanese settlers brought persecution and bloodshed.” Set in 18 feet of concrete the Calipatria flagpole was erected in October 1958 it is “Dedicated to Good Neighborliness.” (Hailey Branson-Potts / Los Angeles Times) Donations poured in Then-Vice President Richard Nixon sent a flag that had flown over the U.S in Los Angeles offered to erect the pole at cost Mayor Ed Rademacher and a city councilman brought an unsuspecting Momita to the Burbank set of “This Is Your Life,” where family and friends joined him onstage to tell his story mentioned another landmark flag when describing his friend: “I can remember when I was on Iwo Jima But I think Harry has raised that flag a little bit higher.” A bright yellow sign at its base still declares it is the “World’s Tallest Flagpole.” Today, it’s not even close. The title currently belongs to a 662.57-foot flagpole in Cairo built in 2021 The Calipatria pole isn’t even the tallest in California. It was overtaken in 1996 by a 200-foot flagpole dedicated by the Lions Club in Dorris a town of 860 people near the Oregon border But none of that matters to Calipatria city employees and elected officials who want to see their flagpole formally designated as an official California historical landmark or point of historical interest The backstory, they say, is especially noteworthy. The Momitas were some of the few, if not the only, Japanese Americans living in Calipatria, where today less than 1% of the town’s population is Asian, according to the U.S. Census. The mostly Latino town now has about 6,200 residents — a figure that includes more than 2,400 inmates at Calipatria State Prison The Christmas “tree” pole lighting ceremony on Dec (Edgar Self) Milton Momita said that to the Imperial Valley to show them where he grew up they didn’t think there was much to do there,” he said But they were impressed by the flagpole — which has spent months researching the story of the flagpole combing through municipal and news media archives calling research libraries for obscure articles putting together a comprehensive record that the city will be able to reference for years to come Rosales is a little shy — until he starts talking about the pole minutiae about the company that built it and details about what became an international fundraising campaign for the landmark “It’s a bit hard to believe that this happened which is why we’re doing a lot — and I mean a lot — of research to make sure that we have all of our facts correct,” Rosales said City officials said they hope to use Rosales’ research as part of a nomination package for the state Office of Historic Preservation to get the ball rolling on a much-hoped-for official designation “It’s iconic to this community,” City Manager Laura Gutierrez said on a recent December day She keeps a stash of stickers and pins in her office They are emblazoned with the new city seal which features — you guessed it — the flagpole would hopefully help the town preserve the pole and keep it well-maintained in the future If the city gets a historic landmark designation for its flagpole, it also could get a directional highway sign from the California Department of Transportation, pointing the way for tourists. It’s a humble hope. But a hope nonetheless. Hailey Branson-Potts is a Metro reporter who joined the Los Angeles Times in 2011. She reports on a wide range of issues and people, with a special focus on communities along the coast. She grew up in the small town of Perry, Okla., and graduated from the University of Oklahoma. Lifestyle California Climate & Environment Entertainment & Arts Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map Five correctional officers at Calipatria State Prison were injured in an attack on Saturday Two incarcerated people attacked two officers along with three other responding officers All five officers were transported to an outside medical facility for a higher level of treatment One officer sustained serious bodily injury All officers were released later and are OK Both incarcerated people were re-housed in the restricted housing unit Peer Support and Employee Assistance Program services are being offered to employees The California Correctional Peace Officers Association was notified Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don't miss out on updates Receive occasional local offers from our website and its advertisers summary of the weather details and news of any severe weather We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as they happen Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - 16-year-old Annie Kathleen of Calipatria was found in Mexicali The Anaheim Police Department (APD) previously asked for help in locating Kathleen who was last seen on Sunday at Disney California Adventure Park She was found unharmed in a vacant lot on the east side of Mexicali Kathleen was recognized by a person who recalled seeing her picture on social media "She was located in a vacant lot inside some garbage containers where she was hiding.She was in normal condition although she seemed in a little distress.A police unit responded and took her to the station," said Chief Ricardo Hernandez of the Mexicali Police Vulnerable Persons Unit Mexicali police are still investigating how she ended up in the city especially since they say she doesn't have any family ties or friends there "Her mother came to the police headquarters to pick her up her identity was verified by the international liaison and the girl was handed over to her mother," explained Chief Hernandez have been located in Mexicali so far this year Most of them have been sent back to the United States Reach out to Marcos with your story ideas at marcos.icahuate@kecytv.com KYMA KECY is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines | FCC Applications | Jobs/Internships | Do Not Sell My Personal Information var cachebuster = Math.round(new Date().getTime() / 1000); var player = new Playerjs({id:"player_kyma" file:"https://vz-d313ffcd-0d1.b-cdn.net/9a1f56c9-3ba0-4f3a-8cf9-627f1047ac96/playlist.m3u8" poster:"https://vz-d313ffcd-0d1.b-cdn.net/9a1f56c9-3ba0-4f3a-8cf9-627f1047ac96/thumbnail_2e47c472.jpg" label:"Encuentran a Menor de Calipatria desaparecida en Anaheim en Mexicali" vast_replace:{"[wpcategory]":"spanish","[wprand]":""+cachebuster+""}}); Encuentran a Menor de Calipatria desaparecida en Anaheim en Mexicali News Channel 3 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines KESQ-TV FCC Public File | KPSP-TV FCC Public File | KDFX-TV FCC Public File | EEO Report | FCC Applications | Do Not Sell My Personal Information CALIPATRIA — A Niland man was arrested on suspicion of murder and assault with a deadly weapon during a traffic stop in Niland on Sunday morning for the killing of a Calipatria man late Saturday was found dead at the scene in the roadway near North Railroad Avenue and East Delta Street within Calipatria city limits His remains were discovered by the Calipatria Police Department around 9:30 p.m the case was turned over to the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office was developed as a person of interest in the case and was arrested by sheriff’s deputies about 8:50 a.m Herrero is being held in Imperial County jail on $1 million bail A 25-year-old Xochitl Rendon of Niland (also identified as Xochitl Arce in arrest documents) was arrested as an accessory to the crime Information wasn’t available on the weapon used in the killing The assault with a deadly weapon count against Herrero specifies no firearm was used The investigation is active and those with additional information are encouraged to call Investigator Ilse Ruiz of the Sheriff’s Office at 442-265-2105 Serving Holtville and surrounding areas since 1905Address:1122 West State Street, Ste. E, El Centro, CA 92243.Phone: (760) 356-2995, (760) 339-4899Email: info@calexicochronicle.com News Releases & TipsEmail: rbrown@calexicochronicle.com Property Owner Shuts Down Project at 150 W After “Graffiti” Cited; City Now Working on a Public Art Ordinance CALIPATRIA — A mural project meant to spotlight community concerns about Lithium Valley’s development remains on hold following backlash over the artist’s preliminary process officials and the artist awaiting a promised public art ordinance commissioned by the Imperial Valley Equity & Justice Coalition and The Becoming Project for their new office at 150 W and designed by artist Sergio “Takito” Ojeda was initially approved by the city and the property owner the project was halted in October following concerns raised about the artist’s use of a “doodle grid” process a method that incorporates temporary spray-painted designs as a guide for the final mural Calipatria City Manager Laura Gutierrez confirmed progress toward formalizing public art guidelines “The city is currently in the process of updating the zoning ordinance A draft will be presented to the Planning Commission in January,” Gutierrez said “Once the Planning Commission has approved recommendation will then be forwarded to the City Council We have and continue to do research to ensure the best outcome for our community,” she added was only “temporary,” muralist Ojeda explained in an interview.  which included the question “What should residents from North Imperial County get from Lithium Valley?” alongside community-sourced phrases like “healthcare facility,” “water,” and “affordable housing,” sparked controversy A post from the city of Calipatria on the Calipatria Events and Happenings Facebook group described it as “unauthorized graffiti” and stated the city was “addressing this issue promptly.” Ojeda explained to context of the text used in the doodle grid: “I like to use it to put a significant quote that represents what I’m going to draw or to uplift the voices of others who would like to say something that we usually don’t get to see or hear,” he said The controversy began when someone driving by the building reported the doodle grid as graffiti sparking a wave of complaints that quickly escalated the landlord was contacted by either the city or concerned residents and was warned about the potential for citations The city later issued a written warning labeling the doodle grid as graffiti which required the design to be removed within 10 days co-founder and executive organizer of the Imperial Valley Equity & Justice Coalition said the backlash stemmed from a misunderstanding of the artist’s process there was confusion and not enough awareness regarding the artist’s process,” Flores said during an October Calipatria City Council meeting The complaints led to increased pressure on the landlord who ultimately instructed Ojeda to halt the project and paint over the grid the owner was the one who decided to stop the project and it was up to the owner of the building.” Some Calipatria residents voiced concerns not about the doodle grid process itself but about the specific content it displayed tensions are high and emotions are strong,” Kim Bradford a moderator of the Calipatria Events and Happenings Facebook group “Spray painting things like this on the side of a building can be extremely divisive in such a small town.” Ojeda explained that the phrases on the doodle grid were drawn directly from responses to the “What should residents get from Lithium Valley?” question posed to Northend communities during public hearings “I asked IV Equity if they had the raw data of what the community responded to this question,” Ojeda said “I made sure to write down the most prominent or the most repeated concerns that they had So the words I put up on that doodle grid were direct comments from the community It’s showing the 180 of how it starts versus how it’s finished I love how at the beginning people are kind of like I don’t know what’s happening,” Ojeda explained “And it’s a way to call attention and the people come over and it’s a great way to start a conversation And I use that personally to speak more about what the actual mural means or what I’m talking about or what I’m trying to portray.” IV Equity & Justice Coalition and Ojeda sought to clarify the intent behind the mural and salvage the project coalition members and Ojeda spoke during public comments to address the misunderstanding explain the artistic process and advocate for the mural to move forward Calipatria resident and representative of The Becoming Project a non-profit focusing on advocacy and education that shares the building at 150 W expressed his frustration with how the situation had unfolded “Somehow that art project got from an art project to graffiti,” Cooper said He criticized the lack of clear communication and the role of public pressure in the decision to halt the project are we supposed to talk to you and then talk to the community?” he asked pressured the city into making a rash decision.” Cooper also called out what he described as conflicting messaging from the city “The message from the city about ‘we don’t support any graffiti but we do support the art,’ is ambiguous,” he said “It left it open to misinterpretation.” Despite his frustrations Cooper stressed his ongoing commitment to the city who spoke on behalf of IV Equity & Justice shared her disappointment that the mural had been halted “We were really looking forward to giving this gift to the community,” she said Vega emphasized that the phrases on the doodle grid reflected real community concerns and that the mural was intended to highlight important issues like Lithium Valley’s development and its impact on local residents Ojeda and members of the coalition invited the City Council to view a projection of the mural design on the building’s wall “We projected the design onto the wall to show the City Council and the rest of the community what it was going to look like,” Ojeda said “It wasn’t just going to stay as a doodle grid up there forever.” The City Council acknowledged the need for clearer policies on public art during the meeting and committed to drafting the public art ordinance now underway opting to wait until the ordinance is finalized out of respect for the situation he remains hopeful about completing the project and continuing to bring public art to Calipatria “I’m still confident that we’re going to put it up there,” he said “Now it’s just a matter of waiting for the ordinance to go through.” KECY) - The Anaheim Police Department (APD) is asking for help in locating a missing teen APD says the teen was last seen on Sunday at Disney California Adventure Park and her family is extremely worried," APD says or has any information regarding her whereabouts reach out to him at dillon.fuhrman@kecytv.com UPDATE (1:19 PM): The Imperial County Sheriff's Office (ICSO) confirms that Spence was stabbed KECY) - Authorities in Imperial County have arrested two people in connection to the murder of a Calipatria resident the Calipatria Police Department (CPD) responded to the area of Railroad and Delta Streets at around 9:30 p.m Saturday after receiving reports of a man lying on the ground the press release said they found the man unresponsive and "emergency medical lifesaving measures were performed," but the man identified as 28-year-old Nicholas Spence of Calipatria The press release then says CPD called the Imperial County Sheriff's Office (ICSO) to take over the investigation "due to the severity of circumstances." and determined it to be a suspicious death "based upon a preliminary investigation and evidence located at the scene," prompting ICSO's Investigations Unit to respond and conduct an investigation into Spence's death The press release says ICSO conducted a "follow up investigation to identify and locate the person(s) involved," leading them to identify a 22-year-old Niland man as a person of interest in Spence's death ICSO's Patrol Deputies found and arrested the man "during a traffic stop" in Niland The press release then says the man was arrested and booked into the Imperial County Jail for murder and assault with a deadly weapon while a 25-year-old Niland woman was also arrested and booked into the Imperial County Jail for being an accessory to the crime and if anyone has any information regarding the case KECY) - Authorities are investigating an incident where two suspects allegedly used a drone to smuggle drugs into Calipatria State Prison were arrested last Monday after flying a drone approximately two miles to the prison and dropping a package into a secured area The package contained marijuana and methamphetamine valued at $30,000 within the prison but they flew the drone to the location and were able to follow it," said Imperial County District Attorney George Marquez The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies and the Imperial County Sheriff's Office (ICSO) The District Attorney emphasized the growing issue of drone use in drug smuggling operations targeting state prisons We are sending a clear message that anyone coming to Imperial County to drop off drugs will not be tolerated," Marquez stated Calipatria State Prison was unavailable for comment on the incident Authorities urge anyone with information to contact local law enforcement Si tiene alguna idea de historia que le gustaría compartir KECY) - The Calipatria Hornets defeated the Coastal Academy Stingrays 44-25 to win the CIF San Diego Section Division VAA Championship This is the first CIF football championship in school history Caleb Spence got the Hornets off to a flying start with a pick-six to give Calipatria the 8-0 lead Dominic Hawk would run for three touchdowns Chas Messman joined KYMA in July 2023 as News 11’s Sports Director have been named winners of Representative Raul Ruiz's 2024 Congressional App Challenge in California's 25th District was developed by Layla Morales and Evelyn Torres-Martìnez of Calipatria High School along with Alex Tang of Westview High School and Chris Zheng of The Bishop's School in San Diego emphasized the importance of their project in addressing language barriers and accessibility for immigrants needing medical assistance The inspiration stemmed from their personal experiences and observations within their communities we've seen so many immigrants struggle with medical diagnoses and the need for various medications My teammate's mother had difficulty reading English so we designed a feature that translates instructions and reads them aloud Another teammate's parents had trouble recording their sick grandmother’s symptoms so we created a logging feature to make that easier," they explained "We hope to relieve some of the stress of being a first-generation child or immigrant." Torres-Martìnez added that taking care of a family member with diabetes and dementia made her realize how difficult medication management can be: "It takes a lot to ensure they get the right medication at the right time Our app simplifies that process and helps families like mine." Winning a competition of this scale is a rare achievement for students from Calipatria High School a fact that was not lost on Torres-Martìnez "This doesn't really happen to Calipatria High School students," she said "I would expect it from schools like Brawley or Holtville because they're known for their strong academics It's shocking that two students from Calipatria met up with two from San Diego emphasizing the lack of resources available in their region: "We're in an area that’s often behind in opportunities compared to other schools A lot of kids don't think they stand a chance against students from bigger cities like San Diego or those from Northern California I hope it inspires other students from our community to go after these opportunities." Morales and Torres-Martìnez faced significant time constraints "We didn't even know the competition opened in May or that the app was due in October," Morales admitted "We had less than a month to develop MedCentral Evelyn and I focused on the inspiration and user experience while the boys handled the technical aspects." Their collaboration with Tang and Zheng was a crucial part of the process We had people with different expertise coming together to build something meaningful "If you don’t understand English very well but it can make a huge difference for people who don't have access to resources." Although MedCentral is still in its early stages the team is already thinking about further development "We're exploring ways to refine it and expand its capabilities." which encourages students to explore coding and STEM careers saw a record-breaking 12,682 participants in 2024 The winners will have the opportunity to present their app in Washington It's proof that students from small communities can compete on a national stage "We just hope this inspires others from Calipatria and Imperial Valley to take a chance You never know what can happen," Morales said CALIPATRIA— The Calipatria Police Department responded on Saturday to a report of a male subject laying on the ground near the area of Railroad Street and Delta Street within the city limits Calipatria Police Officers located a male subject unresponsive on the ground Emergency medical lifesaving measures were performed unfortunately the male subject succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene where he was located The male subject was later identified as 28-year-old Nicholas Spence The Calipatria Police Department requested the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office take lead over this investigation due to the severity of circumstances Imperial County Sheriff’s Office North County Patrol Division immediately responded to the scene to assist Based upon a preliminary investigation and evidence located at the scene it was determined to be a suspicious death The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Unit responded to the scene to conduct an investigation into the circumstances in the death of Mr The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office conducted a follow up investigation to identify and locate the person(s) involved Investigators identified 22-year-old Johvan Herrero of Niland as a person of interest in the death of Mr Imperial County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Deputies located and apprehended Johvan Herrero during a traffic stop in Niland Johvan Herrero was arrested and booked into the Imperial County Jail for murder and assault with a deadly weapon 25-year-old Xochitl Rendon of Niland was also arrested and booked into the Imperial County Jail for being an accessory to this crime This remains an active and on-going investigation Anyone with additional information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Investigator Ilse Ruiz of the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office at (442) 265-2105 KECY) - We're learning more about how two suspects tried to smuggle drugs into Calipatria State Prison by using a drone law enforcement says it's seeing this more and more every day they flew the drone to the location and they were able to follow the drone and locate the suspects one was an adult and one was a juvenile," said George Marquez The district attorney said the suspects were arrested last Monday after dropping a package into a secured area of the prison there was marijuana and meth worth several thousand dollars in addition they were caught as well," explained Marquez Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in the investigation including the Calipatria State Prison the District Attorney's Office and the Imperial County Sheriff's Office (ICSO) The DA's Office says the use of drones to try to smuggle drug into state prisons has turned into a very common issue That's why we are cracking down on this and we are going to send a clear message that anybody that comes to the Imperial County to drop off drugs anywhere is not going to be tolerated," said Marquez Staff at Calipatria State Prison in Imperial County witnessed the beating death of Alberto Martinez, 46, in the prison yard on Thursday, authorities said. Inmate Tyler A. Lua struck him, knocked him to the ground and continued to hit him, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in a news release. Two other inmates, Jorge D. Negrete-Larios and Luis J. Beltran, began hitting Martinez as he lay motionless, and staff “stopped the incident using pepper spray and one baton strike,” the department said. The department said Martinez had “injuries consistent with an incarcerated-manufactured weapon,” and two such weapons were found where the attack occurred. She admitted falling for a man whose embrace she had never known who lived his days in what he called ‘paseo de la muerte.’ Death row Medical staff attempted to treat Martinez’s injuries Prison officials say they are investigating his death as a homicide The Imperial County Coroner will determine the exact cause of death Martinez had been sentenced to death in 2010 after being convicted of first-degree murder for his role in abducting and killing a man in exchange for payment from the man’s sister Martinez described himself in court as an associate of the Mexican Mafia. He was featured in a 2023 Los Angeles Times article detailing how members of the prison-based crime syndicate use smuggled cellphones to collect money and order murders on city streets Though Martinez was initially on death row, he was among the condemned prisoners who were moved to the general population after Gov. Gavin Newsom imposed a moratorium on executions in 2019. Politics Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a moratorium on executions in 2019 and ordered death row to be dismantled. More than 100 condemned prisoners have already been moved. By the end of summer, death row will be no more. According to the Department of Corrections, Martinez was also serving a life sentence for attempted first-degree murder, as well as another two-year sentence for street gang activity. The three inmates who were involved were “placed in restricted housing” pending an investigation, the department said. Lua and Negrete-Larios are both serving sentences for attempted second-degree murder and other convictions. Beltran was sentenced in 2023 to life in prison for first-degree murder. Ian James is a reporter who focuses on water and climate change in California and the West. Before joining the Los Angeles Times in 2021, he was an environment reporter at the Arizona Republic and the Desert Sun. He previously worked for the Associated Press as a correspondent in the Caribbean and as bureau chief in Venezuela. Follow him on Bluesky @ianjames.bsky.social and on X @ByIanJames. World & Nation Mariachi in the Park Marks First Friday Evening Concert in City and is a Prelude to Mexican Independence Day CALIPATRIA — More than a week ahead of Mexican Independence Day — 16 de septiembre — the Calipatria Foundation helped fill the Northend city’s park kiosk with the melodic sounds of a free mariachi show on Friday evening Under a setting sun and the hanging lights often reserved for backyard parties trumpets and violins brought out a small but celebratory crowd for the first-ever complimentary event.  accompanied by Imperial Valley Mariachi Academy students joined their skills together for a few songs before the students departed from the stage and left the rest of the night’s entertainment to one of the Valley’s most skilled and beloved mariachi collectives was swaying to the traditional tunes of the mariachi and welcomed a brief chat while listening along She said when she saw the flier circulating for the event and said in September… my kids couldn’t believe that we were going to have mariachi in the park,” she shared Ramirez said she is a fan of Mariachi Acero del Valle and said “They actually performed at my house one year for my birthday.” Spears Hawaiian Shaved Ice and vendors serving Clamatos preparados lined up next to each other to offer up sweet and savory snacks as people listened and even sang along under the stars to the music playing.  “Alma de Acero” and “Al Ver Que Te Vas” were crooned from the gazebo where the mariachi band was set up were just a few of the many who showed off their talents in the group and who are available to perform at both public and private events shared the background on the event’s history on Friday We haven’t had something like this in a really long time; we want to keep it going … She agreed so we’re going to try to do something next month,” Jasso said “The hard thing is we don’t have any funding so they’re doing it for free,” pointing to the mariachi playing on while the conversation took place The foundation is seeking bands interested in donating play time to their goal of monthly concerts in the city of Calipatria and welcoming music of any sorts to please reach out via Facebook to discuss options “It’s great to have this back because when we were growing up there was always something going on at the park ‘See you at the park?’ ‘See you at the park!’” Jasso was born and raised in Calipatria who left for work opportunities in her 20s and 30s Jasso has spearheaded the group with a mission to help revive Calipatria all part of its fundraising for the fireworks show for Independence Day in July 2025 a mother-daughter duo were dancing on the sidewalk the mother spinning her toddler in her arms families brought their chairs and formed a semi-circle around the gazebo where the band was set up A children’s toys booth set up shop and sold fake swords glow-in-the-dark toys and more alongside the other vendor present which had staff present to provide information to the public on a Medicare program “Eight to 10 pounds of fruits and veggies delivered straight to your doorstep every week It’s a three-month program … after that first round you can sign up again for example if you have diabetes they’ll send you food low in sugar … it links up with your condition,” the representative said.  the gazebo was festively decorated in authentic Mexican decor including banners and a large piñata hanging overhead The donation-based event worked perfect for Mariachi Acero del Valle though because as one of the members announced they are beginning their Fall Concerts in the Park tour where the group will travel from city to city and play its tunes for the community to enjoy.  did have a small shopping area set up with its own T-shirts for sale as well as seasonal fall wreaths and other home decor items to support the musicians Follow the Mariachi Acero del Valle Facebook page to stay up to date on where the mariachi band will be performing next The foundation made the following public statement: “Thank you to Laura Gutierrez for sharing our vision of bringing the community together and his crew for helping us with the event.” HOLTVILLE — The Holtville High football team continues to steamroll opponents finishing the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record after the Vikings punished Calipatria in the annual Axe Game at Birger Field in Holtville on Thursday 3-0 in Desert League) wrap up the Desert League championship and improve their record in Axe Games to 13-2 dating back to the rivalry game’s beginnings in 2009 Holtville has won eight straight Axe Games with the only wins for the Hornets coming in the inaugural game in 2009 and in 2016 2-1 in the DL) finishes in second place in the DL followed by Vincent Memorial Catholic (6-3 overall 1-2 in DL) in third and Palo Verde Valley of Blythe in fourth (2-8 overall Holtville has been a juggernaut through the 10-game season The Vikings’ winning streak sits at 17 after they won their final seven games of 2023 including the CIF-San Diego Section Division V-AA championship game over Army-Navy Academy of Carlsbad “We talked to them about them forever being linked in Holtville history with an undefeated season,” said Jason Turner I think there’s another gear these guys can get to and I hope we see it in the playoffs.” scoring on the fifth play of the game after taking the opening kickoff at their own 30-yard line including a 53-yard scamper from junior Enrique Armas and the Vikings were in the end zone when Armas scored on a five-yard run Junior Axel Gomez ran in the two-point conversion and Holtville was up 8-0 with 10:21 left in the opening quarter Calipatria found its offense with 5:30 to go in the first quarter when the Hornets went on an 11-play 47-yard march down the field that ended on the first play of the second quarter with a four-yard Jordan Potter touchdown run They failed to convert the two-point attempt leaving the score 8-6 with 11:56 left in the half That score seemed to inspire the Holtville team as the Vikings would rattle off three second-quarter touchdowns while allowing just two first downs to Calipatria in the quarter Holtville got an eight-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Alonso Cuevas to junior receiver Raul Briseno with 9:53 left in the half to make it 16-6 the Vikings got an 11-yard touchdown run from senior Hector Sanchez that came after an electrifying 65-yard catch-and-run from Briseno off a short Cuevas pass to put the Vikings at the Hornets’ 15-yard line “All of their defensive backs seemed to be pressing up so when I caught the ball I was able to make a few moves and get down the sideline,” Briseno said “Our team is like a family and we were going to work hard to get to 10-0 and get another championship.” Holtville took advantage of a final possession of the half to rattle off a six-play 45-yard drive that took less than a minute and finished with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Cuevas to Armas with 26 seconds left to increase the lead to 28-6 The Hornets took the second-half kickoff and marched 57 yards in seven plays with Potter finishing the drive with his second four-yard touchdown run to pull Calipatria to 28-12 with 7:58 left in the third quarter Holtville was able to answer that with its own eight-play 61-yard scoring drive that finished with Armas’ second rushing touchdown He also ran in the two-point conversion to make it 36-12 with 4:35 left in the quarter Calipatria fumbled on its next possession with the Vikings’ Andres Fregoso falling on the loose ball at the Hornets’ 19-yard line One play later Holtville cashed in the turnover with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Cuevas to junior Bradyn Terrill for a 42-12 lead with 2:03 left in the quarter The only score of the fourth quarter was a 40-yard touchdown run from Potter Potter finished the game with nine carries for 65 yards and three touchdowns Leading the way for the Vikings was Armas who rushed for 103 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns Cuevas threw three touchdown passes and completed 9-of-15 passes for 169 yards Briseno was the leading receiver on the night with three catches for 86 yards and a touchdown Both teams will now wait and see where they are slotted for the playoffs Holtville was a top team in the CIF-SDS Division III bracket while Calipatria was the top seed in the Division V-AA playoff scenario CALIPATRIA — “Your journey has not been without its challenges Many of you have faced setbacks that seemed insurmountable,” said Calipatria Unified School District board President Diego Navarro to the Calipatria High School Class of 2024 Throughout an emotional commencement ceremony on Wednesday night speakers brought up themes of resilience and determination in the face of hardships it was reminded of its own empowerment through its struggles not just surviving but thriving,” added Navarro For a graduating class that began its high school career in COVID-19 lockdowns the positive and optimistic energy at graduation was palpable One student in particular exemplified the distinction between surviving and thriving throughout her high school career Niland resident and graduate Abigail Marroquin overcame so much in her four years at Calipatria High including the 2020 fire and the 2023 flood Through circumstances that left many families homeless and others with irreparable damage to their homes 18-year-old Marroquin made a point to keep attending school and to keep her grades up come to school every day and make sure that that wasn’t in my mind at the time,” she said Family and community support was a major factor in the success of this year’s graduates Calipatria High Principal Francisco Diaz applauded parents and family members “Your unwavering support and encouragement have been the foundation upon which these graduates have built their success their greatest advocates and their constant source of strength.” As the youngest of seven children from a single-parent home she attributes her success and resilience entirely to the support of her family “My family has been there throughout the whole journey of my life This small graduating class even feels like a family Its closeness and care for each other became most evident as teacher Eduardo Vega took to the podium and their families in a moment of silence for departed student Sherlyn Salcido who tragically passed away from a cardiac incident in her freshman year as a member of the class of 2024.  “As we gather here today to celebrate the incredible achievements of this graduating class we’re also reminded of the fragility of life and the profound impact one individual can have on those around them It’s with a heavy heart that we acknowledge the absence of a dear friend and former classmate who was tragically taken from us far too soon Sherlyn Salcido was more than just a student kindness and passion touched the lives of those who had the privilege of knowing her.” Among the sea of decorated caps and flowers a golden letter S stood in memorial for Salcido wreathed in sunflowers and adorned with graduation tassels The class of 2024 always kept Salcido close to their hearts her memory was incorporated into the many class activities we participated in here at CHS we have always creatively celebrated her memory.” their determination to keep attending school and work hard and their commitment to positively affect others that the Calipatria High graduates find their hope and optimism for the future Principal Diaz quoted Cesar Chavez in an exhortation for these graduates reminding them that “we cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community … Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others These words remind us that true success is not just about personal achievement but also about making a positive impact on the world around us.” of putting the needs of others above their own motivates Marroquin as she moves on to Imperial Valley College this fall to pursue a major in business “I do want better for my family and for my mother So I think that’s what motivates me,” Marroquin said with a smile I want to be able to take them out of this place I want better for them — and for myself of course.” Class valedictorian Adrian Garcia reminded graduates that they will always face difficulties on the road ahead but gave wise advice for the journey forward There will be challenges before us that will make us wanna give up It is at these times that we must power through and become determined to overcome these hardships I ask you to remember the following words and adopt them into your life: Never take one single breath for granted never fear those mountains in the distance The future is bright for Marroquin and her fellow graduates and we can all learn something from the wisdom of these Hornets who have already powered through so much strife in their young lives Marroquin imparted a final word to future graduates “To all those kids who are probably having problems right now when California lawmakers approved a new tax on lithium — a key component in electric cars and other battery technology — residents across Imperial County were thrilled the tax was a straightforward promise: If companies were able to successfully extract the valuable mineral somewhere within the state’s borders nearby towns and cities would also get a share of the profits where cautious excitement over vast lithium deposits under the Salton Sea had been bubbling for several years that meant poorer communities like Niland and Calipatria might finally see more funding to repair aging roads But two years into the rollout of that tax those hopes have also become tinged with worry the Imperial County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a controversial plan for splitting up those funds The five supervisors laid claim to 60% of the revenue and announced plans to divide most of the remaining dollars between cities based largely on population size instead of how close they’ll be to the planned extraction sites Despite dozens of requests to slow the approval process and reconsider their decision supervisors voted to move that spending plan forward They argued the county needed to move swiftly but pledged to revisit discussions in the future As energy companies continue their race to get lithium operations off the ground that decision has left many residents frustrated and worried that frontline communities may see little of the money they were promised "We're deeply concerned about what's happening here." The lithium tax was a hard-fought victory for the Imperial Valley will go directly to the county where the lithium was produced But the tax had strong support among residents across the county community advocacy groups and regional elected officials Underpinning the support was the pledge that at least 30% of those funds should go to "directly and indirectly impacted" towns and cities — including northern towns like Calipatria In Calipatria, a city of 6,500 residents, local officials like Luellen hoped to use those future tax dollars to improve local schools and repair the city’s aging sewage system, a project that could cost at least $2 million Daniela Flores saw that countywide swell of support firsthand Flores is the founder of the Imperial Valley Equity and Justice Coalition a Calexico-based advocacy group that was conducting community surveys about the lithium industry “To see all those dreams and hopes of people listed in that survey really gave us confidence that it's something people wanted,” she said In late June 2022, the tax went to a final vote. Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) gave an impassioned defense, arguing that residents of the Imperial Valley had seen too many industries promise jobs and prosperity and fail to deliver "This is an opportunity to put people first over industry,” Garcia said that excitement was undercut by concern when the Imperial County Board of Supervisors released their plan for dividing up the funds State lawmakers had left it up to the five-member Board to decide how to split up the tax revenue. Their draft spending plan claimed 60% of the funds for the county government’s own uses which would include spending on the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office the county public health agency and land use planning The spending plan also reserved another 10% for a county-run fund called the "Lithium Community Benefits Program." That money could go to a wide range of projects funding tribal cultural preservation projects and creating new scholarships the plan would split up the remaining 30% between cities and towns across the valley based largely on population size Five northern cities counted as “directly affected” communities by the state would also receive small amounts of additional funding: Niland In total, the plan would see Brawley, located 10 miles south of Calipatria and one of the county’s wealthier cities receive the largest share by far — over $700,000 for every $6.4 million received by the county Calipatria would receive around $200,000 per $6.4 million received while Niland and Westmoreland would see less than $100,000 The town of Bombay Beach would receive just $8,500 Northend advocates slammed the plan for focusing primarily on population instead of proximity to the proposed lithium extraction sites "We have a smaller population but the greatest need,” said William Cooper an organizer with the Calipatria-based Becoming Project "That compounds the problem that we have had with inequity for the last 50 years.” Calipatria Mayor Sylvia Chavez pointed out that some Northend communities have been shrinking in recent years in part because of the infrastructure issues they hoped to address with the lithium tax funds she worried that could mean they might receive less funds in the future "I cannot support the excise funding plan that they proposed,” Chavez said "The plan does not support the Northend community directly impacted by these projects.” the Board of Supervisor gathered at the county administration building in El Centro to vote on the spending plan Dozens of people urged the supervisors to reconsider the allocations for Northend communities A number of speakers pointed out that companies aren’t likely to start extracting lithium for several years and questioned why the Board needed to vote on the plan so early along with advocates from Planned Parenthood "We are begging for you to postpone this,” said Imaris Nuyen a resident along the western shore of the Salton Sea Several also argued that the county should be setting aside more funding for two of the Valley’s tribes: the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe and the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians the Quechan Tribe would receive around $16,000 for every $6.4 million received by the county The Torres Martinez Tribe would get close to $18,000 Several large farmers and the Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego voiced their support for supervisors’ spending plan "We have faith in our county leaders," said Paula Pangle the first Vice President of the Imperial County Farm Bureau "We thank you very much for your leadership." Supervisor Michael Kelley insisted that the county’s share of the funds would make its way back to Northend communities in the form of county services like law enforcement and medical services He promised that the plan would remain a "living document" and that the Board would be open to revising it in the coming years who has been closely involved in conversations around lithium argued that the Imperial Valley was in a close race against other parts of the country to become the United States’ main domestic supplier He said putting their plans for the tax in print was necessary to getting more support from the state and the Biden administration whose district includes the north end of the county Although the Board is moving forward with their spending plan it will likely be years before any of the expected tax revenue arrives Energy companies are still developing the systems needed to filter out dissolved lithium from hot brine in Imperial County and the technology behind that process is new and relatively untested Yet, there is still a sense of urgency among many in the Imperial Valley because projects in other parts of the country are moving forward. In July, one Utah company said it had become one of the first to begin filtering lithium at a commercial scale he said the Biden administration has backed a number of lithium projects this year including an open-pit mine in Nevada and battery manufacturing facilities in South Carolina "California has not been getting any of these awards," Kelley said "I don't have the answer of why that choice was made." The supervisor said he hopes to get local officials and community advocates working in unison with the regional government again to present more united support for the lithium industry Kelley also reiterated that he and other supervisors were committed to revisiting the details of the spending plan in three years Luellen said he plans to hold the Board to that promise The councilmember doesn’t buy the supervisor’s argument that the Imperial Valley is at risk of losing the benefits of the lithium industry And he remains intensely frustrated with the fact that the power to divide the lithium tax funds largely remains in their hands "Decisions that were made around lithium used to be with legislators alongside local leaders and community members," Luellen said it's between a few Board of Supervisors and lithium executives.” the environmental justice advocate who has been working on community outreach efforts around lithium agrees that they should continue to push for changes to the spending plan She’s also looking ahead to other ways that Imperial Valley residents might secure benefits Last year, her organization and another local environmental justice group, Comite Civico del Valle, succeeded in urging lawmakers in Sacramento to pass another law, SB 797 will create a state-appointed oversight committee to scrutinize the county’s distribution of the tax funds Flores also sees a community benefits agreement as another potential path That kind of contract could lay the groundwork for local hiring and workforce training commitments And until lithium extraction actually begins there is still time to change the spending plan "Some community leaders feel like it's done," she said a key mineral in modern battery technology Imperial County has high hopes of becoming an important hub for the shift to electric vehicles it's a challenge to get it charged within the county’s borders The environmental justice organization Comite Civico del Valle is working to change that The group has an ambitious plan to build 40 new charging stations across the county They unveiled their most recent station last week in Calipatria a small city at the north end of the county “It’s about environmental justice and providing equitable access to clean energy solutions,” said Luis Olmedo “We are committed to making sure that rural and underserved communities are not left behind in the transition to electric vehicles.” Calipatria Mayor Sylvia Chavez said the new charging station would add to the economic health of the city and thanked Olmedo and Comite Civico for their efforts “Your ongoing investment is a tremendous source of joy,” she said at a press conference last week The shift from gas vehicles to electric ones will be one of California’s most powerful tools for slowing climate change Cars and other forms of transportation produce around half of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions and the state has set a goal of getting 5 million electric cars on the road by 2030 California will need to add just over a million chargers to support those new electric vehicles over the next six years Energy Commision officials said that would mean adding 370 new chargers by 2030 Several state officials said Comite Civico is moving that goal closer to reality “This is meaningful,” said California Secretary of Environmental Protection Yana Garcia at Thursday’s press conference “This means that we can actually begin to address the charging desert that we're in.” Comite Civico began the project last year with some funding from the state Energy Commission The group said it also received philanthropic support from General Motors The Waverley Street Foundation and the United Auto Workers president of El Centro-based Five Star Electric said Comite Civico had also prioritized working with local electricians and union workers on the Calipatria station they went out of their way to make sure that this was done by local labor,” Rea said The charging stations could be part of a much larger transformation. Last year, researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy confirmed that large reserves of lithium — a key element in electric car batteries — are stored deep below the Salton Sea Some hope it could turn the region into a hub for the electric vehicle supply chain and bring a new wave of well-paying jobs with good benefits. California Energy Commissioner Patricia Monahan said Comite Civico’s approach could be a model for state regulators and lithium companies to follow. “We want Lithium Valley to be the same job creation opportunity as these chargers with money staying here in Imperial County,” she said. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. was knocked to the ground and beaten by three inmates in the prison yard at Calipatria State Prison in Imperial County on Thursday California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A convicted killer was brutally beaten to death by three other inmates inside a California prison California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in a press release on Friday The attack unfolded at around 1.23pm when officials allege that Tyler Lua knocking him to the ground and repeatedly striking him Officials allege that the two other inmates Jorge Negrete-Larios then began striking Martinez “as he lay motionless.” Staff reportedly broke up the altercation using pepper spray and a baton and performed life-saving measures on the 46-year-old He was rushed to the prison’s urgent care treatment area before being pronounced dead around an hour later A coroner will determine his official cause of death No other staff or prisoners were injured in the incident Prison officials said “two incarcerated-manufactured weapons” were discovered at the scene The three suspects have now been placed in “restricted housing pending an investigation,” the CDCR said Martinez had been held at the facility since 2014 after being sentenced to death for first-degree murder He was also sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for attempted first-degree murder with an enhancement for street gang activity and two years for street gang activity Martinez was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and street terrorism in the killing of Orange County businessman David Montemayor in 2002, according to The Orange County Register. During his trial jurors heard how Martinez and three other gang members were recruited by the victim’s sister to kidnap and kill him Martinez was moved to general population after California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a moratorium on executions in 2019 who had been behind bars at Calipatria State Prison since 2019 is serving a 19-year sentence for attempted second-degree murder with an enhancement for use of a firearm He is also serving a two-year sentence for possession of a controlled substance while in prison four-month sentence for attempted second-degree murder with enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury and street gang activity in commission of a violent felony The third suspect – Beltran – is serving life without parole for first-degree murder with enhancements for intentional discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury/death; as well as possessing/owning a firearm as a felon Martinez’s death comes four years after another inmate died at the prison after being allegedly attacked by fellow inmates. Joseph Martinez, 21 – who was serving 24 years to life for attempted first-degree murder – was fatally stabbed in the chest and back in February 2020. Calipatria State Prison is home to at least 2,638 minimum and maximum security prisoners, according to California prison authorities. Alberto Martinez, 46 (pictured in mugshot), was behind bars in Calipatria State Prison for first-degree murder govt and politics"},{"score":0.634503,"label":"/society/crime/personal offense/torture"},{"score":0.627049,"label":"/law KECY) - Two men were sentenced to life in prison following a murder in the Calipatria State Prison according to the Imperial County District Attorney's Office Byran Cook and Charles Demar were sentenced for the murder of Aaron Tyler Glynn The DA's Office says Demar is currently serving a life sentence while Cook was scheduled for parole in December of this year Both will be eligible for parole consideration after 20 years Jailene Aguilera joined KYMA in April 2023 She is the anchor/producer for CBS at 6 and 10 pm contact Jailene at jailene.aguilera@kecytv.com SACRAMENTO — The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is placing Level IV high-security sections within its facilities on modified program in response to a surge in violence against staff and incarcerated persons the following institutions will be affected: Calipatria State Prison California State Prison-Los Angeles County Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and Salinas Valley State Prison and modified program will remain in place until the assessment is complete It is important to note this modified program is distinct from a lockdown and applies exclusively to Level IV housing units Those affected by this measure will retain access to essential services such as medical care Meals will be delivered directly to housing units and showers and all other movement will be conducted in a controlled manner ViaPath tablet calls and visiting will be temporarily restricted CDCR remains committed to maintaining the safety and security of its facilities while ensuring the well-being of staff and individuals in its care Calipatria Hornets Advance to D-5AA Title Game EL CENTRO — Central Union High got two touchdown passes from junior quarterback Luis Jimenez and defeated Patrick Henry High of San Diego in a CIF-San Diego Section Division III quarterfinal matchup at Cal Jones Field in El Centro on Friday The top-seeded Spartans (8-3 overall) now move on to the D-III semifinals where they will host fourth-seeded San Pasqual High of Escondido at 7 p.m San Pasqual defeated fifth-seeded Eastlake High of Chula Vista Central opened the scoring on Friday with a three-yard touchdown run from senior Nico Viesca Sophomore Malachi Rodriguez kicked the extra point and the Spartans were up 7-0 with 3:41 left in the opening quarter Patrick Henry (7-5 overall) got a 12-yard touchdown run from senior Cody Cappelletti with 4:54 left in the second quarter Jimenez was able to hit junior receiver Joshua Garcia for an 18-yard touchdown pass The Rodriguez extra-point made it 14-6 at halftime Jimenez connected with junior Emiliano Morales for a 28-yard touchdown pass leaving the score 20-6 with 1:25 left in the period The Patriots got an eight-yard touchdown run from senior quarterback Eli Ruiz with 1:38 left in the game to make the final third-seeded San Diego High will host seventh-seeded St CALIPATRIA — The Calipatria High football team is headed to the CIF-San Diego Section Division V-AA championship game after a 20-8 semifinal victory over Maranatha Christian High at Veterans Field here on Friday The Hornets (8-2 overall) entered the game as the top seed in the division while the Eagles (8-4 overall) were the fourth-seed and came into the game off a 45-6 victory over fifth-seeded Victory Christian Academy of Chula Vista in the quarterfinals Calipatria High senior Oscar Lopez had an interception and a fumble recovery to lead the Hornets’ defense while they got touchdowns from senior Dominic Hawk early in the second quarter and senior Jordan Potter later in the quarter for a 14-0 lead Calipatria’s defense was pitching a shutout until midway in the fourth quarter when the Eagles got on the scoreboard with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Jake Locker to Hudson Heinrichs The two-point conversion made it 20-8 with 8:31 left in the game Maranatha would get the ball back one last time but a late interception from Hawk closed any chance the Eagles had The Division V-AA championship game is scheduled for 7 p.m The Hornets will be taking on third-seeded Coastal Academy (10-2) of Oceanside in the title game Coastal Academy upset second-seeded Tri-City Christian of Vista