Imperial Valley Press Quick News

County supervisors approve cost sharing plan to cover reverse 911 system

County superivsors unanimously voted today to approve a cost sharing agreement with Imperial Valley cities to continue operating a reverse 911 telephone system at annual rate of $30,000.

The Telephone Emergency Notification System was put into place when communities would need to be warned about any impending danger during any type of emergency or natural disaster. The system was funded for two years since the Homeland Security's Grant Program awarded the TENS grant to Imperial County during the 2007/2008 fiscal year.

The grant covered the expense of the initial system but an agreement, or Memorandum of Understanding, was set with the cities of Brawley, Calexico, Calipatria, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial and Westmorland to enter into a cost sharing program in January.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

 

Memorial to be held today for woman shot in El Centro

Friends of Amber Bryant will be gathering at Brunswick Zone after 3 p.m. today to memorialize her and take donations for her services and for her son.

Bryant was fatally shot this morning by the father of her pre-teen child before he turned the gun on himself. The incident stemmed from a domestic dispute. Bryant was a well-liked 6th grade teacher at Sunflower Elementary.

For more information, contact Yulil Alonzo-Garza at (760) 791-9125.

-Brooke Ruth, digital media news editor

Shooter turned gun on himself after killing woman, El Centro police say

An Imperial man killed himself today after killing the mother of his pre-teen child at an El Centro intersection, a press statement from the El Centro Police Department read.

The victim, identified as 38-year-old Amber Bryant, was shot to death inside her vehicle after Nathan Veliquette approached the passenger side of the car and fired, said El Centro Police Cmdr. Jeff Mason.

The couple's child was inside Bryant's car and apparently saw the whole incident. The child whose age and gender Mason would not confirm is in the care of grandparents, he said.

Bryant was a well-liked and longtime sixth-grade teacher at Sunflower Elementary School, said Bob Pletka, superintendent at El Centro Elementary School District. Bryant spent her entire 14-year teaching career at Sunflower Elementary, Pletka said.

Veliquette, according to witnesses, walked back to his truck to reload his gun after he tried killing himself when the gun misfired, Mason said. Veliquette returned to the side of Bryant's car and fatally shot himself. Police believe the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute that is being investigated.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

One person killed in shooting was schoolteacher, sources say

Joselito Villero Photo.

One of the people in the fatal shooting that erupted today at the intersection of La Brucherie Road and Cruickshank Avenue was a teacher at Sunflower Elementary School in El Centro, sources familiar with the incident said.

The victim's name was not released pending notification of relatives. Police suspect that the shooting witnesses called about shortly before 7 a.m. stemmed from a domestic dispute involving the victim and the shooter in separate vehicles.

Both vehicles, one of which was a City of Holtville owned utility truck, were apparently heading south on La Brucherie Road. A 10-year-old child who police believe saw the whole incident was inside one of the vehicles. It was not known whether the child was harmed.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Two dead after shooting in El Centro UPDATED

Two people were reported to be dead after a shooting took place before 7 a.m. this morning.

El Centro police believe the shooting stemmed from a domestic violence dispute.

The shooting took place on Cruickshank Drive and La Brucherie Road in El Centro and involved two vehicles. One of the vehicles belongs to the City of Holtville.

A 10-year-old child in one of the vehicles witnessed the shooting.

No other information is currently available.

Check Quick News for updates throughout the day.

-Silvio Panta, staff writer

 

 

IID officials to talk with Border Patrol over electrocution incident

WINTERHAVEN --- Imperial Irrigation District officials intend to speak with representatives of the U.S. Border Patrol over concerns tied to the weekend pursuit of a suspected border crosser who suffered severe burns when he entered an IID substation.

The unidentified man was flown out to a San Diego area hospital Saturday following the 1:20 a.m. incident that occurred at the Pilot Knob substation, said IID spokesman Kevin Kelley in a statement. The man and another suspected undocumented immigrant were being chased by Border Patrol agents when the men scaled over the substation's fence, Kelley said.

One of the men "came into contact with a transformer" and was electrocuted, Kelley said. The man's condition was not immediately known today. Of concern to IID officials investigating the incident was that the Border Patrol agents continued their pursuit of the suspects by climbing over the fence of the substation at the direction of a supervisor, "which is an unsafe practice the district does not want to see repeated," Kelley said in his statement.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Cocaine and methamphetamine seized in two incidents at Highway 86 checkpoint

SALTON CITY --- Drugs were seized by U.S. Border Patrol agents in two separate incidents Thursday at the Highway 86 checkpoint, a press statement read.

About $140,000 worth of methamphetamine was found hidden within the battery of a pickup truck in the secondary area of inspection.

During a second inspection later in the day cocaine that carried an estimated value of $1.13 million was found hidden within the rocker panels of a sedan that approached the checkpoint, the statement reported. Both drivers in the two separate incidents, along with the drugs and vehicles, were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer 

El Centro Vons roof collapses

A portion of the Imperial Avenue Vons grocery store roof collapsed earlier today.

It was not known what caused the collapse over the bakery and liquor sections of the store. Calls to store officials were not returned immediately, and the manager could not give a statement.

The aisles were clear as of 2:30 p.m. Friday with staff working to mop up water.

For more information read Saturday's edition online or in print.

-- Elizabeth Varin, staff writer

$1.7 million grant approved for Seeley water district

Congressman Bob Filner, D-Chula Vista, announced Thursday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved a grant of $1.7 million for the Seeley County Water District.

The funds come from the Rural Development division of the Department of Agriculture and will be used to replace the deteriorated water distribution valves and hydrants.

Rural Development financial programs support essential public facilities and services such as water and sewer systems, housing, health clinics, emergency service facilities and electric and telephone service.

For more information read Saturday's edition online or in print.

--Elizabeth Varin, staff writer

Suspect arrested in death of Yuma man in Winterhaven

WINTERHAVEN --- Authorities yesterday have arrested a 26-year-old Yuma man in connection with the multiple shooting death of a man whose body was found in Winterhaven, an Imperial County Sheriff's press statement reported today.

The suspect, Gerardo Montes, is one of two people held for the killing of Adrian Chee, a Yuma resident who was found dead Aug. 29 at San Pascual School Road and Ironwood Avenue. The second suspect, Ernesto Valera, who is in custody at Arizona State Prison on an unrelated parole violation, was tied to Chee's slaying, said Imperial County Sheriff's Sgt. Manuel De Leon.

Montes was arrested on a $1 million warrant Thursday at about 2 p.m. at his home in the 100 block of North 10th Street in Yuma by members of an Arizona Department of Public Safety police team. Montes, who is in custody at the Yuma County Jail, is awaiting extradition proceedings to face charges in Imperial County for Chee's death, De Leon said.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer