SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2013 VOLUME 7 NO. 38 LIZZIE’S TRAIL INN IS BACK MENTALLY ILL MAN By Marina Coco La Salle ARRESTED IN THREATS TO Located at the start of the famous Mount Wilson Trail lies Lizzie’s Trail Inn, a museum representing the history of the Sierra Madre mountains. This past Saturday, September 14th, Sierra Madre welcomed all to stop by and visit Lizzie’s Trail Inn for a tour of the museum and a presentation of their historical storyboards. Walking up to this quaint cottage, the ARCADIA AND MONROVIA sound of 1930 brass instruments welcomed curious guests. Right away a local Sierra Madre character named Bob Bolche took visitors on a tour stating, “We like to keep the history alive here.” He explained how the Inn was a place for travelers to eat, relax, and acquire necessities before they went on long trips. Coordinated Bolche exhibited the Lizzie’s Trail Inn efforts of storyboard flipping through, page by page. “These are the original photos 5 agencies that just show you what happened back in the 30’s. This was always a fun place lead to with slot machines and illegal booze. People always had a good time.” Each successful page had several photos, each with a in capturing specific story to tell. He told stories of the young ladies who ran the inn year suspect round. These ladies would hand roll their famous chicken raviolis daily for hungry travelers. The original menu is By Susan Henderson displayed and shows how much food cost “back in the day.” Next to the Inn, what is now known as a park, used to be the stable where travelers could rent Gerardo Cortez Facebook Photo mules and horses for their long travels. Bolche voiced guests surprise when With the united efforts of the Arcadia, News Release http://local.nixle.com/ noticing the travelers dressed so proper Monrovia, and Covina Police Depart- alert/5063996/ The school was put on by saying, “The women used to wear ments; the LA County Sheriffs De- lockdown and searched. long dresses and the men with their ties partment’s investigators from Temple and suits. I can’t even imagine going up Station, its’ Major Crimes Bureau, and Cortez has been previously diag- the LASD Joint Terrorism Task Force, nosed with a developmental disability and Federal Bureau of Investigation, according to court records. All five there like that! They had to be sweating like crazy! I don’t know how they did Monrovia resident Gerardo Cortez was of the threatening phone calls were it, but they did it.” Another story Bolche spoke of regarded the small house arrested Tuesday for calling in threats placed from a cellphone registered to next door called The Richardson House. to a hospital, a mall, and schools in a Cortez family member, according to Monrovia and Arcadia. The calls re- Lt. Nels Ortlund, with the Monrovia The Richardson House is the oldest house in Sierra Madre. A story of the sulted in lockdowns and searches of Police Department. The caller did not family producing and successfully concealing illegal alcohol stood out the the locations by law enforcement, “out identify himself, but made no effort to most. The COPS of the town were in cahoots with the operation and created a of an abundance of caution for public disguise his voice, Ortlund said. way to help warn the family. When word went out of suspicious investigators, safety, the schools, hospital, and mall the COPS would call the Inn’s kitchen phone twice, giving the ladies ample were searched in the cities of Arcadia, Cortez was also at the center of a se- time to give the men a heads up to cover up the moonshine still. Although Covina, Duarte, Glendora, Monrovia ries of threats that occurred in 2012. their foolproof operation worked flawlessly for some time, investigators and West Covina”, according to a joint (http://mtnviewsnews.com/v06/htm/ finally caught on and found the still. A photo of the discovery can be seen press release. n43/p04.htm). That case included in the storyboard at Lizzie’s Trail Inn. bomb threats to Washington Middle Inside this week: The 26-year old Cortez was booked School, Pasadena Public Health head- The Richardson House in not open at Monrovia Police Department for quarters, and the post office. In that SIERRA MADRE yet due to remodeling, which should five counts of felony Making Criminal instance, Cortez was captured by po- be done in a few weeks. Pictured Threats and five counts of False Report lice a short distance from one of the Calendar Page 2 on the right is Sierra Madre City of an Emergency. He appeared in facilities. He was still talking to police Sierra Madre News Page 3 Councilman John Capoccia helping court on September 19th and his bail on a cellphone at the time. with the restoration of Richardson was set at $300,000. His next court PASADENA/ALTADENA House. Photo courtesy M. Diaz. date is October 4, 2012. In June 21 of this year, Cortez was sen- tenced to 16 months in county jail as Fire Rips Through Pg. 4 The hosts bid guests farewell saying, Cortez allegedly called the police say- part of a plea bargain in which he ad- Historic Mall “Please come back and see us again!” Councilman and Painter John Capoccia ing that he had an AK-47 and threat- mitted to the Pasadena case. Because ened to shoot people at the following Cortez had been in custody since his AROUND SGV Pg. 5 locations: arrest, the combination of actual time Remembrances HOLDEN TO DELIVER “STATE OF THE already served and “good time/work Lee: I Phone XPLOITATION Covina: A call was made referencing time” credits meant that he was re- LWV Affordable Health Care Forum STATE” ADDRESS TO SIERRA MADRE “Citrus Medical Center:” (there is no leased almost immediately. The courts hospital by that exact name) On Mon- did consider in handing down its sen- ARCADIA NEWS Pg. 6 CITY COUNCIL day, Sept. 9, the threatening call was tencing that “He suffers mild mental Braille Challenge Winner made to the Covina Police Depart- retardation and has been a client of the Pasadena – Assemblymember Chris Holden will present his “State of the State” ment. Covina Police Dept. officers Regional Center for some time,” Judge MONROVIA/DUARTE address to the Sierra Madre City Council on Tuesday, September 24 at 6:30 pm. searched Intercommunity Hospital Elaine Lu said. Judge Lu was persuad- Assemblymember Holden, who represents the 41st Assembly District that in Covina. West Covina Police Dept. ed to impose a low term sentence, but Pg. 7 includes Sierra Madre, will present an update on the 2013 Legislative session officers searched Queen of the Valley did admonish Cortez. “Your criminal which ended last week. Included in the discussion will be a review of the state of the Valley Hospital and East San offenses seem to be escalating in na- EDUCATION & YOUTH budget, prison overcrowding, affordable healthcare, education, and his bills pro- Gabriel Valley Hospice in the City of ture. My hope is that they’re not going moting job growth. SM Middle School Pg. 8 West Covina. Glendora Police Dept. to spiral out of the control, OK? That Breaks Ground officers searched Foothill Presbyterian you’re going to work on the issues that FOOD & DRINK In his freshman term, Assemblymember Holden had eight bills sent to Gover- Hospital in the Glendora. you have,” Judge Lu told Cortez. nor Brown for signature. When signed, they will go into effect January 1, 2014. Wine Tasting At Von’s Pg. 9 TODAY! Monrovia: A call was made referenc- Lu’s words proved to be somewhat ing Sante Fe Middle School: On Mon- prophetic, as almost one year later, day, Sept. 9. the threatening call was Cortez is accused of engaging in the BEST FRIENDS Pg. 10 made to the Monrovia Police Depart- same kind of behavior. ment. The school was put on lock- HEALTHY LIVING down and searched. Anyone with information regarding Pg. 11 these incidents that may be of assis- Arcadia: Santa Anita Mall: Tues, tance to investigators please contact THE GOOD LIFE Pg. 12 Sept 10: Arcadia Police Department the Monrovia Police Department at News Release http://local.nixle.com/ 626-256-8041. Or if you wish to re- Savvy Senior alert/5063996/ main Anonymous, call “LA Crime Senior Happenings Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS This and That Duarte: Duarte High School: Tues, (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus Sept. 10: LASD Temple Sheriff’s Sta- your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using THE WORLD AROUND US tion News Release http://nixle.com/ the website http://lacrimestoppers.org Pg. 13 alert/5060862/ The school was put on lockdown and searched. Sources for this article include infor- BUSINESS Pg. 13 mation obtaind from various news Arcadia: Arcadia High School: Thurs, outlets and court records. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Sept 12: Arcadia Police Department Pg. 14 SPORTS Pg. 15 ANOTHER RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY - LEFT TURN/RIGHT Homeowner’s Alarm Thwarts Robbers TURN/OPINION A residential burglary occurred at 10:00 AM this morning (Friday) in the 200 block of south Baldwin Ave. This was the second burglary in two days. Pg. 16 On Thursday, burglars entered a N. Auburn residence and took jewels and LEGAL NOTICES Pg. 17 other valuables. The suspect(s) smashed the rear bedroom window and then used a trash can FYI Pg. 22 to step on to enter the window. Once inside the house the burglary alarm acti- vated and the suspect(s) fled the scene. There was no property loss.