Archive for January 2009
Child Abduction Tonight in Riverside
From the press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Friday, January 9, 2009
Contact: Lieutenant Brian Baitx
Phone: (951) 826-5538
CHILD ABDUCTION
Riverside, CA — On Friday, January 09, 2009 at 7:56 AM Riverside Police Officers responded to a possible child abduction incident at Cole Avenue and Kinnow Lane. Witnesses saw two male Hispanic suspects grab Eduardo Rivera, Hispanic Juvenile, 7 years of age, from the corner where he was awaiting a school bus. The victim was placed in a waiting car and driven away by the suspects. Riverside Police located that vehicle abandoned nearby and learned that the victim and suspects transferred to a second vehicle. That vehicle was identified as a newer Cadillac Escalade with possible out of state license plates. Another witness saw the Escalade drive away on Cole Avenue towards Van Buren Boulevard.
Responding officers were unable to locate the victim or the Escalade. The original vehicle used in the abduction was recovered and taken as evidence to the Riverside Police Department for investigation. The victim, suspect and vehicle description have been broadcast to local law enforcement agencies.
The victim was last residing with a foster family in Riverside. The victim’s biological mother is currently in jail and investigators are attempting to locate other immediate family members. He is described as being 3’ 6” tall, weighs about 65 pounds and was wearing a dark sweatshirt and blue jeans. Photo is attached below.
The abduction suspects are identified as two male Hispanics, unknown age or further description other than one was wearing a dark sweatshirt and jeans. A third suspect was not seen but was the driver of the waiting Cadillac Escalade.
Detectives and patrol officers from the Riverside Police Department are investigating all leads in this case. Anyone with information on this incident should call Detective James Brandt at (951) 353-7137. If the victim is seen, please call the local law enforcement agency by dialing 9-1-1.
Victim:
Eduardo Rivera
Hispanic Male Juvenile
7 years old
3’6” tall
65 pounds
Brown Hair
Brown Eyes
Last wearing dark sweatshirt & blue jeans.__________________________________
The child was found Saturday, 1.10.
Riverside, CA — On Saturday, January 10, 2009, at approximately 0600 hrs, detectives from the Riverside Police Department, FBI, and the Inland Regional Apprehension Team (IRAT) located the abducted juvenile, Eduardo Rivera, at a residence in north Las Vegas, Nevada.
Detectives followed up on leads that led them to the residence. The unharmed juvenile was taken into protective custody by the FBI and detectives from the police department are currently in route to Nevada to return the juvenile to California. Several subjects at the residence are being questioned by the FBI. The investigation is on-going.
4.5 Earthquake Hits Inland Empire 1.8.08
A 4.5 earthquake was felt in the San Bernardino area approximately 7:50 pm, and was felt throughout the greater southern California area. A second earthquake or aftershock was felt approximately an hour later.
Humanity @ Riverside Municipal Auditiorium 1.19.09
I got a bulletin from DJ Aaron Blade, announcing Humanity, coming to the Municipal Auditiorium in two Sundays. Sunday night? Yeah, it works when the next day is a holiday. Here’s the flyer:
More to come.
links for 2009-01-06
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Orange County handed out layoff notices to 210 social service workers Monday, the first of a wave of cuts intended to trim more than $32 million from this year's budget.
An additional 100 vacant positions in the agency were also eliminated.
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Orange County has laid off 210 social service workers and eliminated 100 vacant positions.
Celebrate the Old Spaghetti Factory’s 40th!
I got an email today about great dinner prices tonight at the Old Spaghetti Factory, in celebration of their 40th Anniversary.
Great prices tonight (1-6-2009) for dinner……$2.35 to $3.45 for most pastas and kids eat for $1.95! Includes salad, bread and dessert. 40% off selected dinner items Mondays and Tuesdays this month starting on the 12th.
Yep, its true. Check out the Old Spaghetti Factory website for more information. Riverside’s restaurant is located at 3191 Mission Inn Ave. and is open until 10 pm.
Car Seat Clinic – Friday 1.9.09
Is your child buckled up correctly every time they ride?
Riverside, CA – Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children in the United States. In an effort to respond to this problem, the Riverside Police Department, in conjunction with Inland Empire Safe Kids will host a community child safety seat clinic on Friday, January 9, 2009.
Certified Child Restraint Technicians will be available to check child restraints for proper usage, proper fit for the child, and any product recalls. Parents will be provided with a one on one review of their child restraint and will assist with the installation of their children’s restraint(s) to insure that they will be able to secure the child properly every time they ride. Parents and caregivers are urged to call and make an appointment to avoid waiting in long lines.
When: Friday, January 9, 2009 — 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Where: Target, 3520 Tyler Street, Riverside
Don’t wait…Call for an appointment at (951) 353-7981 or e-mail our Traffic Education Coordinator, Nicolle Macarter at nmacarter@riversideca.gov
Funding for replacement child restraints for this event was provided by a grant from the California Kids’ Plate program and from Riverside County Injury Prevention Services.
Bye Bye Winter?
Sunday, when this photo was taken, the warm sun turned the ice into puddles as a few brave skaters took the final laps around the rink. After that, the ice skating rink – the closest the city got to a white Christmas besides spray on snow – was melted and packed away until next winter. I wore mittens and flip flops as I wandered around downtown – and wondered, did we just see the peak of our winter?
1.6 - 1.9
This week, local weather continues to be sunny and yep, the extended forecast promises the same.
Riverside County Board of Sups OK Furlough Program
It was announced this week publicly, that the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved a new policy which allows county employees to volunteer for unpaid leave, also known as a furlough.
Employees received the news on Christmas week, after much discussion and speculation over the past several months. The department I work for was vowing no layoffs and encouraging other methods of saving money and our jobs. We are turning our computers off at night, muddling through a hiring freeze and not printing in color. And now the furlough program.
It seems like most of my fellow employees that I have spoken with are trying to greet the idea of voluntary furlough with optimism. It seems as though there is going to be furlough – or unpaid leave – anyway, whether voluntary or unvoluntary, so we may as well try to work it to our advantage if possible.
Employees need to commit to a schedule change for a quarter to take advantage of the offering. I can’t just decide to take off for the afternoon and say that its furlough time. There’s a form to fill out (see pdf link below) which the employee submits to management and HR with the scheduled time off. The form also has to be submitted to change or cancel this schedule. For most employees, I would think, the schedule has to be discussed with management so that there is some coverage. For example, our service center can’t just go dark on Friday afternoons because everyone wants furlough. Personally, I’d like to come in late on Mondays or have Mondays off. That would give me a 4 day weekend every other week.
It doesn’t affect my benefits and its better than mandatory furlough or layoffs so I’m going to make the best of it and take off at least 4 hours every pay period. Anyone else have any thoughts on this?
Board of Supervisors Policy: C-31 Need to find a location to share a pdf.
Happy Sunday
Another gorgeous morning – sunny and windy and cool today. My goals for today are to clean house and get ready for the work week. A short week again — – my regular 9/80 Friday off is this week. My other goal – to drink 4 Heinekens and relax with J. At home because the Highway Patrol is still observing its “maximum enforcement period”, which raps up today.
Today is Riverside First Sunday, which means there is something going on downtown between 1 & 4 to participate with the fam. Today is also the last day of the Mission Inn 16th Annual Festival of Lights.
The Lowrider and Harley Cruise Bash is taking place at Josie’s Tacos today between 12 and 5. Josie’s is located at 9782 Magnolia, near Harrison. There should be a “Best Of” for Josie’s because the food is good, the prices are right and its one of those places everyone knows about. Its a tiny place, nothing fancy, but recommended.
Since we’re on the subject of tacos, the Taco Station has a 99 cent taco special on Monday nights, and 99 cent fish taco special on Tuesday nights. Its on my “To Do” list for sure.
Have a great Sunday and work week!
RiversideCALiving.com 