La Canada History: Motorist died on Angeles Crest Highway

Ten Years Ago

One motorist died and two people were injured after a head-on collision on rain-slicked Angeles Crest Highway, a few miles north of the city, took place on Feb. 20, 2004. Jared Christopher Miller, 23, of Keizer, Ore., suffered fatal injuries when the 1993 Mitsubishi Expo he was driving collided with a U.S. Forest Service Dodge truck that investigators said had crossed the center line. Rescuers used the Jaws of Life to extricate Miller and his passenger, 19-year-old Jenna Olson, of Portland, Ore., from their vehicle. The driver of the Forest Service truck, Dale Bernhard, 69, suffered only minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

Twenty Years Ago

Half of the exterior painting was finished at the La Cañada Youth House (today known as the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge) after the facility’s board members held a painting party that drew volunteers from Sport Chalet’s Runners in Motion Club, local Boy Scout troops and others. A second session was contemplated for the following month so the entire compound could sport a fresh paint job.

Thirty Years Ago

The parent education program of the La Cañada Presbyterian Church staged “The Barnum and Baloney Side Show” by Minikin Puppet Productions, followed by a family picnic.

Forty Years Ago

Action by the student body at La Cañada High School was anticipated following news from Sacramento that legislation had been passed to allow student smoking areas at high schools, if the local school board approved. LCHS students had been pushing for an outside smoking area on campus. The intense campaign, directed by then-ASB President Vicki Meyer, included writing letters to state and county officials and contacting every school district in Southern California to support a new state smoking law.

Fifty Years Ago

William Godbey, who was planning to build 250 condominium-type apartments in the La Cañada Country Club area, ran into opposition at a specially called meeting of the local chamber of commerce. His plans were rejected by the chamber, which went on record as opposing his zone exception request to the county, and by all of the 37 residents who showed up at the meeting.

Sixty Years Ago

Van de Kamp Bakeries at 856 Foothill Blvd. advertised a two-layer chocolate pecan cake for 89 cents. Couldn’t eat an entire cake? The bakery was willing to sell a half-portion for 45 cents.

-- Compiled from the Valley Sun archives by Carol Cormaci.