Community Photos

See the Imperial Valley through readers’ eyes.

50 years ago

Top O’ The Plaza, the show-place restaurant of El Centro, closed for business yesterday after action was taken to collect a bill from the management.

The restaurant, on top of the Security First National Bank building in the Valley Plaza Shopping Center, did not open for business yesterday after a sheriff’s deputy arrived with orders to take in any money going into the cash register.

He was acting under an attachment obtained by the Los Angeles firm of Baron and Chestney, Inc., to gather $2,160.12 allegedly owed by the dining place.

The attachment named Dr. Sidney M. Tepper as owner of the restaurant. It also attached Dr. Tepper’s checking and savings accounts.

This morning the El Centro gynecologist said that the closing was “temporary.”

40 years ago

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday agreed to oppose abandonment of the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railroad line between the Valley and the coast because it “can only have a detrimental impact upon the economy of Imperial County.”

The supervisors agreed to file the statement submitted by Public Works Director David Pierson with the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Pierson said the statement was compiled by an ad hoc committee of county staff, city representatives and local shippers.

The statement contends abandonment of the track that was severely damaged during tropical storm Kathleen would “deal a severe setback to local community efforts to attract increased industrial development.”

30 years ago

As the 1987 football season approaches, Cal Jones and his Central Spartans have a big legacy to live up to. In 1986, the Spartans went unbeaten in the regular season and didn’t lose until the semi-final round of the Southern Section playoffs.

Many of the same players return this season, enough so that the CIF pre-season poll lists Central third in the Southeastern Conference.

But most of the returning players Central has are offensive players. There will be some inexperience on the defensive side of the ball.

“I think we have some strength,” Jones said. “... we also have some glaring weaknesses.”

He said the strength is the offensive backfield — all four starters from last year return with Gerald Robinson at tailback, Mickey McShan at fullback, Gene Martin at flanker and Ronnie Castillo at quarterback.