STORIES FROM THE PAST
50 years ago
An estimated 100,000 lives could be saved each year from cancer education alone.
This amazing prediction was made yesterday by Mrs. Neva Burton, executive director of the Imperial County branch of the American Cancer Society, as members of the board of directors previewed the traveling scientific exhibit which will be open at the California Midwinter Fair.
“Cancer Can Be Cured; Find Out How” is the title of the educational exhibit. This is the first time it has been brought to Imperial County.
The red-and-white trailer will be manned by volunteers from the county ACS branch and will have a registered nurse on hand at all times to answer questions.
40 years ago
Baja California state police officials are indicating today they will extradite a farm laborer wanted in Imperial County in connection with the murder of a Heber labor camp tenant late Saturday.
Baja police have been holding Ascension Vega Lopez, alias Jose Vega, 36, since an all-points bulletin was issued for the man in connection with the shooting death of Faustino Armenta Rios, 26, of Watsonville, Saturday at the Martinez Labor Camp.
Rios was seriously wounded when he was hit by several bullets fired from a 22-caliber pistol during an argument which broke out shortly after 6 p.m.
He was rushed to El Centro Community Hospital where he died at 8:08 p.m. in the emergency room, Dep. Coroner Donald Cole said today.
Sheriff’s deputy John J. Pierce, who arrived at the camp minutes after the shooting, initiated the all-points bulletin.
Believed traveling toward the Mexico border, the suspect’s description was forwarded to Mexicali officials who later announced they had the suspect in custody.
30 years ago
HOLTVILLE — The Calipatria Hornets overcame a six-point Holtville lead in the fourth quarter to defeat the Vikings and claim the Desert League basketball championship on a wild night here.
Robert Romero scored the last points of the night with 1:38 to go, lifting Calipatria to a 6766 advantage with two free throws. From there on, everybody scrambled, but no one scored.
The Holtville gym was packed, the band blared and two high school basketball teams played their guts out for a league title.
Calipatria is now 7-1 in Desert League play and has a make-up game with Imperial remaining. Holtville finishes 6-3 in league play.
After Romero gave Calipatria its final lead, Holtville clearly planned to run out the clock looking for the last shot. They nearly turned the ball over on three occasions. In that last minute each team went to the free throw line in one-andone situations and came up empty.
20 years ago
The proposed water transfer with San Diego could provide Imperial County “the best of both worlds” by maintaining local farming levels while providing funds to pay for water conservation, a water resources economist said Thursday.
Those funds would provide after-tax profits for participating landowners from year one and create up to 900 jobs in Imperial County, said economist James Merchant.