STORIES FROM THE PAST
50 years ago
An automobile driven by a Brawley man skidded to a stop at the railroad crossing on Imperial Avenue in El Centro yesterday afternoon.
It came to a halt directly in the path of an oncoming Southern Pacific locomotive. The locomotive smashed into the car but no one was injured.
Daniel Garcia, 27, of Brawley, told El Centro police that he was approaching the railroad crossing at about 40 miles an hour when he suddenly heard the locomotive whistle. He said that he jammed the brakes on his car and that it came to a half in the middle of the track. The locomotive demolished the front right part of the automobile until Garcia was able to get his vehicle in reverse and pull back.
A number of witnesses reported that the flashing red light had been working. Garcia, however, told police that he did not notice it.
40 years ago
Temperatures dipped to record-breaking lows in Imperial County for the second straight day early this morning endangering lettuce crops and threatening higher produce prices for consumers.
The El Centro station reported a low of 23 with most of the other Valley stations reporting temperatures in the mid-20s.
Jim Christopherson of the National Weather Service said although there is a warming trend locally, above-freezing temperatures are not expected until Tuesday.
The recent cold front has wiped out the cantaloupe and summer squash harvest, according to county Agricultural Commissioner Claude Finnell. “However, this is not unusual. The crop harvests are nearly over and the loss is very minimal.”
Arizona lettuce growers, however, are forecasting higher prices at the supermarket due to the recent cold trend.
30 years ago
In what is becoming a familiar occurrence in the Imperial Valley, Central Union High School teachers are prepared to join four other local school districts by declaring an impasse in contract negotiations with the school district.
Ken Morris, a Central teacher and local representative for the California Teachers Association, said Friday the El Centro Secondary Teachers Association is prepared to file the necessary papers with the state by Monday.
District officials stressed that this decision was made by the teachers association, and that they would prefer to remain at the bargaining table.
In this case, impasse means a state mediator will be called in to arbitrate the negotiations because teachers do not believe they can reach an agreement without such outside help.
20 years ago
SAN DIEGO — A private investigator and a forensic science laboratory’s inquiry failed to pinpoint who, without authorization, made copies of attorney-client privileged correspondence between a San Diego County Water Authority attorney and its current chairwoman.
“The investigation has been concluded,” said Dennis Cushman, SDCWA director of public affairs. “The general counsel is not recommending any further investigation or any future action.”
The correspondence is dated from May to July 1995. In it, the San Diego attorney discusses his conversations with representatives of the Texas-based billionaire Bass brothers, who were doing business in Imperial Valley as Western Farms.