STORIES FROM THE PAST

50 years ago

An apparent weekend attempt at arson in the old Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints building failed, according to the El Centro Fire Department.

The building is located at Sixth Street and Desert Gardens Drive and is now used as a classroom for the El Centro Police Training Academy.

Police Chief Paul Wheeler discovered the burned curtains yesterday.

According to Fire Marshal Russ Sherwood, Wheeler also found a number of matches and children’s footprints on the scene.

30 years ago

The Central Spartans kept their slim CIF playoff hopes alive Friday with a 4-0 defeat of the Calexico Bulldogs in El Centro.

Sally Fields scattered six Calexico hits, walked three and struck out two while going 3-3 at the plate to pace the Spartans.

The victory ups Central’s Desert Valleys League record to 3-5. Calexico, who defeated the Spartans in Calexico in their first league meeting this year, dropped to 4-4 in league play.

Indio locked up the league title with its 3-2 victory in eight innings over the Brawley Wildcats Friday. Calexico and Coachella Valley now sport 4-4 league records (Coachella defeated Palo Verde Friday) and Brawley (4-3) had its make-up game with Palo Verde this morning.

20 years ago

A vacant El Centro lot is rapidly turning into one of the hottest used-auto dealerships in the area.

The site on the northwest corner of Highway 86 and Bradshaw Road has all the perks a vehicle seller could want: it’s busy, highly visible and free. The question is whether it’s legal.

So far, the answer hasn’t been nearly as coveted as the cars and trucks offered for sale. But that will change this weekend with the start of a joint effort by El Centro police and the city Chamber of Commerce to stop the operation of unlicensed business activity.

Chamber members trained by police will be hitting the streets looking for violators and the Highway 86 lot is on the hit list, promised chamber Executive Vice President Cathy Kennerson.