STORIES FROM THE PAST
50 years ago
A very important decision dealing with the Imperial Valley and the sportsmen of Southern California is due near the end of the month from the State Fish and Game Commission. This is about the allotment of money for the warm water fish hatchery north of Niland on the Wister Area.
The original plans called for a three-stage program that would eventually have a hatchery with a crop of channel catfish that would total more than 500,000, one-half pound fish. The FGC allotted $500,000 for the project and $200,000 went into the pilot hatchery now in operation. But the rest of the money was channeled into another project. At best, the chances for the hatchery are not good. It would be an asset to the Imperial Valley, but it may never get here. However, things are improving and could blow in our favor by the end of the month.
40 years ago
A spectacular fire, with 50-foot flames shooting into the air, demolished two Brawley apartment buildings that were under construction on La Flores Drive, across the street from the Outwest Inn.
Two city fire units responded to the blaze at 2:05 p.m. Friday and spent about an hour putting out the fire.
A few minutes after the fire was reported, the two buildings, which were to house four two-bedroom apartments each, became totally engulfed in huge flames. Co-owner Everett Nicholas estimated the damage at about $100,000.
The intense heat generated by the fire kept firemen at a distance until enough water had been sprayed to allow the men to get near the structures.
During the fire fighting, one building collapsed and city firemen had to jump back to avoid the falling debris. No one was hurt. Brawley Fire Chief A.K. Jones said the fire “was a fast one” since it engulfed both structures within moments of being discovered.
There was just the open-frame buildings, so the fire took off in a hurry. If there would have been drywall in place, we probably could have confined the fire to the upper-floor bathroom,” he explained.
30 years ago
The Central Spartans scored four runs in the sixth inning to beat the Cajon Cowboys 4-1 in the first round game of the Southern Section 3A baseball playoffs in El Centro, Friday.
Central trailed 1-0 after Cajon’s Kevin Sweet hit a fourth-inning homerun off starting pitcher David Rice. But Rice limited the Cowboys to two hits in his six innings of work, and Central reliever extraordinaire Craig Lyon didn’t give up any as Central shut the Cowboys down.
20 years ago
PALO VERDE — A Smoketree Valley resident is thought to have shot an Imperial County Sheriff’s Officer deputy and a civilian last night before escaping into the desert. Deputy Dan Garin and an employee of the American Tire Disposal Co. appear to be recovering today from what authorities think are wounds from a 22-caliber rifle.
Philip Lara, 73, of Smoketree Valley, was thought this morning to be on the loose in the desert after leaving his Smoketree Valley residence after shooting Garin and the other man. He is considered armed and dangerous. His wife, Theresa Leona Corsero, 73, was arrested for attempted murder after authorities removed her from her home, in which she had barricaded herself. Shortly before 7 p.m. Monday night Garin and two employees from the tire disposal company drove to the residence of the Laras. They may have been there to settle a dispute, said Sheriff’s Officer Chief Deputy of Investigations Jim Burns.