VALLEY BRIEFS
County promotes new state Homekey Program
Imperial County held a webinar on Wednesday to inform local municipalities and other stakeholders about potential state funding available that can assist them in addressing homelessness issues in their respective communities.
The California Department of Housing and Community Development has made available $600 million in grant funding for the new Homekey Program. It is a statewide effort to rapidly sustain and expand housing for persons experiencing homelessness and impacted by COVID-19.
During Wednesday’s webinar, representatives from the County of Imperial, including the Department of Social Services, provided attendees with an update of the intent of HCD’s Notice of Funding Availability along with the grant application timelines, and invited them to participate in a webinar that HCD hosted Friday.
The county said the purpose of the Homekey Program is to provide grant funding to eligible applicants and facilitate a partnership with the state to quickly acquire or rehabilitate or master lease a variety of housing types. Once developed, these projects will provide interim or permanent housing options for persons experiencing homelessness and who are also at risk of COVID-19.
The county said Wednesday’s meeting was intended to encourage local entities to apply for this funding in an effort to collectively increase the community’s capacity to respond to homelessness, especially amid the current COVID-19 pandemic.
To receive information on the Homekey NOFA workshop and other updates, subscribe to the HCD’s Homelessness Prevention Programs listserv at http://www.hcd.ca.gov/ HCD_SSI/subscribe-form.html.
BRAWLEY
Rutherford Road closure announced
Rutherford Road, from Best Road to State Route 115, will be closed 24 hours both Tuesday and Wednesday, Imperial County Department of Public Works announced.
The reason cited for the closure was paving repairs. Drivers are asked to use an alternate route.
For more information, call (442) 265-1818.
-- Tom Bodus, tbodus@ivpressonline.com
CALEXICO
135 pounds of meth seized during vehicle stop
El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents arrested a man suspected of smuggling methamphetamine Thursday afternoon on Interstate 8, a Customs and Border Protection news release stated.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:50 p.m., when a Border Patrol agent and his K-9 partner conducted a vehicle stop on a man driving a brown 2003 Toyota Tundra.
The agent proceeded to conduct an immigration interview and, during the course of the interview, he conducted a canine sniff of the exterior of the vehicle, which yielded a positive alert, CBP said.
Subsequently, the agent searched the vehicle and reportedly found two large gift-wrapped presents and a large plastic tote. The presents and tote contained a total of 119 cellophane-wrapped packages.
The man, the packages and the vehicle were all transported to the Calexico Border Patrol Station for further processing.
At the station, the packages were tested with a narcotics test kit, which reportedly yielded a positive result for the characteristics of meth.
The total weight of the meth was approximately 135 pounds, with an estimated value of $303,750.
The man is a 34-year-old legal permanent resident originally from Mexico. He, the drugs and the vehicle were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration, CBP said.
SALTON CITY
Alleged meth smuggler arrested at checkpoint
El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents seized methamphetamine Thursday morning at the Highway 86 checkpoint, a Customs and Border Protection news release stated.
The incident occurred approximately 10:15 a.m., when a commercial passenger bus approached the checkpoint. Agents referred the bus to secondary for further inspection of the passengers.
During an immigration inspection, one passenger reportedly produced a state of Nevada birth certificate but did not have a photo identification card to confirm his identity.
Agents escorted the passenger and his property off the bus to verify his identity.
During questioning, agents were given consent to inspect the passenger’s backpack, CBP said.
A K-9 team alerted to the backpack. A search of the bag revealed two packages wrapped in tape that were hidden inside of the liner of the backpack.
The white crystalline substance inside the packages reportedly tested positive for the characteristics of meth. The total weight of the methamphetamine was 3.14 pounds, with an estimated street value of $7,065.
The suspect was a 41-year-old U.S. citizen. He and the drugs were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
NILAND
Border Patrol agents find heroin inside engine
El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents at the Highway 111 immigration checkpoint arrested a man suspected of smuggling narcotics on Friday morning, a Customs and Border Protection news release stated.
The incident occurred approximately 10:45 a.m. when a 51-year-old man driving a white 1998 GMC Sierra pickup truck approached the checkpoint.
A K-9 detection team alerted to the vehicle’s engine area in the primary inspection lane. The driver was directed to the secondary inspection area for further investigation.
There, agents searched the engine compartment of the vehicle and discovered four packages hidden inside a container that was placed within a natural void.
The packages were tested with a narcotics test kit, which yielded a positive result for the characteristics of black tar heroin.
The total weight of the heroin was 2.25 kilograms, with an estimated value of $51,750.
The suspect is a legal permanent resident originally from Mexico, the narcotics and the vehicle were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
CALIPATRIA
Services still available for Niland Fire families
Individuals and families displaced by the June 28 fire in Niland are encouraged to attend a meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Wirt Auditorium, 601 W. Main St., which will provide updates about the ongoing recovery efforts.
Due to COVID-19, attendance will be restricted to two people from each of the 31 households that requested services from the Local Assistance Center that county officials established in the wake of the five-alarm fire.
Attendees will be required to wear face coverings, practice social distancing and have their temperatures taken prior to entering the meeting.
Officials on site will also have forms available for homeowners and renters to sign authorizing the county to remove debris from their respective properties.
Most impacted households have signed the requisite forms, although a few remain outstanding, a Calipatria-Niland Family Resource Center news release issued Friday stated.
Displaced individuals who may not have had the opportunity to request services from the LAC while it was operational are encouraged to call (442) 265-6060.
The CNFRC also has these consent forms available for families, the news release stated.
The CNFRC will remain open to assist families with basic needs and link them to partner agencies.
Newly identified Niland Fire families who lost their home on June 28 are requested to call the National American Red Cross at (855) 8917325 or come to the resource center, 501 W. Main St., Room 4, in Calipatria.
Other individuals who no longer qualify to receive American Red Cross Services and are homeless are being asked to call the Homeless Hotline: (442) 265-0211.
Comite Civico del Valle is available to further assist families with their individual needs. Call Miguel Hernandez at (442) 200-8438 or John Hernandez at (760) 427-9111.
Catholic Charities representatives will continue to be available at the CNFRC by appointment only. To set up an appointment, call Pedro Ramirez at (760) 234-0379.
The Imperial County Transportation Commission is available to provide transportation to receive these services. Transit bus passes are
available at CNFRC for Niland fire families only. For more information, call David Aguirre, ICTC program manager, at (760) 996-0953.
Womanhaven has Rapid Rehousing Services available. For more information, call Martha Caabay at (760) 337-4015 or email mcaabay@ womanhaven.org
Campesinos Unidos representatives are helping with housing vouchers as well, and can be reached at (760) 370-5100 ext. 5130 or ext. 5131.
Additionally, the County of Imperial will assist with extension of hotel vouchers. Those in need of an extension are being asked to call (442) 265-6060.
The Calipatria Unified School District – Niland Fire Fund continues to accept monetary donations. Those interested in making a donation can make a check payable to Calipatria Unified School District – Niland Fire Fund, 501 W. Main St., Calipatria, CA 92233 no later than July 31.
A Niland Fire Fund Committee has been established that will determine distribution and use of the funding to the Niland Fire families.
CNFRC is also seeking donation of an electric wheelchair to assist an elderly woman who lost hers in the fire. Contact (760) 348-2116.
—Vincent Osuna, vosuna@ivpressonline.com