El Centro

Sports Writer Heading into the Police Activities League's national boxing championship in Kansas City, Mo., last week, four fighters from the Imperial Valley were decisive underdogs. Beating the odds, no Valley fighter finished lower than fourth place in his division and one came away as national champion. Thirteen-year-old El Centro resident Juanito Soto won the 75-pound division, earning a spot at the 2004 Olympic boxing tryouts. Soto defeated Puerto Rico's Jose Guzman in a 10-2 decision in the national final.

Spaghetti meal to raise funds By IMPERIAL VALLEY PRESS STAFF The First United Methodist Church in El Centro will have a spaghetti dinner fundraiser event from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at the church, 312 S. 8th St. Cost is $7 per plate. Proceeds raised will benefit the church. — VICKY MAGANA vmagana@ivpressonline.com

COMMENT: I live on the 1000 block of Sandalwood Avenue in El Centro. There is a senior citizen living at 12th Street and Sandalwood with a beautiful tall pine tree in her front yard. Periodically, and last night again, hundreds of white birds landed in her tree. The bird poop is a huge mess, and it literally whitens the tree and the street. Send a photographer if you don?t believe me. I worry that it is a health hazard for our neighbor, and it could possibly kill the tree. The tree is becoming discolored with the defecation dilemma and I would assume it could kill the tree if it goes unchecked.

The American Cancer Society’s El Centro Relay for Life is Saturday and Sunday at Southwest High School in El Centro. Opening ceremonies are at 10 a.m. Saturday followed by the survivors’ lap. Luminaria ceremony starts at 9 p.m. Saturday. Closing/fight back ceremony is at 9 a.m. Sunday. — VICKY MAGANA vmagana@ivpressonline.com

The Calexico Recreation Department will have yoga from 8 p.m. to 8:50 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Calexico Seniors Hall, 707 Dool Ave. Fee is $25 per month. Call 760-768-2176. Calexico has Zumba classes The Calexico Recreation Department will have Zumba classes Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the community center, 707 Dool Ave. Classes are $25 per month. Call 760-768-2176 for more information. Car wash fundraiser A car wash fundraiser will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Sonic Drive-In in El Centro.

program scheduled By IMPERIAL VALLEY PRESS STAFF Imperial Valley College in partnership with the Small Business Development Center is proud to present to the community NxLevel Entrepreneurial Program for Start-Ups from noon to 3:30 p.m. starting Saturday to May 15 at the Small Business Development Center, 301 N. Imperial Ave. Suite B in El Centro. This free course is for people considering starting their own business with little or no previous experience. For reservations call 760-312-9800.

reducing stress seminars By IMPERIAL VALLEY PRESS STAFF Son-Shine Counseling Center will have two free seminars today at the center, 1073 Ross Ave., Suite C in El Centro. The first seminar will be on coping with grief from 10 a.m. to noon. The second seminar will be on reducing stress and developing healthy habits from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Both seminars will be in Spanish. For registration or information call 760-353-7667. — VICKY MAGANA vmagana@ivpressonline.

support group session By IMPERIAL VALLEY PRESS STAFF The Son-Shine Counseling Center is offering a free group session for people emotional affected by the earthquake, at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the center, 1073 Ross Ave., suite C (next to Bucklin Park) in El Centro. These support sessions are being offered in English and Spanish. If interested, call Norma Munoz at 760-353-7667, 760-482-8732, 760-353-SONS or Jim Shinn at 760-353-5059. — VICKY MAGANA vmagana@ivpressonline.

Thomas F. Zale has been selected as the new field manager for the Bureau of Land Management's El Centro field office. He had served as the acting field office manager since Jan. 7. Zale received a bachelor's degree in anthropology from the State University of New York at Brockport in 1977 and began his career with BLM in 1978 as an archeologist in Roswell, N.M., a press release stated. In 1990, he moved to El Centro to supervise the multi-resources staff and between 1999 and 2006 was the assistant field manager for resources, lands and minerals in Yuma.

A large haystack fire is burning near Interstate 8 and Dogwood Road north of the Imperial Valley Mall. The fire is burning a line of haystacks that stretches about 200 feet, said Imperial County Fire Capt. Luis Andrade. Fire officials from the county and El Centro are on scene to keep the fire from spreading. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

Bobtail Fuel Delivery Driver Local position requires commercial license. FT with benefits. Application available at: 691 East. Heil Ave. El Centro, CA 92243

Teachers at Ballington Academy for the Arts and Sciences are requesting additional compensation on account of an extended academic school year that they contend has added 14 work days not specified in their employee handbook. The charter school teachers, who are at-will employees and do not operate under a contract, cite language from their employee handbook that stated they are required to work a 186-day academic year. Construction work caused the El Centro school to start classes after its anticipated opening date and resulted in the extension of the school year.

NILAND - Imperial County sheriff's deputies responded to an individual alleging fraud via Craigslist and PayPal on Sunday, according to the sheriff's activity logs. The incident occurred at 8:45 a.m. Deputies responded and did not find any evidence of fraud, according to the logs. No further information was provided. Two prison visitors found with drugs CALIPATRIA - Two Long Beach residents were arrested Sunday after allegedly trying to bring drugs into Calipatria State Prison, according to a prison official.

HVAC/Refrigeration Technician Emphasis on commercial refrigeration service and installation with knowledge in residential and commercial A/C service. Prefer minimum 2 years experience good driving record and preemployment drug test required. Top wages and benefits for right person. Send Resume to: Imperial Valley Press 205 N. 8th St. Class Box 166 El Centro, CA 92243

HOLTVILLE - The Brawley Union High baseball team finished the Imperial Valley League in strong fashion, with six straight league wins, to clinch its fourth league title here Thursday. The Wildcats beat Holtville High, 13-1, to finish the league season 10-2 and 13-15 overall. “It's kind of dumb-founding right now,” Brawley head coach said Thursday night. “I don't know how to feel because we had to work so hard for it … it's something that in the back of our minds we told ourselves we needed to work one game at a time.” Brawley took home sole possession after Southwest High rallied to beat Imperial High, 3-2, in El Centro at the same time.

When will someone from the city of El Centro fix the left turn signal on Cruickshank Drive? If there (are) more than four cars, you can't make the turn in time. Then, even if there are no cars coming in either direction, you (sit) there for about 3 1/2 minutes. This is a waste of gas, just (sitting) there and not being able to turn left. - Waiting in El Centro While we're not sure which of the traffic signals on Cruickshank Drive the reader is writing about, the issue may be with the way this traffic signal is programmed, said a representative of the El Centro Public Works Department.

EL CENTRO - Two people were transported to a local hospital after sustaining minor injuries in a two-vehicle accident near Ocotillo Drive and Imperial Avenue on Wednesday afternoon. A small pickup and a sedan were involved in the collision, according to Capt. Brad Wilkinson, who noted the vehicles suffered moderate damages. And while both of the injured were riding in one of the vehicles, it was not disclosed in which vehicle the injured were riding. The incident occurred somewhere between 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., Wilkinson said.  Televisions and video games stolen Various electronics, including two televisions, were reported stolen Tuesday from a residence near the 700 block of Olive Avenue.

Licensed Bail Agent Needed Send Resume and copy of bail license to: Att personnel PO Box 3912 El Centro, CA 92244