Around the Valley: July 17 – San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Vector control no longer handling bee calls
WEST COVINA - A San Gabriel Valley agency responsible for the control of insects and other pests is no longer handling the removal of bee hives and swarms on residential property.
Kelly Middleton, spokeswoman for San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control, said the agency has been forced to drop its bee control services due to the agency's focus on West Nile Virus.
As the weather warms up, bees tend to swarm more often, leading to a large number of phone calls to vector control, Middleton said.
Residents are instead being urged to call a private pest control or bee removal service if they encounter a bee hive or swarm at their home. Swarms generally remain docile if left alone. Residents should not attempt to remove the bees themselves.
A list of recommended pest control companies can be found at www.pcoc.org. Those who wish for the bees to be rescued rather than exterminated can call Backwards Beekeepers at 213-373-1104.
For bees found in other areas, call the following:
Apartment buildings: Call the property owner or the Los Angeles County Department of Agriculture at 626-575-5466.
Neighbor's property: If the property owner does not take care of the bee problem themselves, call the Los Angeles County Department of Agriculture at 626-575-5466.
Public parks: Call the appropriate city or county department of
public works.Utility box or pole: Call the local utility provider or the appropriate public works department.
Schools or hospitals: The vector control district will continue to handle bee control for these locations.
To report a bee-sting emergency, call 9-1-1.
Pro bicyclist from San Dimas fails drug tests
COLORADO - The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency says cyclist Joshua Webster is accepting a two-year suspension after he tested positive for multiple banned stimulants.
The 38-year-old Webster of San Dimas, tested positive in samples taken June 12 at the Tulsa Tough competition in Tulsa, Okla.
His ban began July 12, the day he accepted a provisional suspension. He is disqualified from all competitive results obtained on the day his sample was taken and those after that date. Webster also forfeits medals, points, and prizes he received during that span.
Police management contract to go before council
AZUSA- Council members will vote on an agreement between the city and the Azusa Police Management Association on Monday.
The five-year agreement - retroactive to August 2010 - seeks various concessions from the 15-member association that includes sergeants, lieutenant and captain.
Included is a proposal that new employees will pay 3 percent of their CalPERS pension contribution, according to city staff reports. The city had previously paid the full amount. It also would reduce the employees' flexible benefit plan, cap sick leave payouts and accumulated time, and eliminate tuition reimbursement for captain and lieutenant, according to the reports.
At the same time, the proposal would lock in various raises for employees, including a 5 percent raise for sergeants and a 2.7 percent increase for lieutenant and captain that is retroactive to August 2010, according to city staff reports
The council meeting is at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the council chambers, 213 E. Foothill Blvd.
To submit information for briefs, email news.tribune@sgvn.com
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