Lancaster

Nov 15 2012

Sather honored in front of 250 Marines

LANCASTER, Calif.—Charles Sather, a community service officer assigned to the sheriff's Lancaster Station, learned Saturday that he received a promotion from the U.S. Marine Corps more than 40 years ago he hadn't been aware of, the department announced today.

Deputy Mike Ruiz, who works at the station, was picked to select a guest of honor for a formal ball honoring the United States Marine Corps on its 237th birthday.

Nov 9 2012

Police pursuit started in Saugus

LANCASTER, Calif.—A pursuit that began with an armed bank robbery in Saugus ended in a hail of gunfire today on a Lancaster cul-de-sac, where the suspect brought his SUV to a stop and was fatally shot by deputies after apparently opening fire on them.

Oct 29 2012

Anthony Wayne Smith

LANCASTER, Calif. — Former Raiders defensive end Anthony Wayne Smith pleaded not guilty today to murder charges stemming from four killings nearly a decade apart.

On Oct. 12, Lancaster Superior Court Judge Lisa Chung found sufficient evidence to require the 45-year-old ex-pro football player to proceed to trial in connection with the Nov. 10, 1999, slayings of Kevin and Ricky Nettles, the June 25, 2001, killing of Dennis Henderson and the Oct. 7, 2008, death of Maurilio Ponce.

Oct 5 2012

Bail set at $1.27 million

A 43-year-old Ohio man was behind bars and facing felony charges Thursday for allegedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old Lancaster girl he met via Facebook about six months ago.

Michael Scheetz of Westerville, Ohio, was charged with five felony counts in connection with the illicit relationship and jailed in lieu of $1.27 million bail, according to deputies and court records.

Oct 5 2012

Cellmate is prime suspect

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The coroner's office today said an inmate who died at the California State Prison in Lancaster was a homicide victim, according to the Los Angeles County coroner's office.

Ed Winter of the coroner's office said the autopsy confirmed that 63- year-old Steven Bogue was the victim of a homicide. He did not provide further details.

According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 40-year-old Damian Reguera was a suspect in the death of his former cellmate.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”