Latest News
A Jurupa Valley man has been charged with attempted murder after a January 23 shooting in Claremont injured three people, including the alleged gunman. The Claremont Police Department received multiple reports of gunfire in the 600 block of Colgate Place at 7:23 p.m. Thursday, January 23. Arriving officers found two male victims with critical gunshot wounds, as well as the alleged shooter, 33-year-old Erik Guevara of Jurupa Valley, and a handgun.
“Moving to Claremont from my childhood home in Modesto last summer was the start of a new life chapter. We swiftly settled into our new routines of work and academics … then a tug of longing arose. I reminisced about volunteering back home. One October day I stepped into the Economy Shop for a peek. While a customer investigated a pair of Bluetooth headphones, the gentleman behind the counter laughed. ‘We need young minds in here to help us figure this stuff out,’ he said. That evening, I sent an email inquiry, and after an orientation session, I was on the roster.”
Congratulations to Ron Hinson, who was the only reader who correctly identified last week’s “Where am I?” as the 1976 wolf sculpture by Nancy Foster Goodman, currently on display, appropriately, at Wolfe’s Kitchen & Deli, 160 W. Foothill Blvd., Claremont. Ron is now entered into the year-end drawing for a one-year subscription to everyone’s favorite award-winning local newspaper, the Claremont Courier. So, “Where am I” this week? Email your answer, full name, and city of residence — and suggestions for future mystery photos — to contest@claremont-courier.com for your chance to win. Courier photo/Tom Smith
A group of Claremont High School scholars recognized by the national College Board for outstanding achievement on the PSAT and AP exams was on hand at the January 16 CUSD Board of Education meeting. The Board also heard the latest update to the district’s equity action plan. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo
“At my age, you are reminded of death simply because you are older and more likely to know more people who have died. This includes family, friends, someone you used to work with, a favorite celebrity. I’m asked to provide end-of-life instructions and a power of attorney for healthcare every time I have a procedure, no matter how minor. That doesn’t let you forget either. So far — knock on wood — everything has turned out okay. But I know I have fewer days ahead of me than I do behind. It doesn’t matter when the days ahead seem endless; it’s when you start to number them that you begin to think.”
The fires had been burning out of control for such a long time. So many homes and businesses had been entirely destroyed, so many people had lost so much and endured such great adversity.
Claremont Craft Ales, 1420 N. Claremont Blvd., #204c, hosts “Kimi Day,” a 1 to 10 p.m. benefit event for longtime employee and beloved Claremont fixture Kimi Ritner, who is being treated for cancer and is facing daunting medical bills. Proceeds from beer, merchandise, and raffle ticket sales will go directly toward Kimi’s treatment. Raffle prizes […]
After a much welcomed reprieve, dangerously strong winds returned to Claremont and the rest of Southern California on Monday. “Everyone needs to be on high alert,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said at a news conference. “Los Angeles and partner firefighters are pre-deployed, and we ask Angelenos to be prepared in case they need to evacuate.” The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings from noon Monday to 10 a.m. Tuesday in foothill and mountain areas in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Courier photo/Peter Weinberger
Here are several helpful links for wildfire/wind information and assistance, courtesy of Courier reader Bob Gerecke. Photo/by Jhovany Quiroz
Afternoon winds and swirling leaves didn’t deter the Gutierrez family from their regular picnic and wiffle ball game at Memorial Park on Monday, January 20. Under clear blue skies and with temperatures in the low 60s, most family members took advantage of the day off in observance of MLK Day. Courier photo/Peter Weinberger
Recent past often includes styles like mid-century modern, brutalism, international, and postmodernism, which have unique design elements and preservation considerations. As a preservation organization, we need to actively advocate for the protection of these structures due to the perception that they are not historically significant. Photo/courtesy of Claremont Heritage
Congratulations to David Sawhill, who was chosen at random among the 11 readers who correctly identified the December 27 “Where am I?”, the final entry for 2024, as the holiday decorations outside Espiau’s, at 109 N. Yale Ave., Claremont. The randomly chosen winner of 2024’s “Where am I?” grand prize, a copy of the Courier’s book of photography, “Timeless Claremont,” is Shelley Randles. So, “Where am I?” in this first entry of 2025? Email your answer, full name, and city of residence — and suggestions for future mystery photos — to contest@claremont-courier.com for your chance to win this year’s prize, a one-year subscription to everyone’s favorite award-winning local newspaper, the Claremont Courier. Courier photo/Tom Smith
Claremont Police Chief Aaron Fate will retire effective April 1, the City of Claremont announced Thursday. There was no reason given for Fate’s departure. The 26-year CPD veteran was named chief in 2021, replacing Shelly Vander Veen. The Courier was unable to confirm Fate’s age by press time, but he is a 1993 graduate of Glendora High School. Claremont public safety employees are eligible for retirement at age 50. Claremont City Manager Adam Pirrie wrote in a news release that the city and police department’s management team will be implementing a “new leadership plan for the Department” over the next few months. Courier file photo
“I’ve always loved their song — gentle and soothing when light winds blew, cacophonous and urgent, like a frantic bebop band, during Santa Anas. But when the metallic clang of our ragtag band of front porch wind chimes startled me awake at 1:10 a.m. last Saturday, their tune had taken on a new foreboding. Were the winds kicking up still more tragedy? I wonder if I’ll ever feel the same way about our wind chimes, the Santa Anas, or Los Angeles.”
“I was going to write a nice little column about how Claremont has changed over the years. Then there were the fires. And, suddenly, in the blink of an eye, my column wasn’t so nice, wasn’t so little. For many of us, the fires are our story. They have so far have wiped out tens of thousands of acres, thousands of structures, and caused at least 25 deaths, and may well go on to do who knows how much more destruction. They are my story.”
“It’s unreal,” said Gracie Gonzalez. “I mean I’m sure you’ve seen it all on TV that homes are gone. It looks like they just dropped a bomb. And it’s just so devastating. We just can’t comprehend it.” Nearby Franklin Elementary School, which their children attended decades ago, was destroyed. Neighbors’ homes were gone as well. “This is our hurricane, the way you see on TV when the hurricanes go through and just wipe out everything,” said Gilbert Gonzalez Sr. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo
Claremont Police Department officers and firefighters from two area stations were among those helping with emergency efforts last week at the Eaton and Palisades fires. As of Wednesday evening, fire engines and crews from stations 101 and 102 continued working on the Eaton Fire, where they have been since January 7. An additional crew from station 102 was assigned to the Santa Clarita Valley Wednesday in advance of a wind event. Photo/courtesy of Claremont Police Department