The Signal from Santa Clarita, California • 1

Staying Afloat Despite funding cuts, organizers say the SCV Business Alliance is 'alive and Busin8SSB1 Good as 'GoSdie' Theater group bestows annual awards and recognizes contributions of founding member Carmen Sarro. LifestyleAB l(. I RAIN Mostly cloudy with showeror thunderstorms. High of 92. Weather Page: A9 IGNA Tuesday July 29, 2003 Serving Canyon Country, New hall, Saugus, Stevenson Ranch, Valencia, Castaic and Agua Dulce Since 1919 50 Cents 4jf Al.

a- ii, TODAY 2nd man wmcKM guilty of A A 7 murder at Signal Verdict closes trial of the kidnapping and killing of pressroom employee. Bob Hope, master of one-liner, dies at 1 00. By Christine Bitter Signal Staff Writer By Bob Thomas Associated Press Writer LOS ANGELES Bob Hope, ski jump-nosed master of the one-liner and favorite comedian of servicemen and presidents alike, has died, just two months after turning 100. Hope died late Sunday of pneumonia at his home in Toluca Lake, with his family at his bed- side, longtime publicist Ward Grant said Monday. The nation's most-honored comedian, Hope .1 -J afe A Welcome to Miami At the Venezuelan fast-food restaurant El Arepaso in suburban Miami sits a pile of newspapers near the cash register with articles such as "Five steps to installing oneself in the United States." Step 1: Buy a business, a franchise if you can.

"Once the deal is closed, the buyer will feel the sweet sound of the cash register announcing cash flow in his favor, without losing time," the article says. But also: "Be happy with what you have while you go after what you want." A9 Entertainment Star Struck As the battle for celebrity interviews intensifies, NBC and ABC's news divisions are turning to entertainment news programs for help landing stars. That was why "Access Hollywood" correspondent Pat O'Brien was asking the questions when Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez cooed about their relationship on "Dateline NBC." Concerned about NBC News' relationship with the NBC-owned "Access Hollywood," ABC News quickly moved to reach an agreement to share celebrity chats with another syndicated program, "Entertainment Tonight." was a star in every category open to him vaudeville, radio, television and film, most notably a string of "Road" movies with longtime friend Bing Crosby. For decades, he took his show on the road to bases around the world, boosting the morale of See HOPE, page A5 Comedian purchased and 5v pD 9 2 sold local property A verdict from a San Fernando Superior Court jury put to an end the trial of two men in the stabbing death more than a year ago' of Signal pressroom employee Agustin Garcia. On Monday a jury found Francisco Angiano guilty of first-degree murder and kidnapping.

"When Angiano's wife cried out into the courtroom in tears, you knew it was said Juror No. 3, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "The people that committed the crimes their kids, their spouses are victims of their poor decisions." A second defendant in the trial, Leugardo Martinez, was also found guilty Friday of kidnapping and murder. Angiano, Martinez and Roberto Arreola were accused of stabbing Garcia at The Signal offices in September 2001 after waiting in the parking lot to abduct him. Arreola has already been sentenced for his involvement with the crime.

Authorities later discovered that Garcia had been involved in a relationship with Martinez's estranged wife. Martinez said he thought his wife was in danger. Garcia's body was discovered in an industrial complex on Springbrook Avenue in Saugus. A blanket had been drawn over him and he had sustained four stab wounds, one of which was See VERDICT, page A3 A4 WORLD 1.. I 11 Hope 'owned land all over the valley at one county assessor says.

By Stacey Klein Signal Staff Writer Remembered for his library of one-liners and a nearly insatiable need to entertain, long-time locals may remember Bob Hope for the land he owned around the Santa Clarita Valley. Hope died late Sunday of pneumonia at the age of 100. His company owns a large parcel of land in Placerita Canyon south of Sierra Highway, said Val Schneider, of the Santa Clarita satellite office of the Los Angeles County Assessor. "He owned land all over the valley at one time," she said. Development Consultant Allan Cameron said Hope owned and See PROPERTY, page A5 Saudi Raid Saudi police said they raided a farm where militants were holed up Monday, touching off a battle with firearms and grenades that killed six suspects and two officers.

A9 Lyon Canyon Ranch sets its sights on annexation a READER METER This week's question: iThe City Council is consid- ering an increase to the limit on campaign dona- tions to council candidates. The current limit is $250 per person, per elec tion. What should it be? A) $250 $500 $750 D) $1,000 E) $10,000 F) No limit Vote online at www.the-signal.com. vision show "Dukes of Hazzard" was filmed. Lyon Canyon Ranch is the latest in a series of developments located outside city boundaries to seek approval through the city with the ultimate goal of annexation.

"It's becoming more often than not now" for developers to go through the city for approval, Bertoni said. Other such projects include Golden Valley Ranch, Wes Thompson Ranch and North Valencia I and II. In June, Santa Clarita city limits were extended west of Interstate 5 for the first time 170 single-family homes; 129 town homes; 380 apartments; 152 senior homes; and an 8-acre active park. The site will also feature about 138 acres of open space, Bertoni said. Three commercial lots, totaling eight acres, will also be included in the Western Pacific Housing development.

The property located south of the Sunset Pointe development and north of Towsley Canyon was owned by Warner Brothers Studios, and used primarily for filming, Bertoni said. The area is where the '80s tele By Stacey Klein Signal Staff Writer Get ready for yet another Ranch in the Santa Clarita Valley. City officials are preparing environmental review documents for the 831 -unit Lyon Canyon Ranch, which could be the city's second annexation west of Interstate 5. "We are just in the beginning," said Planning Manager Vince Bertoni. The developer's plans for the 258-acre parcel of land south of Stevenson Ranch include when the 60-acre Rivendale property the entrance to Towsley Canyon was approved.

Bertoni said the Lyon Canyon Ranch project would be a significant addition to the city. "For us, the most important thing is it provides a logical extension of the city's serr vices," he said. The environmental review documents should be completed and released in late fall or early winter, Bertoni said. "There will be a lot of environmental issues See RANCH, page A3 Going the Green Distance Tattoo artist could serve 2 years for failing to REACHING Tell It to The Signal: Letters to the Editor: P.O. Box 801870, Santa Clarita, Ca.

9 1380-1870 Street Address: '241 XX) Creekside Road. Valencia, 91355 register as sex offender Lasko with the SCV Sheriffs 311121. Golf tournament benefits youth organizations. By Christine Bitter Signal Staff Writer Santa Clarita golf fans have a new summer golf tournament to look forward to. Despite forecasts for 90-degrec weather, more than 70 golfers hit the Valencia Country Club fairways Monday morning for the first chaiitv coif touma- Around Town A10 Comics B7 Entertainment A4 Opinion A8 World A9 i -J I By Christine Bitter Signal Staff Writer A citizen tip led to the arrest of a high-risk sex offender working in Newhall as a tattoo artist, who had allegedly failed to register as a sex offender.

Lancaster resident Benjamin Franklin Miller. 60. was working at Skin Fli Tattoo in the 17800 block of Sierra Highway, when he was arrested on the evening of July 17. He was the only high-risk offender known by authorities to be located in the Santa Clarita Valley, said Detective I ric Station. Miller was reportedly convicted of a sex offense in the early '90s, and served a term in prison until 1999.

As a term of his parole, he was required to never return to Lancaster. "In March, we received a tip that Miller is a high-risk sex offender thought to be living in the area," Lasko said. "He was registered us living in Redondo Beach." Weeks later, the same informant called local sheriff's olli-Sea OFFENDER, page A3 nk-ii! hosted by the Santa Clarita tLIICMim-thi Sv Chad David, 9, wedges his way free of a sand trap during a charity golf tournament hosted by the SCV Sheriff's Station. The event benefited SCV Youth Project and SCV Safe Rides. Valli ey Sheriff's Station nnd See GOLF, page A3.