The San Bernardino County Sun from San Bernardino, California • Page 9

Insldo: Fontana to be polled on police needsB3 Insldo: $435,000 willed to animal sheltersB4 BUSINESS Inland Empire to be hot spot forjobgrowthDO InlandEmpbre TImSihi iMtlOil Friday Feb. 23, 1996 Metre (909) 386-3874 Fax (909) 885-8741 Officials hope to see garden grow in Highland section. So far, eight of the 35 abandoned apartment buildings in the area have been either burned or torn down. Unlike San Bernardino's garden, which charges residents a fee. Highland's will be free as long as the use meets the city approval.

"And ours will be run by volunteers and students," said Rosa Fredieu, a redevelopment intern who is helping Berthiaume. Fredieu said she eventually would like to see residents stage events, such as garden and flower festivals. The garden also could be the site of conservation or ecological projects conducted by local schools. Neighborhoods such communities as San Bernardino, Redlands, Yucaipa and Fontana, which already have community gardens. Rialto is considering such a project.

San Bernardino's community garden, on Arden Avenue and Pacific Street, has been in place more than 15 years. Highland's garden would have rose bushes and other flowers, along with rows of tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, peanuts and grapes. "This could be a tasty place to visit and a way of enhancing the aesthetic of the area," said Francis Berthiaume, Highland Neigh borhood Revitalization administrator. Nearly four years ago, the Ward-Cunningham area was troubled by frequent gunfire at night and gang activity. Residents were afraid to walk down the street, even during the day, Berthiaume said.

"Those most affected were the single-family homeowners who have made an investment in the community but felt that their community was taken away from them," she said. "The garden will be a way to bring back that spirit of investment and belonging to the community, while eliminating or at least discouraging the other illegal activities," Berthiaume said. Schools, business groups and residents will be encouraged to take part in the project by adopting plots. Brian Laub, who studied agriculture science and lives in a four-plex in the 2600 block of Ward Street, said the produce the garden will yield should be enough to motivate community involvement. "I think the garden will show people, quite literally, the fruits of their labor," Laub said.

Berthiaume is finalizing an outline for the project. It is expected to be reviewed for approval by the City Council in March. Officials have been working to remove blighted and substandard properties in the city's southwest Highland would be joining such communities as San Bernardino, Redlands, Yucalpa and Fontana, which already have community gardens. By OREOORY P. TOWNSEND Sun Staff Writer HIGHLAND If the White House can have a rose garden, so can the Ward-Cunningham area.

Revitalization officials are seeking support for a plan to develop a community garden in a blighted neighborhood where dilapidated buildings have been torn down. Highland would be joining WEATHER: www -fat FISHING IN THE RAIN (Hoots aaadlta News digest Arrowhead United Way elects new leaders SAN BERNARDINO Arrowhead United Way reported on its 1994-95 campaign year and elected new leaders at its annual meeting Thursday morning at the National Orange Show cafeteria. The campaign raised $2,250,000, said Frank M. Sne-deker, president. That was a 5 percent increase over the previous year but about 10 percent short of a "very aggressive goal" of $2.4 million, he said.

Arrowhead United Way provided support for 132 programs by 32 nonprofit agencies in 15 communities from Big Bear City to Bloomington and from Crestline to Grand Terrace. James Kennedy, first vice president and campaign chairman, was elected chairman of the board, replacing Catherine "Kitt" Irwin. Both served two terms. Lynda Savage was elected first vice president, chairman-elect and 1995-96 campaign chairman. Nearly 375 people, most of them volunteers, attended.

Ed Mattel (909)386-38831 Orange County rail line to make debut SAN BERNARDINO Met-rolink's Inland EmpireOrange County line will begin collecting commuters from San Bernardino's downtown station March 4, officials said Thursday. The new line, the first to connect two urban centers not including Los Angeles, started in Riverside last fall, but track modifications delayed service from San Bernardino. Three trains will run Monday through Friday between San Bernardino and San Juan Capistra-no, said Yvonne Hester, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino Associated Governments. Departure times from San Bernardino's Metrolink station will be 5:26 a.m., 6:28 a.m. and 3:03 p.m., arriving at San Juan Ca-pistrano at 6:50 a.m., 7:52 a.m.

and 4:32 p.m. respectively. Departure times from San Juan Capistrano are 8:10 a.m., 4:47 p.m. and 5:18 p.m., arriving at San Bernardino at 9:38 a.m., 6:16 p.m. and 6:59 p.m.

respectively. The run makes stops in Riverside, Orange, Santa Ana and Irvine, Hester said. For more information, call Metrolink at 808-LINK. No area code is necessary. Lynn Anderson (909) 395-8339 County registrar goes on line on Internet iu.

Mi niwun -jl-' 1 "llUMtMi-, 1. I. 'Aa-ia" .1 The operator of David Winn's Chino Horse Auction, originally charged with cruelty to animals, pleads no contest to a lesser charge. By Pamela Fitzsimmons Sun Staff Writer When Humane Officer Todd Lurie found the 7-year-old bay stallion, he was 300 pounds underweight, had a ruptured right eyeball and a 6-inch long, 4-inch deep cut running down from his left eye. The animal had draining wounds in three of its legs and didn't want to stand, Lurie said.

The horse had been trucked from Mexico to an auction yard in Chino, and that's where Lurie found him eight months ago. This week, the operator of David Winn's Chino Horse Auction, originally charged with cruelty to animals, pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of failing to keep a certificate of consignment on the animal. The horse, now called Sammy, is up for adoption. Although blind in one eye, he is generally in good health having undergone about $6,000 worth of veterinary care. David Winn, 71, has been placed on three years' probation and ordered to pay restitution.

He said Thursday he will pay $1,000 toward the veterinary bill. Any more than that will take a prolonged court battle, Winn Ky Huynh is ready for wet or dry weather while trying to catch a big one Thursday at Seccombe Lake in San Bernardino. FofBcastera called for mostly sunny weather today after early morning low clouds in ure ooii Deiiiaiuiiiu yaircy. Caltrans once again postpones i Westbound lanes will be closed Sunday Eastbound lanes will be closed Monday Inland Empire Ss 55- Eastbound detour GuastiRd. 5 Jk.

4 NTARIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT closing Interstate 10 for project Hard work credited for record honor roll Blvd. I I Westbound I detour a Rd. 5 Bridge closed 1 'C Airport Dr. I ONTARIO I IIOWTOIIZLP The Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley is offering the bay stallion for adoption, For more Information, caff (909)882-2934. promised.

"It's just a big, old unbroke stallion with no purpose in the world much," Winn said. "That horse was not mistreated by me. Everything he did, he did to himself." Lurie is hoping the case will send a message to the county's auction yards: They are responsible for the animals they receive. In this case, the animal arrived injured but then became further injured, he said. The horse did not receive veterinary care until two days later when the Humane Society was called about the horse.

Lurie said Winn wouldn't recognize the horse now that the animal is healthy. "He comes up to you like a dog. He wants to be petted. He's chunky now that he's found food," Lurie said. The horse will be gelded before it is adopted.

It's not the kind of case the district attorney's office sees often, said Deputy District Attorney Clark Hansen. He agreed to drop the cruelty See HORSEB2 Education academic excellence magnet program. "We have outlined what is required of every student in every class and they're given that information on day one," Forte said. At the beginning of the school year, each Alder student is given a notebook with dividers that include an outline of each course on the student's schedule similar to a syllabus in a college course. Alder is the only school in the Fontana district that provides the outlines, Forte said.

The notebooks also contain information about what is required for good grades on each assignment. "Say a kid is going to write a paper. The kid needs to know what that paper has to look like in order to get an Forte said. "We explain to the student what the teacher is going to be looking for." Another reason students are See HONOR7B2 a couple of times, said she doesn't like to see walls marred by graffiti. "It makes me feel like we live in a junky place," the 11-year-old said.

Rashauna Fuselier, 10, said she would be angry if someone vandalized her school. "If it was my own wall, I'd go off," she said. The students said more schools should get involved in fighting graffiti. Mayor David Eshleman said he hopes Maple's effort will encourage other schools and organizations to set up collection cans throughout the community. Puddles and mud prevent electrical crews from setting up portable lights for late-night work on the Archibald Avenue interchange project.

By Lynn Anderson Sun Staff Writer ONTARIO Rain fouled Caltrans' plans for a nighttime closure of westbound Interstate 10 at Archibald Avenue once again Thursday, officials said. Shutdown of the westbound freeway had been scheduled to begin at 11:45 p.m. Thursday but puddles and mud kept electrical crews from setting up portable lights necessary to carry out the late-night work, said Gary Waters, resident engineer. It was the second rain delay for the project. "I hope this is the last time I have to do this," Waters said.

"But the weather has not been cooperating." Closure of westbound lanes has been rescheduled to begin at 11:45 p.m. Sunday, Waters said. The freeway will reopen at 5 a.m. Monday, in time for the onslaught of morning commuters. During the night, crews will use a crane to string girders from concrete abutments and center columns.

Eventually, the girders will be covered with concrete and roadbed. Eastbound lanes will be shut OABREL ACOSTAThfl Sun from 11:45 p.m. to 5 a.m. night from 11:45 p.m. to 6 a.m.

SUN STAFF to radio stations KNX 1070 AM or sage signs will warn of the road closures. Officers from the California Highway Patrol will direct traffic and ticket rebellious motorists. The new interchange is expected to be finished by spring 1997 at a cost of about $13 million. It will serve as the gateway to Ontario International Airport's new terminal. school faces a long brick wall and a wooden fence along Maple Avenue that often are vandalized.

Miller said she felt guilty at having to call the city on a regular basis to ask for graffiti removal. "And I thought, 'Well, I give a and that's how it started." She decorated and set up the can in the school cafeteria and Path developed a classroom lesson on graffiti. Path had students list why they think youngsters engage in graffiti. The students said because it was fun or it was an art form. Then Path pointed out how vandals do their painting Traffic information SAN BERNARDINO The county registrar's office has an address on the Internet.

Information on voting in San Bernardino County and how to register or apply for an absentee ballot is available via home or work computers. The deadline to icgister to vote in the March presidential primary election is Monday. Registration forms are available at the Department of Motor Vehicles, post offices, libraries, city clerk offices and from the registrar's office at 777 E. Rialto San Bernardino. The registrar's office will be open until midnight Monday.

Computer access to candidates' statements and election statistics are planned. Some statistics are available now. For more information, call the county registrar at (909) 387-8300 or(800)881-VOTE. The registrar's internet address is: http:tmx.cominlan-dempire. Cerise A.

Valenzuela (909)380-3810 Volunteers sought to aid county registrar SAN BERNARDINO The registrar of voters office is seeking people to work at polling places during the March 26 primary election. Only voters registered in San Bernardino County are eligible. Positions are available throughout the county. Those who speak Spanish and English are especially needed. The polls will be open from 7 a.m.

to 8 p.m. Poll workers earn $55 for the day. Work begins at 0:30 a.m. and ends about 9:30 p.m. Poll inspectors earn $70, but must attend a training class and pick up and return supplies.

Cerise A. Valenzuela (909)388-3810 The 530 Alder Middle School students who make list are more than double previous semesters. By Aldrin Brown Sun Staff Writer FONTANA Garrett Love, a sixth-grader at Alder Middle School, made the honor roll last semester for the first time. His strategy was simple. "I just studied and tried really hard and I just got it," said Garrett, 12.

Apparently many of his classmates tried the same tactic. Garrett was among a school record 530 Alder Middle School students who received awards during a ceremony Thursday for achieving a 3.0 or better grade point average. Last semester's honor roll is more than twice as long as it has ever been, said Principal Lynette Forte. She attributes the dramatic improvement to a two-year-old sneaking on' of their houses at night so they won't get caught by police. When the students thought about it in those terms, they changed their attitudes, she said.

"Unless the kids are directly affected by it or they become taggers, it doesn't affect them," Path said. "The kids need to hear about this." She believes that since the students invested their own money to keep the community clean, they won be inclined to engage in graffiti, Fifth-grader Ashley Hen-ricks, who contributed to the can Students show they give a dime about fighting graffiti For commuter information, tune KFI640AM. down Monday, as previously announced, he said. The freeway will close at 11:45 p.m. and reopen about 6 a.m.

Tuesday. During the closures, traffic will detour via Haven Avenue, Inland Empire Boulevard and Vineyard Avenue, officials said. Cones and changeable mes- Helping out Alice Path presented the City Council with a large, sealed tin can filled one-third full. The cash mostly dimes but including a dollar bill, a couple of quarters and some nickels and pennies totaled $29.22. "The city always comes out the next day to remove (the graffiti), so we wanted to help out," said Path.

The effort was the brainchild of school librarian Josie Miller. While the walls of the school haven't been hit, the front of the By Ren ee Hernandez Sun Staff Writer FONTANA The city's graffiti abatement coffers were boosted this week thanks to Maple Elementary School and a can of dimes. Staff and students have been gathering coins from the bottoms of their pockets, backpacks and purses over the last year in a campaign they call "I Give a Dime About Graffiti." They donated the money to the city's graffiti removal program for paint and supplies, On Tuesday, school counselor 1 A.