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Go to SierraMadreWeekly.com for Sierra Madre Specific News THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27 - MARCH 4, 2020
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VOL. 24, NO. 9
BEAR MEANDERS MONROVIA, MEDIA MADNESS DOMINATES LOCAL & NATIONAL NEWS Terry MILLER tmiller@beaconmedianews.com
I
remember a former Arcadia city manager telling me that he knew “It was gonna be one of those days … a BAD one of those days …” as he drove to the office and noticed news helicopters hovering over the city. In Los Angeles County, we’re pretty familiar with these whirlybirds and the noise they emit when hovering for hours at a time. Some of us become immune; others are incensed by the excessive noise, especially early in the morning. Well, last week, Monrovia had more than enough choppers in the air just to cover a single, albeit large, bear sauntering into a residential neighborhood. This really is not news, especially in Monrovia. However, last week in the San Gabriel Valley, Pasadena and Monrovia were two cities that garnered a huge amount of publicity. First, the invasion of Africanized bees near Pasadena City College sent firefighters and a police officer to a local hospital and then that curious bear in Monrovia captured the attention of just about every local television station and their respective HD choppers. The later started a familiar dialog in the city known for bear sightings. A wandering bear in the residential foothills of Monrovia sent television newshounds barking up just about every tree lined street in Monrovia searching for the obviously arthritic, perhaps older bear. For the second day in a row, Monrovia residents were jolted out of their beds when local news helicopters, hoping to get a glimpse of a large bear roaming near Mayflower and Highland Place, distracted those attempting to sleep at 5 a.m. ABC and KTLA helicopters hovered for what seemed to be an eternity early Friday at 5 a.m. Neither the noise of the helicopters, nor presence of media news vans, seemed to disturb the hungry bear as she wandered the neighborhood for food. However, many residents were up in arms Friday morning, infuriated by the early morning chopper talk that literally awoke residents North of Foothill Boulevard near Mayflower. Residents along Mayflower were giving the whirlybirds “the bird” when frustration reached its peak around sunrise at 7 a.m. On Facebook, Monrovia Councilwoman Becky Shevlin voiced her disdain for the choppers awakening the peaceful community of Monrovia for a bear sighting. “It really is over the top …” Shevlin said. In response to comments that the community should be thankful there was no serious
Media trucks crowded residential streets in hopes of catching a glimpse of the meandering bear. - Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News
catastrophe Friday morning, Shevlin said: “Yes all in perspective and we can be extremely thankful that there wasn’t something horrible to report on. Having said that however, just because they have the right — and it is good that we have a free press — that doesn’t mean that they can’t be more respectful and put the situation into perspective as well. There was no need for the helicopters and no need to harass/confront the bear. We did have PD, Fish and Wildlife, and Pasadena Humane Society to handle the situation — we did not need all of the melodrama and the risk of actually creating a dangerous situation. Yes, by all means, exercise the right to report but please be more responsible and respectful to both our wildlife and our community.” Others, such as Jen Eginton Peterson,
posted their two-cents: “I will vote for any council member who initiates an ordinance prohibiting the coverage of Bear [sic] sightings by helicopter.” Mary Beth Zipper Cavanaugh said: “Need Monrovia Wildlife [sic] protections. Being surrounding [sic] by media circus lights, noise, smells will make them panic, act “”erratically” [sic] (for human standards) and get our cohabitants killed!” “As long as I have been in Monrovia, living with bears has been a fact of life,” said Monrovia Police Chief Alan Sanvictores. “We work closely with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife which is responsible for the bears. If residents have a problem with bears they should call the police department. If there is an imminent threat, use 911. For routine
problems with bears dumping trash cans, use the business number for the department, (626) 256-8000.” The chief also reminded residents that feeding any wild animal is a violation of the Monrovia Municipal Code. It is also wise not to keep dog food outside in areas frequented by our furry friends. Small animals can be in danger if left outside in the wildland urban interface areas of the city. Common sense is the best tool when dealing with wild animals.
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