The Orange County Tribune Sept. 21, 2022

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MIDWEEK EDITION

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Wednesday: 82/62 sunny Thursday: 83/63 sunny Friday: 86/65 sunny

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Printed in Garden Grove, California n orangecountytribune.com n Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022 n orangecountytribune@gmail.com

AND THE END OF THE CHASE ...

n HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY COUNCIL

Is City Doing Enough for Homeless?

Response to grand jury report

By Huw Pickering Orange County Tribune

A MOTOCYCLE CHASE THAT BEGAN IN WESTMINSTER ... early Sunday morning ended with an arrest in Tustin (WPD photo).

It looks like he had a reason to run It seems this motorcycle rider felt a reason for failing to stop for a Westminster police officer early Sunday morning.

According to WPD, a motorcyclist “failed to yield” at about 1 a.m. to a police unit in the area of Brookhurst Street and McFadden Avenue for a vehicle code violation.

A pursuit was begun that ended in North Tustin. A search of the rider revealed 1.5 oz. of fentanyl and 23 grams of methamphetamine.

The rider was arrested for felony evading and possession of narcotics for drug sales.

Orange County Sheriff’s Department helicopter unit “Duke” helped in the pursuit.

The Huntington Beach City Council voted 6-0 on Tuesday night – with Councilmember Mike Posey absent – to approve a response to a report given by the Orange County Grand Jury regarding the homelessness crisis.

The report, while praising improvements that have been made in addressing homelessness in Surf City and in the county, argued that a number of issues remain problematic.

Inside How Ramsey saved the Rams

Easy case for PD to “wrap up” This was a particularly easy case for police to “wrap up.”

On Sunday night at 10:33 p.m. Garden Grove officers were conducting citywide enforcement of reckless driving and street racing laws when they spotted a truck do-

ing “burnouts” on Katella Avenue.

A traffic stop was initiated and when officers searched the vehicle, they spotted five heavily wrapped packages behind one of the seats.

It was determined that Continued on page 2

The grand jury collaborated with the Orange County Continuum of Care, whose role it is to distribute federal funding to rehouse the homeless, to produce the report.

In a positive light rental assistance programs have prevented people from losing the roof over their heads, outreach programs that allowed more people to obtain housing, a greater number of beds in shelters, and more permanent housing.

Huntington Beach has Continued on page 2

n GARDEN GROVE SCHOOL BOARD

Deal with the NAACP OK’d Tuesday night

By Jim Tortolano Orange County Tribune

PAGES 7 and 8

A program to provide support for African American pupils was approved by the Garden Grove Unified School District Board of Education at its meeting Tuesday night.

Continued on page 2

For breaking news and sports all week long, go to www.orangecountytribune.com

2 WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21, 2022/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

Garden Grove school board Continued from page 1

The vote was 4-0 with Board President Bob Harden absent.

Approved was a memorandum of understanding with the National Association for the Advancement of of Colored People, Orange County Branch No. 1052 to collaborate with the district.

Mentoring services will be provided to support third and fourth grade African American students at two GGUSD schools.

They will include African American adult professionals aimed at helping pupils to focus on achievements and use “learned strength strategies,” as well as “gain tools to overcome

difficult life-phases as they grow and develop.”

The mentors will undergo a background check and parental permission is required. Interaction between pupils and mentors will be via video.

Also at Tuesday night’s meeting was presentation of Simon Scholars from Garden Grove, Los Amigos and Rancho Alamitos high schools. The program is for economically disadvantaged students and provides a variety of academic and other assistance for their junior and senior years in high school.

Upon graduation, each will a receive a $16,000 scholarship for college and other support.

HB council and homelessness Continued from page 1

a pop-up “Navigation Center” that offers shelter as well as services to help the homeless deal with physical and mental health issues, addiction and in seeking employment. A permanent facility is contemplated.

However, efforts to reduce the problem have been impeded by three chief factors.

Firstly, that the homeless are constantly forced to relocate, after requests to do so are made to police officers. This causes the homeless to simply move from area to area while failing to alleviate their situation.

Secondly, that some local governments in the county, such as Placentia, have passed ordinances that criminalize camping in public, which many homeless

JIm Tortolano Editor and Publisher Marilyn Lewis Tortolano General Manager The Orange County Tribune is published on Wednesdays and Saturdays with some exceptions. Address is 9402 Luders Ave., Garden Grove, 92844.

E-mail is orangecountytribune@gmail. com. Website is: www.orangecountytribune.com.

Phone: (714) 458-1860.

Established Aug. 6, 2016. All opinions expressed in The Tribune, unless otherwise stated, are those of the individual writer or artist and not necessarily those of The Tribune.

A member of The Associated Press, and Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce.

people are forced to do. Once such camping is criminalized, these homeless people can be arrested, preventing them from accessing the mental health services they so often need.

Thirdly, that there exists opposition by local residents to the perceived subsidization of the homeless at the expense of the taxpayer, meaning that local shelters have not received the funding they need.

Councilmember Kim Carr focused on the policies towards homelessness and housing that set Huntington Beach apart from other communities in the county.

“We have a model that every city should replicate,” Carr said, referring to the Be Well Mobile Crisis Response unit, which travels to calls made by those experiencing mental health issues and seeks to prevent these callers from causing themselves harm.

Traffic stop bonus Continued from page 1

the wrapped items contained five kilograms of cocaine.

A suspect was arrested and later booked into Orange County Jail.

Orangecountytribune.com for latest news every day

ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21, 2022 3

News&Views

Army mom surprises the chidren

Gambling raid nets arrests and devices In a continuing crackdown on illegal gaming, Westminster police raided a suspected gambling den and arrived five people on Wednesday (Sept. 14) afteroon.

According to the WPD, the raid began at 4 p.m. as their officers – along with West Orange County SWAT – served a search warrant in the 14600 block of Wakefield Street (southwest of Hazard Avenue and Brookhurst Street).

As officers approached, several people fled on foot and in vehicles from the house. Officers manning a perimeter were able to detain five of them without incident.

They were arrested and booked at Orange County Jail for an outstanding warrant for a weapons charge, a felony probation violation, a parole violation and for operating a gambling house.

Also, officers recovered about two ounces of methamphetamine and crack cocaine, about $3000 in cash, six gambling machines and a pistol.

Suspect dead after hit-run and chase A man arrested by a Santa Ana police after a hit-and-run accident and a pursuit died at a hospital early Thursday morning.

According to the SAPD, the incident began on Tuesday at 1:45 p.m. when officers responded to a hit and run traffic collision in the area of 1800 N. Broadway in Santa Ana. Witnesses say a white van left the area southbound on Broadway.

The driver of the van failed to yield to police and a pursuit ensued. A citizen reported to police the driver of the van was Continued on page 4

GOLDEN WEST COLLEGE was one of many represented at the College Fair at the Great Wolf Lodge in Garden Grove (GGUSD photo).

It was a college fair worth howling over It was a packed house at the Garden Grove Unified School District’s College Fair Thursday night at the Great Wolf Lodge in Garden Grove.

Hundreds of students and their families had the opportunity to speak with university reps, collect information and begin mapping out their future college and career plans.

GGUSD counselors and administrators were on hand to answer questions and provide guidance as students plan for the future.

Meet the new (GG Chamber) boss

The next after-work mixer for the Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce will offer a chance to meet and greet the new chamber president and CEO, Claudette Baldemor.

It will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 21 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the chamber office, 12866 Main St., Suite 102, Garden Grove.

RSVP to (714) 638-7950. The event co-host is Azteca Mexican Restaurant.

Our Towns Help plan your parks

Three workshops for the public to help shape the master plan for parks in Stanton will be offered. They will be held: • Workshop 1: Friday, Sept.

30 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Stanton Central Park.

• Workshop 2: Friday, Oct. 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Council Chambers, Civic Center.

• Workshop 3: Sunday, Nov. 19 from 10 a,m. to noon, Family Resource Center.

For more information, call (714) 890-4270.

Bell Intermediate student Julian Labunog and Enders Elementary student Elizah Labunog received a sweet surprise Wednesday when their mother, U.S. Army Reservist Dely Labunog, came home two weeks early after serving in Kuwait and Iraq for more than a year. Her husband Fabian Labunog worked with the school principals to coordinate the surprise return.

At Bell Intermediate, Dely dressed up in the school’s Roadrunner mascot to surprise Julian during his math lesson. His classmates cheered as the Roadrunner revealed herself while Julian was unknowingly teaching the mascot about math. Julian was thrilled to see his mom who he believed wasn’t coming home until October at the earliest.

At Enders Elementary School, first grader Elizah Labunog was told a special visitor was here from the military, but she did not know it was her mom until she walked through her classroom door.

Dely, who graduated from Rancho Alamitos High School, has been in the service for 12 years.

“It was hard being away from them for more than a year, but I would look forward to our happy times when we could talk on the phone,” Dely said. “Now I’m home and in my happy place.”

Eight OVSD campuses are honored at state

The California PBIS Coalition has honored eight schools from the Ocean View School District for “outstanding efforts to create a positive campus culture and increase student engagement.”

Continued on page 4

A SURPRISE RETURN: Bell student Julian Labunog and Enders student Elizah Labunog (standing) with father Fabian Labunog and mother U.S. Army Reservist Dely Labunog (GGUSD photo).

4 WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21, 2022/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

Our Towns: Awards, opportunities and much more Continued from page 3

They are: • Silver awards: College View, Marine View, Hope View • Bronze awards: Lake View, Oak View, Star View, West View and Westmont.

They are good sports at La Quinta High

USA Today has ranked La Quinta High 17th in the nation for its esports (video games) teams from 2019 to present.

The other Orange County team honored is from Sunny Hills High in Fullerton.

LQHS, located in Westminster, is part of the Garden Grove Unified School District.

Book to your local library and sign up

It’s “Library Sign-Up” month for the Orange County Public Libraries. Your can get your free card at the Westminster

library, located at 8180 13th St. (behind the CIvic Center, east of Beach Boulevard)on Tuesday, Sept. 27 from 4-8 p.m. or more information, go to ocpl. org .

They do like donuts, it’s really true ...

The Huntington Beach Police Department will be holding a “Coffee & Donuts” event on Thursday, Sept. 22 from 10 a.m. to noon at D&N Donuts, 16917

Algonquin St. in Huntington Beach.

It’s a chance to ask questions, voice concerns and get to know the officers who patrol your neighborhoods.

Suspect dead after hit-and-run, chase Continued from page 3

armed with a pistol in his right hand.

An armored police vehicle was deployed and after a 15-minute chase, the suspect vehicle pulled into a business parking lot at 102 N. Main St., but the driver refused to comply with commands from officers, according to the SAPD. Police then used “less lethal” ammunition and a canine was deployed; the suspect was taken into custody.

The suspect – identified initially only as an “adult male” – was treated at the scene for his injuries and taken to a local hospital for more treatment.

At 2:34 a.m. today (Thursday) the suspect was declared dead by medical personnel at OC Global Medical Center in Santa Ana. Investigations from the Orange

County District Attorney’s Office and the SAPD’s Homicide Section and Internal Affairs Group are under way.

Additionally, the Orange County Coroner’s Division is conducting an independent investigation.

The name of the decedent is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/WEDNESDAY, SEPT 21, 2022 5

Arts&Living

The “Woman King” makes history Viola Davis stars and more in this epic film

By Lindsey Bahr AP Film Writer

Viola Davis should have been leading armies this whole time.

In “The Woman King,” the always regal Oscar-winner is a mass of muscle, battle wounds and world weariness as General Nanisca, the head of the Agojie, an all-female unit of warriors who protected the West African Kingdom of Dohemy in the 19th century.

Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, who cannot be pigeonholed, the film is a throwback of sorts to the big, exciting, emotional warrior epics that used to be all too common at the multiplex, with the twist that it’s women not men driving the action.

But unlike some recent cinematic depictions of armies not entirely comprised of men, they didn’t have to look to fantasy or the comic books to make “The Woman King” – just a history that isn’t widely taught. More

Davis won the battle this time

By Jake Coyle AP Film Writer

TORONTO (AP) – When Viola Davis, sculpted and hardened from months of training, first stood in the full garb of the Agojie warrior women, with her bare feet in the African sand, it was the culmination of not just the years-long push to make “The Woman King,” but of a lifelong battle.

Continued on page 6

VIOLA DAVIS STARS IN “WOMAN KING” An all-female military unit battles colonizers in 1820s (Disney)

Movie Review people probably know the Dora Milaje than the Agojie, who actually inspired the “Black Panther” fighters.

It is powerful that they are not immortal like Wonder Woman. There’s no condescending

Avengers-like battle moment.

There are no superpowers or magic lassos of truth. The ropes here are just ropes, but deadly still. They also fight with machetes and, sometimes, fingernails, up against brutish men and often win.

In other words, there’s no tricks, Nanisca explains, just skill (and bruises and scars). There’s a reason she’s described by a young trainee as looking just like some old woman (any warrior should be so lucky to be old).

Written by Dana Stevens, “The Woman King” is a classic “one last fight” tale with a grizzled war veteran in Davis, a new recruit in Nawi (a compelling and complex Thuso Mbedu), and the one who takes her under her wing, Izogie (a terrific part for Lashana Lynch, of “Captain Marvel” and James Bond). Terence Blanchard lends a fittingly rousing score to the action, which, though brutal, is carefully constructed to keep that superhero PG-13 rating.

The world of the “The Woman King” is no paradise though.

Good: HHH It’s 1823 and there is rape and rampant hatred of women.

There are slavers and colonizers around. The young trainee, Nawi, only arrives at the palace doorsteps after her father gives up on trying to marry her off to anyone who will take her, abusive or not.

The women don’t all get along, the king’s brides look down at the soldiers. And Nanisca, too, looks at women’s tears as a sign of weakness.

It’s also a very Hollywood version of what may have happened as they prepare to go up against the powerful Oyo empire, with some convenient reveals, a love interest, a slightly idealized king figure (in John Boyega) and an old score someone needs to settle.

This is not, in other words, a history lesson about the Agojie, though it could perhaps inspire some to seek that out or even write their own. That there are Continued on page 6

6 WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21, 2022/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

Viola Davis won battle to get film made Continued from page 5

“It was sort of metaphoric to not just everything I had done to prepare for this role but everything that I had done as a Black woman to prepare for this moment,” Davis says. “Which is to be a warrior.”

“The Woman King,’’ which opened in theaters Friday, is a $50 million action epic, set in 1820s West Africa, about the

all-female army of the Kingdom of Dahomey. Made largely by women and featuring an almost completely Black cast, it’s powerfully unlike anything Hollywood has ever produced. And just as much as “The Woman King” dramatizes the fierce fighting of the Agojie, the film represents its own struggle.

“Fighting for actors. Fighting for the director. You have to

Movie review: “Woman King” Continued from page 5

few true surprises isn’t necessarily a bad thing, either. The film is exactly what you need it to be: An exciting and emotionally true spectacle that required a heck of a fight to simply exist.

I’ll stop short of saying that Prince-Bythewood should have been directing these all along too, however. If she’d started and stayed with action, we wouldn’t have gotten “Love & Basketball” or “Beyond the

Lights,” and what kind of cinematic landscape would that be?

But we should all be so lucky that she gets to do this too.

“The Woman King,” a Sony/TriStar Release in theaters now, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association for “sequences of strong violence, some disturbing material, thematic content, brief language and partial nudity.” Running time: 134 minutes.

fight for the writer,” Davis, also a producer, said in an interview at the Toronto International Film Festival. “Years and years and years go by and you’re still fighting. You’re fighting for the budget. You’re fighting for even the commercial aspects of the story. You’re fighting for your hair. Fight. Fight. Fight.”

“Whenever you’re doing anything new, it requires the warrior spirit,” says Davis. “What I feel now is: It was worth it.”

“The Woman King,” directed

by Gina Prince-Bythewood (“The Old Guard,” “Love & Basketball”), began as an idea seven years ago, after a trip to Africa by Maria Bello, the producer and actor. Enamored by the history of the Agojie, she brought the concept to producer Cathy Schulman, the producer of the Oscar-winning “Crash” and the former head of Women in Film.

Schulman knew the film could be a potent portrait of female strength, but she didn’t antici-

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pate that, following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, it might serve as a rallying cry at a time when many consider women’s rights under siege.

“There couldn’t be a more important time for a movie about female courage, about sisterhood, about the complexity of the female experience, not to mention the physicality of our bodies,” Schulman says.

But the producers and Davis, who was attached early on, found it difficult to convince executives and financiers to bankroll “The Woman King” at a budget large enough to provide it the scale it deserved.

“Braveheart,” “Gladiator,” ”Last of the Mohicans.” I love those movies,’’ says Prince-Bythewood. ``Now, here was our chance to tell our story in this genre.’’

“The Woman King” a rousing emotional wallop that seamlessly fuses interior drama with action spectacle, was met with universal acclaim at its Toronto premiere as a crowd-pleaser of another kind.

Angels win, 5-2 Continued from page 8

three hits and two RBIs. One of his hits was a two-run home run.

Mike Ford also had three hits.

Patrick Sandoval (6-9) got the win, working five innings and giving up three hits and two earned runs. He walked four batters but struck out seven.

Although it’s clearly been a disappointing season, the Angels have been having some success recently. They’ve won four of their last five games. The series with the Rangers will continue Thursday and Friday.

Dodgers win Continued from page 8

and Trayce Thompson tied it, and the key hit was by Miguel Vargas, bringing home Justin Turner with the winning run.

Barnes was the hitting hero with three hits, two RBIs and a run scored as the Dodgers won their 103rd game against 45 losses.

ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21, 2022 7

Ramsey’s rescue gave team first 2022 win Continued from page 8

picked off Marcus Mariota’s pass intended for Bryan Edwards in the end zone, allowing the Rams to hold on for a 31-27 victory.

“I told my teammates it was gonna come back to me and it did,” Ramsey said. “I just continued to focus and do my job.

That was going through my

mind because in the past we pressed to make those plays.

And when you do that, it doesn’t end up well for you.”

The defending Super Bowl champions led the entire game.

But they nearly blew a 28-3 third-quarter lead that would have given the young Falcons an unlikely comeback of their own from that infamous score – Atlanta’s lead in the 2017 Super Bowl before New England rallied to win – to celebrate.

Mariota had second-half touchdown passes to Drake London and Olamide Zaccheaus to bring the Falcons within 31-17. Special teams and defense then

came through to give the veteran quarterback a final chance.

Troy Anderson blocked a punt that Lorenzo Carter returned 26 yards for a touchdown, and a 2-point conversion pass from Mariota to London brought the Falcons within 31-25 with 5:06 remaining. It is the first time since 1990 that the Falcons have blocked a punt in a regular-season game and returned it for a TD. The most recent came in a 2003 playoff game against Green Bay. Los Angeles turned it over on their ensuing drive when Darren Hall forced Kupp to fumble and recovered it at the Rams 37.

Mariota got the Falcons to the Rams 24 before throwing the fateful interception.

“That’s on me, I’ve got to do a better job of communicating that across the board,” said Mariota, who was 17 of 26 for 196 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. “I think, kind of throughout the game I could have done a better job operationally and just communicating with the guys so that everybody’s on the same page.”

Los Angeles took a safety when

returner Brandon Powell ran out of the end zone on punt formation after a three-and-out. After the free kick, Atlanta took over at the Falcons 40, but Mariota was sacked before he could get a Hail Mary attempt off on the final play to ensure Atlanta’s fourth straight 0-2 start.

“There’s a lot of different, very uncharacteristic things, but they happened. And we still found a way,’’ Rams coach Sean McVay said. “We’re not going to run away from some of the things that we didn’t do well today.

But we’re also going to allow ourselves to appreciate being able to come away with a win.”

Matthew Stafford threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns and Cooper Kupp had two TD catches for the Rams, who bounced back from a disappointing defeat against the Buffalo Bills in their season opener.

He completed his first 12 passes en route to going 27 of 36.

Kupp had 11 catches for 108 yards and touchdowns on consecutive drives in the second and third quarters.

Final week before league Continued from page 8

They meet next week in a battle for the Sunset League lead.

THURSDAY • Garden Grove (4-0) at Western (3-1) • Banning (2-3) at Pacifica (1-3) at Bolsa Stadium • Anaheim (0-4) at Santiago (3-1) at Monsoor Stadium FRIDAY • Bolsa Grande (2-2) at Godinez Fundamental (1-4) • La Quinta (0-4) at Century (0-4) • Artesia (0-3-1) at Los Amigos (3-1) • Magnolia (0-4) at Westminster (4-0) • Orange (3-2) at St. Margaret (0-5) • Ocean View (1-4) at Rancho Alamitos (4-0) • Marina (0-4) at St. Anthony (0-4)

Orange County Tribune’s e-paper: Wednesdays, and Saturdays. For a free subscription via e-mail, please send us a request to orangecountytribune@gmail.com.

8 WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21, 2022/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

TheSportsPage

Last Week Before The League Play Still some good matchups this week, though

RAMSEY RESCUED THE RAMS Jalen’s interception preserved win over Falcons (Jared Martinez/Rams))

A scary moment?

Not for Mr. Ramsey

By Joe Reedy AP Sports Writer

INGLEWOOD (AP) – Jalen Ramsey was calm and collected, even in the maelstrom of the fourth quarter that saw the Atlanta Falcons putting together a late rally against the Los Angeles Rams.

While most of the 71,802 inside of SoFi Stadium were dreading the worst Sunday, the All-Pro cornerback knew he was going to be a deciding factor in the final minutes.

With the Falcons driving for a potential go-ahead touchdown, Ramsey Continued on page 7

This Week in Area Football • USC Trojans (3-0): Saturday at Oregon State (3-0) • UCLA Bruins (3-0): Saturday at Colorado (0-3) • Los Angeles Rams (1-1): Sunday at Arizona Cardinals (1-1) • Los Angeles Chargers (1-1): Sunday hosting Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1).

The Los Angeles Dodgers may have already locked up a playoff spot and a National League West flag, but you can’t accuse them of just coasting to the finish.

A five-run rally in the

bottom of the eighth inning at Chavez Ravine lifted the Blue Crew to a 6-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday night.

Austin Barnes started it off with a two-run homer to cut the D-back lead to 5-3. The visitors then helped out with a wild

Marina and Magnolia (all 0-4) will be playing Friday, two of them facing opponents who are also winless.

Here’s the schedule for area high school football games. As always, games, locations, times, etc, are subject to change without notice, so check ahead of time. All games, unless otherwise noted, will start at 7 p.m.

Huntington Beach and Edison have the week off.

Continued on page 7

A third place finish would be a Halo for ‘22

Dodgers are not just coasting to playoffs

By David Arthur Orange County Tribune

This is, for most area high school football teams, the relative calm before the storm. It’s the last week before league play begins.

That doesn’t mean that there aren’t some good football games coming up, though.

On Thursday, two of our High Five teams will clash as Garden Grove (4-0) takes on Western (3-1).

On Friday, Pacifica (13), a team better than its record, hosts Banning High of Wilmington (23), which has been historically a powerhouse in the L.A. City Section of the CIF. Three locals will be seeking their first win of the season. La Quinta,

By Pete Zarustica Orange County Tribune

pitch, a throwing error and two walks.

Singles by Will Smith Continued on page 6

It’s not exactly the same as a division tile or a playoff berth, but finishing third in the American League West is about as big of an accomplishment the Los Angeles Angels can expect to get this season.

To that end, the Halos (65-83) defeated the Texas Rangers (63-84) by the score of 5-2 Tuesday night in Arlington.

That victory allowed the Angels to open up a 1.5game lead over the Rangers in the battle for third.

The Halos had 13 hits, led by Matt Duffy with Continued on page 6