Mats, Aztecs look forward to grid year SPORTS/10
Josh may be hitting stride
‘The Heat’ a hot comedy ARTS&LIVING/5
SPORTS/10
Over 25,000 readers weekly n Thursday, July 4, 2013 n www.ggjournal.com n Vol. 31, No. 53 n Phone: 714-539-6018 n Fax: 714-539-6079
Fireworks blast off in Stanton, GG, Westminster
n WESTMINSTER SCHOOL BOARD
TAUER PLACED ON LEAVE BY 3-2 MAJORITY Recall effort surfacing in wake of action against superintendent
Westminster School District Superintendent Richard Tauer was placed on paid administrative leave indefinitely, effective July 22, following a 3-2 split decision from the Board of Trustees on Monday morning. No official statement has been release regarding why the board made its decision. However, there was plenty of public outcry Monday morning during the special public school board meeting, as district employees, parents and community leaders packed the school board room to voice their support for Tauer. Rumors floated around the past weekend that Tauer would be let go of his duties, which sparked many in attendance to speak in favor of the superintendent. Tension between Tauer and the board amplified in past board meetings this year due to the upcoming school budget and employee layoffs. The board eliminated several administrative positions, including an administrator of curric-
“I think they might be tired of me telling them the right thing.”
ulum and instruction and the director of technology, which Tauer was strongly against. The board did promise to bring back potential eliminated positions, however, no action has been taken. President Mary Mangold advised the board last meeting to postpone voting to reinstate positions until the following scheduled board meeting. After the resolution passed, Tauer and fellow administrators expressed concern what impact the decision would make on the school district. While board members were in the closed session, Tauer said he did not understand the board’s decision about the special meeting, but he praised the school district he served as superintendent since 2010. “I love it here,” Tauer said. Continued on page 2
More charges filed vs. molest suspect More charges have been filed against a man accused of sex crimes against preteen girls in Garden Grove and Stanton. According to the Orange County District Attorney’s office, Bryan William Anast, 45, of Corona, was charged Tuesday with two felony counts of lewd acts against a child under 14 for allegedly molesting the daughter of a family friend. He previously was charged with molesting a girl November 1997 to November 2000. The girl was 11 when the incidents began, say investigators. After a public plea for other possible victims, the second female came forth. Anast allegedly molested the girl, beginning when she was 7, from 1996 to 2000 at his home in Los Angeles County and her home in Orange County. Combined with allegations of possession of child pornography, Anast faces a maximum sentence of 76 years in
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What to expect in the Journal for the next issue and beyond . . . .
JOURNAL PHOTO ESTHER RO
OVER 1,000 PEOPLE followed the Procession Cross around St. Callistus Catholic Church’s campus Saturday to say final goodbyes before moving to a new location up Lewis Street in Garden Grove.
GG congregations bid farewell to familiar places By Esther Ro Garden Grove Journal With wire service reports
BRYAN WILLIAM ANAST New charges filed state prison. He is being held on $1 million bail. Anast was arraigned on the new charges Tuesday at West Justice Center in Westminster. Anast was formerly employed at Disneyland maintaining rides. Investigators are still looking for other possible victims. Anyone with information about this or related incidents is asked to contact Paul Carvo at (714) 347-8794.
Continued on page 2
Tale of two churches
Two Garden Grove churches held epic observances this weekend, as congregations said goodbye to their familiar locations in preparation for a switch. Saturday was a momentous day for St. Callistus Catholic Church in Garden Grove; Sunday’s event was a fond farewell to the Crystal Cathedral by its departing Protestant congregations. “Today, we, the parishioners of St. Callistus, are the chosen people to cross the Red Sea to the Promised Land,” said Father Tuyen Van Nguyen, referring to the Garden Grove Freeway and Christ Cathedral. At 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, the ethnically diverse members of St. Callistus, dressed in traditional Vietnamese ao dai, Mexican ponchos or other formal attire, gathered to bid farewell. The church was filled beyond maximum capacity as dozens of attendees, unable to find an available seat, stood around the perimeter of the room. Liturgical dances were performed, prayers were said, songs were sung and tears were shed. Despite the joys of moving into a larger campus to accommodate their ever-growing congregation, many members of the church were overcome with sadness at leaving St. Callistus, a place where they celebrated baptisms, marriages and quinceañeras, mourned and remembered loved ones in funerals and took various religious vows “This is life,” said Sister Katherine Gray, Director of Mission Integration
COMING UP: Continuing our rollout of 2013 high school football schedules for local teams .... Coverage of Garden Grove and Stanton city council meetings .... Dear Marilyn’s column returns.
“This is life. We let go of one thing to embrace another. This place holds a lot of memories.” at Christ Cathedral. “We let go of one thing to embrace another. This place holds a lot of memories, and we are here to celebrate those memories and look forward to making many more.” The ceremony ended with an excursion around the campus. Over 1,000 people followed a Procession Cross to every building from the chapel to the parish office to the school classrooms. A motorcade of over 200 cars adorned with yellow ribbons followed the closing rituals as church members made their exodus in 21st century fashion north along Lewis Street to Christ Cathedral for the welcoming Mass at 4 p.m. This first Mass was celebrated in the plaza outside the famous glass structure and led by Bishop Kevin W. Vann. According to the Diocese of Orange, Mass cannot be celebrated in the building until “architectural renovations and liturgical alterations are made,” which are expected to be complete in 2015. St. Callistus members await their official move with anticipation as the first Sunday Mass at Christ Cathedral will be held this coming weekend on July 7. “I’m looking forward to [the move],”
FIVE-DAY WEATHER
By Jonathan Smith Garden Grove Journal
Fireworks both legal and illegal will light up the neighborhoods of Garden Grove, Stanton and Westminster today (Thursday). The sale and discharge of “safe and sane” fireworks is legal in all three cities, but only on private property (no streets or parks) with the consent of the property owner. In Garden Grove, the city is in the seventh year of a crackdown on the use of illegal fireworks. Those caught are slapped with a $1000 fine. “Based on the increased number of citations that result almost every year, the message doesn’t seem to be getting through,” said Garden Grove Police Chief Kevin Raney. In 2012, the GGPD issues thousand-dollar citations to 77 people, an increase of 57 percent over 2011. The use of unmarked police cars is believed to contribute to the increase. This year police will deploy an additional 28 officers, in addition to two fire investigators. Police patrols will focus on “high activity” areas including Katella Avenue between Euclid and Brookhurst streets, Dino Circle, Garden Grove Park and the Buena Clinton area.
Continued on page 2
Thursday
Partly Cloudy 77/63
Precip Chance: 10%
Friday
Mostly Cloudy 78/64
Precip Chance: 10%
Saturday
Mostly Cloudy 77/64
Precip Chance: 10%
CONFISCATED FIREWORKS
Power outage strikes Stanton A power outage in Stanton knocked out electricity to thousands of homes and businesses Monday morning. According to Southern California Edison, power in the area of Katella Avenue and Beach Boulevard went out around 9:36 a.m. An estimated 3262 customers were affected. Power was restored to most customers by 11 a.m. Information on the precise cause for the outage was not available at our deadline.
n INDEX Arts & Living/5 Don Alexander/10 Jim Tortolano/3 Journalisms/3 Legal notices/6-9 News & Views/3 Sports/10 What’s Up/3
Sunday
Mostly Cloudy 79/63
Precip Chance: 10%
Monday
Mostly Cloudy 78/66
Precip Chance: 10%
Tu
Partl 7
Precip