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Printed in Garden Grove, California n orangecountytribune.com n Wednesday, July 20, 2022 n orangecountytribune@gmail.com
A SIGN OF THE TIMES
n HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY COUNCIL
Hitting the Brakes on Cannabis
UPDATE: Gina Lockhart, 60, of Huntington Beach has been identified as the victim in the suspicious death investigation. ____________
The tax issue will go first By Jim Tortolano Orange County Tribune
Movement toward legalizing the retail sale and other commercial uses of cannabis products slowed at Tuesday’s meeting of the Huntington Beach City Council. What was at issue Tuesday was approval of resolutions to put cannabis sales – and taxes on them – before voters on the Nov. 8 ballot. However, many of the details proved contentious and all the council could agree on was to advance the idea of taxation. Even that was approved only on a 5-2 vote with Councilmember Erik Peterson and Mike Posey voting against it. Among the chief sticking points were “buffer zones” between cannabis uses – cultivation, manufacturing, retail sales for medicinal or recreational purposes – and other Continued on page 2
You won’t need a Google map or Waze to find your destination around downtown Garden Grove any more. Two new “wayfinding” signs have been installed in the area of Main Street and Garden Grove Boulevard. Other projects on the way for the city’s original central business district include an electrification program which will provide for illumination of trees along a stretch of Main south of Acacia Parkway, as well as permanent “parklets” for outdoor dining along that route. Funding comes from a grant through Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do’s office, with the City of Garden Grove, Garden Grove Community Foundation and Garden Grove Downtown Business Association involved in the planning and implementation.
New coronavirus cases in decline The number of daily new confirmed cases of coronavirus in Orange County has declined from one week ago. According to the county health care agency, the OC had 4,402 new cases in Tuesday’s report for an average of 1,105 per day over the four-day reporting period. That compares to last
Suspect, victim ID’d in killing
Tuesday’s report, which showed 5,172, an average of 1,293. From week to week, hospitalizations rose from 287 to 298, and deaths increased from 10 to 11. The use of intensive care units to treat COVID-19 patients has climbed from 30 to 45. To date, Orange County has had 625,100 con-
firmed cases, of which 589,302 are considered recovered. Deaths are at 7,181. Nationally, The New York Times is reporting that – over a 14-day period – new cases are up 20 percent, deaths are up 9 percent and hospitalizations up by 20 percent. In California, Los AngeContinued on page 2
The identity of a woman whose body was found buried at a Huntington Beach mobile home park has still not been determined, but a suspect has been arrested. According to the HBPD, Antonio Padilla, 34, was charged today (Tuesday) with the killing of the woman. He was originally held as a “person of interest” on Sunday, then formally arrested later. Police were called to the 7800 block of Slater Avenue (west of Beach Boulevard) on Saturday by residents complaining of an odor. The site was excavated and the women’s body was unearthed. Padilla, who is being held without bail, is facing a single count of murder.
n GARDEN GROVE SCHOOL BOARD
Sharing excess food with needy people Food issues are on the menu for Tuesday’s meeting of the Garden Grove Unified School District Board of Education. The board will consider food prices for students and adults for the 2022-2023 school year. No change is planned for the price – zero – to all GGUSD students under a federal universal meal service program. Continued on page 2
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