Search called off for phantom hang glider
Local authorities searched for a missing person in the waters off of Malibu Sunday morning, Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station Lt. James Royal confirmed. The search began around 10:40 a.m. after a witness reported seeing a hang glider or parachute crash into the water, but was called off a few hours later after no debris or persons were found.
Los Angeles county lifeguards and sheriff’s deputies searched for the missing person near La Costa and Las Flores beaches in eastern Malibu. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and Baywatch boat also searched the area.
“Deputies, lifeguards and coastguard searched the area with boats and a helicopter, and there was no evidence that anyone went in the water,” Royal said.
Crews did find a number of balloons in the water, but it was unclear whether they were related to the report. Additionally, no missing persons reports have been filed locally, Royal said.
Deputies chase driver from Malibu to LA
Deputies chased a suspected drunk driver from the Civic Center area of Malibu to Los Angeles Saturday morning, Malibu/Lost Hills Traffic Sgt. Phil Brooks confirmed. The pursuit began around 9:20 a.m. near the 23000 block of Pacific Coast Highway after several motorists reported seeing a suspected drunk driver. The driver, Benjamin Korman, 44, was driving an older model white Oldsmobile.
Korman led police south on Pacific Coast Highway into Santa Monica. During the chase, he reached speeds of 60 miles per hour, ran several red signals and stop signs and drove on the wrong side of the road a number of times.
“During the pursuit, the driver initiated several U-turns and he was shouting and waving his fists at deputies and pedestrians,” Brooks said.
The pursuit ended around 10:50 a.m. on Lincoln Boulevard, where LAPD caught the suspect and arrested him for reckless evading of a police officer.
Legacy Park named state’s Project of the Year
Malibu’s Legacy Park has been awarded the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Project of the Year Award for the state of California, according to the City of Malibu. Last year, the city won five awards for the park.
Legacy Park was recognized for its “innovative approach to construction, progressive ideas promoting sustainability, and its use of advanced technologies and materials.”
The 15-acre, $35 million project was completed last year. The stormwater and urban runoff project can capture up to 2.6 million gallons of stormwater and urban runoff for treatment and disinfection per day.
“Malibu Legacy Park is an innovative example of incorporating sustainability, showing environmental responsibility and using forward thinking in a project that improves water quality at the adjacent creek, lagoon and beaches, as well as beneficially using captured and treated stormwater and providing valuable habitat and educational opportunities,” said awards committee chair Kathy Haynes.
The award will be presented at a dinner Feb. 28 in Sacramento.
The park has now been submitted for consideration as the American Society of Civil Engineers’ National Project of the Year.
“The creation of Legacy Park is one of the many ways the city has shown its dedication to helping create a cleaner environment and protecting the health of our nearly 13,000 residents and the approximately 15 million visitors who explore Malibu’s mountains and shores annually,” Malibu Mayor Laura Rosenthal said. “We thank The American Society of Civil Engineers for recognizing our commitment to environmental stewardship and our leadership in innovative construction.”
Orbison sons take over company
Former Malibu residents Roy Orbison Jr. and Alex Orbison will take over Nashville-based Orbison Enterprises, after the recent death of their mother, Barbara Orbison. (Their father is the late Roy Orbison).
“Our mother was a respected member of the international music business community,” Roy Jr. and Alex said in a joint statement. “She was passionate about keeping our father’s legacy alive and she was passionate about her ‘family’ of songwriters. We look forward to continuing and further developing her vision in the years ahead.”
Roy Jr. will oversee the Roy Orbison estate and catalog. He most recently co-produced the box set “Roy Orbison: The Soul of Rock and Roll” with his mother Barbara.
Alex will oversee the operation of Still Working/Orbison Music publishing company, which includes such songwriters as Tommy Lee James and Terry McBride.
Trancas mall construction leads to parking changes
The rear parking lot at the Trancas Country Mart shopping center closed last Friday due to ongoing construction. The rear parking lot is expected to remain closed for two to three months. The change should make it easier to get to Starbucks and other businesses in the front portion of the shopping center facing Pacific Coast Highway, but harder to access Trancas Canyon Nursery and Sea Lily. A newly built stairway entrance on Trancas Canyon Road will accommodate foot traffic to the two stores.
The front parking lot, which faces Pacific Coast Highway in front of the empty space that used to be HOWS Market, has been opened.
City seeks poll workers
The City of Malibu city clerk’s office is looking for volunteers to work the polls for the General Municipal Election Tues., April 10 this year, according to a press release from the city.
Registered California voters and eligible high school students can volunteer as poll workers who assist with setting up and closing polling locations, help voters understand their voting rights, and protect ballots and voting equipment, among other duties. Poll workers are paid by the city for their services.
As a part of the city’s Student Poll Worker Program, high school students can volunteer as poll workers. Students 16 or older with a 2.5 GPA or higher are eligible to serve as poll workers. Nomination forms must be received by the city clerk by Feb. 17. To download the nomination form, visit malibucity.org.
Those interested in participating as a poll worker can contact city clerk Lisa Pope at 310.456.2489 x228.
Library seeking community support
The Malibu Library Task Force is seeking community support for costs related to the grand reopening of the Malibu Community Library in April, according to a press release from the city.
The task force is asking residents and business owners to purchase banners that will be hung along Pacific Coast Highway in the weeks leading up to the library’s reopening celebration. Banners can be personalized (up to 40 characters) and cost $250 per individual or family and $500 for a business. The banners will be returned to sponsors after the library’s reopening celebration.
To download the banner application, visit malibucity.org. For more information, call 310.456.2489.
Patrol volunteers needed
The group Malibu Volunteers on Patrol is looking for members who are interested in helping promote safety in the community.
“The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Civilian Volunteers are dedicated to providing excellent service through relationships that build trust, create a safe environment and enhance the quality of life in our communities within a ‘tradition of service,’” the VOP program mission states.
Members provide a minimum of 16 hours per month of service assisting the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department with nonhazardous patrol duties.
Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, live or work in Malibu, have never been convicted of a felony or certain misdemeanor crimes, have a valid California drivers license, must be emotionally stable and not addicted to any illegal or legal substance.
For more information, contact Daniel Villefort at 310.456.9990.