JANUARY
• From the start, 2016 was to be the year of El Niño and, right on schedule, two inches of rain fell in Malibu Canyon in early January. We were all hopeful the drought was finally ending. It turned out not to be the case and the early storm was sort of a false alarm.
• The year began with a double tragedy for Pepperdine University and its student body. A young student, Daniela Benavides, was killed in a New Year’s Day auto accident at her home in Biscayne, Florida, while home on holiday. Before the campus could begin to recover, another student, Cameron Johnson — a student enrolled in their Buenos Aires, Argentina study abroad program, was traveling with fellow students and fell to his death while sightseeing.Â
• In an award that was 65 years in the coming, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) finally recognized the bravery of CHP Officer James Haynes, who dove off the Malibu Pier in 1951 to rescue a depressed woman try to commit suicide. Haynes, the resident CHP officer in Malibu from 1949 to 1959 was awarded the posthumous Medal of Valor in a ceremony at the Jan. 11 Malibu City Council meeting.
• The Los Angeles Rams announced they were finally returning to Los Angeles. The team is owned by part-time Malibu resident Stan Kronke — who also owns the partially rented Malibu Colony Shopping Center where Ralph’s Market is located. LA football fans were elated but somewhat disappointed when the Rams stumbled later in the football season. Â
