🌱 $5K Reward For Stolen Maltese + Praise For HB Students At UA

Happy Monday, Huntington Beach, and happy National Peanut Butter Day! Let's get you all caught up to start today off on an informed note.

A pet owner alleges that a groomer stole their dog. Also, there are several HB students attending UA who are doing a fantastic job. Finally, a person who in the past was associated with the Huntington Beach Union High School District was arrested on suspicion of possessing child pornography.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 69 Low: 49.

Here are the top five stories in Huntington Beach today:

1. Did a pet groomer steal a customer’s Maltese? The customer alleges that an employee working for the business for only two days took the dog and never came back. The pet's owner now offers a “$5,000 reward - no questions asked.” (ABC)
2. Shoutout to the HB students who made the Dean’s list, or President’s list, of the University of Alabama. They are Lindsey Bautzer, Bailey Hansen, Amy Berbiglia, Riley Burke, Madyson Esparza, Cade Ortiz, Tani Song, Ella Thomas, and Anysa Wilson. Congratulations! (HBN)
3. Randal Stevens, a former Huntington Beach Union High School District audio and visual technician, was arrested Monday “on suspicion of possessing child pornography.” The Long Beach Police Department went to the 53-year-old-man’s home after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, indicating that someone in LB was “in possession of child sexual abuse material.” The PD believes that Stevens “may have more victims.” If you have information, please call the LBPD’s Computer Crimes Detail at (562) 570-7223. (CBS)
4. The Pacific White Sea Bass can grow up to six feet in length and 88 pounds in weight. It used to be tremendously popular with ocean anglers. However, over-fishing led to an absence of the species that used to be plentiful along the OC coast. We learned Thursday that a variety of nurseries are now trying to replenish the fish species and have already released 2.4 million fish over the last few decades. (ABC)
5. The regional homeless count is back on the calendar. Individuals in shelters will be counted the night of February 21. Those not in shelters will be included in the count from February 22 to 24. In 2019, “2,899 people in Orange County were in an emergency or transitional shelter and 3,961 were unsheltered. More than 300 were veterans. Nearly 300 were young people. More than 600 were seniors. The count also found 466 families living on the streets.” (Voice of OC)

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Today in Huntington Beach:

• Yoga On The Beach near the Left Side Tower 14, 14th St & PCH (9 AM and 4 PM)
• PEANUTS Celebration at Knott's Berry Farm (10 AM)
• Miss Maribel's Virtual Family Story Time (online) (10 AM)
• What it Takes to Be Successful in Crypto (online) (5 PM)
• Literacy Learner Orientation with the Huntington Beach Public Library (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• A Regency Palms neighbor wants you to know that they do car detailing. (Nextdoor)
• A Suburbia Park neighbor is looking for a referral for someone to replace a fireplace cap that blew off in our recent winds. (Nextdoor)
• Our Pacific Shores neighbor wants to know if the trash and recycle bins in Huntington Beach really go to the same place. They were told it didn't matter which bin they use, as it is sorted later anyway. (Nextdoor)
• A new Center neighbor is looking for a good maid. Does anyone have a suggestion or a maid they can refer? (Nextdoor)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! See you tomorrow morning for your next update.

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Best Fiends (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.