A score of years ago
It was only 20 years ago that residents of Chino Hills were debating whether to annex to Chino or go independent. Even the fire district was run by the county, and state and federal highway agencies were approving environmental reports for the future Chino Valley (71) Freeway.
A lot has happened around here in the past 20 years, but some important things took place in 1989 that had an impact on our life today in Chino Valley.
On the east side of the valley Ontario and Chino were girding for a fight over the dairy preserve, the school district was looking for a new superintendent and to the west San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties were fighting over the opening of Grand Avenue, which had been completed on both sides of the county line.
In the outside world, the Berlin Wall fell, George H. W. Bush was president, unemployment was at a 14-year low, an earthquake hit the San Francisco area causing at least 89 deaths and doing massive damage, U.S. troops invaded Panama, and the government had to bail out the savings and loan industry.
The most significant changes were taking place in Chino Hills, where incorporation was being debated. Surveys were finding that hills residents preferred independence, even though it might be more expensive. Two years later they affirmed their feeling.
Building was booming in the hills. The county was running the show under Chino Hills manager Steve Kimbrough. The county planning department was in charge of development. The school district opened two “instant” schools, Butterfield Ranch and Rolling Ridge elementaries, both in temporary quarters until their permanent buildings could be built. Builders sued the school district over building fees to pay for schools. The district hired high powered attorneys and won their case in court.
The school board was looking for a replacement for Supt. Larry Lucas, who resigned suddenly, and hired prominent educator Leland Newcomer to find one. He said it would take four months, and it did. The board hired Artesia’s superintendent Stephan Goldstone, who stayed around for six years and did a commendable job.
Meanwhile, the school employees union, angry over some high placed staff shifts, threatened to recall three board members. Like most recall threats, it proved to be hot air.
The school food service department was having its own problems, having to drop apples, an important health food product, from lunches because of a national scare over the use of Alar, a spray used to enhance apple growth that had been linked with cancer.
One day a class at Howard Cattle School listened to a video talk by just-elected President Bush, but no one made a fuss about it. He was kicking off a drug abuse program, and encouraged the students to write him.
County supervisors, under the urging of Supervisor Larry Walker of Chino, had extended the agricultural preserve east of Euclid and south of Riverside to 1997 to protect the land from developers, while Chino and Ontario were maneuvering to include it in their zones of influence. Dairymen, thinking they would get a better and faster deal from Ontario, formed the short-lived El Prado Chamber of Commerce to push the issue, but the Local Agency Formation Commission wouldn’t go along. It told the two cities to get together on future boundaries. The preserve was ultimately split between the two cities at Merrill Avenue. Chino went ahead and allowed the Preserve to develop. Ontario dairymen are still waiting for developers to buy their land, although some have benefitted from cash deposits that were forfeited to them as the economy soured.
Meanwhile, to the east, the I15 freeway opened between the 60 to the 91 freeways, opening the west Riverside County area including Norco and Eastvale to new development.
Out to the west again, commercial development was underway at Pipeline and Carbon Canyon Rd. (now Chino Hills Parkway). Plans for a new St. Jude’s Hospital medical center on the northeast corner were announced, and a Builder’s Emporium was being built on the southeast corner.
Voters approved county Measure I, a half-cent sales tax for streets and highways. Top priority was given the building of the 71 Freeway.
An out of court settlement over opening Grand Avenue to traffic through Diamond Bar meant the fence would come down the following year.
In the city of Chino, under a redevelopment program, new industry was making its mark. Appreciation in the value of industrial land and buildings was among the highest in the county.
Fred Aguiar was mayor, Richard Rowe city manager. Police chief was Jim Anthony.
After the major earthquake in the San Francisco Bay Area which gave pause to the World Series, damaged the Bay Bridge and crushed cars on a stretch of Oakland freeway, two community meetings were held in Chino on earthquake preparedness. Time for another?
Anniversary notes:
Ground was broken for the Chino Hills Lutheran Church.
The Chino Valley Community Chorus was established by the Community Center Corporation.
A contract was awarded for the completion of Chino Hills parkway from Grand Avenue to Phillips Ranch Road.
Social notes:
Marty and Lois Echito were honored as the most romantic couple of the year at the Community Center Corporation’s annual Sweetheart Ball. The Echitos, high school sweethearts and now residents of the Gardens at Hillsborough senior living facility in Chino, will celebrate their 72nd anniversary this November 20.
And Supervisor Walker, one of the community’s most eligible bachelors, married Carri Estes in August. They now have three strapping teenagers to help them celebrate their 20th.
Copyright 2009 - Champion Newspapers - Published October 24, 2009