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Poverello House Brings Christmas Cheer to Those Less Fortunate

December 26, 2013, 12:15 pm
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In Fresno, there was one place where gifts were handed out in a big way on Christmas.

The Poverello House handed out toys to needy children Wednesday and they say it's all thanks to generous donations.

About a week ago The Poverello House was short on toys. But with help from the community they were able to make Christmas brighter for children in the area as well as the families of those children who may be falling on hard times.

Along with the gift giving The Poverello house also provided a Christmas lunch.
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Christmas Tree Lane Ends Another Magical Year

December 26, 2013, 12:31 pm
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If you didn't get a chance to visit Fresno's Christmas Tree Lane this year you'll have to wait until next year as Wednesday night, the 91st year of Christmas Tree Lane, came to an end.

Numerous cars, trucks, and SUV's packed with friends and family made that two-mile trek down Van Ness Boulevard to see all the beautiful Christmas displays. About 140 homes and 300 trees along the road were decorated.

Janet and John Ruch were among the many who visited Christmas Tree Lane on it's last night. They said to miss seeing the sight would be like missing Christmas itself.

"I knew there would be so much traffic being it's the last night. We just wanted to see it, and the only way to see it is to get out and walk it. But we've been doing this ever since we've been together, so this is years for us that we come out and do this every year. We can't live in Fresno and not come down here," says Ruch.

The Ruch family says they love to see Christmas Tree Lane but wish there were more walk-only nights to enjoy it.
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GALLERY: Historic Porterville Hotel Destroyed by Fire

December 26, 2013, 4:13 pm
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Fire destroyed a historic building in downtown Porterville early Thursday morning.

It happened at Olive and Main at the Porterville Hotel and large flames were seen shooting out of the building.

The hotel was vacant so firefighters were able to attack the blaze the outside and waited for the walls to collapse.

**All photos courtesy of Audio Connectionz**
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Hmong New Year Celebration Begins

December 26, 2013, 5:27 pm
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Thousands from the Hmong community gathered to celebrate the start of their New Year festivities.
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Locals Enjoy Outdoor Attractions During Warm Winter Weather

December 26, 2013, 5:27 pm
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The Central Valley's above normal temperatures made the day after Christmas feel more like a spring day.

At Fresno's Woodward Park, people wearing short sleeves and gym shorts played outdoor activities.

Grayson Dinino spent the morning playing disc golf with his friends. He said they normally take a trip out to the mountains to hit the slopes during winter break, but the warm day called for different plans.

"We traded in some snow pants for some shorts," Dinino said.

Although people in the Central Valley enjoyed the spring-like weather, this season without much rain is drawing concern.

"Without much significant rain, things are just going to get drier, fuels are going to continue to dry out, and the more dead percentages of fuel in  the vegetation, the faster, hotter and more dramatic a wild land incident can become," said Cpt. Ryan Michaels, public information officer with Fresno County's Cal Fire.

Wildfires could be an even more pressing concern this coming summer than in past years. Already, California has been hit by two rare winter wildfires.  
One is now burning in Simi Valley; another one last week torched homes in Big Sur along the coast.

But here at home in Woodward Park, the unseasonable temperatures were a nice change for a group of visitors who left the snow in Utah.

"We packed for a little bit colder of weather, so it's been kind of a nice surprise," said Karli Woodbury.

Fresno's downtown ice skating rink was another popular outdoor attraction during the warm day.

"It's nice and warm, although we're bundled up. Hopefully the ice will stay cold and we can just enjoy some ice skating," said Amira Jackmon, a Bay Area resident who came to Fresno to visit family.

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Fire Destroys Historic Building in Downtown Porterville

December 26, 2013, 5:36 pm
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Flames ripped through the Porterville Hotel Thursday morning. The building has been vacant for years but it's been around since the late 1800's. Since the building was empty, firefighters did what they could from the outside but the walls crumbled. Investigators are trying to figure out what started to the fire and they say the clean up could take days.
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Man & Boy Killed in Plane Crash

December 26, 2013, 10:33 pm
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A man and a 9-year old boy from Fresno are dead.  This after their single engine plane crashes in the front yard of a home in southwest Fresno.

The accident happened around 6:30 Thursday evening just outside of Chandler Airport’s fence line.

Police say the plane first hit the top of a tree about a mile away near Kearney Boulevard and Thorne Avenue and then eventually crashed at West and Chandler Avenues.

Police say the parents of the child were waiting at the airport for him to return when they witnessed the Cessna 172 go down about 800 feet past the runway.

“As it stands, no on in the house was injured.  Eyewitness reports are saying the plane essentially fell straight out of the sky,” said Koby Johns of the Fresno Fire Dept.

“It was ugly, really ugly,” said Esmeralda Ortega, a witness.

Esmeralda Ortega was visiting family a few doors down from where the plane crashed.  She dialed 911 after noticing the wreckage on fire.

“They didn’t die from thermal injuries.  They died on impact,” said Johns.

Investigators say the man piloting the plane and his 9-year old passenger were flying back from Tehachapi.  The aircraft then suddenly clipped the branches of a tall tree on 
the outskirts of Chandler Airport.

“It sounds like it just stalled and didn’t have enough air speed,” said Johns.

It’s unclear how much experience the pilot had flying.  We also do not know how exactly this man and boy from Fresno are related.

“It’s possibly an uncle, said Johns.

Such a sad set of circumstances leaves many people with heavy hearts.

“It’s hard losing a kid.  Especially at nine years old.  They didn’t even get to live their life,” said Ortega.

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Pilot and 9-Year-Old Nephew Killed in Fresno Plane Crash

December 26, 2013, 11:48 pm
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Just a day after Christmas, two are killed in a fiery plane crash near the Fresno Chandler Airport.
The single engine Cessna plane  clipped a tree at 5 East Hawes street, off Thorne and Kearney blvd. 
It went down in a fiery crash about a mile away in a yard at West and Chandler Avenues.
KSEE 24's Lemor Abrams has more from the crash scene.

Joe Luna saw the small single engine Cessna plane clip the top of his tree, A 60 foot tell pecan tree in his backyard...just across  the street from the Fresno Chandler Airport. 

"It came kind of low...made turn but took off and came all the way around like that....It could have been on the house," Luna said.

He heard pieces of the plane snap off when the plane lost control.

"Oh it was really scary everyone is traumatized right now," he said.

The plane landed in a fiery crash about a mile away in another backyard.
Cell phone cameras captured the flames.
A man and his 9-year-old nephew from Fresno were killed on impact.
No one inside the house was hurt.

"His air speed was too low and the plane stalled and landed in front yard of residence in north end of the runway," said Fresno Fire Spokesman Kobi Johns.

The plane took off from Fresno Thursday evening and turned around at Tehachapi- that's near Bakersfield, before crashing at about 6:20pm. 
"It happened about 3 years ago right there we ran out there and saved that guy pulled him out of plane," Luna recalled.
This time we're told the boys parents waited for him at the Chandler Airport and witnessed the plane go down.
The NTSB is expected to arrive Friday morning to investigate what caused the plane to crash. 

Fresno police will stay at the scene until then. 
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Teen Accused of Shooting Fresno Teacher Appears in Court

December 27, 2013, 11:57 am
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One of four teenagers accused in the shooting of a teacher at Edison High School in Fresno appeared in court Friday morning.

Sixteen year old Jose Zinzun, who is being tried as an adult, plead not guilty.

Police say Zinzun shot the teacher twice. They also say Zinzun and the other teens accused of the shooting were taking part in a gang initiation.

Zinzun also face of attempted second degree robbery.

The teacher is recovering.
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Deputy Killed on Christmas Eve Honored in South Valley

December 27, 2013, 12:05 pm
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A sheriff's deputy who died on Christmas Eve in a tragic accident continues to be honored in Tulare County.

Thirty one year old Jeremy Meyst was killed after crashing a transport van carrying two inmates.

On Thursday, the Tulare County Board of Supervisors ordered all flags on county property to be flown at half-staff in remembrance of Meyst.

The deputy was a 2001 graduate of Mount Whitney High School in Visalia. He leaves behind a wife and two children.
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Valley Anti-DUI Campaign Leads to More Than 100 Arrests

December 27, 2013, 12:13 pm
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In less than two weeks more than 100 people were arrested in Fresno and Madera counties for driving under the influence.

Those drivers were kept off the road thanks to the Avoid the 21 campaign that started on December 13th and since that time, officers arrested more than 114 people.

The Avoid the 21 campaigns will continue throughout the valley for the next few weeks so please remember to think before you drink and drive.
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Fresno State's Adams Turning Pro

December 27, 2013, 12:24 pm
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Fresno State wide receiver Davante Adams is skipping his senior year to enter the 2014 NFL Draft.

HE NOTIFIED BULLDOGS HEAD COACH TIM DEURYTER THURSDAY.

ADAMS LED THE MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE IN RECEPTIONS THIS YEAR.

THIS SEASON, HE CAUGHT A SCHOOL-RECORD AND NATION'S LEADING 131 PASSES, AND HAD ANOTHER SCHOOL-RECORD FOR 1,718 YARDS.

HIS 24 RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS IS ONE SHORT OF THE FRESNO STATE CAREER RECORD, WHICH WAS SET BY HENRY ELLARD, AND MATCHED BY CHARLIE JONES AND BERNARD BERRIAN.

ADAMS RECENTLY RECEIVED A THIRD-ROUND EVALUATION FROM THE N-F-L DRAFT ADVISORY BOARD.

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Still Time to Catch 'Zoo Lights' at Chaffee Zoo

December 27, 2013, 1:43 pm
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Before the new year begins don't forget to visit the zoo.

It's the last weekend to catch a little Christmas at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo.

Zoo lights transforms the zoo into a winter wonderland. Festive lights went up to string more than a dozen acres right after Thanksgiving and the holiday event runs through this Sunday, December 29th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Tickets start at just $4 dollars.
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Chandler Airport Crash Retraced

December 27, 2013, 6:12 pm
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Veteran pilot Doug Betts took CBS47 through the same approach that led up to Thursday's fatal crash.
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Investigators Work to Determine Cause of Fatal Plane Crash

December 27, 2013, 6:40 pm
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NTSB investigators spent the day Friday documenting the wreckage of a single-engine Cessna plane that crashed Thursday night in Southwest Fresno, killing two people.

The pilot was a man in his 70s, according to Joshua Cawthra, the lead investigator of this case for the NTSB.

The pilot, and the 9-year-old, who is believed to be his nephew, were killed in the fiery crash.
 
The Fresno County Coroner's Office has not released the identities of the victims. 

Sometime late Thursday afternoon, the pilot and the passenger left Chandler Airport in Fresno and traveled out near Tehachapi. It's not yet known whether the plane landed in Tehachapi, but the plane turned around and was attempting to land back at Fresno's Chandler Airport, Cawthra said.

The pilot was licensed to operate the private aircraft, and it is unknown whether that license was current. The pilot's license listed him as a resident of Tehachapi. He was not the registered owner of the plane, which is not unusual, Cawthra said.

"Witnesses along the length of the airport reported seeing the plane flying at a fairly low altitude for the entire length of the runaway," Cawthra said.

During the attempt to land the 172 K model plane, something went wrong.

The left wing of the plane clipped a tree in the backyard of a home across the street from the airport.

"Came kind of low, made an unusual turn, but then took off and made another path, it came all the way around like that, and then clipped that tree," said Joe Luna, who's tree the plane clipped.

The plane was able to continue flying, finally crashing in the front yard of a house at the north end of the runway.

Nobody on the ground was injured.
 
The victims died on impact, said Koby Johns, public information officer with the Fresno Fire Department.

Now, investigators are working to determine the cause of the crash.

"We're trying to collect all the factual evidence and all the factual information regarding the aircraft in hopes to ultimately determine what happened, why it happened, and how to hopeful prevent these types of accidents from ever occurring again," Cawthra said.

The NTSB will release a preliminary report within five business days, but a complete official report to determine the cause of the crash can take from six months to a year.
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DUI Crackdown

December 27, 2013, 10:14 pm
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All across the valley extra law enforcement officers are out on the streets cracking down on drunk drivers.

It's all part of the Avoid the 21 Winter Holiday Campaign which kicked off December 13th.  Since then it has netted 114 DUI arrests.  That's up from last year at this time when there were 96 DUI arrests.  21 law enforcement agencies in Fresno and Madera Counties participate in this operation.

As officer Joe Ploharz patrols Fresno's streets for drunk drivers, he's keeping his eyes out for hazardous violations.

"Someone speeding, running a stop sign, running a stop light, swerving within their lane, swerving in opposite lanes," said officer Joe Ploharz, Fresno Police Dept.
     
Eyewitness news rode along as he stopped a car for not having a front license plate.  The driver checks out clean, but it could have easily lead to bigger things.

"You never know, I would say I get more DUIs on your random stop than actually going out looking for them.  Sometimes you look so hard it doesn't workout.  You stop them for a mechanical violation and there you go," said Ploharz.
     
Next up was a traffic backup on Huntington Blvd.  A family looking at christmas lights caused everyone to drive five miles an hour.  However, the real problem is the driver only has an ID card; no license.

A check of records shows it's suspended for a prior DUI.

"That in itself is satisfying knowing you got a potential future offender off the road for the night.  His car will be impounded and he will be cited and released," said Ploharz.
     
As the holiday celebrations continue police are not saying don't drink.  Just do so responsibly.

"Make a plan ahead of time so you don't get in a predicament where you make a bad decision.  Killing somebody, killing a family member, killing someone else's family member and spend the rest of your life in jail," said Ploharz.

DUI checkpoints will run throughout the weekend and up through new year's eve.

You can help police catch drunk drivers too.  If you see someone driving erratically, report it by calling 911.
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NTSB: Pilot Circled Around Chandler Airport Before Fiery Crash

December 27, 2013, 11:13 pm
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New developments were revealed Friday into the moments leading up to the fiery crash at the Fresno
Chandler Airport.

NTSB investigators say a licensed pilot in his seventies clipped a tree of a
house at Thorne and Kearney Blvd., then crashed and burned on impact in another
yard at West and Chandler Ave...less than a mile from the airpot.

KSEE 24's Lemor Abrams has the latest from NTSB and reaction from a local
experienced pilot.

As NTSB drove off with the burned plane wreckage Friday, Jack Wiegand spoke
to us from his hangar...feet away from the crash site.

"It's surprising because planes are really safe
machine--it's really hard to get in trouble," said Wiegand.

Wiegand says he proved that... this summer when he became the youngest pilot
to fly around the world, 25,000 miles, in two months, at 21 years old.

But on Thursday evening, Wiegan flew his Piper into the Chandler
Airport...just an hour before a licensed pilot crashed this small Cessna about
3:30pm.

"What was unique about that day was that it was a hazy day...and the crash
was also at night so it's not norm of flying and the haze decreases visibility,"
he said.

NTSB Investigator Josh Cawthra says the pilot radioed in about 10 minutes
South of Fresno, reporting he could see the airport.

And as he got closer,  investigators say the pilot began circling the
runway...before ultimately clipping a tree and crashing in a yard less than a
mile West of the runway.

"We're in data collection mode in hopes to determine what caused the
crash and why," said Cawthra.

The Fresno Co. Coroner says the pilot, a man in his seventies from Tehachapi,
and the 9-year-old from Fresno, were badly burned.

Wiegand's heart goes out to the families.

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Third Grader at Bullard Talent ID'd as Plane Crash Victim

December 28, 2013, 9:44 pm
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The Fresno County Coroner's Office has identified 8-year-old Finn Thompson as the young victim of Thursday night's single-engine plane crash in Southwest Fresno.

Finn was a third grader at Bullard Talent K-8 school.

Fresno Unified School District spokesperson Susan Bedi released a statement Saturday that reads in part, "He was well-liked by his classmates and teachers. Psychologists will be on campus to support students and staff when they return from winter break. Please keep his family in your thoughts during this very difficult time."

A Tehachapi man in his 70s who is believed to be Finn's great uncle was also killed in the fiery crash. The Fresno County Coroner's Office has not released the identity of the pilot.

Thursday night, the pilot had radioed in when they were only 10 miles south of the Chandler Executive Airport in Fresno, said Joshua Cawthra, lead investigator of this case with the National Transportation and Safety Board.

Before attempting to land the plane, the pilot circled around the airport, clipping a tall tree in the backyard of a house near the airport.

"From there the aircraft was observed by witnesses and by radar data to do another left 180 degree turn back toward the runway," Cawthra said.

The plane then crashed into the front yard of a home right outside of the runway.

As investigators try to determine what went wrong, the attention now turns to safety and prevention for those in the aviation community.

"What we look at is what kind of circumstances, what situations could lead up to that type of a predicament for me? So it's a way to engage our own safety habits to improve the margin of safety that we have to hopefully prevent that from happening," said Doug Betts, a seasoned aviator and FAA safety expert who is part of the Central Valley Aviation Association.

The NTSB continues to investigate this crash. They'll release a preliminary report within a few days, but a complete report can take anywhere from six months to one year.

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Man Arrested for Lewd Acts With a Minor

December 29, 2013, 12:42 pm
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In the South Valley a 31 year-old man is under arrest, he is accused of having sex with a 14 year-old girl.

Jose Luis Gutierrez was arrested on Inner Drive near Farmersville.


Two 14 year-old girls were in the home with him.

Gutierrez is being held on $450,000 bail.
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Man Shot Several Times in Porterville

December 29, 2013, 12:48 pm
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In the South Valley a man is in critical condition after he was shot several times.

The shooting happened on Walnut near Springville in Porterville when Tulare Sheriff's deputies arrived at the scene they found the victim had been shot several times.

The 34 year-old man is listed in critical condition at the hospital.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Tulare Sheriff's Department.
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