Los Angeles, Ca
Beloved wild burro population in Southern California facing uncertain future
Many residents in the San Jacinto Mountain community of Reche Canyon are pushing back against San Bernardino County’s plan to remove a portion of the areas famous and beloved wild burro population.
Nearly 70 of the wild animals have already been rounded up after the county’s contract with Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue, a Texas-based organization, went into effect on Dec. 1.
“We really embrace them as a part of our community,” Reche Canyon resident Brandi Augenstein told KTLA’s Shelby Nelson. “It’s kind of fun sometime to watch them from your porch, just watch the donkeys roll through.”
Donkey watching in Reche Canyon is something that many residents and visitors cherish.
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Wild burros seen in Reche Canyon in the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains on Dec. 16, 2024. (KTLA) -
Wild burro seen at DonkeyLand in Riverside on Dec. 16, 2024. (KTLA) -
Wild burros seen in Reche Canyon in the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains on Dec. 16, 2024. (KTLA) -
Wild burros seen at DonkeyLand in Riverside on Dec. 16, 2024. (KTLA) -
Wild burros seen in Reche Canyon in the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains on Dec. 16, 2024. (KTLA) -
Wild burros seen in Reche Canyon in the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains on Dec. 16, 2024. (KTLA)
“They’re part of the wildlife,” Augenstein added. “That’s part of living in a rural area, being able to surround yourself with nature’s beauty. I don’t believe removal is the answer. We have hundreds of thousands of acres back here in Reche Canyon.”
In recent years, though, the donkey population has caused some problems, such as car accidents and traffic backups in the heavily traveled canyon.
“People will pull over, they’ll feed and try to interact with the donkeys,” Robert Kochis who lives in the area told KTLA. “You don’t want to do that. Because of that, they get used to coming up to cars expecting food.”
What some residents are arguing for is proper county enforcement where the burro population is concerned and say the animals provide the much needed service of feeding on the brush and keeping it under control.
“If this brush keeps growing and drying out, this is going to be a real handful for firefighters,” Kochis added. “Without them, it’s not really the same canyon.”
The area is also home to DonkeyLand, one of the nation’s largest facilities for wild burros founded by the late Bob Barker of “Price is Right” fame.
Officials at DonkeyLand released a lengthy statement about the issue, saying the county notified them of the donkey removal only after they started rounding them up.
“Unfortunately, all our efforts to help the wild burros stay in the area they have called home for the past 75 years wasn’t successful enough for the County of San Bernardino,” the statement read in part.
As for the 68 wild burros already captured by officials, they are currently being held on county lands and are likely awaiting shipment to Texas.
Hundreds of students at McNair Elementary School in Compton received a major surprise on Monday morning.
They were all treated to a new bicycle thanks to the Los Angeles Chargers and former Chargers linebacker and “America’s Got Talent” host Terry Crews.
This was all made possible by the Chargers’ impact fund Bikes for Kids giveaway.
Earlier this month, the students were asked to participate in an essay competition. They were told that only selected winners would receive a new bike, but that wasn’t the case.
At a special assembly, it was revealed that everyone at the school was going to get a brand-new shiny bike complete with a helmet. McNair Elementary ranges from TK to 6th grade.
“That bad news is I don’t have one more bike,” Bill Pollakov, co-founder of the Bikes for Kids Foundation told the students. “The good news is, everybody is going to be getting a bike!”
The surprising announcement was received with cheers and screams from the children.
Crews, along with other Chargers legends Marcellus Wiley, Antoine Cason, Kassim Osgood, and Mike Scifres, were also on hand to help distribute new bikes just in time for the holidays.
“This year’s event will mark the first time every student at a school, more than 400 children, will receive a bike,” a press release stated.
That wasn’t the only surprise.
There was also a special gift for a teacher the kids know as Mr. Bill.
Crews surprised Mr. Bill with two tickets to Super Bowl LIX, which takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana on Feb. 9, 2025.
In addition to McNair Elementary, the Chargers Impact Fund, Bikes for Kids Foundation and the Brady Hunter Foundation also donated 200 additional bikes to Para Los Niños, a charter school supporting families in Skid Row, Downtown Los Angeles, and East LA.
An Amber Alert was issued early Monday morning for help finding two children believed to have been abducted by a woman in California’s Tulare County.
Gage Morrellie, 5, and Paizlee Morrelli, 6, were taken from South Front Street and Avenue 48 in the city of Earlimart around 12:30 a.m., the California Highway Patrol posted on X.
Authorities are searching for 29-year-old suspect Makenzie Morrelli in connection with the abduction. The CHP did not specify her relationship to the children.
Makenzie Morrelli was last seen driving a dark blue Scion tC with California plate 6SQA269.
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Makenzie Morrelli is seen in an image provided by the California Highway Patrol. -
Amber Alert license plate number provided by the California Highway Patrol.
Makenzie Morrelli was described as standing 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 150 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. She was wearing a black hoodie and jeans.
Gage Morrelli is 3 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 45 pounds with blonde hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a red, tan and black flannel shirt and blue jeans.
Paizlee Morrelli is 3 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 50 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. She was wearing a black long-sleeved shirt and tan pants with black hearts.
The Amber Alert was initially issued for Tulare Kern, Kings and Fresno Counties. Anyone who may see the vehicle or know the whereabouts of the woman and children was asked to dial 911.
Deputies and loved ones are asking for the community’s help in searching for an at-risk man who was last seen on Dec. 13 in El Monte.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department describes Derek Ceasar Elizondo as a 35-year-old Hispanic male who stands 5 feet and 8 inches tall and weighs about 175 lbs.
According to LASD, Elizondo, who is a resident of Los Angeles County, was last seen around 1:30 p.m. on Friday near the 10000 block of Railroad Street, wearing a black jacket, brown shirt, black pants and black shoes.
Other visual descriptions of the missing person included that he has black hair and brown eyes.
Elizondo’s family members are worried for his well-being, sharing that he suffers from what was only described as “a mental disorder,” and that he requires daily medication.
Officials encourage anyone with information about this incident to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Missing Persons Unit at 323-890-5500.
To provide information anonymously, call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), or use the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
Beloved wild burro population in Southern California facing uncertain future
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