In order to fix its budget deficit, the City of Orange has elected to slash funding for several sectors, including the school crossing guard program. 

The city is responsible for filling the positions, and there were 14 part–time crossing guards at schools across the city – but not all – before the program was cut. 

According to city officials, not having the crossing guards saves Orange around $425,000 a year. 

It’s not just patrols outside schools that have been nixed; Orange has also cut out some annual events to save money, including the city’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony.   

Orange Mayor Dan Slater told KTLA’s Chip Yost that they also reduced funding for the library and essentially had a “hiring freeze” and were simply not filling open positions in an attempt to reduce spending. The cuts have saved the city about $5.5 million, which still doesn’t cover the entire $19 million deficit. 

“[The deficit] is not anything new – we’ve had budget deficits going back to about 2010 – but we are finally trying to address that,” Mayor Slater said. “Tough times call for tough measures, and we can’t spend money we don’t have.” 

Budget cuts aren’t the only tactic officials are using to minimize the deficit. City residents will be able to vote on a citywide sales tax increase on the November ballot to raise more revenue. 

Officials also said they are looking for sponsors for events such as the annual Christmas tree lighting so that they can keep community traditions alive. 

The body of a missing hiker was discovered Sunday after she was swept away in a flash flood at Grand Canyon National Park days earlier, officials said.

Chenoa Nickerson, 33, from Gilbert, Arizona, was found dead around 11:30 a.m. in the Colorado River by members of a commercial river trip, the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) said. Park rangers responded and recovered the body, which was airlifted to the Coconino County medical examiner. 

Nickerson was hiking near Havasu Creek and Beaver Falls around 1:30 p.m. Thursday when the flash flood inundated the area and stranded several hikers above and below the falls, officials said. 

Park Rangers immediately launched a rescue mission to help those stranded. Nickerson, however, was reported as missing after the rushing water was believed to have swept her into Havasu Creek about half a mile above the Colorado River confluence. 

ICELAND ICE CAVE COLLAPSE KILLS 1 TOURIST, LEAVES 2 OTHERS MISSING

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Chenoa Nickerson, 33, from Gilbert, Arizona, was found dead Sunday at around 11:30 a.m. in the Colorado River, officials said. (National Park Service)

Officials said Nickerson was not wearing a life jacket when the flash flood engulfed the area. Search and rescue crews conducted a multi-day search for her.

Officials said Nickerson was not wearing a life jacket when the flash flood struck the area and swept her into Havasu Creek. (National Park Service)

NPS and the Coconino County medical examiner are investigating the incident. Officials said no further details were immediately available.

Havasu Creek is a tributary to the Colorado River, where Nickerson’s body was found days after being swept away in a flash flood, officials said. (National Park Service)

DOG, BACKPACK FOUND AFTER OWNER DISAPPEARS INTO CALIFORNIA WILDERNESS: POLICE

Rochelle Tilousi, who lives near Havasu Creek, told FOX10 Phoenix last week that beautiful skies had given way to a sudden deluge that lasted at least 30 minutes.

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“It was very scary,” Tilousi said. “That’s the second-biggest flood I’ve ever experienced in my life.”

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Police have issued a warning to residents in West Los Angeles, including the neighborhoods of Bel-Air, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades and Westwood to take extra caution due to a rise in residential burglaries.

Three masked suspects seen on surveillance video attempting to break into a Bel-Air home on Roscomare Road Saturday is the most recent incident where police say thieves targeted an upscale neighborhood.

Investigators believe as many as six suspects armed with tools were involved in the attempted burglary but were scared off by Los Angeles police responding overhead.

The suspects fled the area before officers arrived at the home.

In Brentwood on Friday two male suspects broke into a home in the 300 block of South Bunday around 10:30 p.m.

The suspects did gain entry and got away with items taken from the home.

Another Brentwood home was hit earlier this month as well. On Aug. 15, police responded to a home on San Vicente Boulevard where thieves broke in.

It was unclear if the residents were home at the time of the two Brentwood incidents.

Burglars at another Bel-Air home were chased off shortly after gaining entry on Aug. 8. but it was unclear if any items were taken.

The incidents have prompted the LAPD to issue an alert warning residents about organized crews of usually two to four males taking jewelry, handbags and cash from homes.

The burglars have been known to ransack rooms looking for valuables and often have a getaway car parked outside with someone acting as a lookout, the Santa Monica Mirror reported.

The getaway vehicles are often rentals with dealer plates or stolen plates, according to police.

Burglars may also be using wifi jammers to interrupt the signal or residential security cameras and use handheld radios to communicate, the Mirror reported.

Residents were given several suggestions to increase their home security:

• Install surveillance systems
• Secure sliding glass doors
• Bolt down safes, add GPS trackers
• Join watch programs
• Check for hidden recording devices

Residents were also urged to share information with neighbors and be on the lookout for drones in the neighborhood.