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Published on 07/07/1999 All articles from this issue

News Briefs

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Woman robs local bank

Los Altos police responded to a bank robbery at 10:12 a.m. on June 29 at Bank of America at 227 S. San Antonio Rd. in downtown Los Altos.

The suspect went directly to a teller station, produced a note and demanded money, police said. She was given an "undisclosed amount of cash" and fled from the bank in an unknown direction, police said.

Witnesses described the suspect as a black female in her 20s, 5 feet 3 inches, 150-180 pounds, with short hair and dressed casually in dark clothing.

Last Wednesday, police showed the teller pictures of the suspect taken from the security cameras, said Los Altos Police Sgt. Mark Macaulay. The robbery "could be similar to another in the area," Macaulay said.

Feds fund new Moffett hangar

Rep. Anna Eschoo (D-CA) announced June 29 that $14 million may be coming for a new hangar at Moffett Federal Airfield in Mountain View for the California Air National Guard 129th Rescue Wing.

The money comes from the House Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee that approved the funding.

"This represents a major step to ensure that the 129th Rescue Wing remains a vital component of California and national civil and military defense," Eschoo said.

The 129th Rescue Wing is the only Air National Guard Rescue Wing in California. The current hangar, World War II-era and designed for dirigibles, is woefully inadequate, Eschoo said.

The full appropriations committee was expected to accept the subcommittee's recommendations and pass the funding bill late last week.

City to re-bid fire station job

Only one contractor bid on the $422,000 seismic upgrade and retro-fit project for the Los Altos (Sequoia) Fire Station on Almond Avenue.

City staff discovered that most contractors are busy over the summer with school construction.

"It was really eye-opening," said Bruce Bane, director of public works for the city of Los Altos, "the impact of all the school work. They have this little tiny window when they have everything going," Bane said.

Summer vacation is the big time for school renovation. After the successful passage of bonds, work is in progress at elementary and high schools all over the area.

The one bid that did come in was 34 percent over the architect's estimate, Bane said.

A state grant will pay $154,000 of the fire station project, with a net cost to the city of about $268,000, Bane said.

- Joanne Griffith Domingue