Free Republic

The most successful congregations are those that do not seem to have much going for them, according to a renowned urban evangelist. First Presbyterian Church of Pomona, Calif., had more than 2,000 members in 1939. With membership down to 80 people 50 years later, the church was on the verge of extinction, the Presbyterian News Service reported. At that time, the once thriving church was only interested in preserving itself and returning to "the glory years," evangelist Robert Linthicum had said at a Presbyterian Church USA social justice conference in New Orleans recently. "If the church is caught up in...

Fifty-seven suspected gang members were arrested after a yearlong investigation into the death of a CHP officer who was shot by a 16-year-old boy outside a courthouse, authorites said Monday. Investigators from local, state and federal agencies began arresting the suspected members of the Pomona 12th Street Sharkies gang Friday on charges ranging from conspiracy to commit murder to weapons and drug-related violations, California Attorney General Bill Lockyer said in a statement. Authorities used wiretaps, informants, surveillance and undercover agents during the investigation to obtain evidence against alleged gang leaders. Authorities seized dozens of weapons, more than $43,000 in cash,...

POMONA - A group running from coast to coast for immigrants' rights may have an extra skip in its step today after scoring a symbolic victory from Pomona city leaders Monday night. The City Council passed a resolution late Monday condemning a federal proposal for tough new immigration restrictions -- a decision made on the heels of a colorful morning rally staged by the runners on City Hall's steps. The vote followed nearly two hours of public comment, much of it in favor of the resolution. City council members, concerned about the resolution's language, however, proposed amending portions of it...

After Friday-night prayers, inside a modest mosque behind a McDonald's on Murchison Avenue in Pomona, nearly 400 Muslims were gathered for a rare town hall meeting on the situation in Iraq. They were Shiites and Sunnis, men, women and children from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds from throughout Southern California. But, inside Ahlul-Beyt Mosque, a Shiite house of worship, those labels appeared not to matter.

POMONA — A former Monrovia gang member was behind bars today in connection with the 2001 kidnapping and murder of a Cal Poly Pomona student on her way to a fraternity party. The Chi Omega sorority member, who was found with her throat slit, had been on her way to a fraternity party in Pomona when she was abducted.

Flushed ring fished out, years later By Ann Schrader Denver Post Staff Writer Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - Arvada - More than a quarter- century ago, Jerry Duran watched his 1978 Pomona High School class ring swirl around the toilet bowl and disappear. On Tuesday, the gold ring with an aquamarine stone was headed back to Duran, who now lives in Del Norte, where he builds custom bicycles and is a ski patrol member at Wolf Creek Ski Area. Duran, who said he hadn't thought about the ring in years, said its return is "much to my surprise." Arvada Wastewater...

LOS ANGELES -- An arrest has been made in the shooting death of a California Highway Patrol officer outside the Pomona courthouse. Images From Shooting Scene The announcement was made during a press conference Thursday morning. Thomas Steiner was shot three times Wednesday afternoon while standing in front of the Pomona South Courthouse. He was 35 years old. With tears in his eyes, Pomona Police Chief James Lewis told a news conference a 16-year-old juvenile was taken into custody early Thursday in Pomona. Lewis says the suspect was looking to kill a police officer. "There is no indication at all...

Officer Shot Outside Courthouse Dies POSTED: 3:15 PM PDT April 21, 2004UPDATED: 7:51 PM PDT April 21, 2004 LOS ANGELES -- CHP spokesman Tom Marshall said 35-year-old CHP officer died at a Pomona hospital where he was taken following a shooting outside a Pomona courthouse Wednesday afternoon.Images From Shooting Scene He suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head.The officer is identified as Thomas Steiner. He is a five-year veteran.Reports say the officer leaves a wife and a 3-year-old son.According to CHP Officer Armando Clemente, Steiner was standing in front of the courthouse when a man shot him in the...