News here at 6 begins right now.
Live you're watching NBC 4 LA news at 6.
A woman hauling human remains through a neighborhood in Ontario is in jail
tonight and police have a lot of questions about the victim, what happened
and why. Good evening everyone at 6 o'clock. I'm Colleen Williams and I'm
Chuck Henry. Well, it is indeed as you hear, it's all very, very strange. The
circumstances leading up to it are still unclear. The suspect is Colleen
mentioned a woman from San Bernardino. She was hauling the human remains along
Holmes Avenue in Ontario. Jennifer Bjorkland has more of the details. Jen.
Sorry, Chuck. Crime scene investigators have wrapped up their work here and
while they don't know exactly if the crime happened here, there is a big
hole in the backyard that has evidence that there was a body in it.
The backyard of this house was the focus of the investigation today after police
arrested this woman, 51 year old Carmen Montenegro out in front of it yesterday.
She was pushing a trash can full of body parts up the street. Neighbors
shot this video of it. She seemed kind of sad, but you know, not not upset or
not crying and I didn't know what they were doing and then they just all
sudden they just arrested her while detectives spent all night following up
on leads. They used the daylight to unearth whatever clues they could hear
and holes in the backyard found evidence that a body had been there, but no
evidence of a crime scene, no basement, no room that showed evidence of a body
being dismembered. We're not sure if the homicide occurred here. We do know we
have human remains. That is a fact and that in some connection to the female
since she was trying to leave location with the body, we had like a little
pow wow. It was like 10 of us neighbors got together and I told them all what I
knew and everyone was just shocked. The neighborhood is a tight knit one where
everyone is now trying to come up with a theory about what happened and what
Carmen Montenegro might have gotten herself into. Carmen was always in
trouble. She wasn't. She was doing drugs, but police say she asked for a
lawyer immediately and everyone else in the house who was taken in for
questioning has since been released. Do you know anything about that? That
particular house? Is that like a problem house in the neighborhood? Not that I
know of. No, you know, it's pretty quiet neighborhood, but they are all talking
tonight with widely varying theories on who the victim might be, where and when
he died. But you know, until the coroner does a preliminary report, none of that
information will be confirmed to anybody live in Ontario. Jennifer Bjorklin, NBC
four L. A. All right, Jen. Thank you. A 14 year old Orange County girl has
irreversible brain damage. She was hit by suspected drunk driver over the
weekend. This is a picture of 14 year old Ashton Sweet. She's being kept alive
so her family can find out if her organs can be donated to others. Her
friend you see here, Krista Mercer remains hospitalized. This crash
happened early on Sunday morning in Irvine. All day long, friends and family
left notes and flowers at the crash scene. Witnesses say the driver of a
truck ran a red light and crashed into them. Police arrested 26 year old Austin
Farley on suspicion of drunk driving. I'm very angry. I've heard rumors that
this isn't the first time that he's drank and drive.
It's just all bad. That young lady was in the car. She suffered a concussion
when Ashton's friends returned to school at Northwood High School tomorrow.
They say they will all wear white to remember her for the second time in two
days. Firefighters were called out to Dodger Stadium to put out a small fire.
This fire reported around five o'clock this morning inside a cinder block
storage room. Now this is the same storage room where a fire broke out
during Saturday's game. Saturday's fire was caused by paper products catching
on fire. No word on what caused this fire. Firefighters now say they may
change how they fight fires around lakes and streams. They may limit fire
retardant drops in those areas because those chemicals can kill fish and cause
other negative impacts on the environment. Now we certainly see a lot
of those fire retardant drops when firefighters battle the brush fires
around here during fire season. That orange chemical is called Foscheck. It
helps slow down the advance of the flames. The L. A Times reports
firefighters use about 28 million gallons every year. The Forest Service
is still reviewing the proposed changes and will make a final decision by the
end of this year. If that does happen, there will be exceptions. For instance,
a pilot will release the fire retardant near a lake or stream if someone's life
is in danger. President Obama today made the traditional visit to Arlington
National Cemetery and the Tombs of the Unknown, where he paid tribute to
America's fallen.
Mhm. Yeah.
Mhm.
The president and the first lady stood at attention while a bugler played taps
at the beginning of the ceremony. Today, the president placed a wreath at the
tomb to honor all those who have served and died for our country.
Our nation
owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay.
But we can honor their sacrifice
and we must.
We must honor it in our own lives by holding their memories close to our
hearts
and heating the example they set.
The president also went to Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery. That is
where mostly fallen soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan have been buried since
9 11.
The sons of the Confederacy held a Memorial Day protest today by displaying
the Confederate flag at the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Westwood.
Participants say they are contempt commemorating the 150th anniversary of
the Civil War. Conan Nolan joins us live from Westwood right now, where the
display of the Confederate flag has irked many people who showed up at the
cemetery today. Conan,
but Colleen, the fact is this is the only day out of the year where the
Confederate flag legally can be flown at the Los Angeles National Cemetery
and it can only be flown on this day because of a disputed grave of a
Confederate soldier here who died a Yankee
outside the Los Angeles National Cemetery. Vietnam vet John Medlin
protests a flag that he says dishonors such hollowed ground. They seceded from
the union in order to keep slavery.
That's not what I fought for in Vietnam. This should not happen.
While it has been part of what flies for the state of Mississippi, the
Confederate battle flag has also been allowed to fly in Memorial Day
celebrations here in the past, which has rankled more than a few. I feel highly
insulted every time I see it. Why not have the Nazis and the Japanese and the
North Koreans and a via Kong out here? A group known as the sons of the
Confederacy were allowed to fly the flag because of this man. Liza King was a
Confederate deserter who ended up fighting for the Union Army, the only
man buried here who wore gray. He's buried here because he was a member of
the Union Army, not the Confederate. Yes, sir.
Civil War reenactors here fly the colors of their state regiment while trying to
impart the history of a troubled period. We talked to the public about what went
on price with how little they know at times. Yes, we do have some education to
make up there because they're taught different things or not taught at all.
They steer clear of the flag fight. Marv Thompson, an African American, plays a
rebel sergeant. Some would say that reenactment is about history, but a
flag is about honor. So they say that's where we draw the line. No, I don't agree
with that at all. You know, I'm a civil right reenactor, basically telling the
truth on what really happened out there and what it was about.
As it turns out, the sons of the Confederacy didn't show up today. There
was no battle flag controversy today. At least the only flag we saw today was
the ones on each one of the 76,000 graves here at the Los Angeles National
Cemetery. I'm Conan Nielsen and Westwood Channel four news back to you. And there
shouldn't be a controversy Memorial Day. Now, no doubt you've heard of combat
journalists or combat photographers. But what about a combat artist coming up in
a moment? We're gonna introduce you to a local man who has been this country's
largest contributor to combat art for some time.
Plus thousands of people turned out all across southern California today to
honor fallen heroes, the sights and sounds of local Memorial Day festivities.
And when there's friends. Well, now that we've tweaked the weather toward
loveliness, can we just hold on to this for a while? I'll tell you about it with
the surf advisory in my full forecast coming up to you.
If I'm watching news as a viewer, I want someone I trust and someone who knows
what they're talking about the news and as a two way process. And I do feel
that we get feedback from viewers. And that's really important to hear what
you think about what we're doing so that we can better communicate.
Eight time world champion,
many back man.
Yeah, all I do is clean, clean, clean, no matter what. Got money on my mind. I can never get enough. And every time I step up in the building, everybody hands go up. And they say celebrating 25 years of fun.
San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino.
People ask me often, where do you get your investigative stories? Do you have
great sources? Why have good sources? But you get your best stories sometimes from
just listening. The everyday problems of people are often the seeds of great
investigative stories.
On this Memorial Day, we'd like you to meet john Kennell, a local vet who has
served as an official combat artist for the military during the Vietnam War.
Here's his story now in his own words.
Combat artist is a program that was developed by the army to illustrate and
document the history and chronological events of the war, which was gathered
together and then produced into a book for the veterans who were exiting the
country as part of their package for being in Vietnam. What the combat art
program was to try to raise the morale of the troops and show them that there
was, you know, something that they could tangibly have was like your your yearbook.
And I was a draftee, and they really took a big chance on me. I was not army. I
didn't join. I was I was they took me kicking and screaming. So but the job was
just, it was, it's the best job in the army. Everything was captured literally
yes in my mind. And then the the majority of the work was done in the atmosphere of
celebration when we went back to base camp, there is no high greater than this
thrill of victory over the enemy. Well, the motivation for the artwork, I think
came from inside from the human spirit. Okay, I think that came from the heart. I
have them indelibly imprinted on my mind. And then I have an excellent memory, I
can remember almost every battle that we had, and then who who was killed and what
happened in those battles. This 16,000 paintings plus is most likely the most
valuable art collection the government owns. So we have this magnificent
contribution of artwork from all of my peers from 1910 through present day. I
have 27 pieces of artwork in the exhibit. I believe I am the largest
contributor for the entire exhibit from 1910 to present day. Fascinating
pictures there. John Cano combat artist. Now this is the parade that almost
didn't take place. Canoga Park got its Memorial Day parade back this year
because the community just refused to let it go.
Just a year ago, this community tradition was canceled because of budget
problems. The city claimed it would have to pay about $30,000 to stage the parade
for cleanup and staging and security and the like. But the Canoga Park Chamber of
Commerce decided to bring it back this year and they figured out how to do it
for only $6,000. So the community once again got a chance to salute all of
those who have served and died.
And it began with a flyover of a C 17 Globe master and it ended with this a
skydiver carrying the American flag. The Memorial Day observation at Green Hills
Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes was one of the biggest events in the
area today. It was the 26th annual Memorial Day observance at this park.
Almost every historic battle or real story about a war hero has been turned
into some kind of a Hollywood movie movies like the longest day. You got
platoon and patent just to name a few. Well, coming up, we're going to take a
look at some of your all time favorites.
And as you can see, it's beautiful out there today. A picture perfect Memorial
Day. What about the rest of the week for its man in the weather up in just a
minute?
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Just For Men takes five easy minutes. Targets only the gray hair and can start
something great. Just For Men. Tonight is the night. For new law and order. At 9 8th Central.
Welcome back, Detective. D'Onofrio returns on new law and order criminal intent.
Are you a crazy person? And at 10 9th Central, it's espionage. They're Russian spies.
On new law and order LA. Mayor Paul's in a much bigger game. You didn't know that, did you? New law and order CI. New law and order LA. Tonight, 9 8th Central on NBC.
Give you a hint of what's coming up. We've been sitting here discussing our
favorite war movies and the list is long but that's coming up in just a minute. So
in the meantime. Lots of them are playing. Yeah. Like over and over again today. Well it turned out to be a beautiful day. We lost the winds. It's still breezy out there but below
advisory level. Got some high surf for a few days but great weather. We may tone
the temperatures down. Take a look at some currents around the Southland. Just
give you a sampling on a beautiful, beautiful afternoon. 70 right now out in
Inland Ventura County, Santa Clarita. 73 at Van Nuys. 65 downtown and 75 degrees up
in the Antelope Valley. So we have a little momentary high pressure area. That
storm that made us unstable yesterday. Everybody swore it was going to be a
full-on storm. It was to the south. They had a tenth of an inch of rain down there.
Has moved over into Wyoming. So we have a little high pressure. This sort of
momentary flat ridge of high pressure before we're affected by lower pressure
which will spin off frontal systems to the north. And as those fronts spin off
and go inland to the north of us, we're going to deepen the marine layer, sort of
cool things down, increase the onshore flow and sort of just take the edge off
some of the warmer temperatures. But tonight the only marine layer ought to
be relegated just in the immediate beach and probably not inland. West winds at 15
miles an hour. Turning sunny tomorrow with similar temperatures and then
Wednesday we're going to tone the numbers down noticeably. We'll turn partly
cloudy. A few more clouds. Five to eight degrees cooler inland. The beaches
however will stay just about the same. All of the red areas are surf advisories.
Ventura County Coast, LA, Orange and San Diego. And that will start in effect at
three o'clock tomorrow morning and last till three o'clock on Friday morning.
These are five to eight. Some sets to twelve. And with the big high tide which
will happen at 845 on Tuesday night at about 6.3 feet, we're recommending you
don't observe anywhere near like a jetty or an observation point of the water
because it will be nasty with a rip current. So another warm day tomorrow
almost like today. Low eighties inland. Beautiful weather. Mid and upper
seventies of the intermediate valleys, mid and upper sixties of the beaches.
And then we're looking at oh high at 80 and the same for Northridge. Here's the
extended forecast for the coast, the inland areas including downtown and all
the valleys. Look at the valleys because they'll have the noticeable drop on
Wednesday. We're going to come down substantially. That'll be the longer
lasting marine layer clouds and the stronger onshore flow. But then we'll
stay really comfortable mid seventies in the valleys for the rest of the week.
Should be a gorgeous week. You know what Colleen mentioned that we were talking
about our favorite war movie so we should tell yours was? Well the longest
day. In Modern Warfare, The Hurt Locker and Black Hawk Down. But World War II.
Okay so you had the longest day and you selected and this was this a good one.
It's an oldie. It's one I watched with my dad actually. Twelve o'clock high and
anything that has to do with air. And mine was The Great Escape just because I
love that movie. They're all good. Most of the lines memorized from that. But you know what's
really interesting is Kerry Berlo is going to look at how war movies actually
evolve in Hollywood.
From the very first film ever to win the Best Picture Oscar, Wings in 1927,
Hollywood has been telling war stories from every angle, every continent and
every decade. And when the movie business does it just right, war films
become classic cinema. Whether because of how it shows battle or because of how it
shows battle scars. Say something else. By the very essence of war there is a
dramatic opportunity to examine every emotion from courage and bravery to fear
and cowardice. From heartache to loneliness, insanity to genius. There are
the endless stories that war provides from the soldiers to their families, the
girlfriends back home, to the buddies on the battlefield. And there ain't no world
but this one. I've seen another world. I like when the bombs go off. Have you been to
war? No. You haven't. No, I'm not gonna go. And there are the countless sensory
overload chances that planes and bombs and ships and gunfire afford a filmmaker.
I love the smell of grape pump in the morning. The action itself and if there's like a
little drama in there too, so you'll be captivated by the story and development
of the character. We all have a slightly different list of bests when it comes to
war films based sometimes on how Hollywood attacked the subject or on the
attacks themselves. Special effects, a lot of you know you know bullets flying,
explosions, yeah. And yet the story about a person. Yeah a good story line, a good a
good plot, you know. It helps if it's if it's based on some true events. And as
the wars change so did the films about them. After Vietnam, Hollywood's war
stories became much grittier, far more real. The happy endings far more rare.
What makes a good war film?
Adherence to the truth so that it reflects actually what happened. So go
ahead try to compile a list of the ten best war films ever made and I guarantee
a debate will ensue and the ten will become twenty and the rankings well
you'll never agree on that. In Hollywood I'm Kerry Berglund, NBC 4 LA. He's
absolutely right and we just keep adding to the list. Private Ryan, how do we forget
Private Ryan? And you got to throw in maybe Tropic Thunder and Stripes, how about that?
And if you want to do that, Three Kings. Alright, big comeback for Tom Cruise and a big comeback for the Angels as well.
A college football coach surprisingly walks away from his team plus they
might be blind but this Orange County paddling team has a better view on life
than most people. An inspirational group that sees no obstacles. This portion of
the news is sponsored in part by Wells Fargo. Together we'll go far. Mike and
Brenda found a house that they really wanted. It was in my sister's
neighborhood. I told you it was perfect for you guys. Literally across the street
from her sister. But someone else bought it before they could get their offer
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Caring neighbors makes strong communities. Following the teachings of
our ancestors, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is making a difference.
Providing millions of dollars for health care. Recently for cancer research and
treatment to Loma Linda University Medical Center. Our tribe is giving back
to the community. Helping to create new medical breakthroughs for future
generations. Indian tribes and California together, one community.
Hurry in and see what happens. As Chuck told us at the top of the hour,
Georgia Stadium may be catching on fire, but today the angel bat sparked at just
the right time. Halos and Royals in Kansas City. But first a great Memorial
Day for the serviceman tricked his girlfriend into thinking he was still
overseas. All of a sudden he shows up at the ballpark and gets down on one knee.
We've seen plenty of proposals of baseball games, but this is one of the
best. Irvin Santana's offering to Alex Gordon doesn't fare quite as well. His
first pitch of the game. Gordon takes it over the center field wall. Royals lead
6 to 1 at one point, but then the Angels come all the way back. Down 8-7 in the
ninth inning. Torrey Hunter had already hit a homer in the game. Thank you sir.
May I have another two run shot puts the Angels on top. They climb all the way
back for a 10 to 8 victory. Great win on the road. Their third in four games. Big
news from College football. Ohio State coach Jim Trestle resigned today amid a
growing scandal involving players selling team memorabilia at a tattoo
parlor. Trestle led the Buckeyes to the National Championship in 2002. And a
championship is exactly what these fans want today in Boston. Bruins faithful
cheering as their team left town. Bruins on their way to Vancouver. Of course,
game one of the Stanley Cup finals is Wednesday at five o'clock. You can catch
that game right here on NBC4 LA. Well, we all have a tendency to take things for
granted. Friends, family, even our basic motor skills. But there's a team in Orange
County that doesn't have the luxury of sight. They take nothing for granted and
now their opponents take them very seriously. 69 year old Sandy Burton
doesn't let her visual impairment get in the way of an exhausting weekly routine.
Training alongside her blind outrigger paddling team. As you'd expect, Sandy is
the envy of the senior citizen complex she lives in. They're just totally
amazing. I can't believe you go down there and you go paddling three times
a week. And I thought, yeah, well they're sitting there in the clubhouse playing
card games. I'm paddling. The Makapukunu Club makes quite a splash wherever they
make an appearance since they're one of a kind, always racing against sighted
teams. They're usually amazed because they don't realize at first that we
can't see. Okay guys, you ready to go? Among those in awe was Kirsten Williams.
The lifelong paddler met the team in Hawaii following an 18-mile open ocean
race. I just could imagine what it was like to set out to do something like
that. Something that you've never tried before and without any ability to see
what you were doing. The other thing I want you to add today is your leg. Based
on that courage and dedication, Williams didn't feel the Makapo team had to
settle for last place every time they hit the water. So she offered to coach
them. Beautiful work. That was four years ago. There are no more last place canoes
full of blind people. Crossing first is the last thing on her mind when looking
at the big picture. Williams soon found out blind people tend to live with a
little bit of stress, fearful of falling or crashing. In a canoe, there's none of
that. They get to go as hard as they want, as fast as they want. I can't wait
to come down here. It makes me feel alive and it makes me feel that there's
nothing I can do. I can't do when after I've been here. And team Makapo's training
to raise funds to compete in canoe paddling's biggest race later this year
in Kona, Hawaii. That's a good cause to help. That's a great idea. That was fun
to watch. All right, Mario, thank you. There's some new stories we're working on
for the 11 o'clock news tonight. We are all talking about Dodger Stadium. Some
dark days in Dodger Town. Attendance is way down. What will it take to get people
back to the stadium? Of that story and of course all the breaking news, late
breaking news tonight. We see you right here at 11 o'clock. Okay and we go out
with some video of Venice Beach on this beautiful day. You know, the bodybuilders
were out there. Everybody's having a great time on Memorial Day. The guys all
lined up and women as well out there. I think that's a good way to end the show.
I believe you might be right. There's something for everyone in this newscast today, right Chuck?
Kate Snow is substituting for Brian tonight on the NBC Nightly News and we'll see you
back here at 11. Good night everybody.
Broadcast tonight paying tribute to America's fallen heroes.