Beach service honors victims

Sun., Jan. 23, 2005

Associated Press

VENTURA, Calif. – Friends and family gathered Saturday on a windy beach to bid farewell to 10 people who were killed when a mudslide damaged more than two dozen homes in the free-spirited oceanfront village of La Conchita.

Hundreds of people wearing shorts, sandals and Hawaiian shirts converged for the ceremony in which surfers planned to paddle about 100 yards from shore and say a prayer before spreading the ashes of some of the victims amid flowers floating on the waves.

The mudslide on Jan. 10 was triggered by days of heavy rain that turned Southern California into a flood zone. The torrential rain was responsible for 28 deaths in the state.

La Conchita, with just 156 homes, is a Bohemian community populated by a variety of artisans, surfers and retirees.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Beach service honors victims

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

Venezuela’s twin earthquakes leave 5,208 dead as aftershocks top 1,300

Andrew and Tristan Tate remain in Miami jail as they fight UK extradition

Updated: After deadly weekend for U.S. troops, Trump vows revenge against Iran