2 great white sharks near SoCal beaches
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) - Two great white sharks have been spotted near Santa Cruz County beaches.
Shark researcher Sean Van Sommeran spotted a 16-foot shark off of Manresa State Beach on Friday.
That was a day after Ryan Dunlap, of Capitola, videotaped a shark at the Seacliff State Beach pier.
Van Sommeran heads the Pelagic Shark Research Foundation in Santa Cruz. He says the two sightings are of different sharks.
He says it is not uncommon to see great whites in the area this time of year.
Dunlap was fishing for bass when a 10-foot shark grabbed his bait, pulling Dunlap the length of the pier.
The shark shredded his bait before letting go Wednesday.
Dunlap had his digital camera ready when the shark returned on Thursday.
Parks officials say beaches remain open.
1,000 acre forest fire threatens 50 homes
LYTLE CREEK, Calif. (AP) - Firefighters say a blaze burning out of control in the San Bernardino National Forest is threatening about 50 homes.
The fire, which broke out about 2 p.m. Saturday in the northeast corner of Lytle Creek, burned across about 1,000 acres of brush and timber by Saturday evening.
U.S. Forest Service fire information officer Barbara Duruisseau says the blaze is about 5 percent contained.
Approximately 550 firefighters are attacking the flames with helicopters, water-dropping planes and dozens of fire engines.
Some residents of the area 15 miles northeast of San Bernardino have been evacuated.
Killer helps police search for victim
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (AP) - An admitted serial killer is helping police search for his first victim, a 21-year-old woman who disappeared 32 years ago.
Roger Kibbe pleaded guilty this week to murdering Lou Ellen Burleigh of Walnut Creek in 1977. The 70-year-old Kibbe agreed to help police find Burleigh's body in a plea deal that spares him the death penalty.
Walnut Creek Sgt. Tom Cashion says Friday's search near Napa County's Lake Berryessa found nothing. He says police will keep trying.
Kibbe was nicknamed the "I-5 Strangler." He was serving time for one murder when he pleaded guilty in San Joaquin County Court to six others along Interstate 5.
Burleigh was last seen when she applied with Kibbe for a secretary job.