Simi Valley

A 26-year-old Simi Valley man was in stable condition Sunday after being stabbed in the chest by an attacker while sitting on a park bench, police said. Charles Hawley was seated alone in Rancho Simi Park about 10 a.m. when the attacker walked up and stabbed him once in the chest, said a Simi Valley Police Department spokesman. "As far as we can tell from witnesses, there was no argument, no provocation and no motive for the stabbing," the spokesman said. Police said the suspect fled on foot.

Police arrested a 35-year-old man suspected of raping a 13-year-old girl in Simi Valley on Friday afternoon. William Iles of Simi Valley was taken into custody late Friday after lengthy questioning at the Simi Valley Police Station, Lt. Neal Rein said. Iles was arrested on suspicion of forcible rape and felony child molestation. Rein said the 13-year-old said Iles raped her in his car about 4 p.m. as it was parked on Sequoia Avenue near Royal Avenue.

In celebration of the first settlers arriving in Simi Valley in 1705, the Strathearn Historical Park on Friday will hold an open house and premiere showing of a video chronicling the city's history. The video is researched, written and narrated by city historian Patricia Havens. Wine and cheese will be served at the event, which runs from 5 to 8 p.m. at the park, 137 Strathearn Place. The cost is $10 a person.

A pair of third-quarter touchdowns by Simi Valley stood up when Granada Hills kicker Jordan De Jong missed a 23-yard field-goal attempt late in the game, allowing the Pioneers to escape with a 14-13 win on Friday night. Quarterback Brian MacLean helped move Granada Hills into position for the kick, completing four passes as the Highlanders drove from their 46 to the Simi Valley 18. Running back Eric Richardson then carried twice to the six, where Granada Hills chose to kick.

Simi Valley High must have forgotten what it was like to lose before the Southern Section Division I girls' soccer semifinals Tuesday. By the time the game was over, the Pioneers remembered all too well. Unseeded Simi Valley was dominated throughout a 1-0 loss to third-seeded Mission Viejo at Simi Valley, the Pioneers' first loss in eight weeks. "We lost to a better team," Simi Valley Coach Mark Johnson said. "They did to us what we did [in a quarterfinal victory against] Peninsula.

Although Newbury Park High has the smallest enrollment in the Marmonte League and has struggled in recent basketball seasons, the Panthers have shown that they must be taken seriously by league foes this season. On Wednesday, Newbury Park ventured into Simi Valley's gymnasium, where the Pioneers have hung five league championship banners the past six seasons.

Three free throws in the final 24 seconds helped Simi Valley High School defeat Fountain Valley, 59-58, in a second-round Southern Section 5-AA playoff game Friday at Fountain Valley. Tim Jaqua, who was fouled by Fountain Valley's Eric Zellner in the final 10 seconds, hit one of two free throws to clinch the victory for Simi Valley (19-8). Guy Vaccaro, a sophomore up from junior varsity, sank a three-point basket with 32 seconds left to bring Fountain Valley within a point.

The much-awaited debut of Simi Valley High center Pero Vasiljevic--and the Pioneers' new gym--had to wait a while longer Tuesday night. Tipoff between the Pioneers and Granada Hills in the first round of the Simi Valley tournament was delayed for almost 15 minutes, because the lights, turned off for pregame introductions, needed 15 minutes to reach full power. But the 6-foot-9 exchange student from Australia quickly showed why he will be an impact player for Simi Valley.

Bill Scheffels, The Times' Ventura County pitcher of the year last season, dropped out of Simi Valley High on Monday rather than face an expulsion hearing for making a prank bomb threat last week at school. Scheffels, a senior, enrolled Monday in the Simi Valley Adult School and Career Institute, apparently ending his high school baseball career.

Computer Parts Unlimited is moving its operations from Moorpark to Simi Valley this week. The change in headquarters will allow the company to quadruple its operating capacity and expand its work force by 30%. The new 104,000-square-foot facility is at 3949 Heritage Oak Court. "CPU has been expanding steadily since its inception, but the company has really experienced a phenomenal rate of growth over this past year," said Ralph Tremonti, vice president of sales and marketing.