STABBING SUSPECT AT LARGE IN RAMONA
Printer-friendly versionJanuary 9, 2009 (Ramona) — An eighteen year-old woman was attacked by an unknown male suspect while walking home from a bus stop in the 27200 block of Sawday Truck Trail in Ramona at 3:20 p.m. today. The victim was cut with a sharp instrument and sustained a 2 1/2 inch laceration on the back of her head. The woman was able to get away and the suspect fled the scene. The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 20 to 25 years old, with short or shaved dark hair, no facial hair, six feet tall with a thin and muscular build. The suspect wore a dark blue sweatshirt and black Dickies pants. He is described as being clean cut and having a large nose. A suspicious vehicle was seen leaving the area immediately after the attack and is described as a silver, late model, import, 4-door sedan, with a sloped front end. Above is a composite drawing of the suspect. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Detective Lori-Ann Wells of the Ramona Sheriff’s Substation at (760) 789-9157. REFER TO: San Diego Sheriff’s Case # 08077277 Printer-friendly version
PHOTO ESSAY: BACK COUNTRY BEAUTY
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery On a January morning, while people in much of the nation were shivering in sub-zero tempatures, I took a drive and basked in the glorious sunshine of an East County winter’s day. I found golfers teeing off at Singing Hills Country Club, a cyclist savoring a morning ride, a farmer ploughing his fields, hikers and dog walkers enjoying strolls. Aspen, sycamore and oak trees sported brilliant fall foliage, even though we’re technically in mid-winter, contrasting against rugged cliffs, deep blue waters and spring-green grasses sprouting up on a distant shore. It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to document all this back country beauty. Just another glorious East County day! Printer-friendly version
THE CITY THAT WORKS: POWER, POLITICS AND CORRUPTION IN CHICAGO
Printer-friendly versionEXCLUSIVE TO EAST COUNTY MAGAZINE By Dennis Moore Steve Breen The opinions expressed are the views and beliefs of the author only, and do not necessarily reflect the views or beliefs of East County Magazine, its publisher or editor. Author Dennis Moore has offered East County Magazine an exclusive preview of his upcoming book, The City That Works: Power, Politics, And Corruption In Chicago. Moore alleges that he felt fearful for his life after refusing to go along with a corrupt political system. The book provides an insider’s glimpse into Chicago’s formidable political machine – with revealing insights into Chicago’s top political figures including President-elect Barack Obama, Mayor Richard Daley and Governor Rod Blagojevich, now facing impeachment proceedings for attempting to sell Obama’s former Senate seat. Former Illinois Governor Dan Walker with author Dennis Moore Moore grew up in the Chicagoland area, where he attended DePaul University, majoring in Communications. As a Specifications Engineer for the City of Chicago Department of Aviation at O’Hare International Airport, Moore was involved in awarding over $11 million in contracts for vehicles and equipment. In his book, Moore claims to have received threats from political operatives of Governor Blagojevich and Mayor Daley. Later Moore became a political operative himself, serving as precinct captain in the 37th Ward Political Organization in Chicago. After moving to San Diego from Chicago, he joined the San Diego Writers & Editors Guild and became involved in San Diego politics, supporting and canvassing in the campaigns of Councilman Donna Frye for Mayor, and President-Elect Barack Obama. View chapter 1 of The City That Works… Printer-friendly version
SAVE GROSSMONT COLLEGE’S NEWSPAPER AND JOURNALISM TRAINING PROGRAM!
Printer-friendly versionAn editorial by East County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery Grossmont College has announced plans to eliminate Media Communications 132, the class which creates the campus newspaper, The Summit. The decision, made due to state budget cuts, would not only eliminate the school newspaper. Instructor Christy Scannell warns, “Most critical, if the class is canceled, students will be unable to complete the cross-media journalism major…which could result in its demise. Students interested in print journalism would need to find another school or another major.†She asks your help to save the students’ newspaper. Grossmont has no online news source. Closing the newspaper would result in clear censorship of student views as well as eliminating training for future journalists. “What if all colleges were to decide to cut their campus news organizations to reduce budgets?†Scannell wrote in Society of Professional Journalists local newsletter, SPJ Journal. As a journalist who has written for numerous East County newspapers before founding East County Magazine, I can tell you that there is a severe shortage of journalists in East County. Ask any local news editor. One regional publication went months with no one to cover city council hearings. Finding writers to cover events in backcountry communities is even harder. Now East County is about to lose a primary training ground for community journalists. Most cash-strapped local publications use interns from our community colleges, and those will vanish, too, meaning you’ll see more fluff and less news. President-Elect Barack Obama recently noted that writing skills help students entering the job market. Of all the things to cut, why this? This is not the first local attempt to shut down a student newspaper. Fallbrook High School administrators closed the students’ newspaper after it revealed the district superintendent refused to close the school after a fire marshal asked to use the facility as an evacuation center during the 2007 wildfires. Students had also published an editorial critical of the school’s abstinence-only sex education policy. The newspaper won first place in a national journalism contest for high school newspapers, but remains closed down in direct retaliation for defying administration orders against printing the stories. Censorship of student views is a very, very dangerous precedent – as is eliminating training programs for journalists in our public schools. First amendment freedoms are at stake. What might be cut instead? Scannell suggests starting with administrator’s salaries, which have not fallen prey to the budget axe. Or perhaps it’s time to rethink state taxation levels to assure that important public education programs aren’t gutted. Also in today’s news, the University of California regents announced a 6% reduction in freshman admissions. Tuitions have been raised through the roof. San Diego State University has halted admission of “automatic†transfer students from our community colleges, also due to budget cuts. So where else are aspiring journalism students to go? Christy Scannell asks that readers help save her media communications class and the student newspaper at Grossmont College by sending an e-mail to tina.pitt@gcccd.edu and to Sunny Cooke, Grossmont College’s president, at sunita.cooke@gcccd.edu. You can also contact the district’s new chancellor, Dr. Cindy Miles at cindy.miles@gcccd.edu, call 619-644-7573 or e-mail the Vice Chancellor at dana.quittner@gcccd.edu. For the sake of our children’s futures, I urge you to raise your voice and urge that Grossmont College preserve its student newspaper, journalism training, and First Amendment freedoms. Printer-friendly version
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY’S 5TH ANNUAL SAN DIEGO EXCELLENCE IN ENERGY (SANDEE) AWARDS
Printer-friendly versionNominations are due February 2nd, 2009 December 9, 2008 (San Diego)–Those in search of recognition for their energy efficiency, energy conservation or renewable energy projects should look no further: the California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE) is seeking nominations for the fifth annual SANDEE Awards. Nominations for the prestigious event are due by February 2nd. CCSE’s signature SANDEE Awards event gives San Diego County businesses and residents the chance to be recognized as community leaders in energy efficiency and sustainable energy practices. CCSE is hosting its 5th Annual SANDEE Awards at the Omni Hotel in downtown San Diego on March 26, 2009. The reception will honor those whose work has achieved significant energy savings and CO2 emission reduction through the implementation of energy efficiency, energy conservation or renewable energy measures in San Diego County. Nominations in the following areas will be considered: Outstanding Organizational Achievement Outstanding Individual Achievement Special Achievement in Energy by a Medium to Large Business Special Achievement in Energy by a Small Business Special Achievement in Energy by a Government or Institutional Agency Special Achievement in Energy by a Nonprofit Special Achievement in Transportation Special Achievement in Energy by a Homeowner For more information and to download a nomination form, please visit the CCSE Web site at www.energycenter.org — or call CCSE toll-free at 1-866-SDENERGY. Printer-friendly version