ET BY STARLIGHT: LA MESA OFFERS FREE MOVIE SHOWING JULY 31
Printer-friendly version July 22, 2009 (La Mesa)–The City of La Mesa is offering a free movie night under the stars on Friday July 31st. This family-oriented event will feature the movie “ET: The Extra-Terrestrial”, rated PG. "Come see if ET phones home," states a press released issued by La Mesa, which invites the public to bring family, spread out a blanket and enjoy "ET Under the Stars." Pre-show begins at 7:50 pm; movie begins at 8:20 pm. in La Mesita Park, 8855 Dallas Street, La Mesa, 91942. This movie will be shown on a 25’ x 14’ screen. Refreshments will be sold at a nominal price. For more information call 619-667-1300 or log onto www.cityoflamesa.com. Printer-friendly version
ARREST MADE IN LA MESA TROLLEY SHOOTING
Printer-friendly version July 22, 2009 (La Mesa)—A suspect has been arrested and charged with attempted murder and robbery of a transit guard at the trolley station on Fletcher Parkway in La Mesa, near Grossmont Center. San Diego Police Department apprehended Marquis Loftis, 18. The suspect has also been charged with criminal threats and battery. The shooting occurred Saturday night around 10:12 p.m. Grossmont Shopping Center was placed on lockdown, with employees and customers asked to remain inside, while the premises were searched but the suspect eluded authorities initially. Loftis is also suspected in the robbery of a Metropolitan Transit guard on Wednesday, July 13 at a San Diego trolley station. “In both cases, the security guards’ guns and magazines were taken,” Lieutenant Dave Bond, La Mesa Police, told East County Magazine. No passengers were robbed during the crimes, which occurred on the trolley platforms. Asked the condition of the officer who was shot, Bond revealed, “He is now out of the hospital.” Printer-friendly version
HELIX TAKES ACTION TO HALT CHARTER REVOCATION VOTE; GUHSD BOARD TO HOLD SPECIAL MEETING THURS. JULY 23
Printer-friendly version July 22, 2009 (La Mesa)—Grossmont Union High School District’s board of trustees will hold a special meeting Wednesday July 23 at 5 p.m. to review an amendment to the Helix Charter. The amendment was devised by the Helix Charter Board and two GUHSD board members to address the board’s concerns over handling of sexual misconduct cases. “Our entire board is expected to approve this,” Catherine Martin, GUHSD spokesperson, told East County Magazine in an e-mail received today. As a result, a planned hearing on revoking the Helix charter will be cancelled, Martin added. “The next step is that the Helix faculty will have to ratify it by 51%, which is expected to happen before the first week in September. We expect that they would ratify it. If for some reason they don’t, the District will move forward with revocation.” On July 9th, the Board voted to move forward with holding a hearing on charter revocation, issuing the following media statement: http://portal.guhsd.net/GUHSD/GUHSD_Media_Statement_7_9_2009.pdf , as East County Magazine has previously reported: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/?q=node/1621. (For more details on the sexual misconduct cases, see http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/?q=433_helix_hight_sex_scandal and http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/?q=449_school_board_grills_helix_officials .) On July 21st, the Helix Charter High School Board held a special meeting and voted to adopt three GUHSD policies in order to halt the charter revocation process. Specifically, the board authorized allocation of funds to use GUHSD services for training on child abuse reporting and employee/student interaction policies, and also voted to recommend an amendment to change composition of the Helix Charter Board, how members are selected and who is eligible to service. “There were no issues with adopting the District’s policies, as they are very similar to those already in place at Helix,” Giff Asimos, Helix teacher and Secretary of the Charter Board stated in a press release issued yesterday. “We have always been open to adopting any policy that reflects the best practices in the areas of student safety, and this was expressed clearly to members of the GUHSD board.” The District’s legal counsel has assured Helix Charter Board members that the items approved address all the concerns of GUHSD to resolve the issues, Asimos added. “We have done everything that they asked us to do, and we are confident that the GUHSD Board will take the appropriate action and approve the Cure and Correct actions taken by the Helix Charter Board.” Printer-friendly version