BOY, 16, MISSING IN ANZA BORREGO DESERT SINCE LATE NOVEMBER
Printer-friendly version December 22, 2009 (Anza Borrego) – San Diego Sheriff reported on December 18 that Mickey Guidry, 16, has been missing since November 26th when he ran away from his parents’ home in San Marcos. Guidry reportedly took his parents’ 1995 Jeep Cherokee without permission. On November 30th, the Jeep was located unoccupied in an extremely remote area of the Anza Borrego Desert. Sheriff’s officials believe Guidry drove the Jeep to the desert, where it became disabled, then left on foot. Aerial and ground searches of the area have failed to locate Guidry. He is 5’ 9 “ tall and weighs 155 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair. He may have been wearing blue or black shorts or Dickies jeans with blue high-top tennis shoes. No explanation was given on the Sheriff’s website as to why nearly three weeks elapsed from the date the Jeep was discovered to when the Sheriff made a public announcement about the missing teen on the Sheriff’s website. If you have information on Guidry, please call the San Diego County Sheriff at (858) 565-5200. Printer-friendly version
TWO TEENS ARRESTED FOR ROBBING VENDOR AT SPRING VALLEY SWAP MEET
Printer-friendly version December 22, 2009 (Spring Valley) – Two teenage girls were arrested for armed robbery at the Spring Valley Swap Meet on Saturday, December 19. Deputies from the Lemon Grove Sheriff’s Substation responded at 1:21 to an armed robbery call at the Swap Meet at 6377 Quarry Road. Two suspects armed with handguns donned ski masks and attempted to take the vendor’s fanny pack filled with money. The suspects fled the area on foot and were seen running towards the Spring Valley Park. Deputies spotted the suspects running into the women’s restrooms and took up a position to stop their escape. The suspects removed some of their clothing and discarded their ski masks inside the restroom. As they exited, both suspects were arrested without incident. The clothing, ski masks and two air soft guns were recovered. Both suspects were positively identified by their clothing and their physical build. They are both females and are 17 and 18 years old. The 18 year old has been identified as Veronica Valdiva from Imperial Beach. The juvenile has been identified as a walk away from a San Bernardino group home. There were no injuries. Printer-friendly version
JACUMBA ACCIDENT CLAIMS LIFE OF MAN WITHOUT SEAT BELT
Printer-friendly version December 22, 2009 (Jacumba) – John Carl Bauld, 47, died from injuries sustained in an accident on eastbound I-8 west of Jacumba Road on December 20th. Bauld, a passenger, died after the driver lost control of the vehicle, which rolled down an embankment. Bystanders pulled Bauld from the vehicle and initiated CPR until medics arrived, who also tried to resuscitate him, but were unsuccessful. CHP responded and Bauld, a white male of unknown residence, was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:28 p.m., according to the County Coroner. Update 12/26: The California Highway Patrol reports that Gene Washburn was drunk when he was behind the wheel of a 1993 Buick Regal that crashed on eastbound I-8 around 3:40 p.m. Sunday, according to Channel 6 News. Printer-friendly version
NORAD TO TRACK SANTA’S CHRISTMAS EVE JOURNEY ONLINE WITH RADAR & “SANTA CAMS” AROUND THE WORLD
Printer-friendly version December 23, 2009 (North Pole) – For more than 50 years, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), have tracked Santa’s Christmas Eve flight. Starting before dawn on December 24, you and your children can log on at http://www.noradsanta.org/ to watch videos via “Santa Cams” tracking Santa’s journey around the world to homes of all children who believe in him. There are also games and activities direct from Santa’s North Pole village to delight youngsters and the young at heart in a special “Kids Countdown section.” The tradition of the federal agency tracking Santa began in 1955, after a Sears and Roebuck ad in Colorado printed an incorrect phone number in an ad. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone number put children in touch with the CONAD commander-in-chief’s operations hotline. The director of operations at that time, Colonel Harry Shoup (photos, right), had his staff check radar and began giving children updates on Santa’s location. Although Colonel Shoup passed away in March, the tradition he started lives on. Today, NORAD also tracks Santa via satellites, fighter jets, Santa cams and radar known as the North Warning System, providing images of Santa and his reindeer-drawn sleigh–and frequently, Santa waving to pilots passing by. The website provides updates in several languages. In addition, NORAD volunteers tirelessly answer Christmas Eve calls and e-mails from children around the world. You can e-mail NORAD at noradtrackssanta@gmail.com for a Christmas Eve update on Santa’s location, or call 1 877 HI-NORAD (1 877 446-6723). Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, NORAD assures skeptics. “Mountains of historical data and over 50 years of NORAD tracking information leads us to believe that Santa Claus is alive and well in the hearts of people throughout the world,” the NORAD site concludes. But the Santa tracking experts caution, “If children are still awake when Santa arrives, he moves on to other houses. He returns later…but only when the children are asleep!” Printer-friendly version
GROSSMONT WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM HOSTS HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT DEC. 28-30
Printer-friendly version December 22, 2009 (El Cajon)–The Grossmont College Lady Griffs women’s basketball team is hosting its 22nd annual Grossmont College Holiday Tournament, Dec. 28-30, at Grossmont College. The public is invited to attend. Eight teams will compete in the three-day tournament, including seven teams from California community colleges — Grossmont, San Diego Mesa, Bakersfield, Saddleback, Mount San Jacinto and Reedley — as well as a team from Lethbridge College from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. All games will be played at the Grossmont College gymnasium, located on campus. Game times are: 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 28; 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 29, and 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 30. Admission per day is $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens, military, students from other colleges and children ages 13 to 17. Parking on campus is free. For more event information, phone the Grossmont College Athletics Department at (619) 644-7412. Grossmont College is located at 8800 Grossmont College Dr., in El Cajon. For driving directions and a campus map, visit www.grossmont.edu. Printer-friendly version
SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT AND CALFIRE PROVIDE BIKES FOR NEEDY KIDS
Printer-friendly version December 22, 2009 (Ramona) — Sheriff William D. Gore announced this year’s Christmas Bicycle Program, which provided pre-selected deserving children with a free bicycle, helmet and bike lock. The event was hosted by the Ramona Sheriff’s Substation and firefighters from the Ramona CalFire Fire Department. This year, 22 children from the Ramona area each received a bicycle, helmet and lock at the CalFire FD Fire Station #80, 829 San Vicente Road, Ramona on December 18th. Abandoned bicycles received by the Sheriff’s Department throughout the year were distributed among several Sheriff’s Stations. The Ramona Sheriff’s Substation received over a dozen bikes which were then refurbished into like-new condition by firefighters from Ramona CalFire. In addition, several new and used bicycles were donated directly to this event by sworn members from both the Ramona Sheriff’s Substation and CalFire Fire Department, bringing the total to 22 bicycles. The Ramona Water District donated $100 to be used for purchasing parts and helmets. Epic Medics provided the protective bicycle helmets for each child receiving a bike. Ramona Sheriff’s Deputy Pamela Murphy, who helped organize the event for the last two years, donated security locks for each bicycle. Ramona area schools, churches, and various community organizations identified the children who range in age from 3 to 14. "This is a great example of law enforcement, the fire department and the business community coming together for a worthy cause,” commented Sheriff Bill Gore prior to the event. “This year, 22 children will not only receive a bicycle for the holidays; but will also receive the equipment to keep them safe on the bikes.” Printer-friendly version
EDITORIAL: AFGHANISTAN—WHY MORE U.S. TROOPS?
Printer-friendly version By Tracy Emblem December 23, 2009 (Escondido) — The Afghanistan "war" began on October 7, 2001, when our military launched "Operation Enduring Freedom." We were told the military operation was necessary to "neutralize" and "destroy" Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. We have since acknowledged that the terrorism organization is constantly on the move connected by an intricate international web and cell phone links that do not reside permanently in any one country. Soon after President Obama entered office, he sent 17,000 troops into Afghanistan bringing to total 57,000 troops deployed. In October, President Obama ordered another 13,000 non-combat troops deployed. Recently, the President explained that we must send another 30,000 of our young men and women to Afghanistan. According to Radio Free Liberty, NATO has 38,000 troops there and will likely deploy another 5,000. Common sense tells us that it does not take over 140,000 troops to destroy the remaining 100 Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. It is not a question of "giving up" on terrorism. History shows that Americans will fight with a vengeance when our freedom is truly at stake and threatened. But the cost to the American taxpayer for both the Iraq and Afghanistan occupations has been tremendous in dollars spent. According to the Center for Defense Information, the estimated cost of the wars will reach $1.08 trillion by the end of fiscal year 2010. Even more alarming is the emotional cost in families destroyed from people maimed and deaths. Over 4,352 U.S. personnel were killed during the Iraq occupation. In terms of lives lost in Afghanistan, we have had over 1,500 military fatalities. The true number of civilian deaths in Afghanistan is unknown. In February 2009, a British officer claimed that over 8,000 civilians have been killed as a result of military operations there. We cannot overlook that civilian deaths of loved ones breed more hatred and more terrorism. Recently, the message changed to "this is a ‘just’ war" and "our military is in Afghanistan to stabilize their government." But why? Bernard Baruch, advisor to presidents during World Wars I and II, instinctively posed: "All wars are economic in origin." Before the “war” began, Unocal signed an agreement to build a pipeline through Afghanistan crossing into Pakistan. Since invading Afghanistan, an assessment by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Government of Afghanistan Ministry of Mines and Industry discovered that Afghanistan’s oil estimates were actually 18 times greater and the country had triple the natural gas resources previously estimated. The study was conducted courtesy of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. The Council on Foreign Relations on June 9, 2008, published an interview which stated: "More investment will bring Security to Afghanistan. The ‘security’ strategy places a very heavy reliance on the idea of privatization luring international and domestic partners to invest money. But the strategy acknowledges for investors to invest in Afghanistan, security needs to first be achieved." No one questions that it is honorable to have a desired goal to finish a job for the world’s safety, but we have to ask our leaders for truthful and complete explanations because it takes vast emotional and economic tolls for our military to be engaged in warfare. We were told and blindly accepted that there were "weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq and it was imperative to invade with our military. This turned out to be false. Like Iraq, there is absolutely no guarantee our troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan until the job is completed, and that task could take even longer than the six years we spent in Iraq. The classical book "The Art of War" recounts this wisdom: "No country has ever profited from protracted warfare." We’ve been in protracted warfare for over eight years. How much more will it cost the American taxpayers – another $130 billion? Considering Bernard Baruch’s premise, and the Council on Foreign Relation’s statements, our taxpayers may be involuntary participants in funding the security and infrastructure necessary for Afghanistan’s economic development. It’s time we demand investing our taxpayer dollars in our own communities at home and in American jobs, America’s crumbling infrastructure, and new technology. Its time to ask our representatives and federal government critical questions about who benefits from the development in Afghanistan. Tracy Emblem is an attorney and a Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in California’s 50th District. The opinions expressed in this editorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. If you wish to submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org. Printer-friendly version