CITY HEIGHTS SCHOOL IN LOCKDOWN AS POLICE SEEK SUSPECT WHO SHOT MAN IN BACK
Printer-friendly version Update: Two men have been arrested for this shooting. They were taken into custody at an apartment on 52nd Street near Trojan Avenue. November 16, 2010 (San Diego)—Shortly before 2 p.m. today, two men including one on a bicycle reportedly fired several rounds near Colina del Sol Park at Orange Avenue and fled toward El Cajon Blvd. San Diego Police officers found a man shot in the back. The victim has been taken to a hospital. As a precaution, Fay Elementary School has been placed on lockdown while police search the area. If you are not yet signed up to receive free Viejas wildfire and emergency alerts via email, sign up free at the top right side of our homepage. You can also follow ViejasAlerts on Twitter for briefer text message alerts. Printer-friendly version
“ZERO TOLERANCE” FOR DRIVERS USING CELL PHONES ANNOUNCED BY SAN DIEGO COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
Printer-friendly version November 17 day of enforcement announced November 16, 2010 (San Diego) — Due to the increase in traffic collisions caused by drivers illegally using non-hands-free cell phones, San Diego County Law Enforcement agencies are joining forces on November 17 to focus enforcement efforts on this danger to safety of the motoring public. The San Diego, Oceanside, and El Cajon offices of California Highway Patrol as well as the Sheriff’s Department, San Diego State University police, and police departments in Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Coronado, El Cajon, Escondido, National City, Oceanside, San Diego will be aggressively seeking out drivers violating the “hands free” cell phone law. According to the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), in 2008 there were more than 30,000 parties in California involved in traffic collisions where inattention played a role. More than 1,000 of those drivers identified a cell phone as the inattention. Cell phones are the number one identifiable inattention stated on collision reports. According to a study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute distracted driving is “anything that diverts the driver’s attention away from the primary tasks of navigating a vehicle and responding to critical events.” Although NHTSA has indicated that cell phones are the most familiar form of distraction, applying make-up, using a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS), eating, drinking, changing CD’s, adjusting the radio and reading are numerous activities that can distract a driver. Law enforcement agencies are already working together to share knowledge and promote a greater understanding of the issue, and identify additional strategies to end distracted driving. “Distracted driving is a serious, life-threatening practice and we will not rest until we stop it,” a CHP press release states. “The message is simple – There is no phone call worth a human life. Pay attention or pay the price. Don’t let distractions take away from your reaction.” Printer-friendly version
TWO ARMED ROBBERIES AT GAS STATIONS IN OTAY AREA
Printer-friendly version November 16, 2010 (Otay Mesa) – San Diego Police are investigating two armed robberies on Sunday, November 14 of gas stations in Otay Mesa. The first occurred at 10:56 p.m. at the Chevron Gas Station, 3302 Palm Ave. The second robbery was at 11:35 p.m. at the Unocal Gas Station, 4360 Palm Avenue. In both cases, the suspect pointed a possible shotgun wrapped in a white cloth or white T-shirt at the clerk, then fled on cash with the cash. The suspect in both cases was a black male adult wearing a bandana, grey hoodie and jeans. In the Chevron robbery, he was described as 5’” tall, in his 30s. In the Unocal robbery, he had on a red and black Cincinnati Reds baseball cap. Printer-friendly version
SOMETHING’S UP IN DESCANSO: ARTS FAIR NOV. 20
Printer-friendly version By: Lisa Lightfoot November 16, 2010 (Descanso) — Looking for something different to do this weekend? Join local artists in Descanso for an Arts Fair this Saturday, November 20t. Enjoy some free refreshments, listen to some wonderful live music, all while doing holiday shopping as you take in the fresh mountain air along with a little backcountry hospitality. The Descanso Arts Fair hosts a huge variety of award-winning local artists and craftspeople, offering everything you need to tackle that holiday shopping list or perhaps just a treat for yourself. A few of the items available include: jewelry; bronze statuary; custom apparel; paintings, drawings and photography; jams, preserves and specialty foods; home, ranch and garden décor and so much more. Music will be provided by Paul Nichols and Cindy Burnham, plus there will be a drawing to benefit the historic Descanso Town Hall where you just might win something lovely from the artists in attendance. Directions: Take the Hwy 79/Descanso exit off the 8 and follow the signs to the event, November 20th from 11:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Descanso Town Hall, 24536 Viejas Grade, Descanso, CA. Printer-friendly version
HOSPITAL BOARD REFUSES TO GIVE SEAT BACK TO STIERINGER, DECLARES POSITION VACANT
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery November 15, 2010 (La Mesa) – In closed session this morning, Grossmont Hospital District’s Board unanimously found that Jim Stieringer should not get his old seat on the board back. Stieringer resigned Novembe 5th, then tried to resuscitate his old job by asking to have his resignation rescind after the Board refused to consider his application for a $60,000 a year staff job, amid questions over legality and conflict of interest concerns. With Stieringer’s Hospital District career in limbo akin to life support, today the District pulled the plug. The Board found that Stieringer’s resignation letter demonstrated “a clear and express intent to immediately vacate his position on the Board and apply for the district position of Project Liaison Monitor,” district counsel Jeffrey G. Scott stated in a report on the closed session. The Board declared his office vacant—and directed the District CEO to place a notice of vacancy on the agenda at the Board’s November 19, 2010 meeting. The Board has 60 days from November 5th, the date Stieringer advised the Board of his retirement, to fill the position. “The Board on behalf of the citizens of the District wishes to thank Director Jim Stieringer for his unparalleled service and distinguished career,” Scott’ stated. Ray Lutz, founder of the watchdog site www.CitizensOversight.org and a former Congressional candidate, contended that the closed session violated the Brown Act and asked that the meeting be open to the public. Terry Francke, legal counsel for Californians Aware, a nonprofit organization that protects citizens’ access to records and provides advise on open government laws, agreed that the deliberations should have been public, MountHelixPatch.com reported. Francke concluded that the mere threat of a lawsuit is not sufficient reason to hold a closed session. However Scott contended that the district faced potential litigation and contended that to share his legal opinion with the Board in public would have been prejudicial and “unethical for me to do as a lawyer,” Patch.com reported. Lutz, in an email to those on his discussion list serve, said he believed Stieringer’s motivation in seeking the staff job was pension spiking. “I confirmed that his man play here was to pump up his retirement from being based on $6K/year to $60K/yaer, or a 10x improvement,” Lutz wrote. Stieringer did not attend the meeting. A former La Mesa City Treasurer, Stieringer previously ran unsuccessfully for the La Mesa Mayoral seat in 2006. Now that his attempt to move up from a part-time Board member to a full-time staffer with the hospital district has failed, resulting in loss of both spots, it is unclear what Stieringer’s future plans will be. Printer-friendly version
CHP: DRIVER WHO STRUCK MOTORCYCLES NEAR OCOTILLO HAD NO ALCOHOL IN BLOOD; WILL NOT FACE CHARGES
Printer-friendly version Fund established to help Trayer family; blood drive planned Saturday for injured victims By Miriam Raftery November 15, 2010 (Ocotillo) –The odor of burned rubber still hangs heavy in the air along Highway 98 east of Ocotillo, where five people lost their life in a horrific crash on Saturday. A lone bouquet of flowers in the sand serves as a silent memorial to four members of the Lakeside Saddle Tramp Club and a car passenger who died at the scene. Shards of twisted metal , skid marks and a burned spot on the pavement evoke the horror of what first responders have called the worst accident in memory. Witnesses said a gold Honda Civic crossed the center line at 85-95 mph while attempting to pass motorcycles. Carlos Ramirez Bobadill, driver of a white Dodge Avenger, swerved to avoid a head-on collision with the Civic, but lost control and slammed into the motorcycles. A blood alcohol test on Bobadill has come back negative, indicating Bobadill had no alcohol in his system when he struck the group of motorcyclists from Lakeside’s Saddle Tramp Club. Bobadill had swerved to avoid a head-on collision with a gold Honda Civic. The blood test was ordered after a CHP officer believed he smelled alcohol on Bobadill’s breath five hours after the accent. Exonerated by the blood test, Bobadill will not face charges for driving under the influence. Authorities continue to seek the driver of the Honda Civic, who fled the scene and was reportedly wearing a baseball cap. Border surveillance tapes are being reviewed to see if the car entered Mexico. The accident, written up by CHP as a hit and run, also seriously injured five other riders. “It was like a bomb went off,” John Lombardo, one of those injured and a founding member of the club, told the Union-Tribune. The accident site was out of cell phone range, so several bikers rode to a gas station eight miles away to call for help. It took 30 minutes for the first emergency responders to reach the scene, a Border Patrol agent in Ocotillo said today. Bobadill remains at a hospital in fair condition, NBC news reports. His passenger, Ana Lilia Gonzalez, 31, died. Other fatalities were Lance and Amy Heath of Alpine, Bill Miller of Ramona, and Tonya Trayer of El Cajon. Trayer’s husband, Wilson, was also seriously injured and remains hospitalized. A trust fund has been established to help the Trayer family, NBC news reports. The Trayers had three children. Donations can be made through the Union Bank of El Cajon, at 580 North 2nd St. Other victims injured are Kelly Halley and William Barnes, both in serious condition, according toa UCSD Medical Center spokesperson Kim Edwards, and Melanie Barnes, who is in critical but stable condition. Bobadill remains at a hospital in fair condition, NBC news reports. His passenger, Ana Lilia Gonzalez, 31, died. A Harley Davidson dealer is hosting a blood drive on Saturday, November 20th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to help those who remain hospitalized with wounds ranging from internal injuries to broken bones to brain hemorrhaging. An American Red Cross bloodmobile will be at the Harley Davidson dealership at 5600 Kearny Mesa Rd. in San Diego. A memorial service s planned for Tonya Trayer on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Renegade Bar and Grill on Old Highway 80, east of Lake Jennings. Services have not yet been announced for others who lost their lives in the tragedy. Printer-friendly version
STUDENTS REACT TO NEWS OF FEE HIKES
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery Tanya Huang also contributed to this story November 15, 2010 (San Diego)–Student reactions ranged from dismay to outrage upon learning that the University of California regents will consider an 8% fee increase for the 2011-2012 school year, while the California State University board of trustees has proposed a 5% increase for spring semester and a whopping 10% increase for 2011-2012. Following last year’s 32% fee increases at the UC and a 5% increase at CSU campuses, many students fear that their dreams of a college education are fast disappearing. Tanya Huang, a journalism junior at Sam Diego State University (SDSU), predicted, "If fees continue to increase each semester, more and more students who can’t afford the high costs will be forced to drop out of school.” She added, “My family’s income has always been higher than the requirements for financial aid, but that doesn’t mean we’re rich. I’m lucky to have my parents helping me out with fees but I always work two to three part-time jobs to pay for living expenses and school expenses in addition to keeping up with extracurriculars on campus. I can’t imagine how students who are completely financially independent will continue to make ends meet, " said Huang, who is currently an intern with East County Magazine. “It is despicable that the Regents are including fee hikes and increases to executive pay in the same budget proposal. When students such as myself have to worry about where they’ll get the money for rent and books, the last thing that should be considered are more fee increases and raises to executives. The students need to see some relief, not the executives; we are being taxed out of a college education,” stated Kelsey McQuaid, California College Democrats Communications Director. CCD is calling on the UC Regents and the CSU Board of Trustees to stop balancing the budget by increasing tuition; they should be looking to other alternatives such as state funding and cutting excesses in executive pay. "The fee increase has essentially no effect on me because I have financial aid. If they want to pay more for my financial aid, they can go right ahead,” said Ramtin Kouchak, kinesiology senior at San Diego State. “But I do feel for other students who have to pay for school entirely on their own.” Other students seemed resigned to higher fees. “The state’s broke so everyone’s just doing what they have to do," said Melissa Weller, communications senior at San Diego State University. Printer-friendly version