CRIMESTOPPER TIPS LEAD TO ARREST OF FUGITIVE MICHAEL LACHAPPA
Printer-friendly version December 2, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) –The San Diego Regional Fugitive Task Force announced today that Michael Edward LaChappa, 33, has been arrested in Winterhaven, California, after Crimestoppers received tips that he was hiding on a Quechan Indian reservation there. LaChappa was wanted on a $250,000 bail felony warrant for robbery, sexual battery and false imprisonment. According to authorities, he has an extensive criminal record that includes attempted murder, shooting at an inhabited dwelling and domestic violence. LaChappa is a member of the Viejas tribe, said Sgt. Russ Moore with the San Diego Regional Fugitive Task Force. "He has no association with Barona," said Bonnie LaChappa, community outreach representative for Barona. Robert Scheid, spokesman for the Viejas band of the Kumeyaay nation, declined comment on LaChappa’s arrest. Moore said Michael LaChappa has caused problems on the Viejas reservation in the past. “About two years ago, we tried to arrest him at Viejas and he barricaded himself into his house,” Moore said.” It took a SWAT team to get him out.” The SWAT incident occurred after authorities attempted to serve a warrant on LaChappa for another offense. “We thought he was armed with a machine gun,” Moore recalled. After being released on bail, LaChappa was later found with the machine gun, Moore added. While out on bail earlier this fall, LaChappa committed new offenses. “He went into a tattoo shop in El Cajon, threatened a young lady and licked her face, so there is also a sexual battery charge,” said Moore. LaChappa, who weighs 380 pounds, was considered armed and dangerous. He had a rifle in his possession when apprehended. He has numerous tattoos, including feather tattoos on his face. Depending on his arrival time, LaChappa may face a judge today in El Cajon before being booked into County Jail, said Moore. Printer-friendly version
HO, HO, SNOW! ALPINE SNOW FESTIVAL & PARADE OF LIGHTS DEC. 3
Printer-friendly version December 2, 2010 (Alpine) – Alpine Boulevard transforms into a winter wonderland on December 3, when the town hosts its annual Alpine Village Christmas celebration. Santa arrives at 6:30 p.m., riding in the 15th annual Parade of Lights. Afterwards, Santa and his helpers will light a holiday tree at the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Blvd., and join in a holiday sing-along. Kids and the young in heart are also invited to stay and play in a free mountain of snow, complete with sledding. The event is sponsored by the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce, the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, and Sempra Energy/SDG&E. Printer-friendly version
WORK BEGINS IN PREPARATION TO BURN ESCONDIDO BOMB SITE
Printer-friendly version Governor issues emergency declaration; County provides health advice December 2, 2010 (Escondido)–Sheriff’s officials, Sheriff’s Bomb/Arson Unit, Escondido Police and Fire, CHP and CALTRANS met today to discuss evacuation and traffic control plans prior to burning a home containing the largest stash of home-made explosives ever found in the U.S. The Governor has declared San Diego County an emergency zone, meaning that environmental restrictions are waived. Some residents will be evacuated for the burn, while others are advised to shelter in place. However people with asthma or other respiratory conditions are advised to leave shelter-in-place areas during the burn. If ashes fall on your property, do not handle the ashes. Wash fruits and vegetables from your garden and do not allow children to play in ashes. Follow the health tips and cleanup instructions recommended by the county. San Marcos Fire Department and a county contractor are working on Via Scott to prepare for the burn operation. Crews arrived at 7:00 a.m. to clear brush, plants, trees and wood fences that could catch fire. A protective wall is also being built to the north of 1954 Via Scott to protect a neighbor’s house from radiant heat. The 16 foot high metal frame wall stretches from the front porch to the patio. Attached to that metal frame is fire resistant dry wall. Spray gel will be applied on the day of the burn, the San Diego Sheriff’s office reports. County HAZMAT tested its equipment on site yesterday. Today the division is working with California agencies on post burn cleanup procedures. County HAZMAT is coordinating with the Air Resources Board and the Air Pollution Control District on additional air monitoring to take place during the burn. The Air Pollution Control District also installed a portable weather station on the roof of the Escondido Fire Department Fire Station No. 3 on Tuesday (November 30th) to get real time weather patterns and minimize surprises on the day of the burn. The location was chosen because it was close to the target house and there is security in the building. George Jakubec, who was renting the home, faces multiple charges related to the explosives as well as two bank robberies. Authorities have not yet released information on his motives. County officials indicate the County will not be liable to the homeowner for destruction of the home, however the owner may seek redress through her insurance company, depending on the policy wording. It is unclear whether the County would be liable should any damage occur to neighboring residences, though authorities assure that all reasonable precautions are being taken to protect area homes. The burn will take place as soon as preparations are completed, weather permitting, with the most likely dates between December 8 and 10. Interstate 15 will be shut-down and some homes in the vicinity will be evacuated. If you are not yet signed up for East County Magazine’s Viejas Wildfire & Emergency Alerts to receive notification via e-mail regarding this and other emergencies in our region, sign up free at the top right side of our homepage. You can also follow ViejasAlerts on Twitter to get free brief text message alerts on your mobile devices. Printer-friendly version
ECM WORLD WATCH: THIS WEEK’S TOP GLOBAL & NATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES
Printer-friendly version NEW! You asked for national and world news. Now we’ve got it. December 2, 2010 (San Diego’s East County)–East County Magazine has scoured publications from around the world to compile this week’s top news stories. Stay informed! Never heard of Wikileaks? Want the latest on those bare-all airport scanners? Need current info on economic indicators and top international news? How about Congressional actions that affect you (such as today’s vote on tax cuts)? Find out here! Top world and national news headlines this week include: HEADLINES (Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories) • U.S. House votes to keep Bush middle-class tax cuts (BBC) • Harvard law students sue over airport scans, pat-downs (Bloomberg Report) • Stocks close sharply higher on signs of economic growth (L.A. Times) • Climate deaths more than double in 2010 (Reuters) • Lethal cold weather grips Europe (BBC) • Pelosi climate panel dies in Republican sweep of house (Bloomberg) • Factbox: Main revelations of Wikileaks diplomatic cables (Reuters) • Never mind democracy: Wikileaks reveal how closely U.S worked with mideast autocracies despite lofty rhetoric about freedom (Newsweek) • Mullen: China must do more to end North Korea’s ‘reckless behavior’ (CNN) • U.S. Supreme court wades into California prison overcrowding issue (Sacramento Bee) • Pentagon sees little risk in allowing gay men and women to serve openly (New York Times) • Military: Marines need opposition to repeal of `don’t ask, don’t tell’ (North County Times) • Everything you ever wanted to know about the Prop 8 trial (NBC Bay Area) • Unemployment benefits: not until Bush tax cuts pass, Senate GOP says (Christian Science Monitor) EXCERPTS AND LINKS: U.S. House votes to keep Bush middle class tax cuts December 2, 2010 (BBC) — The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that would extend tax cuts for middle class Americans while letting them lapse for the wealthy. The Democratic-led bill keeps tax rates low for Americans making less than $200,000 a year. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11906058 Harvard Law Students Sue Over Airport Scans, Pat-Downs December 1, 2010 (Bloomberg) — Two Harvard University law students sued the U.S. government over “nude body scanners” and “enhanced pat-downs” at airports, claiming they violate constitutional rights. Jeffrey Redfern, 27, and Anant Pradhan, 23, who are members of the law school’s class of 2012, said the security measures taken at airports are “intrusive” and violate the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, according to a complaint filed Nov. 29 in federal court in Boston. http://noir.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aa4lFHOYlIng Stocks close sharply higher on signs of economic growth December 1, 2010 (Los Angeles Times/Associated Press) New York — Stocks started December with a jump. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 249 points Wednesday, its biggest one-day gain since Sept. 1 and the sixth largest this year. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fiw-markets-20101201,0,4485022.story Climate deaths more than double in 2010 November 29, 2010 (Reuters) WASHINGTON D.C. – Climate-related disasters killed 21,000 people in the first nine months of this year, more than double the number in 2009, the humanitarian organization Oxfam reported on Monday. Timed to coincide with the start of international talks tackling climate change in Cancun, Mexico, the report cited floods in Pakistan, fires and heat waves in Russia and sea level rise in the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu as examples of the deadly consequences of climate change. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20101129/sc_nm/us_climate_deaths_1 Lethal cold weather grips northern Europe Heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures have been causing another day of disruption to northern Europe and its transport network. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11895107 Pelosi climate panel dies in Republican sweep of House December 1, 2010 (Bloomberg.com) — Republicans will eliminate the House committee created by Speaker Nancy Pelosi to highlight the threat of climate change, Representative James Sensenbrenner, the top Republican on the panel, said today. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-01/pelosi-s-climate-change-panel-will-become-casualty-of-republican-takeover.html Factbox: Main revelations of WikiLeaks diplomatic cables November 30, 2010 (Reuters) Washington D.C. – The U.S. government said it would tighten security after WikiLeaks released more than 250,000 U.S. diplomatic cables that include candid views of foreign leaders and blunt assessments of security threats. Here are the main revelations in the cables: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6AT1I720101130?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a49:g43:r3:c0.096344:b39940074:z0 Never mind democracy: Wikileaks reveal how closely U.S worked with mideast autocracies despite lofty rhetoric about freedom December 1, 2010 (Newsweek) Washington D.C.–Julian Assange’s data dump has helped confirm that America’s democracy agenda is over. The project of liberating the Middle East from tyrannical regimes and installing free governments was once a centerpiece of the United States’ post-9/11 strategy, but the latest cables released by WikiLeaks reveal a far different reality. http://www.newsweek.com/2010/12/01/wikileaks-shows-how-u-s-ignored-democracy-goals-i.html Pentagon sees little risk in allowing gay men and women to serve openly New York Times (December 1, 2010 ) Washington D.C. — The Pentagon has concluded that allowing gay men and women to serve openly in the United States armed forces presents a low risk to the military’s effectiveness, even at a time of war, and that 70 percent of surveyed service members believe that the impact on their units would be positive, mixed or of no consequence at all. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/01/us/politics/01military.html?_r=1&hpw Military: Marines lead opposition to repeal of `don’t ask, don’t tell’ November 30, 2010 (North County Times)–Nearly 7 of every 10 Marines in combat roles say repealing the policy that prohibits gays and lesbians from serving openly would harm their unit’s effectiveness, more than any other branch of the armed forces, according to a long-awaited Pentagon survey released Tuesday. Forty-four percent of all service members said unit effectiveness would be harmed by its repeal; among the Marines whose jobs are on the front lines, that number rose to 67 percent. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/military/article_f9a1edea-5848-5d2e-8efe-9e0c2a29ac16.html U.S. Supreme Court wades into California prison overcrowding issue December 1, 2010 (Sacramento Bee) Washington D.C. – The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday waded into the thorny and long-standing debate over California prison overcrowding: should thousands of prisoners be released to alleviate horrific penal conditions for those who remain? http://www.sacbee.com/2010/12/01/3223362/us-supreme-court-wades-into-california.html#ixzz16urPupnZ Mullen: China must do more to end North Korea’s ‘reckless behavior’ December 1, 2010
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: MOUNT MIGUEL’S SEASON ENDS WITH TURNOVER-PLAGUED LOSS TO PT. LOMA 34-10
Printer-friendly versionby Christopher Mohr December 2, 2010 (Spring Valley) – The Mount Miguel Matadors’ 2010 football season came to an end Friday night (11/26) with a 34-10 loss to the Point Loma Pointers. Mount Miguel surrendered a total of seven turnovers in a game where disaster seemed to strike just as momentum appeared to shift in the their favor. The game was a quarterfinal matchup in the CIF San Diego Section Division III playoffs. The Matadors got off to a quick start on their first drive when Ernest Williams connected with Ernie Castro on a 25 yard touchdown play. The drive took eight plays and covered 80 yards in 2:49. The Pointers got on the scoreboard when Javon Griffen broke free on a 13 yard touchdown run that tied the score, 7-7. The play was setup by a 59 yard catch and run play from Sean McKaveney to Morris Matthews. Unfortunately, the game started to unravel for the Matadors when they gave up turnovers on two consecutive drives late in the first quarter. If the mistakes had ended there, Mount Miguel might have been able to stay in this game, since the Pointers failed to convert either turnover to points, but the mistakes did not end there. The Matadors would give up another fumble in the second quarter and it was costly. The Pointers recovered the ball on Mt. Miguel’s 27-yard line and needed only five plays to reach the end zone. McKaveney scored on a one yard run that made the score 14-7. Another Matador fumble led to yet another Pointers drive that resulted in a one yard touchdown run by McKaveney. The point after attempt failed, but Point Loma was in control at halftime with a 20-7 lead. The second half began well for the Matadors, and it seemed initially that they might turn the game around. They attempted an onside kick and recovered the ball at the Pointers’ 45-yard line. The Matadors’ drive stalled, but they came away with three points when Jorge Medina kicked a 35 yard field goal to make the score 20-10. It seemed as though the Matadors had taken the momentum and built upon it when they moved the ball well on their next drive. Dee’Jay Nolen, who took over for Williams at quarterback, connected with Castro on a pass play that covered 21 yards to the Pointers’ 15-yard line. Whatever momentum the Matadors gained by that play evaporated on the next play when Derrick Dunn fumbled the ball to the Pointers on a running play. Although the Pointers did not convert this turnover into points, the fact that the Matadors missed out on a great scoring opportunity was damaging enough. The Matadors seemed to have some hope of getting back in the game when Adbilatif Ugas intercepted a pass from McKaveney midway in the fourth quarter. Whatever momentum this play gave the Matadors quickly evaporated when Nolen was sacked for an 11 yard loss, then on the next play threw an interception to Joe Sartuche. "A lot of hard work went in and they played a defense that we knew we could take advantage of with our athletes. We kind of took this game personal, because we thought we should be the two seed in the playoffs, and we went out there and took out our anger on Mt. Miguel today," said McKaveney about the win. McKaveney missed some games earlier in the season after suffering a fracture to his left (non-throwing) arm. Point Loma took full advantage of the turnover when McKaveney connceted with Josh Sakover on a 34 yard pass play for a touchdown to give the Pointers a 27-10 lead. The final turnover was quick and humane. With just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter, Thomas Bell picked off a pass from Nolen in full stride and returned the interception 35 yards for a touchdown to make the final score 34-10. "I just saw it before it was coming. I just broke on the movement of his arm and made a play for our team," said Bell about his ‘pick-six’ play. Protecting the ball is one of the fundamental concepts of winning football. When you lose the ball, at the very least you deprive yourself of a touchdown, at the very worst, the effect becomes a turnaround of 14 points. To turn the ball over seven times in the same game eliminates virtually any chance of winning. Twenty-seven of Point Loma’s 34 points came off turnovers. It was too much for the Matadors to overcome, especially in the playoffs. Mount Miguel’s season ends with a record of 8-2-1. The Matadors’ football program has become more competitive in recent years, having won eight games in three of the last four seasons. Point Loma improves to 9-3 with the win and will face the Dons of Cathedral Catholic High School at their home field in Carmel Valley. The winner of this game will face the winner of the St. Augustine-Lincoln semifinal game at Qualcomm Stadium. "It’s good because we want Cathedral," Bell said about the win, "they’ve been beating us for a couple of years now." Fans from CCHS and St. Augustine are undoubtedly hoping for an all-Catholic school Division III final. The two teams regularly face one another in a rivalry game each season commonly known as the ‘Holy Bowl’. St. Augustine won the latest Holy Bowl game on November 12th by a score of 28-21. The rivalry dates back to the days of University of San Diego High School (which relocated to Carmel Valley and became Cathedral Catholic in 2005). The only time this rivalry game has not been played was in 2007, when wildfires forced cancellation of all high school sports in the San Diego Section that week. No canceled football games were rescheduled or made up, since the fire occurred so late
EXPLOSION DAMAGES SANTEE HOME
Printer-friendly version December 2, 2010 (Santee)—Fire crews have extinguished a blaze that started with an explosion in a garage in the 9400 block of Domer Road in Santee around 11 p.m. last night. Fire spread to the home and deputies reportedly heard smaller explosion inside the residence. A family of five and neighbors on Domer Road were also evacuated. Fire crews from Santee Fire and Heartland Fire put out the blaze within 20 minutes, assisted by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. Cause of the blaze is under investigation. Authorities do not yet know what caused the explosions. Printer-friendly version
KIDS GO “NUTS” WITH GIFT FOR LOCAL HEROES
Printer-friendly version December 2, 2010 (Spring Valley)—Firefighters and Sheriff Deputies received a special gift on November 16. Elizabeth Swoyer, a Brownie with Troop 6107, and her brother Nathan, a Webelo Scout, stopped by San Miguel Fire Station 15 in Spring Valley to present firefighters and Sheriff’s officials with the fruits–or rather, nuts–of their their labor. Elizabeth sold an assortment of canned nuts as a fundraiser. She also took donations to buy cans for local firefighters and sheriff deputies–213 cans in all. “Both groups of public servants were grateful for the thoughts, and the efforts of the Swoyer Family,” said Leonard Villareal, spokesman for San Miguel Fire. Printer-friendly version
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF EAST COUNTY UNVEILS NEW YOUTH FACILITIES
Printer-friendly version December 2, 2010 (El Cajon) — A crowd of nearly 150 children, parents, community members and government leaders gathered Wednesday November 17 to celebrate completion of the new “Little Rascals Rooms” youth facility constructed at the Boys & Girls Clubs of East County (BGCEC) Clubhouse in El Cajon. The new $200,000 youth center for children aged six to seven was constructed within the existing BGCEC Clubhouse at 1171 East Madison Avenue, adjacent to Wells Park in El Cajon. Funding for the new facility was provided through sponsorships and donations. During the grand opening, the kids prepared food as part of the BGCEC’s Junior Chef Program, played Wii fit games in the new media room, created arts and crafts in the refurbished main room, and enjoyed the inviting reading corner. Among the donors thanked were County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, Holly and Rick Terrazas from the office of Congressman Duncan Hunter, the Grossmont Healthcare District, Sarah Ramirez from the City of El Cajon, and Lee Reed. Construction of the new Little Rascals Rooms at the El Cajon Clubhouse are part of an on-going modernization of the 49-year old clubhouse facility. The Little Rascals Rooms provide a state of the art space for the Club’s youngest members, ages 6 and 7, to learn valuable lessons on health and nutrition through cooking classes and educational films. “Little rascals develop fine motor skills playing chess and checkers on the kid-sized checkerboard,” said Clubhouse Director Sade Pollard, “and they develop a sense of cooperation and competition playing old-fashioned board games.” The Grossmont Healthcare District and BGEC Capital Campaign co-chair Jerry Hollingsworth contributed a total of $200,000 for construction and equipment in the Little Rascals Rooms, which comprises Phase 1 of a three-phase renewal of the old clubhouse facility. “Physical fitness is important for our youngest members, and we address it in a number of ways,” reports Capital Campaign co-chair Priscilla Schreiber. “Adjacent to the Little Rascals Rooms is our gymnasium, where the kids play league sports in basketball and volleyball. Drop-in games such as dodgeball and indoor soccer are all designed to keep their heart rates up and their muscles tight. [And by] using video games such as Wii Fit and Wii Sports in our Little Rascals media center, youngsters have fun while getting a real workout using state of the art of electronic games on the drop-down big screen.” The Boys & Girls Clubs of East County is about halfway toward its fundraising goal of $3.5 million for the El Cajon Capital Campaign. Mr. Hollingsworth reports that the overall scope of the El Cajon Capital Campaign is to rehabilitate the 49-year-old Boys & Girls Clubs and to convert the former Wells Park Center into a Teen Center by the end of 2011. Phase II construction on the Clubhouse begins in December, including an attractive new facade, an expanded learning and homework center called “The Academy,” and a remodeled game room and offices. “Fundraising continues for the new Boys & Girls Clubs Teen Center called ‘The Club’ which will move into the Wells Park Center in mid-2011,” reports Jerry Fazio, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of East County Foundation. “The City of El Cajon is our partner in this endeavor. We have secured back-to-back 25-year leases on the old Wells Center,” said Fazio. Two divisions of the El Cajon Police Department are temporarily housed in the center. Next year, they will move in to the new public safety center, whereupon the Boys & Girls Clubs will renovate the center for teens. Amenities will include a fully-equipped fitness room, yoga center, full-service instructional kitchen, and the Academy Learning Center for Teens. Additionally, the Boys & Girls Clubs plan to demolish the vacated shuffleboard court next to the Wells Center, replacing it with a sports court suitable for soccer, volleyball, and roller hockey. The Clubs raise funds primarily through room sponsorships, which provide opportunities to memorialize individuals and organizations. For more information contact Foundation Executive Director Jerry Fazio at (619) 440-1600 or jerry@bgcec.org. Printer-friendly version
READER’S EDITORIAL: PARTNERING FOR GUHSD’S NEW 12TH HIGH SCHOOL IN ALPINE
Printer-friendly version Something new, different, and state-of-the-art By Bill Weaver December 1, 2010 (Alpine)–It is widely acknowledged by most experts that our classrooms of today are outdated. We are not offering a state-of-the-art education to our current young generation, nor meeting the technological needs of students. They say that we are sending our kids into the world under-educated and not well prepared. Experts argue that our system of education at the primary and secondary level is in dire need of reform. Most of us agree that there is a “coming up short” theme, when talking about middle and secondary education in the USA today. There is a common understanding that something needs to be done differently. Where are we missing the mark in education? How do we address this, and what are the solutions? It seems that we have a lot of questions. How do we best address these questions? Where do we begin? Let us (locally) begin with wisely spending our Prop H and U bond dollars to design and build our new 12th GUHSD high school taking into account all of these questions. Statistics support the opinions that the United States is slipping behind our worldwide peers in primary and secondary education. We have always historically been educational leaders delivering cutting edge results, providing the world its best scientists, and resulting research, and development for gains in medicine, technology, and new products. We are no longer claiming this top status, or certainly we are slipping off of our pedestal. Technology that exists today has changed our world in dramatic ways; exponentially, it is changing at a pace that increases dramatically with each passing year. It is hard to understand why the typical American classroom has changed so very little over the last 80 to 100 years. Yes, there has been some change. We once had very small learning communities that resulted in our delivering great education, and student achievement. Many high schools were 500 and 1000 students in size. Fewer than 1800 students per school were typical when most GUHSD schools were built in the 50’s, 60, and 70’s. Currently Steele Canyon High School is near 2500. Granite Hills High School is near 2900. Large school populations result in academic and social breakdown for many students. Gangs and cliques are more likely to form. Smaller learning communities (SLC’s) are simply more manageable. In SLC’s teacher collaboration is more likely to occur, and a student’s needs are better addressed. SLC’s create a much stronger learning, and social environment. Today we do not have small learning communities. Many students are lost in the shuffle, teachers do not collaborate as we wish they could, and continuity across core subjects is lost. Research has proven that smaller schools, smaller learning communities, with teachers involved in professional learning communities (PLC’s), all perform better and achieve at higher levels. We can change all of this by creating reformed schools with smaller learning communities. One such concept is called “schools within a school”. With the effective use of technology, single student learning communities are possible utilizing technology to teach each student in a rigorous, interesting, challenging, exciting, and relevant context. We need to use technology in education to its fullest extent. Times have changed. When I was in high school, a handheld calculator didn’t exist that was affordable… computers were not widely relevant until Apple Computer’s Macintosh operating system brought us WYSIWYG; an acronym for what you see is what you get, describing the first visual icon based click and go operating system. It was visual in nature, not requiring code knowledge. In the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and even a few short years ago… there were no I Pads, or Droid-X-Pads, no laptop computers, there were no smart phones. Has the local high school classroom changed in any significant way since the 70’s? Yes, Xerox made copying better, and replaced mimeograph copying, and videotape has replaced film, and overhead projectors are a bit more sophisticated. However, we are lagging way behind in the classroom. Our kids need better to keep up with modern job market changes, and technological demands, and we are not meeting those needs. It is time for a change. Let’s start now. It is time to move into the 21st Century with educational readiness! Traditionalists move over, get out of the way of giving our kids and grandkids the tools they need to succeed. I read a recent article titled “The 21st Century Classroom” about how American classrooms are outdated, by Linda Perlstein (Slate Online Magazine, Nov. 2, 2010). Perlstein said,” While going about my day, I sometimes engage in a mental exercise I call the Laura Ingalls test (Little House On The Prairie, a book – then TV show). What would Laura Ingalls, prairie girl, make of this new freeway interchange… of this modern department store… and this [whatever modern]… or of this wireless phone, or this cell phone? Some modern institutions would probably be unrecognizable at first glance to a visitor from the 19th century [or early 20th]: a hospital, an Apple store, and a yoga studio for example. But take Laura Ingalls to the nearest fifth-grade classroom, and she wouldn’t hesitate to say, "Oh! A school!" Very little about the American classroom has changed since Laura Ingalls sat in a school class more than a century ago. In her school, children sat in a rectangular room at rows of desks, a teacher up front. At most American schools, they still follow the identical arrangement… with paper and pencil… with lectures and note taking… with assignments and homework… all traditional and comfortable. This ignores the research about needing to teach to the many differing modalities of learning, the multiple types of intelligences. We should be reaching students in many differing ways now; students need to be stimulated by the technology of today’s generation. We need to challenge our students with the rigor and relevance of today’s world. Let’s make certain
STILL NO SIGN OF MICKEY GUIDRY: TEEN VANISHED IN ANZA BORREGO DESERT ONE YEAR AGO
Printer-friendly version “If he did make it out of there, someone must have seen him or knows what happened to him, and we need them to call and tell us.” – Sgt. Don Parker, San Diego Sheriff Department By Caleb Trainer December 1, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) –The blue Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 16-year-old Mickey James Guidry was found abandoned in the Anza Borrego desert two days after Thanksgiving. That was Thanksgiving a year ago. No one has reported seeing him since. The disappearance of the San Marcos teen, which ECM previously reported on, remains unsolved despite numerous searches by volunteers and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff’s Sgt. Don Parker, emergency services division search and rescue coordinator, headed up the most recent Anza Borrego search about two months ago. Nothing was spotted, he said. It was Sgt. Parker who in April was the last to find evidence in the case. On April 25th, during one of the search and rescue efforts, he located the Grand Cherokee’s vinyl spare tire cover. He described the location as being in dangerous, rocky terrain more than a mile from where the Jeep was found. “Even in broad daylight, you have to watch where you put every step,” Sgt. Parker said. Further describing the area in which the tire cover was found, he added, “There are rocks the size of bowling balls and some as large as Volkswagens.” He added, “Every time we’ve gone out there, our search and rescue people have come back having been stuck with cactus needles.” The search teams have covered several square miles of Anza Borrego in areas known as Pinyon Mountain trail, Pinyon Wash, Harper Flat and Harper Canyon, but “the only thing the additional searches have done is eliminate where he hadn’t gone,” Sgt. Parker said. He said that 40 to 50 square miles of desert or more remains to be searched. “Even in areas we’ve already searched, I’m not entirely sure he’s not there…If he’s still out there, if he’s still out there in the area of Pinyon Flat or Pinyon Wash, it would be very difficult to find him.” But Sgt. Parker added, “If he did make it out of there, someone must have seen him or knows what happened to him, and we need them to call and tell us.” Sgt. Parker said he has four “open” cases that he’s working as the coordinator for search and rescue, but Guidry’s disappearance is the only one involving a juvenile. He further commented, “They vanish, but they’re not forgotten. People may think they’re forgotten, but they’re not.” The investigation into Guidry’s disappearance was initially slowed by conflicting circumstances dating back a week prior when the teen erroneously reported being kidnapped to cover up damaging his father’s motorcycle. His mother, Missy Perucca, said that incident was out of character for her son and he didn’t realize the trouble he would cause by making up that story. Maurice Dubois is one of the dozens of volunteers who participated in the desert searches for Guidry. Dubois is also the father of 14-year-old Amber Dubois of Escondido, whose body was found last March, a year after she went missing. In 2009, Dubois founded More Kids, an organization that spearheaded successful state legislation in recent months giving the community improved means for readily locating missing children. An underlying objective of that legislation is to prompt law enforcement to act more quickly and more effectively in missing juvenile cases. Dubois said that “past case history shows that 70 to 80 percent (of missing children) are runaways” and that leads “law enforcement to believe that any teenager over the age of 13 is a runaway. We’re trying to prove them otherwise.” But, Dubois doubts any of the legislation promoted by More Kids would have helped in the search for Guidry had they been in place at the time of his disappearance. “Our laws would have had no effect on his situation,” Dubois said. The search for Mickey “was a very difficult situation mostly because of what happened to him weeks earlier,” he said, referring to the false kidnapping report. “When you have a child that’s cried ‘wolf’ in an attempt to cover up his own bad behavior, it absolutely, without a doubt affected how law enforcement responded.” Dubois continued, “But, if you look at just the facts of his disappearance, where he broke down and the scenario at that time, we realize this was a 16-year-old kid that was in a lot of danger. The Anza Borrego desert is so big. It’s so dangerous out there. If you think where he broke down, 10 miles from nowhere, and try to figure out what his frame of mind was at the time, you realize the danger he faced.” Juvenile investigations Detective Patrick Yates of the Sheriff’s San Marcos substation leads the investigation into Guidry’s disappearance. He’s been on the case since the beginning and, like Sgt. Parker, says it’s “open and active.” Just the same, though, he said, “Nothing has been learned about the possible whereabouts of Mickey Guidry. All investigative leads have been followed but none have been fruitful in helping to locate Mickey.” In pursuit of uncovering Guidry’s whereabouts, Detective Yates said he’s in “regular contact” with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Through the national center, law enforcement agencies throughout the country are kept updated on the status of Guidry’s disappearance, he said. “The Sheriff’s Department has no reason to believe that Mickey has been the victim of foul play. Of course, we don’t know what has become of him so all possibilities have been considered,” Detective Yates said. Guidry’s is one of seven cases assigned to Detective Yates. But it’s not like any of the others, he said. “All of them are runaways but none of them are at-risk. Unlike Mickey’s case, none of them have