“SPRING INTO HEALTHY LIVING”- EVENT ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20
Printer-friendly versionBy Caprice Harrison March 13, 2013 (Spring Valley) – “Spring Into Healthy Living” on March 20 from 9 a.m. to noon provides generous opportunities to partake in free health screenings, information sessions, refreshments and enjoy the Health and Wellness Fair. Held at the McGrath Family YMCA, 12006 Campo Road in Spring Valley, the event also includes tours of the facility and Tai Chi and Zumba demonstrations. Highlights of the day include: Free Health Screenings: Balance, Blood Glucose, Blood Pressure, Body Mass Index (B.M.I.), Check Your Mood, Hearing, Stroke and more. Also offering: CalFresh Eligibility Screening, California Telephone Access Program, Healthy Continental Breakfast, Healthy Living Presentations, Opportunity Drawings, Prescription Medication Disposal and vital health information from trained professionals. Reserve your spot by calling and leaving a message with your name, phone number and number of people attending: (619) 401-3929. Guests entering the gymnasium must wear soft-soled shoes. No hard-heeled shoes are allowed inside the gym. Bring your loved ones and set a positive example by prioritizing your health and wellness. Directions: From the I-94E, turn right onto Campo Road. Make a left into the Edwards Cinema parking lot. The McGrath Family YMCA is on the right. Call the YMCA at: (619) 462-9622 for directions. Printer-friendly version
SUPERVISORS ASK YOU TO CONTACT FAA , OPPOSE IMMINENT CLOSURE OF RAMONA AIR TRAFFIC TOWER CRUCIAL FOR FIREFIGHTING: COMMENT DEADLINE IS TOMORROW
Printer-friendly version By Nadin Abbott, photos Tom Abbott March 12, 2013 (San Diego)—Today, Supervisor Dianne Jacob urged citizens in San Diego County to contact the Federal Aviation Adminstration (FAA) at Closurecomments@FAA.GOV and oppose closure of the Ramona Airport’s air traffic control tower, a vital component in fighting wildfires and protecting safety of firefighting crews. Tomorrow at 1 p.m. Pacific Standard Time is the deadline for comments. The Board learned that the Federal Aviation Administration has targeted the Ramona Air Traffic Control Tower for closure as as early as April 7. This means, according to Cal Fire Battalion Chief Ray Cheney, that the airport would revert back to an “uncontrolled airport, where pilots have to avoid each other and announce their intentions.” This was the way it was back on June 21, 1995 when there was a midair collision between a United States Forest Service Beechcraft and an NTSB air tanker, leading to the deaths of the air tanker crew. An open space, instead of a controlled space, will increase the risk of mid-air collisions, since a “controlled airport controls the air traffic sequencing.” According to Supervisor Jacob, “The closure of the Ramona Air Traffic Control Tower is a disaster waiting to happen.” Moreover, the full Board of Supervisors voted this morning to oppose the closure. “This tower is essential to keep the public safe.” The airport was central to the Air Attack component during the 2003 and 2007 fires, and on average it responds to 450 plus emergencies a year and protects 1.7 acres, including many that are federal land. “The federal government has budget problems but this is using a hatchet instead of a scalpel,” said Jacob, who represents East County. Supervisor Ron Roberts stated, “It is incredible that we were notified last week. We are here to protect the public and prevent the Ramona Air Traffic Control Tower from closing with sequestration.” The Ramona Airport’s location is perfect for fighting fires, and it also serves as a control point for student pilots and military aircraft. He added that the County leads the nation in cutting edge command and control technology for firefighting, including the Operational Downlink Information Network (ODIN), which increases situational awareness for incident commanders. This allows Cal Fire to map the progress of a fire in less than an hour, instead of the twenty four hours lag time it used to take. This system is flown by one of the aircraft flying out of Ramona. This adds to extremely good command and control capabilities that ultimately save lives. Ramona also has tanks for the retardant that air tankers will drop, and serve as a refueling station. He also said that it was essential for the County to keep the tower manned since Ramona is key to firefighting in the County. The tower would be unmanned just as the fire season is starting to get going. Chula Vista Fire Chief Dave Hanneman, also the President of the San Diego County Fire Chief Association, emphasized that the Ramona Airport helps in wildland firefighting, which is the greatest threat in the County. “Many of the deep canyons in the County are not accessible to ground troops. Having an aggressive air attack stance helps to fight fires that otherwise would be very difficult terrain.” ECM asked about the possible degradation of the response capabilities due to an open space airport. Cheney said that he did not expect to see any degradation in these capabilities. ECM also asked about having firefighters man the tower. They are not trained for this, or certified, explained. While Cal Fire uses ground controllers, helping with traffic on the tarmac, as well as in the front lines, they simply do not have the personnel who could be certified to man the tower. Cheney emphasized that having the air operations base close to the action will also mean more flights into the fire zone, helping to control and ultimately put out those fires faster. According to Jacob this tower costs about half a million dollars to run a year. She wants the federal government “to acknowledge the will of the Board of Supervisors and not close the tower.” Printer-friendly version
TWO ASSAULTS ON BORDER PATROL AGENTS LOCALLY
Printer-friendly version March 13, 2013 (San Diego)– In separate incidents this week, two U.S. Border Patrol agents were assaulted while performing patrol duties in San Diego County, the Border Patrol reports. The first assault occurred Monday at approximately 8 p.m. in the Otay Mountain area, when a Border Patrol agent attempted to arrest a male undocumented Mexican national who had entered the U.S. illegally. During the arrest, the suspect became assaultive and struck the agent in the face and head, according to a release issued by the U.S. Border Patrol today. After a brief struggle, the agent was able to detain the man. The suspect is being held by the Department of Homeland Security pending charges for assault on a federal agent. The second incident occurred yesterday at approximately 8:30 p.m., near San Ysidro. A U.S. Border Patrol agent responded to four men who had jumped over the primary fence and continued to run north to the secondary fence with a ladder. The agent was able to apprehend one Mexican national as the other three men returned to Mexico. During the arrest, the three men in Mexico reportedly began throwing rocks over the primary fence at the agent. The agent did not sustain any injuries. “These assaults are examples of the unpredictability and inherent dangers that Border Patrol agents face every day while securing our nation’s borders,” stated Special Operations Supervisor Michele Morales. In San Diego sector, assaults against agents have increased more than 70% from 77 in fiscal year 2011 to 133 in Fiscal year 2012. Printer-friendly version