AZTECS MEN’S BASKETBALL PRESS CONFERENCE FEB. 17: BACK HOME
Like our sports coverage? Donate to help support ECM’s sports section! Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories! Story by Liz Alper Video courtesy goaztecs.com February 17, 2017 (San Diego) – After winning two in a row, SDSU men’s basketball returns home to face UNLV on Sunday. Coach Steve Fisher, sophomore guard Jeremy Hemsley and junior guard Trey Kell called a press conference today to talk to the media after their big turnaround. The Aztecs are 15-10 overall and 7-6 in Mountain West play. “We’ve got a big game on Sunday against a team that we’ve always had wild, crazy games with,” Fisher opened with. “so we need to continue to build on what we’ve done and that’s play better, play consistently hard and find a way to get a win and we’ve done that recently. It’s important that we prepare and prepare mentally, as well as physically. We’ve played better and that’s given everybody confidence.” On Wednesday at Utah State, despite senior center Valentine Izundu and sophomore guard Montaque Gill-Caesar leaving the game with injuries, the Aztecs still managed a 66-62 win on the road. I asked Coach if the team is finally learning how to adjust with players being out. He praised the play of redshirt freshman Nolan Narain. “I was very, very proud when Valentine could not play then Nolan Narain came in and played his first meaningful minutes since Gonzaga and he gave us a big lift. I went back and watched the game and his segments were good. He played smart, he did things that you win with, he did a good job of walling up and keeping people from getting where they wanted to go defensively, didn’t try to do things offensively too quickly and he gave us a lot of value, so we need to have somebody to do that again on Sunday. And by him doing that, it gives me belief and confidence that we can put him in again and he’ll be able to perform for us, so it was good for Nolan, good for us and it helped us win.” Hemsley chimed in during his and Kell’s segment: “It is something you have to get used to, but at the same time, when you have players out, that just means the next man has to step up. But I think we did do a good job this past game of just playing with what we had and not looking at what we didn’t have. Playing without all your pieces is hard to do, but at the same time, it’s something you have to deal with.” Asked about whether he was frustrated that sometimes the Aztecs can’t put the pieces together and win (though lately, they have been): “We’re 15-10 now. We’re in fifth place in the league. We thought we would be better. We’re not. We’ve made some progress; first time all season we’ve been above .500. It’s not where any of us wanted to be, it’s where we are. So now. where can we go from here? Frustration? I think we all have that a little bit, but if we’re frustrated all the time about when things don’t go well, you’re not gonna perform. You gotta be tough mentally and compete and say, ‘I’m gonna prove what I can do and prove what we can do’ and that’s been our theme.” I asked Coach what the thought of the day was. “Finish. That’s what you’re supposed to do. That’s the goal.” Kell was asked where his head was at at this point in the regular season. “As of right now, we’re in a good place. We feel like we’re playing some of our best basketball we have all year and now we’re looking forward to keeping it going on Sunday.” Kell was also asked about the end-of-the-season grind and getting momentum going. “You can’t look at these two games and be like ‘all right, we’re good now, just look forward to the tournament.’ That’s not the case at all. We still have things to prove, things to get better at. If we can get better game by game, then I think we’ll be in a good place by the time conference comes around.” Hemsley gave his thoughts about whether everything was coming together or not. “I’d say we’re getting better at a lot of things. But like Trey said, we still have things to prove.” Kell spoke of the rivalry between SDSU and UNLV. “To me, it’s just another game. It’s a big game for us, for sure…UNLV’s our next opponent, so it’s a big game for us.” SDSU takes on UNLV at Viejas Arena on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. You can watch the game on CBS Sports Network and listen in on The Mighty 1090.
TRUMP NAMES NEW LABOR SECRETARY NOMINEE WITH STRONG EXPERENCE
By Miriam Raftery February 17, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – President Donald Trump has announced a new nominee to head up the Department of Labor, following fast food executive Andrew Puzder’s withdrawal of his nomination. The new nominee, Alexander Acosta, has extensive experience in labor and the law. If confirmed by the Senate, Acosta will also be the first Hispanic in Trump’s cabinet. The son of Cuban immigrants, Acosta is currently dean of the law school at Florida International University. In addition, he served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito back when Alito was an appellate judge. Acosta received his law degree from Harvard, along with an economics degree, and has also been a law school professor. He has served on the National Labor Relations Board and led the Justice Department’s civil rights division, also serving as a U.S. Attorney in Florida during George W. Bush’s administration. Later named Assistant Attorney General, he was endorsed by the Hispanic Bar Association and National Council of La Raza,. The latter stated, “We may not agree with everything that Mr. Acosta has done or will do, but we are certain that he is someone who will listen and act in a fair manner.” His record has not been unblemished; critics alleged a politicized hiring process in the Justice Department during his tenure. Acosta also drew criticism for his defense of voter caging practices in Florida. Trump says Acosta, “is going to be a key part of achieving our goal of revitalizing the American economy, manufacturing and labor force.” Acosta’ s nomination has drawn praise from the head of one of the largest labor unions in the nation. “Working people changed the game on this nomination,” Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, said in a statement. “In one day, we’ve gone from a fast-food CEO who routinely violates labor law to a public servant with experience enforcing it,” Trumka concluded.
REVITALIZING ECPAC: WILL THE FAT FINALLY LADY GET TO SING?
El Cajon City Council approves negotiations with major concert promoter Live Nation to manage shuttered East County Performing Arts Center. By Paul Kruze February 17, 2017 (El Cajon)—As the old saying goes, “It isn’t over ‘til the fat lady sings.” Just a few years ago, the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC) faced possible demise. It’s remained closed since December 2009. But the curtain may soon rise again, bringing back stellar entertainment to our region. Ever since it was built by the Grossmont-Cuyamaca College District and opened some 45 years ago, El Cajon’s ECPAC has been recognized as a premier performance venue with its excellent acoustics and sightlines. But for the college, the City of El Cajon and the different management groups who have tried to make it financially viable over the years, it has been a white elephant. In fact, the 1,100 seat facility almost met its maker several years ago, when plans were drawn to tear down the theater and build in its place a Marriott Courtyard hotel. That was 2012. Fast forward to 2017. With the theater mothballed for the past seven years, the El Cajon City Council unanimously voted 5-0 on Wednesday to authorize City Manager Doug Wiliford to negotiate a management agreement with Live Nation to manage and operate the shuttered theater. Live Nation is the world’s largest promoter and producer of concerts and live entertainment events. It currently produces shows at the Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl, Valley View Casino Center (San Diego Sports Arena), Qualcomm Stadium, and the Mattress Firm (formerly Sleep Train and Cricket Wireless) Amphitheatre in Chula Vista. Ray Lutz of Citizens Oversight, a staunch, frequent critic of the council’s actions regarding the restoration and reopening of the theater, praised the council for undertaking the action as its first concrete steps towards reopening the theater. “This is like asking Starbucks to open a coffee shop in the community. You couldn’t ask for a better situation,” Lutz said, referencing the globally successful coffee chain. Bob McClellan, a member of the City Council who has cast many votes regarding the embattled theater including votes to hire and fire previous management organizations, was also quick to praise Wiliford’s initiative to seek Live Nation’s management of the theater as a “great step forward.” “We would get no better of a management situation than with a recognized producer of shows like Live Nation,” McClelland said prior to the Council’s vote. According to WIliford, Live Nation’s senior management toured the theater several times last fall. After consultation with the concert producer regarding their firm’s interest in running the theater, Live Nation authorized Wiliford to seek City Council approval on initiating formal negotiations. A draft agreement is expected to be submitted to the City Council within 90 days. “They are the world’s largest live entertainment company. They are level of professionalism that is unsurpassed in the industry,” Williford said. He said that despite Live Nation producing many shows in San Diego, they were unaware of the existence of ECPAC. Wiliford cautioned that the opening of negotiations does not mean the theater will reopen immediately. Should the negotiations be successful, Live Nation will take on an active role in the planned remodeling and refurbishment of the theater, which is expected to cost some $2.9 million dollars including making the facility compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act, upgrading concessions plus making other repairs and improvements. The earliest the theater might reopen is will be the middle of 2018. Repairs to the theater’s roof have already been completed. “We pretty much know what has to be done to the building,” Mayor Bill Wells said. Plans tentatively would have Live Nation have first priority for concert dates on prime evenings, with the three-or-four remaining days given back to the City of El Cajon for its and other community group uses. The theater is expected to be a destination venue for up-and-coming west coast artists, specialty shows, and entertainment geared to El Cajon’s large Middle East community. ECPAC has had a troubled past since its groundbreaking in 1973 as a joint project by the City of El Cajon and the Grossmont-Cuyamaca College District. The theater has always been recognized for its optimum sight lines and accolades for its excellent acoustics, but has been mired in a never-ending management volleyball game between the city and the community college district and different local management groups, including El Cajon’s Christian Community Theater, which managed it twice, and a citizen-run cooperative Arts Center Foundation, Inc. Despite bringing major name performances to the theater, the Arts Center Foundation was fired when it missed a loan payment to the City of El Cajon in November 2004. The theatre fell into disrepair; objections from citizens helped prevent the City from tearing down the performing arts center. If Live Nation takes over running the Theatre, it would be the first internationally recognized concert management company to do so. Once a draft agreement has been reached with Live Nation, the draft agreement will be forwarded to the City Council, which will schedule public testimony.
SDSU SOFTBALL DEFEATS UC RIVERSIDE 3-0
Source: goaztecs.com Photo: Julie McDonald tossed a three-hit shutout to help SDSU beat UC Riverside 3-0. Courtesy goaztecs.com February 16, 2017 (San Diego) – Julie McDonald (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad HS) tossed a three-hit shutout against UC Riverside to help San Diego State to a split at the 27th annual Campbell/Cartier Classic Thursday at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs (3-4) first downed the Highlanders (1-5), 3-0, before falling to No. 8/9 Washington, 6-5, later in the night. McDonald (1-0) allowed just three singles and no walks over seven innings to record her first career complete game and first career shutout. The sophomore right-hander retired the first nine UCR batters she faced before yielding a leadoff single to Danielle Ortega in the top of the fourth inning. She then retired nine straight batters once again until Janae Lockwood’s pinch-hit single to lead off the seventh. After a fielder’s choice grounder, Haley Harris singled to put two runners on base with one out. McDonald finished the shutout after getting Hannah Rodriguez to line into a double play as SDSU shortstop Shelby Thompson (Benicia, Calif.) was able to make the diving grab and double up the runner on second to end the game. San Diego State banged out 12 hits in the game, but stranded a season-high nine runners. The Aztecs scored their runs on an RBI single by Molly Sturdivant to plate Jenavee Peres in the bottom of the third, a sac fly by Jaylene Ignacio (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino HS) to score Katie Byrd (Santee, Calif./West Hills HS) in the fourth and a single by Byrd in the fifth to plate Megan Smith. Sturdivant was a perfect 3-for-3 with a double to lead the SDSU offense, while Byrd was 2-for-2 with an RBI, run and hit by pitch. Peres also singled, walked and scored a run as nine different players recorded at least one hit. With the rest of the Campbell/Cartier Classic rained out, San Diego State will play host to Siena at 6 p.m. PT Tuesday. Game 1: San Diego State 3, UC Riverside 0 UC Riverside (1-5) 000 000 0 — 0 3 0 San Diego State 001 110 x — 3 12 0 Marschall, Misfeldt (5) and Holley; McDonald and Peres W – McDonald, 1-0; L – Marschall, 0-3 Box
3 ARRESTED IN COLLEGE AREA DRUG RAID
East County News Service February 16, 2017 (San Diego) — Detectives and Crime Suppression Team Deputies from the Sheriff’s Alpine Station, with the assistance of the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Detail, served a search warrant at 5090 College Ave. #5 in San Diego this afternoon. Deputies from the Special Enforcement Detail (SED) served the search warrant, since the occupants were believed to be armed with firearms and selling narcotics. SED Deputies used sound diversion devices during service of the search warrant and ultimately detained four people inside the residence without incident. Detectives and Deputies searched the residence and located multiple firearms, ammunition, a sales quantity of suspected heroin, narcotics paraphernalia, numerous illegal pharmaceuticals, a large amount of currency, as well as collectors’ currency and jewelry that are believed to be illegal proceeds from the sales of narcotics, said Sergeant Chris Galve. San Diego residents Zachary Bryant (05/26/1988), Brandon Vazquez (12/27/1984), Marie Bright (11/07/1992) and Summer Dougherty (07/26/1995) were all arrested for narcotics and weapons related charges and booked into Sheriff’s custody.
PUBLIC ADVOCATES FIND “FAULTS”WITH $64 MILLION SEISMIC STUDY OF EARTHQUAKE RISKS AT SAN ONOFRE
Source: Public Watchdogs Photo: recently as 1881, the coastline from Northern Orange County to Central San Diego County was officially known as “Earthquake Bay.” February 16, 2017 (San Diego) — A public advocate and a geologist are singing a sour note over the publicly funded $64 Million study of earthquake risks at SONGS, the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. The study, which appears to assert that the beach is a safe location for the construction of what will be the largest privately owned nuclear waste dump in the USA, has the consumer group Public Watchdogs all shook up. According to executive director, Charles Langley, “Ratepayers should be quaking in rage at the cost of this ridiculous $64 million study.” Robert Pope, the Public Watchdogs’ Geologist says that in his opinion, the studies are “faulty.” According to Pope “the study delivered an abundance of data, but the conclusions are faulty.” The studies, which were made public three days ago on Southern California Edison’s Website were the subject of tonight’s Southern California Edison Community Engagement meeting in Dana Point. Curiously, Edison’s costly report identifies “preferred conclusions,” suggesting that there other alternative conclusions that were ignored. According to Pope, “I’ve never seen an alternative ‘preferred conclusion’ used in a scientific papers. It is unusual and suggests that the authors may have had other conclusions that were redacted from the final report.” In addition to the “preferred conclusions,” one of the reports mentions that it was edited by two “anonymous” individuals. “We’re’ skeptical,” says Langley, “and look forward to hearing Southern California Edison’s explanation at its Community Engagement Panel meeting this evening.” A copy of Public Watchdogs’ response to the Edison report is available at www.publicwatchdogs.org
SAN DIEGO COUNTY FIRE INCREASES STAFFING FOR EXPECTED RAINS
Source: CAL FIRE February 16, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – With the arrival of another powerful winter storm on Friday February 17TH San Diego County Fire (SDCF) is once again taking steps to ensure an aggressive response to weather related incidents. Although rain is the focus of this week’s storm, high winds are also expected and could potentially bring the threat of downed trees. Beginning today, SDCF and CAL FIRE will staff two swift water rescue teams with one staging in the north county and the other at CAL FIRE headquarters in Rancho San Diego. Both resources will be staffed 24 hours a day until the threat has passed and will be available to all agencies countywide. Also available to the region are eight CAL FIRE hand crews for flood fighting operations which can include filling sand bags and building diversion dams. CAL FIRE and San Diego County Fire Chief Tony Mecham would like to remind the public that the rains are expected to bring hazardous driving conditions through the weekend. As a result the public is urged to find alternate routes around flooded roadways and are asked to never drive into standing or running water.
VIDEO: HELIX FLUME TRAIL NOW OPEN IN LAKESIDE
By Andy Tolley, County of San Diego Communications Office February 16, 2017 (Lakeside) – The County cut the ribbon Thursday for the new Helix Flume Trail in Lakeside, and a group took an inaugural hike on the 0.8-mile path. It may be short in distance, but it’s long on history, with signs that share the story of early water transportation in San Diego. It also feature spectacular views of Lake Jennings and El Cajon Mountains. The trailhead is located at 14003-14023 El Monte Road in Lakeside.
TIRE & APPLIANCE RECYCLING DROP-OFF MARCH 3, 4, 11, 13
East County News Service February 16, 2017 (La Mesa) – You’re invited to drop off your used tires, motor oil, electronic waste, fats, oil, grease and CRV glass, cans and plastic at the EDCO station in La Mesa (8184 Commercial St.) from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on March 3, 4, 11 and from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on March 13. The drop-off is by appointment only and your tires must meet requirements in order to be accepted for drop-off. For more information, see flyer.
SDSU SOFTBALL: AZTECS BLOW LEAD ON TWO ERRORS; LOSE TO WASHINGTON 6-5
Like our sports coverage? Donate to help support ECM’s sports section! Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories! Story and photos by Liz Alper February 16, 2017 (San Diego) – Due to rain, what was supposed to be SDSU softball’s weekend-long hosting of the 27th annual Campbell/Cartier Classic is now reduced to three games today and one on Tuesday. The Aztecs hosted UC Riverside earlier today and tonight, they hosted the Huskies from Washington. The No. 8 Huskies faced UC Riverside earlier tonight. It was a quiet ballgame until the top half of the fourth. After the Huskies’ senior designated player, Casey Stangel, singled, junior first baseman Julia DePonte smacked a ball into left center that flew out of the park and gave the purple and gold a 2-0 lead. The Huskies got one more on freshman second baseman Sys Bates’ Dac groundout that scored junior third baseman Taylor Van Zee and Washington led 3-0. The Aztecs were finally able to get their bats going in their half of the fourth. After back-to-back singles by sophomores Molly Sturdivant and second baseman Katie Byrd, a West Hills High product, junior designated player Taylor Stewart drove freshman pinch runner Kristen Parker home with an RBI single to make the score 3-1 and get the Aztecs on the board. Everything changed in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs and two runners on, junior catcher Jenavee Peres hit an absolute blast, a three-run moonshot to left field to give the Aztecs a 4-3 lead. The Santee native wasn’t done yet. In the sixth, Byrd hit a solo shot to right field and the Aztecs got some insurance and led 5-3. SDSU’s lead was cut to one in the top of the seventh with Washington sophomore catcher Morgan Flores’ solo homer to make the score 5-4. The Aztecs loaded the bases and Stangel singled to bring home the tying run and make the score 5-5. The Huskies got the go-ahead run after a bad throw to first by freshman shortstop Shelby Thompson caused Van Zee to be safe and with that, the go-ahead run came home, putting Washington up 6-5. They hung on to win 6-5 and move to 6-1, while the Aztecs fall to 3-4. SDSU finished with eight hits against Washington’s nine, but Thompson’s two bobbles counted as errors. The Aztecs will play the last game of the Campbell/Cartier Classic on Tuesday against Siena. First pitch will be thrown at 6:00 p.m. Box