COUNTY BOARD APPROVES $2 MILLION TREE PLANTING PROGRAM
Printer-friendly version By Michelle Mowad, County of San Diego Communications Office January 11, 2018 (San Diego) – The Board of Supervisors Wednesday approved a $2 million expansion of a program to remove and replace weakened trees in County parks. The action authorizes the Department of Parks and Recreation to advertise and award the contract for its Comprehensive Tree Program. The allocation includes the purchase of 3,500 trees of various species and sizes, along with other materials and services associated with the planting of new trees, and removal of dead or diseased trees. Trees will be planted at parks that have suffered the biggest loss to their tree canopies. Parks set to receive the largest number of trees include Dos Picos County Park in Ramona, San Elijo Lagoon in Cardiff and William Heise County Park in Julian. Many trees have been lost in recent years due to effects of drought, the gold-spotted oak borer and the shot hole borer. “Trees are an integral part of our parks system. They house ecosystems, support biodiversity, serve as climate buffers to moderate temperatures and wind, absorb sound, prevent soil erosion and slow stormwater runoff,” said Parks and Recreation Director Brian Albright. “They also offer shade, reduce sun exposure and enhance outdoor recreation areas for park guests.” Trees identified for current and future plantings include sycamore, pine, Englemann oak, incense cedar and cottonwood. Planting is expected to begin early spring 2018. Printer-friendly version
GRANITE HILLS STUDENT ARRESTED FOR BRINGING BB GUN ON CAMPUS
Printer-friendly version East County News Service January 11, 2018 (El Cajon) – After a teacher received a tip about a photo on Snapchat showing a student holding a gun in a classroom, administrators placed Granite Hills High School in secure campus mode briefly and notified authorities, NBC 7 reports. The gun was later determined to be a BB gun which was brought to campus not by the student in the photo, but by another student, according to El Cajon Police Lieutenant Rob Ransweiler. That student was arrested and charged with possessing a weapon on campus, but was later released to his parents. Several interviews led authorities to a second student, who had the weapon, Ransweiler said. That student was arrested on charges of being in possession of a weapon on campus and was eventually released to parents. Printer-friendly version
LA MESA HISTORICAL SOCIETY TO HOST SATURDAY MORNING LECTURE ON GROSSMONT HOSPITAL HISTORY BOOK
Printer-friendly version East County News Service January 11, 2018 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa Historical Society will host a lecture on Saturday, Jan. 20 featuring local historian Jim Newland discussing his latest book on the history of Grossmont Hospital. The lecture, which is open to the public, will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center, 9001 Wakarusa St., La Mesa. Requested admission donation is $5 per person. For more event info, visit www.lamesahistory.com or call (619) 466-0197. To RSVP, visit http://bit.ly/2BQFPzz. The book, “Grossmont Hospital: A Legacy of Community Service,” chronicles the history of Grossmont Hospital as one of the most revered local community institutions in La Mesa and the East County. The La Mesa hospital, owned by the citizens of the East San Diego County region, opened in 1955. The 153-page book, published by The History Press, will be available soon in local book stores and can be ordered online now through the publisher’s website, as well as Amazon. Books also will be available for signing by the author at the Jan. 20 event. Newland, author of “Around Mt. Helix, “La Mesa” and “Cleveland National Forest,” partnered with Grossmont Hospital and the Grossmont Hospital District in chronicling the inspiring story of this iconic regional institution. The longtime La Mesa resident is past president of the La Mesa Historical Society and has served on the La Mesa Planning Commission since 2014. Printer-friendly version
GRAND JURY ISSUES SUBPOENA IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OF CONGRESSMAN HUNTER, UNION-TRIBUNE REPORTS
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery January 11, 2018 (San Diego) – A federal grand jury has subpoenaed documents from a local business as part of a criminal investigation into Congressman Duncan Hunter’s campaign finances, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported yesterday. The newspaper’s award-winning journalist Morgan Cook reports that the grand jury will hear evidence and testimony from a witness also ordered to appear in San Diego later this month. Potentially, the grand jury could issue one or more criminal indictments, casting a pall over Hunter’s effort to win a primary race in June and reelection to Congress in November. The article does not identify the witness or the company named in the document, that a third party provided to the publication, but Cook indicates the Hunter’s campaign spent thousands of dollars at the business during the 2012 and 2014 election cycles. Clues are provided, in the subpoena that ordered the company to provide documents including signed receipts, event contracts, reservation/booking details, information on guests, photographs, social media posts and all communications related to six specific transactions in 2012, including expenditures by Hunter, his wife and former campaign manager, Margaret, and his then campaign treasurer, Bruce Young. Also requested were records dating back through 2009—long before the 2016 campaign cycle that prompted the U.S. Justice Department investigation into allegations that the Hunter campaign used campaign funds illegally for lavish personal expenses including a family vacation to Italy plane fare for a rabbit belonging to Hunter’s son, video games, oral surgeon bills, jewelry and tuition at his children’s school. Hunter has denied wrongdoing but did take out a loan to repay his campaign more than $60,000. Ironically, Hunter recently made TV appearances in which he slammed the nation’s top law enforcement agencies, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Justice Department for probes involving President Donald Trump campaigns ties to Russia as well as the investigation of Hunter’s campaign finances. Hunter has suggested the Trump probe could be “illegal and even treasonous” despite the fact that special prosecutor Robert Mueller’s investigation of Trump has already led to guilty pleas and indictments of several key Trump allies. George Papadopoulos, foreign policy advisor to Trump’s campaign, pled guilty to criminal charges pertaining to his dealings with Russian foreign nationals. Former National Security Advisor and retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn pled guilty t to lying to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) about his back-channel talks with Russia’s ambassador Sergey Kislyak prior to Trump taking office in efforts to influence U.S. policies on sanctions against Russia and more. Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort and his business associate Rick Gates, have been arrested and indicted on felony charges including conspiracy against the U.S., failing to register as foreign agents, making false statements to federal investigators, fax fraud, and laundering millions of dollars through offshore accounts for clients in the Ukraine, including former Ukranian president Viktor Yanukovych, an ally of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. Rep. Hunter, in an interview aired on KUSI, called the Justice Department “biased” and complained about the length of time it was taking to resolve his case, noting “There’s no oversight, and they can ruin your life and take you down if they feel like it. In the KUSI interview, he added, “So, let’s just get it over with.” Unless the Justice Department announces it has cleared Hunter by the primary, the investigation and specter of a possible criminal indictment could jeopardize the Republican’s control of the 50th Congressional district seat despite the heavy GOP tilt in what ordinarily would be considered a safe seat for the party. Two well-funded Democrats, ex-Navy Seal Josh Butner and former Obama administration official Ammar Campa-Najjar are vying for the seat. Several Republicans have also thrown their hats into the ring, including Sheriff commander Andrew Zelt, business owner Shamus Sayed, and attorney Joshua Schoonover. There is also speculation that Congressman Darrell Issa, who announced he will not seek reelection to his 49th district seat, may run in the 50th should Rep.Hunter resign, though thus far Hunter has said he has no intention of doing so. ECM has reached out to Hunter’s deputy chief of staff, Michael Harrison, for comments for this story, but we have not received a reply as of press deadline. Printer-friendly version