By Nancy Clement

Sheriff and East County Family Justice Center host event, invite all who want to help victims escape violence

Photos and Story by Mary E. Paulet

September 11, 2010 (Escondido) - In a scene reminiscent of classic Americana movies Grease and American Graffiti, 1957 Chevrolets and 1902 fire engines thundered up and down the streets of Escondido last night.

September 11, 2010 (Lakeside) 4:50 p.m.– California Highway Patrol has issued a SIGALERT for Willows Road at mile marker 2 in Lakeside, where traffic is backed up to the Willow Road intersection. The alert is due to a head-on collision reported around 4 p.m. At least one victim is trapped, CHP reports.

Deadline is September 30th

September 11, 2010 (San Diego) -– The City of Sa Diego’s Citizens’ Review on Police Practices is seeking new members. The Board is responsible for reviewing serious citizen complaints against San Diego police officers, officer-involved shootings, and in-custody deaths. The CRB also oversees the administration of discipline in cases where the officer has been found to have disobeyed proper policy and procedure. Additionally, the CRB makes policy and procedure recommendations to the Chief of Police.

September 11, 2010 (San Pasqual) – Highway 78 is closed in both directions on the east side of the San Diego Wild Animal Park and is expected to remain closed until at last 12:30 p.m. , according to the California Highway Patrol. Traffic is being diverted to Bandy Canyon and Haverford while emergency crews search for the driver of a vehicle involved in a serious accident who left a trail of blood leading into a nearby canyon, the Union-Tribune reports.

By Miriam Raftery
Former ECM intern Joseph Rocha gave key testimony at trial

September 10, 2010 (San Diego) – U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips ruled yesterday that the U.S. military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy banning openly gay soldiers from serving is unconstitutional, violating the First and Fifth Amendments. The judge found that the policy has a “direct and deleterious effect” on military readiness by hindering recruitment in wartime and requiring discharge of service members who have critical skills or training.

"I am overjoyed that so many veterans and active duty members have been honored with justice. The decision upholds the constitution proving that no patriots blood is any less valuable in the defense of our nation." Joseph Rocha, an award-winning ECM journalism intern who testified at the trial, told ECM in an e-mail this evening. A former Navy dog handler, Rocha underwent 93 counts of abuse at the hands of an officer while serving in Bahrain.

Read our prior coverage and interview with Rocha on his ordeal. View his testimony (pagse 27-34) here.
 

Whitman’s support for more deep education spending cuts at issue in race for Governor
 

by Christopher Mohr

September 10, 2010 (San Diego) - If you think that you are too old to be active, you won't find much sympathy from this crowd. Over 100 players ages 50 and older from throughout the County played a series of soccer matches last weekend (9/4-5) at the Chargers' former practice field in the Qualcomm Stadium parking lot. The featured game was a championship in the age 60+ group between the U.S. and South Korean teams. Teams participated in 8-on-8 as well as fully-configured 11-on-11 matches.

September 9, 2010 – At least 28 people have been injured and one killed in a fiery gas explosion in San Bruno, California. Flames up to 1,000 feet high have destroyed 53 homes and damaged 120 more; about 100 people are now in evacuation centers.

Cause of the blaze, which continues to burn,  is believed to be a burst gas pipe. Details:

September 9, 2010 (El Cajon)--The Grossmont College Guitar Guild will present “Odeum Guitar Duo,” a fund-raising performance for the Guitar Guild by two Grossmont College guitar instructors Fred Benedetti and Robert Wetzel, starting at 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 17, at the College’s recital hall, room 220.

October programs offered through Sharp Grossmont Hospital

September 9, 2010 (La Mesa) -- Sharp Grossmont Hospital’s Senior Resource Center offers free or low-cost educational programs and health screenings each month. The Senior Resource Center also provides information and assistance for health information and community resources.

September 9, 2010 (San Diego) -- At a ceremony today in Balboa Park, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed AB 1844 into law. The bill, named for slain Poway high school student Chelsea King, provides life-without-parole sentences for California’s most dangerous sex offenders, including first-time offenders. It also lengthens parole terms for those who commit crimes against children under age 14, restricts sex offenders from entering public parks, and provides other  protections.