Humans Unite

Toyota Preus Out Of Control On I-8

Written by admin on March 9, 2010

James Sikes was on his way home to Jacumba yesterday afternoon, driving his blue Toyota Prius on a winding stretch of Interstate 8, when he encountered a car that was going a little too slow. Sikes hit the accelerator, totally unprepared for what happened next.

“It did something kind of funny,” said Sikes, 61. “It just stuck there.”

For about 30 hair-raising miles beginning near Lake Jennings Park Road near Flinn Springs, Sikes tried frantically to slow down the 2008 hybrid. At one point the speedometer hit 94 mph, said Sikes, who called 911.

A CHP officer was dispatched and while driving alongside, coached Sikes over a loudspeaker on how to get control of the car, a process that involved the brakes, the emergency brake and, when the speed came down some, turning off the ignition.

To me, this is a true hero – and a GREAT job by the driver not to panic and do anything stupid. I wonder if I could be that strong in that stressful of a situation!?

Odd Package Found At CSUSM

Written by admin on March 9, 2010

The discovery of a “suspicious package” this morning has prompted Cal State San Marcos police to evacuate Academic Hall, one of the largest buildings on campus, chief Ron Hackenberg said in a phone interview.

The bomb squad of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department was slated to arrive on campus just before noon to examine the package, which police found in a bathroom after receiving a tip from a student, Hackenberg said.

It’s most likely some stupid kid playing a prank – if they only knew how much damage and tax dollars it costs…not to mention they trouble they’ll get in.

City Revenue Meeting In Lake Elsinore

Written by admin on March 9, 2010

Eroding revenue continues to eat away at Lake Elsinore’s budget, according to a report scheduled for the City Council’s review Tuesday.

The regular meeting starts at 7 p.m., preceded by a study session at 4 p.m., in the Cultural Center, 183 N. Main St.

The midyear budget review by the city’s finance director indicates both sales and property tax revenues are still declining.

As a result, the city expects to reap nearly $1 million less in those revenues than originally projected in the budget for the year ending June 30. Taking other adjustments into account the city would be about $1.14 million short by the fiscal year’s end, winding up with an estimated $6.3 million in sales tax revenue and $4.9 million in property tax revenue. Overall, the city would end the year having received $21.8 million in general fund revenue, while spending $24.1 million.

On the bright side, the city spent just $117,660 of a $1.02 million allocation from its supplemental reserve fund to cover a shortfall in last year’s budget, the report states. The city’s finance director recommends using that unspent amount to cover the anticipated deficit, along with another $245,160 drawn from the supplemental reserve and other measures such as reduced spending by some departments.

Did You Shake, Rattle, And Roll?!

Written by admin on March 9, 2010

A light earthquake has shaken a rural area of San Diego County.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the 4.0-magnitude quake occurred at 8:18 p.m. Monday. It was centered 14 miles east-southeast of Julian.

There are no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

I didn’t feel this one, but, a 4.0 is a pretty good size one…I usually feel those. Maybe I mistook a crunch of my pretzel for the trembler, eh? haha

Horrible House Fire In North County

Written by admin on March 9, 2010

I don’t know why these seem to be happening so much lately, but, they are.

Anyway, one person died and another was feared dead Monday night in a fire that destroyed an Encinitas home.

When firefighters arrived at 7:26 p.m. at the home, at 1125 Regal Road, it was completely engulfed with flames shooting through the top of the single-story house, said Deputy Fire Chief Scott Henry of the Encinitas Fire Department.

Fire crews doused the fire by 8:10 p.m., Henry said, and soon discovered one of the residents, a wheelchair-bound 82-year-old man, dead inside the wreckage of the home, Henry said.

As of late Monday night, a second resident of the home, an 83-year-old woman, had not been accounted for, Henry said.

Rain Rain…Go Away

Written by admin on March 5, 2010

Everyone knows we could use the rain. That pesky drought thing is still a concern. But do the storms have to keep coming on the weekends?

Apparently so.

County residents can enjoy a mostly fair day Friday, with some high clouds and temperatures in the low 60s at the coast and the mid-60s inland. But then a cold storm off the Northern California coast is expected to drop south by Saturday. A cold front should bring widespread, steady rain by late afternoon or evening.

Once that front passes, the cold air behind it could bring heavy, scattered showers through Sunday. Thunderstorms with hail are possible, and waterspouts could occur off the coast.

Carlsbad Flower Fields Now Open

Written by admin on March 5, 2010

If you’ve never done this, I can’t explain to you in words how much you’re missing out!

The fields, which are packed with thickly petalled ranunculus flowers, attract more than 100,000 visitors each year. Locals bring visiting relatives, tourists arrive by the busload, and school children come for the day on field trips to learn about the life cycle of plants.

Starting this weekend, visitors will have a new way to get into the flower-growing operation, which sits at the intersection of busy Palomar Airport Road and Paseo del Norte. Construction is about to conclude on a special right-turn-only lane, which will allow westbound drivers on Palomar Airport Road to go into the fields’ parking lot without turning onto Paseo del Norte.

Knitting For Charity In Fallbrook

Written by admin on March 5, 2010

There’s a whole lot of knitting going on at Fallbrook Library this month.

Since the beginning of the month, the library’s customers, librarians and volunteers have been knitting and crocheting squares to make blankets for charities that benefit needy Americans and displaced Haitian earthquake survivors.

Fallbrook librarians were inspired to organize the charitable program by John Steinbeck’s “Grapes of Wrath,” the classic Depression-era novel being promoted by the county’s Big Read collective reading program.

The knitting program will end March 13, along with the Big Read.

Pitbull Lawyer To Take King Case

Written by admin on March 3, 2010

Veteran prosecutor Kristen Spieler has been tapped to handle the case against John Albert Gardner III in the killing of 17-year-old Chelsea King of Poway.

Spieler, 43, has prosecuted numerous cases involving sexual predators and people accused of murder.

Following Gardner’s arraignment on murder and assault charges on Wednesday, Spieler said she was confident that he can get a fair trial despite the extensive media coverage.

And she made it clear authorities have a solid case.

“In this case, we have charged the defendant with crimes that we believe the evidence will establish he has committed,” she said. “We are asking that he be held responsible for exactly what the evidence proves.”

She also touched on the raw emotion generated by Chelsea’s abduction and killing.

“The facts of this case rocked San Diego County,” she said. “What happened to this young girl is what is so tragic regardless of who committed this crime.”

This, to me, is the PERFECT lawyer to take the case. A real life pitbull who’ll get this crazy put away for good.

Another Drunk Driving Situation

Written by admin on March 3, 2010

This is such a tragedy. People just don’t get it…

A suspected drunk driver is denying he caused a fiery crash that killed a sheriff’s deputy.

Jose Pedro Lopez is being held on $750,000 bail after facing a judge in court Wednesday.

Prosecutors say Lopez was drunk and high on marijuana when he drove the wrong way on Highway 52 in Santee over the weekend.

A deputy tried to stop him and drove on the shoulder to avoid hitting other cars. The emergency lane ran out and the deputy’s SUV fell into a ravine and burst into flames, killing him.

A dispatcher riding with the deputy was also hurt.