This week in The Alpine Sun

Lead Stories

Lowball offer angers Mountain Empire teachers
In the wake of a no-confidence vote earlier this year, and several years without a teacher raise, Mountain Empire Unified School District has offered a salary increase of between three and six cents per hour. 

Motions denied in builder suit
A list of motions by defendants REI, Paul Gonya, Kenneth Stroud and David Waitley were rejected last week by Superior Court Judge Joan Lewis, who upheld a motion by plaintiff Dartmouth Development Company. 

SVDP water impacts nil with 18 inches rain 
Campo/Lake Morena planning group members and residents an got an in-depth look at the effect of local development on groundwater in their area at the Monday, Oct. 24 board meeting. The discussion was part of a presentation by representatives for “A Children’s Village,” a new development that is being proposed on the old Flying A ranch. 

Alpine man caught by robbing teller who who knew him
A bank robber's voice sounded familiar to a teller, and now a 20-year-old Alpine man sits in a Vista jail, awaiting sentencing for robbery after pleading guilty on Oct. 19.  

Desert air rescue challenged by difficult weather
On Sunday Oct. 23, at about 10 p.m., the California Highway Patrol received a weak, fragmented cell phone call from a possible missing person in the Anza- Borrego State Park.  The cell phone number was traced to a subject who resides in the city of San Diego.   
 
15 fire victims to speak at sentencing
A federal judge set a Nov. 17 sentencing date for Sergio Martinez, the lost hunter who said he set the devastating Cedar Fire in 2003 to get rescued. He faces no more than five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to setting timber afire in the Cleveland National Forest. 

ALPS Awards celebrate area’s finest
Hundreds of local Alpine business owners and residents gathered at the Dreamcatcher Lounge at Viejas Casino last Wednesday, Oct. 19, to celebrate the annual Alpine Leadership and Public Service Awards night. 

Business: Weeks praised by business community 
It has been a month of accolades for Deanna Weeks, a Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Governing Board member and East County business leader, who received a Women in Leaership award Friday at a luncheon sponsored by the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce. 

Business: Viejas employees donate $12,000 to hurricane victims
Employees of Viejas Casino and Viejas Outlet Center have banded together to collect $12,000 for the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The funds will be presented to the American Red Cross during the San Diego/ Imperial Counties “Real Heroes ‘05” event.

Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges welcome 26 new teachers
New faculty members by the dozens at Grossmont College were welcomed this week by the district governing board.

Modern vaqueros nurture independence and skills of pioneer era
Hundreds gathered in Descanso on Oct. 13, 14 and 15 to take part in the 13th Annual Vaquero Days. The event, held at McClintock Saddle Shop and Merigan Ranch barns, featured ranch horse events, a cowboy Christmas sale, horse handling, saddle makers, blacksmiths, live music, food, dancing and much more.


Columns/Opinion

Good Health Naturally with Dr. Darrell Crain: Wellness is nature’s intent

Spiritual Sunrise with Merry Murray: Keep the greatest commandment

My Turn with Steve Hunyar: Pick Alpine schools when time comes to choose

Financial Focus with Jim Whitener: Avoid those scary investment moves


Sports

Grossmont College football team rushing towards conference title
Grossmont College’s football team looks to be closing in on its third consecutive Foothill Conference championship after defeating visiting Victory Valley, 59-26, on Oct. 22. At 6-0 in conference play and 7-1 overall, the Griffins appear in firm control of the conference standings with two regular season games remaining. 

Former Monte Vista goaltender signs with ECHL Gulls 
Former Monte Vista High School student Aaron McKenzie must be living any hockey player’s dream after the 21-year-old goaltender recently signed a professional contract with the hometown San Diego Gulls, who opened their third ECHL season with a weekend series Oct. 21-24 in Anchorage, Alaska.  
 
Double forfeits handed down in football melee
After an extensive review of all available videotape of an on-field incident involving players and coaches from the Mt. Miguel and Helix Charter high school football teams in a game played Oct. 14 at Helix Charter High School, the San Diego Section has ruled that both schools must forfeit the contest.