This week in The Alpine Sun

Lead Stories

Mag-lev could whisk travelers to Imperial airport
A study to analyze a magnetic levitation train linking San Diego with Imperial County recently got on the fast track as the transportation committee of the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) authorized hiring an engineering firm to see whether a maglev link over the mountains and desert is even feasible.
 
Congressman, RTF, join efforts to succor South 
East County Congressman Duncan Hunter is among the growing number of area residents who showed up in person to help succor storm victims in New Orleans.
   
School board hesitant to approve $20,000 bonus 
The Alpine Union School District Board of Trustees held its first meeting of the new school year last Wednesday, Aug. 31, when members were asked to approve a $20,000 bonus for a retiring employee and offered both the good and the bad regarding the district's API scores.
 
Campo storekeeper dies in one of several recent crashes
One of two cousins who have breathed new life into the Cameron Corners Convenience Store and gas station, died Friday, Sept. 2, in a Buckman Springs Road crash that also left a local family with assorted injuries.
  
Alpine man rests up after rescuing 75 
As the water rose higher and higher in the streets of New Orleans, Christian Dodgens decided that he would not leave his apartment.
 
 Katrina victim takes shelter in Crest 
“When I saw my sister, brother-in-law and my niece through the airplane window, I just lost it. I could barely make my way off that plane,” said Shelley Harper of Slidell, La. She was one of the 82 passengers aboard the Boeing 737 hired by San Diego’s David Perez, the CEO of Surge Global Energy, to evacuate people from the horrors created by Hurricane Katrina.
 
Local business offers reward on $100,000 act of vandalism 
Tenants of the Alpine Professional Center arrived at work on Monday morning to find the first floor of the building at 2751 Alpine Blvd. completely flooded. 
 
Trip through time is an easy hike with annual living history 
With fair weather and blue-crested skies overhead, the annual living history event on Mount Laguna was a great success this year. Thanks to the Laguna Mountain Volunteer Association (LMVA) the event went off without a hitch. The Labor Day weekend event, now in it’s 18th year, attracts 200 people a day or up to 500 for the weekend. The event is held on the mountain at the Red Tail Roost.
 

Columns/Opinion

Class Action with Chuck Taylor: Local fourth graders raise cash for Katrina survivors 

Spiritual Sunrise with Merry Murray: America needs to answer wake-up call

My Turn with Charlene Ayers: New Orleans debacle: Fire them all

My Turn with Andy Ramirez: Call the governor, demand SB-60 veto

Sports

El Cajon Valley kicks off season in record-setting style