This week in The Alpine Sun

Lead Stories

Former Campo couple sentenced for smuggling illegal aliens  
A former couple from Campo have been sentenced to 70 months and 37 months respectively in federal prison for transportation of illegal aliens which ended in one death last April.  

Alpine’s finest honored at 2006 leadership and public service awards gala  
The 2006 ALPS Award Ceremony held at the Stardust Room in the Viejas Casino was a welcome celebration with a wonderful steak dinner and dessert for Alpine community leaders. 

Nine candidates looking to fill seven seats on Alpine Planning Group
With the election less than a week away, campaigns are starting to wind down as voters make decisions about their candidates. The race for the Alpine Planning Group is a big one that could potentially change the face of the local advisory board. Seven seats are open in this election, with nine candidates, including four incumbents running for the job.   

Campo arsonist will go to trial Nov. 9
A Campo man accused of setting several grass fires has been found to be mentally competent to stand trial and a preliminary hearing was set for Nov. 9.  

What if California’s nonvoters voted this election?
If California’s nonvoting adult population made their voices heard at the ballot box, much of the political status quo could change — dramatically. A report released by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), with funding from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, looks at the state’s electorate from 1990 through May 2006 and paints a provocative picture of the gulf in political preferences between the state’s voters and the majority of its adult population. 
 
Methamphetamine use takes its toll on San Diego Region  
While San Diego may no longer be the “Meth Capital of the World,” methamphetamine (meth) use has increased among the adult and juvenile arrestee population over the past several years, according to the latest work by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG).

County accepts $323,780 fire grant
The Farm and Home Advisor department of the County of San Diego will be receiving a $323,780 grant to create and establish a wildfire community research, education, and outreach program.

Padre Dam board race heats up
Patricia Cannon and Dan McMillan are vying to serve in the open seat vacated by Joel Anderson at Padre Dam Municipal Water District. There are five Divisions on the Board with each representing a different geographical area. The winner in November will serve in Division five, which includes Alpine, Crest, Dehesa, Blossom Valley, and Flinn Springs. 

Iwo Jima War veteran/marine raider honored in Alpine by former student 
Howard E. “Buck” Stidham (1918-2002) will be honored Friday, Nov. 3, at two o’clock at the East Victoria Estates Housing Development in Alpine with a ribbon cutting ceremony opening the new county road, Buck Stidham Drive, named after the former World War II, Korean War veteran and former Granite Hills High School Wood Shop teacher.

Three years later, Cedar Fire still hits home  
While the 2003 firestorm that burned through the area grows foggy in our memories, the devastation is still very real for those who lost their homes in the blaze. All of the major recovery groups have left, the donated and federal monies have been spent, and yet, more than half of the houses destroyed, about 1,000 have yet to be rebuilt.

Ghosts, goblins, pirates and princesses dance the night away a Halloween bashes
The 2006 Shadow Hills Fall Festival and Alpine Elementary Halloween Carnivals were both huge successes.

Supes set hearing to vacate Meadow View Lane 
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors set a Nov. 15 hearing to vacate Meadow View Lane in Alpine and return the roadway to private ownership.

Board of Supervisors adopt Operational Area Emergency Plan
A 5-0 vote of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors recently adopted an updated San Diego County Operational Area Emergency Plan.
 

Columns/Opinion

My Turn with Dianne Jacob: Odds stacked against Jamul casino complex

Spiritual Sunrise with Merry Murray: Can you be a Christian and still live in sin?

Home Views with Rachell Lara: Children’s room basics — Come and play, now go to sleep

Mortgage Sense with Chris Wiley: Interest only loans are going through some changes that you need to know


Sports

Alpine cheerleaders take third place in Pop Warner competition

AYSO girls soccer plays on

Top cross country runners starting to separate from the pack

CIF fall playoffs are gearing up for East County teams