This week in The Alpine Sun

Lead Stories

Campo discusses PLDO development fee increase  
The Campo-Lake Morena Planning Group had a chance to weigh-in on a proposed fee increase on development throughout the county. The San Diego Parks and Recreation Department is proposing a major increase in fees for the Park Land Dedication Ordinance, which charges developers who apply for building permits in unincorporated parts of the county. 

AUSD thinks green with school solar panels 
Alpine Union School District is in league with some of the major minds of ecological preservation. With the addition of their new solar field located at Alpine Elementary School, the district has also added a new level in their forward thinking economical conservation practices.

Artists add to 9/11 memorial
The judges are in, and a young, local artist has earned the honor of representing Alpine in the Tiles for America project. A nine-year-old boy, Alex Wells, designed and painted a tile that will represent his community on the memorial wall being erected in New York City at the corner of 7th Avenue and 11th Street, near the location of ground zero.   

Leader of smuggling ring sentenced to 15 years in federal prison
An illegal alien smuggler, who is responsible for transporting more than 100 undocumented persons from Mexico into East County, was sentenced Aug. 28, to 15 years and eight months in federal prison.  

Local musician entertains residents with love of music and his craft
Johnny Long of Alpine is a happy man. His life is working out exactly as he planned. He loves his job. He has a wonderful family, a loving wife and three adult children. 
 
Alpine Beer Company offers new spirit  
The Alpine Beer Company, a local brewery in Alpine since 1999, celebrated the release of a new product, an Indian Pale Ale brew.

Planning Commission creates subcommittee to study ORV ordinance
The county’s Planning Commission voted 6-1 Aug. 25 to create a subcommittee to study a possible ordinance regulating off-road vehicles in the unincorporated area of San Diego County.

Unincorporated communities get permanent voice at SANDAG
People who live in San Diego County’s unincorporated communities soon will have guaranteed representation on the governing board of the San Diego Association of Governments, the agency that oversees transportation planning for the region. 

Alpine Girl Scout earns top honor
Alpine Senior Girl Scout Lea Zernow, daughter of Chris and Jennie Lorensen, earned the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award, the organization’s highest honor. She was among 42 young women from San Diego and Imperial counties honored during a Gold Award ceremony held recently at Qualcomm headquarters.

Kumeyaay Nation plays host to 17th annual pow wow event
Thousands of Kumeyaay Indians and Native Americans from across the country as well as Canada, gathered in El Cajon last weekend for the 17th Annual Pow Wow and Traditional Gathering.
 

Columns/Opinion

Spiritual Sunrise with Merry Murray: Our father, who art in Heaven…

In The Moment with Shannon Loarie: The eerie silence of back-to-school

Good Health Naturally with Dr. Darrel Crain: Don’t hold your breath for asthma medicine effectiveness

Teen Talk with Brandon Gumarang: Lost on campus, water balloon phobias, and a few classes


Sports

Steele Canyon harriers aiming for cross country state meet

Wild West Athletic club is a knock-out for amateur boxers