This week in The Alpine Sun

Lead Stories

Grossmont Prop H projects gaining momentum  
The Nov. 8 Grossmont Union High School District board meeting entertained a screening and an election of the Parent-at-Large position for the Citizen’s Bond Oversight Committee. In addition, a resolution to recognize academic excellence was passed unanimously, and Gafcon/Harris made their monthly progress report on Proposition H bond activity.  

Supervisors seek answers to TIF concerns  
In April 2005 the San Diego County Board of Supervisors adopted a Transportation Impact Fee ordinance in order to comply with state law and provide funding to support the increased traffic generated by new development. On Nov. 7 the supervisors requested that county staff address specific issues and return to the board in 60 days with recommendations to change the TIF program to encourage commercial and industrial development in unincorporated San Diego County. 

PC grants Major Use Permit for St. Adelaide
Even asThe county’s Planning Commission voted 7-0 Nov. 2 to grant a Major Use Permit for the construction of buildings which will be part of St. Adelaide Catholic Church in Campo. The Major Use Permit will allow the religious assembly use along with an elementary school on the 5.13-acre site. The construction will be performed in three phases, and the total building area will be approximately 22,800 square feet.

Alpine man avoids death penalty 
The death penalty will be sought against the gunman who shot two liquor store workers to death execution-style in their El Cajon store, a prosecutor announced on Nov. 7. Jean Pierre Rices, 26, of El Cajon, faces possible execution if a jury convicts him of first-degree murder and special circumstances in the March 1, 2006, deaths of Heather Mattia, 22, and Firas Eiso, 23. Mattia was an owner of the Granada Liquor store on Broadway, and Eiso was a clerk.  

Two looters get 90 days
Two men who pleaded guilty to stealing 10 pounds of copper in a wheelbarrow from a Back Country home that was damaged by the Harris wildfire were sentenced Nov. 5 to 90 days in county jail and ordered to perform 80 hours of volunteer work.
 
Vaquero visitors step back into history  
The 15th annual Vaquero Days brought another weekend of success to Descanso, as they sang, danced, roped, challenged and barbequed in celebration.

Opinion mixed on local plans to fluoridate water supply
Delayed three times, the state-mandated order to add fluoride to all California public water systems was set for the Padre Dam Municipal Water District on Monday, Nov. 5. Yet, it may be another month before implementation by Padre Dam.

BOS approves paid employee leave for fire-related absences
One of the items added to the Oct. 24 San Diego County Board of Supervisors agenda following the fires was the adoption of an ordinance providing compensation to employees who were asked not to report to work during the fires and providing a leave of absence for employees whose homes were destroyed or damaged by the fires.

GHD allocates $140,000 to fire efforts
The board of directors of the Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), a public agency that serves San Diego’s East County region, has unanimously voted to allocate $140,000 from the general fund to support community organizations involved in fire disaster relief efforts.

MUP granted for Potrero wireless site
The county’s Planning Commission voted 7-0 in October to grant a Major Use Permit to Sprint Nextel for a wireless communications facility in Potrero.
 

Columns/Opinion

My Turn with Justin Akers Chacon: Divided by Fire: Two San Diegos emerge from the flames

My Turn with Jim Hardy: Doing what’s right for Alpine’s kids

Spiritual Sunrise with Merry Murray: The Christian life is not without storms

Just The Fact's Ma'am with Carol Lovejoy: Commuting in the dark

Class Action with Chuck Taylor: Less talk and more action for parks

Brain Food with Cara Day Miller: Family dinner decorum that strengthens and binds

The Chamber Community with The Alpine Chamber of Commerce: Alpine Honorary Mayor
campaigns in full swing


Sports

Cougars rev up for cross country finals