This week in The Alpine Sun

Lead Stories

GUHSD’s Prop 39 bond will be on November ballot  
     Tensions were high at the Grossmont Union High School District special meeting called by Larry Urdahl, Aug. 4. The board members convened to revisit the hasty 5-0 decision to support the amendment made by Jim Kelly, to the bond language, at the July 31 board meeting to put conditional enrollment triggers on the construction of the 12th high school in the Alpine area.  

Fire protection tax and agency sent to November ballot  
     A measure to create a regional fire protection agency and establish a parcel tax for fire protection will be on the November 2008 ballot. A 5-0 San Diego County Board of Supervisors vote on Aug. 6 placed the measure on the ballot. 

New Border Patrol facility opens in Back Country  
     A ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house were held on Aug. 8 at the new Campo Border Patrol Station, located on Old Highway 80 in Pine Valley.   

K-9 unit sniffs out smuggler
Border Patrol agents arrested an individual suspected of smuggling more than 80 pounds of marijuana last Wednesday morning, Aug. 6, at the Border Patrol Checkpoint on Interstate 8 in Pine Valley.   

Pine Valley Pony Club gives children a chance to ride high
 
Hundreds of residents rally for change at East County picnic  
“I’ve been a Republican for 35 years, and I became a Democrat in January,” La Mesa Council member David Allan told a crowd of over 350 people at the East County United for Change picnic on Sunday at Harry Griffith Park in La Mesa.

Smuggler sentenced to 33 years in prison for two immigrant deaths
A convicted illegal immigrant smuggler was sentenced Friday, Aug.1, to 33 years-to-life in state prison for causing the deaths of two passengers who were killed following a chase by Border Patrol agents in June 2007, in East County.

Alpine to honor leaders, public service
Who do you think deserves recognition for demonstrating community leadership and public service in Alpine? Nominate your favorite hard-working organizations, businesses and individuals now for this year’s 14th Alpine Leadership and Public Service (ALPS) Awards.

Catch the reading bug

LTB comes to the rescue of baby bobcat
Lions Tigers and Bears (LTB) has once again come to the rescue of a baby bobcat, and by the looks of it, not a moment too soon.
 

Columns/Opinion

My Turn with Joyce Nygaard: Skeptical about PLAY

Spiritual Sunrise with Merry Murray: How to fight the Devil and win

Just The Fact's Ma'am with Carol Lovejoy: Do we ever really spend our money wisely?

Chamber Chatter: Bronc rider, hungry squirrels, commuting and grandchildren

Class Action with Chuck Taylor: Who is teaching our kids?