LAKE ELSINORE – An Escondido resident killed in an accident Saturday on Interstate 15 has been identified by the Riverside County Coroner's Office as Evalyn Jane Rowland, 64.
A large commercial van collided with the pickup truck in which Rowland was a passenger at 4:42 p.m. on northbound I-15 near Lake Street. She died shortly afterward. – Kristina Davis
Marine faces trial
on abuse charges
VISTA – A Camp Pendleton Marine accused of beating his 11-year-old son over a bad report card was ordered to stand trial on felony child abuse charges yesterday by a Superior Court judge.
Michael Anthony Walker, 29, of Vista also faces misdemeanor charges of spousal battery and resisting arrest, said prosecutor Steven Carver.
Walker's son testified his father beat him with a belt, including the buckle, and was injured on his head, back and legs. A Sheriff's deputy testified she saw the boy bleeding from his ear and had to use pepper spray on Walker before arresting him.
Deputy Public Defender Ron Vanesian asked Judge Aaron Katz to lower all the charges to misdemeanors, arguing his client has no criminal record, is an exemplary Marine and was “extremely remorseful.”
Judge Katz declined, saying Walker crossed the line from discipline to abuse. The judge did lower bail from from $50,000 to $35,000 for Walker, who is being held in Vista jail.
– Jose Jimenez
Commission OKs
complex for seniors
ESCONDIDO –
A four-story senior housing complex at Washington Avenue and Juniper Street has been approved by the city's Planning Commission.
The 60-unit development would consist of one-bedroom apartments with monthly rents ranging from $350 to $730.
The $17 million project would be funded mostly by a $10 million state tax credit and $5 million from the city's affordable housing funds.
Construction is expected to begin next year if the City Council approves it June 14. The commission endorsed the project at its meeting Tuesday night.
– Booyeon Lee
Free installation set
for Lifeline Service
ESCONDIDO–
Palomar Pomerado Health is offering free installation for its Lifeline Service.
People who use the service wear a lightweight device around their necks and press a button on it in case of an emergency. The unit then dials a response center to summon help.
The special offer ends May 31 and is tied to celebrating Older Americans Month. The startup cost is usually $75. Subscribers pay $39 a month for the service.
For more information about Lifeline, call (858) 675-5371.
– Linda Lou
Tip a Cop to benefit
Special Olympics
ESCONDIDO –
Police officers will raise money for the North County Special Olympics tonight by working as restaurant servers in the third annual Tip a Cop program.
Diners at Applebee's at 1216 Auto Park Way can be waited on by Escondido police officers from 5 to 9 p.m., with tips going to the Special Olympics.
The program's athletes will also greet guests.
– Kristina Davis
Grant for replacing
library computers
ESCONDIDO –
The city's libraries will be outfitted with 29 new computers this summer thanks to a $51,000 grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The grant will pay for replacing 6-year-old computers previously received from the Gates foundation, nearly half of the computers for public use at the main library on Kalmia Street, at a computer lab at Mathes Community Center and at a branch library on East Valley Parkway.
“We're so happy that these the computers are coming in just at the right time. Some of them were on the verge of breaking down,” said Jo Ann Greenberg, a deputy city librarian.
The grant is a part of the Gates Library Initiative, started in 1997 by the Microsoft Corp. chairman and his wife to bring computer and Internet access to public libraries in low-income neighborhoods across the United States and Canada.
– Booyeon Lee
Palomar to honor
woodworking skills
SAN MARCOS –
About 50 woodworking students at Palomar College will be honored today at a recognition luncheon on campus. Some graduates will receive scholarships and awards.
About 350 projects created by students will be on display, including clocks, tables, cabinets and desks, said Russ Filbeck, a woodworking instructor.
Visitors are also invited to see a sawmill demonstration at 10:15 a.m. It will be at the Urban Forestry Milling Center on campus. Guest parking is available in Lot 12.
Food will be served at 11:30 a.m., and the student recognition program starts at noon in the garden area of the Trades & Industry building.
– Linda Lou
