New fields for Little League teams in Lakeside are one step closer to fruition after the county Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of land for the project yesterday.
Supervisors approved without discussion the request to spend $2.8 million for 15.2 acres near the San Diego River west of Riverford Road. A second hearing will be Dec. 6.
The proposed sports park will have four ballfields with synthetic turf, a concession stand, a playground area, restrooms and parking. The $14 million cost will be paid from state bond funds and money from the county Parks and Recreation Department.
– Anne Krueger
Road dedication
to honor Marine vet
ALPINE –
A new road is to be dedicated tomorrow in honor of a Marine veteran of World War II and the Korean War.
The county road will be known as Buck Stidham Drive after Howard E. “Buck” Stidham, a shop teacher at Granite Hills High School after he left the Marines. Stidham died in 2002. His widow, Beth, will cut a ribbon opening the road in the East Victoria Estates housing development.
As a Marine, Stidham fought in battles at Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal and Bougainville. He was awarded the Bronze Star and retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1958.
Stidham began working at Granite Hills in 1960, and one of his students was Doug Wilder. Wilder is president of JD Wilder Construction Inc., which is building the development. Wilder said he wanted to name the street after Stidham because of his teacher's influence on his career.
– Anne Krueger
Rescuer of boy, 4,
to receive award
DEHESA –
The Sycuan Indian band's police and fire departments will bestow a lifesaving award of valor today to a tribal public safety officer who helped save a 4-year-old boy from electrocution.
Officer Andy Lanz, 25, who joined the Sycuan Tribal Police Department about six months ago, was off duty at the pool of his El Cajon apartment complex Sept. 24 when the boy was jolted with electricity. The boy, identified by Sycuan officials as Joshua Weiss, had tried to turn on the jets of a whirlpool sauna.
Lanz helped the boy's mother remove the child from a metal fence surging with current. The child had no pulse and was not breathing. Lanz revived him with cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the boy suffered no lasting injuries, tribal officials said.
Lanz will be presented the award in a ceremony at Sycuan Resort at Singing Hills.
– Chet Barfield
Sailboat damaged
by fire; no one hurt
SHELTER ISLAND –
A 50-foot sailboat caught fire in America's Cup Harbor yesterday, causing several explosions but no injuries.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. Damage was estimated at $40,000.
Someone in a nearby hotel called 911 at 4:19 p.m. to report seeing flames on a boat in the harbor moorage, a San Diego Fire-Rescue Department dispatcher said. Other witnesses heard several explosions aboard the boat, the “Katana.”
Crews on two San Diego Harbor Police fireboats found the aft cabin engulfed in flames. The boat owner, found on shore, told authorities no one was aboard.
It took about an hour to extinguish the fire. No other boats were damaged.
– Pauline Repard
Gas leak closes
park buildings
A broken gas line forced four Balboa Park buildings to close yesterday until crews repaired the break.
City workers were excavating to fix a sinkhole in The Prado area of the park when they accidentally cut a natural gas line about 11 a.m., said Paul Sirois, a park official.
No one was injured, but people had to evacuate the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, the San Diego Natural History Museum, Casa de Balboa and Casa del Prado.
The line was repaired at 1:30 p.m. and authorities gave clearance to re-enter about a half-hour later, a city spokesperson said.
The science center closed for the day and rescheduled its evening planetarium show for next week.
– Jeanette Steele
Water-rate hike
of 320% proposed
LIVE OAK SPRINGS –
The state Public Utilities Commission has recommended a 320 percent rate increase for Live Oak Springs water system customers, but said the increase should be spread out over two years.
A resolution calling for the increase is expected to be approved when the commission meets Nov. 9.
Nazar Najor, the operator of the system serving 138 customers, had sought a 420 percent increase to pay for repairs required by the county. The system has a decades-long history of problems with leaky pipes and unsafe water.
Rate increases would vary depending on the type of connection, but a typical residential customer would see a bill go from $12.25 to $50.61 per month.
After the rate increase was proposed, county Supervisor Dianne Jacob and state Sen. Denise Ducheny said that a steep increase would create rate shock for customers. In response, the commission agreed to spread out the increase over two years.
– Anne Krueger
Grossmont hospital
given nursing merit
LA MESA –
A national nursing group has given Sharp Grossmont Hospital a Magnet designation, which recognizes nursing excellence.
The award was given by the American Nurses Credentialing Center after a site visit and evaluation. The group has awarded the Magnet designation to 223 hospitals in the nation.
Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla is the only other designee in San Diego County.
– Anne Krueger
Judge grants bond
in marshal case
DOWNTOWN –
A San Diego federal court judge granted bond yesterday to a man accused of impersonating a federal marshal.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Louisa S. Porter ruled Craig Alan German can be released from jail if he posts a $100,000 bond secured by property and agrees to be confined to his home and wear an electronic tracking device.
A prosecutor had urged that German, 46, be held without bond because he is dangerous. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Wheat said German had guns and purchased uniforms, badges, bullet-proof vests and a police car.
German was arrested Oct. 17 and indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury. He pleaded not guilty and could face up to six months in jail if convicted.
German's lawyer, Michael Harkness, said his client is not dangerous; he is merely a “police buff.”
German's activities were discovered when he took a 2003 Dodge Intrepid sedan to a San Diego mechanic, Wheat said. He asked the mechanic to reactivate the lights and siren.
The mechanic became suspicious and called authorities, who were waiting for German when he picked up the car. German flashed a badge and for a while continued to claim he was a deputy on special assignment.
– Kelly Thornton
Man steps in front
of Amtrak train
MISSION HILLS –
A man committed suicide yesterday by stepping in front of an Amtrak train at West Washington Street, authorities said.
The 35-year-old San Diego man stepped onto the railroad tracks and was struck by a northbound Amtrak Surfliner train that had left downtown at 4 p.m.
The train stopped and was delayed about 90 minutes during an investigation by sheriff's deputies assigned to railroad incidents. A medical examiner's investigator said other trains continued past the scene on a second track.
The accident scene was behind a station for the trolley, which runs on its own track.
– Pauline Repard
