SAN DIEGO: The San Diego Superior Court has appointed two lawyers to serve as court commissioners.
The judges chose North County family law lawyer Patti C. Ratekin and former deputy city attorney Keri G. Katz to fill the positions. Katz is currently the assistant director of the city's water department.
Ratekin fills the position vacated when former Commissioner Harry Powazek was named a Superior Court judge last month. Katz takes the place of former Commissioner Gary M. Bubis, who was also appointed to the bench.
Court commissioners are court employees who hear traffic matters and some misdemeanor cases. They are paid $145,891 annually. – G.M.
– Greg Moran
NASCAR driver visits sailors aboard two ships
NASCAR driver Geoff Bodine spent three days aboard two San Diego-based ships operating in the Middle East.
Bodine visited the aircraft carrier Nimitz and the destroyer Higgins Wednesday through Friday. Besides signing autographs and eating with sailors on the mess decks, he watched flight operations and a fast-rope exercise by a detachment of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11, according to a news release from the Nimitz.
Bodine, the son of a World War II veteran, served six years in the Army National Guard. He previously visited Iraq and Afghanistan in 2004 and 2005 but had not been on a carrier until last week, the release said. – S.L.
–Steve Liewer
Councilman plans annual 'state of the district' talk
SAN DIEGO: San Diego Councilman Jim Madaffer and other city officials will discuss public safety, city finances and mid-city development projects Wednesday evening at Madaffer's annual “state of the district” address.
The 6:30 p.m. public meeting will be at the College-Rolando Library, 6600 Montezuma Road.
Madaffer's council District 7 includes the communities of Allied Gardens, City Heights, the College Area, Darnall, Oak Park, Del Cerro, El Cerrito, Grantville, Rolando, Rolando Park, San Carlos and Tierrasanta.
–Chet Barfield
Staff writers Greg Moran, Steve Liewer and Chet Barfield contributed to this report.
