CAMP PENDLETON: A Marine jailed after refusing to give grand jurors testimony about a comrade charged with killing unarmed captives in Iraq was released yesterday after he agreed to hear the panel's questions.
U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson released Sgt. Jermaine A. Nelson from federal detention in Los Angeles after Nelson agreed to hear questions from the grand jury investigating Jose Nazario, a former sergeant charged in the slayings of two captured insurgents, said Joseph Low, Nelson's attorney.
“There are just some questions he is not going to be able to answer,” Low said.
Anderson found Nelson in contempt of court last week.
Nelson and Nazario are charged in the case, which centers on allegations that a Marine squad shot a group of unarmed captives during heavy fighting in November 2004 in Fallujah, Iraq. –A.P.
Grand jury encourages
preparing for firestorms
The San Diego County grand jury released a report yesterday that says the region is “woefully unprepared” for firestorms on the scale of the 2003 and 2007 wildfires.
The 20-page report strongly encourages elected officials from the city and county to make a series of changes. It says taxes should be raised and existing funds reallocated to establish a sustainable pool of money “as soon as possible.”
The grand jury made its recommendations to elected leaders and others, who must respond within 90 days. –T.M.
Sheriff to be at ceremony
for new station in Alpine
ALPINE: County Sheriff Bill Kolender will be among several officials attending a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. today for a new station.
“We've tried to plan ahead for growth needs, and hope to enjoy this location for many years to come,” Kolender said in a prepared statement about the station.
The station, on Alpine Boulevard near Louise Drive, opened April 5 and replaced a sheriff's substation on Tavern Road. The substation, in a strip mall west of the new station, served the community for about 25 years before closing in early April, a sheriff's spokesman said.
The new, 14,200-square-foot station cost $6.9 million and was built by Augustine Construction Co., said company spokesman Mike Miller. It has an emergency generator, a secure parking lot, a stand-alone community room, a dedicated work area for senior volunteers and an operating base for the Alpine Community Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service unit.
A flagpole in front of the station was a project spearheaded by Boy Scout Troop 105 member Michael Stange of Alpine. Stange coordinated fundraising, purchasing and installation of the flagpole, which helped him earn an Eagle Scout badge, officials said. –M.A.
Grossmont to lay off
78 classified employees
EL CAJON: The Grossmont Union High School District will lay off 78 classified employees to help save money next academic year.
The governing board Wednesday voted 4-1 to eliminate 117 classified positions, including 39 that were vacant. The remaining 78 positions were being filled by full-and part-time employees, including custodians, food-service assistants, instructional and special-education aides, office assistants and campus supervisors. The cuts will save the district $3.7 million, officials said.
Trustee Jim Kelly voted against the layoffs, voicing concern that classified employees were being disproportionately affected compared with other employee groups.
The district has given layoff notices to 15 probationary teachers, fewer than it had expected because more than 35 teachers are retiring, officials said. No administrators are being laid off, officials said.
Trustees led by Richard Hoy directed the district's superintendent to look for ways to bring back some of the employees being laid off.
The board is expected to adopt a budget for the 2008-09 school year June 12. –L.S.
UCSD gets grant to study
kids' video 'exergames'
SAN DIEGO: UCSD researchers won a $198,000 grant yesterday to study how to make video games that involve physical activity more appealing to children.
The money went to the department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of California San Diego. The group was one of 12 that received the first round of grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Health Games Research program.
Foundation officials are trying to spur development of “exergames” – interactive electronic games that improve players' fitness by boosting their physical activity.
UCSD researchers will use their money to buy Xavix game systems and test them with players ages 11 to 15. Xavix games require users to swing, punch and run while playing baseball, boxing, tennis and other sports. –K.D.
Donations are needed
for troop care packages
DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO: Tens of thousands of items are being sought for the annual Operation Boot Camp, a project to send 3,000 care packages to U.S. troops overseas.
Until tomorrow, people can bring donations to more than two dozen locations countywide. The main site is the USS Midway Museum, 910 N. Harbor Drive in downtown San Diego, which will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Highly requested items include lip balm, sunblock, eye drops, baby wipes, current magazines, CDs, DVDs, phone cards, shampoo and snacks.
Starting at 10 a.m. tomorrow, volunteers will put together the care packages aboard the aircraft carrier Midway. People must pay the museum admission fee to join that event, but they can get a $2 discount if they bring an item for the care packages.
Operation Boot Camp is sponsored by groups such as the National Charity League and Armed Services YMCA. For more information, including a list of the places accepting care-package donations, call (760) 509-6544 or visit myspace.com/ncl_Midway. –H.T.P.
Staff writers Tony Manolatos, Mark Arner, Leonel Sanchez, Keith Darcé and Hieu Tran Phan and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
