It's never too late for Christmas
 HOWARD LIPIN / Union-Tribune
Angdni Nettles, 6, received a toy thoroughbred horse yesterday at “The Christmas You Missed” party for military families separated at Christmas because of deployments, at the Murphy Canyon Youth Center. Angdni's father, Sydney Nettles, is stationed at Naval Station San Diego.
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12 rural fire agencies to merge
County plan is first step toward goal, officials say
By Tony Manolatos
STAFF WRITER
A standing-room-only crowd applauded as the San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a plan yesterday to consolidate a dozen rural fire agencies. The historic step took years of planning, debating and politicking.
“When you're trying to do something that's never been done before, you don't expect it will be easy,” said Walt Ekard, the county's chief administrative officer, at the start of the board meeting.
Ethics expert hired to help Helix High
Interviews, training part of response to sex cases
By Leonel Sanchez
STAFF WRITER
LA MESA
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A consultant on ethics will interview staff members at Helix High School in La Mesa to try to determine what might have led to a string of teacher sexual-misconduct cases the past two years. The consultant, hired this week by the charter school's governing body, will then develop a training program for employees at the school to help prevent sexual relationships between teachers and students.
Pension plan would cut back benefits
Sanders to discuss proposal with unions
By Ronald W. Powell
STAFF WRITER
San Diego voters may get the chance in November to ratchet down retirement benefits for new city hires starting next year.
The changes would increase the minimum retirement age, reduce the maximum benefit payout and cut the taxpayer contribution to the retirements of city workers almost by half.
Business park's financial boost to city makes it good neighbor
By J. Harry Jones
STAFF WRITER
POWAY
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From the air, the 900-acre Poway Business Park looks like an island – surrounded by open space and separate from the city that prospers from its remarkable success.
Its buildings are mostly white, its streets clean and the landscaping impeccable.
Nonprofit could lose Head Start designation
By Jeff McDonald
STAFF WRITER
Federal regulators have told Neighborhood House Association to fix lapses that have plagued the nonprofit for years or face termination as a Head Start agency. The U.S. Administration for Children and Families sent a 30-day corrective order to Neighborhood House board Chairman Randy Jones this month, suggesting among other things that the San Diego social-services agency reduce its size.
Dog helps a Marine see himself
When Marine Lt. Col. Jay Kopelman brought a stray mutt back to the United States from Iraq, he didn't realize their journey together had just begun. He soon learned they both were suffering from combat stress. The 5-week-old puppy, “Lava,” was rescued from an empty 50-gallon oil drum during a standoff with enemy snipers.
