Local News

May 28th, 2009

Pala Brush Fire Believed Human-Caused

A hillside brush fire near Pala consumed 122-acres Sunday, damaging three homes and several power lines. Fire officials think the fire was probably due to humans but are uncertain whether it was accidental or intentionally set.

The fire started about 3pm Sunday, near state Route 76. Winds of 10 to 15 mph helped the fire along and hindered firefighters efforts to contain it sooner even though they had 26 vehicles, eight hand crews, a bulldozer, and supported by four airplanes and three helicopters, all of which dropped either fire retardant or water, which the choppers scooped up from the nearby San Luis Rey River.

The fire was finally contained on Monday, Memorial Day. Cal Fire officials were trying to determine what ignited the blaze. Officials ruled out lightning as a cause as well as power lines. They are convinced it was by human cause but were uncertain if it was arson.

Both residents and firefighters are concerned that this may be a heavy fire season, given the fact that we’ve seen several brush fires already in the past two weeks, including one of 60 acres in East County, two smaller fires Sunday elsewhere in the county, and another small fire along Highway 67 near Santee . . . all of which have been handled but all of which suggest our fire troubles are just beginning.

A Link Between Molester and Amber Dubois?

Reports of a man suspected of molesting two girls in Wal-Mart stores in San Diego have caught the attention of Escondido police. They are investigating the possibility he could be connected to the disappearance of Amber Dubois, who was last seen walking to Escondido High School more than three months ago. There are reports a burgundy pickup was involved in all cases. It was captured by surveillance tapes in both Wal-Mart cases.

In the two separate incidents, a surveillance tape recorded a 25-to 30-year-old, 6-foot-tall white man who drove what appeared to be a burgundy, four-door, full-sized truck with a silver or chrome storage box in the bed. The model year is believed to be between 1998 and 2006.

Neither girl was seriously injured. No suspect has been arrested.

In Amber's case, a surveillance tape from a school-bus maintenance yard showed a pickup entering the maintenance parking lot at 7:10 a.m., around the time Amber, 14, disappeared Feb. 13. The truck left three minutes later. The pickup was a newer model, full-sized, four-door maroon or burgundy truck with a crew cab. It was equipped with chrome bed rails or tie-down rails with chrome running boards and wheels.

When San Diego police saw the truck on the Wal-Mart surveillance tape, they contacted Escondido police immediately. Escondido's investigators studied the video and concluded the truck was apparently American-made, and the color was a definite match.

In the search for Amber, Escondido police have checked out more than 900 tips that included burgundy trucks and sightings of the girl, but none has panned out. Amber's parents have maintained a search center at 755 N. Quince St. in Escondido, and have been sending 40 to 50 volunteers each day to search the city and surrounding areas for clues.

Tips of Amber's whereabouts can be called in to (760) 743-TIPS (8477). Amber's family has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to her return, and a $10,000 reward for information leading to arrests.

Oceanside Police Captains Shoots Son to Protect Wife

A captain with the Oceanside Police Department shot and wounded his 25-year-old son, a former football player for San Diego State University, early Saturday when the young man attacked his mother, authorities said.

Capt. Reginald Grigsby, 51, who was off duty at the time, called sheriff's deputies to report the shooting at his Fallbrook home. Grigsby told investigators that his son, Reginald “Reggie” Grigsby Jr., who reportedly has a history of mental illness, came to the couple's home and got into an argument with his mother shortly after midnight.

The argument quickly turned violent. The captain tried to come to the aid of his wife, but he was unable to stop the attack. At that point, the captain grabbed a handgun and shot his son, according to authorities.

Desirah Grigsby, 53, and her son were taken to hospitals with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening. Capt. Grigsby has said his wife and son are expected to recover. Neighbors only learned of the shooting when sheriff's detectives knocked on their doors about 7 a.m. Oceanside Police authorities declined to make any statements about the incident, referring all questions to the Sheriff's Department.

Reginald Grigsby began his law enforcement career in Oceanside in 1981 after spending a year with San Diego police. He has worked in many areas of the department, including SWAT, investigations, narcotics and gangs, and currently oversees field operations. In 2000, Grigsby settled a racial-discrimination claim against the city for $23,500.

His son began making headlines as a defensive back at El Camino High School. After graduating in 2002, he became known as a standout safety at SDSU.

Poseidon Desalination Plant Anxious to Get Started

Poseidon Resources has received all the permits it needs to build a desalination plant in Carlsbad. Now all they have to do is raise $300 million. Right now is a poor time to be raising money. Still, the company hopes to break ground this year and sees the plant online by 2012.

When up and running the proposed plant will remove sea salt from 50 million gallons of ocean water a day at a Carlsbad plant and then pump it to people's taps in San Diego County.

It has taken six years of work to get approvals from local, state and federal authorities – including a final permit May 13 from the Regional Water Quality Control Board. Now, Poseidon hopes to break ground this year and begin producing drinking water by 2012.

Poseidon officials say they are working with six banks on financing. Officials are optimistic that financing can be secured. Poseidon was the original developer of a 25-million-gallon-a-day plant for Tampa Bay Water, but the utility bought out the company and took over construction in 2002 after two contractors went belly up.

Local officials have structured this deal differently than the one in Tampa, said Jim Elliott, Carlsbad's deputy city manager. Carlsbad and eight other San Diego water agencies have agreed to buy Poseidon's water at the same price they would pay the San Diego County Water Authority.

“All the risk is (Poseidon's),” Elliott said. “We pay for the water if we get the water.”

The plant would be built on the Encina Power Station grounds on the south shore of Agua Hedionda Lagoon. Originally, Poseidon proposed a 16-mile pipeline to northern Oceanside. Now it wants a 13-mile pipeline extending east to San Marcos, where it would connect with a county water authority aqueduct.

New General Counsel Named by Tri-City Healthcare District

The Tri-City Healthcare District has hired a new general counsel, its third in five months. Gregory Moser of Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch, which has offices in San Diego and Carlsbad, was selected by the public hospital district's board Thursday. Moser, who will be paid $305 an hour, has been advising the district on the refinancing of its high-interest bonds.

Moser replaces Julie Biggs of the firm Burke, Williams and Sorensen, who was appointed interim general counsel Dec. 18. On that same day, four members of Tri-City's seven-member governing board ousted its former general counsel – Best, Best & Krieger – and placed the district's president and chief executive, Arthur Gonzalez, and seven other administrators on leave. Those administrators have since been let go. The district paid Gonzalez more than $1 million in cash and benefits to settle legal claims he filed protesting his ouster.

The taxpayer-supported health district covers most of Oceanside, Vista and Carlsbad.

Level 2 Vote Brings New Water Regulations to Oceanside, Escondido

Starting July 1, both Oceanside and Escondido residents and businesses will face new restrictions on water use. In Oceanside they will be permitted to water outdoors only every other day. No one may water on Fridays. In Escondido, from July until October, residents and businesses will only be able to irrigate their lawns or landscaping three days a week, 10 minutes each time.

From November to May, that restriction will tighten to once a week. The city's code-enforcement officers will enforce the provisions.

Both cities have increased water rates ready to implement but both cities have not yet implemented them because, they say, residents and businessess appear to have gotten the message and are conserving water nicely. Higher rates may be enforced in October if conservation goals aren't met. Water users can find the amount of water they need to save on their water bills. Conservation, however, does not end with residents and businesses, according to officials from both cities.

Escondido is trying to figure out how to cut back on the water used by the largest municipal consumers – parks, city-owned golf courses and landscaped medians. Most of the city's 13 parks, which range from 1 to 64 acres, irrigate with drinking water, said Andy Villalobos, the city's park maintenance supervisor.

Only Grape Day, Jesmond Dene, Kit Carson, Rod McLeod, and Westside parks use reclaimed water. City officials had toyed with the idea of letting go of the greenery in less popular parks so the city can keep watering the busier ones. City officials quickly said they will cut back on other water uses to keep the parks green.

Escondido Woman's Club to Hold Bunco Party

Next Tuesday, June 2, from 11am to 3pm, at the Clubhouse, 751 North Rose Avenue, there will be a bunco party, and it is open to the public. Cost is $6/person and a lite lunch will be served. Call June at 760.290.3963 for reservations and information. Funds will be used to assist charities in the area.

Classic Rock 'n Blues Festival Planned by San Marcos

The City of San Marcos and Allen's Wrench will present the first-ever Classic Rock 'n Blues Festival in the Wood House Gardens in Woodland Park, 1148 Rock Springs Road, on Saturday, June 6, from 3pm to 8pm.

Four bands including Off Track, Craig's Band, Bill Magee's Blues and Aunt Kizzy's Boyz will provide music at this outdoor venue. Attendees should bring low-back beach chairs or blankets for lawn seating. Food and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.

Ticket prices are $8/presale; $10/at door; $5/children under 10. Parking is free. For more information, call Cathy Cronin at 760.744.9000, Ext. 3504.

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