Local News |
March 4th, 2010 |
Young Woman’s Body Found at Lake Hodges
A continued turnout of individuals as well as organizations turning out daily in a search for Chelsea King had mixed feelings when it was announced that a young woman’s body was found at Lake Hodges. There was a strong presumption that it was Chelsea King and, with that presumption, a sense of relief that the search was over, and, if indeed it is her, the famiy will find closure; but there was also great sorrow at knowing this tragedy did in fact, occur.
One of those groups, the San Diego Minutemen, supplied The Paper with the photos and comments in this article.
Their organization spent about nine hours Monday around the lake and park looking for clues to Chelsea King's whereabouts after she was allegedly attacked, raped and murdered by John Gardner as she jogged alone near the south side of the lake around 4pm on Thursday. The search is massive and was joined by many hundreds of volunteers again Monday. The Sheriff announced Monday afternoon that they had narrowed their search to the shoreline around areas of the lake and the nearby areas. As our deadline approached, it was announced they had found a body.
Below, local media reporting Monday morning from the volunteer center. The organizers gave away free sweatshirts and t-shirts to all volunteer searchers.
Below, the armada of media vehicles covering the search;
below that, Hernando's Hideaway Restaurant on Lake Dr. where Gardner was arrested and below that, John Gardner's parent's townhome where he was staying. 17559 Martinal Rd, Rancho Bernardo. Their townhome is less than one mile from the trail where Chelsea was attacked. A Channel 6 News reporter had just arrived on scene.
The questions on everyone's mind: Why was John Gardner on the loose and why weren't park and lake-goers warned of his attack on another young jogger on December 27 on a trail near the lake? The attacker was never caught, but no warning signs were ever posted in the area to alert visitors. Why not?
(All photos by Jeff Schwilk).
Escondido Police Issue 35 Citations at DUI Checkpoint
No Drunk Drivers Arrested
The DUI Checkpoints Appear to Be Working!
On February 26, 2010, the Escondido Police Department conducted a DUI Sobriety / Drivers License Checkpoint at the intersection of East Valley Parkway and Juniper Street from 6:00 PM until 1:00 AM. The emphasis of this checkpoint was to detect intoxicated and unlicensed drivers as well as to provide a highly visible operation to deter driving under the influence.
The following activity resulted from this checkpoint:
• 1,948 vehicles entered the checkpoint westbound on East Valley Parkway
• 1,225 vehicles were screened in primary
• 64 vehicles sent to secondary (drivers who could not produce a drivers license or who were suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs)
• 0 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• 1 subject was arrested for a felony DUI warrant
• 3 field sobriety tests were administered
• 25 vehicles were impounded at this checkpoint, 12 drivers did not have auto insurance, 22 drivers had a suspended drivers license and 9 drivers did not have a drivers license
• 35 citations were issued at this checkpoint
This checkpoint was operated in conjunction with the California Highway Patrol, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the North County Law Enforcement Traffic Safety Council.
Last Minute Budget Cuts Being Considered in Escondido
At press time members of the Escondido City Council Budget Subcommittee were still looking at possible deeper cuts in an attempt to garner enough votes to get the budget passed.
An emergency budget plan was to have been presented to the council last evening. Chief among the areas being considered for further cuts was the recreation programs but budget subcommitte members Olga Diaz and Dick Daniels were open to other cuts from other departments. Sam Abed and Marie Waldron were reluctant to approve the most recently submitted budget and its various cuts. They want to see more and deeper cuts. Under present proposals city reserves would drop to $17.8 million by 2011.
The budget could be rammed through with votes from Diaz, Daniels, and Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler, who's expressed strong support for the current package of cuts, to create a 3-2 majority in favor of the package, however, both Diaz and Daniels said they’d much rather see a 5-0, or 4-1 vote.
Under the the proposed package of emergency cuts, an immdiate cut of $750,000 from the Police Department, $200,000 from vehicle purchases, $137,000 from code enforcement, $80,000 from the Fire Department and $80,000 from building maintenance would occur.
The recession has dropped annual city revenue from $85 million to $66 million in just three years.
San Diego County Employees to Get Raises?
Regardless of the recession and the high number of people out of work, and regardless of severe budget cuts, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors are considering a 2% pay hike for all non-union employees. This the same percentage given to union employees recently.
About 1500 nonunion county workers are affected. By contrast, the union workers number around 14,000.
The proposed raises would cost the county $3.1 million, according to Carlos Arauz, the director of the Department of Human Resources. He is the one recommending the raises, saying the raises would make for a “level playing field.”
The proposed raises come in spite of declining sales and property tax revenues and a continued threat of more state budget cuts. In fact, other reduction in country programs and county staff is likely for this year.
The county has about 16,500 employees on its payroll today. In 2004 it had peaked at 18,000.
Social Security Facts and Programs
Yolana York, the area Social Security specialist says, “When you think of Social Security, you probably think about a monthly payment for retired and disabled workers. But Social Security has a rich history full of interesting facts. The program has been around for almost 75 years, so there has been ample time to put together a list of fun facts and figures. Here are a few.
Social Security paid benefits to about 55.8 million people in 2008. Fifty-six percent of adult beneficiaries were women.
Here is some trivia about wages over the past few years. In 2007, the average annual wage was $40,405. In 2008, it went up to $41,679 (estimated). And in 2009, the average wage was $42,041 (estimated).
Looking at the average wages, it’s plain to see how easy it is to reach your full Social Security credit each year. For example, in 2009, a wage-earner needed to earn and pay taxes on $4,360 of wages to earn the full four credits of Social Security coverage for the year.
When you retire, you’ll fully appreciate just how useful Social Security can be. In 2007, 88 percent of married couples and 86 percent of single people aged 65 or older received Social Security benefits. Social Security was the major source of income (providing at least 50 percent of total income) for 53 percent of aged beneficiary couples and 73 percent of aged single beneficiaries. Social Security made up 90 percent or more of income for 21 percent of aged beneficiary couples and 44 percent of aged single beneficiaries.
New benefits were approved for about 5.1 million people in 2008. Of these new beneficiaries, 44 percent were retired workers and 17 percent were disabled workers. The remaining 39 percent were survivors or the spouses and children of retired or disabled workers.
Then there’s Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a program that provides income to needy people aged 65 or older, or who are blind or disabled. To learn, go online to: www.socialsecurity.gov/policy/docs/chartbooks/fast_facts.
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