‘Round town: Hercules, low gas, and murder

The January birthdate of famed actor-bodybuilder Steve Reeves is being remembered at the Valley Center History Museum which has a collection of the late star’s memorabilia.

Known internationally as the winner of every major bodybuilding competition as as the star of “Hercules” and 17 other motion pictures, Reeves is little-known as a rancher in Valley Center, where he spent the last 43 years of his life while continuing to make movies. He died of a blood clot at Escondido’s Palomar Hospital on May 1, 2000.

Among items on display is the personal riding saddle of Reeves which was donated to the museum along with other items in 2008.  At the time, then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sent a message to the museum reading, in part, “Steve was a great inspiration to me.”

The average price has decreased five consecutive days, dropping 3.9 cents, including two-tenths of a cent on Monday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It rose 2.6 cents over the previous three days.

The average price is 1.5 cents less than one week ago and 22.4 cents lower than one month ago but 28.7 cents more than one year ago. It has risen 25.6 cents since the start of the year.

Cathy Kennedy/Courtesy

An Escondido gang member was convicted Friday, Dec. 21, 2018 of first- degree murder for firing shots intended for rivals but instead striking and killing a passing motorist as she headed home from Bible study at her church.

After a two-week trial, jurors also found true a special circumstance allegation that 55-year-old Cathy Kennedy was killed while the defendant, 25- year-old Dionicio Torrez Jr., was an active member of a street gang.

Torrez faces life in prison without the possibility of parole when he is sentenced Dec. 20. The defendant also was convicted of attempted murder and shooting at an occupied vehicle.

Deputy District Attorney Laurie Hauf said Torrez fired across a street 12 rounds intended for rivals the night of March 7, 2017. One of those bullets hit Kennedy in the head, and she died at a hospital.

Defense attorney Alejandro Morales said the prosecution’s case rested on the word of a 16-year-old boy who was with Torrez that night.

The juvenile — who took a plea deal — was the one who fired the shots, Morales told the jury.

Hauf said two rival gang members were spotted tagging the apartment complex where Torrez and the teenager lived about 9 p.m.

Torrez chased the rivals — followed by the 16-year-old — and Torrez opened fire, according to the prosecutor.

The victim was found alongside eastbound Grand Avenue near Midway Drive. Her silver Toyota Camry crashed into a parked vehicle.