Articles by dweisman

Truck-trailer fire closes much of Highway 78 near Nordahl Road early Tuesday

Highway 78 wasn’t a fun place to be during the early Tuesday morning commute. That’s when a tractor-trailer rig containing building supplies burst into flames sending up a big old smoke column on the eastbound right shoulder just past Nordahl Road on the Escondido side. The incident took place shortly before 6:30 a.m., just as commuter traffic was snarling, according to the California Highway Patrol….



Escondido baseball Cougars on the prowl

How far has Escondido High School’s baseball team come in a year? The Cougars won its 16th game  last week, tying the total number of 2015 wins. “I think we’re on the right track,” fourth-year head coach Aaron Hoofard said. Ya think? As of press time, the Cougars had won 14 games in a row. Escondido plays a mostly Division III schedule, so it’s a…



Juniper Terrace Apartments changes hands

Juniper Terrace Apartments, a 43-unit garden style building at 1580 S Juniper St., was sold last week for $7.7 million to The Bascom Group, an Irvine-based commercial real estate company with 270 multifamily properties nationwide. Built in 1973, the property features low density single-family home style living with oversized apartments and expansive views, according to Bascom officials who apparently got a good deal. The  apartment…


Local Sport Chalet ‘pining for the fjords’

Anybody wanting to shop at Sport Chalet, and apparently there weren’t enough of them, has one last chance to stock up on all merchandise sporting. Management of the 47-store Southern California sports retailer abruptly pulled the plug this weekend announcing the immediate end to all online sales. Customers were told they had until April 29 to cash in gift cards and rewards certificates or all…


$7 million Lotto winner revealed, sorta

The old saying that good things come to those who wait proved true Friday when Bertilia Devine, a retired accountant, came forward to claim her $7 million SuperLotto Plus prize. With ballyhoo galore, the winning ticket for the Dec. 30 drawing was regaled at Nordahl Liquor, the store that sold it. However, there the story seemed to end as no one came forward. Mystery surrounded…


Bimbo letting the sun shine in for power

Escondido sunlight coupled with Bimbo Bakeries USA state-of-the-industry business acquisition techniques has sparked a massive solar array project at 2069 Aldergrove Avenue. Mexican mega-bakery corporation Grupo Bimbo is adding a rather impressive array of solar panels citing Escondido’s 263 sunny days per year and significant company cost savings. Solar panels will reduce carbon dioxide emissions at Escondido by 981 tons per year – which is…


Briefly Speaking: Community news and notes from Escondido and San Marcos

Make-A-Wish grants Escondido girl’s wish Escondido resident Carolina, last name withheld upon request, has a nervous system disorder. Make-A-Wish San Diego stepped in to help brighten her days by letting her in on a secret at San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum in Escondido recently. Her wish was their command. In this case, surrounded by family including her older brother and younger sister, Carolina received an iPad…


Hunter under fire from GOP conservatives

Duncan Hunter owes an explanation — San Diego Rostra In the event you are wondering if I saw “it,” that answer is, yes. The “it” being the Union-Tribune article describing my congressman’s multiple violations of campaign finance law. I don’t get it. Congressman Duncan Hunter is in a safe seat. He was elected by a 40-point margin. He can afford to courageously raise the conservative…