Articles by dweisman

pH Miracle naturopath Robert Young on trial

The trial of Valley Center’s Robert Oldham Young, best known for his pH Miracle Living Center, and popular series of books advocating an alkaline diet, resumed this month, more than 60 days after opening statements began in November. Young faces nine charges in Vista Superior Court filed in late 2014 related to activities at his Valley Center ranch including two counts of grand theft and…


Three Escondido projects awarded $7.5 million in state water grants

Escondido farmers, habitat and conservation lovers and San Diego Zoo Safari Park visitors got some good news this week as the San Diego County Water Authority announced that $7.5 million in state water grants were awarded locally. “The city of Escondido received a $2 million grant for recycled water,” San Diego County Farm Bureau executive director Eric Larson said at the group’s E Valley Parkway…


Wheelchair-using man killed by truck in Palomar Medical Center parking area

Death is never far from a hospital, but in the case of James Donaldson, 63, of Oceanside, death came at a Palomar Medical Center parking area. Donaldson died as a friend pushed him in his wheelchair across the emergency room’s parking area’s front entrance street at 2185 Citracado Parkway, just before 6 p.m. Saturday, according to Escondido police. An 89-year-old man, later identified as John…


Escondido Union School District Board gets curiouser and curiouser

Teachers practically in full revolt over low salaries. Allegations of violations of state public meeting laws. One board trustee sent to exile miles away. Discordant discussions of steep school enrollment declines. Another board trustee bursting into tears. Deeply divided and torn asunder, the dysfunction that is the Escondido Union School District (EUSD) was in full public display on Thursday. It wasn’t a pretty sight and…


Thieves wigging out with Grand Avenue wig shop crime wave

A brazen young thief was caught by surveillance cameras in the act early Wednesday of robbing HQ Too Wigs on Grand Avenue. At least a half-dozen wigs valued at more than $300 were taken in the Wednesday robbery. (Surveillance video of early Wednesday wig shop theft. Break-in occurs just after 1:00 mark.) As shocking as that action was, it also represented the third break-in at…


Powerball sugar plums danced in their heads

Californians led the nation in Powerball sales, spending $59.1 million by 7 p.m. Saturday, when sales closed. Powerball fans: It was a good day to be a local lottery retailer, maybe not so good to be a lottery ticket buyer. Don’t tell Powerball ticket buyers that, though, because every one of them Saturday, before 7 p.m. or so, forked over their $2 for tickets, sometimes…


Behold the tallest 22 buildings in all the land, or at least Escondido

Escondido features two high-rise buildings, 36 low-rise buildings, four open-air structures, two masts (poles) and one stadium, according to Emporis, a global provider of building information. The Emporis top 20 tallest buildings listing hasn’t been updated to include what now rules the skyscape roost, i.e. Palomar Medical Center at 2185 Citracado Parkway and didn’t list the Escondido Police & Fire Headquarters, 115,371-square-feet on 6.6. acres…


El Nino huffed and puffed and blew Goodwill Industries Thrift Store roof down

“Quite frankly, when I got the first phone call, it was there’s a problem with the roof. The second phone call was the roof collapsed and third phone call was thank goodness our staff got out safely.” — Beth Forsberg, Goodwill VP Retail & Operations, at the scene Thursday morning. Goodwill Industries Thrift Store workers spent Thursday mopping and moping. The group’s venerable thrift shop at…


Terrorism Alert: Cal State San Marcos held ‘active shooter drills’ Wednesday (Updated)

Don’t look now, but Cal State University San Marcos (CSUSM) was the scene of a terrorist attack on Wednesday. Good thing school doesn’t resume sessions until Jan. 25, so campus was fairly devoid of students. With terrorism and school shooting scenarios in mind, CSUSM staged an active shooter drill where fake became real for training purposes. About 100 North County police, fire and hospital personnel…