Articles by dweisman

Breaking News, Police, Police/Fire December 30, 2015

Wrong-way Highway 78 embankment flip near Metcalf kills driver on New Year’s Day

Just 10 days after a deadly Highway 78 crash killed four people; a wrong-way, single-vehicle crash on a nearby stretch of Highway 78 sometime before 3 p.m. killed another man, according to California Highway Patrol officers. The wrong-way 2003 Chevrolet Suburban headed west on eastbound Highway 78, presumably from Broadway, plunged off the road near Metcalf Street killing the driver, CHP officers said. Nobody called…

Education December 30, 2015

Escondido Union School District un-civil war continues unwell into the New Year

When the going gets tough at the Escondido Union School District (EUSD), the restraining orders get going. That’s not going to change as 2015 rolls into 2016 since EUSD trustee Jose Fragozo has to phone it in at the next school board meeting set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14 at district headquarters, 2310 Aldergrove Ave., just off Auto Parkway. Following two days of testimony…

Escondido, Homelessness December 22, 2015

Interfaith’s new year-round Haven House Emergency Shelter opens for business

Who: Interfaith Community Services What: Grand Opening of the Year-Round Haven House Emergency Shelter Where: 550 W. Washington Ave, Escondido, CA 92025 When: 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23 Following a successful final inspection today by Escondido officials, Interfaith Community Services’ homeless shelter, Haven House, opens for business tomorrow, Wednesday, Dec. 23. This is the first year for the groundbreaking Haven House, a new year-round emergency center designed to house up…

Escondido, Valley Center December 22, 2015

North Escondido marijuana collective slated for rural single-family house

A lot of people around North Escondido may be blowing smoke, but soon might be able to do it in the medical marijuana manner with a pot dispensary at 8530 Nelson Way, Escondido 92026. A new medical marijuana store apparently is just one San Diego Sheriff’s Office approval away from being allowed to open. Somehow, proprietors of the newly created, and name not yet disclosed,…

Blogs, Columns/Blogs, Opinion December 21, 2015

Shadows across the Hidden Valley

Gregory Paul Welch and Ivan Rios couldn’t be more different. You may not know them, but you’ve seen them. As this holiday season winds down Grand Avenue to its inevitable conclusion, the poignant reflections of these two ghosts casts a spell along the city’s shadows. Walking the streets of Escondido today, delivering newspapers to stores incarnate, these men’s stories struck an odd note surrounded and…

Police December 21, 2015

Police seek stabbing suspect from Sunday brawl near Bear Valley Middle School

Another whodunnit has caused Escondido Police to reach out to the public for help identifying a stabbing suspect from large fight just after midnight Sunday, Dec. 20. The brawl took place just outside Bear Valley Middle School near the intersection of Bear Valley Parkway and Canyon Drive. The fight was one for the ages, or at least young adults, in the 2800 block of Bear…

Police December 21, 2015

San Marcos 14-year-old shot dead last month identified, killer or killers at large

His name now is known. His killer or killers remain at large. The San Diego Sheriff’s Office Monday appealed to the public for help in solving what has become a disturbing mystery. Fourteen year old Brandon Gonzalez was found collapsed on a sidewalk in the 3500 block of De Leone Road around 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20. Witnesses reported hearing multiple gun shots around the…

Police, Police/Fire December 21, 2015

Escondido, San Marcos public safety allocations revealed by SANDAG report

Escondido led San Diego County jurisdictions this fiscal year in the percentage of overall public safety funding allocated in the city budget. The city allocated 43 percent of its budget to law enforcement, a similar percentage as El Cajon. Otherwise, the nine incorporated cities in the county spent an average of 33 percent of budgets on law enforcement. Not all the Escondido funding came from…

Breaking News, Police/Fire December 21, 2015

Four killed, three injured in fiery Hwy 78 crash near Nordahl Drive late Sunday

A young boy, a teenage girl and two women from Loma Linda died late Sunday on Highway 78 while a Fallbrook driver was arrested, then released following a fiery crash, California Highway Patrol officers said. Three other people driving with the four killed were injured. Just before 11 p.m., according to CHP Sgt. Curtis Martin, the driver of a 2014 Chevy Sonic attempted to change…