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Missing Boy, Brother Taken Into Protective Custody

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A 13-year old Oceanside boy who had been missing since Tuesday has been found. But instead of a reunion with his parents, he and his sibling have been placed in protective custody.

Around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, the boy's mother received a call saying her son had been found. As she waited for police to bring him home, she found out he wouldn't be coming back – at least not for now.

Oceanside police say this is an ongoing investigation based on information they have received, but did not elaborate. They say have the 13-year-old and his 14-year-old brother in custody.

Three other children were allowed to remain in the home, according to officials.

Throughout the day, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department's Search and Rescue Team canvassed the neighborhood with a search dog. The 13-year-old wasn't found there but hiding in bushes off El Camino Real and Vista Rey. Police said he was in good condition.

Police initially said the boy was taken into custody to find out what he was doing and what prompted him to run away.

Earlier in the evening, his mother told NBC 7 her son was a fan of Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," so he may have been inspired by the main character to take a journey of his own.

Police said the boy disappeared around 10 p.m. Tuesday from his home in the 4900 block of Concho Place, near the San Luis Rey Riverbed and Camp Pendleton.

His mother reported him missing Wednesday morning. She said he had taken a survival kit with him.



Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Fans, Baseball Greats Pay Tribute to Gwynn

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Tony Gwynn’s family made a public appearance for this first time since his death during Thursday night’s tribute at Petco Park.

“You guys are why my dad loved San Diego so much,” his daughter Anisha Gwynn Jones said to the sea of fans, some who waited in line for hours before the ceremony started.

Gwynn lost his cancer battle on June 16.

Some of the biggest names in Major League Baseball took turns at the podium, including fellow Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson.

“He was an example of what we all want to live and emulate,” Jackson said.

All the speeches had a common theme: Gwynn was much more than his accomplishments on the field. They described Gwynn as a warm, humble, hardworking man who loved his family and his city.

“When he talked about his children, he just lit up like the sun,” said Damian Jackson, Gwynn’s former Padres teammate. “It was something that I envied, partly because I never had a dad and he would have been a great dad to have.”

Gwynn played his entire 20-year career with the San Diego Padres and earned the nickname Mr. Padre.

“You and I both know he could have made five times more money as a free agent, but it was never about the money,” said former Padres broadcaster Ted Leitner, who emceed the service.

Former Padre Trevor Hoffman, Padres owner Ron Fowler, MLB Chief Operation Officer Rob Manfred and others also took the stage to share stories of the baseball great.

Besides the VIPS, more than 23,000 fans came to say their final goodbyes to Gwynn. Lifelong fan Nathan Zack drove all the way from Yuma, Arizona, to be there.

“When I was three-years-old, I was asking a bunch of players for a ball out at spring training there in Yuma. They pretty much ignored me. Then Tony Gwynn was like, ‘hold on a second, kid.’ Goes in the dugout. Thirty seconds later, he just rolls a ball across to me,” Zack said.

“When I watched baseball, I watched for Tony Gwynn,” he added.

The service revolved around Gwynn’s No. 19. It started at 7:19 p.m. – or 19:19. Nineteen doves were released at the beginning of the ceremony, and No. 19 was illuminated in the night sky as the choir sang “Amazing Grace” at the end.

As a touching tribute, the crowd gave Gwynn one final standing ovation. The fans sprung to their feet, many yelling the classic chant “Tony, Tony, Tony.”



Photo Credit: Matthew Wood/NBC7 San Diego

Students' "Redskins" Fight

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School administrators in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, have delivered a final blow to students hoping to ban the use of the word "Redskins" in their high school newspaper.

In a school board meeting Thursday night, Neshaminy School Board members approved a policy that would force student editors of "The Playwickian" to print the name of the Neshaminy High School mascot, the "Redskins," in certain situations, like in letters to the editor or editorials.

Administrators can't, however, force students to use the term in news stories printed in the paper.

The school newspaper's staff voted in October to ban the word "Redskins," calling it a racial slur against Native Americans. Two weeks ago, a federal panel ruled that the NFL's Washington Redskins team name is disparaging and that its trademarks should be canceled.

And although the board's decision to force the use of the word in certain situations was meant to be a middle ground, editors and other students are not happy.

"We're gonna keep fighting this," said co-editor Gillian McGoldrick. "There's no way we're just going to sit back and let these restrictions happen to us."

Board officials say banning use of the term "Redskins" may trample the free speech rights of other students.

"I think if you feel weird about it, you shouldn't use it," said Managing Editor Jackson Haines.

The school board's vote is essentially the end of the line for students opposed to the use of the word, but the editors do have an attorney and haven't ruled out taking legal action against their school district.



Photo Credit: Eugene Sonn | NewsWorks.org

Miss Delaware Breaks Down in Tears on "Today"

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Former Miss Delaware Amanda Longacre broke down in tears on NBC's "Today" show as she described her disappointment over being stripped of her crown because of her age.

"It’s like they’re trying to erase me in a way like it never happened," she said.

Longacre disputed Miss America pageant organizers claims that she violated the age rules for competition.

"I am so, like really upset because I just found out Tuesday that I was stripped of my crown over an age clause that clearly the board of my state didn't even know about," Longacre said. "So I am left here wondering why I was put in this position to begin with."

First runner up Brittany Lewis, 24, was awarded Longacre's crown Thursday. But Longacre is not going out without a fight. She told the "Today" show that she is "discussing options" with a lawyer.

Attorney Mark Billion of Wilmington, Delaware, did not respond to a request for an interview at the time this was published. But he told The News Journal that he believes there is a "breach of contract."

"It really hurts because when your peers vote you for Miss Congeniality and you work so hard to get to this position," Longacre said after being overcome with emotion on "Today." 

Pageant officials on Tuesday told Longacre that she would not be eligible to compete in the Miss America pageant in September because of her age, NBC10 reported. She said she was told that Miss America can't be older than 24 the year she is crowned.

Longacre will turn 25 on October 22, two months after the Miss America pageant. She explained on "Today" that she submitted all the proper paperwork to prove her age, and local pageant officials took no issue with it at the time she applied for a chance at the Miss Delaware crown.

"It's not fair because I won outright," she said. "And I deserve to represent my state and I want this chance still to go to Miss America."

The Miss America Organization on Thursday posted on Facebook a status wishing Longacre "well on her future endeavors." The post also included a headshot of Lewis that congratulated her on being crowned Miss Delaware 2014.

Longacre's winning photo from June 14 is still on the Miss America Facebook page as of Friday morning.

The Miss America Organization did not respond to a request for an interview at the time story was published.

 

 

 



Photo Credit: Screen shot from Today show

Fire Investigator Dies of Heart Attack: FD

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An investigator with the Chula Vista Fire Department (CVFD) died of a heart attack while hiking with his family, officials confirmed.

Fire Investigator Samuel Escalante, 43, is being remembered by fellow Chula Vista firefighters as a “highly technical” and “very thorough” colleague.

“Besides being the Fire Department’s ‘go-to’ for highly technical life safety questions, Sam also was a manager within the Fire Prevention Division,” the CVFD said.

Escalante had been working with the CVFD since February 2006 as the city’s first Fire Prevention Engineer. Prior to joining the department, he was a Fire Protection Engineer in the U.S. Navy.

The CVFD plans to hold a funeral service for their fallen comrade on Monday at the Glen Abbey Mortuary in Bonita.

Meanwhile, remembrances and condolences can be sent to Escalante’s family at: IAFF Local 2180, P.O. Box 697, Chula Vista, CA 91910.
 



Photo Credit: Chula Vista Fire Department

Padres Host Last-Place D'backs This Weekend

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Thursday night was a time for San Diego fans to celebrate the greatest who ever put on a Padres jersey. More than 20,000 packed Petco Park to say goodbye to Hall of Fame legend Tony Gwynn, who left us too soon.

It was a time to grieve and a time to remember. It was also a chance for all of us to get some closure and try to move on, if only just a bit.

The Padres will move on between the white lines as well after a day off Thursday. They have an extended nine-game homestand that starts with the last-place Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday.

Now that everyone has had a chance to catch their collective breath, it’s time to look ahead to the rest of the season. Is this going to be a lost cause and another disappointing second half in San Diego? Or will the Padres rally around the recent adversity and make a run in a National League West that is still somewhat up for grabs?

The next week-and-a-half will go a long way to bringing us some answers. Let’s look at the upcoming series with the D’backs.

Matchups:
Friday, 7:10 p.m.:
Tyson Ross (R, 6-7, 3.22) vs. Brandon McCarthy (R, 1-10, 5.38)
With Andrew Cashner sidelined, much of the burden of production falls on Ross, who has lost three straight. McCarthy would fit right in on this Padres staff with his 10 losses – including five in a row.

Saturday, 7:10 p.m.: Eric Stults (L, 2-10, 5.49) vs. Josh Collmenter (R, 6-4, 3.87)
Stults scoffs at McCarthy’s rough record and counters with losses in five straight games and seven of his last eight. Collmenter last saw action out of the bullpen, picking up the win in an inning of work against Cleveland earlier this week.

Sunday, 1:10 p.m.: Odrisamer Despaigne (1-0, 0.00) vs. Mike Bolsinger (1-3, 4.78)
Another couple outings like his MLB debut and we could see Odrisamer Mania sweep across Padre nation. Until then, let’s take it one start at a time. The rookie Bolsinger only has six starts under his belt and hasn’t won a game since late April.

What’s at stake: Despite winning five of eight, the Padres are still only two games ahead of the cellar-dwelling D’backs. But they are only a game back of the third-place Colorado Rockies.

Until either team gets within single digits of the division lead (Padres are currently 12 out) there’s no need to fuss. But a sweep this weekend would sure make things look better.

Despite being 15 games under .500, Arizona is actually an even 18-18 on the road this year.

Who to watch:
Padres:
Despaigne, the Cuban rookie, could potentially be a bright spot in an otherwise dreary squad. Plus he’s just a lot of fun to watch. Do yourself a favor and check him out on Sunday if you can.

At the plate, Seth Smith is heating up again with seven hits and a pair of homers (almost three) in his last 17 at-bats. He continues to lead the team in long balls (eight), RBI (24), average (.290) and walks (36).

Alexi Amarista had three hits and three RBIs on Tuesday and now has seven hits in the past week. And we’ll keep talking about Jake Goebbert as long as he keeps hitting. The rookie has four hits in his first eight big league at-bats.

Diamondbacks: First baseman Paul Goldschmidt is the guy to watch in this lineup, as he ranks among the lead leaders in homers (15), RBIs, (52) and on-base percentage (.381). Center fielder A.J. Pollock has been a pleasant surprise, leading the team in average (.316) and OPS (.920). He has a whopping nine hits in his last four games.

Coming up: We’re here for a while as the Cincinnati Reds come to town next week, followed by a matchup with the first-place Giants next weekend. Here’s a goal: Down by less than 10 games by the time San Fran hits Petco. Let’s make it happen.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Golden Gate Bridge to Get Barrier

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Golden Gate Bridge officials have approved a plan for a suicide barrier on the iconic bridge.

The 19-member board unanimously voted to approve funding for the project Friday morning.

In an emotion-filled board meeting, the directors approved spending $20 million for the $76 million project. The rest of the money will be covered by the state and federal government.

Construction on the proposed steel cable net system would is expected to be completed by 2018, with bidding on the job expected to begin next year.

Some people oppose the barrier, saying it will be unsightly, but officials say the barrier will not mar the landmark bridge's appearance.

District general manager Denis Mulligan said the bridge district staff's opinion is that "construction of the suicide deterrent simply is the right thing to do at this time."

The motion for Friday's vote came from board member and former bridge district director John Moylan, whose grandson, Sean Moylan, jumped off the bridge to his death earlier this month.

A tearful Dan Barks of Napa, who lost his son, Donovan, to suicide on the bridge in 2008, said after the vote that he was almost speechless. ``A lot of people have done so much incredible work to get this accomplished,'' he said.

After the vote, he rose from his knees and shared a tearful embrace with Sue Story of Rocklin, whose son Jacob jumped off the bridge in 2010.

``We did it, Dan! We did it! It's no longer the Bridge of Death anymore,'' she said.

More than a dozen family members of those who have taken their lives on the bridge spoke at the meeting, all with the same plea.

“My main thing for being here is to prevent future deaths, prevent future families from going through what we’re going through,” said Manuel Gamboa, whose son Kyle jumped to his death from the bridge last year.

At least some of the money still requires additional approval. The bridge's board, however, has now taken its final step in adopting the net.

The Golden Gate Bridge, with its sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, has long been a destination for people seeking to end their lives. Since it opened in 1937, more than 1,400 people have plunged to their deaths, including a record 46 suicides last year, officials said.

The bridge's board voted in 2008 to install a stainless steel net, rejecting other options, including raising the 4-foot-high railings and leaving the iconic span unchanged. Two years later, they certified the final environmental impact report for the net, which would stretch about 20 feet wide on each side of the span.

The funding plan includes $22 million of federal Local Highway Bridge Program money programmed by Caltrans, $27 million from federal Surface Transportation Program funds programmed by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, $7 million from California Mental Health Service Act funds and $20 million from the district's reserves.

 

The Associated Press and Bay City News contributed to this report.



Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area

Is Oakland the New Silicon Valley?

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Tech companies are now branching out into the East Bay, favoring Oakland after being priced out of San Francisco and the Silicon Valley.

Erik Collier serves as one of the general managers of Ask.com, a search engine company that moved into Oakland's City Center from Emeryville in 2004.

"We knew it was cool before it was cool," Collier said. "We were looking for more space. Oakland seemed to be a great spot, a central location to transportation."

Other startups and tech companies moving into Oakland point to the cheaper costs of doing business, especially compared to San Francisco or on the Peninsula.

The average price for an apartment in San Francisco is $3,500. Oakland's average rent is about $2,000 a month for an apartment.

"All the young techies want to be in the East Bay," Oakland Councilmember Lynette Gibson McElhaney said. "It is so hot. They don't want the sterile environment of those isolated campuses of the old tech."

McElhaney considers old-tech powerhouse companies to be the likes of Facebook, Google and Apple, all of which helped make Silicon Valley famous, simultaneously driving up rents south of the City in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, neither of which have much in the way of rent control.

She is touting Oakland as the next big thing for the tech industry.

"At this point, Silicon Valley is old money," McElhaney said.

The Sears and Roebuck building in Oakland will soon become part of  the city's renaissance. The building has been sold and the new owner plans to turn the building into retail and office space for more start-up companies.

Oakland restaurateur Irfan Joffrey, owner of Camber, said the upswing seems to be gaining momentum.

"A lot of new businesses are moving in," he said, "just because other businesses are coming into town so they can benefit from the economy."


Woman Finds Pot in French Fries

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A Maryland woman found a little something extra in her fries after taking a trip to a local Sonic restaurant this week.

Carla McFarland, of Frederick, took her children to the fast food restaurant on Guilford Drive on Wednesday, The Frederick News-Post reported.

Everything was fine with the food she passed to her children, but when McFarland reached into the bag for her own food, she found a small bag of what appeared to be marijuana in her fries. 

“I kept thinking, what if my kids had eaten it?” McFarland told the newspaper

Both McFarland and the restaurant's management called the police.

An employee, who was later fired, took responsibility for the marijuana, explaining that it must have fallen from her apron.

"When she asked the three employees, one of the young ladies stepped up and said it was hers," McFarland said. "It didn't take very long, and I guess at that point they just said that they fired her."

McFarland got a new meal and was refunded her money.

The Frederick County Sheriff's Office has the marijuana as evidence, but it is not clear whether the employee will be charged, News4 Washington's Darcy Spencer reported.

According to the restaurant's website, the Guilford Drive location recently opened and is the only Sonic in the county.



Photo Credit: Carla McFarland

Missing Miami Teen Found Safe

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Missing Miami teen Carolina "Caro" Macias has been found safe hiding at a friend's house, after she went missing Thursday night following an argument with her mother about SAT scores, police said Friday.

The 17-year-old had last been seen Thursday night near Soul Purpose, a dance studio she volunteers at near The Falls shopping center in southwest Miami-Dade, family and friends said.

After arguing with her mother on the phone, Caro had hid her phone in clothes, left it in the studio and walked out, police said.

Police treated her disappearance as a runaway case and didn't believe foul play was involved.

The girl's mother told NBC 6 that her daughter was also seen at a Publix grocery store with another girl before she went missing.

Police said Caro was captured on surveillance video at Publix renting a DVD from RedBox with the other girl, whom they're trying to identify.

Twitter hashtags #helpfindcaro, #prayforcaro and #findcaromacias were being used to spread the word about Macias, who attends Westminster Christian School. Sen. Marco Rubio even tweeted about the incident Friday morning.

Check back with NBC 6 South Florida and NBC6.com for updates.

Park at the Park to Show USA World Cup Game

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USA takes on Belgium Tuesday in the World Cup and in San Diego, fans can watch the soccer match in a special viewing area at a mini park within downtown's Petco Park.

The San Diego Padres and Mayor Kevin Faulconer have announced the Park at the Park will be open to the public free of charge for the 1 p.m. World Cup match.

Thus, local soccer fans skipping work for the day or perhaps taking a long, late and leisurely lunch break will have a comfortable outdoor space to watch the big game.

Not to mention a pretty sweet big screen from which to take in the sports action.

The LED video display is located directly behind the batter’s eye in the Park at the Park area. The screen is 17 feet high by 29 feet wide, so those normally teeny, tiny soccer players will look larger than life.

The East Village and Gaslamp Gates to the park will open at 12:30 p.m. Once the game ends, the Park at the Park will quickly close so stadium crews can prepare for Tuesday night’s Padres home game against the Cincinnati Reds.

Discounted parking for the soccer game screening will be available in both the Tailgate and Parcel C parking lots. Some select concessions will also open in the Park at the Park area, including the beer garden, so World Cup fans can enjoy some snacks and refreshments, too.

Sounds like a "gooooooal," right?
 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Woman, 20, Fatally Hit by Train

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A 20-year-old woman was fatally struck by a freight train in Carlsbad Thursday night and possibly walked onto the tracks as the train approached, according to witnesses.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said the deadly incident happened just after 10:30 p.m. at Mile Post Marker 232 in the 5900 block of Avenida Encinas.

Witnesses told deputies it appeared the woman walked onto the railroad tracks just as a southbound Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train approached.

The impact left the woman dead at the scene.

The incident is under investigation. The woman’s name has not yet been released. Anyone with information on the case should contact deputies at (858) 565-5200.
 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Body Found in Ramona ID’d as Missing Man

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A body discovered in thick brush in Ramona earlier this week has been officially identified as a local resident missing since June 16, the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed.

The decomposed body of Carl Salayer, 67, was found Wednesday in the 18400 block of Chablis Road, just a half-mile away from his home.

Area residents reported smelling a foul odor wafting from a heavily vegetated field and when deputies arrived on scene, they discovered Salayer’s remains.

The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office said an autopsy has been completed, but Salayer’s cause of death has not yet been released pending further testing. His family has been notified.

Sheriff’s officials said there were no signs of foul play.

Salayer had been missing for 10 days and was last seen at his home on Handlebar Road. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department launched an expansive search for the missing man involving hundreds of search volunteers that spanned much of the Ramona area.

Salayer suffered from Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and dementia. His medical conditions required medication, thus this became a major concern for both his family and officials during the search. Officials feared Salayer was afraid, disoriented and possibly hiding.

His wife of 48 years stressed the importance of getting medication to her husband.

During the height of the search on June 21, Jan Caldwell of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said crews were hoping for the best but expecting the worst.

Caldwell said that after several days without medication, combined with hot days and brisk nights, the search for Salayer had become less of a rescue mission and more of a search for his body.

On Wednesday, Salayer’s family said the discovery, though disheartening, had brought them much-needed peace of mind.

"I love my uncle. If it is his body it would bring needed closure to family," Taylor Ryan, Salayer’s nephew, told NBC 7.

“Definitely, my family is grieving. For me it’s a sense of relief they found someone that could be my uncle. We wish him the best now. He’s in heaven,” he added.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Pertussis Cases Nearly Double 2013's Total

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 The 2014 number of pertussis cases has nearly doubled last year’s total in San Diego County, according to new data from the county Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA).

Health officials warn seven new whooping cough cases popped up last week in places where the public may have been exposed, bringing the 2014 total up to 759 confirmed cases.

Last year, HHSA workers confirmed just 431 cases. If the whooping cough epidemic continues to grow, it could break 2010’s record high of 1,179 cases in the county.

San Diego's trends are tracking closely with those seen statewide. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reports that 1,100 new cases have been seen across the state in the last two weeks.

That means 4,558 people reported whooping cough symptoms this year alone, compared to last year’s 2,532 total cases. One more infant has also died, bringing the total infant deaths to three.

CDPH officials announced last week that the pertussis cases have officially reached epidemic proportions.

The seven most recent patients in San Diego County may have exposed others at the following locations:

  • A 7-year-old and 10-year-old at Riverview Elementary School in the Lakeside Union School District
  • A 7-year-old at Rios Elementary School in the Cajon Valley Union School District
  • A 10-year-old at Innovation Middle School in the San Diego Unified School District
  • A 13-year-old at Our Lady’s School in San Diego
  • A person at Charley Brown Children’s Center in La Mesa
  • A person at Fisher Children’s Center at Camp Pendleton

All patients were all up-to-date for their age on pertussis immunizations, HHSA officials say.

“Parents should remain vigilant for signs of whooping cough to help prevent the spread of this disease,” said Wilma J. Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “Everyone should be up-to-date on their vaccinations and booster shot.

In a typical case, pertussis starts with a cough and runny nose for one to two weeks, and then the patient develops rapid coughing fits that sometimes end with the distinctive “whooping” sound.

Antibiotics can make the symptoms less severe and prevent the spread of the disease.

Navy SEAL Killed in California Parachuting Accident

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Chief Petty Officer Brad Cavner, 31, was killed Monday while conducting parachute training jumps. As his colleagues and friends recall, Cavner served with honor in Iraq and Afghanistan and spent a lot of time in San Diego’s Coronado community prior to becoming a SEAL.

It was there that he completed basic underwater demolition/SEAL and SEAL qualification training. Before that, Cavner was an Islander at Coronado High School.

Friends told NBC 7 they’re mourning the hometown patriot – someone gone far too soon.

“I’m still devastated, heartbroken,” said Kari Carty. “I think the only reason I can’t cry is because I’ve cried so much.”

Carty became friends with Cavner around the time he enlisted in the Navy back in February 2003 – right before the Iraq invasion.

“They went over and spent a lot of time in Iraq and Afghanistan and [to] see these struggles people [there] are going through, they wanted them to have the same freedoms and life we do,” she said. “That’s what they fought for and he fought for every day.”

JT Rogan learned a lot from Cavner as his Coronado High School football teammate. Even as a teen, Cavner was a motivating leader with a strong work ethic.

“Don’t ever give up and when you think it’s different, the mind will quit long before the body will. He would push to the limit every time, all the time,” Rogan told NBC 7.

That lifelong determination resulted in Cavner being honored with more than 10 medals over the course of his Navy career, including the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and a combat action ribbon.

Rogan said his dedication will never be forgotten.

“Thank you for your service to the country. Thanks for being a great ambassador for our city,” he added.

One of Cavner’s commanders called him a "warrior who selflessly answered his nation's call to defend freedom and protect us."

A memorial service for the fallen SEAL is scheduled for Sunday in Coronado.
 



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

SDG&E: Summer Energy Load Looks Promising

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 SDG&E should meet San Diego’s heavy energy needs-- and then some-- over the next couple of hot, arid months, officials told the local government leaders Friday.

The utility expects to have excess energy reserves for the first time in at least 14 years, SDGE’s Senior Vice President of Power Supply Jim Avery announced at a San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) meeting.

Avery credits the Sunrise Powerlink – a transmission line that carries renewable energy from the Imperial Valley to San Diego – for the capacity increase.

Barring bad weather conditions, “we anticipate that we should be able to get through the summer without any major issues,” Avery said.

SDG&E’s biggest challenge this summer is the shutdown of the San Onofre nuclear plant, which offered what Avery called “reactive support” to the transmission lines between San Diego and Los Angeles.

Without that resource, the utility will be adding other forms of distribution support to strengthen the grid over the next 10 years. That should help move energy around more easily, according to Avery.

Other threats would include a long stretch of hot days or a large-scale wildfire that could increase SDG&E’s power load.

Avery said the main condition that triggers heavy demand on their energy grids are the infamous Santa Ana winds.

“”When we’re in a situation where the winds are coming over the mountain, temperatures in the coastal region climb into the 90s,” said Avery, “and when that occurs, our peak load continues to climb.”

After three days of people cranking up their air-conditioners, the loads reach their highest levels, and the utility has to ask customers to cut back.

But SDG&E has not had a problem with conservation requests in the past. Avery told SANDAG that San Diegans often respond to the call for help and are eager to keep the power grid alive.

As for the threat of fires, Avery told NBC 7 his agency has built 149 weather stations across the county in hopes that they will be able to spot and respond to flames quickly, before they knock out transmission lines or other energy infrastructure.

Plane Makes Emergency Landing

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The pilot of a single-engine plane made an emergency landing on a highway ramp in Arlington Friday afternoon.

The plane landed on a highway ramp going from U.S. Highway 287 northbound to westbound Interstate 20 just before 5 p.m.

The plane was towing a Geico banner near the interchange when the pilot told air traffic controllers that it had lost oil pressure, the FAA said. The pilot then said he was dropping the banner and would make an emergency landing.

One person was transported to the hospital, the Arlington Fire Department said.

"The pilot's OK," said said Christopher Cook with Arlington police. "He's in good spirits, he was up talking. He wishes he wouldn't have hit anything. He was doing his best to try to get in the field."

The plane did hit a vehicle, which may have caused injuries to at least one passenger, the Federal Aviation Administration told NBC 5.

The plane hit Richard Dutton's black pickup truck.

"The plane hit right in the windshield, I gues the driver's side and that was all broken, so it looks scary, but he's fine," said Dutton's friend Nikki Minnies.

"What happened was his landing gear, as he was coming down for his emergency landing, he actually struck a retaining wall, which also struck this black pickup truck," said Cook. "Part of the wing's fuselage actually went into the truck."

The highway shut down for a few hours after the crash. All lanes reopened at about 8:15 p.m.

The FAA is currently investigating the situation.

NBC 5's Ben Russell contributed to this report.

Missing CA Firefighter's Body Found

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The body of missing Arcadia firefighter Mike Herdman was found, officials said Friday.

The body was found less than a mile from where he was last seen Friday, June 13 on a cliff above the Sespe River in rugged terrain of the Los Padres National Forest, Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean said.

Herdman's body was discovered at 10 a.m. Friday by a pilot flying overhead as part of the search team. The body lay over terrain and was partially covered by brush.

There were no signs of foul play, Dean said.

"Our sympathies and hearts go out to Mike Herdman’s family, the public and the fellow firefighters at the Arcadia Fire Department," Dean said during an afternoon press conference.

Officials identified the remains through dental records. A cause of death would be determined by the medical examiner following an autopsy.

Investigators theorized that Herdman had fallen off a cliff at night, but they weren't sure.

"He’s probably the only one that can answer those questions about why’d he'd go so far in the middle of the night like that," he said.

The mood at the Arcadia Fire Department was somber where officials have set up a web page for donations.

"We're glad that he was found, but at the same time we're sad that we lost a family member," said Arcadia Fire Chief Kurt Norwood.

Herdman, 36, disappeared Friday, June 13 during a camping trip in the Los Padres National Forest near Fillmore with a friend and fellow firefighter.

His dog, Duke, ran away from the campsite and Herdman chased after him, barefoot and wearing just a T-shirt and shorts.

He was reported missing when his friend emerged from the forest and contacted authorities.

Duke was found June 23 in a parking lot where Herdman's car had been parked. Much of the search focused on finding Duke, who had been spotted twice in a week.

Authorities combed through a 50-square mile radius in the Los Padres National Forest. At one point as many as 86 search and rescue volunteers had been looking for Herdman. Two manned flight crews and two drones were used to search the rugged terrain.

Several Southern California sheriff’s departments and a team of special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement are also involved.

Officials said that Herdman was an outdoors enthusiast with experience backpacking in the backcountry..

NBC4's Beverly White and Rosa Ordaz contributed to this report.

Motorcycle Crash Closes SR-163 Lanes

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 A motorcycle crash slowed down rush-hour traffic along State Route 163 heading into downtown San Diego Friday evening and prompted a Sig Alert.

Around 5 p.m., a motorcycle and a Lexus collided as the two were driving south on SR-163 near Washington Street, according to the California Highway Patrol. 

About 20 minutes later, officials issued a Sig Alert for the area. 

Officers have since opened two far right lanes to get traffic moving. 

Friday evening, the motorcyclist was in critical condition.

Ex-Sweetwater Superintendent Gets 2 Months in Jail

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A former school superintendent implicated in a sweeping corruption scandal will spend two months in jail and another 160 days in home detention for accepting gifts and not reporting them.

Former Sweetwater Superintendent Jesus Gandara was handed the sentence Friday. He was one of several school officials accused of trading votes on multi-million dollar construction contracts for gifts and other favors.

He pleaded guilty in April to one felony count of conspiracy to accept gifts in excess of the legal limit and one misdemeanor of failing to report the gift.

As part of the sentence, Gandara – who now lives in Texas – must serve the home detention in San Diego.

He was handcuffed and escorted to jail upon sentencing. Some of those in the courtroom who first brought the corruption case to light smiled and congratulated each other.

Asked whether she ever thought she’d see Gandara be brought to justice, a community member who brought the case to the district attorney’s office said yes.

“I believe if you fight the good fight, you’re gonna win,” said Kathleen Cheers.

Gandara’s defense attorney Paul Pfingst said his client was upset that the sentencing would tarnish his legacy.

“Dr. Gandara feels badly that some students will see him being handcuffed. Because he’s felt through his career felt like he was an example for students who wanted to achieve and succeed,” Pfingst said.

Gandara was fired in 2011 after being accused of misusing funds. He's the last of at least 18 people to plead guilty in the scandal that led authorities to raid the homes of some school board members in the district.

In 2006, Sweetwater trustees Jim Cartmill and Arlie Ricasa flew to Texas to interview Gandara for a position at the recommendation of the head-hunting firm Hazard, Young and Attea & Associates.

Gandara's rocky tenure included borrowing bond money to pay off daily general fund expenses; inviting contractors to a "money tree" event for his daughter's bridal shower; hiding PR expenses from the board and a controversial exit strategy that was investigated by state pension regulators.

Prosecutors say he and several other board members spent night after night at expensive meals, sporting events, and trips, funded by contractors seeking work with the district.

Gandara was also ordered to be on probation for three years, which he can serve in Texas, and a fine of nearly $10,000.

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