Archive for: November, 2008

2 votes separate Hager, Boetcher for water district’s Division 5 board seat

With 500 ballots still uncounted countywide, 2 votes separated the two candidates vying for the Ramona Municipal Water District Division 5 seat as of yesterday at 5:45 p.m. According to the unofficial results released Nov. 28 by the county Registrar of Voters office, incumbent Everett “Red” Hager Jr. has 1,500, or 50.03 percent, and challenger Patricia Boetcher has 1,498, or 49.97 percent, of the votes cast in the division in the Nov. 4 election.

Thanksgiving Day forecast

A flash flood watch is in effect through this afternoon, mainly for recently burned areas and below steep terrain, the National Weather Service reports. Low pressure moving through Southern California will bring scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
In Ramona, the chance of precipitation is 70 percent, with showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 10 a.m. and a chance of showers after 10. The forecast is for mostly cloudy weather with a high near 62.
Anyone needing sandbags will find them at Cal Fire’s Ramona Station at 16310 Highway 67.

Deadline for Soroptimists’ Women’s Opportunity Award is Dec. 1

Soroptimist International of Ramona’s deadline for Women’s Opportunity
Award applications is Dec. 1. The award assists women who provide the
primary source of financial support for their families by giving them
the resources they need to improve their education, skills, and
employment prospects.

Bridging the Gap

The library staff and Friends of the Ramona Library wish you and yours
the most joyous and safe holiday season and a most prosperous 2009!

Sandbags available at Cal Fire station

Sandbags are at Cal Fire’s Ramona Station at 16310 Highway 67 in the Mt. Woodson area for residents needing them for properties at risk of erosion damage from anticipated rains.

Holiday Bikes for Kids

Cal Fire Battalion Chief Greg Griswold, with sheriff’s Lt. Duncan Fraser from the Ramona Substation to his right and sheriff’s Deputy Pam Murphy to his left, talks to television crews and other media this morning about the joint fire and sheriff department effort to restore bicycles for the holidays.

Thanksgiving Turkey Trot starts at 8 a.m.

The 9th Annual Turkey Trot Trail Run/Hike will be Thanksgiving morning at 8. Registration will begin at 6:30 a.m. in the field at the corner of Gunn Stage and San Vicente roads.
All proceeds benefit the Ramona High School Cross Country Team and the San Diego Country Estates Association Recreation Department. 
“It is always a great way to start the day,” says RHS cross country Coach Sandy Balcom.

Economy paints bleak picture for county

When the County of San Diego developed its 2008-09 budget, county staff
anticipated a decline in state funding and in property tax and sales
tax revenue and prepared a conservative budget with contingency plans
and strategies.  Economic conditions have declined beyond even the
county’s scenario, and on Nov. 18 a presentation to the Board of
Supervisors noted that cuts in the near future are likely.
“We here in county government must be prepared,” said county Chief
Administrative Officer Walt Ekard.  “We have fiscal concerns the likes
of which we have not seen in many years.”

Schools brace for budget cuts

California’s projected $28 billion budget shortfall over the next 20
months — combined with reduced school enrollment and increased costs —
could mean a loss of $4.4 million to Ramona Unified School District,
Assistant Superintendent David Ostermann told school trustees.
“I wanted you to show you how devastating just the governor’s proposal
would be to education and to Ramona,” Ostermann said during the
district board meeting last Thursday. “And, again, these are just
proposals. … We don’t know how they’re going to be enacted, but
something’s going to probably have to happen.”
State legislators were scheduled to meet in special sessions this week
to address the crisis. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed a sales
tax increase and budget cuts to meet the projected shortfall.

Shimp to face trial in traffic deaths

A judge has ordered a Ramona man to stand trial on two murder charges
that involve a drunk driving collision on state Route 78 in which the
man’s passenger was killed along with the driver of another car.
A packed courtroom last Thursday heard the evidence against Shannon
Kelly Shimp, 35, who is also accused of two counts of gross vehicular
manslaughter while intoxicated that involve the deaths of Joseph
Edwards, 52, of Ramona, and Ian Kinney, 19, of Julian, on July 22.
Edwards was Shimp’s passenger.

Facebook

);