Ramona businessman James Kurtenbach will stand trial for murder, arson,
insurance fraud and other charges on Jan. 12, 2010, a judge ruled
Monday, in the case involving his employee’s death during an
intentionally set fire that destroyed Kurtenbach’s vacant home in 2008.
Kurtenbach, 48, pleaded not guilty to all charges before El Cajon
Superior Court Judge Peter Deddeh. He also waived his right to have a
speedy trial and remains free on $2 million bond. He lives in Poway.
Kurtenbach is accused of murder in the Oct. 31, 2008, death of Joseph
Nesheiwat, 24, who had worked for Kurtenbach for years at his Star Gas
Station in Ramona. Nesheiwat died of terminal burns and smoke
inhalation after an explosion destroyed the home at 16421 N. Woodson
Drive. He died very quickly after the blast and he was found 4 feet
from the blazing house.
Jun 30 2009 | Posted in
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A Ramona couple who went to Washington, D.C., to lobby for health care
reform got an eyeful of the city’s famous sights and gave an earful, as
promised, to three of California’s representatives.
As first-time visitors to the nation’s capital, Reynaldo and Janet
Hernandez were wowed to see firsthand the monuments that they’ve seen
on television so many times.
“It was awe-inspiring to see things like the Lincoln Memorial in
person,” Reynaldo said. “We were amazed to see how many young people
were there; however, as seniors, I think we appreciated it more, but it
was wonderful to see how respectful and almost reverent people are
toward our nation’s treasures.”
Jun 29 2009 | Posted in
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In an about-face, the chiefs of all of the volunteer backcountry fire
departments have signed a new contract with the San Diego County Fire
Authority that will require all volunteer firemen to pass a physical
exam to be able to continue to serve in the field.
At a meeting June 16 in Ramona, the chiefs of six such departments had
agreed “to stand shoulder to shoulder and not sign the contracts” for
fear of losing experienced volunteers who might not pass a stringent
exam. (The six included the San Pasqual Volunteer Fire Department,
which is responsible for the outlying areas northwest of Ramona,
including Highland Hills in Ramona.)
“We were all forced into signing the contracts and we did it under duress,” San Pasqual Chief Gilbert Turrentine said.
Jun 28 2009 | Posted in
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Retardant drops from airtankers stopped the spread of a 1- to 2-acre
brush fire off Marron Valley Road in Dulzura behind the gun club in the
1000 block of the road, CalFire reported. The fire is in
sparse fuels within the boundary of the Harris Fire of 2007.
Jun 26 2009 | Posted in
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When Ramona resident Taylor Hay received the diagnosis last year that
she had cancer, neither she nor her family knew if she would ever be
able to ride her beloved horses again. Through extensive chemotherapy, hair and weight loss, 11
hospitalizations, fatigue, nausea and all of the other multitude of
symptoms cancer patients have to endure, the thought of once again
being in the horse show ring gave the feisty 10-year-old the
determination to fight.
Jun 26 2009 | Posted in
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The digital age has brought about phenomenal changes on everyday life:
instant access, instant communication. The thrill or anguish of
anticipating the written or spoken word has been virtually eliminated.
The new world is all about being impersonal, no face to face, no voice
to voice. Receiving a handwritten letter or card or even a personal
phone call are now considered to be communication above and beyond the
norm.
Jun 25 2009 | Posted in
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In sports you know you are accepted when you get a nickname.
When Coach Chuck Welch became “Papa Smurf” during his first year of
coaching at Ramona High School, everybody knew he was officially a
coach at RHS.
Class of 2001 grad Neil Jamison pinned the moniker on Welch eight years
ago for two reasons. He always wore Bulldog Blue and because of
diminutive size.
Papa Smurf has been a big part of the Bulldog baseball program and a big reason for its success.
Coach Welch is calling it quits.
Jun 25 2009 | Posted in
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Recent Ramona High School graduate Alex Muren was named to the 2009
Louisville Slugger High School All American Team in the June 12 issue
of Collegiate Baseball.
Muren is a five-tool player (run, hit, hit for power, throw and field)
who was selected as an outfielder on the elite squad. He was the only
San Diego County athlete named to the All American team.
Jun 25 2009 | Posted in
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Five Lady Bulldog softball players earned post-season honors. Lexi
Slater, Courtney Fick, Stephanie Kiesel, Tori Roberts and KK Melgoza
were selected to the All Valley League Team.
Slater, a sophomore, also was selected to the All North County Softball
team, and she is All Valley League first string shortstop and All North
County. She hit a team high .452 and also led the Lady Bulldogs with 42
hits and 24 RBIs.
Jun 25 2009 | Posted in
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With all of the sports channels on cable and satellites, we are too
often inundated with sports. March Madness, the October classic, The
NBA playoffs, Bowl Week(s), the NFL playoffs, the World Cup, PGA,
tennis, boxing, UFC. You name it, it’s on the tube.
Add to those: tractor pulls, the World’s Strongest Man, X Games, the
Olympics, Australian Rules and every sport that American Sportsman and
Wild World of Sports aired and all too often enough is really too much.
Jun 25 2009 | Posted in
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