SAN DIEGO: City, state and federal officials yesterday unveiled plans for expanding the Otay Mesa port of entry, one of the 10 busiest land ports in the country and the busiest commercial port on the California-Baja border.
At a news conference at the University of San Diego, officials announced that $21 million in federal stimulus money will go toward design and land acquisition for the expansion. Where the construction money will come from has not been determined.
Plans call for adding lanes and reconfiguring the area that processes hazardous-materials shipments. All the lanes are proposed to be upgraded to work with high-tech fast- cards. The expanded port entry is expected to relieve congestion.
The environmental study for the project started in May, and design is anticipated to begin in the fall. —H.G.
Memorial motorcycle ride to be held for slain couple
SAN DIEGO: Friends of a Bay Park couple who were found slain in their home last month will hold a memorial motorcycle ride in their memory tomorrow afternoon.
The Barry and Carol Sandberg memorial ride will begin at the top of Mount Soledad at 1 p.m. and proceed through San Diego to the American Legion Hall Post 460 at 7815 Armour St. in Kearny Mesa.
The wake at the hall will last until 6 p.m.
“It’s a celebration of life,” said friend Fatdog. “He wouldn’t want us whining and crying, he would want us to party.”
The Sandbergs were found dead May 7, and one of their motorcycles was missing. No arrests have been made in the slayings. The cause of death has not been released.
— K.D.
Fair’s daily attendance slightly lower than in ’08
DEL MAR: Daily attendance at the 2009 San Diego County Fair is nearly keeping pace with last year.
Average daily attendance from opening day June 12 through Thursday was 50,337. Last year’s average daily attendance during the first two weeks was 51,162.
Since last year’s fair was 21 days, it appears likely that this year’s full 22-day run will sur last year’s attendance number of 1,235,698.
Fair spokeswoman Linda Zweig said people are responding to discounts and promotions.
A total of 604,040 people attended from opening day on June 12 through Thursday. That compares with 613,948 who attended during the first two weeks in 2008. The fair was closed two days during the first two weeks both years.
— T.M.
Split decision made in city retirement case
SAN DIEGO: City officials won a split decision in a court ruling Thursday affecting pending changes to a retirement program.
The Deferred Retirement Option Plan allows San Diego city employees to collect pension payments in a special while still working.
A judge approved a plan to lower the guaranteed interest rate paid on employee deposits in those special s. But the judge said the city cannot raise the eligibility age for the program to 55, from the current 50.
Superior Court Judge David Oberholtzer said the city can lower the guaranteed rate to 3.54 percent from its current 7.75 percent.
Thursday’s ruling stemmed from a case in which the city sued the Police Officers Association for its refusal to negotiate changes to the program. Oberholtzer ordered the two sides to return to the negotiating table.
— H.G.
$600,000 found to keep testing beach water
SAN DIEGO: Despite a budget crisis that has threatened jobs and services up and down California, state officials have identified more than $600,000 to test the beach water along the San Diego County coast for the next two years.
County supervisors Wednesday agreed to accept the money.
The testing had been threatened early this year, when state grants were suspended. County officials in March agreed to spend up to $150,000 to keep testing water quality.
The state Department of Public Health funds will steer $300,310 to the county over each of the next two years.
— J.M.
Free HIV testing set in North Park
NORTH PARK: As part of National HIV Testing Day, a local organization is hosting an event today with free testing, education, counseling and outreach for people infected with and affected by the disease.
Bienestar, a national Latino organization that works with Latinos and other ethnic groups at higher risk for HIV/AIDS, will be available from noon to 7 p.m. at 3020 North Park Way.
For more information on Bienestar, go to bienestar.org . For more information on other testing locations, go to aids.gov or hivtest.org .
— L.D.
Swine-flu fears close camp for children
EAST COUNTY: A camp for children with muscular dystrophy was canceled this week because of concerns about the swine-flu virus.
Forty-eight children were scheduled to attend the Muscular Dystrophy Association weeklong camp at Camp Cuyamaca in Descanso. Officials said children with muscular dystrophy are more vulnerable to swine flu because of their weakened respiratory muscles.
Out of 1,800 children who had attended 33 camps nationwide, 11 cases of swine flu were reported after they left. Six suspected cases were also reported at a Muscular Dystrophy Association camp in Worcester, Pa.
Muscular Dystrophy Association officials said they decided to cancel the rest of their camps this summer after conferring with the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
— A.K.
