LAKESIDE – A plan to use raw water for a proposed nature habitat in Lakeside's El Monte Valley will get more study.
The plan was to go before Helix Water District's board of directors at its meeting yesterday, but the land's lessee pulled it from the agenda to work out some details, said Mark Weston, the district's general manager. It will go before the board at a later date.
The Endangered Habitats League wants to use raw, or untreated, water from the San Diego County Water Authority as part of its plan to restore a portion of the valley and create a marsh, riparian habitat and woodlands.
The 460 acres previously was used by the Helix Water District for its wells. Water district officials initially wanted to use recycled water for the project but gave up the idea because it was too expensive.
– Liz Neely
Marines, sailors
set for Iraq tour
MIRAMAR –
About 230 Marines and sailors with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing are scheduled to deploy today from Miramar Marine Corps Air Station.
The troops will head to Iraq and most likely serve in Anbar province for seven months. They will replace other members of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing who are finishing their combat rotation.
The aircraft wing is the aviation combat element of the Camp Pendleton-based 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. Its members are among 25,000 Marines and sailors based in San Diego County who are serving in Iraq this year.
– Rick Rogers
Closure for daughter
in Takehara case
MISSION TRAILS
REGIONAL PARK –
The woman who launched a search for her missing elderly parents said yesterday that she was relieved to have closure now that she knows what happened to them.
“I am happy my mother and dad were found together,” Jan Takehara said during an emotional news conference in Mission Trails Regional Park.
The bodies of Sumio and Betty Takehara were found Monday in a car that had gone off the road and down an embankment in Dehesa.
Jan Takehara also thanked volunteers who canvassed the county for the couple, as well as law enforcement and several businesses that donated services in the search. Her parents had been missing since Aug. 12.
Medical examiner's investigators earlier in the day confirmed through dental records that the bodies found down a 230-foot embankment off Harbison Canyon Road were those of the Serra Mesa couple. Sumio and Betty Takehara died from injuries suffered in the crash. He was 82 and she was 81.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the incident as an “unintentional collision,” said spokesman Brian Pennings.
The couple's 5-year-old white bichon frise, Butchy, remains missing.
– Joe Hughes
UCSD hires new
vice chancellor
Keith Brant, a longtime UCLA administrator, has taken over as the University of California San Diego's vice chancellor for external affairs.
Brant previously worked as UCLA's assistant vice chancellor for alumni relations and executive director of the UCLA Alumni Association.
Brant also has worked as a consultant for several universities, including the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Georgia.
At UCSD, Brant will be responsible for attracting private support, building alumni support and strengthening the public university's reputation. He takes over as the university attempts to finish its $1 billion capital campaign, which has raised nearly $915 million.
Brant's compensation package will include a salary of $230,000, an annual automobile allowance of $8,916, 30 days of temporary housing, reimbursement of moving expenses, eligibility in the university's home loan program, and participation in UC's retirement and savings program.
His starting salary is higher than the pay of his predecessor, Jim Langley, who left UCSD after 7½ years, earning $210,900.
– Eleanor Yang Su
