May 16, 2007 - Top Stories
Jessica Simonsen was named Senior Rodeo Queen and Sara Maguire was crowned Junior Queen at the VC Rodeo Queen competition held May 12 & 13 at the VC Community Center Pavilion and Aerie Park.
On Saturday each of the 12 contestants was interviewed separately by the judges: Dottie Christensen, Marissa Greene, and Marjie Wasson.
They were asked questions based mainly on biographical essays they had written as part of the requirements of the contest.
The essays had been given to the judges to read the night before. After the interviews the young women displayed their talents at public speaking.
Their topic was “What does Rodeo Queen mean to you?”
Then it was time for the girls to go home and attempt to get some sleep in preparation for the following day of competition.
On Sunday the trucks and horse trailers began rolling in at around 8:30 a.m.
The contestants busied themselves with last minute grooming, warming up their horses, and finally changing into the glittering, bejeweled shirts and fancy jeans for their horsemanship pattern.
All of the girls had practiced the pattern for over a month, but the pressure was on. As each did her Queen’s Run, she was cheered on by family, friends, and the spectators.
It was a day of royalty. The coronation was held after lunch. Mackenzie Cayford, VC’s first Rodeo Queen, came back to announce the event.
Kohlby Rockenmacher, VC’s 2006 outgoing Queen was mistress of ceremonies and presented the awards.
Shelby North won most photogenic. Megan Glennie won Miss Congeniality. Samantha Wheeler sold the most sponsorships, and Stephanie McCarley won the sportsmanship award.
Kohlby then announced the Junior Princesses Megan Glennie and Samantha Peters. As Sara Maguire was announced as Junior Queen her eyes went wide in surprise amid cheers from fellow contestants.
Stephanie Sorge won the Senior Princess. At last, the 2007 VC Rodeo Queen crown went to Jessica Simenson of Escondido. Photos and hugs abounded.
The finale was a farewell Queen’s Run by Kohlby Rockenmacher, 2006 VC Rodeo Queen, followed by the first Queen’s Run of the 2007 Queens and Princesses, Jessica Simenson, Stephanie Sorge, Sara Maguire, Megan Glennie, and Samantha Peters.
‘The situation is very serious,” said Fire Chief Kevin O’Leary this week.
He was talking about a situation that was recognized for much of Southern California on May 9 when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an executive order to deploy additional fire resources, including adding fire crews, engines, bulldozers and airplanes. A Helitack Crew will be assigned to the Sheriff’s Dept. firefighting helicopter. The governor has ordered Cal Fire to get additional supertankers into service.
“We are expecting many fire starts,” O’Leary told The Roadrunner last week. “We will not be successful in catching all of them. In the last four days, I have been to four fires and heard of three other fires, mostly accidental.”
Two of them were started by cigarettes tossed out of cars in San Marcos and Vista.
“This happens when the humidity gets below eighteen percent. Even people who flick ashes out of a vehicle window are risking the lives of many.”
Just think of how you have seen cigarettes tossed at night and how the sparks scatter as they fall.
He urges motorists who see this illegal activity happening to take down the license number of the car and report it to Cal Fire.
The chief adds that residents should only cut and trim during the early morning, not after 10 a.m. and after 7 p.m.
If it is hot and dry, put it off all together until conditions improve.
A week ago, near Deer Springs, off of Gopher Canyon, a fire started when a mower struck a rock.
“The crew had a water tender with them under our regulations, and still they could not catch the fire. It was too dry to be mowing. The brush on that six acre fire was completely consumed, like it was September.”
O’Leary said he is “very concerned about the safety of the public and the firefighters this year.”
Be careful with open flames. On May 6 firefighters found a still-smoldering camp fire at a residence on Cole Grade.
“With the east winds that were blowing, embers can travel great distances. People also need to remember that fires, even small grass fires, are going to spread quickly and may catch and burn you if you try to put out these fires,” O’Leary said.
There are reasons why firefighters wear protective gear. “Because I have seen many burned people, mostly in shorts and a tee shirt, I will not attempt to put out a fire without my protective gear,” he said.
A small isolated spot fire can get large in seconds.
On May 9 in Ramona, firefighters responded to a smoldering log in the back yard of a residence. Three young girls, adults watching, decided to put it out with small cups of water. When O’Leary arrived, he found the source of the fire. Someone had lit the fuse of a pipe bomb and it caught the log on fire.
“This unexploded device could have killed those girls. Fortunately, the Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit determined it was not dangerous, a fake, but it sure could have been real,” said the chief.
He adds, “Note suspicious people along roadways in case a fire starts there. Arson is a continuous problem in our area.”
On Thursday a fire in the Pauma Valley Country Club area started in the garage near a golf cart.
“We could not determine an exact cause but suspected electrical,” said O’Leary. “Keeping it from spreading into the nearby vegetation was a major undertaking. A very large home was spared and both people got out OK.”
Firefighters were able to save the main part of the home, but there was a lot of smoke and water damage.
If you see a fire or one starts near you, call the fire department. Putting out fires is what they are trained to do.
If the fire is headed for your home, get out of the area.
O’Leary asks, “Are your possessions really worth the risk of burns or death? What if your family gets hurt because you decide to stay or take those few more minutes to get possessions? Get out early if you can.”
The Western Days Parade Committee and the Valley Center Chamber of Commerce announce the selection of David Ross, editor of The Roadrunner as this year’s Grand Marshal.
The announcement comes on the heels of Ross celebrating 23 years as editor of the local paper this month.
“It is an honor, privilege and pleasure to both select and announce that Ross is our grand marshal,” said Tom Baumgartner, parade chairman.
Ross has dedicated his career to serving the citizens of Valley Center, Pauma Valley, Palomar Mountain, Pala and parts of Escondido. The “go-to man” for information, Ross tirelessly pursues the news by direct involvement in the community. He attends community meetings, conducts interviews, writes thought-provoking editorials and writes every week with a dedication and enthusiasm many envy.
“It’s about time!” said Marcia Townsend, Citizen of the Year. “Leave it to David Ross to trump Schwarzenegger. Now you have a prominent, dedicated local citizen as Grand Marshal for Western Days. David’s heart and mind represent the core values of Valley Center,” said the current president of the Dos Valles Garden Club and past president of the VC Federated Republican Women’s Club.
A part of our local history, Ross has been an announcer for the Western Days Parade for 15 years.
“There really isn’t a better or more logical choice for Grand Marshal,” said Brett Helms, who led last year’s parade. “He has contributed so much to the good of our community,” said the energetic extreme motorcycle Baja 500 winner. “Ross is synonymous with Valley Center and Valley Center with Ross. He (Ross) is our man of the people and kids!”
A Southern California native Ross attended Ramona High School. “I became involved in journalism as a teen covering high school sports,” he said. He completed two years at Palomar Junior College, where he edited the school paper, The Telescope, for a semester.
“I meet Dave in an art class when he was a freshman at Ramona High and I was a junior,” said Mark Brock, friend and Roadrunner cartoonist.
“He was always expanding his horizons and seeking new information to learn. We hung out at each other’s houses and watched television. I left high school and spent 20 years in the Navy. During all those years we wrote letters back and forth. I was stationed in Japan, the Middle East and Europe. When on leave, Dave and I would always get together for a visit,” said Brock.
“My first reaction when Dave told me he was selected as the Grand Marshal was to laugh. I thought it was hilarious! He’s the last person I would expect but he is involved plenty in the community! It is an incredible honor for him. As his friend, I must admit, I’m pretty damn proud of him!” he said.
Back in 1984 “Van (DVQ) Quackenbush hired me for a temporary position while he was recovering from back surgery,” explained Ross. “For a long time, I worked three days a week. I worked for DVQ for five years, then a group of individuals for another five years before the Goods purchased the paper ten years ago.”
“Oh, for heaven sakes,” exclaimed an ecstatic Patsy Fritz. “It is so obvious. I’ve known Dave for twenty-three years. It is so right. This is truly a terrific moment. Every year, I look forward to his April Fool’s Day spoof article. I fall on the floor shrieking in fits of laughter. The attribute I love about Dave is that he is fearless.”
Mrs. Fritz recalled what she called Ross’s “incredible writing skills” when he wrote a 1997 story The Dark Angel of Fire Passes Over a Family— Leaving it Unharmed. The article put the reader into the room with a family as they experienced the terror of having their home engulfed by and left unharmed by a firestorm. The reader was sucked in and felt the emotion, almost living the story. One of Ross’s many journalistic awards, it earned him first place awards that year both from the Society of Professional Journalist and the San Diego Press Club.
More recent awards include a first place for non-daily newspapers for breaking news from the San Diego Press Club and the 2006 Society of Professional Journalists San Diego Pro Chapter’s “Herbert Lockwood Woody Humor Award for Planners Pooh. Pooh No Toilet.
Ross has a writing service, which he describes as a “hired gun” agency, where he does the occasional resumé and creates special writing projects. He freelances for various magazines and periodicals, specializing in casinos and gaming, and is considered an expert on California Indian gaming. He is an occasional guest on KPBS TV when they need someone to talk about the subject. He has also written two science fiction novels and continues to dabble in fiction.
“What an utterly appropriate choice. There is no one better suited,” said friend and North County Times columnist, Charles Carr. “I meet him fifteen years ago while I was working on computers for The Roadrunner. I would request to write a column on computers. He would always say, ‘Sure upon space availability.’ I went on to write other articles for him and a column and eventually won several press club awards.”
Coming from diametrically opposite political views, the two men are said to respect each other’s intellect. “We argue,” said Carr. “But we are friends, that’s fact.”
Hidden Meadows resident and Ross’s friend for 17 years, Dorothy Steinbeck said, “He’s my best friend (outside of my husband). We talk three to four times a week. He’s part of our family, coming over for Thanksgiving, Christmas and even New Year’s.”
In 1990, she started at the paper after her father-in-law with friends purchased it. “I became very attached very quickly to ‘Rossi,’ as had my husband, Mark” [who knew Ross before she met him]. “Rossi is very intellectual. We don’t always agree but he is truly a Renaissance man, a very good listener and knowledgeable. We love each other dearly.”
The same sentiment is echoed over and over by various people. A few have taken issue with the fact that editor is Ross’s job but the reality is that no amount of money could possibly compensate him for all that he has done and continues to do for the area. The hours he dedicates to his craft of writing and involvement in the communities supersedes all compensation.
Known for loving to write, when called into action, Ross will do whatever needs to be done to get the paper out each week, including delivering the paper, working with new employees and residents, even plunging the occasional plugged toilet.
“David likes to tell you he is a curmudgeon,” said Roadrunner publisher, Shirley Good. “Once you peel away the layers, there is a heart in there, a really, really big one. One of the things we really appreciate about him the most is that he tries to represent both sides of a story. He puts his heart into getting it right. His sense to his craft, journalism, is very professional. We are truly blessed to have David leading such a great team, where everyone appreciates each other’s abilities.”
Ross will don new “western” garb he acquired specifically for his announcing position this year, which he thought he would be doing until this week when he was informed of his new job at the parade.
Look for him riding in the Chamber of Commerce’s newest member, Toyota of Escondido’s full-size Tundra Truck.
Doug Dechairo, the Kiwanis entry into the Honorary Mayor’s race says, “HEY BUDDY, can you spare a dime?”
Valley Center Kiwanis is soliciting your support in raising funds for their “Wanted” Honorary Mayor candidate, Doug Dechairo (see the “Wanted Poster” elsewhere in this article).
VC Kiwanis President, Doug, shares that the club is on the move to recruit new members and energize current members to accomplish the goals set forth for his tenure. The club’s goals include:
1. Serving the children of Valley Center,
2. Evaluating both children’s issues and community needs on an ongoing basis,
3. Conducting service projects to respond to these identified needs,
4. Maintaining an active membership roster of individuals who have both the desire and the ability to serve their community.
Proceeds raised from his campaign will be used to help Kiwanis support the following:
1. Scholarships for VCHS graduates,
2. A Kiwanis leadership award for a deserving VCMS at 8th grade promotion,
3. The VCHS Key Club,
4. Local programs that benefit children.
In closing, Doug shares that the “run-of-the-mill” candidates fit a profile described by H.L. Mencken in 1940, that “candidates promise every man, woman and child in the country whatever he, she or it wants. They rove the land looking for chances to make the rich poor, to remedy the irremediable, to succor the unsuccorable, to unscramble the unscrambleable, and to dephlogisticate the undephlogisticable.
“These candidates will all be curing warts by saying words over them, and paying off the national debt with money that no one will have to earn… The winner will be whoever promises the most with the least probability of delivering anything.”
The Kiwanis candidate promises not to be “run-of-the-mill” as he promises to make no promises.
Dechairo’s “Wanted” signs and collection jars have been placed around town where we do our business and support our local businesses. Community members are invited to “spare a dime” to elect the town’s most “wanted” candidate. VC Kiwanis also extends an invitation to VC residents to get to know our “wanted” candidate and club by attending a Friday morning meeting, at 7 a.m. at VC Community Hall.
An unusual alleged daylight armed robbery attempt of Wallace Hardware was foiled Monday afternoon. Two suspects were arrested within minutes.
One employee of the hardware store sustained a slice on his chest.
According to Sheriff Sgt. Bob Bishop, a man entered the hardware store around 3:15 p.m. and allegedly attacked two employees before fleeing.
When the suspect, 39-year-old Jesus Ortiz Sanchez of Escondido, entered the store he allegedly confronted store clerk Dora Salazar, 27, who was behind the counter.
Sanchez, according to Bishop, vaulted over the counter and held the clerk to the ground with a knife at her throat.
He rifled around the counter, pulling out store receipts and money.
Salazar screamed and another store employee, Don Stoddard, 55, intervened and pulled the suspect off of her.
The suspect turned and allegedly struck at Stoddard, cutting him on the chest right above the heart.
But he was apparently scared off and ran away, encountering another store employee, 35-year-old Eric Campbell, who also confronted him.
The suspect evaded Campbell and went to a flatbed truck parked nearby, occupied by 25-year-old Abbelardo Morales, of Escondido, who drove the truck southbound on Valley Center Road.
An all points bulletin went out on the suspect.
Almost immediately Deputy John Delocht, who was driving out of Woods Valley Road, spotted the vehicle and pulled it over. He saw the passenger throw something out the window. The object later turned out to be a knife.
According to Delocht, Morales told him that he didn’t know what was going on, however he had parked the car away from the store, which facilitated a quick getaway. He had removed both license plates from the vehicle.
The deputies conducted a curbside line-up with two of the witnesses and both positively identified the suspect. Both driver and passenger were arrested at the scene.
“John Delocht is my hero!” remarked Sgt. Bishop.
With more perils than Pauline, the July 4 fireworks show just dodged yet another bullet.
Last week Kelly Crews, who is spear-heading the effort to raise money for the show, called to say that it was in danger of not happening because no organization was willing to provide liability insurance.
Once again the fireworks show was in danger. We prepared to shout a “three-alarm fire” warning in the next edition of the paper.
Then the VC Chamber of stepped forward this week to provide the insurance. So now everything is back to normal.
There is one thing that needs to to ironed out, however:
Everyone who pledged money needs to turn it in. There’s still quite a few people out there who have not sent the money as they pledged. The money is needed so that the show can go forward.
We also need to add one more sponsor to the list published previously: Arie de Jong, the San Marcos dairyman, who pledged to make up any shortfall of the $32,000. He may be called upon to do so if some of those who pledged money don’t end up providing it.
Mail donations to: Bank of Escondido, 200 W. Grand, Escondido, CA, 92025.
For more information visit the fireworks Web site at fireworksforvalleycenter.org. Or call 760-670-7062.
The Valley Roadrunner
P.O.B. 1529, Valley Center, CA 92082
Tel. 760.749.1112 Fax 760.749.1688
Website: www.valleycenter.com
Email: editor@valleycenter.com
Copyright © 2007, Palomar Community Newspapers, dba Valley Roadrunner. All rights reserved. This content may not be archived, retransmitted, saved in a database, or used for any commercial purpose without the express written permission of the Valley Roadrunner.