CAMPO: The Campo Fire Department is seeking a public vote on a tax to pay for fire protection in the backcountry community, although voters have rejected a tax four times.
The county Board of Supervisors is to vote Wednesday on whether to authorize a mail ballot that would be due by May 6. The proposal would need two-thirds approval among 813 voters in county service area 112, which covers Campo.
The cost of the election, about $6,000, would be paid by the Fire Department. The ballot seeks an annual $100-per-parcel tax, estimated to raise $96,300 a year for the department. The tax would end when the county established a consolidated fire department.
Roger Challberg, vice chairman of the fire board, said mail ballots have proved more successful than traditional elections for other fire districts. He said the $100 parcel assessment would apply equally to all property owners, regardless of what they have on their land.
Campo is served by a volunteer fire department that has struggled for years to meet its operating expenses. The last time Campo voters were asked to approve a tax, in 2004, the measure failed, 171-105.
East County cheerleaders will compete at SDSU
More than 300 cheerleaders from 11 Grossmont Union High School District campuses are to participate in a competition at San Diego State University today.
The cheerleaders will compete for awards in various categories, including best jumps and best tumbling.
The event will be from 9 to 11 a.m. at Peterson Gym, on 55th Street across from Cox Arena. Admission is $5. For more information, call (619) 840-5524.
Community Expo setfor rodeo grounds
LAKESIDE: The public is invited to the first Lakeside Community EXPO today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds.
Local businesses, nonprofits and clubs will be among those running informational booths at the free event. Food, drinks and children's activities such as face painting and a petting zoo also will be available.
The event is to be held indoors at the rodeo grounds, 12584 Mapleview St., Lakeside.
It is being hosted by the Lakeside Chamber of Commerce, the Lakeside Optimist Club and the El Capitan Stadium Association and is sponsored by the Barona Band of Mission Indians.
Mountain Empire's superintendent on leave
PINE VALLEY: Patrick Judd, superintendent of the Mountain Empire Unified School District, has taken medical leave for an undisclosed condition.
Judd, reached by phone yesterday, declined to comment on his condition or his status with the rural East County district, which he has led since 2003.
The board voted Wednesday to hire Donald Haught as a consultant to fill in for Judd while he's gone. Haught's contract runs through February. Haught last year served as interim superintendent of the Grossmont Union High School District.
Judd's contract is to expire July 31. The board has not decided whether to extend it, said Ken Northcote, president of Mountain Empire's district board.
Northcote said he knew little about Judd's condition. “He asked for a leave for medical reasons. I didn't get into it with him,” he said.
The board met in closed session at the Wednesday meeting to discuss potential litigation, which Northcote said did not involve Judd.
Judd is also a longtime member of the Chula Vista Elementary School District's board of trustees.
Memorial breakfast to honor police officer
EL CAJON: A memorial pancake breakfast to honor El Cajon police Officer Chris Pietrzak is scheduled for Wednesday.
The breakfast is planned for 5:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 E. Douglas Ave. The cost is $5 per person, and all proceeds will go to Pietrzak's wife and two children.
Pietrzak, a 1986 Valhalla High School graduate, was an El Cajon officer for 18 years. He died of a heart attack Sept. 24.
A pancake breakfast had been planned for October but was rescheduled because of the wildfires.
