Sewage spill closes south LJ beaches Tree roots blocked sewage pipes in La Jolla, causing an estimated 5,025 gallons of sewage to spill from a manhole at 6421 Waverly Ave., enter the storm drain and rush into the ocean at La Canada Street. The spill lasted from 1:23 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 21 as city crews worked to clear the blockage. The county’s Department of Environmental Health posted warning signs at beach access points from Kolmar Street (just south of Windansea beach) to Sea Ridge Drive (just north of Tourmaline beach). Signs will remain until water samples determine the ocean is safe for human contact. Pet-store robber gets 14 years Dragon Jones, 41, the admitted “Back Room Bandit” who held up two pet stores in Point Loma and La Jolla and committed 18 other robberies in San Diego, was sentenced Jan. 25 to 14 years in state prison. San Diego Superior Court Judge Kathleen Lewis ordered Jones to pay restitution of $160 and $135 respectively for the robberies of Pet People stores on Midway Drive and Villa La Jolla Drive that occurred during a month-long crime spree in September and October. Lewis also ordered restitution of nearly $4,000 to other stores Jones robbed. Deputy District Attorney Amy Maund said Jones selected small stores with only one or two female employees on duty and ordered them to the back of the store while he took money from the register. Jones pleaded guilty Dec. 3 and Lewis gave him credit for 98 days spent in jail. Jones lived in Tijuana and was arrested Oct. 31 at the San Ysidro border crossing. Police agencies had identified him from fingerprints left at the stores, leading to a warrant for his arrest. Jones’ attorney, Mel Epley, said her client only used a pellet gun and turned to robberies after his restaurant in Tijuana went out of business. Epley said Jones was supporting two children and a wife in Mexico and also sent child support payments to his ex-wife in Los Angeles to support two sons. “It’s a sad reflection of our economic times,” said Epley, who asked for an eight-year term and added that Jones had no prior record. “He’s been quite remorseful. He knows he did wrong and will pay for it.” Airport offers flu shots to ticketed passengers The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority has announced a partnership with Pacifica Medical to offer H1N1, pneumonia and other CDC-recommended shots to ticketed passengers and employees at San Diego International Airport. The flu shots will be offered at four post-security locations in Terminals 1 and 2 between 6 a.m. and 6 pm. Vaccinations are expected to be available through early 2010. At each kiosk, travelers will have the option of receiving the H1N1 vaccine as well as a host of other travel-related vaccines, including Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, pneumonia and typhoid. Seasonal flu shots will also be available. For all vaccines, there will be a discount for San Diego residents. For information, call (619) 400-2884 or (619) 400-2881, or e-mail [email protected] or [email protected].
