Motorcyclist seriously hurt in hit/run crash

Investigators with the San Diego Police Department’s Traffic Division are probing an apparent hit-and-run accident in which a motorcyclist was seriously injured on Midway Drive and Wing Street. His female passenger was also hurt. Police said the accident, which happened shortly before midnight on Sept. 16, unfolded when the male motorcyclist and the passenger were clipped by a late-model, red Chevy full-size truck with four or five male occupants. The truck was apparently turning into the Pacer’s strip club parking lot and made contact with the motorcycle, police said. The male motorcyclist, whose identity was not released, suffered an open leg fracture. The passenger suffered several abrasions. They were transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening wounds. The truck reportedly fled the scene, said investigators. The truck is also described as an extra cab or a crew cab and will have damage to the left front fender.
Kiwanis OB Fishing Derby set for Sept. 24 Local children will descend on the Ocean Beach fishing pier from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24 in the latest installment of the Kiwanis Club’s OB Fishing Derby. Children 12 years of age and younger will compete for prizes while Kiwanians from Ocean Beach will be on hand to serve up punch and popcorn. Prizes will be awarded beginning at 11 a.m. to the child who catches the most fish, as well as those who catch the biggest, smallest and “ugliest or most unusual” fish. Families are encouraged to fish together, but the fish must actually be landed by the child in order to be eligible for prizes. Participants must bring their own fishing gear. Bait will be provided courtesy of the Ocean Beach Pier tackle shop. No fishing license is required for the event. Registration is free and is continuous from 8 to 11 a.m. in front of the bait shop. The Kiwanis Club of Ocean Beach, which contributed to the building of the pier back in the 1950s, has been holding this children’s fishing derby for decades. “We have this wonderful resource, the fishing pier, right in our backyard,” said Kiwanis past president  Jim Nickel. “We want to introduce as many children as possible to the pier and the joys of fishing.” For more information, visit www.oceanbeachkiwanis.org.
Police probe armed robbery at Heritage Inn Two suspects are being sought in connection with the Sept. 14 armed robbery of the Heritage Inn on Channel Way in the Midway District. The robbery took place shortly after 7 p.m. when two black males entered the front-desk area of the hotel. One of the suspects displayed a handgun and demanded cash from the female clerk, according to police investigators. The suspects then fled northbound on foot with the cash. The gunman is described as being in his 20s, wearing a gray shirt and a baseball cap. The second suspect is also described as in his 20s and sporting dreadlocks. There were no injuries and the police department’s Robbery Unit is investigating.  Sentencing delayed for ‘Skateboard Bandit’ A former Ocean Beach man who pleaded guilty to robbing two banks as the so-called “Skateboard Bandit” will face a delayed sentence in the case. Colter Stanley Johnson, 26, was to have been sentenced Sept. 2 for the July 2010 robbery of the Comerica Bank on Rosecrans Street and another bank in Poway. However, his sentencing was put off until Oct. 28. Johnson now lives with his parents in Ramona as part of the conditions of his $100,000 property bond that comes with a 6 p.m. curfew, according to court records. Johnson was arrested Sept. 2, 2010 after a witness saw Johnson fleeing the Poway bank on his skateboard and getting into a white sport-utility vehicle registered to Johnson’s mother. Johnson struck the Poway bank for more than $4,100 and was arrested near his Ocean Beach apartment near the intersection of Cable Street and Naragansett Avenue. Johnson pleaded guilty in May to both heists, including the Comerica Bank case where he made off with nearly $4,000. U.S. District Court Judge Janis Sammartino could impose a maximum 25-year sentence on Johnson, but it is more likely he will receive something between probation and eight years in federal prison. — Neal Putnam

‘Sleepless SD’: don’t take homelessness lying down The San Diego Rescue Mission, will host its fifth annual “Sleepless San Diego” event at Liberty Station to raise awareness of homelessness. The funds help thousands of local homeless men, women and children put their lives back together, according to organizers. The event will take place at 2700 Cushing Road beginning at 3 p.m. on Sept. 24 and concluding at 7 a.m. on Sept. 25. The cost to sleepers is $50 in advance or $60 at the door. Day passes are available for those unable to sleep out. The cost is $20 in advance or $25 at the door. The event will feature musical and dance performances and a movie about homelessness on the big-screen. Private security will be in place continuously throughout the night. Early registration is a must. Participants should bring everything they need to spend the night outdoors. In the event of rain, the event will not be cancelled. To register, visit www.SleeplessSanDiego.org. School improvements meet with celebration Parents, students and staff at Dana Middle School are celebrating the completion of a $25,000 project to upgrade the school’s Ann Tripp Jackson Auditorium. All funds for the project were raised by the community, including $7,000 donated by more than 60 friends and family members of Jackson.  The state-of-the-art venue now boasts a new ceiling-mounted video projector, Blue Ray DVD player, digital signal-processing equipment and control panels paired with a new sound mixer. In addition, previous deficiencies were resolved by movement of the screen while audio issues, including annoying feedback, were eliminated by movement of speakers. The project makes the auditorium a premier community performance venue. Dana Middle School, at 1775 Chatsworth Blvd., serves more than 800 students in grades 5-6. Jackson, who passed away in 1990, was a former president of the Point Loma Association who led a lengthy community battle beginning in 1983 to prevent the San Diego Unified School District from selling off or leasing the expansive Dana site. Her efforts led to a permanent re-zoning of the site for educational use.  — Scott Hopkins

Cleanup Day covers record number of sites An estimated 8,000 San Diego volunteers joined forces last week to clean the region as part of the annual California Coastal Cleanup Day. Ocean Beach was among the record 90 cleanup sites scoured by volunteers in an annual event hosted by I Love a Clean San Diego and San Diego Coastkeeper. Although site totals are still being assessed, coordinators estimate volunteers removed at least 100,000 pounds of debris during the three-hour event on Sept. 17. Unusual items reported by site captains included a cross bow, a laptop computer and dentures.  As part of Coastal Cleanup Day, each volunteer tracks the types and number of items found as during the cleanup. Organizations compile this data for the San Diego County region and submit it to the California Coastal Commission and Ocean Conservancy to support legislation related to marine debris. Last year, the most common items found locally were cigarette butts (84,587), food wrappers (17,690) and bottle caps/lids (10,296). For information, visit www.cleansd.-org or www.sdcoastkeeper.org. ‘Blessing of the Animals’ set for Oct. 8 An annual “Blessing of the Animals” will take place Saturday, Oct. 8 at St. Peter’s by the Sea Lutheran Church. Vicar Joshua Serrano will conduct the short outdoor service at 9 a.m. in the church’s parking lot at 1371 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. The event is held as a tribute to St. Francis of Assisi, commonly regarded as the patron saint of animals, and the selfless life he led. All community members are invited to bring their furry, feathered or scaled friends to receive God’s blessing. “St. Francis made no distinctions in his love for his fellow man or in his love for animals,” Serrano said. “In that great and ancient tradition, all are welcome, including every type of animal that brings joy and comfort in this world.” St. Peter’s Lutheran Church has been a part of the Ocean Beach community since 1946 and has a congregation of more than 300. For more information, visit http://stpetersbythesea.org. — Scott Hopkins
Canine surfers hold own 9/11 tribute in OB The So Cal Surf Dogs got together in Ocean Beach on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to pay tribute to America’s human and K9 heroes who lost their lives that day, as well as those who have given their lives, or suffered since the war on terror began.  The dogs and their humans paddled out on surfboards, making a human/canine circle with their boards. They took a moment of silence, shared their sentiments and then threw flowers in the ocean to commemorate 9/11. For more information, call (707) 228-0679, or email [email protected]. Boot Camp Challenge set to drill competitors The Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) will host its 10th annual Boot Camp Challenge on Sept. 24. The challenge is a three-mile run that features the obstacles used by Marine Corps recruits, with intense “grill instructors” throughout the course, “encouraging” participants to do their best. Participants may compete as individuals or in teams of three or five people. All participants will receive a race T-shirt. There will also be awards given out in multiple categories. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m., followed by races at 9 a.m. and a post-race party featuring music, food and drinks. Entry fees are $35 per individual, $105 per three-person team and $175 per five-person team. All proceeds go to the quality of life programs for Marines and sailors at MCRD. The event begins at 3800 Chosin Ave., Bldg. 5 West. For more information, visit  www.BootcampChallenge.com. Cancer Society thrift shop to host fall event The Point Loma American Cancer Society Discovery Shop, located at 3609 C Midway Drive, will hold its annual Fall Preview on Friday, Sept. 23 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Featured will be spectacular deals on fall clothing, boots, scarves and other accessories. Proceeds go to cancer education and research. For more information, call (619) 224-4336.