FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MST /MIDNIGHT PDT/ TONIGHT…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA… INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS… IN ARIZONA… LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY AZ… SOUTHWEST DESERTS… WEST CENTRAL DESERTS AND YUMA/MARTINEZ LAKE AND VICINITY. IN CALIFORNIA… IMPERIAL COUNTY… JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK… LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY CA AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY/EASTERN DESERTS.

* UNTIL MIDNIGHT MST /MIDNIGHT PDT/ TONIGHT

* A NEARLY STATIONARY UPPER AIR DISTURBANCE WILL INTERACT WITH A VERY MOIST AND MODERATELY UNSTABLE AIR MASS TO GENERATE NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN… ENOUGH TO CAUSE FLOODING… WILL BE POSSIBLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT FLOODING OF WASHES… CREEKS AND OTHER DRAINAGE AREAS IS POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA. IF YOU ARE IN THE WATCH AREA… YOU SHOULD WATCH THE WEATHER AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION SHOULD HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODING OCCUR OR A FLASH FLOOD WARNING BE ISSUED.

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… LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING…

.A WEATHER DISTURBANCE OVER THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY WILL INTERACT WITH A VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE TO TRIGGER SLOW MOVING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. SOME STORMS WILL PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN… WHICH MAY RESULT IN FLOODED ROADWAYS AND WASHES.

Exploring The Idea of ‘Spirit’

   In today’s article I would like to explain some basic philosophy of the Green & Gold Hall of Fame.  For example, the traditional idea of ‘spirit’ is a very large part of the Green & Gold’s existing purpose.  The idea behind such simple phrases as: team spirit, school spirit, and even national spirit, is perhaps a lost concept in our ‘me-first-attitude’ of today.  It kind of disappeared along with:  volunteering to play any position the team needs you to play, or eagerly attending school-wide pep rallies, or proudly displaying the stars-and-stripes on American holidays.  However the ‘Green & Gold’ still thinks the concept is worthwhile with a history of making many nations stronger and greater; and more relevant to this discussion, it has made many schools and their programs greater. The Green & Gold Hall of Fame foundation advocates it, promotes it, and recognizes examples of it in Holtville High School’s student-athletes, alumni and staff.  But there is a real problem that confronts this effort.
   The field of education and educators as whole is split between two dynamic thoughts: one proposes that academics alone should be the single priority of schools, especially in times of fiscal constraints; while the other argues the need for physical activity and sports. This has brought about resentment and contention between the two factions as they annually compete for budget priorities while school administrators opt for one or the other in their approach to leadership.  The ‘Green & Gold’ actually stands in the middle of this controversy, not as a compromise of either; but believes the necessary goal is to cultivate the complete student-athlete through a balanced education that develops the mind, the body, and yes even the spirit.
   We know that academic excellence, presupposing the role of good teachers, is achieved by individual students competing alone against everyone else with very little if any activity that requires teamwork, sacrifice for others, or the element of ‘team spirit.’  This certainly develops the individual’s work ethic and knowledge needed to enter a professional career; but it doesn’t prepare the personal qualities required for leadership, social responsibility, or successfully working within groups.  These specific qualities are sharpened and fine-tuned, with the aid of good coaches, on the courts and fields of competitive sports.  So the clear-cut solution is to nurture the complete student-athlete and support a great diversity of both physical and academic high school programs.  There is nothing new with this approach to education; for it is merely the classical Greek and Roman methodology for developing the whole person- the original model for America’s educational roots.
   In other words the ‘Green & Gold Hall of Fame’ supports the idea of academically qualified students having the opportunity to advance their complete educational experience through competitive sports.  Done properly and with the proper facilities, this encourages greater school spirit and promotes the return of the days when a student walks up to a coach and asks if he can help make his school team better by playing wherever he is most needed.  Those who can’t make the team will organize rallies and physically go out to support their school and fellow student-athletes.  That’s the kind of ideal spirit the ‘Green & Gold’ is promoting.  If you would like to help promote this, please join the Green & Gold Hall of Fame organization by contacting its president, Marv Wood (phone: 1-760-356-2383) .

By Luke Phillips
   With no public discussion or comment, the governing board of the Holtville Unified School District voted unanimously to approve a raise in the pay schedule for Certified Managers, who serve as administrators at the district’s schools.
   Administrators are payed according to steps and ranges. Employees in the higest step and range of the new pay schedule will now be making $114,175 per year. Employees on the lower end of the schedule will make somewhere around $80,000 per year.
   The item was part of the consent agenda at a special meeting held at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
   At their meeting last month the board also approved a raise for district Superintendent John LeDoux, from $135,000 per year up to $148,000 per year.
   Javier Ramirez, president of the union that represents the district’s classified employees, was at the meeting and said he was unhappy that the board approved raises for administrators in the middle of summer “when everyone’s on vacation.”
   “I can’t even remember the last time I got a raise,” Ramirez said. “All they tell us is that it’s ‘going to be bad next year’ and that there will probably be layoffs and all of a sudden everybody’s getting raises. They tell us there’s no money, there’s going to be cuts, they need to save money, so you bring that perspective then they do this. I don’t know if they found a pot of gold on one of the football fields or what.”   
   According to Ramirez and other district employees, it’s been at least five years since classified workers got a pay raise.

English Golf Is A Loser; The Sickos Are Thicker Than Flies

IS THERE ANYTHING DULLER THAN WATCHING GOLF  played on a course in England?
  This week the British Open took over the air waves and proved once again that English golf is by far the most boring event on the planet.
  The English may have invented the game, but they could have done a little more homework when it came to devising layouts to play it on.
  They are wide-open areas that look like sand dunes along a seaside. Completely devoid of trees and lacking in any aesthetic quality, they copy  the English personality to a tea. Stoic. Austere. Bland.
  No wonder the English only drink tea and do gardening. Their golf courses are pock marked with sand traps that look like acne scars and their greens blend so much with the fairways it’s impossible to tell where a player’s ball has landed.
  They should take some lessons in golf course design from the rest of the world. Old world tradition goes only so far.
  There was Graeme McDowell playing his next to last shot from near the sid e of a building that was built right up to the edge of the 18th green. Real Estate is at a premium in England, I guess.
  And the fans aren’t allowed to get close to the course either. The bleachers are set back far enough that the paying customers can’t get close to the action or intermingle with the game’s elite.
  The English are fond of  calling things “Royal” you know. As in all you spectators stay away form the “Royal golfers.”
  Sunday’s final round was an exercise in futility as first one then another of the leaders fell off the pace. The first blew seven shots away in 18 holes while the second choked on five shots. leaving the door open for a 42 year old  man who had about as much business being in the winner’s circle as a cocker spaniel at a tea party.
  Well, that’s the English for you. If there is a way to make a major sporting event dull and stodgy, they will find a way to do it.
  Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll take my chances with American style golf and courses that are designed to fit the players and the people.
  the tour returns to the U.S. next week, but the world remains in England. The Olympics will start this weekend. in London. May God and her Royal Majesty the Queen help us with our table manners.
  Final words of advice for the English and their one shot at the American golf audience. Plant some trees. Your shrubs just don’t cut it.
WE WASTE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS PROTECTING against outside terrorist attacks in this country, even though we have plenty of homegrown  weirdos of our own right here.
  Another Colorado massacre proves that people aren’t safe anywhere and the millions (yes, millions) of guns that are available in this country are being put to use for their intended purpose.
  No matter what the late Charlton Heston or any other NRA spokesman may tell you, guns have one purpose. To kill things. And if  those things happen to be a few innocent  people, well too bad. We have a Constitutional Right to shoot each other.
  But it does make for an easier decision when it comes to staying home  or going out. Perhaps everyone could start carrying guns again. That way the wild west mentality could prevail.
  What’s the answer? I don’t know. All I know is that I think I will wait for the DVD to come out to view a movie.
HOLTVILLE IS ACTUALLY SHOWING SOME FLICKERS OF LIFE lately.
  Written off as dead too many times another attempt is being made to  bring it back to life. There is a city council election coming up and you can get the opportunity to shape the future of your town for another 10 years if you have a mind to do so. It’s time for some changes at the top of the government leader board. We respect Colleen Ludwig and Jerry Brittsan for their extra long years of service, but neither one of them was elected for their last term of service. Seems the city manager was after a more manageable board and let them get appointed. Their time is up. It’s time for them to retire gracefully. If you haven’t registered to run for election, now is the time to do so.
  We hope that there are a few people who actually care about their city and what goes on in  it. We hope they have the courage to come forward and be voted upon by the people here.
  Lord knows knows the city could stand  a lot of big improvements, before it is reclaimed by the Mojave Desert and the drifting sands of time.
  Peace. Please.

SAN DIEGO, July 26, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Calif. Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. joined Sempra Energy CEO Debra L. Reed, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) CEO Jessie J. Knight, Jr. and other state and local dignitaries today in eastern San Diego County to officially inaugurate the Sunrise Powerlink transmission line.

The dedication ceremony, which included representatives from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the California Public Utilities Commission and government and community leaders representing the city and county of San Diego, was held at SDG&E’s new Suncrest Substation, a state-of-the-art electric facility that is a key component of the Sunrise Powerlink.

The 117-mile, 500-kilovolt (kV) Sunrise Powerlink will carry clean energy from developing solar and wind farms in California’s Imperial Valley to San Diego and enable SDG&E to increase the amount of renewable power it delivers to 33 percent by 2020, a key California environmental initiative.

SDG&E has signed eight power contracts for more than 1,000 megawatts over the past several years for solar and wind energy in Imperial County, solidifying the company’s commitment to expand its renewable portfolio to 33-percent. Two of these renewable projects are now under construction.

“In addition to bolstering regional electric reliability, the Sunrise Powerlink will help SDG&E meet Governor Brown’s and our state’s aggressive renewable energy goals,” said Sempra Energy’s Reed. “The line will enable the development of new solar and wind projects in the Imperial Valley and eastern San Diego to supply our customers.”

After a comprehensive five-year environmental review and permitting process, SDG&E broke ground on the project in December 2010. By reducing the original construction timeline from 24 months to just 18 months, SDG&E was able to complete the project in time to help meet summer power demands in the region. On June 17, the transmission line was fully energized and control was officially transferred to the state’s transmission grid controller, the California Independent System Operator (Cal-ISO).

“While the Sunrise Powerlink will serve as a major conduit for renewable energy in the near future as those solar and wind projects are constructed and put into service, this transmission line is providing this region with real benefits right now,” said SDG&E’s Knight. “With a major power plant in Southern California currently out of service, the Sunrise Powerlink is playing a major role in boosting electric reliability and alleviating potential energy shortages.”

The Sunrise Powerlink consists of more than 110 miles of overhead 500kV and 230kV transmission towers and transmission line, six miles of underground 230kV cable and a 40-acre, 500kV transmission substation. During construction, SDG&E crews adhered to some of the most rigorous environmental requirements ever placed on a transmission line project in California history. More than 350 mitigation measures were observed and enforced during construction, including special construction schedules to avoid bighorn sheep lambing and golden eagle nesting seasons.

To protect the environment and reduce the number of access roads, SDG&E used helicopters to set nearly three-quarters of the tower structures. It took more than 30,000 flight hours to complete the extremely challenging aerial construction; all without a major safety incident. Construction spanned nearly 5 million work hours. In the process, SDG&E recorded an impressive safety record given the scale of the construction project.

“The safety record for the Sunrise Powerlink was more than 50-percent better than the power industry’s national average for similar construction projects; a true testament to the dedication and commitment to the safety of our employees,” added Knight.

SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 850,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The utility’s area spans 4,100 square miles. SDG&E is committed to creating ways to help customers save energy and money every day. SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy SRE +2.37% , a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego.