CAMP PENDLETON: Marine Sgt. Jermaine Nelson will be court-martialed in the killing of an unarmed detainee during combat in Fallujah, Iraq, more than three years ago, Camp Pendleton officials announced yesterday.
Nelson is charged with unpremeditated murder and dereliction of duty. If convicted, he could be given a dishonorable discharge and sentenced to life in prison. Nelson is accused of killing a prisoner during a battle on Nov. 9, 2004. At the time, he was a squad leader with the Camp Pendleton-based 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment.
The decision to court-martial was made Monday by Lt. Gen. Samuel Helland, commander of the Marine Corps Forces Central Command. –H.T.P.
Federal agency says
larkspur not endangered
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has said one of the 14 California species it recently assessed was not as bad off as previously determined.
In an announcement Tuesday, the agency recommended that the San Clemente Island larkspur be “downlisted” from endangered to threatened status under the Endangered Species Act.
It proposed no status changes for the other species, which included the willowy monardella, Delhi Sands flower-loving fly and Palos Verdes blue butterfly.
Most of the species reviews were done by the agency's staff in Carlsbad.– M.L.
Funeral to be Monday
for boy killed by driver
ALPINE: A funeral is planned for Monday for Jordan Swineheart, an 8-year-old boy who was struck and killed May 10 near Flinn Springs by a drunken-driving suspect.
Funeral services for the second-grader from Rios Elementary will begin at 10 a.m. at Alpine Cemetery on West Victoria Drive, near Victoria Park Terrace, said Kirk Swineheart, Jordan's father.
The public is welcome, and the family has urged attendees to dress casually or wear camouflage-style clothing – Jordan's favorite garb.
The family has also set up a fund at Bank of America to help cover the cost of Jordan's funeral and provide for his two brothers, Jeremy, 4, and Jacob, 2.
Anyone interested should write checks to the Swineheart Family, account 2185741066. Donations to the fund will be accepted at any Bank of America branch. –M.A.
High temperatures ahead
for entire West Coast
San Diego County will simmer over the next few days, but it'll have plenty of company. The entire West Coast should also be baking.
Temperatures could hit the 100-degree mark in the inland valleys tomorrow, and some coastal spots could reach 90. Saturday should be about 10 degrees lower.
Meanwhile, Seattle, Portland, Ore., and much of Northern California could reach record highs. Portland could hit 92 tomorrow, and San Francisco is expected to reach 93 today.
The heat wave, the first of the year in Northern California, prompted Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to urge Californians to take precautions to reduce the risk of heat-related health problems. The National Weather Service is also cautioning people to limit exertion during the heat of the day to avoid heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
High temperatures locally will be accompanied by low humidity levels. That will increase the fire danger, but strong winds aren't in the forecast. A red-flag warning, meaning fire conditions are extremely dangerous, is not expected. –R.K.
Six meetings scheduled
on Balboa Park's future
BALBOA PARK: The citizen-led Balboa Park Committee has scheduled six public meetings to discuss ideas for new management of the park, which currently falls under the city parks department.
5:30 p.m. today in the Santa Fe Room at Balboa Park Club, 2150 Pan American Road. The subject will be park districts and joint-powers authorities.
5:30 p.m. June 5, Santa Fe Room. The subject will be joint-powers authorities and governance models.
5:30 p.m. June 18, Santa Fe Room. The subject will be nonprofit conservancies.
5:30 p.m. July 24 at the Recital Hall, also at 2150 West Pan American Road. The subject will be leases, contracts and permits.
Meetings also are scheduled for Aug. 7 and Sept. 4 with topics to be announced.
For information, call Vicki Granowitz, Balboa Park Committee chairwoman, at (619) 584-1203 or committee member David Kinney at (619) 232-2053, ext. 105. More details at balboapark.org. –J.S.
State to give $3.5 million
to county transit agencies
San Diego County transit agencies will receive more than $3.5 million in state money to improve security on buses and trains.
The Governor's Office of Homeland Security is making the grants, drawing on a 2006 voter-approved state bond measure that includes money for transit security.
The Metropolitan Transit System will use $2.7 million of the grant to place security cameras on 100 buses and 10 San Diego Trolley stations in the region.
The North County Transit District will receive $860,000. Jay Alan, a spokesman for the Homeland Security office, said the money will be spent on additional fencing around rail property.
NCTD runs the Coaster commuter train and Sprinter light-rail systems. –S.S.
Free session to discuss
June 3 ballot measures
LA MESA : A free information session on upcoming ballot propositions will be at 7 p.m. today at the Grossmont Healthcare District auditorium.
The event, hosted by the La Mesa-El Cajon branch of the American Association of University Women, will focus on state Propositions 98 and 99, as well as three city of San Diego ballot measures.
All are set to go before voters in the statewide June 3 primary.
The auditorium is at 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa. –M.C.
Staff writers Hieu Tran Phan, Mike Lee, Mark Arner, Robert Krier, Jeanette Steele, Steve Schmidt and Michele Clock contributed to this report.
