Around Yucaipa: Weekly News Roundup: November 17 Edition

This week's Yucaipa news:

"Group pushing for unification", San Bernardino Sun, Nov. 13

A citizens group will fight for community unification tonight at public hearings that will decide the educational fate of 33 students.

The 11 members of One School District for All Calimesa Kids have struggled for nearly two years to bring all Calimesa students into the Yucaipa- Calimesa Joint Unified School District.

There are 33 students who live in Calimesa and attend Beaumont schools.

Updated stories:
"Public hearings held on district boundaries", Press-Enterprise, Nov. 13
"Calimesa parents plead case, San Bernardino Sun, Nov. 14

"Southern California Company Lands Top International Food Award, PR Web, Nov.13

Results of the 2007 Scovie Awards, which recognizes top fiery foods products from around the globe, are in, and for the second consecutive year, Nanny’s Jamaican Kitchen, Inc. of Yucaipa, California, which manufactures authentic, organic Jamaican marinades and sauces, was selected as a winner in one of the world’s most competitive gourmet food competitions.
[snip]
Nanny’s mild Jamaican Jerk Marinade took third place in the Jerk Seasoning, Cook It Up Division.

School nominated for blue ribbon", Press-Enterprise, No.v 15, 2006
Calimesa Elementary School in Yucaipa was one of only two Inland Empire schools nominated for the No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Only 35 of the more than 9,300 California public schools were nominated.

Calimesa Elementary gained 30 points in the latest state Academic Performance Index, second only to Yucaipa High School's 47-point rise among district schools. Calimesa's 798 API score is the third-highest in the district and the school met its growth target both schoolwide and for subgroups such as Hispanic and poor students.

Army as another career option, San Bernardino Sun, Nov. 15, 2006
Last Tuesday Army recruiters held a special program at Yucaipa High School, including a UH60 Blackhawk helicopter that landed on the soccer field. The article points out that today's Army Recruiters see themselves as "career counselors".

"The youth, they're our future. I just want to make sure they're doing something with their life," Bledsoe said, waving to a group of ROTC students. "Even if I talk to someone and they don't join, I'm glad I was able to educate them on the Army."

Yucaipa gives green light to red light cameras", News Mirror, Nov. 16, 2006
The Yucaipa City Council has authorized its staff to develop a proposal to install red light cameras. The only dissenting vote was recently re-elected coucil member Tom Masner:

“First of all,” Masner said. “a feasibility study of this kind of system was done in 2002, which concluded that red light cameras did not stop people from running red lights.”

“Let's recognize the real purpose of this proposal,” Masner added. “It's a revenue generating device.”

Finally, Masner argued that red light cameras are just one more way that government infringes on the personal liberty of individuals.