Point Loma Library Art Makes “San Diego’s Finest Art” List
A painting at the Point Loma Library has made “Our Finest Art” list at the SDU-T, put together by G. James Daichendt. Daichendt is the dean of the colleges and professor of art history at Point Loma Nazarene University. The painting is labeled, “Untitled” and is by Janet Cooling, 2004. It’s part of the San Diego Civic Art Collection and is currently at the Hervey Branch Point Loma Library.
Murder Trial Begins in Case Where Missing OB Man’s Body Never Found
A murder trial began Tuesday, Jan. 6 for a man accused of killing an Ocean Beach resident who went missing in 2017 and whose body has was never found. A prosecutor told a San Diego Superior Court jury that Peter Bentz was killed by the defendant, who was in a rage over a sex tape possibly posted online. A defense attorney, however, told jurors,”We still don’t know what happened to Peter Bentz” and that, while his client was a drug addict and an unfaithful husband who made sex videos, “that doesn’t add up to murder.”
Brian Eleron Hancock, 49, is suspected of stabbing 69-year-old Bentz to death on Nov. 21, 2017, stealing his computer, video camera and other items and dumping the body somewhere in the rural Campo area. The victim’s brother, Kirk Bentz of San Pedro, reported him missing when he failed to turn up two days later for Thanksgiving dinner. San Diego police investigated the matter as a missing person, but later turned the case over to homicide investigators. For more >>> San Diego Union-Tribune
Police Foot Patrols Added to OB Last September
In September 2019, San Diego Police said they added two officers dedicated to patrolling the Ocean Beach area on foot, each working 40 hours a week in the area. In a tweet from January 7, 2020, SDPD stated:
In September of 2019, Western Division brought back the Ocean Beach Walking Team, with two officers assigned to the beach area patrolling from Ocean Beach’s Dog Beach to Sunset Cliffs. This is in addition to the regularly assigned patrol officers to the Ocean Beach area.
OB Beach Clean-Up – Jan. 18
January 18th from 9am-noon, Cleanups for Change is hosting an OB Beach Cleanup. Come join us cleaning up OB, as well as keeping a mindset of keeping our community clean to last all of 2020! Volunteers will take to the streets, alleys, parks, and beaches to show OB some much needed love. Following the cleanup will be a volunteer appreciation party with food and drink specials, and a collaboration release from Alesmith and Pizza Port OB. The home base will be the Pizza Port parking lot – let me know if youd like to speak with a Cleanups for Change spokesperson and/or some volunteers you can capture cleaning up OB?
Reader Article Comes Out Swinging at Jen Campbell – Talks Up Recall
A recent San Diego Reader article came out swinging at District 2 Councilwoman Jen Campbell. It quoted local OB and PB residents blaming Campbell for just about every problem, calling her MIA in the neighborhoods, dismissing their concerns about what they say are the real issues, the rise of crime, open drug usage and all the people who are homeless. And the article talks up a possible recall effort aimed at removing Campbell. Obviously Campbell needs some help in understanding the contours of the District but she has only been in office for one year.
Don Larsen and David Wells.
Pitching Great Don Larson Passed Away – Graduate of Point Loma High
A baseball legend with ties to Point Loma and San Diego died on Jan. 1. Don Larsen was not a dominating pitcher during his 14-year major league career, but for one night at Yankee Stadium, the right-hander was perfect. On Oct. 8, 1956, Larsen proceeded to pitch the only perfect World Series game in major league history, needing just 97 pitches to complete the gem. In fact, only one Brooklyn Dodger batter got to a three-ball count against Larsen who said, “I had great control. I never had that kind of control in my life.”
Larsen’s rare feat, paired with another perfect game pitched for the Yankees by fellow Pointer alum David Wells, gives Point Loma High School the unique distinction of being the only high school in the United States with two graduates who have pitched perfect games. Larsen died on New Year’s Day of esophageal cancer at his home in Hayden, Idaho. He was 90. Larsen was born Aug. 7, 1929, in Michigan City, Ind. His family moved to San Diego in 1944, living in the Frontier housing area on the site of the current Pechanga Arena. After enrolling at Point Loma High School, Larsen starred in baseball and was an All-Metro League selection in baseball before graduating in 1947. San Diego Community News Group
Midway Adult Club Part of Company Effort to Distribute Tents to People Who Are Homeless – Not Everyone a Fan
The adult entertainment club Déjà Vu has provided hundreds of tents emblazoned with their logos to homeless people in San Diego in what a company spokesman said was a goodwill gesture to the community. “I wish every business would try to do their part, no matter how small or big,” said Ryan Carlson, director of operations for the Las Vegas-based company. “We all have a responsibilities to do something for the community of which we’re a part.” Carlson said the company shipped about 200 tents to its seven Déjà Vu clubs in San Diego in mid-December. The tents were then distributed by staff members around their neighborhoods. Not everyone is a fan of the gesture. For more >>>SDU-T
Hit and Run in Pt Loma Heights
Police Friday were searching for a hit-and-run driver who struck and seriously injured a 60-year-old man as he was crossing a Point Loma Heights street. It happened around 8:20 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2 in the 4000 block of Sports Arena Boulevard, just south of Interstate 8, San Diego Police Sgt. Sean Bannan said. The victim was crossing Sports Arena Boulevard eastbound, outside of a crosswalk, when a vehicle heading south struck him in the right lane, Bannan said. The vehicle, described only as a dark-colored Honda, continued southbound on Sports Arena Boulevard and no description of the driver was immediately available, the sergeant said. The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment of a fractured bone in his lower right leg, Bannan said. Anyone with information about the crash was urged to call SDPD at 619- 531-2000 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
OB Christmas Trees Recycled Till Jan.23
Every year the city of San Diego Environmental Services department hosts its annual Christmas Tree Recycling program. The program runs through January 23rd. Both green and flocked trees are accepted at all participating locations. For greenery, curbside, and drop-off sites, all tree stands, bags, netting, lights, ornaments, tinsel, and other tree decorations must be removed prior to drop off. No artificial trees will be accepted. For Ocean Beach – Robb Field Recreation Center, 2525 Bacon St.
Santa Tony Hawk Visited OB Skateboard Park
Tony Hawk posed as Santa Claus and hit up all his hometown skate parks to shower skaters with holiday gifts. From skateboards to t-shirts, people across San Diego County were surprised to see that their secret Santa is actually pretty famous. Tony Hawk teamed up with The Berrics and stopped throughout the county, including Solana Beach, Ocean Beach and Carmel Valley. Hawk ended the day at Door of Hope, which helps families experiencing homelessness. Video here.
Midway Robbery Suspect to Get Psych Eval
Criminal proceedings have been suspended against a man suspected of robbing two 7-Eleven clerks on Sports Arena Boulevard and kidnapping a taxi driver because his attorney doubts his mental competency. A mental competency evaluation will take place in jail for Steven Raymond Stogsdill, 39, and a San Diego Superior Court judge will review psychiatric reports before deciding if Stogsdill does understand court proceedings on Feb. 7. His lawyer made the request just before Stogsdill was about to stand trial. If the judge finds Stogsdill is not mentally competent, he will be sent to a state mental hospital for treatment.
If Stogsdill is found to be mentally competent, a new trial date will be set. He has pleaded not guilty. Stogsdill is charged with holding up two clerks at the 7-Eleven at 3146 Sports Arena Blvd. around 8 a.m. on Jan. 8 as well as discharging a handgun once. No one was hit. He is also charged with kidnapping a taxi driver for robbery and kidnapping during a carjacking, all of which occurred at gunpoint. San Diego Community News Group
Stabbing Victim Walked into Midway Burger King
A 37-year-old man was hospitalized after he walked into a Burger King restaurant in the Midway District and told employees he had been stabbed. The man walked into the Burger King at 3747 Rosecrans Street around 6:05 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22. San Diego police Officer Robert Heims said. Employees called police, but the victim refused to provide them with information about what happened, Heims said. The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment of a stab wound to his left rib area, which was not believed to be life-threatening, the officer said. No suspect description was immediately available. Anyone with information about the stabbing was asked to call the San Diego Police Department at 619-531-2000. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477. 10News
Local Businesses in the “News”
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
In complete agreement in recalling Jen Campbell.
Re: the hit and run on Sports Arena Blvd. 4000 Sports Arena Blvd is next to Camp Run-A-Mutt and is clearly in the Midway District, not Point Loma Heights.
Just sayin.
As far as Jen Campbell getting crap from constituents, well that comes with elected office. It keeps our employees (city council person) on their toes. All I know is that must be a thankless job, so I’m not going to complain about her!
Rufus, yeah I know about the location; all the mainstream media kept calling it PLH and I had just posted a couple of negative articles about Midway. I was wondering if anyone would catch it – and you did!