The Coast News INLAND EDITION
VISTA, SAN MARCOS, ESCONDIDO
VOL. 7, N0. 10
.com MAY 13, 2022
3 arrested in Vista bombings
School district rescinds some layoff notices
By City News Service
120-plus SMUSD teachers, staffers still face dismissal
VISTA — Two men and a woman were arrested Saturday in connection with a string of explosions on Wednesday, May 4, in Vista, authorities said. Valentin Castaneda, 25, was taken into custody on suspicion of possessing a destructive device near a church and on public streets, possessing material with intent to make explosives, exploding a device with intent to terrify, felony evading and child endangerment, said Lt. David Buether of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department's Bomb/Arson Unit. Juan Jose Castaneda Santiago, 23, and Caleigh Tabler, 21, were arrested on suspicion of being an accessory after the fact and child endangerment. Deputies responded to three locations in three hours May 4 following reports of explosions at the following time and locations: • 11:30 a.m. in the 900 block of East Vista Way; • 1:24 p.m. in the 100 block of East Drive; • 2:41 p.m. in the 400 block of East Drive. A citizen who shared surveillance video from a security camera with sheriff’s detectives helped identify a black car seen in one of the locations of the blast, Buether said. Sheriff’s detectives spotted the car in the early hours Saturday in the 1200 block of North Santa Fe AvTURN TO BOMBINGS ON 16
By Laura Place
SHOW TIME
ERICA MARIE WEISZ brings her cabaret show, “I Can Cook, 2!” to Vista’s Broadway Theater this summer as the venue returns to a full schedule. The Broadway celebrated its reopening last month after curtailing operations during the pandemic. Story on 11. Photo by David Rumley
SAN MARCOS — Dozens of the nearly 200 San Marcos Unified School District staff who received layoff notices in March breathed a sigh of relief last week after being informed that their jobs were, in fact, safe. However, over 40 teachers and 80 school social workers, teaching aides, nurses and other crucial classified personnel still face unemployment next year as administrators seek to cut costs. The district community was rocked in March after officials released a list of 97 certificated staff and 93 classified staff who would be without a job in the 2022-23 school year — the largest projected cuts of any school district in San Diego County. Since then, administrators have worked with school sites to identify leaves of absence and retirements that would allow more staff to stay on, resulting in the rescission of notices for 41 certificated staff and 12 classified staff. While the district board TURN TO LAYOFFS ON 9
Longtime Vista city attorney Pieper stepping aside in June By Jacqueline Covey
VISTA — For over a decade, the city’s legal matters have been handled by City Attorney Darold Pieper, someone with far-reaching talents whose tenure is coming to an end on June 3. Pieper has served Vista for 16-plus years, leading the charter charge and supporting major
changes in the city. Pieper “is a fine man, an excellent public servant, and it’s a true loss that we’re going to be losing him,” said Deputy Mayor John Franklin. From being a longtime Boy Scout to representing cities and public entities, PIEPER
Don't MISS THE VISTA
Strawberry Festival Join us for a family fun day and enjoy our ‘Celebration of the Berry’ with hundreds of vendors, great food, 5K and kids’ runs, entertainment, contests & kids play zone
8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. May 29th, 2022 in Downtown Vista
Pieper has seen it all. While he’s not finished practicing law just yet, he does feel it’s time to step away from city hall. “It’s time to let others take the helm,” Pieper said. Pieper grew up in China Lake where he attended Sherman E. Burroughs High
School, a place that harnessed the educational benefit of the nearby Naval Air Weapons Station. His hometown’s proximity to the base meant he was nearly surrounded by major projects and highly educated individuals. “Scientists, engineers, physiTURN TO PIEPER ON 9