Jessica Marin, El Centro Police K-9, IID honored by SEPA, Kalli Legakes, Tree San Diego, city of El Centro and Blue Knights new clubhouse in El Centro

Jessica Marin

The Central Union High School junior was recently named the California Military Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Club of America. She was selected from a group of 14 boys and girls representing military installations from across the state.

She was awarded a $5,000 college scholarship and advanced to compete against other state military winners for the Pacific Military Regional title on Aug. 3 in San Diego, where she will represent all members of Boys & Girls Clubs-affiliated youth centers in California. Congratulations and good luck.

El Centro Police K-9

Two El Centro Police Department K-9 officers were able to successfully distinguish themselves and earn the judges’ favor during their first-ever K-9 competition a couple of weeks ago in Oceanside.

K-9 officer max took first place in the overall narcotics trials during the first day. Fellow K-9 Bico walked away with the “Top Dog” award for combined performances in the narcotics and evidence trials.

Congratulations to both and their handlers and keep up the good work.

Imperial Irrigation District honored by SEPA

The IID was honored by the Smart Electric Power alliance as the leading utility in the country to have installed the most energy storage capacity in 2016.

Among the main attributes of the facility is how it enables IID to be able to integrate renewable energy into its system more efficiently. Since the output of different types of renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind may vary under different conditions, the new batteries will come in to provide stored energy to the grid when the output of one or more renewable energy sources decrease.

Kalli Legakes, Tree San Diego, city of El Centro

When Tree San Diego had 50 trees left over from a grant it acquired from the state Fire Department, one of its representative and El Centro native Kalli Legakes suggested the trees be donated to her native city. The organization and the city worked together to make it happen and a week ago those 50 trees were planted at Bucklin Park.

Legakes brought the initial idea and deserves credit for her efforts.

Blue Knights new clubhouse in El Centro

The international motorcycling law enforcement community recently opened its new clubhouse in El Centro. The club, operating for 35 years, is centered in the Imperial County and Yuma, is comprised of 68 members and aspires to increase its presence and participation in community service.