STORIES FROM THE PAST
50 years ago
State of Baja California health officials declared officially yesterday that the bottled water being sold to 90 percent of the Mexicali population is impure because it contains an excessive amount of fluoride.
This water is purchased from two wells in Imperial County, one near Ocotillo, the other in the same area.
Health department officials claim the excessive amount of fluoride contained in the water from these two wells affects the teeth of children and adults causing a mottling of the teeth of children under 15. They claim it causes stains which range from light to dark brown and which remain for the person’s life. The health authorities believe that this darkening of the teeth has caused personality problems to arise in children.
Fred Singh, Imperial County sanitarian, said he expects to meet this afternoon with officials from the Baja California Health Department, but said he does not see any reason for the meeting.
“Since this well water is sold in Mexico, no permit is required either from Imperial County or the state of California. We have no jurisdiction over such water purchased privately in Imperial County. It seems to us,” said Singh, “that if the Mexican authorities want to stop importation of this water all they have to do is stop the trucks at the border.”
40 years ago
It was not exactly what she had in mind for a honeymoon site, but Stephani Carole Burcham, 17, is probably thankful that she is alive and well in San Diego’s Scripps Hospital today.
Miss Burcham was scheduled to go to the altar to marry Daryl Bisi last evening, but before she was able to make her walk down the aisle she accidentally shot herself while moving her belongings into the couple’s new apartment in El Centro.
“She is in good spirits,” said a close friend of the bride. “We’re just thankful she wasn’t hurt more seriously.”
Burcham was moving into the new apartment early Thursday evening. A revolver she was handling fell out of its holster and accidentally fired. The bullet passed through her calf and lodged in the ceiling of the apartment.
30 years ago
It will be at least another week before the Board of Supervisors decides whether it prefers to have a state prison near Plaster City or east of Holly Sugar.
And unless one vote changes, the tie vote reached Tuesday over the preferred site could linger yet another week.
The state has asked the county to prioritize a list of suitable sites before it undertakes a detailed environmental study as part of the process that could lead to the development a $120 million, 1,700-bed maximum security prison that would employ 700 people with an annual payroll of $20 million — or a facility of a lower security level. Pat Casey, of the county administrative office, said corrections officials want to start technical site studies later this month or early in September so a facility could be built within four years.