Stories from the past
50 years ago
A homemade kite destined to be the first ever to bear a water skier aloft from Wiest Lake didn’t quite make it Saturday morning.
A band of well wishers and curious spectators gathered at the water’s edge to watch AN Don Lentz, a sailor stationed at the Naval Air Facility, harness himself to the device which he had helped construct.
“I better hurry up and get going before I change my mind,” he said.
“Are you scared?” a child asked as Lentz drew on his water skies. “The only part that worries me is coming down,” Lentz replied. “I couldn’t even make a little old paper kite when I was a kid,” he added. “None of them I ever made flew.”
As the boat towing Lentz rounded the far side of the Lake the spectators cried, “Look! He’s doing it; he’s going to go up; he’s ... oh!”
A closer look revealed the 16 x 12 foot “Batman” construction to be slowly sinking from view. “She’s going down like the Titanic,” a spectator observed.
Both the kite and Lentz were quickly recovered and towed back to shore. Although Lentz was uninjured and prepared to give it another try, the kite had not fared so well. “All it needs is a few minor repairs, and she’ll be ready to go,” he said.
40 years ago
SAN DIEGO — Four men have been booked here on suspicion of kidnapping and trying to murder three Imperial County teenagers after the boys reportedly stumbled onto a marijuana field on Mt. Laguna during a weekend camping trip.
The victims who were not identified by the San Diego Sheriff’s Office, reportedly told officers they were tied to an ant-infested tree and one was hanged by the neck after they discovered the marijuana patch in the area of the Mt. Laguna riding stables near Sunrise Highway.
Sheriff’s Lt. Les Hill said the three boys, aged 14, 15 and 17, were confronted by four men armed with knives and guns.
Two of the victims were bound to a tree while the third was allegedly left hanging from a tree.
The youth apparently avoided strangulation by holding onto the rope with his hands before his companions managed to free themselves and lower the third boy to the ground.
Booked for investigation of attempted murder, robbery, kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon were James A. Kitzman and Richard Murnick, both 28.
Held on suspicion of kidnapping, robbery and assault with a deadly weapon are David J. Rudolph, 28, and John Cecil Barber, 27, all of Mt. Laguna.
Deputies also arrested James W. Raynoha, 24, and a 16-year-old girl, whose name was withheld, for investigation of cultivating marijuana, Hill said.
30 years ago
MIDVALE, Utah — The El Centro Babe Ruth All Stars defeated the Guam All Stars 7-2 here Saturday and play again Tuesday in the second round of the winners bracket of the Western Regional Babe Ruth Baseball tournament for 13-year-old players.
Ramon Bermudez was the starting pitcher and went the distance for El Centro, striking out 11 batters. He did not allow Guam to score until it got single runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Bermudez surrendered only three hits and four walks.
El Centro scored twice in the second and twice again in the third, then scored three times in the sixth.
The Valley representative did not score an earned run in the game. Guam coughed up seven errors and issued several walks.
Jesse Silva led El Centro with two hits. The team had a total of four. Chris Marcueson and Frank Perdomo had one hit each.