Sept. 7, 2011 Bomb Threat at San Clemente High School; The Real Orange County, CA

Real Orange County, California special report:

San Clemente High School, home of the "Tritans", was evacuated on the first day of school due to bomb threat.

San Clemente High School

Orange County doesn't have a curtain from crime like some think. Orange County, California is for the most part a rather safe place to live. Today, declared there is no safe place for the students at a local high school, San Clemente High school. Bomb threat! On the first day of School, September 7, 2011, 3,200 students and 180 school employees were evacuated.

Why did this happen? Was it possibly a call for attention that a man from the United States Navy plotted this? A Navy medic that had gone AWOL, did not show up for work so they searched his barracks in Camp Pendleton (South Orange County/North San Diego area) and found a note or multiple notes about leaving bombs at the campus of San Clemente High School.

Today was a hot day in San Clemente and students were not allowed in class today, 

News reporter outside the High School

 instead they were instructed to go to the football field and were finally brought some water bottles, some complained it was not enough done for them as they waited while Swat and bombsquads (Orange County Sherrifs Special Weapons and Tactics) searched the entire campus today for explosives. One high school student thought a couple were found, though, media sources say no explosives were found.

The Navy man, 22 year old Daniel Morgan was missing, then later turned himself in and is being questioned by military police. I met one parent who was working and said she was nervous about her child who just started school as a freshman. Another students father I spoke with waited at a nearby McDonald's and called his son, instructing him where to go if an explosive was found or went off. He also said that sheriffs pulled kids off the street that were walking by the high school and they were told to go to the football field, even though they did not go to that school.

Outside San Clemente High School

Finally, around 1pm, students were slowly dismissed early. Some students waited at a nearby grocery store for parents to pick them up, others walked or drove home. Many cars were being searched, I saw one sheriff digging through a trunk of a car parked on the main street. It looked like cars on the main street were lined with yellow tape.

Fire Authority truck carried water for students that waited in the heat.

I counted over 15 news vans and cars lined on the main street, Many Firetrucks, ambulances, sheriffs cars and a sheriff's motorcycle, and Special Weapons and Tactics truck. Never, did I think there would be a bomb threat in this area. Students will resume at school tomorrow as regularly scheduled. What a way to start the new year. Could this Navy man be only seeking for a way out of the Navy? Could he really be a terrorist in his own country, and why kids? Possibly because it's a lot of people in one place near the military base. But, why would he leave a note easily found anyway? Good thing the military and city officials were on top of this incident before a more serious one occurred.

I witnessed a Sheriff searching through the trunk of this car and others nearby.

Hill Marks the number 12 (2011-2012 school year? maybe)

 

 

News vans outside San Clemente High School

News reporter at shopping center were some students were picked up.

• USA Today News Report about the bomb threat at San Clemente High School
• AWOL Navy Medic in Custody
• abc News Search of San Clemente High Ends...  
• Update 9-8-2011: Associated Press News- Military Investigating Navy Medic

No Buses for the Poor in an Orange County Neighborhood

Mister Rogers sang, "I've always wanted to have a neighbor just like you. I've always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you..." He was onto something here and even had a trolly to take "us" around to learn, care and befriend those in his neighborhood. Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus also said to the rich tax collector, "sell everything you have and give the money to the poor..." The interesting thing is, this needed to be said. Most people, usually, don't love one another in this way automatically.

In the city of San Clemente, located in southern Orange County, California are low income apartment homes with the slogan, "Housing with Heart". This is a perfect slogan to show compassion and care to the less fortunate that it houses. Even in pricey areas, the less fortunate number is growing higher and higher, especially in the state of California. The same state where government financial and medical assistance for the poor has decreased its benefits. If we know we need to care for our neighbors, especially those that are struggling, in anyway rich or poor, then we ought to do it. These particular low income families live in, what is jokingly referred to as the ghetto of the community. My main question is, are there any neighbors willing to standing up and help with a great current need for transportation. Who will defend the poor in their strife?

"Get a job," they might hear. Easier said then done. The older kids need assistance getting to school, and their parent has to trudge on to find work walking miles to the nearest bus stop, do whatever work they can, and stamper home till their child also comes in tired and hardly ready to start the heaping pile of homework waiting in their heavy backpack. Doesn't sound so easy. The get a job comment needs a little deeper thought. A car pool helps, but should not be a permanent solution. So who will help the needs of these neighbors?

Some are doing their duty to serve others including, churches, food banks, school programs, and government assistance. Yet, I want to know, what neighbors are helping to make a difference? This is a true need now. School is around the corner, the stress and tension for families without transportation for their older children to get to school is building and piling on their shoulders. The local schools are also in a budget crisis. When they are in a budget crisis, the schools can call out to the attending students' parents for donation collections to help with supplies, technology, field trips and so on. Why then, is transportation from this specific low income apartment complex denied? Can't "we the people" seek donations to solve this situation? The people in need of transportation help, question and request help, but are denied due to a fall in the budget.

This low income area is a somewhat remote area with walking distances of approximately 1-4 miles to shopping or schools, and 1 or 2 miles to the nearest public bus stop. This may not sound far, but be sure to include hills in the picture, hot or rainy days and you'll have a better idea. This particular low income complex is housed to some people without transportation due to financial difficulty or other circumstance. For a time, thanks to one man's persistence, or so I've heard, there was a public transportation bus route added to aid the people without a vehicle. This helped the handicapped, single mothers, and low income parents get food and other requirements for their family. This bus route also helped transport students to and from school. This bus also helped people that had a vehicle, but if it was in need of repair, or in the shop, they still go about their day running errands and picking up kids from school. Approximately over a year ago, this public transportation bus route was canceled. It was removed from existence, and along with it's removal, came increased hardships for many families. OCTA (Orange County Transportation Authority) declared this route had to be cut for financial reasons. I am guessing, it was not profitable enough to continue, thus, some families suffer. The result, an empty grocery food shopping cart found miles away at the low income complex.

What about the young students in middle and high school struggling to get to school? For those in the low income apartment homes, as I have mentioned, also do not have school bus routes for the older aged school children. Some school bus routes were part of a budget cut. The budget cuts from the Capistrano Unified School District also have cut back for years, the school bus transportation for middle schoolers and high school students. There was nothing the students or their parents could protest about this.

Many families are thankful to live in housing with heart, yet students and parents are equally concerned about the difficulty of getting to school, returning home from school after a long day, and the walking distance, especially from the high school. Some parents have vehicles, though due to tough circumstances have to leave for work early or do not return until after school lets out. Whichever the circumstantial need is, for these parents and students the desire for school transportation is imperative for their weekly needs and quality of life.

What can be done? Is there any options to solve this transportation crisis for the low income neighbors? If the PTA can raise funds for school needs and functions and if the low income housing complex can raise funds for their programs. Why then, can't parents and students do the same for their needs? Or can they?

Let me know if you have a suggestion, idea or solution! Let's give these neighbors something good! Comment below, or send Alysa Good Stuff an email. alysagoodstuff@hotmail.com Thank you.


GOOD STUFF! Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood PBS KIDS Free Online Games! 
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood T.V. Show information 

Want to help? The bus route needed is for San Clemente streets: Avenida Pico/Camino La Pedriza and Vista Hermosa. Share your opinions or any help with the city of San Clemente, OCTA, and CUSD Transportation department.

San Clemente City Hall: 949-361-8200

Links to contact the South Orange County, CA public and school transportation buses: 

Public Transportation OCTA Contact page: Reference San Clemente/Talega Community Route
School Bus CUSD Transportation Department Contact page: Bus for San Clemente/Talega Community