ABC show reveals 'Mole' as local graphic designer
Aug. 19 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Craig Slike is officially a mole.
Slike was planted among a group of TV reality show contestants to quietly sabotage their efforts to win the show. Slike's secret role was revealed last week in ABC's final episode of this season's “The Mole.”
More Diane Bell Columns
Aug. 16 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Water, water not where it was supposed to be: Was a museum ghost at work? When San Diego Natural History Museum curators arrived at the exhibit “Water: A California Story” on Thursday morning, they found water – one to two inches deep – that wasn't supposed to be there.
Aug. 14 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Democrats, colleagues lend councilman support: Tuesday was a great day for Steve Castañeda. Castañeda is the Chula Vista councilman who was acquitted in April of perjury charges related to accusations that he used his position to seek free rent or a reduced price on a condominium.
Aug. 12 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Education leader gets civic honor: For more than 50 years San Diego civic leaders have chosen a “Mr. San Diego” – with a few rare exceptions. There was a “Mr. and Mrs. San Diego” in 1992, a “Ms. San Diego” in 1996 and a “Mrs. San Diego” in 1994 and 2002.
Aug. 9 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Bonita man is dredging for the gold: Could gold rush fever be resurfacing in California? Steve Gaetske has it.
Aug. 7 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Donation's Hollywood ties pay off for Salvation Army: The local Salvation Army received one of its biggest donations ever – in terms of size, that is. In response to its appeal for vehicle castoffs, a Bonita couple recently donated a converted 40-passenger bus that had starred in Clint Eastwood's 1977 movie, “The Gauntlet.”
Aug. 2 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Big Sur wildfires take toll on condor recovery: Two California condors are missing and may have perished in the Big Sur wildfires that destroyed part of a condor sanctuary run by the Ventana Wildlife Society.
July 31 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Ken Cinema's marquee hosts a winning proposal: Kindergarten teacher Anthony La Rue took a cue from Hollywood when he asked his girlfriend to marry him. He posted his proposal on the marquee of the Ken Cinema in Kensington.
July 29 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Candy store stays busy in final days: After 87 years in business, a local candy store comes to a bittersweet end. After failing to find a partner/investor, the owner of Wisteria Candy Cottage in Boulevard is calling it quits today – one day earlier than planned.
July 26 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Historical Society will get La Jolla landmark cottage: Ellen Revelle turns 98 on Thursday, yet she is the one giving a sizable gift to the community. She and her daughter, Mary Revelle Paci, have decided to donate the La Jolla landmark known as the Wisteria Cottage to the La Jolla Historical Society.
July 24 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Padres owners get $16 million for beach home: A small beachfront cottage in Del Mar owned by John and Rebecca Moores closed escrow this month for $16 million.
July 22 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
With help, congressman returns to his old haunts: The Washington Post reports that the late San Diego congressman Lionel Van Deerlin has returned to the U.S. Capitol.
July 19 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Guns and roses as S.D. police officers marry: A cop is always ready for action – even during her wedding reception. In a moment reminiscent of the movie, “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” Jeff Nichols lifted the skirt of his bride's white gown last Saturday to retrieve her wedding garter, only to find a thigh holster and revolver.
July 5 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Laguna Beach fest's roots in Valley Center: The “Pageant of the Masters” opens its annual two-month run in Laguna Beach on Wednesday. So why, you might ask, is a history museum in Valley Center mounting an exhibition touting an event in Orange County? The famed pageant actually began in Valley Center in 1914 and was repeated there in 1915.
July 3 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
S.D. attorney 'lost the war' in Exxon case: Shocked. That's what David Casey was when he learned of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the Exxon Valdez oil-spill case.
June 26 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Dog helps a Marine see himself: When Marine Lt. Col. Jay Kopelman brought a stray mutt back to the United States from Iraq, he didn't realize their journey together had just begun.
June 24 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Removing campaign signs can be painful job: Derelict campaign signs are an eyesore. But they turned into a sore arm for one local candidate.
June 21 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
To man who lost cash, teen lives up to name: An angel was watching over Mark Holmes' shoulder the other day. The San Diego contractor lost an envelope containing $12,000 cash when he sat down briefly to check his appointment book outside Ruby's Diner in the Westfield Mission Valley mall.
June 19 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Golf game goes south, of course: Local biotech leader Hank Nordhoff says his foray on the U.S. Open course in a charity event Tuesday turned into a golfer's nightmare.
June 17 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Pros gone, local donors hit the links: A few lucky golfers will get to follow in the footsteps of Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate today at Torrey Pines, playing the course in tip-top condition to support Junior Golf and Pro Kids Golf Academy.
June 14 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Bird's-eye view of Open for golf fan/heart patient: Clarence Darby, 86, had tickets to Thursday's U.S. Open first round but was hospitalized for heart surgery.
June 13 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Word has it: Diane Bell: As the U.S. Open golfers leave town, legions of biotech pioneers will repopulate area hotels June 17-20 when BIO International hosts a convention with an expected attendance about as large as the population of Coronado.
June 12 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Harbor Island barge will be in use again: San Diegans once again will be able to dine at the site of the Reuben E. Lee paddle-wheeler, a Harbor Island fixture since 1969.
June 10 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Golf fans spend plenty of green on Open gear: There were plenty of media exhortations to beat the crowd and get to the Torrey Pines U.S. Open merchandise tent while traffic was light and entrance was free last Thursday through Sunday. That, no doubt, helped merchandise sales outstrip all past tournaments in the four pre-tournament days.
June 7 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Actor Voight counsels young man on politics: Jon Voight was a big hit at a Cindy McCain luncheon fundraiser this week, where he was described as warm and accessible. The actor, and father of Angelina Jolie, is making several campaign stops to introduce the wife of the GOP presidential candidate.
