Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Still A Bargain

According to a release by the American Farm Bureau, the cost of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people is $44.61, a $2.35 price increase from last year’s average of $42.26. MORE>>

I'd be hard-pressed to get lunch at a local fast-food joint for $4.46, and I suspect the nutritional value of roast turkey with stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls, cranberries, peas and pumpkin pie with whipped cream is far superior to a burger, fries and a soda.

Besides, how do you put a price tag on the opportunity to gather with family and friends to give thanks for the many blessings of the past year? At our house, we're grateful we still have a house and a job to pay for it, good health and each other's love and respect.

Happy Thanksgiving!

image: www.whatscookingamerica.net

Police Blotter: Pair Robs All Pet Feed Store

According to a San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department news release, On Tuesday, November 25, 2008, at 5:19 PM, deputies responded to 25598 Baseline in reference to an Armed Robbery that just occurred. Two black male adults entered the All Pet Feed & Tack and ordered the employees to the ground at gunpoint. The suspects stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the business and both suspects fled the scene on foot westbound on Baseline. A search of the area by responding deputies met with negative results. No one was injured during the robbery.

The investigation is ongoing at this time. Anyone with information about this incident or similar incidents is urged to call Detective Yost or Deputy Leichliter at the Highland Police Station (909) 425-9793 or We Tip at 1-(800)-78-CRIME.

image: tinkerart.typepad.com/.../san_bernardino/

San Manuel Tribal Member Jeopardizes Plea Agreement With Latest Arrest

Both The Press-Enterprise and The San Bernardino County Sun newspapers are reporting that Stacy Cheyenne Nunez-Barajas, recently sentenced to electronic home monitoring in a murder-conspiracy case, has jeopardized her agreement with an arrest late Friday.

Last month, Nunez-Barajas was sentenced to a year of electronic monitoring and her brother, Erik Barajas, 36, received six months for their roles in a case linking them to the Mexican Mafia and the methamphetamine trade in the Inland Empire. MORE>>

San Manuel Named "Favorite Spot To Play Poker" in The P-E's Annual Reader's Choice Awards 2008

I've recently been perusing my copy of The Press-Enterprise's annual "Reader's Choice Awards 2008" booklet. It's a rather Riverside-centric collection of restaurants, shopping and services for a paper that bills itself as one that serves the two-county Inland area.

There's a couple fast-food chains with outlets in Highland mentioned as favorites, but you already know my feelings about corporate fast food from previous posts.

The one local standout, however, is San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino, named "Favorite Spot To Play Poker," by readers of the largest newspaper in the Inland area.

Their entry claims:

"Guests can enjoy 3,500 of the latest slots, live poker and Vegas-style blackjack, high-limit gaming, high-stakes bingo, incredible entertainment, sumptuous dining, and a generous player-reward program. Owned and operated by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, the casino has been providing fun and excitement since 1986. Since that time, players have received more than $2 billion in cash, prizes and giveaways...."

Sadly I was unable to find a link to this year's Reader's Choice awards on The P-E's web site. Searching "reader's choice," I received only three story results, all from 2007.

image: www.Rocketfinance.net

Trial Begins for Two In 2005 Cee Vee's Shooting

The Press-Enterprise is reporting the trial began today for two defendants in the 2005 slaying of a Highland liquor store owner and his employee.

Cee Vee's Liquor Store owner Steven Hall, 53, and Brian Gregorio, 25, were both shot in the head after cooperating with two bandits in March 2005.

Defendants Christopher White, 21, and Darwin Richardson, 22, face life without parole if convicted of robbery and murder.  A third defendant, Tristan Allan, 23, will be tried separately.

Surveillance video was shown during opening statements of the shooting and of the defendants cashing stolen lottery tickets two hours later at a Corona convenience store, according to the report.  MORE>>

Southern California Hammered By Wind-Driven Fires, Hundreds Of Homes Lost to Flames

While homes went up in flames over the weekend in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and parts of Orange and Riverside counties, San Bernardino and Highland were spared any damage as a result of hot, dry Santa Ana winds.

A small brush fire in the Del Rosa area late Sunday was kept to only a few acres with no loss of property, according to www.Rimoftheworld.net.

As the winds diminish firefighters are making gains in their battle against the flames.  MORE>>

image:  Robin Beck/AFP