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FRIDAY, AUGUST 2019 FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 16, 2020
San DiegoCommunity CommunityNewspaper NewspaperGroup Group San Diego
INSIDE INSIDE
EMOTIONAL MEMORIAL
SON OF LA BUFADORA
Jury convicts Movement man killing for ofcleaner Peter Bentz
OB streets by Neal Putnam | The Beacon BY DAVE SCHWAB | THE BEACON
After 2 1/2 days of deliberaare being tions, a juryesidents convicted a man asked to sign a petion Jan. 27 of first-degree murtion on Ocean der of Peter Bentz, an Ocean Beach’s Beach manNeighborhood whose bodyWatch has Facebook page to take action never been found. to “help District to keep our sidewalks Deputy Attorney clean ensuring a Jeffrey Dort said Brianhealthier Eleron environment everyone.” Hancock, 49, willfor have to serve “One complaint that often a minimum of 25 years inisprisheard about the downtown on before he could become eliarea of Ocean Beach is how gible for parole. dirty, stained, andof smelly the Dort said Hancock, National sidewalks are,” the online petiCity, faces a sentence of 85 years tion to life in reads. part because of his prior “The OBarson Cleanin&1999 Safeand Proconvictions for gram, a project of the Ocean residential burglary in 2003. Beach MainStreet Association, "I'm totally satisfied," said the is looking to change that victim's brother, Kirk Bentz, af-by applying for funding to provide ter the verdict. "This is the corcleanings of Newrectbi-monthly and just verdict for Peter." port Avenue sidewalks, Bentz, 68, was last seen leav-in to installing additioningaddition the 24-Hour Fitness gym Melinda White (left) embraces an emotional Eva King during the memorial at Sunset Cliffs for Mike White, a well-known angler and surfboard al trash bins along the street. on Midway drive on security shaper who grew up on Ladera Street. Melinda, Mike’s sister, helped organize the memorial and paddle out where dozens of friends and fam2017. No ily, including King, who was a life-long friend and former girlfriend, came out to celebrate Mike’s life on Sunday, Aug. 11. ‘Sunset Cliffs was cameras on Nov. 21, SEE CLEAN, Page 7 THOMAS MELVILLE / PENINSULA BEACON credit card or Internet activity his world and his playground,’ said Melinda. ‘He loved it here.’ See page 10 for the story. has surfaced from Bentz since then. His blood was found in 17 locations in his apartment after investigators looked unA couple checks out a towering spout of water at Sunset Cliffs created by powerful surf combined with King Tides on Jan. 12, derneath the carpeting. which is reminiscent of the celebrated La Bufadora south of Ensenada. La Bufadora (The Blowhole), at the tip of the Punta Banda
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Where to Loma watch Pointers the big game Point prep in Ocean Loma forBeach, seasonPoint opener SEESEE PAGE 10 11 PAGE
Mysterious Galaxymom-preneur bookstore Ocean Beach opening in Point leads Sexy Mama Loma Movement SEE 8 13 SEEPAGE PAGE
Longtime Ocean Beach surfboard shaper trying to rebuild after fire
peninsula, is a natural marine geyser that is capable of shooting water higher than 60 feet in the air. King Tides return Feb. 8-9. BY DAVE SCHWAB | THE BEACON THOMAS MELVILLE / PENINSULA BEACON
SEE MURDER, Page 11 extinguisher, pulled the plug, hit the fire — and it exploded. It just blew up in my face, like little shotgun shells going off.” “It was a nightmare,” added Elliott of his loss. “It was my little go-back-in-time sanctuary. It’s not Standard Time months. Most athletes a dollar thing.” physical educaare in seventh-period Fortunately, the OB station tion, which would make thefire earliest was times just around practice nearly 3the p.m.corner and theyschool came and put27 it out sparing The fields separate damage theof main residence. sports with ato total 54 teams when “[The fire]varsity, took alland myfreshboards varsity, junior tools, got my truck and manand groups are totaled. camper,” noted Elliott.
Ostarting times for schools will affect Point Loma High athletics Later Pointer girls basketball Best local restaurants on rim of greatness for sunset dining SEE PAGE 14 SEE PAGE 6
B surfboard maker Albert “Ace” Elliott lost much of what he’s acquired, including 50-year-old irreplaceable By Scott Hopkinsmemorabilia, | The Beacon when San Diego Unified School District in athletic programs at Point Loma his shaping shed on Froude Street mandated later high school start- High School, which is already hardnearstarting Saratoga Avenue caught fire ing times in the 2020-21 school pressed finding space and time for Later times for local high on Aug. schools will6.give growing teens year. Since this decision, California teams to fit in needed practice hours. Elliott’ssleep workspace more critical time butwas willfull cre-of Senate Bill 328 was signed into law, On Jan. 16, PLHS Principal Hans old boards and photos friends mandating start times no earlier Becker announced classes next year ate some new problems for of athletic he’d made custom boards for. than 8:30 a.m. (high school) and 8 will begin at 8:45 a.m. This would programs. “I saw my bike was on fire in my a.m. (middle schools). Studies have shown teens are extend the six-period school day unbackyard andwhen I tried to put it out,” But that will pose a definite prob- til approximately 2:45 p.m., a time sleep-deprived reporting said Elliott, who’sasbeen riding for classes as early 7 a.m. soe- lem for 800 students participating when sunlight is fading during Pacific The charred remains of Albert ‘Ace’ Elliott’s shaping shed in OB. SCOTT HOPKINS / PENINSULA BEACON bikes for years. “I picked up a fire
SEE SCHOOL, Page 11 SEE FIRE, Page 5