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Another water search at Uvas Reservoir turns up empty

South Bay search crews took to the water Friday in the hopes of finding clues to the disappearance of Morgan Hill teen Sierra LaMar, but came up empty once again.

Search efforts continued in the midst of emotional turmoil for family and volunteers in a week that started with the arrest of a suspect and was capped by Thursday's discovery of the body in the East Bay.

Pleasanton police issued more information Friday about the human remains found in a trash can on a roadside late Thursday morning, announcing that the body belonged to a woman and determining some details about her clothing and appearance.

Investigators contacted the Santa Clara County Sheriff's office on Friday, but said they do not believe it is the body of missing Morgan Hill teen Sierra LaMar.

Meanwhile, the Santa Clara County Sheriff's dive team wrapped up a week-long search at Uvas Reservoir near Morgan Hill at around 5 p.m. Friday.

The team has been searching for 15-year old Sierra LaMar since she disappeared March 16th.

On Monday, 21-year-old Antolin Garcia-Torres was arrested and charged with her kidnapping and murder. On Thursday, he made his first court appearance.

Sierra's father Steve LaMar said it is painful knowing search teams are looking for a body.

"That's what they need to do, but for us the family, we're keeping hope that we're going to find Sierra still alive," said LaMar. "So if we have that sliver of hope, we're gonna stick with it and keep going."

The sheriff's department maintained it has not focused on Uvas Reservoir just because the suspect's mother said her son told her he was at Uvas around the time of sierra's disappearance.

In any case, the search came up empty.

"To date, they have not located anything of evidence pertaining to the Sierra LaMar case," said Santa Clara County Sheriff's Dept. Sgt. Jose Cardoza.

Though the LaMar family officially shut down the center for the holiday weekend, on Friday a select group of experienced searchers met inside to plan a Saturday search. Sources asked KTVU not to disclose locations.

Steve LaMar thanked the volunteers.

"We're so grateful for that, and so thankful that people have that much care and support for us," said LaMar.

That support will continue. A Sierra LaMar fundraiser got underway Friday afternoon at the Jason Stephens Winery on Watsonville Road in Gilroy.

A rally of hope is planned next Friday in Fremont.

_{Fri, 25 May 2012 17:32:36 -0700}

Judge: Anti-gay marriage law is unconstitutional

 A judge in California has ruled that the federal law that prohibits recognition of same-sex unions is unconstitutional because it denies long-term health insurance benefits to legal spouses of state employees and retirees.

U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken also concluded Thursday that a section of the federal tax code that made the domestic partners of state workers ineligible for long-term care insurance similarly violates the civil rights of people in gay and lesbian relationships. Both laws were based on what she called "moral condemnation" of same-sex couples.

"Congress's restriction on state-maintained long-term care plans lacks any rational relationship to a legitimate government interest, but rather appears to be motivated by antigay animus," Wilken wrote in ordering the California Public Employees' Retirement System to allow current and former state employees to enroll their same-sex spouses and partners in the extended care plan.

Congress passed both laws that the Oakland, Calif.-based judge determined to be constitutionally suspect in 1996, when the gay rights movement was just beginning to push for the state and local benefits that come with marriage. She is the second federal judge in California this year to conclude that the Defense of Marriage Act violates the due process rights of legally married same-sex couples.

A San Francisco judge also declared the federal law unconstitutional in February in a separate case involving a federal court employee, who married during the brief period when same-sex marriages were legal in California, was not allowed to add her wife to her regular employer-sponsored health care plan. That ruling is under appeal and is scheduled to be heard by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in September.

"Lesbian and gay couples are entitled to fair and equal treatment from the federal government," Elizabeth Kristen of Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center, which sued the U.S. Treasury Department and California's pension plan two years ago on behalf of three same-sex couples. "Judge Wilken's ruling ensures that both same-sex spouses and registered domestic partners will be treated fairly with respect to the CalPERS long-term care insurance program."

Lawyers representing a House of Representatives committee that has taken on the job of defending the Defense of Marriage Act in court since the Obama administration said it no longer would did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Wilken said she would stay her decision in the event of an appeal.

The program to which the plaintiffs in the case Wilken decided are seeking access covers the cost of in-home care and other services for people who need help with basic daily tasks because of age, injury or chronic conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.

In seeking to end their exclusion from the program, the same-sex couples had argued that state workers and retirees are allowed to enroll not only heterosexual husbands and wives, but siblings and step-siblings, nieces and nephews, in-laws and stepparents.

_{Fri, 25 May 2012 16:59:26 -0700}

Sailboat ban lifted for SF's Golden Gate

The 90-mile yacht race from San Francisco to Monterey is a go Friday, with the U.S. Coast Guard lifting a ban on ocean racing that came after a sailboat accident claimed five lives.

U.S. Sailing's review, released Thursday, recommends improved training for sailors, more training in using safety gear and stricter race management. In particular, the organization, which governs Yacht racing, recommended sailors better understand how waves develop in shallow waters and keep a safe distance from the dreaded "lee shore," in which the wind is blowing toward the island.

The report was compiled after massive waves forced a 38-foot sailboat onto the rocks of the Farallones Islands during an April 14 race. Five crew members perished.

U.S. Sailing also suggested once-a-year seminars on training gear and mandatory captain meetings before every open-ocean race. The organization said compliance of its recommendations can be enforced by post-race inspections of boats to ensure they meet the minimum equipment standards.

It also suggested that race organizers stay in better contact with the competing yachts and that sailors improve their communications with the Coast Guard.

"The Coast Guard appreciates the tremendous support of the offshore race organizers and sponsoring yacht clubs," said Coast Guard Capt. Cynthia Stowe, Coast Guard Captain of the Port of San Francisco. "It's the coordination and support from this local community which will ensure we learn all that we can from this tragic loss."

The yacht Low Speed Chase was tossed onto the rocks during a race around the Farallones Islands about 20 miles outside the Golden Gate. That accident and another in Southern California in April that claimed four sailors' lives prompted a debate over safety and compliance during yacht races on the open-ocean.

Officials with U.S. Sailing and others insist the two accidents were terrible coincidences, but insisted most race organizers and racers follow proper safety procedures while conceding there always room for improvement and discussion.

Northern California yacht clubs and racing officials have created the San Francisco Bay Offshore Racing Council to coordinate safety and communication for all off-shore races. U.S. Sailing presented its findings and recommendations to the council.

"We believe they are off to a good start in achieving more consistency between the various organizing authorities and making offshore racing safer for all," said Sally Honey, who headed U.S. Sailing's panel the reviewed the Low Speed Chase accident.

Two offshore races were converted to contests within the San Francisco Bay during the "safety standown."

The Coast Guard approved a permit for the Spinnaker Cup race that begins Friday at the San Francisco Yacht Club after organizers submitted their application adopting safety recommendations made by U.S. Sailing.

The Spinnaker Cup race beginning Friday at the San Francisco Yacht Club will be the first sanctioned offshore race since the suspension went into effect a month ago. The race to Monterey is expected to take three days and 40 boats have entered, according to race organizers at the Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club

_{Fri, 25 May 2012 16:49:07 -0700}

News Source: MedleyStory More Local News Stories