Whale Watch and Intertidal Festival Kicks Off

Whale Festival Kicks Off

The 25th annual Whale Watch and Intertidal Festival began Saturday at Point Loma amid the most bountiful whale-watching season in recent memory.

The event at the Cabrillo National Monument celebrates the passage of gray whales on their annual migration from Alaskan waters to Mexico, where they give birth.

Biologists and regular whale watchers say the gray whales have been abundant this year.

A pod of about 10 orcas -- killer whales -- were spotted feeding off the Palos Verdes Peninsula in Los Angeles County, and off Dana Point in Orange County this past week.

The festival, which runs until 4:30 p.m. Sunday, will include experts on gray whales, and talks about habitats, such as the tide pools at the park.

Navy SEAL dies

The 22-year-old Navy SEAL left on life-support following an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head died Saturday, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Gene "Geno" Clayton Jr., was taken off life support and died about 7:25 a.m., Lt. Cmdr. Frank Magallon told the newspaper.

The 22-year-old sailor, who had been drinking with a woman at a bar before the pair returned to his residence in San Diego Thursday, was showing the woman his 9 mm handgun when the accident occurred, according to San Diego police.

The serviceman offered to let his friend hold the weapon, which he mistakenly believed was unloaded, and when she declined, he tried to demonstrate how safe it was by putting it to his head and pulling the trigger, police said.

The sailor was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla following the shooting, where police said he was put on life support.

Clayton was a recent graduate of the Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams program, which trains elite special-operations tactical units, police said.

Teen Still Missing

Authorities continued to search Saturday for a 17-year-old Carlsbad girl who went missing this week, police said.

Christine Jelinek was reported missing by her mother about 8:05 a.m. Wednesday, and was last seen in the vicinity of Rancho Santa Fe Road and Melrose Drive, according to Carlsbad police.

The teen, who sometimes uses the name Kira Hawkins, was last seen in the company of a man she may have met online, who was described as white, in his late 40s to early 50s, between 5 feet- 9 and 5 feet- 11 inches tall and about 160 pounds, according to Carlsbad police Detective Damian Garcia.

Police asked anyone with information regarding the girl's whereabouts to call (760) 931-2144.

Follow this story on Carlsbad.Patch.com.

-City News Service