April 23, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)-- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future

Registration deadline April 24

April 23, 2014 (Santee) – You’re invited to the 13^th annual Wil Wilson Memorial Spring Valley Lions Club Kids Fishing Derby this Saturday, April 26.  T he derby will take place on Lake 4. Check in at 6:30 am ends at 11:00 am. Awards will be given for the biggest fish, smallest fish, and most fish.  A barbecue lunch follows the Awards Ceremony.

April 23, 2014 (Santee) – Just in time for this weekend’s fishing derby , Santee Lakes has provided this recipe for “Pat’s Smoked Catfish” from Patrick and Gina Neely.

April 22, 2014 (San Diego)--It's a startling phone call you could receive: "There's a warrant out for your arrest." A scam going on right now in many counties hopes that fear will cause you to act without thinking.

April 14, 2014 (Ramona) – San Diego Sheriff’s department announces the arrest of two suspects believed to have robbed St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Ramona as well as a residential burglary in San Marcos.

By Miriam Raftery

April 22, 2014 (Alpine)—Four suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder of Lakeside resident Kimberly Renee Hayes. According to Lt. Glenn Giannantonio with the Sheriff’s homicide unit, Hayes was murdered in an apartment in El Cajon on March 8; the next morning her body was dumped and set on fire on a dirty road off Sequan Truck Trail in Alpine.

By Miriam Raftery

April 22, 2014 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid held a press conference yesterday, flanked by his supporters,  to formally launch his reelection campaign.  “I pledge that the city will continue to be properly managed and that I will vigorously protect its character and heritage,” said Mayor Madrid.  He cited successes under his leadership during his 24-year tenure as Mayor and his 10 years previously on the City Council, as well as a decade serving on civic boards and commissions.

“In 1990 when I was elected Mayor, my commitment then was to help make La Mesa the best community in the region in which to live and raise a family,” said the Mayor, adding that his leadership, collaborative governance and management skills have helped fulfill that dream.  “I’ve led the transformation of la Mesa into a vibrant, proactive and inclusive community that continues to attract new families and businesses to our city.”

April 21, 2014 (San Diego)-- Assemblymember Shirley N. Weber convenes the second of four hearings of the Assembly Select Committee on Campus Climate at the Educational Cultural Complex in San Diego, California on Friday, April 25 from 12-3 p.m.

April 21, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) --There is a staggering estimated population of up to 1.4 billion House Finches across North America. If the birding scientific estimates are accurate, that would be about the same as the number of people in China today!  When you consider that the House Finch was originally only in the western United States and Mexico until 1940, its success in population growth is even more impressive.

By Miriam Raftery

April 22, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - Three competing budgets have been proposed in Congress-one by House Republicans, another by President Obama, and a third by the House Congressional Progressive Caucus.

All aim to balance the budget over time. The Republican plan focuses on cuts to social services and tax breaks to businesses and wealthier Americans in line with the trickle-down economic theory. The President and progressive budgets focus on raising revenues to closing tax loopholes for corporations and the rich, providing more help to middle class and low-income taxpayers under a rising tide floats all boats strategy.

But how do these three budgets stack up compared to what polls show most Americans want Congress to do?

April 19, 2014 (Spring Valley)--A man wanted in connection with a crime spree in East County is now in custody. Kevin Knight (1/12/71) was arrested around 8:30 a.m. today (4/09/2014) near a Wendy's at the intersection of Campo Road and Spring Street in Spring Valley.

By Miriam Raftery

April 21, 2014 (San Diego) – Meb Keflezighi is a champion in every sense of the word—an impoverished refugee who has become a symbol of the American success story—a story crowned by winning this year’s Boston Marathon.

As a child, he came to America as a refugee with his family, fleeing war-torn Eritria in Africa. The son of a janitor and one of 10 children, Keflezighi  found that running became his ticket out of poverty. He began running while at Roosevelt Middle School and won the CIF state championships representing San Diego High School. He went on to win four NCAA championships and All-American awards at UCLA before winning a silver medal at the 2004 summer Olympics.

April 21, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) --The deadline for paying your federal income taxes on April 15^th is now passed.

But do you know where your tax dollars are going?  You may be surprised to find out just what the federal government is prioritizing – and what it’s not.

By Miriam Raftery

April 21, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - It’s not often that a multi-national corporation backs down from a strategy to save money.

By Miriam Raftery

April 21, 2014 (Washington D.C.) --The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, is on the verge of approving the first-ever drug treatment for a severe form of muscular dystrophy.  Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a deadly disease that typically  leaves its victims in wheelchairs by their teens and dead in their 20s, according to the U.S. Human Genome Institute.  This disease strikes one in every 3500 boys worldwide.

April 21, 2014 (La Mesa ) – A SWAT standoff has ended in La Mesa, with the suspect dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound five hours after barricading himself into a local motel.

A SWAT team and armored vehicle were called to  La Mesa after a parolee fired a gunshot at U.S. Marshals attempting to serve him with a warrant at the Rodeway Inn this morning, according La Mesa Police. The Inn is located in the 4200 block of Spring Street near state Routes 94 and 125.  The public was urged to avoid the area.

April 21, 2014 (La Mesa) - On Saturday, May 31, beginning at 9:00AM, downtown La Mesa Village will dress up in red, white and blue to celebrate “A Salute to Old Glory!” at the La Mesa Flag Day Parade.

For complete Calendar including Authors Events, go to www.SDWriteWay.org

(IF A LINK DOESN'T WORK, COPY INTO BROWSER)

By Nadin Abbott; photos Tom Abbott

April 20, 2014 (Lemon Grove)--Assembly Member Shirley Weber (79^th-D) held a coffee day with constituents at the Lemon Grove Library on April 19. Weber explained that the issues that face the district are as diverse as the area she represents, adding that the issues of Lemon Grove are ever present in her mind.

By Miriam Raftery

April 19, 2014 (La Mesa)—Louis Bernath, 92, of La Mesa died April 10^th of injuries sustained when he was struck by a vehicle while out walking on April 1^st on Parkway Drive in La Mesa.

April 19, 2014 (Ramona) – The Medical Examiner has not yet released the identity of a 29-year-old active duty sailor and Ramona resident who died April 11 following a head-on collision in Julian.

By Miriam Raftery

April 19, 2014 (El Cajon) – Egon Karl Vanderlee, 52, of El Cajon has been identified by the San Diego County Medical Examiner as the victim who died in a fatal collision on April 11.  The accident occurred at the westbound State Route 94 transition to southbound State Route 15 at 5:25 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

April 19, 2014 (El Cajon ) – More than $45,000 was raised at this year’s Morning Glory Brunch, held on  April 12 at St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center in El Cajon to benefit the center’s innovative programs helping the developmentally disabled. 

A highlight of the occasion included the ever-popular frog race, which had more than 500 entries this year vying for prizes. St. Madeleine’s swim team helped the plastic frog “contestants” along, kicking and splashing at the edge of the pool, while a “frog princess” at the opposite end declared the official winners. 

View a video of the frog race: http://youtu.be/o6kFCc-V2Uk

Click "read more" and scroll down for more photos and details from this event.

April 19, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Alberto Casteneda Carranza, 26, will be charged with murder in the deaths of two 20-year-old passengers following a crash on I-8 west of Lake Jennings Park Road in East County this morning at 7:26 a.m.

April 19, 2014 (La Mesa) – A 71-year-old La Mesa man died at the scene of a three-car collision on I-8 west of 70^th Street that occurred last night at 10:42 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

April 19, 2014 (El Cajon ) – After a day and a half of deliberations, an El Cajon jury on Thursday found Iraqi immigrant Kassim Alhimidi guilty of first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Shaima Alawadi.

After the verdict was read, Alhimidi prayed and spoke in Arabic, professing, “I attest to God that I am not the killer. I’m innocent,”  ECM news partner 10 News reports. 

Family members showed outbursts of emotion, divided in their reactions.  The couple’s oldest son, Mohammed, rose and shouted profanities, exclaiming, “My dad is innocent, he was tried unfairly,” before being restrained and  escorted out of the courtroom.  But Mohammed’s brother, Ali, reportedly said he supports the verdict.

Missed the broadcast? Listen to a tape of the fire whistleblower interview here:

http://kiwi6.com/file/wuv8pzypf6

April 17, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Hear shocking details about fire stations unmanned across our backcountry—and what could be done to keep rural residents safe. 

By Miriam Raftery

April 19, 2014 (Alpine)—Tom Pellegrino, retiring Alpine Union School District Superintendent, will receive  a $10,000 retirement incentive.

In a letter to AUSD board President Eric Wray, Pellegrino stated that he would step down on September 30, contingent upon receiving the $10,000 retirement incentive.

April 19, 2014 (Lemon Grove) - Continuing this season's theme, "immigrant history alive right now," the Lemon Grove Historical Society will present Warda Yonan on the "History Alive" lecture series on May 1 at 7 p.m. in the H. Lee House Cultural Center, 3205 Olive, Lemon Grove.