East County News Service

December 27, 2023 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – The driver of a red Ford Edge sustained fatal injuries in a solo-vehicle accident yesterday around 4:35 p.m.,  The crash also injured a passenger.  

The driver, a 52-year-old woman from  Wilmington, California, veered off I-8 westbound just east of McCain Valley Road in Jacumba Hot springs.  The vehicle rolled over multiple times, tumbling down an embankment.

East County News Service

December 22, 2023 (San Diego)—The Neighborhood Market Association (NMA) held a press conference on Dec. 18 outside the Emerald Convenience Store in La Mesa to announce that it is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of suspects in a series of armed robberies.

“A dangerous gang of gun-wielding criminals is terrorizing local small businesses in a series of armed `take-over’ style robberies at more than a dozen locations in the city and county of San Diego. Police have expressed concerns that these violent robberies could cause serious injury or death to innocent store employees,” a press release from the NMA states.

Last week, at least 13 convenience stores across  San Diego County were robbed; new surveillance video shows thieves yanking out cash registers and fleeing with the cash.

East County News Service

Photos courtesy of CalFire San Diego

December 20, 2023 (Ramona)—The crew from Cal Fire’s Station 80 rescued nearly 20 animals from a barn fire in Ramona earlier this week, including these adorable puppies.

Unfortunately, one animal perished in the fire on Ramona Real.

By Rebecca Person

December 18, 2023 (Pine Valley) -- Postmaster Jessie Hoffman delights in seeing the Pine Valley branch of the U.S. Postal Service office decorated to fit the spirit of the holiday season. This year, volunteers lent a hand.

 “It was such a nice addition to have the community helping this year to have the town decorated.” she exclaims. “I came in on Monday to find the gingerbread men lining the sidewalk. Then, during the week others came to hang the snowflakes.”

She continues, “We love to make the office festive and welcoming to the community… This past year we had a seasonal tree up year-round. It is Pine Valley, after all, and having a pine tree in the lobby gives a special touch.  Each Christmas we try our best to go all out. My Clerk, Annette Ramirez, added a cardboard fireplace to our decorations to help make the office feel more welcoming.”

By: Jessyka Heredia

December 15, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – The Lemon Grove Toy Drive is on its fourth year of providing free toys to Lemon Grove kids. Kids Fashion Week Network’s (KFWN) annual Toy Drive and Giveaway has become a staple in the community of Lemon Grove. Last year over 700 toys were collected at local businesses throughout Lemon Grove and were later distributed to residents at a festive holiday giveaway. 

By: Jessyka Heredia

December 12, 2023 (Lemon Grove)—Back in October, founding member of the Lemon Grove Improvement Council (LGIC) Teresa Rosiak received 100 sleeping bags that convert into warm coats for the unsheltered. Rosiak has already distributed over 75 of them directly to the homeless in Lemon Grove during her group’s weekly volunteer outreach.

East County News Service

December 11, 2023 (La Mesa) – After La Mesa Police responded to a call reporting a burglary in a vacant apartment in the 8500 block of Chloe Avenue, the suspect barricaded the door and claimed to have a hostage inside.

“The suspect was known to officers and was known to have an outstanding felony arrest warrant for a theft-related charge,” says Lieutenant Katy Lynch.

Residents of adjacent apartments were evacuated and additional resources were requested, including the La Mesa Police Department’s Special Response Team, the San Diego Sheriff Department’s Crisis Negotiation Team, and a K9 from the San Diego Police Department.

East County News Service

December 9, 2023 (La Mesa) - In partnership with the FBI San Diego Elder Justice Task Force, the FBI San Diego Citizens Academy Alumni Association and the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation’s Senior Center Coalition will host a series of one-hour elder fraud information sessions for seniors, caregivers and neighbors. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Skye Pinon, via ECM news partner 10 News

December 9, 2023 (La Mesa) – Skye Pinon says it was the “scariest moment of my entire life” when she realized that her 15-year-old son,  Max, who has autism, was missing.  Max went for a walk around 3 p.m. shortly before Thanksgiving wearing only a T-shirt and shorts, with no wallet or cell phone.

Skye Pinon and her husband spent an hour searching on their own, then called La Mesa Police, according to her post on a La Mesa community forum. Within minutes, officers took a report, had a helicopter in the air broadcasting Max’s description, called in a volunteer canine search and rescue team, and launched a social media post that was soon widely shared.  

“It only took minutes for the amazing people of this community to begin responding and I immediately began getting calls, texts, and social media messages from people asking how they could help,” Pinon says.

By Mike Atkinson

December 8, 2023 (La Mesa) - As a Texas BBQ aficionado, I've been anxious to try the newly-opened Papalo Sonoran-Style BBQ in La Mesa Village. Chef Drew Bent has a legendary pedigree, most recently the founding chef behind San Diego's Michelin-recognized Lola 55 modern taqueria. 

By Michael Howard

December 8, 2023 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa City Council voted on Nov.28 to join 15 San Diego County cities and agencies in installing 20 automated license plate readers (ALPR) in high traffic areas throughout the city at a cost of $124,500 for a two-year period. 

The vote passed 4-1, with Vice Mayor Laura Lothian casting the only dissenting vote.

By Jessyka Heredia

WATCH FULL VIDEO HERE

Article updated to clartify the views of applicant Pick Axe Holdings and not the opinion of ECM. 

December 6, 2023 (LEMON GROVE)— Lemon Grove is home to 12 massage facilities and is making new policies to cut the number of massage establishments down to eight, require background checks for all owners and managers and display of their therapist certificate issued by the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC). The ordinance will also regulate what hours they can operate and set other rules.

By Miriam Raftery

December 5, 2023 (La Mesa) --  A representative from District Attorney Summer Stephan's office and the La Mesa Police Dept. invite community members to a hate crimes forum with Q&A session on Dec.14 at 5:30 p.m. at the La Mesa Police Dept., 8085  University Ave., La Mesa.

The forum comes on the heels of anti-Semitic flyers repeatedly disseminated in La Mesa and the nearby San Diego communities of Del Cerro,  San Carlos and Allied Gardens in recent months, among other neighborhoods targeted. Some flyers blamed Jews for 9-11 attacks, among other false claims.

By Jacob Pamus

December 1, 2023 (La Mesa)-- Amanda Fagan is an accomplished 19-year-old musician who has written many songs during the past six years.  She lives in La Mesa with her parents and younger sister.  During a two-week stretch at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, she wrote a 23-song musical in just two weeks. A New York musical producer was so impressed that he contracted with Amanda to produce the musical.  Amanda Fagan’s band will be performing at La Mesa’s Holiday in the Village on December 2 and  at Balboa Park’s December Nights on December 1.

By Miriam Raftery

December 1, 2023 (La Mesa) – An online petition started by Keep  La  Mesa Beautiful in opposition to the city’s plan to allow electronic billboards has attracted 338 signatures sent it launched on November 21.  Now, the new owner of Grossmont Center has sent a letter to the city’s mayor and city council opposing two proposed e-billboards along I-8 as detrimental to the regional shopping mall.