January 6, 2012 (El Cajon) -- Twenty-four recruits will begin a 16-week Firefighter 1 Academy starting this coming Saturday, January 7, at the Heartland Fire Training academy located at 1301 N. Marshall Avenue in El Cajon. The Academy Coordinator will be retired El Cajon Fire Chief Rich Henry.
January 6, 2012 (San Diego)--100 years after a Free Speech movement was born in San Diego to protect citizens’ right to protest, the movement has come full circle…..
Few San Diegans today are aware of numerous free speech fights across America a century ago—or that “dwarfing them all was the San Diego episode,” according to the San Diego Journal of History’s fascinating account at http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/73winter/speech.htm. Fearing mob violence from the Industrial Workers of the World amid a growing U.S. labor movement and actions by anarchists, City leaders in 1912 outlawed public speaking in a five-square block area of then-downtown centered at Fifth and E streets. Thousands of defiant people turned out in protest of the ban and numerous arrests ensued, clogging jails and courts. Fire hoses, horsewhips and clubs were used by police; vigilantes joined police, even kidnapping a newspaper publisher as riots and deaths ensued in a conflict that lasted six months.
To this day, however, San Diego has never restored the people’s free speech rights.
Today, Occupy San Diego members came to City Hall to present a ballot proposal that would amend the encroachment code.
January 5, 2011 (Alpine) Responding to an alarming teen fatality trend in San Diego County, Alpine Sheriff’s Station will host “Start Smart” on Thursday, January 12 at 7 pm. at the Viejas Training Center, 5000 Willow Road in Alpine (first driveway on the left after the casino).
January 5, 2012 (San Diego) – Birthright Israel, the national not-for-profit that provides free trips to Israel for young adults from around the world, has announced that thousands of San Diego area Jewish youth will have the opportunity to make a pilgrimage to the holy land in 2012 to discover their history and culture for the very first time.
José Antonio Vargas, award winning multimedia journalist and founder of Define American,to headline Breakfast program heralding “inspirational voices for acceptance, inclusion, opportunity and change.”
January 5, 2012 (San Diego) -- The 24th Annual All People’s Breakfast – “All People Speak” will take place on Monday, January 16, 2012 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront , One Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA The doors will open at 6:45 a.m. for a two-hour program that begins at 7:30a.m.
January 5, 2012 (East County) -- The well-known East County Youth Symphony (ECYS) is going to form a new Wind Orchestra (concert band) which will be conducted by Joe Dyke, former instrumental music teacher in the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District. The band is a free (no tuition or fees) program for musicians ages 11 to 18 with at least one year of experience.
January 5, 2011 (Julian)--The San Diego County Department of Parks and Recreation will be conducting weekday pile burns in January through May, weather permitting, at Santa Ysabel East Preserve, Volcan Mountain Preserve and William Heise County Park.
The pile burns — in which piles of cleared brush and other cut vegetation are burned — will reduce the fire hazard of excess vegetation fuels.
January 5, 2012 -- (San Diego’s East County) – ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:
U.S. news
U.S. Manufacturing jumps to 6 month high (Journal of Commerce)
U.S. warns Iran not to disrupt oil route (San Diego Union-Tribune)
The bomb buried in Obamacare explodes today—hurray! (Forbes)
Robot wars: what is the role of drones and robots in wars and how will they shape the future of the U.S. military? (Aljazeera)
Iraqi refugees struggle for peace in America (NPR)
Obama’s resolution? To limit dealings in Congress (Los Angeles Times)
U.S. presidential race
Mitt Romney poised to make history (Los Angeles Times)
Obama weighs two tactics on Romney (NY Times)
Mitt Romney says he would veto Dream Act (Los Angeles Times)
Rick Santorum says he would bomb Iraq’s nuclear sites (Slate.com)
Paul criticizes Gingrich as campaign shifts to New Hampshire (Wall Street Journal)
McCain chooses former foe Romney over ex-Senate colleague Santorum (CNN)
2012 GOP lawmaker endorsements for president (The Hill)
‘Are the Republican candidates all crazy?’ (BBC)
WORLD
Iran says it has produced its first nuclear fuel rod (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Egypt forces storm offices of pro-democracy groups (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Who owns 69 patriot missiles seized in Finland? (MSNBC)
Muslim Brotherhood vows not to recognize Israel (Jerusalem Post)
Amid bloodshed, Hamas prepares to leave Syria (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.
January 5, 2012 -- (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:
LOCAL
San Diego farmers hit record sales in 2011 amid many challenges (KPBS)
San Diego leaders eye new law to save redevelopment (San Diego Union-Tribune)
What redevelopment’s death means for San Diego (Voice of San Diego)
D.A. says officials took dinners, tickets, more (San Diego Union-Tribune)
San Diego VA Hospital to get influx of Iraq War vets (KPBS)
Helix Water District chief is staying on through Jan. 31—or perhaps later (La Mesa Patch)
Rep. Hunter attends services for aide “Mac” MacWilliams, killed in road accident (Ramona Patch)
Village’s Larry Stowe sought on arrest warrant; made infamous on ’60 Minutes’ (La Mesa Patch)
Otay Water contracts tied to board chairman (San Diego Union-Tribune)
USO Sailor of the year killed in Afghanistan(San Diego Union-Tribune)
STATE
State Board eyes fire fees again (San Diego Union-Tribune)
California Legislature returns to face more budget woes, new election rules (Sacramento Bee)
Federal judge blocks California emission rules (Reuters)
LA Arson: A turning point for police use of Twitter, social media (Los Angeles Times)
Deputy who arrested arson suspect shuns limelight (Los Angeles Times)
Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.
January 4, 2012 (El Cajon) – A homeowner escaped her burning mobile home this morning, but her chihuahua dog, Mojo, was found unconscious and near death. Thanks to dedicated efforts by local firefighters, however, Mojo's live has been saved.
January 4, 2012 (Santee)—The driver of a sedan that struck another vehicle was unconscious at the scene of an accident on Mission Gorge Road in Santee this evening, ECM photographer Dennis Richardson reports.
January 4, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – A man suspected of burglarizing senior citizens in Santee, Chula Vista, and Rancho Bernardo was arrested this morning. Joshua David Nicholes, 20, was taken into custody by detectives from the Santee Sheriff’s Station and Riverside Sheriff’s deputies after a warrant search on Margarita Road in Temecula.
January 4, 2012 (San Diego County) -- Effective January 1, 2012, California Fire Safe Council (CFSC) will become the state liaison for the Firewise Communities/USA program in California. This new designation is part of an agreement between Firewise USA, CFSC and CAL FIRE that delegates CAL FIRE's authority as State Firewise liaison to the California Fire Safe Council. The agreement is memorialized in a Memorandum of Understanding between CFSC and CAL FIRE.
January 4, 2012 (San Diego) -- San Diego Police Department Sex Crimes Unit detectives are investigating a recent sexual assault that occurred near Teralta Community Park.
January 4, 2012 (Lake Murray) -- The Sparrow is not exactly an exotic or glamorous bird, but it’s one with which we are all familiar. This column highlights just a couple of the many sparrows in our area. Have some fun and try to guess how many different varieties of sparrows have passed through or are residents of our fine county that the San Diego Natural History Museum list on their website. Answer at the end of article, and I’ll give you a hint, it’s over 10.
January 4, 2012 (San Diego) --In the beginning of its second year, the San Diego Veterans For Peace (SDVP) group’s Compassion Campaign has coordinated the efforts of a few dedicated veterans in an effort to help some of the most needy veterans. The Compassion Campaign established in December 2010, is the nonprofit group’s crusade to provide sleeping bag sets and waterproof gear to San Diego’s homeless population.
January 4, 2011 (Scripps Ranch) –A man in his 40s has been transported to a hospital with fractured vertebrae following an accident on Scripps Lake Drive yesterday.
Bachmann drops out, Santorum and Paul make strong showings
January 4, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney won the Iowa Caucus in the Republican Presidential race by a slim eight-vote margin last night, taking 24.6% of the vote.
January 2, 2011 (San Diego's East County) – On the eve of Tuesday's Iowa Caucus, polls show the race could be close—with a number of candidates striving to win the Republican Presidential Primary election or prove viability with a strong showing.
All Republican contenders are conservatives who believe in smaller government, lower taxes, less regulation of businesses and corporations, rolling back environmental regulations, and outlawing or restricting abortions.Each has spoken out against President Obama’s healthcare reforms and all but one has indicated support for either privatizing or eliminating Social Security. (For detailed, nonpartisan comparisons of candidates’ stances on many issues, visit www.ontheissues.org.)
But there are key differences.Scroll down for the key qualifications and biographical highlights for each major contender in Iowa, as well as Jon Huntsman, a viable contender in the upcoming New Hampshire primary. Also included are standout statements which differentiate their stances from most competitors and key controversies.
January 3, 2012 (Ramona) – Highway 78 westbound is closed in both directions between Ash and Haverford Road in Ramona due to a fatality accident which occurred at 3:48 p.m.
Larry Landeros at the CHP confirmed that the collision involved a red scooter and a red car. There is no word yet on the identity of the victim.
January 2, 2012 (Ramona) – The Ramona Grasslands and Wildlife Research Institute (WRI) invites the public to visit and view wintering and resident birds of prey. Programs begin promptly at 9 a.m. and end at noon every Saturday in January. This free event is held at the WRI headquarters at 18030 Highland Valley Road near the intersection of Rangeland and Highland Roads in Ramona.
January 3, 2011 (San Diego) – Demon Seed, available from the Warner Archive Collection and adapted from a novel by Dean Koontz, may borrow from Rosemary’s Baby and 2001: A Space Odyssey, but I still felt like I hadn’t seen anything like it before.
January 3, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) -- San Diego Police Department Robbery Unit detectives have recovered the watches believed to have been stolen in a series of violent “smash and grab” robberies that occurred throughout the state.
January 3, 2012, (San Diego) -- The San Diego Better Business Bureau (BBB), San Diego’s largest county-wide business membership organization, has issued a list of red flags to help consumers make 2012 a scam-free year.
“There is no stronger remedy for fraud that an educated consumer who refuses to be conned,” said Sheryl Bilbrey, San Diego BBB president/CEO. “Rough economic times mean that consumer scams and rip-offs are at an all-time high as unscrupulous individuals and companies will roll-out every trick in the book.
January 2, 2012 (San Diego)-The tallest dam raise in the United States is under construction in Lakeside at the San Vicente Reservoir. Now the San Diego County Water Authority has set up a web cam where you can view the progress live. High-resolution photos are updated every 30 minutes, providing a current snapshot. The time-lapse sequences combine photos, illustrating the construction process with two vantage points of construction.
January 3, 2012 (San Diego)--Watching TV yesterday, I learned that both the Mayan and Chinese Calendar predict the world will end sometime this year. I hope to not check out until I have exhausted my “To Do” list.
January 3, 2011 (Pine Valley) – Cal-Fire will be conducting a prescribed burn today through January 7 in the Rancho Corte Madera area southwest of Pine Valley.
Approximately 200 acres of brush will be burned as part of a vegetation management plan aimed at protecting surrounding communities.
The burns will be conducted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Smoke will be visible in many areas of the county.
January 3, 2011 (Rancho San Diego) --- Thomas Francis Kelley, an inmate who escaped from Donovan State Prison Sunday night, has been apprehended a short time ago at a trolley station in Lemon Grove, 10 News reports.
A manhunt ensued after a possible spotting of Kelley earlier this morning at Wind River Road and Elva Street in Rancho San Diego.
January 3, 2012 (San Diego) – I pop in the Bridesmaids DVD. I’m ready to laugh. I wait. Fifteen minutes pass. Then thirty. No laughter. Then a whole hour passes by, but not a single chuckle was uttered. Towards the end of the movie it was so quiet in the house that I distinctly thought I heard the sound of crickets chirping outside.
January 2, 2012 (Alpine)--The Alpine Fire Protection District has approved pension changes with the Alpine Fire Fighters Association. After months of negotiations, at a Board meeting on December 20, 2011 both sides agreed to a contract extension that makes changes to the pensions of current and future Firefighters employed with the District. All employees of the Alpine Fire District are members of the CalPERS retirement system.
January 5, 2011 (Julian)--The San Diego County Department of Parks and Recreation will be conducting weekday pile burns in January through May, weather permitting, at Santa Ysabel East Preserve, Volcan Mountain Preserve and William Heise County Park. 
January 5, 2012 -- (San Diego’s East County) – ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include: 
Bachmann drops out, Santorum and Paul make strong showings
By Brian Lafferty
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