Update 10:45 p.m.:  This missing person has been found safe in Tijuana.

January 28, 2011 (San Diego) – San Diego Police seek the public’s help to find a missing juvenile at risk. Lorena Perez-Estrada, 17, has the mental capacity of a much younger person. She speaks Spanish and has a speech impediment. She was wearing a short-sleeve purple T-shirt, blue jeans, and white tennis shoes. She has scars on the back of her hands and no lower teeth.  She is 5 feet tall with a thin build, black hair, and brown eyes.

“She was last seen running off toward the trolley, probably around 3 p.m.,” Officer David Stafford told East County Magazine.  Lorena is a resident of Tijuana, Mexico but disappeared while in San Diego with her family today. Her mother called police to 1500 Imperial Avenue at 3:05 p.m.

Gala planned Feb. 25 at Crystal Ballroom

January 29, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) -- The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce will mark its 100th year, commemorating this milestone with an inaugural Gala and Awards Dinner billed as “East County's most elegant evening.”

Appraiser says average loss in home values is 25 percent

By Billie Jo Jannen
For East County Magazine

January 28, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) --East County residents who oppose a growing collection of industrial wind turbines proposed near rural residences have discovered that they have much in common with wind farm neighbors in the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Japan, Canada and other parts of the United States. Residents who have lived near windmills for years are now publicizing impacts to health and property values.

In fact, a standing-room-only crowd got an earful on those impacts last Wednesday, when experts from Illinois and Canada discussed them at the Boulevard Fire Station.

January 28, 2011 (Deerhorn Valley) – Today, a Deerhorn Valley resident photographed two dogs that match descriptions of those that have been killing livestock animals in the area. If you can identify the dogs or their owners, please contact theantler@deerhornvalley.net.

January 27, 2011 (Deerhorn Valley) – Daniel Alphonse Ignosci, a retired San Diego Fire Department captain and long-time resident of Deerhorn Valley, died January 7, 2011 at age 70.

Volunteers to remain unpaid; reactions mixed among area residents

January 28, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – On Tuesday, San Diego’s Board of Sueprvisors voted unanimously to consolidate five additional volunteer fire departments in unincorporated backcountry areas (Boulevard, Campo, Mount Laguna, Palomar Mountain, and San Pasqual) into the County’s newly created Regional Fire Authority.

January 28, 2011 (Lakeside) 5:25 p.m.–CHP is en route to a serious motorcycle accident on Highway 67 at Willow Road. According to a caller who reported the accident at 5:20 p.m., the motorcyclist was engaged in reckless driving, CHP’s incident page reports. The motorcyclist flew into the air and rolled, witnesses reported.

January 28, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) has introduced legislation that would halt the repeal of the military’s don’t ask, don’t tell policy. President recently signed the repeal into law and the military is on a path to implementation of the repeal measure, which will allow gay and lesbian soldiers to serve openly in the U.S. military.

Plan is opposed by cities, labor, development interests, and affordable housing advocates

By Miriam Raftery

January 27, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Governor Jerry Brown has proposed to eliminate redevelopment agencies (RDAs), a move he predicts would save the cash-strapped state $1.7 billion in the next fiscal year. The Governor’s plan would take away funds for improving blighted areas and instead divert those dollars to school districts, counties, and state coffers. But the plan is being met with strenuous opposition from cities and redevelopment entities around the state—including here in East County.

East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County, published in other media.

January 27, 2011 (Escondido) – The California Center for the Arts in Escondido and Mike Pettite Presentations will present the musical comedy Forever Plaid on Saturday, January 29 at 7 p.m.

January 27, 2011 (La Mesa) – A woman walking to her car in the Wal-Mart parking lot at Grossmont Center had her purse stolen last night around 6:30 p.m.The victim was approached from behind by the suspect, who grabbed the purse by the strap and attempted to flee. The victim tried unsuccessfully to hold onto her puse, twisting her lower back during the struggle.

January 27, 2011 (La Mesa)- On Tuesday, January 25 at 9:37 a.m., a lone suspect robbed the Pacific West Bank at 7966 La Mesa Boulevard. He handed a teller a demand note and fled on foot with the cash. No weapon was displayed and no one was harmed. Police called in the ASTREA helicopter to assist, but were unable to locate the suspect, who was last seen near La Mesa Blvd. and Guava Avenue.

Shocking numbers could be even higher if veterans were included

January 25, 2011 – Results of a new study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry have found that 93 percent of soldiers contemplated suicide when they went without aggressive mental counseling in a controlled group.

Results of the study, conducted by the Army on 20,000 soldiers in Iraq, shows that 54 percent fewer soldiers contemplated suicide and the number of soldiers who needed to be sent home with mental health problems dropped by nearly 70 percent with more aggressive counseling in the field.