January 1, 2011 (Lakeside) -- Trever Richardson took this awe-inspiring shot of sunshine on the horizon, viewed from a hiking trail at Louis Seltzer Park in Lakeside.
January 2, 2010 (El Cajon)-- Cypress College defeated Mt. San Jacinto College to win the Grossmont College 23rd Annual Holiday Tournament for women's basketball held on the Grossmont campus in El Cajon December 28 - 30. The Grossmont Griffins finished in fourth place.
New laws address problems ranging from Facebook frauds to truant teens
January 2, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – As of January 1st, 725 new laws take effect in California. How many may affect you, your family, or your business?
Here are highlights of some new measures on the books.
January 2, 2010 (San Diego) – As winter temperatures locally dip below freezing, San Diego Veterans For Peace is distributing sleeping bags and ponchos to the homeless.
“So far we have distributed 145 sets, and are seeking donations to continue,” said Ramona resident Dave Patterson, Veterans for Peace spokesman. The group seeks donations of cash, sleeping bags and ponchos to help protect local veterans from winter storms and cold. Last year, more than 60 homeless people died on the streets of San Diego, many from exposure to harsh winter weather.
January 2, 2011—“New Year’s Day is a perfect day to celebrate Peace on Earth,” said El Cajon resident Norrie Robbins.
Perhaps you were among the people passing by who honked car horns or displayed the two-finger peace symbol throughout the day, as Robbins shivered on a sunny but cold mid-winter afternoon to bring her message of peace to East County residents.
December 29, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) –Good news often gets overlooked by the media amid headlines blaring the latest catastrophic news. We’ve scoured the globe to bring you the most important news trends that give reason for optimism in the coming year.
January 1, 2011 (San Diego) – A New Year’s Day hike at Mission Trails Park was cut short when a hiker became injured, prompting a technical rescue. Incident Page Network reports that San Diego Fire Department dispatched a helicopter to provide a hoist rescue since the area was inaccessible to an ambulance by ground.
January 1, 2011 (San Diego) – San Diego Police seek public help to locate Juana Caltzontzin Martinez, a mother of eight. She was last seen on Christmas Day, December 25th, in the area of 700 Raven Street in San Diego, according to SDPD.
The San Diego Examiner reported yesterday that Martinez left to go to an Indian casino and told her family she would return Sunday. She normally takes the trolley to El Cajon, then transfers to a bus bus to reach one of three casinos in East County (Barona, Sycuan, and Viejas). The family is not sure which casino she intended to visit this time. According to the Examiner, a few days ago a man came to the family home and said he found the missing woman's wallet on a sidewalk in El Cajon. Her ID was in it, but the money was gone.
January 1, 2011 (Lakeside) – An argument that began with racial slurs resulted in a fight involving 30 to 40 people shortly before midnight on New Year’s Eve. The brawl ended with multiple injuries and five arrests in Lakeside.
Update 6:45 p.m. - The fire destroyed one home and damaged a neighboring residence before fire officials were able to douse the blaze. Authorities have not yet disclosed the fates of the homeowner and his wife, however the investigation has been turned over to the Homicide Unit. Neighbors have told other media that the homeowner was despondent because he and his wife had lost their jobs, faced foreclosure, and because the wife had cancer.
January 1, 2010 (Normal Heights)—A homeowner at 4348 38th Street in San Diego’s Normal Heights neighborhood heard a knock on his front door, but didn’t answer. Moments later, the living room window was smashed. The homeowner pursued the intruder into an alley, where a fight ensued and the homeowner was stabbed several times in the head, Officer Frank Cali with San Diego Police reports.
An open letter to Mayor Jerry Sanders opposing plan to fluoridate San Diego’s water
By Jeanie Ryan
January 1, 2010 (San Diego) --The problem with water fluoridation is that it negatively affects those we try to protect. The American Dental Association advises no fluoride for children under 6 months and then very little to one year of age-- less than that with is supplied in fluoridated water.
We know that fluoride crosses the blood brain barrier and that one in six children have a learning disability. Studies have shown that children in high fluoride areas have lower intelligence. (See a Chinese study linking mental retardation and low IQs to fluoride in water.)
January 1, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – At the holiday break, Santana High School’s Varsity leads 5-0 after the first six weeks of the 10-week Academic League competition in the Grossmont Union High School District. In the Junior Varsity division, Granite Hills is on top with a flawless 6-0 record.
January 1, 2010 (El Cajon)--The FBI and local law enforcement are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the man responsible for robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, 2366 Jamacha Road, El Cajon, on Monday, December 20th. The suspect entered the bank at around 3:05 p.m. carrying a black umbrella in his right hand to conceal the right side of his face. Once at the teller counter, the robber pulled out a demand note using his left hand.
January 1, 2011 (Washington D.C.) - The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission has announced recalls on several products that have caused injury to consumers, including heaters sold at Wal-Mart, portable butane stoves, children's hooded jackets, Fagor refrigerators, and pacing loudspeakers. Below are details.
January 1, 2010 (La Mesa) --Kids and Seniors Together (KAST) is looking for a few good volunteers! Jointly sponsored by the City of La Mesa and La Mesa Spring Valley School District, KAST is an intergenerational after-school program that matches mature adults with second through-fourth-grade students. It is designed to provide mature adults an opportunity to share their talents, skills and special interest with students who benefit from one-on-one mentoring.
January 1, 2011 (Alpine) – Hit by a double whammy of storm damage followed by thousands of dollars in veterinary bills, the Alpine-based big cat rescue facility Lions Tigers & Bears is seeking help from the public in both cash donations and a wish list of items needed.
January 1, 2011 (La Mesa) Updated 8 p.m.– Dana Lohner, 48, of La Mesa has been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving after she struck and killed Kelly McPherson, 53, a pedestrian from Mission Valley. McPherson died at the scene.
Lohner, who was driving a Ford Mustang was booked into the Las Colinas Jail.
December 31, 2010 (San Diego) – A free tow home is available for New Year’s party-goers who don’t want to take chances behind the wheel. The “tipsy tow” service is offered by the Automobile Club of Southern California, but is open to everyone, even if you are not a member. Free tows are available from 6 p.m. tonight to 6 a.m. tomorrow by calling 1-800-400-4AAA.
The Auto Club estimates that a first time conviction for driving under the influence can cost $13,468 or more in fines, penalties, restitution, legal fees and increased insurance costs.
Filthy conditions lead Animal Control to take custody of animals
December 31, 2010 (Santee) – Firefighters responded to a house fire this morning in the 9600 block of Halberns Blvd., where they discovered at least a dozen cats living in filthy conditions inside. According to ECM news partner 10 News, Animal Control officers took the cats for veterinary evaluation, include two which were ill from the smoke.
DUI Arrests Down; With One Suspected DUI Related Fatality
December 31, 2010 (San Diego)--A countywide holiday anti-DUI crackdown has resulted in numerous DUI arrests during local traffic enforcement details and special DUI deployments in San Diego County. From 12:01 a.m. December 17 through midnight on December 29, officers from 14 county law enforcement agencies arrested 499 people for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In 2009, 582 DUI arrests and bookings occurred during the same 13 day time period.
As part of the Winter Holiday Anti-DUI crackdown, members from multiple law enforcement agencies in San Diego County will be conducting DUI checkpoints and directed DUI Saturation enforcement during the New Year’s Eve weekend. Details are planned in the following cities, San Diego’s Sheriff office reports:
December 31, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Diana Ellen Bialawski, who was last seen by her family on Christmas Day when she left a note saying she was heading to Julian, has been found and is safe. Detective Mo Parga with San Diego Police left a message at East County Magazine’s office advising our editor that Bialawski has been located and is unharmed. Parga could not be reached for details this evening.
December 31, 2010 (San Diego)--A woman, 59, was driving her Ford Escort southbound in the 4700 block of College Avenue when an 81-year-old man crossed mid-block in fron of the car and was struck. The pedestrian suffered serious injuries to his arm and both legs.
December 30, 2010 (Rancho Penasquitos) – A tow truck driver turning onto eastbound Rancho Penasquitos Blvd. from Paseo Montril passed a woman, 58, who was crossing the street in a crosswalk. The driver’s side step caught the pedestrian’s foot, causing serious leg injuries.
December 30, 2010 (San Diego's East County)--With three disaster declarations in just one year (for earthquake, flooding, and the “bomb house”), it’s been a turbulent year in East County and San Diego’s inland regions.
Here’s a look back at some of the biggest stories of 2010—from Mother Nature rocking our region to political and economic upheavals. We’ve also had stories of inspiration and courage, some heart-wrenching tales, plus news items that range from wild to just plain wacky.
Here are our picks for the year’s top stories that impacted East County.
December 30, 2010 (Lemon Grove) –Sheriff’s Deputy Seel shot and killed a pit bull at 6956 after the dog bit his thigh. The deputy was contacted by a citizen who reported a vicious pit bull dog at 9 a.m. near San Miguel Elementary School. The citizen claimed the pit bull charged him and bit him in the leg, although the reporting party had no visible injuries and did not request medical attention.
December 30, 2010 (San Diego)--HOME (Home Owners Mobile Education) will offer FREE counseling services to San Diego homeowners experiencing difficulties making monthly mortgage payments. The HOME clinic will be held on Saturday, January 8, 2011 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Malcolm X Branch Library & Performing Arts Center. This event is in co-sponsorship with Congresswoman Susan Davis, and the Legal Aid Society of San Diego Pro Bono Program.
January 1, 2011 (Lakeside) -- Trever Richardson took this awe-inspiring shot of sunshine on the horizon, viewed from a hiking trail at Louis Seltzer Park in Lakeside. 
January 2, 2010 (San Diego) – As winter temperatures locally dip below freezing, San Diego Veterans For Peace is distributing sleeping bags and ponchos to the homeless. 
By Miriam Raftery
By Jeanie Ryan
By Miriam Raftery
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR MARKETING SUCCESS
January 1, 2010 (El Cajon)--The FBI and local law enforcement are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the man responsible for robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, 2366 Jamacha Road, El Cajon, on Monday, December 20th. The suspect entered the bank at around 3:05 p.m. carrying a black umbrella in his right hand to conceal the right side of his face. Once at the teller counter, the robber pulled out a demand note using his left hand. 
January 1, 2011 (Washington D.C.) - The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission has announced recalls on several products that have caused injury to consumers, including heaters sold at Wal-Mart, portable butane stoves, children's hooded jackets, Fagor refrigerators, and pacing loudspeakers. Below are details. 
January 1, 2010 (La Mesa) --Kids and Seniors Together (KAST) is looking for a few good volunteers! Jointly sponsored by the City of La Mesa and La Mesa Spring Valley School District, KAST is an intergenerational after-school program that matches mature adults with second through-fourth-grade students. It is designed to provide mature adults an opportunity to share their talents, skills and special interest with students who benefit from one-on-one mentoring.
Filthy conditions lead Animal Control to take custody of animals
December 30, 2010 (Rancho Penasquitos) – A tow truck driver turning onto eastbound Rancho Penasquitos Blvd. from Paseo Montril passed a woman, 58, who was crossing the street in a crosswalk. The driver’s side step caught the pedestrian’s foot, causing serious leg injuries. 
December 30, 2010 (Lemon Grove) –Sheriff’s Deputy Seel shot and killed a pit bull at 6956 after the dog bit his thigh. The deputy was contacted by a citizen who reported a vicious pit bull dog at 9 a.m. near San Miguel Elementary School. The citizen claimed the pit bull charged him and bit him in the leg, although the reporting party had no visible injuries and did not request medical attention.
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