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.
Authorities provide new details on case, ask public help to find missing woman and white SUV RAV-4 vehicle
December 30, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) –Diana Ellen Bialawski, 26, left home in Carmel Creek on Christmas Day. “She left a note saying she was going to Julian to visit friends, and I’ll call you if I need help,’” Detective Mo Parga with SDPD said, adding that Bialawski had been suffering from depression when she took off in a white Toyota Rav-4 SUV that only had a quarter tank of gas.
“We had SDPD fixed-wing and helicopter up all day today searching,” Parga said. Stormy weather prevented aerial searches until today.
December 30, 2010 (San Diego) – Across the County, emergency crews are busy repairing roads and assessing other damage from the most recent storm.
Following on the heels of last week’s heavy storms which saturated soils and overflowed numerous waterways, the most recent downpour caused additional rock and mudslides, undermined roads and caused potholes and sinkholes.
December 30, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a frost advisory for San Diego’s inland valleys and lower deserts for late tonight through mid-morning Friday. Temperatures are expected to dip into the upper 20s to low 30s, with isolated areas in the mid-20s. Strong, gusty winds are also forecast.
Reviews: True Grit, Tangled, The Fighter, and I Love You Phillip Morris
By Brian Lafferty
December 30, 2010 (San Diego)—Today’s column is going to be different. Normally I post one movie review at a time. Today I will have several shorter reviews in this one post. Before I post them I would like to explain what has happened the last two months that have made for less reviews than normal.
December 30, 2010 (El Cajon)—An El Cajon man turned himself into the El Cajon Police Department around 11:30 a.m. today, stating that he was the driver of a hit and run vehicle. According to El Cajon Police Detective Tim Roberts, the driver is John Senati, 46, of El Cajon.
The collision occurred Monday evening in the 500 block of North Mollison Avenue when a vehicle struck and injured a pedestrian who was crossing the roadway. The pedestrian remains hospitalized in critical condition.
December 29, 2010 (Spring Valley) – John Cahan, 39, pled not guilty to charges of elder abuse, first-degree burglary and assault with a deadly weapon. He is accused of walking into his father’s bedroom on Terrace Sprio in Spring Valley on December 26th and attacking him with a samurai sword.
December 29, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Some prominent East County residents passed on in 2010, but left their mark indelibly on our region. A few were famous, such as movie star Dennis Hopper, or tribal leader Anna Sandoval. Some were heroes--including a Pearl Harbor survivor. Others made news with the dramatic means of their passing—stories that touched our hearts or served as lessons learned.
Below are some of the most memorable individuals from San Diego's inland region to whom we bade final farewell in 2010.
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.
December 30, 2010 (San Diego) – Across the County, emergency crews are busy repairing roads and assessing other damage from the most recent storm. 
Reviews: True Grit, Tangled, The Fighter, and I Love You Phillip Morris
December 30, 2010 (El Cajon)—An El Cajon man turned himself into the El Cajon Police Department around 11:30 a.m. today, stating that he was the driver of a hit and run vehicle. According to El Cajon Police Detective Tim Roberts, the driver is John Senati, 46, of El Cajon.
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