July 28, 2010 (Julian) – A fire during the night destroyed a triple-wide mobile home on the property of Whispering Winds Catholic Camp and Conference Center at 17606 Harrison Park Road in Julian. Firefighters from Cal Fire and the Julian Volunteer Fire Department responded to the fully-involved blaze at 2:53 a.m.
July 28, 2010 (Pine Valley) – The 40th annual Pine Valley Days takes place on July 30th and 31st in this normally quiet mountain town in East County to benefit charitable causes supported by the Mountain Empire Mens Club. Two full days of activities include a parade, rides, barbecue dinner, live music and dancing.
Longtime instructor and musician will oversee arts, languages and communication department; aims to build performing arts center for campus
East County News Service
July 27, 2010 (El Cajon) – Steve Baker has been named dean of the department of arts, languages and communication at Grossmont College. Baker began his career with the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District as a music instructor in 1985, and has taught at both Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges. At Grossmont, he was music department chair and interim dean before his latest appointment.
Baker has been a professional musician for over 40 years. In his career as a pianist, he has performed with numerous national and international recording artists. The Steve Baker Trio specializes in Brazilian and Afro-Cuban-influenced jazz and performs in varied venues.
July 26, 2010 (San Diego) – San Diego Police seek the public’s help to locate David Chan Mow, 56, who has been missing since 9 p.m. on July 21st. Mow, who suffers memory loss and may need medical attention, was driving a 2005 GMC Silver Envoy. He used an ATM machine at 2900 30th Street at 11 p.m. on July 21st and has not been seen or heard from since.
July 27, 2010 (El Cajon) -- Grossmont College Adult Reentry Program will host “Your Tomorrow Starts Here,” a free informational meeting for adults interested in returning to school to reenter the workforce, learn a new career, earn a college diploma or upgrade their skills for a job promotion, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 3, in Room 220 on the college campus. Admission and parking are free.
July 25, 2010 (Campo) – A brush fire reported at 3:22 p.m. in the 600 block of Forest Gate Road burned approximately 10 acres in Campo today. “No homes were threatened and there were no evacuations,” Cal Fire Battalion Chief Nick Schuler informed East County Magazine.
July 25, 2010 (Spring Valley) -- Boots on the ground and helicopters in the air worked together to keep a fast-moving brush fire at nine acres in the Dictionary Hill area. While 25 homes on the north side of Grand Avenue were ordered evacuated, no structures were damaged and no injuries reported. Cause of the fire is under investigation; however San Miguel Fire officials say it is “suspicious” in nature.
July 25, 2010 (Jamacha) – Two San Diego Police officers shot a man in the chest and leg this morning after he reportedly threw a knife at an officer . Neighbors called San Diego Police this morning to report that the man at 6935 Jamacha was breaking windows with a hammer and that children were running around screaming, SDPD reports.
July 25, 2010 (Spring Valley) 3:35 p.m. – A fast-moving brush fire is burning on Dictionary Hill, where homes are being evacuated on Grand Avenue. Two helicopters and a type-3 strike team have been requested; Heartland Fire crews are now at the scene.
July 24, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Mountain Empire School District, which serves rural areas of East County is asking for donations of backpacks and other school supplies for students. Communities in the district, which serves many poor families, include Boulevard, Campo, Clover Flat, Dehesa, Guatay, Jacumba, Pine Valley, Potrero, and Tecate.
Donations may be brought to locations in Alpine or Campo prior to Back to School Night on August 31.
One-of-a-kind equine-assisted rehab sessions provided by women for women
By Shirley Clukey
July 25, 2010 (Alpine) -- “This is too beautiful, too simple, too good not to share with others,” said Catherine Hand, founder and director of Dream Rider, at a recent training of volunteers. Dream Rider is an equine-assisted rehabilitation program for breast cancer survivors.
Don’t be fooled by the program’s name; it does not involve horse riding lessons and no horse experience is necessary. Using human to horse contact, music and the movement of the horse, a client is led through a gradual progression of exercises designed specifically for her rehabilitation needs. It starts with the simple act of lying prone on the horse’s back, and aligning her breath with that of the horse.
July 25, 2010 (San Diego) – Shortly after 4 a.m. yesterday, San Diego Police officers responded to a report of shots fired in the 3700 block of Ocean View Boulevard, several blocks east of I-15. They found a 43-year-old black woman lying on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to her head. Witnesses told police they saw the woman talking to at least two black males in dark four-door sedan.
July 25, 2010 (College area) – Two men in their 60s walking on the 4500 block of College Avenue near Acorn Street were robbed at gunpoint at 5:33 a.m. yesterday morning. A black male driving a green Honda two-door pulled up next to the victims, pulled out a handgun and demanded cash.
July 25, 2010 (City Heights) – A 20-year-old driver who stopped at a traffic light at 2:47 a.m. in the 3800 block of University was shot by a pedestrian who fired four rounds at him with a semi-automatic handgun. The assailant is described as a black male adult, 5’5”, 180 pounds, wearing all black clothing.
July 25, 2010 (Live Oak Spring) – Crystal Lopez, 15, has been identified as the victim in a fatality rollover accident that occurred shortly after 10 a.m. July 24 on I-8 east near Crestwood Road. Lopez died and her mother was also injured.
According to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s office, the mother was driving when she heard a “pop” and lost control of the vehicle.
All aboard for the most scenic and relaxing train rides in North America--and beyond…
By Kelly Wieboldt
Are you ready for a unique experience? A great train ride might be exactly what you are looking for! Once you're snug in your window seat, you've already begun.
July 24, 2010 (La Mesa) – A woman holding her three-year-old son in one arm and a wallet and cell phone in her other hand was accosted at 9:45 last night in the Target parking lot at Grossmont Center. A man grabbed her arm and attempted to take her wallet and phone. A struggle ensued. The victim punched the suspect in the face and fled to her vehicle, managing to hold onto her wallet, but her phone was stolen.
July 23, 2010 (San Diego) -- The FBI is seeking information that will lead to the arrest of the following individuals in relation to the"Operation Luz Verde" (green light) charges announced early today on federal racketeering charges related to a drug trafficking cartel:
Juan Carlos Rique, aka JC Age 26 Tijuana, Mexico
Jennifer Escamilla Age 26 Tijuana, Mexico
Hassain Alzubaidy, aka Arab Age 25 Moreno Valley, California
Official in Mexican Attorney General’s office implicated; arrests include numerous San Diego County residents
East County News Service
July 23, 2010 (San Diego)—A criminal complaint was unsealed today charging 43 defendants with participating in a federal racketeering (RICO) conspiracy. The RICO conspiracy alleged involves the commission of both state and federal crimes, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, drug trafficking and money laundering offenses. The complaint accuses defendants of being members and associates of the Fernando Sanchez Organization (FSO), an offshoot of the Arellano-Felix drug-trafficking cartel.
July 22, 2010 (San Diego) – Two-year-old Bentley Do’s family lives just one block from a San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Station. But the station’s crew was filling in for another Mira Mesa station’s personnel as part of city-ordered “brown-outs” to save money.
Democrats break Republican filibuster in Senate and win passage of bill
July 23, 2010 (Washingon D.C.) – President Barack Obama yesterday signed into law legislation to extend unemployment benefits for 2.5 milllion out of work Americans.
The law extends unemployment insurance through November for out-of-work Americans who have not yet exhausted up to 99 weeks of aid. Benefits will be retroactive to late May, when the last extension expired. Benefits vary by state but will average $310 per week.
Hunter introduces bill to block federal lawsuit against Arizona; local activists head to Arizona for mass protest
Obama administration audits thousands of companies to force them to drop undocumented immigrant workers
By Miriam Raftery
July 23, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) –Local opponents and supporters of Arizona’s new immigration law are taking actions ranging from protests to legislation. Meanwhile, a new statewide Field poll of California voters released this week finds the public nearly evenly divided, with 49% in support and 45% opposed.
July 22, 2010 – President Barack Obama has signed into law H.R. 4175, a landmark reform measure that “cracks down on corporate fraud and holds big banks accountable for reckless, risky behavior,” said Senator Patrick Leavy (D-Vermont.)
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