November 19, 2011 (Lakeside) -- Esaw O'Guin, Jr., 27, has died of injuries sustained in a crash that occurred November 17 on southbound Highway 67 near Slaughterhouse Canyon Road in Lakeside. O'Guin, who was wearing a seatbelt, was driving a Toyota Camry when for unknown reasons, he crossed the center line and collided with another vehicle.

November 19, 2011(San Diego’s East County) – A Pacific storm is forecast to bring several inches of snow  on Sunday to East County mountain areas above 5,500 to 6,000 feet. Gusty winds up to 40 mph are also forecast in the mountains, with thunderstorms possible. Countywide, morning showers are expected to intensify in the afternoon and evening.

November 18, 2011 (La Mesa) – A woman walking in the 5600 of Lake Park Way near Lake Murray called 911 yesterday at 5:34 p.m. to report that a man pushed her to the ground and forcibly took her backpack, which was dark blue and contained her phone and medications.

The suspect is described as black, 20-30 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing apprxoimately 160 pounds. He wore a dark beanie hat, navy blue sweatshirt and pants of unknown color.

November 19, 2911 (El Cajon) -- The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) board of directors has unanimously voted to approve a $150,000 grant to Volunteers in Medicine – San Diego, Inc. (VIM), a non-profit that brings together medical professionals and patients who don’t have health insurance.

Update: The female victim has been identified as Melissa N. Ferreira, 25. She resided in San Diego with her parents.

November 19, 2011 (El Cajon )—Two pedestrians crossing the 300 block of West Main Street in front of the El Cajon Grand Bar were struck by a Mitsubishi Montero at 1:55 a.m. The woman, 24, was pronounced dead at the scene. The man, also 24, was transported to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

An ECM exclusive special report

Amptran is developing an electric engine with capacity to travel 400 miles between charges using lithium air technology. The break-through could revolutionize the car industry --and eliminate U.S. dependence on OPEC Mideast oil

By Miriam Raftery

November 18, 2011 (Otay Mesa)—In an exclusive interview with ECM, Heartland Coalition executive director Mark Hanson unveiled plans to bring Amptran Motor Corporation to San Diego and to open a new Greensmart Technical College facility in Otay Mesa, where certified electric vehicle technicians will be trained for good-paying local jobs through Heartland’s Project Greensmart, starting in spring 2012.

November 18, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) The National Weather Service advises that a trough of low pressure moving inland will bring strong, gusty west winds of 35-55 mph in San Diego’s mountain and deserts tonight. High winds will make driving difficult especially for high profile vehicles. Blowing dust and sand may also reduce visibility.

Areas of dense fog are forecast through Sunday, with rain possible west of the mountains.

November 18, 2011 (El Cajon) The Third Annual Jingle Paws Walk for Pets will be held Saturday, November 19, 2011 at Wells Park in El Cajon, 1153 East Madison Avenue, from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., sponsored by El Cajon Animal Center for Education and Services (ACES) Foundation and Camp Bow Wow.

November 18, 2011 (San Diego)--County health officials today urged residents to throw out Ready Pac bagged salad products containing romaine lettuce and stamped with a “Use by” Nov. 18 date because they may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria. The recall applies to the following items; some also carry other labels including Safeway. See ink at bottom of story for product photos:

• 10oz. Ready Pac Caesar Romaine
• 9.25 oz Ready Pac Santa Fe Caesar Complete Salad
• 10oz. Ready Pac Classic Caesar Complete Salad
• 10oz. Ready Pac Bella Romaine
• 10oz. Dining In Classic Caesar Salad Kit
• 10oz. Trader Joe’s Romaine Salad
• 16oz. Trader Joe’s Very American Salad

November 17, 2011 (San Diego)-- The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will close the eastbound and westbound State Route 94 (SR-94) connectors to southbound Interstate 15 (I-15) Saturday morning from 3-8 a.m. for guardrail repair.

November 18, 2011 (El Cajon) -- The FBI and El Cajon Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the unknown male responsible for robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, located at 1235 Avocado Avenue, El Cajon, California, on Thursday, November 17, 2011.

 A Photography Exhibit By Eileen Madell At Mission Trails Regional Park

 By Bobbi Zane

 The company financed $53.7 million in loans to local small businesses

 
November 18, 2011 (Lakeside) --After 31 years of service to San Diego County, Undersheriff Jim Cooke is calling it a career. His  last day on the job is Friday, December 2. Assistant Sheriff Ed Prendergast is taking his place.

 15 million available, Board Member Ron Roberts presents first check in San Diego

By Miriam Raftery

November 18, 2011 (El Cajon) – Six East County residents living near Gillespie Field met with Supervisor Dianne Jacob, representatives from  the airport and local flight schools Tuesday in an effort to address complaints. Residents claim to be experiencing an increase in flight frequency and noise—with some flights just hundreds of feet over their homes. Officials from Gillespie Field and local flight schools denied flying lower than 1,400 feet above sea level (1,000 feet above the homes), leading Supervisor Jacob to voice frustration over a “disconnect.”

By Miriam Raftery

November 18, 2011 (El Cajon)--Investigators have determined that an early morning house fire in El Cajon was caused by arson, according to Heartland Fire and Rescue.

November 18, 2011 (Alpine) – A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. today for Devon Sambhi, 16, and his father, Sunil Sambhi. The service will be held at the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Blvd., according to Tyler Smittle, general manager of the Ayres Lodge where Natalia Sambhi, mother and wife of the deceased, works.

November 18, 2011 (La Mesa)--Youth at United Church of Christ of La Mesa (UCCLM)  will host a Fair Trade Holiday Sale on November 19 and 20 featuring gifts made by artisans paid fair wages and clean, safe work conditions in communities across the globe.

Handmade gifts including jewelry, kitchen and decorative items, accessories, food, and other items from around the world will be featured, along with crafts and food items offered by church members.

Story and photos by Nadin Abbott

November 17, 2011 (San Diego)—Several hundred San Diegans, including East County residents, turned out today in answer to a call to occupy the Clairemont Bridge.

Occupy San Diego organized the protest to stress how much maintenance our infrastructure needs. The march started with a chant urging Congressman Brian Bilbray to “fix this bridge.” Occupiers called for infrastructure jobs to put Americans back to work and resolve safety issues with this bridge and others. View a video by Jerry Malamud.

 
By Miriam Raftery
 
November 15, 2011 (Lakeside) – After Scott and Abby Anders lost their home during the 2003 Cedar Fire, they resolved to rebuild. From the ashes, they have created a home that takes maximum advantage of the terrain and climate. In addition, solar photovoltaic and solar water heating systems have made the house a net-zero electricity home—producing more power than it consumes.
 
The fruits of their labors were on display November 5 during the Lakeside River Park Foundation's Sustainable Homes Tour.

November 17, 2011 (Chula Vista) – Assemblyman Marty Block (D-78th Assembly District), whose district includes much of East County, invites the public to attend a free clinic to assist homeowners and homebuyers on Saturday, November 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A coalition of nonprofit organizations and housing agencies in the San Diego region will be on hand to assist and educate homeowners and homebuyers in their housing needs. The clinic will be held at Calvary Chapel of San Diego, 1771 East Palomar Street, Chula Vista.

By Vince Wallgren

November 17, 2011 (La Mesa)--As the public education establishment’s quandary over shortfalls in funding reaches critical mass, the time may be ripe for introducing sweeping changes to the entire system. 

During a recent broadcast of the Ladona Harvey Show, a education establishment insider asserted (paraphrasing) that among the more important elements in revamping the education system is a higher degree of parent - teacher communication; and that parents must be more involved in the overall education experience.

By Miriam Raftery

November 17, 2011 (Poway) – A quick-thinking emergency room nurse at Pomerado Medical Center in Poway helped reunite a Caltrans worker with his arm, which was severed in a freak accident at 1:45 p.m.  The nurse suggested calling the San Diego Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team to find the missing arm.

“There is a three-hour window to reattach the arm,” Melissa Aquino, public affairs officer with the Sheriff, said. Fortunately, a recovery team of 25 volunteers and two search dogs located the missing limb at 3 p.m. The victim is now undergoing surgery to be fully “armed” in time for Thanksgiving.

By Greg Dunne                               

November 16, 2011 (Harbison Canyon) -- It’s November, the month when we all enjoy turkey at Thanksgiving. So this edition of Bird Talk is on the wild turkey and the other turkey namesake bird, the turkey vulture.

The wild turkey is not native to California, although it is native to North America. Numerous attempts tointroduce the turkey to California failed. Then in the early 1990s a second attempt was successful.  Today, wild turkeys can be seen throughout the back hills of East San Diego County. 

November 17, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – All lanes are blocked due to an accident on Highway 67 at Slaughterhouse Canyon. Mercy Air is attempting to land and a rescue is in progress for multiple patients in a crash involved a PT Cruiser, a Toyota, and a third vehicle.

One patient was initially unresponsive but is now reported to be breathing as of 1:40 p.m., CHP website states. A SIG Alert has been issued.