April 13, 2012 (San Diego) -- Detectives from the San Diego Police Department’s Northeastern Division have released the name of a male responsible for a series of indecent exposure cases in Rancho Bernardo and Mira Mesa over the past two years. 

April 14, 2012 (El Cajon)--The secret is out!

Grossmont College, as part of its free 50th Anniversary Community Open House, has announced the Guinness world’s record that will be attempted on Saturday, April 14. Previously, the college has kept undisclosed the nature of the record.

The attempted record to be broken will be the most individual contributions to a birthday card. Grossmont College hopes to break the current record of 1,468 people to sign a birthday card with their name and a greeting from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., which is the event timeframe for Grossmont College’s 50th Anniversary Open House on Saturday, April 14.

April 13, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—Forget April showers.  An April snowstorm bearing heavy snows and wind gusts up to 70 mph will be blustering across our region Friday and Saturday, the National Weather Service forecasts.

Heavy snow and wind will impact Interstate 8 and Highway 78 in San Diego’s inland regions by Friday afternoon, with near zero visibility as snow levels dip to between 3,000 and 3,500 feet by Saturday morning.   Strong winds may create white-out conditions with gusts up to 70 mph on ridgelines.

“We are requesting a moratorium on industrial wind turbine projects and initiation of unbiased, science-based peer-reviewed studies on health…They are subjecting rural residents to be guinea pigs or lab rats on a mass scale that has never been seen anywhere.” –Donna Tisdale, Boulevard Planning Group Chair

“Tapping into sources of renewable energy is critical for a number of reasons…We applaud the County’s commitment to achieving these goals by updating and streamling requirements for small and large wind energy systems.” – Jennifer Purczynski Enel Green Power/Padoma Wind Power LLC

By Miriam Raftery

April 12, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Tomorrow (Friday) morning at 9 a.m., the San Diego County Planning Commission will consider a proposed wind ordinance that would make it easier for industrial-scale wind facilities as well as smaller turbines to be built in unincorporated areas—primarily in East County communities. 

April 12, 2012 (Alpine) – The Alpine Chamber of Commerce is holding its “I Love a Clean Alpine” event on April 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The event begins at the Triangle, 2157 Alpine Blvd. with a free continental breakfast.  Vests and bags will be distributed for cleaning up Alpine Blvd. and Wrights Field. At noon lunch will be provided.

• Perfect recipe for wildfires as season starts early (NBC)
• With Santorum’s exit, Romney shifts focus (Washington Post)
• FDA details clot risk on birth control pills (USA Today)
• Romney blames Obama for women job losses actually caused by GOP (Rawstory)
• Obama: We could call the Buffet rule the Reagan rule (CBS news)
• Hill insider trading bill signed
• Where is George Zimmerman? Treyvon Martin shooting (CBS News)
• Apple, publishers accused of fixing e-book prices (Reuters)

• Defiant North Korea begins injecting fuel into rocket (Reuters)
• Syria pledges truce, if rebels hold fire (Reuters)
• Warnings over medical implant hacks (BBC)
• No sign of tsunami after powerful Indonesia quake (KPBS)
• Haitian orphans long wait is over (Fox)
• China braces for next act in leadership drama (Reuters)
• Norway’s mass killer Breivik found sane (BBC) 

• Radiation from Japan disaster found along California coast (ABC)
• If California taxpayers paid up, state’s deficit would disappear (Sacramento Bee)
• High-stakes vote nears in California water waters (KPBS)
• California deer population declines as habitat disappears (Sacramento Bee)

• La Mesa, El Cajon to get armored vehicle (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Program to help chronically homeless showing results (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Abandoned orchards must be monitored for pests (Sacramento Bee)
• 15-year-old Santana High School student injured in crash awakens from coma (Santee Patch)
• U.S. says beware of ads placed by drug smugglers (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• El Cajon City Council fills vacancy (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• La Mesa home prices trending up (La Mesa Today)
• Feds misled by SoCal Edison on San Onofre changes, group says (KPBS) 

April 12, 2012 (San Diego County) -- The Department of Environmental Health has issued a General Advisory for the coastal waters of San Diego County due to recent rainfall.  Swimmers, surfers, and other ocean users are warned that the levels of bacteria can rise significantly in ocean and bay waters, especially near storm drains, creeks, rivers, and lagoon outlets that discharge urban runoff.

April 12, 2012 (Ocotillo) – “My wife, Mary, and I had the pleasure of seeing a large group of bighorn sheep while we were on one of our desert wildflower trips,” Robert Baran says.

They photographed a group of 15 or more Peninsular Bighorn Sheep on Saturday, April 7 between Meyer Creek and Ocotillo.  

April 12, 2012 (La Mesa) – Police have published descriptions of two men wanted in connection with armed robbery of a Shell Gas Station, 9090 Dallas Street in La Mesa, on April 11 around 6:44 p.m.

The lone clerk was accosted by a man armed with a handgun who demanded cash and cigarettes.  The clerk, who was not harmed, gave the man cash from the register and several packs of cigarettes.  The armed man left the business on foot and was seen by the clerk meeting up with a second male who apparently was acting as a look out.

April 12, 2012 (El Cajon) –What role can the arts play in bettering El Cajon and its diverse population? 

San Diego Arts leaders including artists, journalists, writers, university professors, critics, and business people will discuss this question in a  panel mediated by Justin Hudnall, creator and leading operative of The Far East Movement. The event will take place Friday, April 13 from 5:30 to 8:30 at Studio C Contemporary, 140 East Main Street in El Cajon.

RSVP on Facebook.

"Will Power `Bill' would be the first one to say, `Never, never, never give up the fight." -- Robert Schwent

April 11, 2012 (San Diego) -- It is with a heavy heart that we must inform our readers that William "Bill" Gerald Schwent has died of a "circulatory event", his family has informed ECM. 

Known to our readers as author of the acerbic and insightful "Will Power Report"  column, Will was found by his wife, Jan, around 3 a.m. this morning. 

 Update 8 p.m. - La Mesa Police advise they have cleared the area, but did not locate the suspects.

April 11, 2012 (La Mesa) 7 p.m. – The City of La Mesa warns of police activity near Dallas and Fletcher Parkway, where a police helicopter is searching for two men suspected of robbing a nearby Shell Station. 

Police are looking for two suspects, both black males approximately 20-25 years old, one is wearing black clothing and the other one is wearing a red jacket and white t-shirt. If you see anyone who matches the description in the area or see anything suspicious that may be related call the police immediately.

Major fault line runs under proposed Ocotillo wind site slated to provide energy for San Diego, ECM investigation finds

April 11, 2012 (El Cajon) – Dan Hughes, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, will be the guest speaker at the April 17 meeting of The Cajon Valley Republican Women Federated.  The meeting will be held at the Pancake House, 1000 North 2nd Street, El Cajon at 7:00 a.m.

April 11, 2012 (Spring Valley) – CDA Preschool Programs is celebrating “The Week of the Young Child” with an open house April 16 through April 20 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at 3845 Spring Drive in Spring Valley.  Stop by for a classroom tour, food, music, a special gift and learn about CDA’s nationally accredited preschool program.

April 10, 2012 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Magazine is pleased to announce a partnership with East County Obits, a new website listing obituaries for East County residents.

Scroll down or view a list of this week's obituaries here, or visit www.EastCountyObits.com to read the full obituaries.

By Derek Roach