By Nadin Abbott and Miriam Raftery

August 9, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Two major developments have occurred in the search for missing Lakeside children Hannah Anderson, 16, and her brother, Ethan, 8.   Tonight, San Diego Sheriff Bill Gore announced that remains found in murder/kidnapping suspect James DiMaggio’s home in Boulevard have been identified as Ethan.  The children’s mother, Christina Anderson, was found murdered inside the burned home, the Sheriff has reported.

Earlier today, DiMaggio’s car was positively identified in the rugged Frank Church wilderness area near the River of No Return in Idaho.  During a live feed from KTFB in Idaho, Acting Public Information Officer Andrea Reardon of the Valley County Sheriffs Department confirmed that horseback riders “came across a man and a woman near Moorhead Lake” about six miles from where the car was later found. The pair matched the descriptions of DiMaggio and Hannah Anderson.

August 1, 2013 (Lakeside) – The Winchester Widows holds its annual Pancake Breakfast on August 11, from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at the Lakeside Elks, 11633 Woodside Avenue, Lakeside.  The event includes silent auction items and raffle prizes.

The cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children 4-10.  All proceeds benefit Challenge Ranch for at-risk children.  For tickets call Lorrie Bernard at 619-792-9760.

By Janis Mork

July 24, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Helix Water District is looking to raise rates for its 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 fiscal years. For 2013-2014, proposed water rates for the domestic/ single customer - using 25 units bi-monthly - will increase six percent. Commercial/Multi-family customers will see a rate increase of three to eight percent. 

July 12, 2013 (Lakeside) -- The Lakeside Chamber of Commerce has named Bonnie LaChappa as the 2013 Lakeside Citizen of the Year with their Harry J. Spence Award. Bonnie, a lifelong Lakeside resident and an elected member of the Barona Band of Mission Indians Tribal Council, is well known for her tireless volunteerism in the East County community.

“Giving back and sharing have always been a big part of our Barona Tribal culture,” said Clifford LaChappa, Chairman of the Barona Band of Mission Indians. “We are very proud of everything Councilwoman LaChappa has done in the community to earn this meaningful award.”

June 29, 2013 (Lakeside) – An Amateur Radio class is being held on July 27 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Lakeside Fire Protection District Office, 12216 Lakeside Avenue, Lakeside.  Testing for the Amateur Radio License will be held immediately after class at 5 p.m.

Obtaining an amateur radio license enables people to communicate during a local disaster such as a fire or earthquake when traditional land lines and cell phones may stop working.  License holders can help their local community during times of need as well as get up to date information about the disaster from local authorities.  It’s also a great way to communicate with people around the world.

June 10, 2013 (Lakeside) – Sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant in the 12000 block of Old Barona Road in Lakeside on June 5 and found a large marijuana cultivation, Sgt. Craig Johnson reports.

During the search, two women, ages 83 and 61, were detained but not arrested. The house on the property had been burned down during the Cedar fires and had not been rebuilt. The women were living in tents on the property.

By Miriam Raftery

May 29, 2013 (Lakeside) – Clad in pajamas, Karen Goodman broke down in tears as she told me her story  today. 

We met with her at the request of Walter Choate, an advocate for the homeless who told us that without immediate help, this bedridden woman who relies on a caregiver to survive could be homeless by Friday--and lose all of her belongings as well.

By Nadin Abbott

Photo:  Firefighters battle spot fire in Lakeside; photo by Jeff Holz

May 26, 2013 (San Diego East County)—Fire season is off to an early start. Yesterday, even as firefighters fought to contain the 1800-acre San Felipe fire in the mountains of East County, four new fires drew resources from across the region.  Here is a wrap-up on those fires in Ramona, Lakeside, the Santee/San Diego boundary area, Dulzura, and the border region.

May 21, 2013 (Lakeside) – KSON radio will be at the Lakeside Park and Ride at Highway 67 and Mapleview tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. collecting donations to help tornado victims in Moore, Oklahoma. 

Local residents are invited to drive through and drop off cash donations.  Everyone who donates will also be entered in a contest to win two tickets to Taylor Swift’s sold-out concert August 15.

By Nadin Abbott

May 12, 2013 (El Cajon)—California Governor Edmund G. Brown declared the past week “Wildfire Awareness Week.”  On Thursday,  the top brass fromr Cal-Fire and San Diego Sheriff’s Department addressed the media. ECM also spoke with Lakeside Division Chief R. Laff.

All officials are urging San Diego residents who live in the urban-rural interface, as well as rural areas to be ready for a severe fire season that’s started early. So far Cal Fire has responded to more than 1,100 wildfires already, which is 500 more than normal for this time of year. According to Cal Fire Chief Cal Fire Chief Dale Hutchinson, Southern Region Chief 40,000 acres burned last week.

Officials are urging residents to get ready and maintain 100-feet of defensible space. This is not optional; it is the law, as Chief Hutchinson told us, for those in the urban-wildland interface. Also clean your gutters, and other places where dry vegetation might accumulate. If you do any remodeling, look into the latest fire resistant materials. In addition, remove all tree branches that are within six feet of your home.

April 22, 2013 (Lakeside)--The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for El Monte County Park located at 15805 El Monte Road, Lakeside, CA 92040 effective immediately.  The water system serves a ranger residence, park office and public restrooms.

The drinking water system has tested present for E.Coli and total coliform bacteria.  The presence of E.Coli bacteria indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes.  Health effects can include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or other symptoms.  E.Coli may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. 

Residents spread word through social networking of crimes and more, strengthening bonds in close-knit community

April 12, 2013 (Eucalyptus Hills) --A hidden surveillance camera in Lakeside captured a mail thief in action last night, ECM has learned.  View the video.   Property owner Dennis Richardson, an award-winning ECM photographer,  has posted the video on his Facebook page and on the community’s Brush Fire Partyline website. He is hopeful that alert neighbors and law enforcement will lead to arrest of the thief, whose vehicle is also shown in the video.

 “Eucalyptus Hills is a very safe neighborhood with proactive people who have a huge network of communications – Facebook, e-mail and just neighborly across the fence,’ Richardson told ECM. “We can get the word out to a lot of people really quickly. Everybody is on the lookout and knows what to look for, so our neighborhood is safer than most.”

By Nadin Abbott; photos by Tom Abbott

April 5, 2013(Lakeside)— The Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR) team has found 3-month-old Arisa Van Goerlitz safe tonight at 7:30 p.m. following a massive search in Lakeside. Searchers spent hours combing an area along the San Diego River bed including transient camps before locating the infant and her aunt, Deborah Ann Fowler, who has been arrested.

“The baby is okay,” Sergeant Greg Hampton of the Lemon Grove Sheriff’s station told media at the scene. “She is being evaluated by the Fire Department.” The baby was later transported to Grossmont Hospital for evaluation. The child is now in the hands of Child Protective Services and has been taken to the Polinsky’s Children Center.

The infant girl was reported missing this morning by her grandmother, Joyce Matyas, in Spring Valley at around 11:30.

April 4, 2013 (Lakeside) – The Solana Center in partnership with the County of San Diego and the Resource Conservation District will be hosting a free rainwater harvesting workshop in Lakeside on April 13th from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.  at the Resource Conservation District, 11769 Waterhill Road.

Join the Solana Center and the County of San Diego to learn how rainwater collection can benefit your home and garden and which system is best for you! Workshop will include a hands-on installation of a rain barrel and cost-effective tips on how to build your own. Pre-register at: www.solanacenter.org/event/free-rainwater-harvesting-workshop

March 9, 2013 (Lakeside) - Travel around the world and learn about other cultures, watch traditional country dances, play carnival games and taste exotic foods at Riverview Elementary School and Lakeside Union School District’s 5th Annual International Fair on Saturday, March 16th from 11am to 5pm. This fun-filled community event, complete with a one-of-the-kind silent auction, inflatables for the kids, photo booth, face painting, petting zoo and local product vendor and food booths takes place on the grounds of Riverview Elementary School at 9308 Winter Gardens Boulevard in Lakeside. All proceeds will benefit Riverview’s PTSA to provide field trips, assemblies, art, music and dance for Riverview students. For more information, please call (619) 390-2662, go to http://www.lsusd.net/Domain/690 or check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Riverview-International-Fair/158649264184882?fref=ts