Story and photos by Russ Lindquist

“…SDG&E told [residents]that a small gas leak had been going on for a month or more.” Chief Andy Menshek, San Miguel Fire Department

October 13, 2011 (Spring Valley) –A 16-month-old child apparently drowned in a backyard pool in the 1200 block of El Kelton Boulevard in Spring Valley.

ECM news partner 10 News reports that the child, who was found unresponsive in the water about 6 p.m. last night, was taken to Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa but was pronounced dead a short time later.
 

October 2, 2011 (Spring Valley) – Paul Swayze, 27, has died at Scripps Mercy hospital of injuries sustained at 3:45 this morning in a motorcycle accident.

Musical continues this weekend and next at Encore! Theatre in Spring Valley

by Elena Peña

By Miriam Raftery
 

August 21, 2011 (Spring Valley) – “What I’ve been working on is jobs and everything that I can do to strengthen the middle class,” Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) told constituents at a meeting of the Spring Valley Citizens Association Thursday evening.

 
The Congresswoman fielded questions from a audience members reflecting a broad spectrum of views and provided updates from Washington. She also discussed two upcoming events: a home mortgage clinic on August 27 and a boot camp for job seekers August 30. (Get event details.) 

August 18, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Elizabeth Rodriguez, 16, of Spring Valley has been missing since August 11. The San Diego Sheriff’s office is treating the case as a runaway, according to Detective Ward at the Lemon Grove Sheriff substation. However her parents have posted flyers asking the public to help locate their daughter, who was last seen Friday, August 11 in Lakeside at 12:45 a.m.
 

by Elena Peña

Get ready to witness a different kind of learning experience this fall at the Encore! Theatre in Spring Valley. The Young Actors’ Theatre is set to bring to life the beloved musical animated series School House Rock come September. It’s sure to be a fun, knowledge-infused event for the whole family.

July 31, 2011 (Spring Valley) Elisa Maria Osuna, 27, of Chula Vista was killed when her car swerved off Highway 94 eastbound in Spring Valley and plunged down an embankment, striking a building at 3:23 a.m. yesterday morning.

July 16, 2011 (Spring Valley) –The Medical Examiner has identified the body of a man who drowned in the Sweetwater Reservoir on July 12th. Ebon Brandt Taylor, 31, reportedly broke into a home and assaulted a resident, who called 911.
 

According to the San Diego Sheriff’s office, the suspect was later seen walking into the Sweetwater Reservoir; his behavior was described as “odd” by witnesses.

June 1, 2011 (Spring Valley) – Following a suicide off the 125 bridge near State Route 54 in Spring Valley this morning, California Highway Patrol officers traced the victim’s car license plate—and made a gruesome discovery. The bodies of 41-year old Mary Alvarez, and her children, 12-year old Angelica Alvarez and 11 year old Ahmid Alvarez, were found inside a Chula Vista townhouse at 1746 Currant Way, said Chula Vista Police Department's public information officer Bernard Gonzales.

May 24, 2011 (Spring Valley)– The Otay Water District’s (the District) Board of Directors has approved its budget for fiscal year 2011-2012. The budget adopted by the District includes a rate increase of 7.7 percent for water service and a 7.5 percent rate increase for sewer effective January, 2012.

"The $78.1 million operating budget and $22.6 million Capital Improvements Projects (CIP) budget reflect the District’s ongoing efforts to lessen the impact of higher water costs on customers," a press release issued by the district stated.

May 19, 2011 (Spring Valley) – Lemon Grove Sheriff’s Station deputies responded to an armed robbery reported yesterday morning around 9:25 a.m. at the Troy Street Recycling Center, 8743 Troy Street in Spring Valley.

The victim reported that he was robbed at gunpoint by three suspects as he was entering the business to open up. The suspects are described as two Hispanic males, one wearing a mask, and a female. A handgun was used to commit the robbery. The suspects fled in a black four-door vehicle that was recovered a short time later in Spring Valley at a nearby location.

April 25, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – A fatality accident in La Mesa involving a pedestrian struck by a car has shut down Broadmoor Street between Jericho and Kathy, La Mesa Police has informed East County Magazine. In addition, Calavo Drive at Challenge Blvd. in Spring Valley is shut down due to a tree fallen across the road, the CHP website reports.

Also use caution on Highway 67, where a signal light has been reported out at Willows Road.

In addition, readers who may have spotted smoke late this morning needn't be concerned. A fire in trees and brush in National City put up a large header of smoke, Incident Page Network reports. However Heartland Fire dispatch assures us that the blaze was swiftly doused. While structures were briefly threatened, only some fencing was damaged.

March 25, 2011 (La Mesa) La Mesa Police Department today arrested Domingos Oliveira, 50, of Spring Valley for soliciting the murder of his 19 year-old daughter’s boyfriend. Police were notified by the suspect’s daughter and boyfriend, after several posters had been placed on the campus of Grossmont College within the past two weeks.