The Grossmont College Adult Reentry Program will host “Recreate Yourself,” a free orientation meeting for adults interested in returning to school to learn a new career, earn a college diploma or upgrade workplace skills for a job promotion, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2.

July 19, 2011 (El Cajon) – Country music superstar Tanya Tucker will perform two shows on Saturday, July 23 at 6 and 8:30 p.m. at Sycuan Casino’s Showcase Theater.

Voted the Country Music Association’s female vocalist of the year in 1991, she had eight consecutive singles reach the Top 10 charts including “Down to My Last Teardrop,” “(Without You) What Do I Do With Me” and “Two Sparrows in a Hurricane.”

July 18, 2011 (La Mesa) – On the fourth Thursday of each month, the Space Bar Internet Café at 7454 University in La Mesa presents open mike night from 7:30 to 10 p.m with Jihmye Collins. On July 28, host Jim Moreno will welcome Jerrica Escoto and Succinct from the San Diego Slam Team. (see details below). The public is also invited to “come express yourself in public” through spoken word, poetry, song, comedy, and dance.

July 18, 2011 (San Diego) -- Today, the San Diego Police Department led a multi-agency task force in a coordinated take-down of 43 high value targets with ties to Mexican drug cartels, authorities announced today. 

July 18, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – The California Redevelopment Association and the League of California Cities today filed suit in California's Supreme Court. They seek to block implementation of state budget measures that would force redevelopment agencies to either dissolve or fork over hefty sums to the state coffers.

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders held a press conference to support the law suit today, joined by La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid, National City Mayor Ron Morrison, and other local leaders.

By Miriam Raftery

July 18, 2011 (El Cajon) – A fire that began around 1:35 on a hill above the 2600 block of Windmill View Road in Fletcher Hills briefly threatened several homes this afternoon.

Heartland Fire & Rescue credits quick action by about 30 firefighters, along with "the fact this hillside was recently cleared of heavy brush by hired workers and goats, creating a defensible space" with limiting the fire to only half an acre. No structures were burned and there were no injuries.  

July 18, 2011 (Washington, D.C.) -- The National Restaurant Association has unveiled a new nationwide initiative that provides parents and children with a growing selection of healthful menu options when dining out. "Kids Live Well," a program the Association launched today in collaboration with Healthy Dining, highlights how restaurants can create innovative solutions to provide better-for-you menu options.

21 BANDS and 120 CRAFT BREWERIES "LIVE ON THE LAWN" AT QUALCOMM

Why are three swimming pools approved for construction, but not the new school approved by voters? Citizens Oversight Committee should demand accountability

By Bill Weaver

July 17, 2011 (Alpine)--The majority of Grossmont Union High School District‘s education facilities and campuses were in horrendous shape prior to the Prop H improvement bond. Decades of needed maintenance had been neglected.  Now we have funds from Prop U as well.  We should all be very proud of our support leading to our successfully passed 2004 Prop H and 2008 Prop U Bonds.

That said, some members of the GUHSD Governing Board now boast of fiscally conservative policies, and how they are now protecting the districts’ financial future and its fiscal health. I am a fiscal conservative also, and I take issue.

July 16, 2011 (Jacumba) -- Wayne Brammer captured these two images of a Cal-Fire crew and a San Diego Sheriff's helicopter in action battling a brush fire near Jacumba this week.

"With all  the power lines running all over this area, my hat goes off to all of these guys. The smoke and power lines made it tough," he wrote, adding that he was amazed to see a house still standing after this blaze near Old Highway 80.

July 16, 2011 (San Diego) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Otay Mesa cargo facility discovered 1,420 pounds of marijuana in boxes of serrano chili peppers Wednesday evening. 

On July 13, a Mexican citizen, 27, entered the cargo port driving a 2000 International tractor and pulling a refrigerated trailer with cargo manifested as chili peppers. A CBP officer noticed the driver’s nervous demeanor and referred the conveyance for an intensive examination.

July 16, 2011 (San Diego) -- On July 24, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Renowned local storytellers Mary Holma and Cynthia Griffin will be spinning Native American Folklore Tales on July 24 from 3-4 p.m. in the  Visitor Center Theater at  Mission Trails Regional Park with their program "Whispers In The Wind."

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.