December 13, 2011 (La Mesa) -- Yesterday around 2:13 p.m.,  La Mesa Police received a call from an alert neighbor stating she saw two subjects climbing over her neighbor’s side fence in the 7900 block of Cinnabar Drive in La Mesa. 

December 14, 2011 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police are seeking a young man with spiked blond hair and a goatee who reportedly stabbed an 18-year-old at 4:42 this afternoon in a suspected gang-related crime.

December 13, 2011 (San Diego) -- The DEA San Diego Field Division’s Narcotics Task Force (NTF) along with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and Health Advocates Rejecting Marijuana, (HARM) announced the total amount of illegal marijuana plants seized in San Diego County in 2011.  

By Miriam Raftery

December 11, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning. A Pacific storm is forecast to bring cold temperatures, rain and heavy snowfall to our region Monday and Tuesday.

Snow levels will fall to around 4,000 feet, but could drop as low as 3,000 feet in East County's mountainsy. Above 5,000 feet, accumulations of 10 to 16 inches of snow are possible, with the heaviest snowfall forecast for Mount Laguna.

December 11, 2011 (Descanso) – Firefighters have found a body inside a residence in the 24000 block of Los Terrinitos Road, after dousing a fire that engulfed the structure.  According to the San Diego Medical Examiner’s office, the deceased man is believed to be the 53-year-old resident of the home.

December 11, 2011 (Washington, DC) --U.S. Representative Duncan Hunter (CA-52), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, has been named to the congressional conference committee that will negotiate differences between the House and Senate versions of the Fiscal Year 2012 National Defense Authorization Act. 

 
December 11, 2011 (Aguanga) -- If you’re heading out past Warner Springs towards Temecula, stop by the Ho, Ho, Ho Shop just opened at the new County Line BBQ restaurant.  The shop is open Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 a.m.  The restaurant is worth a stop on its own, featuring a variety of hearty fare including game dishes such as pheasant, quail and bison burgers.

 
December 11, 2011 (Rolando) The community is invited to celebrate the annual Jingle Bell Kroc Community Christmas Festival at The Salvation Army Kroc Center, 6845 University Avenue (at 68th St) in San Diego, on Wednesday, December 14, from 4-8 p.m. Admission is free with donation of a new, unwrapped toy in original packaging, valued at $5 or more.

 
December 11, 2011, (La Mesa) -- In 2012, the City of La Mesa will celebrate its Centennial. The City is requesting both current and past residents to “Share Your Story” with us. Perhaps it is a story about growing up as a child in La Mesa, or hearing your grandparents talk about our town or perhaps it is why you decided to raise a family here. “Please tell us why you care about La Mesa as a community and help us celebrate the American Hometown!” a release from the City asks.

 
December 11, 2011 (San Diego) --  On Saturday, December 3, the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation held its annual Arbor Day by planting 10 oak trees and 10 shrubs along the Oak Grove Trail. 

December 11, 2011 (San Diego) — U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to San Diego area checkpoints and highways have seized a total of $683,090 of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine since Monday. The busts included seizures in East County, with drugs found hidden in vehicles and in the soles of shoes.

December 14, 2011 (San Diego's East County) - State Route 125 southbound will be closed today from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

All lanes are closed at I-8, south to Lemon Avenue. In addition, two lanes are closed from Navajo to I-8.  

The closure is for a police investigation of the fatal accident that killed a Grossmont High School student David Gonzalez and his grandmother, Celia Torres last Friday.  

Click here to view an ECM special video report by Paul Kruze.

December 13, 2011 (San Diego) – For the second year, cities throughout the San Diego region, local community groups, environmental organizations, and the County of San Diego have proclaimed the third Thursday of December as a “Day Without a Bag”. The purpose of the event is to educate and raise awareness of the need to keep communities, waterways, and beaches clean via litter prevention, and to promote a ‘greener’ holiday season through reuse.

December 9, 2011 (Santee) – West Hills High School in Santee was briefly locked down this morning after a caller reporting spotting a mountain lion nearby.  Fish & Wildlife officers, along with Sheriff deputies, searched the area with help from a Sheriff’s helicopter but could not locate the animal.

Several other lion sightings were reported  earlier this week locally, though most remain unconfirmed.

December 9, 2011 (La Mesa) updated 9:40 p.m.-- Justin Foulds, 39, of Lemon Grove has been arrested for driving under the influence in relation to a fiery accident that killed a man and woman in La Mesa this evening.

December 9, 2011 (Santee) – Santa and snow are in the forecast for Sunday, December 11 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the annual Santa at the Lakes at Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve. Tons of snow for sledding, Santa visits, and s’mores around the fire are highlights of this year’s event.

Need last minute gifts? Find some cool and creative items at the Waterproof Case Company

By Miriam Raftery

December 9, 2011 (El Cajon) –Need a solar phone charger for those whose cell phone batteries runs out often? How about a mini-video cam for those active kids to strap onto a skateboard, bike or surfboard? Or a waterproof case for a camera, cell phone or computer?  Want to listen to music underwater, or get a crush-proof case for airline travel? How about a rolling cart to load valuables for easy evacuation during wildfires – or a case to bury on site?  Or a dust-proof case for the desert enthusiast, hunter or hiker on your list?

The Waterproof Case Company, a locally-owned store in Parkway Plaza, has all these items and more. The company has custom-designed products for the U.S. military and Fortune 500 corporations. They've sold to government agencies including police and fire departments, wildlife researchers, universities, NASA, and underwater robotics companies.  But it all started locally--in the garage of the Davies family. 

December 8, 2011 (El Cajon) – The San Diego District Attorney has declined to prosecute an El Cajon Police Sergeant accused of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old male volunteer. 

 Editor's note: I was driving home on I-15 the night Cara Knott was killed, passing the isolated exit at nearly the exact time she was murdered.  If Peyer were innocent, why would he refuse a DNA test that could exonerate him?  I find it chilling that a law enforcement officer who so violated the public trust could be set free.  Please post your comments below.

December 8, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)—Craig Peyer, the California Highway Patrol officer convicted in the 1986 strangling murder of 20-year-old motorist Cara Knott, is eligible for parole. The family of Knott, a student at San Diego State University when she was brutally murdered by Peyer, seeks public help to prevent him from being freed.

December 8, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Obama sets campaign theme: middle class at stake (AP)
• Postal Service confirms cuts that will slow down mail (CBS)
• Republicans split on Democratic plan to extend payroll tax cuts (Washington Post)
• Obama: Congress ‘shouldn’t go home’ until payroll tax cut is extended (The Hill)
• Cain suspends campaign (The Hill)
• Tainted nectar? Consumer group warns of arsenic in fruit juice (NPR)

 WORLD

• Thousands protest against Putin over Russia vote (Reuters)
• Putin’s party barely hangs onto its majority (Yahoo! News)
• WHO issues European measles warning (BBC)
• 3-D printers help grow new bones (BBC)
• U.N.: Syria death toll exceeds 4,000 since March (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories. 

December 8, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media.  This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

STATE

•  Jerry Brown has plans to hike sales, income tax (Sacramento Bee)
• California fiscal conservatives file spending cap proposal (Sacramento Bee)

LOCAL

• Sunrise Powerlink water use put in perspective (San Diego Union-Tribune)
•  County improves healthcare for the very poor, but stops there (Voice of San Diego)
•  Backcountry warrior keeps up the fight (San Diego Union-Tribune)
•  Hunter casts protest vote against immigration reform (CityBeat)
•  Water district directors meet, talk in secret (Voice of San Diego)
•  Release of rare golden eagle a success at Safari Park (North County Times)
•  Our Greater San Diego Vision launches interactive website (KPBS)
•  La Mesa is in “great financial position” new auditors tell City Hall (La Mesa Patch)
•  Reports reveal trends in drug use and gang involvement (SANDAG)
•  Mistrial of Stanley Lloyd Jr. case; new trial may be held (Santee Patch)
•  Barona murder “a puzzle”; casino and tribal security could have provided more pieces, prosecutor says (Ramona Patch)
•   So what can schools cut? (Voice of San Diego)
•    SDG&E defends solar rate hike to County Supervisors (San Diego Reader)
•    Escondido: Tighten the rules (The Reader editorial by Don Bauder)

Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.

Proposals aim to sharply reduce communities’ input on major development projects

By Jeremy Los

Update Dec. 8, 2011 --After hearing a proposal yesterday to streamline the regulatory process for developers, Supervisors postponed a decision until Feb. 29, 2012.

Dec. 6, 2011- Local elected planning groups fear that their days are numbered, as the San Diego County Board of Supervisors will hear recommendations from the Red Tape Reduction Task Force on Wednesday.

Recommendations by the task force could greatly diminish community driven input on major developments in East County communities.

By Billy Ortiz

December 7, 2011 (Lakeside) – On Saturday, December 10 AmeriCorps invites youths from our communities to join them in creating habitat at the Lakeside River Park Conservancy--and learn about the work AmeriCorps NCCC is doing. Enjoy food and refreshments, the River Park Trail, and the beautiful observation deck overlooking the worksite. View a video interview with Americorps leaders at Lakeside River Park: http://youtu.be/XTK7T7_Yt3Y