East County News Service

October 22, 2015 (La Mesa)—The bodies found in a home in the 6900 block of Wyoming Avenue in La Mesa on October 14 have been identified as Rose M. Welch, 73, and her husband, William R. Welch. 

“Based on our investigation we believe that Mrs. Welch was murdered by Mr. Welch,” Lt. Brian Stoney states. “Based on the autopsy. it appears that Mrs. Welch sustained multiple blunt force trauma injuries to her head and was asphyxiated. Several days later Mr. Welch committed suicide by apparently overdosing on prescription medications.”

By Miriam Raftery

October 21, 2015 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police have arrested Michael Patrick McDonnell, 46.  He is charged with the murder of his roommate, Richard Winslow Hobbs, 72.

By Kathy Carpenter

Associate and Youth Reviewer www.sdtheatrereviews.com

October 21, 2015 (Spring Valley) - The Addams Family is basically a romantic comedy with a pop of ooky. A kooky family, which when it comes down to thick and thin has a strong bond like most families and will stick together no matter what. 

Young Actor'sTheatre in Spring valley always does an amazing job of family entertainment, and this show is no different. It's the perfect pre-Halloween experience. Bring out the kids and share some silly macabre fun.

The story is about little Wednesday all grown up and in love. She invites her boyfriend and his parents to dinner and ask them to act normal. She tells Gomez Lucas her boyfriend wants to marry her, but not to to tell Mortica. That's a difficult task for Gomez to keep a secret for Mortica, but he agrees, and the fun begins.

By Miriam Raftery

October 20, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) –  Increasingly, San Diegans are drawing power from large desert solar facilities built in Imperial County, with similar facilities slated for the farthest east portions of our County in Boulevard and Jacumba.  The projects are being pushed forward to help meet California’s ambitious goal to have 40% of electricity from renewables by 2030 under a new law approved by Governor Jerry Brown.

But now a new study by the University of California, Berkeley finds that reliance on remote solar projects creates environmental problems. 

Story and photos by Janis Russell

Photo, left: Don Parent, SDG&E, presents update on gas pipeline upgrades planned on Fletcher Parkway, Amaya and Jackson Drive

October 18, 2015 (La Mesa)—At Tuesday’s La Mesa City Council meeting, Council members heard from San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) about pipeline upgrades planned in La Mesa, received an update on downtown streetscape improvements nearing completion, and presented a commendation to a La Mesa resident who won the Fox TV Masterchef competition.

East County News Service

October 19, 2015 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon Police Department will host a community forum on traffic and pedestrian safety on Wednesday, October 21 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 East Douglas Avenue in El Cajon.

From 2011 through 2014, 17 people died in pedestrian traffic accidents in El Cajon and 61 were seriously injured, according to results of a public records request by East County Magazine.  View data.

East County News Service

October 18, 2015 (La Mesa) – The San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room at 8364 La Mesa Blvd. in La Mesa announces a series of music nights in November featuring talented artists performing Spanish and classical guitar, blues, folk, bluegrass, country, classic rock, jazz with a Latin twist and more.  Admission is free; wine, cheese, crackers and dessert are available for purchase in this intimate back-room setting.  Scroll down for details on each concert, and for more information, visit www.sanpasqualwinery.com

Photo, left: One of several new buildings funded at Cuyamaca and Grossmont College by recent bond revenues

East County News Service

October 15, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) -The San Diego County Taxpayers Association is calling on the board of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District to honor its pledge of fair and open competition for contracts to build taxpayer-funded projects,” according to a press release issued by the taxpayers’ group.

SDCTA says it will revoke its support for the GCCCD’s Proposition V bond measure if trustees vote on Oct. 20 to put in place a blanket project labor agreement for construction projects funded with proceeds from the 2012 measure. A project labor agreement requires that only contractors using union workers may bid on these publicly funded projects, a tactic that aims to assure good wages for local jobs.

East County News Service

October 17, 2015 (La Mesa)—A 77-year-old La Mesa man murdered his wife, 73, and killed himself, reports La Mesa Police Lieutenant Brian Stoney.

The bodies of William R.. Welch and his wife, Rose M. Welch, were found Wednesday in their home in the 6900 block of Wyoming Avenue in La Mesa.

Photo: SOITEC panel at Newberry Springs, similar to panels approved for Boulevard.

By Miriam Raftery

October 16, 2015 (Boulevard) – By a 4 to 1 vote with only Supervisor Dianne Jacob opposed, the Board of Supervisors this week approved a revised version of the controversial Rugged Acres industrial solar facility and rescinded approval of an earlier plan.

A judge had tossed out the original environmental impact review because massive battery storage facilities were added after public comment was closed.  Supervisors approved a revamped plan with the energy storage facility removed.

Supervisor Jacob stated, “I strongly support solar but I believe it belongs on rooftops of both single family homes and businesses and a solar farm in the right location,” Jacob said. “This project would potentially industrialize our back country which was never meant to be. The project can no longer live up to the promises and major use findings that are needed for approval.”

East County News Service

October 14, 2015 (Julian) – The Julian Triangle Club’s  59^th annual October melodrama, “Keeping the Doctor Away”  or “Take Two Apples and See Me in the Morning” continues this weekend and next at the historic Julian Town Hall. 

This year’s director, Sandi Bennett, is cracking the whip over the all-volunteer local cast, who come from all walks of life to put on the traditional Melodrama and raise money for our local charities including scholarships for local students.

East County News Service

October 14, 2015 (La Mesa) –The bodies of Marshelle Newby, 56, and a second female were found inside a home on Avoyer Place in Casa de Oro near Mt. Helix Wednesday morning.  Newby worked as a legal secretary at the District Attorney’s criminal division for the past 23 years.

10 News reports that family and a neighbor identified the second body as Newby’s 16-year-old special needs granddaughter, Emily, whom she has raised as her own.

Tanya Sierra, public information officer for DA Bonnie Dumanis, stated, “Marshelle Newby was an outstanding DA employee for 23 years. Our office is grieving and our hearts go out to her family and friends,” KUSI reports.

East County News Service

Photo: ECM news partner 10 News

October 13, 2015 (Alpine) – The bodies of a 43-year-old woman and a man of unknown age were found by firefighters inside a burned home in the 700 block of South Grade Road in Alpine.  The Alpine Community Network reports that the woman was a mother of three.

By Mike Allen

October 9, 2015 (Santee)--What appeared to be nearly a done deal---San Diego craft brewer Karl Strauss relocating its main production and corporate headquarters to Santee’s Town Center---may not happen after all.

Matt Rattner, who co-founded Karl Strauss in 1989 and its president, said the company is keeping its options open.

“There’s no deal yet,” Rattner said recently. “We just received a proposal to go to Otay Mesa--and we’ve also talked with the cities of Vista and San Marcos.”

By Kathleen Coates-Hedberg, Helix Water District board member

October 10, 2015 (La Mesa)--I got to the Board Room at 4:30p.m. and the parking lot was filling up and I parked on the street. When the meeting started at 5 p.m. it was a full house, every seat was filled and the people were lined outside the door and people were standing in rows near on the sides. At least 150 members of the public were in attendance, several TV crews (KFMB, KUSI & FOX that I saw) and we all echoed the pledge of the allegiance to the flag together. I was hopeful and optimistic that the meeting was going to go well...oh how wrong I was.