Update: The victim has been identified as a Cal-Trans worker who was clearing debris from the lane.
June 20, 2011 (San Diego)—A pedestrian has been struck and killed on the on-ramp from I-15 northbound to Highway 94 eastbound, Incident Page Network reports. The ramp is closed to traffic and a SIG Alert has been issued.
June 20, 2011 (Sacramento) – Legislation authored by Senator Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon) aimed at protecting taxpayers and businesses from the impacts of state-issued IOUs has been approved by the State Senate.
“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” stated Senator Joel Anderson. “Right now, the state IOU process is a forced-borrowing scheme at the expense of the taxpayers. This measure will offer taxpayers protection by forcing the state to accept its own IOU as payment.”
June 20, 2011 (San Diego) – A 47-year-old motorcyclist with a female passenger, 30, struck a parked vehicle while driving northbound on 54th street yesterday afternoon in east San Diego. He landed under the vehicle and sustained major head trauma, according to Officer J. Jacobsen with the San Diego Police.
June 20, 2011 (San Pasqual) –A motorcycle riding with two other riders lost control as he braked around a corner yesterday at noon on San Pasqual Valley Road near Ysabel Creek Road in San Pasqual. He hit the guardrail and was thrown over it, according to Sgt. R. Hastings with the San Diego Police Department.
June 19, 2011 (San Diego) – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego), whose district may soon extend to include La Mesa, part of El Cajon and other areas in East County with reapportionment, has joined several other legislators in sending a letter asking Attorney General Eric Holder to conduct an investigation into oil speculation. The legislators seek to “determine whether illegal practices may be artificially inflating oil and gas prices” and also ask for “common sense limits" on the trading of oil futures.
“It's infuriating that major oil companies continue to profit from tax exemptions while American families struggle with rising gas prices," Davis said in a letter to constituents. "I joined in sending a letter to Vice President Biden asking him to make sure that cutting unnecessary tax subsidies for major oil companies is part of a deal to reduce the deficit.”
June 19, 2011 (San Diego) –A cab driver was attacked, beaten and struck in the head with a rock by a couple he gave a ride to on Friday night near San Diego State University.
According to San Diego Police officer Frank Cali, around 9:55 p.m., the cabbie picked up a man and a woman at Winona Ave. and El Cajon Blvd. He drove them to 5739 Adelaide Avenue in the El Cerrito neighborhood near San Diego State University. When the driver turned to the woman for payment, the male passenger punched him. The cab driver jumped out of the taxi and ran down the street as the cab rolled into a parked truck, however the suspects pursued the driver and brutally attacked him.
In the 52nd Congressional District represented by Duncan Hunter (R-El Cajon), a Democratic analysis estimates the plan would shift thousands of dollars in costs onto individuals --$182,000 to $287,000 per person for those ages 44-54--while sharply cutting benefits for those over age 54 and the disabled.
June 19, 2011 (Washington D.C.) – How will the bill passed in April by House Republicans’ to cut $1 trillion in Medicare costs impact people in East County and San Diego?
The plan would eliminate Medicare for those now under 55, making them use vouchers for private insurance instead. Some benefits for current Medicare beneficiaries and the disabled would be cut immediately. Seniors would pay more for prescriptions and government reimbursement to private insurers would not keep pace with the rising cost of medical care, resulting in seniors paying higher costs. That's based on numerous independen analyses, from the Wall Street Journal to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).
Now ranking members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee have posted a breakdown by Congressional districts that shows majorl impacts on seniors and even greater cuts to those currently under 55.
June 19, 2011 (Rolando) – A man in his 60s carrying a bank deposit bag was knocked down from behind and robbed in the parking lot of Bank America, 6801 El Cajon Blvd. in the Rolando area on June 17 at 10:05 a.m.
June 19, 2011 (La Mesa) --On Thursday, June 23, The Space Bar Intenet Cafe will presentingRegE Gaines with hostJim Moreno. The Space Bar feature is part of its 4th Thursday Open Mic -- Jihmye. The Gaines performance will contain works of the spoken word, poetry, song and dance. The open mic session will begin at 7:30 p.m, and end at 10:00 p.m.In addition to the entertainment, the Space Bar is also home to coffee, tea, soothies, and a deli.
The Space Bar is located at 7454 University Ave., La Mesa, CA 91942
Info: (619) 461-7100 (619) 285-9737
Jim Moreno describes RegE as he has seen him in performance:
June 19, 2011 (LaMesa) --The La Mesa Police Department conducted a Court Sting Operation at the EastCounty branch of the San Diego Superior Court on Thursday, June 16, 2011.Our main focus was to identify those drivers who continue to drive even after having their license suspended as the result of a prior DUI arrest.The detail was operational for about two and a half hours.In the end, 10 subjects were contacted and 8 of them were found to be driving on a suspended or revoked license.All of them were issued a citation and their cars were impounded and then placed on a hold due to the driver having a suspended license.
June 19, 2011 (La Mesa) --“Race to the Fair” is the theme of this year’s San Diego County Fair at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. But who isreally racing to the fair?
June 19, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – From La Mesa’s Flag Day Parade to the Wings Over Gillespie Air Show in El Cajon, East County displayed its patriotic pride.
At left, Dexter Levy drives a vintage auto in La Mesa's Flag Day Parade, heralding in the City's upcoming Centennial year of celebration. Photo by Kristin Kjaero.
June 18, 2011 (San Diego) – After watching Korkoro I fondly recalled the stories of my Uncle John and “the Gypsies.” When my sisters were little, he would warn them about the Gypsies and how they wouldn’t hesitate to snatch them while they slept. If you left root beer outside, maybe my sisters would have a fighting chance.
If only Korkoro was as interesting as these stories.
June 18, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Nesting birds have accomplished what thus far, citizens opposed to the Sunrise Powerlink have not been able to manage: slowing down construction of the project. According to a newsletter sent by the Community Alliance for Sunrise Powerlink, some birds have sought to nest in construction equipment and in other works area, “significantly hampering construction.”
June 18, 2011 (La Mesa)—La Mesa Police have arrested two juveniles linked to burglaries in the community.
A woman living at a condominium complex at 5700 Baltimore Drive called 911 on June 15 around 3:57 p.m. to report an attempted burglary. She told police that two males knocked on her door for several minutes, but she didn’t answer because she did not recognize them. Soon, after she heard her kitchen window screen being removed and saw one of the strangers entering through the window.
June 18, 2011 (Paradise Hills) – A 75-year-old woman has suffered injuries that are “life threatening” after her next-door-neighbor’s two pit bull dogs attacked her early this morning, according to Sgt. Ray Battrick with the San Diego Police Department.
Emako Mendoza was in the backyard of her home at 5800 Alllegheny Street in Paradise Hills when the dogs entered her yard through a hole in the fence.
June 18, 2011 (Pine Valley) -- The County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for Mountain Empire High School located at 3305 Buckman Springs Road, Pine Valley, effective immediately.
June 17,2011 (San Diego) -- County Supervisors and public safety officials kicked off Defensible Space Days last week by urging residents to give their homes a fighting chance against wildfires by creating a 100-foot buffer zone. The map below shows areas most likely to have a major wildfire—including a significant section of East County.
“We lost thousands of homes in the 2003 and 2007 firestorms and learned that homes with defensible space are far more likely to survive than homes without it. As we head into the hot, dry conditions of summer and fall, it’s imperative that residents get rid of fire hazards on their properties,” said Supervisor Dianne Jacob.
June 19, 2011 (San Diego) – I was at a movie theater recently when a friend of the projectionist asked me if I knew any jokes. I leafed through the “books” of my mental library trying to find one but I couldn’t. I was content to let him rattle off a series of jokes and listen. Later that day I remembered a few jokes that I found funny. But even then I wouldn’t have told them.
At the June 14, 2011 La Mesa City Council meeting Mayor Art Madrid moved to remove the city from the East County Economic Development Council and rather use the $5,000 annual membership fee to allow city officials to do more travel to defend city financing at state and federal levels. Time will tell how worthwhile this plan will be.
June 17, 2011 (Otay Mesa)-- Highway 94 was closed briefly late today while firefighters worked to contain a brush fire. The fire was held at 12 acres and all lanes are now open, Cal-Fire confirms.
June 16, 2011 (La Mesa)Chris Ahrens is a school teacher and an elite athlete. For months on end he has trained long hours in preparation for this month’s world championships in his sport.
His team departed on June 13th for the 2011 CPISRA Football 7-a-side World Championships in the Netherlands (that’s soccer, to you and me). Ahrens is a defender for the U.S. team.
June 17, 2011 (Alpine) – For orchard owner Tim Scherer, this crime is the pits. Scherer, an East County resident in the Alpine area, informs ECM that a band of men cleared out all the apricots off a tree in his orchard several days ago.
“The owners of the Alpine brewery said it had happened to others in the area,” Scherer said. “Whoever it is has professional equipment, because they even got the fruit from high up in the tree.”
Garrick reportedly was set to run for redrawn Senate district in East County
By Miriam Raftery
June 16, 2011 (San Diego) – Assemblyman Martin Garrick (R-74th district), who currently represents North County, was arrested yesterday in Sacramento for driving under the influence of alcohol, after speeding, running a stop sign and fleeing from two California Highway Patrol officers.
Garrick, a former vice chair of the local Republican Party and past GOP Assembly leader, has been put forward by the Republican Party as a potential candidate to run for State Senate in a redrawn 38th State Senate district that would include areas in East County north of Interstate 8 if proposed redistricting plans are approved as drafted.
Massive helicopters used in heavy-lifting operations such as Sunrise Powerlink
By Miriam Raftery
June 16, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Acting on a tip from a caller who said he used to work under sky cranes during forest fire operations, ECM has conducted an investigation into the safety record of massive sky crane helicopters such as the Erickson S-64F sky cranes that dropped two 16,000-pound tower sections last week during construction of SDG&E’s Sunrise Powerlink.
“One significant issue not being reported is the number of aircraft they, Erickson, have lost due to mechanical issues or operator error,” said the caller, who asked not to be identified but indicated he has worked on a ground crew under the aircraft and has never worked for any Erickson competitor. He provided details on several specific accidents which an ECM investigation has independently verified.
June 17, 2011 (La Mesa)--What is your image of summer? Being on the water, a back country visit, ripe grapes in the sun? We all have nostalgic and joyful memories of summers past, and hopes for relaxation, recreation and friendship in the months ahead.
"Images of Summer" at O'Dunn Fine Art in La Mesa will present--in the vernacular of painting--sunny days of over twenty artists, in oils, watercolor, and pastels. Landscape, figurative, and abstract pieces evoke the season, each framed and ready to hang. Proprietor Shannon O'Dunn invites you to join her for the opening of "Images of Summer", and to celebrate the Summer Solstice with music and art on Wednesday June 22, from 5 pm to 8 pm.
“That SDG&E would break rules and rush to put a faulty helicopter in the air again is just unconscionable...I continue to question the CPUC's monitoring of the project and again call on CPUC commissioners and the governor's office to closely evaluate these troubling events.” - Supervisor Dianne Jacob
SDG&E to replace helicopter and submit plan for operations in congested areas
FAA and CPUC approval required before resuming operations after utility found in violation of notification procedures
By Miriam Raftery
June 16, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – The FAA has suspended operations of the Erickson S-64F Sky Crane helicopter that twice dropped towers each weighing 16,400 pounds during hoist operations for SDG&E’s Sunrise Powerlink. A preliminary incident report released yesterday by California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) suggests a digital hook control system may be at fault. The agency also chastised SDG&E for violating requirements to keep regulators informed before returning the sky crane to service after the first accident.
June 16, 2011 (Campo) -- The public is invited to the annual Fathers' Day gala at the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum living-history & train-operation center, Campo, on Sunday June 19th from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The event will feature a complete barbeque lunch prepared onsite from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m., live folk music, and vintage train rides at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
June 20, 2011 (Sacramento) – Legislation authored by Senator Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon) aimed at protecting taxpayers and businesses from the impacts of state-issued IOUs has been approved by the State Senate. 
June 20, 2011 (San Pasqual) –A motorcycle riding with two other riders lost control as he braked around a corner yesterday at noon on San Pasqual Valley Road near Ysabel Creek Road in San Pasqual. He hit the guardrail and was thrown over it, according to Sgt. R. Hastings with the San Diego Police Department.
June 19, 2011 (San Diego) – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego), whose district may soon extend to include La Mesa, part of El Cajon and other areas in East County with reapportionment, has joined several other legislators in sending a letter asking Attorney General Eric Holder to conduct an investigation into oil speculation. The legislators seek to “determine whether illegal practices may be artificially inflating oil and gas prices” and also ask for “common sense limits" on the trading of oil futures.
By Brian Lafferty
June 18, 2011 (La Mesa)—La Mesa Police have arrested two juveniles linked to burglaries in the community.
June 18, 2011 (Paradise Hills) – A 75-year-old woman has suffered injuries that are “life threatening” after her next-door-neighbor’s two pit bull dogs attacked her early this morning, according to Sgt. Ray Battrick with the San Diego Police Department.
By Brian Lafferty
By Scott H. Kidwell, La Mesa
![](/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/resize/O%27Dunn-O-Tanner-edited-web-200x249.jpg "O.Tanner "Children of Summer"")
June 17, 2011 (La Mesa)--What is your image of summer? Being on the water, a back country visit, ripe grapes in the sun? We all have nostalgic and joyful memories of summers past, and hopes for relaxation, recreation and friendship in the months ahead.
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