January 1, 2010 (El Cajon)--The FBI and local law enforcement are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the man responsible for robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, 2366 Jamacha Road, El Cajon, on Monday, December 20th. The suspect entered the bank at around 3:05 p.m. carrying a black umbrella in his right hand to conceal the right side of his face. Once at the teller counter, the robber pulled out a demand note using his left hand.
January 1, 2011 (Washington D.C.) - The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission has announced recalls on several products that have caused injury to consumers, including heaters sold at Wal-Mart, portable butane stoves, children's hooded jackets, Fagor refrigerators, and pacing loudspeakers. Below are details.
January 1, 2010 (La Mesa) --Kids and Seniors Together (KAST) is looking for a few good volunteers! Jointly sponsored by the City of La Mesa and La Mesa Spring Valley School District, KAST is an intergenerational after-school program that matches mature adults with second through-fourth-grade students. It is designed to provide mature adults an opportunity to share their talents, skills and special interest with students who benefit from one-on-one mentoring.
January 1, 2011 (Alpine) – Hit by a double whammy of storm damage followed by thousands of dollars in veterinary bills, the Alpine-based big cat rescue facility Lions Tigers & Bears is seeking help from the public in both cash donations and a wish list of items needed.
January 1, 2011 (La Mesa) Updated 8 p.m.– Dana Lohner, 48, of La Mesa has been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving after she struck and killed Kelly McPherson, 53, a pedestrian from Mission Valley. McPherson died at the scene.
Lohner, who was driving a Ford Mustang was booked into the Las Colinas Jail.
December 31, 2010 (San Diego) – A free tow home is available for New Year’s party-goers who don’t want to take chances behind the wheel. The “tipsy tow” service is offered by the Automobile Club of Southern California, but is open to everyone, even if you are not a member. Free tows are available from 6 p.m. tonight to 6 a.m. tomorrow by calling 1-800-400-4AAA.
The Auto Club estimates that a first time conviction for driving under the influence can cost $13,468 or more in fines, penalties, restitution, legal fees and increased insurance costs.
Filthy conditions lead Animal Control to take custody of animals
December 31, 2010 (Santee) – Firefighters responded to a house fire this morning in the 9600 block of Halberns Blvd., where they discovered at least a dozen cats living in filthy conditions inside. According to ECM news partner 10 News, Animal Control officers took the cats for veterinary evaluation, include two which were ill from the smoke.
DUI Arrests Down; With One Suspected DUI Related Fatality
December 31, 2010 (San Diego)--A countywide holiday anti-DUI crackdown has resulted in numerous DUI arrests during local traffic enforcement details and special DUI deployments in San Diego County. From 12:01 a.m. December 17 through midnight on December 29, officers from 14 county law enforcement agencies arrested 499 people for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In 2009, 582 DUI arrests and bookings occurred during the same 13 day time period.
As part of the Winter Holiday Anti-DUI crackdown, members from multiple law enforcement agencies in San Diego County will be conducting DUI checkpoints and directed DUI Saturation enforcement during the New Year’s Eve weekend. Details are planned in the following cities, San Diego’s Sheriff office reports:
December 31, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Diana Ellen Bialawski, who was last seen by her family on Christmas Day when she left a note saying she was heading to Julian, has been found and is safe. Detective Mo Parga with San Diego Police left a message at East County Magazine’s office advising our editor that Bialawski has been located and is unharmed. Parga could not be reached for details this evening.
December 31, 2010 (San Diego)--A woman, 59, was driving her Ford Escort southbound in the 4700 block of College Avenue when an 81-year-old man crossed mid-block in fron of the car and was struck. The pedestrian suffered serious injuries to his arm and both legs.
December 30, 2010 (Rancho Penasquitos) – A tow truck driver turning onto eastbound Rancho Penasquitos Blvd. from Paseo Montril passed a woman, 58, who was crossing the street in a crosswalk. The driver’s side step caught the pedestrian’s foot, causing serious leg injuries.
December 30, 2010 (San Diego's East County)--With three disaster declarations in just one year (for earthquake, flooding, and the “bomb house”), it’s been a turbulent year in East County and San Diego’s inland regions.
Here’s a look back at some of the biggest stories of 2010—from Mother Nature rocking our region to political and economic upheavals. We’ve also had stories of inspiration and courage, some heart-wrenching tales, plus news items that range from wild to just plain wacky.
Here are our picks for the year’s top stories that impacted East County.
December 30, 2010 (Lemon Grove) –Sheriff’s Deputy Seel shot and killed a pit bull at 6956 after the dog bit his thigh. The deputy was contacted by a citizen who reported a vicious pit bull dog at 9 a.m. near San Miguel Elementary School. The citizen claimed the pit bull charged him and bit him in the leg, although the reporting party had no visible injuries and did not request medical attention.
December 30, 2010 (San Diego)--HOME (Home Owners Mobile Education) will offer FREE counseling services to San Diego homeowners experiencing difficulties making monthly mortgage payments. The HOME clinic will be held on Saturday, January 8, 2011 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Malcolm X Branch Library & Performing Arts Center. This event is in co-sponsorship with Congresswoman Susan Davis, and the Legal Aid Society of San Diego Pro Bono Program.
Authorities provide new details on case, ask public help to find missing woman and white SUV RAV-4 vehicle
December 30, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) –Diana Ellen Bialawski, 26, left home in Carmel Creek on Christmas Day. “She left a note saying she was going to Julian to visit friends, and I’ll call you if I need help,’” Detective Mo Parga with SDPD said, adding that Bialawski had been suffering from depression when she took off in a white Toyota Rav-4 SUV that only had a quarter tank of gas.
“We had SDPD fixed-wing and helicopter up all day today searching,” Parga said. Stormy weather prevented aerial searches until today.
December 30, 2010 (San Diego) – Across the County, emergency crews are busy repairing roads and assessing other damage from the most recent storm.
Following on the heels of last week’s heavy storms which saturated soils and overflowed numerous waterways, the most recent downpour caused additional rock and mudslides, undermined roads and caused potholes and sinkholes.
December 30, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a frost advisory for San Diego’s inland valleys and lower deserts for late tonight through mid-morning Friday. Temperatures are expected to dip into the upper 20s to low 30s, with isolated areas in the mid-20s. Strong, gusty winds are also forecast.
Reviews: True Grit, Tangled, The Fighter, and I Love You Phillip Morris
By Brian Lafferty
December 30, 2010 (San Diego)—Today’s column is going to be different. Normally I post one movie review at a time. Today I will have several shorter reviews in this one post. Before I post them I would like to explain what has happened the last two months that have made for less reviews than normal.
December 30, 2010 (El Cajon)—An El Cajon man turned himself into the El Cajon Police Department around 11:30 a.m. today, stating that he was the driver of a hit and run vehicle. According to El Cajon Police Detective Tim Roberts, the driver is John Senati, 46, of El Cajon.
The collision occurred Monday evening in the 500 block of North Mollison Avenue when a vehicle struck and injured a pedestrian who was crossing the roadway. The pedestrian remains hospitalized in critical condition.
December 29, 2010 (Spring Valley) – John Cahan, 39, pled not guilty to charges of elder abuse, first-degree burglary and assault with a deadly weapon. He is accused of walking into his father’s bedroom on Terrace Sprio in Spring Valley on December 26th and attacking him with a samurai sword.
December 29, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Some prominent East County residents passed on in 2010, but left their mark indelibly on our region. A few were famous, such as movie star Dennis Hopper, or tribal leader Anna Sandoval. Some were heroes--including a Pearl Harbor survivor. Others made news with the dramatic means of their passing—stories that touched our hearts or served as lessons learned.
Below are some of the most memorable individuals from San Diego's inland region to whom we bade final farewell in 2010.
December 28, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Who’s been naughty and who’s been nice among this year’s headline makers? Our editorial staff has been making our list and checking it twice.
Here are our nominees for the naughtiest—and nicest—newsmakers of the year in 2010. Note: We don't include criminals in this list, as major crimes will be included in our "top news stories of 2010" that will be posted in a couple of days.
Do you agree with our choices? Please post comments--and your own nominees--below!
December 28, 2010 (San Diegoi)--The City of San Diego’s Environmental Services Department is hosting the 37th annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program through January 23, 2011. This year’s program offers 16 drop-off locations for City residents, as well as curbside pickup for customers with curbside yard waste collection.
December 28, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego Police ask the public’s help to locate Diana Ellen Bielawski, who may have driven to Julian in East County's mountains. She may also need medical attention. She was last seen Christmas day, December 25th at 1 p.m. in the 4100 block of Paseo Montanas in the Carmel Creek neighborhood of San Diego. View map.
She was driving a white 2001 Toyota Rav4 with California license 4TJK342. She is white, 26 years old, 120 pounds, 5 feet 6 inches tall, with brown hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a tan/brown/white belted sweater and black pants.
Local municipalities report $6 million in damage to public property, including $1 million in unincorporated areas
December 28, 2010 (San Diego)--County of San Diego Chief Administrative Officer Walt Ekard issued a proclamation of a local emergency today, clearing the way to ask for state help to address the several million dollars of damage inflicted by the storms Dec. 18- 22.
In April 2007, the first condor spotted in San Diego County in over 100 years soared into East County across the Mexican border. It may be the last, if the wind industry has its way.
By Jim Wiegand
December 28, 2010 (San Diego’s East County)--When is the media going to put an honest spotlight on the wind industry? When is the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service going to wake up?
I am an expert on birds of prey and have seen many environmental impact reports and studies generated for the wind industry. I have yet to see an honest one. All that read this should find this statement shocking.
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR MARKETING SUCCESS
January 1, 2010 (El Cajon)--The FBI and local law enforcement are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the man responsible for robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, 2366 Jamacha Road, El Cajon, on Monday, December 20th. The suspect entered the bank at around 3:05 p.m. carrying a black umbrella in his right hand to conceal the right side of his face. Once at the teller counter, the robber pulled out a demand note using his left hand. 
January 1, 2011 (Washington D.C.) - The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission has announced recalls on several products that have caused injury to consumers, including heaters sold at Wal-Mart, portable butane stoves, children's hooded jackets, Fagor refrigerators, and pacing loudspeakers. Below are details. 
January 1, 2010 (La Mesa) --Kids and Seniors Together (KAST) is looking for a few good volunteers! Jointly sponsored by the City of La Mesa and La Mesa Spring Valley School District, KAST is an intergenerational after-school program that matches mature adults with second through-fourth-grade students. It is designed to provide mature adults an opportunity to share their talents, skills and special interest with students who benefit from one-on-one mentoring.
Filthy conditions lead Animal Control to take custody of animals
December 30, 2010 (Rancho Penasquitos) – A tow truck driver turning onto eastbound Rancho Penasquitos Blvd. from Paseo Montril passed a woman, 58, who was crossing the street in a crosswalk. The driver’s side step caught the pedestrian’s foot, causing serious leg injuries. 
December 30, 2010 (Lemon Grove) –Sheriff’s Deputy Seel shot and killed a pit bull at 6956 after the dog bit his thigh. The deputy was contacted by a citizen who reported a vicious pit bull dog at 9 a.m. near San Miguel Elementary School. The citizen claimed the pit bull charged him and bit him in the leg, although the reporting party had no visible injuries and did not request medical attention.
December 30, 2010 (San Diego) – Across the County, emergency crews are busy repairing roads and assessing other damage from the most recent storm. 
Reviews: True Grit, Tangled, The Fighter, and I Love You Phillip Morris
December 30, 2010 (El Cajon)—An El Cajon man turned himself into the El Cajon Police Department around 11:30 a.m. today, stating that he was the driver of a hit and run vehicle. According to El Cajon Police Detective Tim Roberts, the driver is John Senati, 46, of El Cajon.
Local municipalities report $6 million in damage to public property, including $1 million in unincorporated areas
By Jim Wiegand
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