ATMOSPHERIC RIVER TO DRENCH REGION OVER EASTER WEEKEND

GROSSMONT HIGH SCHOOL BOARD SLASHES STAFFING, OVER OBJECTIONS OF VOCAL CROWD

CONSUMER ALERT FOR SAFELY FILING YOUR TAXES

VIEW OUR INTERVIEW: LA MESA ACTIVISTS OBJECT TO CITY COUNCIL BANNING REMOTE PARTICIPATION

WINTER STORM WARNING

EASTER BRUNCH AND EGG HUNT MARCH 30 IN EL CAJON

RECENT FIRE DEATHS HEIGHTEN CALLS FOR FIRE PROTECTION BALLOT MEASURE IN SANTEE

BIA SAN DIEGO PARTNERS WITH WORKFORCECONNECT TO UTILIZE JOBS PLATFORM, WHILE ADDRESSING CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WORKFORCE SHORTAGE

COUNTRY MUSIC LEGEND TANYA TUCKER LIVE AT THE MAGNOLIA MAY 19

MISSION TRAILS REGIONAL PARK COMMUNITY NIGHT SLATED FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 4

184 GUNS TURNED IN AT SHERIFF’S LEMON GROVE GUN SAFETY EVENT

UNOFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS SHOW FLIPS IN TWO KEY RACES HOLDING

TEENS ARRESTED FOR ARSON IN RANCHO SAN DIEGO

 

 

June 27, 2012 (Rancho San Diego)  – Two teenagers have been arrested for suspicion of iintentionally setting a vegetation fire yesterday.  The blaze briefly threatened  several units at the Woodbridge Apartments, as well as six vehicles parked along the canyon rim. The wildland fire was reported at 5:30 p.m. yesterday  in the 10800 block of Calle Verde.

NEARLY 80 JUVENILES RECOVERED IN NATIONWIDE OPERATION TARGETING UNDERAGE PROSTITUTION

Seven pimps arrested and two juveniles recovered by San Diego Innocent Lost Task Force and assisting law enforcement agencies 

June 27, 2012, (San Diego) -- Hundreds of FBI special agents partnered with thousands of local police officers, deputy sheriffs, state troopers, and other law enforcement personnel throughout the United States this past week, arresting those responsible for exploiting underage children through prostitution.

U.S. BORDER PATROL AGENTS FOIL COCAINE AND METH SMUGGLING ATTEMPTS AT SAN DIEGO CHECKPOINTS

 

 
June 27, 2012 (San Diego)--U.S. Border Patrol agents prevented two drug smuggling attempts last week resulting in the seizure of cocaine and methamphetamine worth an estimated $344,650, the U.S. Border Patrol has announced. The seizures were made on checkpoints in San Diego’s East County and North County.

SAN DIEGO MAN ARRESTED AS PART OF TWO-YEAR FBI UNDERCOVER "CARDING" OPERATION TO STOP CYBER-CRIMES

 

June 27, 2012 (San Diego) -- Pursuant to a federal arrest warrant issued out of the Southern District of New York, Mark Caparelli, aka, "Cubby" was arrested yesterday morning in San Diego by FBI Agents. The arrest was one of 24 arrests made in eight countries as part of a two-year international cyber crime takedown operation. Caparelli was booked into the Metropolitan Correctional Center. The undercover “carding” sting protected over 400,000 potential cyber-crime victims and prevented over $205 million in losses, according to a press release issued by the FBI. 

CHICKENS MAY SOON FLOCK TO EL CAJON: COUNCIL VOTES IN FAVOR BACKYARD CHICKEN OWNERSHIP

 

 
Staff to prepare draft ordinance
 
By Janis Mork
 
June 26, 2012 (El Cajon)- At the El Cajon Council meeting today, one of the items on the agenda concerned changing the zoning requirement so El Cajon residents can own chickens in their own backyards. The public was able to voice their concerns to allow backyard chicken ownership.

FRONT AND CENTER: FIGHTING PAY, REGIONAL DEFENSE SPENDING, ETC.

 
News for our troops and veterans
 
By Rick Rogers
 
June 25, 2012 (San Diego)--It’s nearly impossible for the casual reader to keep up with important military and veteran stories. 

I follow this stuff for a living, and most days it’s like drinking from a fire hose.

PARKED VEHICLE CRASHES INTO ELDER CARE HOME IN LA MESA, CAUSES FATAL INJURY TO RESIDENT

 
 
June 27, 2012 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police responded to a vehicle crash yesterday afternoon in the 4900 block of Mills Street, where they discovered that a motorist had parked a vehicle on the street and failed to apply the parking break or put the vehicle in park. After the driver left the area, the vehicle began rolling backwards and across to the west side of the street colliding into an elder care home.

LYRICS AND LAVENDER MUSIC FESTIVAL JUNE 30

June 27, 2012 (Valley Center) –How sweet it is! Keys Creek Lavender Farm, 12460 Keys Creek Road, Valley Center will hold its end of season music celebration on June 30 from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.  

It will take place in the Special Events area of the private residence, with a main stage for live music, a beer and wine garden, prizes, drawings and other activities.

HELIX WATER VOTES FOR RATE HIKE; PUBLIC MEETING SET FOR JULY 10

 

By Miriam Raftery

June 27, 2012 (La Mesa) – By a 4-1 vote with Director Kathleen Hedberg dissenting, the Helix Water District board of directors voted to approve a water rate study that recommends rate hikes.  The increase would average 4.7 percent, or $2.75 a month for the average water user, though owners of larger properties face substantially heftier increases.

MUSE PROPOSED MUZZLING HELIX WATER BOARD MEMBERS FROM SPEAKING TO MEDIA

By Miriam Raftery

June 27, 2012 (La Mesa) –Helix Water Board director Chuck Muse sought to have the District prohibit fellow Board directors from speaking to  reporters, ECM has learned.  

Board President DeAna Verbeke stopped short of such drastic measures, but  did chastise directors to refrain from “negative personal comments” about board members or the District,” admonishing that during past rate hike considerations, “discussing the District’s business did not reflect well on the individual of the District.”

BRUSH FIRE BURNING ON CAMP PENDLETON

Update 11 a.m. -- The fire is now 80% contained. Base officials say live fire operations started the blaze, which has charred 250 acres.

June 27, 2012 (Oceanside) – A brush fire that started yesterday has scorched over 200 acres.  According to the North County Times, the blaze started north of the base and was 15% contained late yesterday. No structures were threatened.

“The fire is still active. As of 5:30 a.m. the Camp Pendleton Fire Dept. did not have a percentage of containment," ECM’s in-house Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna , author of the From the Chief’s Corner  column, advised.  "Today will be warm and the possibility of “flare-ups” may occur and/or intentional “burning out” targeted areas which ‘may’ or may not cause smoke drift."

WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING? HERE'S WHAT TO DO

 
By Mayan Avitable
 
June 25, 2012 (La Mesa) -- I don't know about you, but I have always had an insatiable desire to know everything. I don't mean I want to be a know-it-all, although some of my friends might disagree -- it's just this curiosity I have. I remember as young as  five years old watching a snail and wondering why we had those things. 

ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS APPLAUDS SENATE FOR PASSAGE OF HISTORIC FARM BILL

 
June 26, 2012 (Chicago) – The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics praised the work of the United States Senate, in particular the Agriculture Committee, for passing the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act (S. 3240), also known as the 2012 Farm Bill, which will fund key nutrition programs that empower Americans to make healthy food choices.

SUPREME COURT OVERTURNS KEY PROVISIONS OF ARIZONA IMMIGRANT LAW

By Miriam Raftery

June 26, 2012 (Washington D.C.) – By a  5 to 3 ruling yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court held that key provisions in an Arizona law targeting immigrants is unconstitutional.  The court upheld a controversial police powers provision, however.  

HOMETOWN HERO RYAN LINDLEY BEGINS NFL JOURNEY

 

By Hunter Hewitt
 
June 25, 2012 (San Diego's East County) -- When the time comes for a high school football star to decide on which college to attend, it can be extremely tough to make a decision. These young men often find themselves weighing their options and strongly considering each school that has offered them a scholarship.
 
For Ryan Lindley, however, the decision was simple. 

 

VICTORY FOR CONSUMERS: CPUC EXPANDS SOLAR NET METERING

 
By Miriam Raftery
 
June 25, 2012 (San Diego) – A California Public Utilities Commission has brightened the future for solar energy in California. In a unanimous decision last month, the CPUC voted to nearly double the number of homes and businesses that will be eligible to participate in the state’s net metering program. With net metering,  Net meter lets homeowners and business owners cut their utility bills by installing solar panels—and get credit for excess electricity that the send to the state’s power grid.

“PATHWAYS TO WELLNESS & BEAUTY”- NETWORKING & EDUCATIONAL FAIRE

 
June 25, 2012 – (Kearny Mesa) Several independent small business owners from East County and surrounding areas are proud to host the first annual, “Pathways to Wellness & Beauty”- Networking & Educational Faire on Saturday, June 30 from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The event is an Open House, however, eager students should arrive early to engage in the full schedule of speakers.

ALPINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY SHOWCASED DURING HISTORY DAYS

 
By E.A. Barrera
 
"Each one remembers only in part. Seldom is an incident, a character, or a scene with all the lights and shadows peculiar to it alone remembered entirely by any one person. Thus the fabric of history must be a weaving together of many memories to pattern the whole cloth."
Beatrice La Force, August 2, 1971
 
June 25, 2012 (Alpine) --  As Alpine celebrated its heritage during the first weekend of June, it can be noted with some irony that the conditions which forged this community into existence are still ever present and not going away. A 100 years from now, what will be remembered about Alpine during these early days of the 21st Century?

GOVERNOR MUST ACT ON BUDGET BY JUNE 27

 

Budget aims to eliminate deficit, cuts key services

Deeper cuts ahead if Governor’s tax initiative on Nov. ballot is not approved by voters

By Miriam Raftery

June 25, 2012 (Sacramento) – California's Legislature has approved a budget bill, AB 1464, on time by the constitutional June 15 deadline.  The budget deal aims to eliminate the state’s $20 billion structural deficit and result in a balanced budget for each of the next several years, resulting in a $2 billion reserve by the 2015/16 fiscal year.

CRIME PREVENTION VACATION TIPS

 
 
By Paula Dickenson, USN Retired
Crime Prevention Specialist, Alpine and East County Rural Sheriff Substation
 
June 25, 2012 (San Diego's East County)We plan, look forward to and want to enjoy that much deserved time.  It's a vacation!  Whether it's for a couple of days or weeks, don't let yours be ruined by crime.
An empty house is a tempting target and opportunity for a burglar.  On the road, you may become a prime opportunity for the criminal with identity theft, auto burglaries and fraud.

FOREST SERVICE, BLM ISSUE PLAN TO ELIMINATE FERAL PIGS WITH HELICOPTER HUNTING, TRAPS AND DOGS

Public has until July 18 to submit comments

June 24, 2012 (San Diego)--Cleveland National Forest (CNF) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have released an Environmental Assessment (EA) for feral pig management on public lands in San Diego, Riverside and Orange Counties, as well as on the Capitan Grande Indian Reservation.

Feral pigs, which are not native to our region, have caused extensive damage by rooting that destroys riparian waterways, habitat and forage for wildlife. The plan includes 600,000 acres of public lands, including many in East County.

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