March 26, 2012 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa Police Department will be providing a weekly “News and Information” bulletin that will provide the public access to current case highlights, traffic enforcement information, crime prevention, emergency preparedness and department highlights. Starting today, this bulletin will be available on the City’s website and updated every Monday morning after 10:00 am. It will provide highlights of La Mesa Police activity from the prior week. This is another way La Mesa is keeping the public informed of recent police related activity.
March 26, 2012 (Spring Valley) –Cal Fire has submitted a request for proposal (RFP)to San Miguel Fire Protection District, the only agency to do so by yesterday’s deadline.
A committee appointed by the District will begin reviewing the proposal March 26 to assure that it meets minimum standards, or metrics, previously determined. The review committee will present its findings to the San Miguel Fire District Board at a March 28 meeting.
March 26 2012 (Sacramento) -- Assemblymember Brian Jones has joined his Republican colleagues in supporting a new legislative package that he says would improve services for California veterans.
“Nearly two million veterans call California home,” Jones said. “The fact that this state has not placed veteran’s services as a top priority is just another example of how misguided Sacramento has been. These men and women have sacrificed greatly for this country—it’s time we show how appreciative we truly are. That is why I am proud to support these bills.”
March 26, 2012 (San Diego) -- The American Society of Interior Designers’ annual “Spring Spruce Up” event is underway now through the end of May. For a discounted rate of $85 per hour, the public can arrange for a professional designer to come to their home or business to consult on their remodel or design project and obtain advice, direction, and details.
Alex Smith Signs Three-Year Deal, Will Stay In San Francisco
By Ryan Schuler
March 26, 2012 (La Mesa) --After the San Francisco 49ers entered the Peyton Manning sweepstakes, it was expected that free agent quarterback Alex Smith (La Mesa, Calif./Helix High School) would pack his bags and move on from the only franchise he has ever known. Maybe it would be the Miami Dolphins, where he would reunite with former Helix teammate Reggie Bush. That was not case.
March 26, 2012 (San Diego County) -- The Department of Environmental Health has issued a General Advisory for the coastal waters of San Diego County due to recent rainfall. Swimmers, surfers, and other ocean users are warned that the levels of bacteria can rise significantly in ocean and bay waters, especially near storm drains, creeks, rivers, and lagoon outlets that discharge urban runoff.
March 26, 2012 (Lemon Grove) – A 20-year-old skateboarder suffered serious injuries when he was struck by a vehicle at 7:35 last night while crossing the street in the 7300 block of Central Avenue in Lemon Grove.
According to Sergeant V. J. Rivera with the San Diego Sheriff, the victim “was wearing dark clothes and listening to his iPod.”
March 25, 2012 (El Cajon ) – The body of Shaima Alawadi, the 32-year-old Iraqi mother of five who died following a brutal attack in El Cajon last week, will be flown to Iraq for burial.The Detroit Free Press reports that her father, Sayed Nabeel Alawadi, a Shia cleric, confirmed that the Iraqi government will pay for the shipping expense.
Her murder has sparked outrage around the globe--and a show of solidarity among students in distant places.
March 25, 2012 (San Diego)--The bases were loaded with two outs in the top of the second inning. San Diego State held a 1-0 lead in the March 20 game, after the speedy Greg Allen scored on a wild pitch in the first inning. Up to the plate came the No. 9 hitter in the University of San Diego lineup, Austin Bailey.
March 25, 2012 (Otay) A brush fire that began in a canyon at 5353 Airway Road in the Otay area is being fed by heavy winds, Incident Page Network reports. A helicopter has been requested to aid with water drops at 4:56 p.m.
March 25, 2012, (San Diego's East County) -- On April 1, 2012, an event called East County Earth Day will be held at Mt. Helix Park, billed as a "free, family-friendly event [that] invites residents of East County to experience a local perspective on Earth-friendly practices". The event underwriter is San Diego Gas & Electric, according to the Mt. Helix Park Foundation website. While I commend those who planned the event, I suggest that an event underwriter should have been found that has a record of being Earth-friendly.
March 25, 2012 (Washington, D.C.) -- Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) moved to make sure adequate resources are available for a strong enforcement mechanism to protect consumers. Davis and 98 of her colleagues sent a letter to House appropriators urging robust funding for the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The CFTC is charged with regulating Wall Street, which includes speculation in the oil markets that are driving up gas prices.
California could be third State in nation to adopt such a resolution
March 25, 2012 (Sacramento)--California is well in stride to be the third state to call for a constitutional amendment to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision, which allows corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money in an attempt to influence elections. The California Assembly passed a resolution – by a 48-22 vote – calling for an amendment, sending the measure to the California Senate.
Santee Council to weigh resolution opposing power plant March 28;San Diego Council to consider zoning change to allow facility on April 26
By Miriam Raftery
March 25, 2012 (San Diego/Santee) – Seventeen staffers from the California Energy Commission heard from concerned residents at a standing-room-only workshop on a proposed gas-fired power plant this week at Mission Trails Regional Park. Over 60 residents filled out speaker cards to oppose the controversial project and dozens more packed the room.
In emotionally charged testimony, residents pleaded for the project to be withdrawn or approval denied.They voiced concerns over the dangers pose by wildfire and explosions as well as worries over noise, traffic, air pollution, visual blight, and impacts on wildlife, homes, schools, and Mission Trails Regional Park.
By Lori Abbott/Alfonso López-Collada, Public News Service
15 de Marzo 2012 (Sacramento)--El Gobernador Jerry Brown y la California Federation of Teachers (Federación de Maestros de California) llegaron a un acuerdo sobre la iniciativa fiscal de noviembre. Aunque ambos apoyan iniciativas de impuestos que rivalizan, han decidido unir sus fuerzas con la esperanza de lograr un pacto de apoyo para la votación de noviembre.
March 25, 2012 (La Mesa)—A family of four escaped their burning house during the night, alerted to trouble by a garage door going up and down. Heartland Fire & Rescue Crews from La Mesa and El Cajon battled the blaze reported at 2:21 a.m. in the 5700 block of Lambda Lane.
Fire crews arrived in six minutes to discover heavy fire and smoke coming from the attached garage of a single story, single family residence. Firefighters stretched hose lines to the interior of the house and aggressively fought the fire preventing the fire from spreading to the interior of the home.
March 25, 2012 (Ramona) – The Ramona Music Fest is Saturday, March 31 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Dos Picos County Park, 17953 Dos Picos Park Road in Ramona.A variety of exceptional music artists will light up two stages.
The headliners this year are Rockola and Cactus Twan Whyte Grano & Nash.Rockola has earned no fewer than eight San Diego Music awards in their three decades together. Cactus Twang Whyte Grano & Nash offer spot-on performances of beloved classics made famous by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
March 25, 2012 (Anza-Borrego) – Now is the chance to stay overnight in an authentic Mongolian gers during a weekend of events that will introduce the fascinating culture of Mongolia and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park’s connection to this intriguing country.
Throughout the weekend, talks will be given on the nomadic lifestyle, Mongolian wildlife, ABDSP’s Sister Park relationship, traditional dress, games and a photo slideshow that captures the beauty of this vast country and its people.
March 24, 2012 (El Cajon) – The Lakeside/El Cajon Sheriff’s station will be holding coffee and conversation with the community in multiple locations.The event will be attended by Lt. Robbins, Lt. Walker, COPPS Deputies, Crime Prevention Specialists and representatives from other agencies in partnership with the Sheriff’s Department.
Update March 27, 2012 (San Diego)--At a bail review yesterday, the victim told the judge that she is certain Kobulnicky was not the person who reportedly raped her. "This man is not the man at all, and I'll stick with that for as long as I live," she stated, 10 News reports. http://www.10news.com/news/30763732/detail.html. The San Diego Tea Party has posted an interview with the woman on their website at http://www.sandiegopatriots.com . Kobulnicky remains in jail, however.
Update March 25, 2012: Outrage over Alawadi's brutal murder has spread around the world. Now a Facebook page called One Million Hijabs for Shaima Alawadi has been launched, featuring a photo of college students wearing hijabs in a show of solidarity with the El Cajon murder victim:
March 24, 2012 (El Cajon ) – Shaima Alawadi, 32, mother of five children, has died of injuries sustained Wednesday when she was found savagely beaten in her home.
ECM news partner 10 Newsconfirms that Alawadi was taken off life support this afternoon. The death is being investigated as a murder--and a family member believes the killing was a hate crime.
Donna Williams Selected as Best in Law Enforcement for Child Abuse Victims
March 25, 2012 (Huntsville, AL) -- The National Children's Advocacy Center (NCAC) presented the Outstanding Service Award in Law Enforcement to Donna Williams, who served as a Detective with the San Diego Police Department from 1989 until her unfortunate death in 2011. Detective Cindy Brady accepted the award on behalf of Williams. The honor came at the 28th National Symposium on Child Abuse in Huntsville, Alabama. Detective Williams’ daughter, De Kenya Williams, was in attendance at the award ceremony.
March 24, 2012 (La Mesa) – A search is on in La Mesa for an armed robbery suspect in the vicinity of 8601 Fletcher Parkway near the Grossmont Trolley.All trolleys have been stopped due to activity on the tracks, according to La Mesa Police.
Incident Page Network reports that the search involves a Sheriff’s helicopter and San Diego Police Department canine, around 11 p.m.
“The next time you decide to write a story like this one, I have a suggestion. Go bite a dog." -- Bill Horn staffer Anita Lightfoot, in an e-mail to Valley Roadrunner editor David Ross
By Miriam Raftery
March 24, 2012 (San Diego) – On Wednesday, March 28 at 9 a.m., Supervisors will vote on whether to abolish community planning groups or radically reduce their powers.Proposals made by developers on a "Red Tape Reduction Task Force: include making planning groups pay for appealing County decision, taking away liability insurance for volunteer community planners, and more.
March 24, 2012 – Viejas Outlets announced the opening today of the latest in a growing list of popular name-brand stores – a 4,100 square foot Skechers store, offering thousands of styles of footwear for men, women and children. “We are excited to add Skechers to our roster of national, name-brand retailers,” said Viejas Outlets General Manager Peter Cortese. “The Skechers brand appeals to a broad spectrum of our customers, who place a high priority on style and value. It’s a perfect fit for our business and for our customers.”
March 24, 2012 (Washington, D.C.) “There is now more supply…available in America today than there was three years ago when the price of gas was a buck ninety a gallon. There’s less demand now than there was at any time since 1997, so we’re not looking at a supply and demand problem. What we also know is that over eighty percent of the oil futures market is not controlled by people who actually use the oil, airlines, etc. , but by Wall Street speculators like Goldman Sachs/Morgan Stanley…The root of the problem is that our friends on Wall Street who caused this recession through their greed are at it again, and by manipulating oil futures market they’re driving up prices” – Senator Bernie Sanders, Vermont, only Independent member of Congress.
March 24, 2012 (San Diego) – In today’s tight budgetary times, local law enforcement departments are getting a hand from retired senior volunteer programs (RSVPs). How do these dedicated volunteers help our communities—and how do programs at different agencies compare?
March 24, 2012 (La Mesa) -- It looks like a cannon ball with a handle, and it’s called a Kettlebell. This small exercise tool has been used in Eastern Bloc countries for hundreds of years, and it has made it to the USA.
"Women especially really enjoy kettlebell training because it targets the areas where they want to see measurable results" says Owner JJ Brawley, Head Coach and owner of La Mesa Fit Body Boot Camp.
March 24, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Earlier this month, an administrative law judge with the California Public Utilities Commission ordered San Diego Gas & Electric Company to prepare a plan that would give ratepayers the right to not have wireless smart meters.
March 24, 2012 (El Cajon) – On March 28 Cajon Valley Middle School is opening their doors to the public from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to showcase their new campus at 550 East Park Avenue, El Cajon.The school is highlighting all the new programs taking place: computer labs, a community garden, newcomer classes, art, music and dance exhibitions, AVID and Writing for Change programs, an extended day program, athletics, clubs and tutorial support.
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
March 25, 2012 (Ramona) – The Ramona Music Fest is Saturday, March 31 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Dos Picos County Park, 17953 Dos Picos Park Road in Ramona.
March 25, 2012 (Anza-Borrego) – Now is the chance to stay overnight in an authentic Mongolian gers during a weekend of events that will introduce the fascinating culture of Mongolia and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park’s connection to this intriguing country.
March 24, 2012 (El Cajon) – The Lakeside/El Cajon Sheriff’s station will be holding coffee and conversation with the community in multiple locations.
March 24, 2012 (La Mesa) – A search is on in La Mesa for an armed robbery suspect in the vicinity of 8601 Fletcher Parkway near the Grossmont Trolley.
March 24, 2012 (La Mesa) -- 
March 24, 2012 (El Cajon) – On March 28 Cajon Valley Middle School is opening their doors to the public from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to showcase their new campus at 550 East Park Avenue, El Cajon.
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