December 27, 2011 (San Diego)—Emako Mendoza, 76, the Paradise Hills woman mauled by a neighbor’s two pit bulls in June, died on Christmas Eve after being hospitalized December 23 due to complications from those injuries, according to the Medical Examiner.
December 27, 2011 (Bonita) - A dune buggy accident has claimed the life of David Sylvester Metje, a 52-year-old married man from Bonita. Metje was the driver and sole occupant of an off-road vehicle when he lost control and was ejected. The accident ccurred in the 4700 block of Butternut Hollow Lane in Bonita.
December 27, 2011 (Deerhorn Valley) –A paraplegic is trapped in a minivan that has rolled onto its side at 21325 Deerhorn Valley Road in the Jamul area, Incident Page Network reports.Multiple victims are reportedly involved.
December 27, 2011 (Otay) – San Diego Police seek help to locate Josephina Yolanda Lopez, 58. “The San Diego Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue Unit has been called out to look for Lopez,” said Lt. Andra Brown.
December 27, 2012 (El Cajon) -- Mystery fans, read and discuss mysteries at the Whodunit Book Club, a free Grossmont Adult School class that starts Tuesday, Jan. 3, at the El Cajon Library, 201 E. Douglas Ave.
The weekly class is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the library Seminar Room.
December 27, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)—From the Real Estate Trenches is a weekly column focused on real estate news that impacts East County’s real estate market. This week’s local and national real estate highlights include:
East County Realtors rally to aid less fortunate at Christmas time
December 27, 2011 (San Diego County) -- The Winter Holiday Anti-DUI crackdown has resulted in more driving under the influence (DUI) arrests from local traffic enforcement and special Avoid the 14 DUI deployments over a two week period in San Diego County. In the past 11 days, from 12:01 a.m. Friday December 16th through midnight, Monday December 26th, deputies/officers representing 14 County law enforcement agencies booked 534 people for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In 2010, 444 DUI bookings occurred during the same time period. This is an increase of 20%.
December 29, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--After a warm visit with my grown son, I tell him “Good bye !” He hugs me and jumps into his car. We wave back and forth and I still do not go back into the house until the curve fades away his presence. Life is so precious and, when you think I could have died decades ago, at age sixteen, the memories of that evening still give me goose bumps. ..My son, Christopher, would have been just an undefined wish of energy wandering in this infinite universe.
December 27, 2011 (San Diego) – Christmas trees add beauty to homes during the holidays. But a dry tree can become a fire hazard. Fortunately, there are many places to recycle your tree in East County and San Diego.
December 27, 2011 (Valley Center) – Thieves ransacked a Valley Center home last Thursday, making off with over $10,000 worth of belongings.The family’s cherished miniature Yorkshire Terrier, “Cookie”, is also missing.
“She’s part of our family,” owner Joanne Hansen told ECM news partner 10 News.The dog weighs just one pound, eight ounces.
December 28, 2011 (Lakeside) – A motorcyclist down in the 11400 block of Wildcat Canyon Road has prompted shutdown of the highway. The accident was reported at 3:27 p.m. Traffic is blocked south of Barona, CHP reports.
December 26, 2011 (San Diego)--They celebrated in glee as leader after leader, government after government came under pressure in The Middle East as the Arab Spring unfolded. Now, enter the American Fall. The Occupy Movement is well underway and appears to be here to stay. Mainstream media puppets voice the same message, “They are not stating a clear objective”, as if they do not understand the plight of the American people.
The grievances are quite clear to those who care.
Millions of Americans have had their homes stolen by banks in foreclosure actions, the same banks that received bail out tax dollars. Insurance company lobbyists have ensured that millions of American citizens are impeded from acquiring quality health care. Food prices continue to skyrocket; a bag of frozen strawberries can cost $11.00. Greedy gasoline companies fuel cars and inflated prices by increasing prices to over $4.00 per gallon for gasoline.
December 26, 2011 (San Diego)--San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU), San Diego’s largest locally-owned financial institution with three local East County branch offices in El Cajon, La Mesa and Santee, is collecting toys for Rady Children’s Hospital – San Diego, the largest children’s hospital in California. As part of SDCCU’s second annual Winter Toy Drive, new unwrapped toys can be dropped off at any one of SDCCU’s 28 branch locations in San Diego, Riverside and Orange counties through Jan. 7, 2012.
Update December 27, 2011: The victim has been identified as Daniel C. Dacon, Jr., 24, a single man who lived with his parents n San Diego.
December 26, 2011 (Barrett Junction) – A motorcyclist has died at the scene of an accident on State Route 94 just east of Romo Road near the Barrett Café.
December 25, 2011 (Washington D.C.)—This year, the White House chose the holiday theme “Shine, give, share” to give the American people an opportunity to pay tribute to our troops, our veterans, and their families. President Barack Obama invites you to share a holiday mesasge with our troops by clicking this link:
December 25, 2011 (Ramona)—Nelson Edward “Mac” MacWilliams, 54, has been identified by the Medical Examiner’s office as the driver who died December 20 in a rollover accident on Wildcat Canyon Road in Lakeside. RamonaPatch.com reports that MacWilliams worked in Congressman Duncan Hunter’s El Cajon office, handling military and veterans’ issues.
December 25, 2011 (La Mesa)—Walter Barrios, 22, of La Mesa is under arrest for attempting to rob a 15-year-old skateboarder at knife point. La Mesa Police officers responded to the incident in the 8500 block of Dallas Street last night around 6 p.m.
Company went out of business without recalling dangerous product
December 25, 2011 (Washington D.C.)--The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers again not to use the ShoulderFlex Massager, imported by King International and sold by various companies, due to serious potential health risks.
December 24, 2011 (North Pole) -- For the 56th year, the U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command will be tracking the global flight of Santa Claus as he leaves the north pole and delivers presents around the world on Christmas Eve, December 24, at www.noradsanta.com.
This year, NORAD has gone high-tech, adding aps to track Santa via Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Children can also telephone Santa and fine pre-holiday games to play at the site.
December 24, 2011 (San Diego) -- San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU), San Diego’s largest locally-owned financial institution with three local East County branch offices in El Cajon, La Mesa and Santee, has announced it will return as title sponsor of the 2012 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.
(from left to right): Chris Sichel, executive director of the Make-A-Wish Foundation in San Diego, Make-A-Wish kids Aidan, Tyler, Emma and Christian, and Teresa Halleck, president/CEO of San Diego County Credit Union president.
December 24, 2011 (Sacramento) -- Assemblymember Marty Block, AD-78, continued his season of giving as he distributed toys and baby items to local families at the Grossmont Spring Valley Family Health Center, one of thirty sites operated by Family Health Centers of San Diego.
Update: The suspect arrested has been identified as Justin Metzer. ECM news partner 10 News reports that a family friend has identified the murder victim as Debra Meltzer, his ex-wife. The couple's young children were not in the home and are safe, 10 News reported.
Crime Prevention Specialist, San Diego Sheriff’s Alpine and East Rural areas
December 23, 2011 (East County) -- Holidays are a special time of year, but also a time when busy people become vulnerable to theft and other crimes. Even though you are rushed and thinking about a thousand things, we urge you to stay alert. Criminals do not take a holiday and look for opportunities to victimize you! The following reminders and safety tips are our gifts to you:
December 23, 2011 (El Cajon) -- At approximately 6:02 p.m. on Wednesday, December 21, 2011, El Cajon Police Officers and Heartland Fire & Rescue crews responded to reports of a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle in the roadway, in the 1200 block of Jamacha Road, in El Cajon.
December 23, 2011 (Lemon Grove) – Someone in Lemon Grove has 17 million reasons to be joyful this holiday season. That’s because his or her SuperLotto Plus ticket matched all six numbers in this week’s draw and is worth $17 million.
The winning ticket was sold at the 7-Eleven located at 7607 Broadway in Lemon Grove. The winning numbers are 21, 38, 44, 43, 8 and Mega 24.
7-Eleven will receive a bonus of one half percent or $85,000 for selling the winning ticket. Jackpot winners have 180 days from the date of the draw to claim the jackpot prize. The estimated cash option amount for this ticket is $12.2 million.
If you are the winner, the Lottery wants to remind you to sign your ticket, put it in a safe place and contact Lottery officials or visit your local Lottery District Office as soon as possible.
More than 94 cents of every dollar spent by California lottery players goes back to local communities in the form of contributions to public schools and colleges, prizes and retail compensation. Since 2000, Lottery players have contributed $1 billion to public schools each year, and, since we began in 1985, Lottery players have contributed a total of more than $24 billion to education.
Don’t Forget to Add Safety Gear to Bicycle, Scooter or Skateboard Gift
December 23, 2011 -- (San Diego County) -- Give your child the joy of opening an additional holiday present and give yourself peace of mind if you get them a bike, skateboard or scooter. The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), Rady Children’s Hospital and Racers and Chasers are teaming up to remind people that those gifts need to be accompanied by a properly-fitted helmet, as well as wrist guards and elbow and knee pads if it’s a skateboard.
December 23, 2011 (Alpine) -- As the holiday spirit fills the air, the outdoor Viejas Outlets Show Court will host the magical and “ooh”-inspiring production of Together, A Holiday Spectacular! The show will take place nightly at 6:00 and 7:00 p.m.
December 23, 2011 (San Diego)-- The National Weather Service has issued a wind warning for today and tomorrow in San Diego County. Gusts of up to 60 mph are forecast with sustained winds in the 25-35 mph range. Use caution when traveling particularly in high-profile vehicles.
December 22, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:
U.S.
Analyzing the GOP presidential candidates (CBS News/Face the Nation)
Time person of the year: Why they protest –American movements (Time Magazine)
Senate okays short-term extension of payroll tax cut (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Senate wraps up year’s work—finally (Christian Science Monitor)
Des Moines Register endorses Romney (CNN)
Gingrich: I’ll ‘ignore’ any Supreme Court ruling I disagree with (RawStory.com)
WORLD
North Korea says its leader Kim Jong Il has died
Radioactive material seized at Moscow airport (Fox)
December 22, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:
STATE
Signs of an improving economy? Jobless rate continues to fall (Mount Helix Patch)
California finally gets a piece of race to the top (San Francisco Chronicle)
LOCAL
San Diego utility to pay $24.5 million to county (Sacramento Bee)
Del Oro falls to Helix 35-24 in D-II championship (Sacramento Bee)
Mount Laguna has almost two feet of snow (San Diego Union-Tribune)
December 27, 2011 (San Diego)—Emako Mendoza, 76, the Paradise Hills woman mauled by a neighbor’s two pit bulls in June, died on Christmas Eve after being hospitalized December 23 due to complications from those injuries, according to the Medical Examiner. 
By Charlotte Reed
Travels in time to Bucuresti, Romania 
By Walter Davis
December 25, 2011 (Ramona)—Nelson Edward “Mac” MacWilliams, 54, has been identified by the Medical Examiner’s office as the driver who died December 20 in a rollover accident on Wildcat Canyon Road in Lakeside. RamonaPatch.com reports that MacWilliams worked in Congressman Duncan Hunter’s El Cajon office, handling military and veterans’ issues.
Company went out of business without recalling dangerous product
Recent comments