Update February 23, 2011 11:40 p.m.  Frank Waines has been found and is currently hospitalized for observation after suffering a medical epidsode, Lt. Andra Brown with SDPD has informed ECM.

February 23, 2011 (San Diego) – San Diego Police seeks public help to locate Frank Waines, 73 . “According to his family, he is diabetic and becomes disoriented quite easily,” said Lt. Andra Brown. Waines may also need medical treatment. He was last seen on February 21st at 6:30 p.m. at 5900 Flipper Street in east San Diego. Waines was driving a black 2009 Ford Edge with CA license 4001EDP.

February 21, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Two serious accidents have occurred tonight in East County. Wildcat Canyon Road in Lakeside is closed down due to a fatality accident at Mile Marker 1, as of 9:45 p.m. reported by Incident Page Network. In Ramona, power lines are reported down in the road and sparking on Vista Ramona Road at Timber Passage, according to the CHP website at 10:49 p.m.

“If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” -- George Washington

February 19, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Heavy snowfall is making travel hazardous on East County roadways in mountain areas, resulting in numerous accidents and traffic delays tonight.

“The Cuyamaca area has received between 6 to 8 inches of snow and Mt. Laguna more than that,” Cal Fire’s Mike Mohler informed ECM in an e-mail. He advised people to avoid visiting these areas unless prepared.

February 18, 2011 (Alpine) – A solo vehicle spun out of control, rolling overall several times shortly before 10 p.m. tonight on eastbound I-8 just west of Willows Road in Alpine. According to the California Highway Patrol website, one patient is bleeding from the head.

In addition CHP has received a report of a mudslide or rockslide on Sunrise Highway near mile marker 17. A separate caller reported a boulder on the southbound side of Sunrise Highway near old Highway 80.

February 18, 2011 (Sacramento) -- Do opponents of gay marriage have legal standing to challenge a decision overturning Proposition 8 in federal court after the state’s two top officers opted not to defend the measure? California’s Supreme Court has announced it will take up that legal question.

February 18, 2011 (La Mesa) –Two La Mesans announced this week that they are forming a watchdog group to monitor spending by public agencies in East County. David Smyle, president of Benchmark Commercial Mortgage Bankers, and retired teacher Russell Buckley cite scandal at the City of Bell as an example of why city, county, water and other agencies need scrutiny of how tax dollars are used.

February 16, 2011 (San Diego) – San Diego Police seek the public’s help to locate Sarita Esquilin, 71. According to police, “Esquilin has recently begun to experience memory loss and has trouble finding her way home.” She was last seen at 110000 Westonhill Drive in San Diego  at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, February 14th . She was driving a 2003 silver Honda CRV with California license ## 5AUD254.

February 15, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Rain is forecast starting Wednesday, with snow levels dropping to around 4,000 feet Wednesday night. The weather will break Thursday, but another storm system will bring heavy rain and mountain snow Friday night and Saturday, with scattered showers Sunday, the National Weather Service predicts.

Wants falls to stay accessible to public; offers safety suggestions for hikers--and for the U.S. Forest Service
 

By Miriam Raftery
 

February 13, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – “Someone was watching out for me,” says Ofelia Gutierrez , 56, who is home from the hospital after two surgeries for serious injuries sustained when she tumbled head-over-heels at Three Sisters Falls in East County on February 6th. In an exclusive interview with East County Magazine, the seasoned hiker shares her dramatic story.
 

February 14, 2011 (Valley Center) – A motorcyclist was killed February 13th in an accident on SR 76, west of South Grade Road in Pauma Valley. According to the San Diego Medical Examiner’s office, the man was driving his 2011 Harley Davidson eastbound on SR 76 around 12:45 p.m. when he came out of a curve at a high speed and ran onto a grassy shoulder. He lost control and crashed. The driver was ejected and his motorcycle caught on fire.

Feb. 12, 2011 (11 p.m.) - The San Diego Medical Examiner has identified the victim in this accident as Matthew David Pack, 24, of San Juan Capistrano.  Cause of death has not yet been determined.  

Update Feb. 12, 2011 9:30 a.m. - The rock climber has been confirmed as a fatality, San Diego Sheriff Lt.. David Brown said.  "He was dangling halfway down the rock face, in the water underneath the waterfall," he confirmed.  The body recovery effort continues in the rugged canyon area.  No additional details on the identity or description of the man have been released at this time. 

 Update 11:50 p.m.

February 11, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Efforts to recover the body of a climber presumed dead at Mildred Falls have been called off for the night, San Diego Sheriff's Lt. Jim Duffy informed ECM moments ago.

The rock climber is believed to have died while awaiting a rescue helicopter this evening, East County Magazine has learned.  Officials believe that the victim, a male, "was trying to rappel into the waterfall when he became entangled in ropes and was drawn into the water," Duffy said, adding that three different people reporting hearing the individual calling for help.

 Incident Page Network reported at 6:05 p.m. that San Diego Sheriff’s Copter 1 was en route for a technical rescue of the hiker, who was unconscious hiker halfway down the falls, possibly a rock climber who had been rapelling. Lt. Duffy said rescuers initially responded to a man yelling for help at mile marker 9 on Eagle Peak near Mildred Falls in the Julian area at 5:17 p.m.

February 11, 2011 (San Diego). – Legal troubles are mounting for San Diego Gas and Electric's proposed "Sunrise Powerlink" transmission line with the filing of a new lawsuit this week by three local organizations against California's State Water Resources Control Board. The lawsuit was filed in California State Superior Court in Sacramento.