By Miriam Raftery

May 3, 2014 (Alpine)—When Alpine resident Alanna Light heard about the tragic sinking of a Korean ferry boat, she feared for her 24-year-old daughter, who teaches English at a private school in South Korea.

“My dad called me and asked if Kalya was alright,” she recalled, adding that when she heard about the tragedy, “I had a panic attack until I got through to her.”  Fortunately, Kayla was fine.  But at least 242 passengers on the Sewol  ferry have died and another 60 remain missing.  Most of the passengers were high school students.

The captain and 14 crew members have been arrested for leaving the ship and abandoning passengers, including children told to stay in their cabins.  Two others have also been arrested for over-loading the ship, which had 476 people on board.

By Miriam Raftery

May 3, 2014 (Deerhorn Valley) – A 17-month-old child was bitten three times in the abdomen by a rattlesnake yesterday afternoon while playing in on a patio at a home near Barrett Lake in Deerhorn Valley.

NBC reported that the incident was reported at 4:20 in the 20000 block of Manzanita Way.   The Deerhorn Valley Antler indicated that Mercy Air flew out of the area at approximately 5 p.m. with the young patient on board.  The child was taken to Rady Children’s Hospital.

Fortunately, the toddler is recovering, according to his older sister , Jessica Taylor. She posted on the Deerhorn Valley Facebook page this morning that her brother is being treated with anti-venom and is expected to  be fine.  She added, “He’s a tough little guy!”

May 3, 2014 (La Mesa) -- Today from 11 a.m to 5 p.m., Johnny B's restaurant in La Mesa will donate 10 percent of proceeds to benefit a new pocket park project called the "Lookout" planned in La Mesa's downtown vlllage.  The restaurant owner, John Bedlion, wlil also match the amount raised today. Drawings will also be held, along with a live auction. 

“The Lookout” at Legacy Park will become a permanent piece of art that will honor the City’s Centennial celebration. Located at the convergence of La Mesa Boulevard (known as Lookout Avenue until 1940), Allison Avenue, and 4th Street; The Lookout will serve a traditional gazebo function – as a gathering place for social interaction. Center city gazebos have historically occupied a special place in the heart of communities; this one will be no different. 

Lori Abbott, California News Service

May 2, 2014 (Sacramento) - A bill moving through the state Legislature would allow communities to have more input when a sexually violent predator is released from prison.

By Miriam Raftery

May 1, 2014 (San Diego) – Yesterday, two children playing barefoot at Bonita Cove Park on Mission Bay stepped on razor blades and injured their feet.  Police officers used metal detectors to find 19 razor blades buried sharp-side-up near playground equipment in the park on Mariners Way near West mission Bay Drive, UT San Diego reports.

April 30, 2014 (El Cajon) – Deputies from the Santee Sheriff station saved the life of a man who sought to jump off the Greenfield Drive Bridge over State Route 67.  Deputies responded to a call shortly after 5:30 p.m., where they found the man standing near the edge of the overpass.

April 29, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – SDG&E reports 1,625 homes in Spring Valley, La Presa and Rancho San Diego are without power early this afternoon due to a weather-related problem in the electric system. No restoration time has yet been estimated.

Earlier in the day, power outages occurred in Dulzura, Potrero, Campo,  Live Oak Springs, Boulevard and Jacumba.  Power to these areas has now been restored.

April 25, 2014 (San Carlos) – Police believe that 52-year-old Jackie Clinton Jackson, Jr. may be a victim of a hit-and-run accident.  Jackson was found by a passerby unresponsive in the street between parked vehicles in the 8000 block of Beaver Lake Drive in San Diego’s San Carlos neighborhood on April 24.

April 25, 2014 (Potrero)--A horse found injured and bleeding after a fall down a deep ravine Thursday evening in Potrero is now recovering from its injuries at the County Animal Services shelter in Bonita.

By Miriam Raftery

April 25, 2014 (El Cajon) – Iraq will hold elections for parliamentary offices including Prime Minister on April 30.  All Iraqi-born people living in the U.S. are eligible to vote, the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce announced today.  Locally, eligible voters can cast their ballots on April 27-28 at the Crystal Ballroom, 414 North Magnolia Avenue in El Cajon from 12-2 p.m.

“This is arguably the biggest election since the fall of Saddam Hussein due to the unique circumstance of post-troop withdraw and immense violence,” said Ben Kalasho, president of the Chamber.

By Miriam Raftery

April 24, 2014 (El Cajon) – By a unanimous vote, El Cajon’s City Council on Tuesday voted to grant $10,000 to fund the San Diego Youth Choir, a multi-racial, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural community youth choir based in El Cajon. The group’s mission statement is to empower young leaders through musical excellence.  It’s mantra is “Empowering San Diego County youth, one note at a time.”

“What it really is, is an investment in children’s future,” Councilman Gary Kendrick told East County Magazine. “$10,000 today could save us $100,000 tomorrow in police costs and property crimes.”  He added that performing together also builds self-confidence and a sense of accomplishment, as well as forging bonds that can last a lifetime.  “My son still has close friendships in Hollywood that started when he was in Christian Youth Theater in San Diego,” Kendrick recalled.

 The San Diego Youth Choir (www.youthchoirsd.org) aims to be housed in a central location in El Cajon with state of the art rehearsal space, practice rooms, dance rooms, and a recording studio.