March 10, 2011 (Lakeside) --After a courageous battle with cancer complicated by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Richard “Rick” Allen Smith, 67, passed away peacefully at his home in Lakeside on February 18th.  He held leadership positions on Lakeside's fire and planning boards, as well as the Chamber of Commerce and other organizations. 

“His dedication to the community of Lakeside will have a lasting affect for many years to come and his experience and wisdom will be sorely missed by all who knew him," said his daughter-in-law, Michelle Dimsey. "He maintained his trademark sense of humor and “can do attitude” all the way to the end.”

March 10, 2011 (Lakeside) -- Lakeside Fire Department responded to a reported multi-family residential structure fire at 8810 Winter Gardens Blvd at 38 minutes past midnight. Units from El Cajon and Santee also responded, along with medics. Heartland Fire Dispatch reported to the responding units en route that the fire was located in the storage units in front of the Mountain View apartments.

Mother says Madrid police indicate son may have been drugged, Sacramento Bee reports

March 8, 2011 (San Diego) – The body of Austin Taylor Bice, a San Diego State University exchange student studying abroad in Spain, has been found in the Manzaneres River near the Spanish nightclub where he was last seen February 25th, SDSU’s news center announced today.

“The San Diego State campus is saddened byt his tragic news which confirms our worst fears,” SDSU president Stephen Weber said in a prepared statement. “Our thoughts this morning are with Austin’s family and friends who have our deepest sympathies.”

March 8, 2011 (San Diego) – Ignacio Manriques Sanchez, 73, was struck and killed while riding his bicycle Sunday at 7:31 a.m. The victim was pedaling westbound in the 8200 block of Skyline Drive in the Jamacha/Lomita area when a woman driving a Dodge Caravan in the same direction struck the cyclist, according to San Diego Police Officer J. Jacobsen.

March 7, 2011 (San Diego) – A federal judge has cancelled a public hearing challenging Sunrise Powerlink. The trial was slated to begin today in downtown San Diego, but instead the judge has notified plaintiffs that he will be ruling based on the record.  The decision comes as a disappointment to Powerlink opponents, who say they looked forward to having their day in court.

Organizers of a “stop Powerlink” march to the courthouse have announced they will still hold a rally outside SDG&E headquarters today at 12:30 at 101 Ash Street, where speakers will include Supervisor Dianne Jacob, Michael Shamas, executive director of the Utility Consumers Action Network (UCAN), and. Dave Elliot, tribal member of the Manzanita Band of Kumeyaay.

Vigil planned Monday at SDSU 6-9 p.m.

March 6, 2011 (San Diego) – On February 25, San Diego State University student Austin Taylor Bice posted on his Facebook page about his plans for the evening. “It’s in Madrid and it should be a fun night,” he wrote. Bice, 22, an exchange student studying at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid in Spain, disappeared hours later and hasn’t been seen since.

March 3, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Helix Water District will hold a scoping meeting on Tuesday, March 8 at 7 p.m. at the Helix Water District Board Room, 7811 University Avenue in La Mesa. The meeting will provide an overview of the proposed El Monte Valley Mining, Reclamation, and Groundwater Recharge Project in Lakeside and what will be studied as part of the environmental impact review (EIR)/environmental assessment. The public will have an opportunity to provide written comments on what they would like to see studied as part of the EIR/EA.

The project is intended to provide a new local water source in an era when outside water supplies have become increasingly scarce due to restrictions on Delta pumping and drought on the Colorado River. 

Historic adobe building may be torn down to replace parking lost to Powerlink

February 27, 2011 (Lakeside) – Matthew Christopher Mitchell, 18, of Lakeside has been identified by the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s office as the person found crushed to death Thursday at a commercial property in Lakeside. 

February27, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – The weekend storm has passed, leaving 26 inches of snow on Laguna Mountain and 16 inches on Mount Palomar. Alpine, Pine Valley, Campo and other communities received ample snow to require snow plows to clear roads.  

Below are the latest road conditions and weather updates.

February 26, 2011 (2 p.m.) - New road hazards have been announced since our morning update  including SIGALERTS and closures of several major highways and freeways due to hazards ranging from boulders to flooding to power lines collapsed by heavy snow.

February 25, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – A cold storm will bring heavy snowfall late tonight through Saturday evening.

Snow is forecast to drop to unusually low elevations of 2,000 feet in East County’s mountains and upper deserts. Interstate 8 east of Alpine, Cuyamaca, Boulevard, Descanso Ranchita, and Pine Valley are among the areas where snow is predicted, as well as Palomar and Laguna mountains, where more than a foot of snow fell last weekend.

February 25, 2011 (Lakeside) – An unidentified man around 25-35 years old was found dead beneath a large wood pallet at 10303 Channel Road in Lakeside at 8:30 p.m. last night. His body was found by apparent transients at a drilling site, the San Diego Medical Examiner’s office reports.

 

February 23, 2011 (Escondido) – Jean and Scott Adam, a Southern California couple, have been killed by Somali pirates after being taken hostage last week off the coast of Oman. Phyllis Mackay and Robert Riggle of Seattle also died during an exchange of gunfire between their captors and the U.S. Navy.

“Our loved ones were tragically taken from us and our hearts are broken,” said a statement issued by the Sem family of Escondido, relatives of Scott Adam. 

February 22, 2011 (Borrego) -- San Diego Sheriff's Department helicopter, Copter 10, crewed by Cal-Fire and Sheriff's personnel launched from their base at Gillespie Field in El Cajon to assist emergency services personnel already on scene at the trail head of Palm Canyon in Anza Borrego. Initial reports this morning were that a hiker had sustained unknown injuries and was unable to make it out of the canyon and back to the trail head.