2^nd plane to land on freeway in two days

July 23, 2012 (Escondido) – A 1968 Piper airplane made an emergency landing on I-15 just north of El Norte Road at 11:25 p.m. last night after running out of fuel. Moments later, it was struck by a pickup truck, the California Highway Patrol reports.

July 22, 2012 (San Diego's East County)--A multi-vehicle crash on Highway 125 south at State Route 94 in the Spring Valley area has resulted in injuries to several people.

"We have transported all patients to hospitals," a Heartland Fire dispatcher told ECM. 

County's sole legal medical marijuana dispensary to challenge U.S. Attorney for straight legal test of state law; 

El Cajon business to announce plans for defense of "legitimate medical marijuana operations"

July 20, 2012 (El Cajon) – Advocates, patients, and concerned citizens in support of the only state and county approved legal medical marijuana dispensary in California’s four-county southern border region announced plans to unveil strategy to defend one of the model medical marijuana dispensaries in the nation.

Representatives of Mother Earth’s Alternative Healing Cooperative said they would announce the plans and a specific challenge to U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy at the press conference on the steps of the U.S. federal court house in San Diego on Monday, July 23 at 11:00 a.m.

July 19, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Ford Motor Company today announced a voluntary recall of 2013 model year Ford Escape vehicles equipped with the 1.6-liter engine built through July 11, 2012. Ford estimates that there have been approximately 11,500 of these vehicles distributed for sale in North America, with most in the U.S.

Ford is voluntarily recalling the vehicles to replace an engine compartment fuel line, which could split and leak fuel, potentially resulting in an underhood fire. Three fires have occurred, including two by Ford employees testing vehicles. No injuries have been reported.

Story and photos by Nadin Abbott

July 19, 2012 (San Diego)--The San Diego Planning Commission voted not to green light the East Elliot Community Plan Amendment that would have allowed Cogentrix Energy LLC to go forward with the Quail Brush natural gas-fired power plant near Mission Trails Regional Park.

The City Council now has the opportunity to weigh in on the controversial project, which has generated near-unanimous community opposition.

July 19, 2012 (Lemon Grove) – A SIG ALERT has been issued for eastbound Highway 94, where an overturned trash truck is blocking access to northbound SR-125.

“It was an EDCO trash truck laying on its side with its wheels pointed south,” El Cajon Councilman Gary Kendrick told ECM, who drove past the incident moments ago.

Reprinted with permission from Voice of San Diego: 

http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/opinion/article_ff320244-d065-11e1-9a2e-001a4bcf887a.html

July 16, 2012 (El Cajon) – Sgt. Nicholas C. Fredsti  valiantly served  six tours of duty—three in Iraq and three in Afghanistan.  But the U.S. Army paratrooper was killed in Afghanistan’s Ghazni Province on June 15, 2012, the Pentagon reports. 

By Miriam Raftery

July 16, 2012 (Alpine) – The Alpine Community Planning Group meets on Thursday, July 26 at 6 p.m. in the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Boulevard. 

The agenda includes an opportunity for planners to ask questions of community members interested in being recommended for appointment to fill a vacant seat.  The planning group previously recommended Charles Kaderabek for the slot; however he withdrew his name after revelations of tax debts, lawsuits and a lapsed law license have surfaced.

By Nadin Abbott
Photos by Tom and Nadin Abbott