August 10, 2011 (Alpine) – Robert Eugene Shy, 41, of Alpine, was driving his motorcycle eastbound on Interstate 8 west of Tavern Road August 9th at 9:18 p.m. when for unknown reasons he collided with the rear of a semi-truck.

Death was confirmed at the scene without medical intervention. Shy, who was divorced, resided in Alpine with his girlfriend, according to the San Diego Medical Examiner’s office.
 

Story and photos by Miriam Raftery

August 8, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – “What are You Waiting For? Birds are chirping, hiking trails beckon, a whiff of white sage drifts on the breeze. Night skies are so black the stars look 3D,” reads a new website launched by the Boulevard-Jacumba Revitalization Alliance at www.gosandiegobackcountry.org.

August 5, 2011 (El Cajon ) – San Diego Police seek help to locate Natasha Martin, 13. She was last seen July 29 in the vicinity of Main Street and Anza Avenue in El Cajon. Natasha, who is African-American, has brown hair and blue eyes. She is 5 feet tall and weighs 130 pounds.

August 5, 2011 (Alpine) – East County Magazine Editor Miriam Raftery will be the guest on Billie Jo Jannen’s “TGIF Report” tonight. Hot topics include:

• A sexual harassment suit against a former Mountain Empire Union School District Superintendent
• Rural Fire Protection District’s revocation of approval for SDG&E’s ECO-Substation
• The County’s first legal marijuana dispensary
• AT&T’s proposed merger with T-Mobile and how it may impact rural phone service
• Updates on the state fire parcel fee
• County’s approval of a new General Plan

Listen via streaming audio at www.my1079.com, or tune your dial to 107.9 FM, from 6 to 7 p.m. You can send your news and event information to TGIF Report at newstips@my1079.com or to East County Magazine at editor@eastcountymagazine.org.

August 5, 2011(Escondido)-- The San Diego County Board of Supervisors this week unanimously approved the acquisition of four properties needed to complete the widening of Bear Valley Parkway in unincorporated Escondido, between Boyle Avenue and Highway 78.

To date, the County has negotiated real property contracts to acquire or use 31 of the 50 properties that will be needed to complete the project. This week's vote follows approvals given earlier this year to proceed with property acquisitions and relocation of homeowners displaced by the widening project.

August 4, 2011 (San Diego's East County)--If you see smoke today over East County, don't panic. Cal Fire and the San Diego Fire Authority will be burning brush piles in the Corte Madera area.  These piles are a result of a fuels management program, said Cal Fire Captain Mike Mohler.

Update: The victim has been identified as Wesley Stewart Grove, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner. No other information has yet been released.

August 1, 2011 (San Diego) –Witnesses reported that a big-rig with an empty trailer for hauling automobiles zig-zagged across several lanes of traffic before plummeting over the side of I-15. The vehicle came to rest on Murphy Canyon Road in front of Wal-Mart at 6:40 a.m.

July 30, 2011 (San Pasqual) – A motorcyclist suffered a broken nose, broken hip and facial laceration in an accident yesterday at 3:43 p.m. on San Pasqual Valley Road near State Route 78. According to Officer David Stafford with San Diego Police, the man, who is in his late 20s to early 30s, lost control of his motorcycle and struck a guard rail.

July 29, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) –California’s Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has denied a motion by San Diego Gas & Electric Company seeking to dismiss a lawsuit filed by three East County organizations. The groups have asked the court to issue an injunction halting construction on the Sunrise Powerlink on federal Bureau of Land Management property.

Tragedy elicits sharp criticism of AT&T from backcountry residents who share horror stories of outages, poorly maintained lines, and service hassles

CPUC encourages residents with phone land-line complaints to email public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov
 

By Miriam Raftery
 

July 27, 2011 (Lyons Valley) – Llama rancher John Klacka knew he had to get help fast when he found his prized stud llama, Muneco, had been bitten by a rattlesnake on July 7. “He was foaming at the mouth and having trouble breathing,” he recalled. “I ran into the house and tried to call the vet—and my phone was dead. I thought `This can’t be happening.’”

Sanctuary Founder Makes Desperate Visit to Save Bears Headed for Game Farm

July 27, 211 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police seek witnesses to a violent assault which has left a 43-year-old man hospitalized with serious head injuries. The attack occurred Saturday, July 23rd around 1:55 a.m. in the 5500 hundred block of Jackson Drive, near Rigoberto’s Taco Shop.