By Miriam Raftery

February 18, 2010 (La Mesa) – By a unanimous vote, the Helix Water Board voted yesterday to disband an ad hoc committee on rate increases after several citizens objected on grounds that the process was not transparent.

“Your ad hoc committee has two board members on it,” Josan Feathers, a registered civil engineer, observed. “So when the ad hoc committee brings its recommendations to the Board , it only needs one more vote.”

February 17, 2010 (Spring Valley) Tina Marie Jordan, 51, was found dead in the apartment she shared with a boyfriend at a sober living facility at 10030 Juan Street in Spring Valley. On February 14, the apartment manager went to check on her after not seeing her all day.

February 17, 2010 (San Diego's East County) --- Early last Sunday morning, a magnitude (M)4.5 earthquake along with subsequent aftershocks struck Baja California, Mexico.  It was felt in East County and as far north as Oceanside. 

Although we experience these temblors often, it is beneficial to know what to do if we find ourselves inside a building while at work, enjoying a meal at a restaurant, taking in the latest blockbuster movie at the theatre, or cheering on our favorite team in the stadium.

February 16, 2010 (San Diego) San Diego-California Attorney General Edmund G. "Jerryy" Brown Jr. announced last week that Mary Louise Wilson, 54, of San Diego, has been sentenced to 19 years and 4 months in prison for attempting to "kill or seriously injure" nursing home residents by setting fires at the facilities, including nursing homes in El Cajon and National City.

Her sentence marks the longest prison term that anyone convicted by the Attorney General's Office has received in an elder abuse case.

February 15, 2010 (Spring Valley) – Two men were injured in an apartment fire yesterday morning in the 9200 block of Kenwood Drive in Spring Valley. One injured his leg after jumping from a second story balcony; the other suffered smoke inhalation. Both were taken to a hospital.

By Kristin Kjaero

February 14, 2010 (La Mesa) -- How will water rates change as of July 1, 2010, and will individual water budgets be imposed as part of the process?

The Helix Water District (HWD) Board will discuss these February 17 and March 17, 2010 respectively.

February 14, 2010 (San Diego) – “Now is not the time to run scared. It’s the time to run smart,” Pam Slater-Price, chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors said in state-of-the-County speech delivered Thursday at Qualcomm Hall. 

February 13, 2010 (Palomar) -- Cal Fire will continue a prescribed burn to reduce dead and dying vegetation on Palomar Mountain near the Palomar Observatory starting on Tuesday, February 16th.   Burning will be conducted by Cal Fire crews on week-days. Smoke may be visible from many miles away.

February 13, 2010 (Alpine) – The County Coroner’s office has identified Ruben Dario Fernandez, 35, of Chula Vista as the driver who was killed yesterday in Alpine. Fernandez was driving a Lancer eastbound of I-8 west of East Willows Road around 6:45 in the morning when he collided with a slow-moving truck, lost control and plummeted down an embankment, striking a boulder.

IRAQI IMMIGRANTS WAITING HOURS FOR SERVICES FORCED TO GO HOME EMPTY-HANDED

February 12, 2010 (El Cajon) –Iraqi immigrants began lining up at 5 a.m. today to recertify documentation and quality for social service benefits at the Chaldean-Middle Eastern Services Office at 343 Main Street in El Cajon. But shortly after 9 a.m., Heartland Fire & Rescue crews responded to a medical aid call. They found a crowd estimated at 500 to 1,000 people congregating in and around the second floor office.

February 11, 2010 (San Diego) – Juan Carlos Navarro, 38, was struck and killed February 8th by a dump truck while riding on his bicycle. Navarro was riding on a sidewalk on 54th Street at College Grove Drive when he attempted to pass a dump truck that was parked in a crosswalk, according to the Medical Examiner's report based on information provided by police.

February 8, 2010 (San Diego) – By an 8-0 vote, San Diego’s City Council has voted to place an initiative on the June ballot that would amend the City’s charter to expand eligibility for veterans’ hiring preference points when they apply for civilian jobs.

February 7, 2010 (Ramona) -- It's a good thing residents of this Ramona home weren't hosting a SuperBowl party this afternoon, when a massive tree scored an unforeseen touchdown. 

At 1:30 p.m. Cal Fire responded to a report of a tree fallen into the residence, located in the 13000 block of Fernbrook. When firefighters arrived, they found a giant oak tree had crashed down, completely destroying the entire structure.

February 7, 2010 (La Mesa) James Robinson, 29, of La Mesa died of acute heroin and alcohol intoxication, the San Diego County Medical Examiner has found. Robinson was found slumped over his infant child at Gas Depot, a gas station on in San Diego on January 4.

February 6, 2010 (El Cajon) Updated 11:45 p.m.. - A serious accident involving several vehicles caused CHP to shut down all lanes on I-8 westbound at Murray Drive in El Cajon, diverting traffic onto 125.  CHP's website reports one vehicle flipped over and a person was trapped inside with fluid leaking.