October 17, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – California Highway Patrol has received reports that as many as 15 cars have collided on State Route 67. The problem began with an accident around 6:30 p.m in a curve near Scripps Poway Parkway; additional vehicles have repeatedly struck the stopped cars. There is also a second accident approximately 1/4 mile away, north of Vigilante Road on Highway 67.
October 17, 2010 (Santee) – Caltrans will completely shut down all northbound lanes on State Route 67 between Prospect and Woodside in Santee from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for five nights, starting tonight. The shut-down is needed for construction as part of a $520 million extension of State Route 52 to connect with State Route 67.
Swift death heightens concern over deadlier toxins in local snakes
October 16, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – A 67-year old fly fisherman from La Jolla stopped breathing minutes after being bitten by a rattlesnake while wading across a stream near Cuyamaca Reservoir.
October 15, 2010 (Campo) – A volunteer who lived on site at Lake Morena, a San Diego County campground facility in Campo, was found dead at 11:20 this morning with a gunshot wound to the head. According to Lt. Garmo with the San Diego Sheriff’s office, dispatch records indicate that homicide detectives were not dispatched and the death is being handled as a suicide.
New law will expand and update benefits for veterans
October 15, 2010 (Washington, D.C). – House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-San Diego) announced yesterday that President Obama signed H.R. 3219 into law. The Veterans’ Benefits Act of 2010, authored by Filner, improves and modernizes certain benefits administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans and their families.
October 15, 2010 (Rancho Bernardo) – San Diego Police seek a motorist who struck a bicyclist yesterday afternoon. The man was riding his bicycle in the bike lane on Pomerado Road near Caminito Vecinos when he was struck from behind by a car that fled the scene.
October 14, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Earlier this week we published an inquiry from a Deerhorn Valley/Jamul reader who believed she saw a large meteor possibly crashing to earth over East County on Monday night, October 10.
October 14, 2010 (El Cajon) – A white car plunged over the side of westbound I-8 shortly after noon today, landing upside in a drainage ditch just west of Second Street.
Emergency workers extricated those inside and transported two patients to a local hospital, according to Monica Zech, spokesperson for the City of El Cajon.
October 13, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Most people take out a modest cash withdrawal when they stop by a Automatic Teller Machine. But according to Sheriff’s officials, Brandon Jamaul Baker, 27, took out the whole ATM machine—three times.
Yesterday morning, detectives from the Lemon Grove Sheriff substation and East County Gang Enforcement arrested Baker, 27, at his workplace in the 400 block of Cypress Lane, El Cajon.
October 13, 2010 (Jamul) – An East County Magazine reader asks, “I want to know who else saw the blue and whitish-orange meteor I saw from my house in Deerhorn Valley in Jamul at approximately 8:50 pm on Monday evening, October 11.”
October 11, 2010 (Santee) – The driver of a Volkswagen that collided with a Mazda in Santee last night shortly after midnight sustained serious injuries, Sergeant Craig Johnson of the San Diego Sheriff’s Department reports.
October 11, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- The U.S. military has cancelled Internet voting for U.S. troops after hackers infiltrated an online election in Washington D.C., playing the University of Michigan “Fight” song on the voting system--and accessing the ability to change votes.
October 10, 2010 (San Diego) – Two women died in a multi-vehicle accident on southbound I-15 and 805 yesterday at 7:17 p.m. The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s office has not yet released names pending notification of kin, but provided the following information.
October 9, 2010 (San Diego) – A dirt motorcyclist who was not wearing a helmet has suffered a skull fracture after striking a planter box and being thrown off his motorcycle, landing on his head.
Helmets dramatically reduce the risk of serious injury or death for motorcyclists. According to data compiled in 2009 by the National Hihgway Transportation Safety Administration, helmets reduce the risk of death by 37% and are 67% effective in preventing brain injuries to motorcycle riders.
October 8, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- Do you know how to protect your home and your family when a major quake strikes? Recent seismic activity in San Diego has shown the importance of being prepared. All County residents are urged to participate in the Great California ShakeOut October 21 at 10:21 a.m. Schools, colleges, businesses, churches, and community organizations can register at www.shakeout.org. To date, more than 6.6 million Californians have registered to participate; over 530,000 are from San Diego County.
Here are tips from Shakeout on what to do -- and what NOT to do in a quake:
October 8, 2010 (Sacramento) The State Senate today approved a budget which is now on the Governor’s desk. The finished measure includes pension reforms for state employees and the complete elimination of the Cal-Works program as well as more deep cuts in education spending.
October 7, 2010 (San Diego County) – Incident Page Network reports two breaking emergencies late this afternoon. In Carlsbad, a 5,000-gallon sewage spill from the sewage treatment plant is flooding city streets in the area of Avenida Encinas and Palomar Airport Road. North County residents are asked to reduce water usage, 10 News reports.
The second incident is a large diameter natural gas line break at Towns Gate Drive in Carmel Country Ranch. Evacuations of a complex are underway. A Haz-Mat crew and SDG&E have been dispatched.
October 7, 2010 (La Mesa) – A fire at 4651 Pomona Avenue in La Mesa caused an estimated $75,000 in damage to a garage and its contents. Heartland Fire & Rescue arrived on the scene at 12:10 p.m., three minutes after receiving a call, to find fire engulfing a detached garage behind a home. As fire crews stretched hose lines to attack the fire, flames began spreading to a neighbor’s fence and vegetation.
La Mesa man's long battle to recover Pissarro painting stolen by Nazis ends, but family vows to pursue his dream
October 5, 2010 (La Mesa) – Claude Cassirer, who survived an internment camp during World War II and became a lecturer in schools teaching students about the Holocaust, died on September 25, 2010. A portrait photographer, he later became a volunteer and licensed ombudsman for the State of California for more than 20 years, striving to assure proper healthcare for seniors. He and his wife, Beverly, were also prominent political activists and co-founders of the La Mesa Foothills Democratic Club.
Recently, Cassirer made headlines by winning a court battle in September that allowed him to sue the government of Spain. His lawsuit sought to recover a Pissarro painting stolen from his grandparents by the Nazis, but he passed away before he could see his long-time dream fulfilled.
October 5, 2010 (Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Bob Filner announced that the Department of Treasury has approved a grant for construction work on the final segment of the I-805/SR-905 interchange near the Otay Mesa Port-of-Entry. Awarded under the TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) program, the grant will pay for the completion of access to the Otay Mesa Port-of-Entry’s intermodal connector.
October 5, 2010 (Carroll Canyon) – All southbound lanes on I-15 are closed due to a truck carrying a backhoe that struck the Carroll Canyon Bridge at 12:32 p.m. The truck cleared the bridge, but the backhoe struck a beam. After striking the bridge, the backhoe fell off onto a van in a roll-over collision.
October 4, 2010 (Alpine) -- Cathrine Marie Harless, 63, of Alpine was killed Saturday night in a head-on collision on Alpine Boulevard East of Dunbar, the San Diego Medical Examiner’s office reports. Her pick-up truck was struck by another pick-up driven by Brian Peterson, 40, of Rancho Bernardo.
WARNING ISSUED DUE TO AL QAEDA ATTACKS THAT MAY BE EMINENT IN FRANCE, BRITAIN & GERMANY
East County News Service
Update Oct. 3, 2010 (Washington D.C.) - The U.S. State Department has issued an alert recommending that Americans traveling to Europe register their travel plans with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy. Citizens are urged to get information on general security issues at the Department's website, CNN confirmed today.
BBC News in London reported last night that the U.S.officials confirm the U.S. plans to issue a travel alert warning citizens to be “vigilant while travelling in Europe because of the threat of an al-Qaeda commando-style attack.” The advisory comes in response to intelligence indicating an al-Qaeda plan to send teams of gunmen into crowded places to kill western civilians, similar to the 2008 attacks in Mumbai that killed 173 people, the BBC reports.
October 2, 2010 (Alpine) – A truck and another vehicle have collided in Alpine, resulting in at least one fatality, according to the California Highway Patrol. The accident was reported at 8:25 p.m. on Alpine Boulevard just east of Dunbar Lane.
October 2, 2010 (San Diego) – The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather statement for San Diego County. Skywarn spotter activation is requested through this evening.
Isolated showers and thunderstorms are forecast tonight, mainly in the mountains. “Thunderstorms have deadly lightning and may have heavy rain,” the statement said, adding that strong gusty winds and hail are also forecast.
October 2, 2010 (San Diego) – Mlitary clean-up and haz-mat specialists have been called to a residence in the 13000 block of Fontanelle Place, where a cargo plane spilled fuel and a fuel hose onto the roof of a residence.
“It’s considered a hazard and the military is handling it,” San Diego Police officer Frank Cali confirmed. The spilled fuel is believed to be from the air show at Miramar Marine Corps Air Base.
Fontanelle Place is located south of Ted Williams Parkway and east of I-15. Click here for a map.
October 1, 2010 (San Diego) – A 22-month-old toddler accidentally run over by her mother yesterday has died. She has been identified by the San Diego Coroner’s office as Lauren Garibay, daughter of Florence Street.
October 17, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – California Highway Patrol has received reports that as many as 15 cars have collided on State Route 67. The problem began with an accident around 6:30 p.m in a curve near Scripps Poway Parkway; additional vehicles have repeatedly struck the stopped cars. There is also a second accident approximately 1/4 mile away, north of Vigilante Road on Highway 67. 
October 17, 2010 (Santee) – Caltrans will completely shut down all northbound lanes on State Route 67 between Prospect and Woodside in Santee from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for five nights, starting tonight. The shut-down is needed for construction as part of a $520 million extension of State Route 52 to connect with State Route 67. 
ctober 16, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – A 67-year old fly fisherman from La Jolla stopped breathing minutes after being bitten by a rattlesnake while wading across a stream near Cuyamaca Reservoir.
New law will expand and update benefits for veterans
October 14, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Earlier this week we published an 
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
October 10, 2010 (San Diego) – Two women died in a multi-vehicle accident on southbound I-15 and 805 yesterday at 7:17 p.m. The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s office has not yet released names pending notification of kin, but provided the following information.
October 8, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- Do you know how to protect your home and your family when a major quake strikes? Recent seismic activity in San Diego has shown the importance of being prepared. All County residents are urged to participate in the Great California ShakeOut October 21 at 10:21 a.m. Schools, colleges, businesses, churches, and community organizations can register at 
By Miriam Raftery
October 7, 2010 (San Diego County) – Incident Page Network reports two breaking emergencies late this afternoon. In Carlsbad, a 5,000-gallon sewage spill from the sewage treatment plant is flooding city streets in the area of Avenida Encinas and Palomar Airport Road. North County residents are asked to reduce water usage, 10 News reports.
October 5, 2010 (La Mesa) – Claude Cassirer, who survived an internment camp during World War II and became a lecturer in schools teaching students about the Holocaust, died on September 25, 2010. A portrait photographer, he later became a volunteer and licensed ombudsman for the State of California for more than 20 years, striving to assure proper healthcare for seniors. He and his wife, Beverly, were also prominent political activists and co-founders of the La Mesa Foothills Democratic Club.
October 5, 2010 (Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Bob Filner announced that the Department of Treasury has approved a grant for construction work on the final segment of the I-805/SR-905 interchange near the Otay Mesa Port-of-Entry. Awarded under the TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) program, the grant will pay for the completion of access to the Otay Mesa Port-of-Entry’s intermodal connector.
East County News Service
October 2, 2010 (San Diego) – The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather statement for San Diego County. Skywarn spotter activation is requested through this evening.
October 2, 2010 (San Diego) – Mlitary clean-up and haz-mat specialists have been called to a residence in the 13000 block of Fontanelle Place, where a cargo plane spilled fuel and a fuel hose onto the roof of a residence.
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