HOMELESS HOUSING PROPOSED AT HOLIDAY INN: LA MESA HOLDS SPECIAL MEETING MONDAY, SUPERVISORS REVOTE TUESDAY ON PROJECT PUSHED THROUGH WITHOUT NOTICE TO CITY OR RESIDENTS
December 31, 2011 (Washington D.C). The U.S. Department of Justice has recovered more than $5.6 billion in fraud proceeds in 2011 – the largest amount for any single year in the history of the department.
This historic achievement represents an increase of more than 167 percent since 2008, and includes nearly $3.4 billion in civil fraud, as well as $2.2 billion in criminal fraud.
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County Animal Services Offers New Year’s Eve Safety Tips for Family Pets
December 31, 2011 (San Diego County) --The risk of harm to pets from loud New Year’s celebrations with fireworks can be reduced by a few simple measures, Dawn Danielson, Director of the San Diego County Department of Animal Services, said today.
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Once-Lost Pit Bull Recovering From Amputation, Seeking Forever Home
December 31, 2011 (Dulzura) --A once-lost dog who had to have a leg amputated is on the mend and looking to change her luck in 2012 with a loving forever home. “Fergie,” a 1-year-old pit bull, went missing from her Dulzura home in September. She had been missing about two months when she arrived as a stray at the County Animal Shelter in Bonita.
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Photos and video by Jon Nevin, firefighter/paramedic, Heartland Fire & Rescue (video edited by Paul Kruze, ECM)
December 29, 2011 (El Cajon) – Patrons of a restaurant helped three women passengers, including an elderly woman in a wheelchair, escape from a burning van in downtown El Cajon today.
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From green hybrids and electrics to heavy-duty trucks for backcountry roads, this year’s show has it all
By Nadin Abbott
Photos by Thomas E Abbott
December 30, 2011 (San Diego)--The San Diego International Auto Show is presented by the New Car Dealers Association of San Diego. It’s a cool way for San Diegans to see what’s new in vehicles--and it is among the largest car shows in the nation. For those who are interested in more ecologically sound cars and even trucks, we are seeing more and more hybrids, flex fuel vehicles and electrics across most classes. The technology has come a long way in a short decade, making it both more compact and efficient.
Scroll down for highlights from the show—including our video of a test drive on a rugged Jeep track.
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December 30, 2011 (Jamul) -- Yesterday's fire at Skyline Truck Trail and Lawson Valley Road has left a family's lives in ashes.
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Update December 30, 2:15 p.m. - Wheeler has been located safely, SDPD confirms.
December 30, 2011 (San Diego) – San Diego Police seek help countywide to locate Gregory Jon Wheeler, 54. He suffers from depression, bipolar disorder and high blood pressure.
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East County Performing Arts Center is among major projects at risk from the decision
December 29, 2011 (Sacramento) – Sounding a death knell for hopes to restore redevelopment funds eliminated by the Legislature to fund education, the California supreme Court today ruled that the state has the right to eliminate local redevelopment agencies. The decision has sparked criticism from local business owners and politicians on both the left and right.
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December 28, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) –If you’ve over-indulged in all those holiday goodies, or just want to look and feel your best in the New Year, now is the perfect time to make a resolution to get in shape! East County Magazine invites you to join our editor and publisher in a “24 day challenge” sponsored by ECM and Advocare. Shaping up is more fun with friendsPlus we’ll have prizes and surprises.
The 24-day-challenge starts January 5.It includes a combination of supplements and meal replacement products, a healthy eating plan, and as a special bonus to ECM readers, a fitness “boot camp” with trainers and one-on-one personalized counseling to assure your success. The more, the merrier! (If you have a group of 10 or more, we can set up a special fitness boot camp at your location.)
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December 28, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)—At year’s end, we reflect on the loss of several prominent residents of San Diego’s inland regions, as well as some less prominent individuals whose tragic deaths tugged at our heartstrings or sparked controversies.
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December 27, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Starting January 1, new California laws take effect. Some give new protections to the public.Buying a used car? You now have a right to know its history. The government can’t snoop into your online reading habits.Your employer can't peek at your credit report, in most cases. New laws also benefit pregnant employees, organ donors, renters, domestic partners, and bullied gay students.
Other laws impose restrictions.Want to buy popular cough syrups? You’ll need a prescription. If you order items online, you’ll be charged state sales tax. Shark fin soup and beer spiked with caffeine are banned.Employers have new requirements for notifying employees about pay and more.Kids must ride in a booster seat until age 8. Openly carrying a handgun is illegal, even if it isn’t loaded.
These are just a few of the new laws in 2012. Scroll down for details on these and more.
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December 30, 2011 (Poway) – A traffic accident caused a power outage in the Poway area briefly yesterday morning, seriously injuring the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle.
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December 28, 2011 (San Diego) – All lanes on I-805 are shut down due to a fatality accident in which a vehicle struck a bridge support post just south of H Street at 4:37 p.m. A SIG Alert has been issued.
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Local business leaders praise decision to expand renewable energy
Opponents hope Supervisors, court will protect scenic, cultural and wildlife resources
By Miriam Raftery
December 26, 2011 (McCain Valley) – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar signed approval December 20 forTule Wind Project on federal lands in McCain Valley in East County.The federal lands portion approved by the Department of the Interior constitute the bulk of the project, capable of generating up to 186 megawatts (MW) of the project’s total 200 MW capacity.
The project will need additional approvals from the County of San Diego, California Public Utilities Commission, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and California State Lands Commission. The County will hold hearings on a major use permit in the first quarter of 2012.Planning Commissioners and ultimately, the Board of Supervisors are expected to vote on the issue.
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December 29, 2011 (Jamul) -- Firefighters are at the scene of a one-alarm structure at Skyline Truck Trail and Lawson Valley Road. Traffic is blocked in both directions at the 15000 block of Skyline Truck Trail at Lawson Valley Road.
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Local news in the public interest is more important now than ever, during the COVID-19 crisis. Our reporters, as essential workers, are dedicated to keeping you informed, even though we’ve had to cancel fundraising events. Please give the gift of community journalism by donating at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate.
December 27, 2011 (San Diego)—Emako Mendoza, 76, the Paradise Hills woman mauled by a neighbor’s two pit bulls in June, died on Christmas Eve after being hospitalized December 23 due to complications from those injuries, according to the Medical Examiner.
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December 27, 2011 (Bonita) - A dune buggy accident has claimed the life of David Sylvester Metje, a 52-year-old married man from Bonita. Metje was the driver and sole occupant of an off-road vehicle when he lost control and was ejected. The accident ccurred in the 4700 block of Butternut Hollow Lane in Bonita.
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December 27, 2011 (Deerhorn Valley) –A paraplegic is trapped in a minivan that has rolled onto its side at 21325 Deerhorn Valley Road in the Jamul area, Incident Page Network reports.Multiple victims are reportedly involved.
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December 27, 2011 (Otay) – San Diego Police seek help to locate Josephina Yolanda Lopez, 58. “The San Diego Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue Unit has been called out to look for Lopez,” said Lt. Andra Brown.
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December 28, 2011 (Lakeside) – A motorcyclist down in the 11400 block of Wildcat Canyon Road has prompted shutdown of the highway. The accident was reported at 3:27 p.m. Traffic is blocked south of Barona, CHP reports.
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Update December 27, 2011: The victim has been identified as Daniel C. Dacon, Jr., 24, a single man who lived with his parents n San Diego.
December 26, 2011 (Barrett Junction) – A motorcyclist has died at the scene of an accident on State Route 94 just east of Romo Road near the Barrett Café.
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December 25, 2011 (Ramona)—Nelson Edward “Mac” MacWilliams, 54, has been identified by the Medical Examiner’s office as the driver who died December 20 in a rollover accident on Wildcat Canyon Road in Lakeside. RamonaPatch.com reports that MacWilliams worked in Congressman Duncan Hunter’s El Cajon office, handling military and veterans’ issues.
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December 24, 2011 (San Diego) -- San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU), San Diego’s largest locally-owned financial institution with three local East County branch offices in El Cajon, La Mesa and Santee, has announced it will return as title sponsor of the 2012 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.
(from left to right): Chris Sichel, executive director of the Make-A-Wish Foundation in San Diego, Make-A-Wish kids Aidan, Tyler, Emma and Christian, and Teresa Halleck, president/CEO of San Diego County Credit Union president.
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December 23, 2011 (El Cajon) -- At approximately 6:02 p.m. on Wednesday, December 21, 2011, El Cajon Police Officers and Heartland Fire & Rescue crews responded to reports of a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle in the roadway, in the 1200 block of Jamacha Road, in El Cajon.
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December 23, 2011 (Lemon Grove) – Someone in Lemon Grove has 17 million reasons to be joyful this holiday season. That’s because his or her SuperLotto Plus ticket matched all six numbers in this week’s draw and is worth $17 million.
The winning ticket was sold at the 7-Eleven located at 7607 Broadway in Lemon Grove. The winning numbers are 21, 38, 44, 43, 8 and Mega 24.
7-Eleven will receive a bonus of one half percent or $85,000 for selling the winning ticket. Jackpot winners have 180 days from the date of the draw to claim the jackpot prize. The estimated cash option amount for this ticket is $12.2 million.
If you are the winner, the Lottery wants to remind you to sign your ticket, put it in a safe place and contact Lottery officials or visit your local Lottery District Office as soon as possible.
More than 94 cents of every dollar spent by California lottery players goes back to local communities in the form of contributions to public schools and colleges, prizes and retail compensation. Since 2000, Lottery players have contributed $1 billion to public schools each year, and, since we began in 1985, Lottery players have contributed a total of more than $24 billion to education.
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December 23, 2011 (San Diego)-- The National Weather Service has issued a wind warning for today and tomorrow in San Diego County. Gusts of up to 60 mph are forecast with sustained winds in the 25-35 mph range. Use caution when traveling particularly in high-profile vehicles.
Sunny skies are forecast for Christmas Day.
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December 21, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- Tonight the 1200 block of Jamacha Road is closed in both directions due to a fatal traffic collision which is under investigation. A skateboarder was the pedestrian involved in the incident.
Local news in the public interest is more important now than ever, during the COVID-19 crisis. Our reporters, as essential workers, are dedicated to keeping you informed, even though we’ve had to cancel fundraising events. Please give the gift of community journalism by donating at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate.
December 20, 2011 (Lakeside) -- At 1:22 p.m. today there was a single vehicle rollover accident at Wildcat Canyon Road and Muth Valley Road in Lakeside. The accident blocked Wildcat Canyon Road in both directions at Old Barona Road, and at Willows Road. One fatality has been confirmed.
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December 19, 2011 (La Mesa) -- The death of LeonardSmith, owner of LeonardSmith Realty on Grossmont Boulevard was confirmed Friday morning, December 16, by his son David.
According to his website, he began his real estate career in La Mesa in 1946. A charter member of the La Mesa Board of Realtors and past president, he was instrumental in organizing their Multiple Listing Service. He maintained a La Mesa office for 50+ years, enjoying a reputation of the highest integrity while specializing in selling fine homes in the Mt. Helix and East County areas.
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From green hybrids and electrics to heavy-duty trucks for backcountry roads, this year’s show has it all
December 30, 2011 (Jamul) -- Yesterday's fire at Skyline Truck Trail and Lawson Valley Road has left a family's lives in ashes. 
Story by Miriam Raftery
December 27, 2011 (San Diego)—Emako Mendoza, 76, the Paradise Hills woman mauled by a neighbor’s two pit bulls in June, died on Christmas Eve after being hospitalized December 23 due to complications from those injuries, according to the Medical Examiner. 
December 25, 2011 (Ramona)—Nelson Edward “Mac” MacWilliams, 54, has been identified by the Medical Examiner’s office as the driver who died December 20 in a rollover accident on Wildcat Canyon Road in Lakeside. RamonaPatch.com reports that MacWilliams worked in Congressman Duncan Hunter’s El Cajon office, handling military and veterans’ issues.
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