November 14, 2010 (Ramona) – An unidentified Hispanic man lost control of the 1994 Jeep SUV that he was driving, crashing into a wooden utility poll on Elm Street in Ramona on November 12th.

November 12, 2010 (San Diego) – Congressman Bob Filner wants to make sure all active duty and veterans who were forced to involuntarily extend their service know that the deadline to submit a claim for retroactive “Stop Loss” pay is approaching.

All claims must be submitted by December 3, 2010.

November 12, 2010 (Escondido) – Keona Kazuo Ferreira, 5, drowned after a canoe in which he was riding with his father capsized and sank on November 6th at Mission Bay. Despite resuscitative efforts, he was pronounced brain dead at a local hospital two days later, on November 8th.

November 12, 2010 (Lakeside)--The Engine 3 crew from Lakeside's Lake Jennings fire station (fs3) responded to a vehicle fire in the 13000 block of Highway 8 Business Wednesday night. Engineer Chris Downing had little trouble finding the location of the fire as it was putting up a large, black smoke column visible from a distance. Luckily, the vehicle's driver had stopped in the middle of a parking lot with no other vehicles or structures in close proximity, Lakeside Fire reports.

November 6, 2010 (San Diego, Calif.) — The First 5 Commission of San Diego will provide $2.25 million in bridge funding to maintain child care assistance for parents previously on welfare who are now working. The action comes after Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed $256 million from the “welfare-to-work” Stage 3 Child Care program.
 

County urges public to have dogs and cats vaccinated; low-cost rabies shots offered at 3 County animal shelters

November 5, 2010 (Jamul) -- Rabies has been confirmed in a sick, adult grey fox which was found in a remote area of Jamul, officials announced today, adding that pet owners should ensure their animals’ rabies vaccinations are up-to-date.

There was no known human or domestic animal exposure to the sick fox. The last fox diagnosed with rabies was found in the Campo area in June 2000. In that case, three domestic dogs were exposed.

Story by Peter Diehl

Photo by Scott Bolle

November 3, 2010 (Santee)-- Fire crews from Santee, Lakeside, and El Cajon were dispatched at 12 noon today to the vicinity of Hartley Rd and Stevens Rd in Santee. Upon arrival, active smoke and fire was seen at Advanced Electromagnetics Incorporated (AEMI) at 9311 Stevens Rd.  Fire crews initiated a “fast attack” and the fire was quickly extinguished, but the smoldering contents turned out to be highly toxic materials.

Update November 4, 2010:  The San Diego Medical Examiner’s office has identified Sergio Chan Mora, 54, as the deceased. His place of residence is unknown. According to witnesses, the driver of a Ford Explorer made an illegal u-turn on eastbound I-8 and struck Mora, who was unable to avoid the collision.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Dennis Richardson

November 1, 2010 (Alpine) – I-8 east was shut down and a Sig Alert issued following a fatality accident on the freeway just west of Harbison Canyon late this afternoon, as ECM’s Viejas Wildfire & Emergency alerts informed subscribers earlier today. The rollover collision involved a white van and a second vehicle, with several parties trapped and requiring extrication. Smoke from one of the vehicles was doused with a fire extinguisher.

Tips to keep pets safe and secure on Halloween

October 31, 2010 (San Diego) -- Halloween is a fun and spooky time for “ghouls” and boys, but County animal officials want you to know that the event can be scary for your pets.

Your pet is not used to costumed characters approaching the door and yelling “trick or treat!” Your cat may become spooked and run, not to be seen for several days. Your dog, the guardian of the household, may lunge or bite the costumed creatures. This is never what is intended to happen during Halloween, but it is a reality faced every year.

October 30, 2010 (Lemon Grove) – The San Diego Medical Examiner’s office has identified Guy Edward Halac, 51, of Lemon Grove, as the victim of a fatal accident on October 26. Halac’s his Ninja motorcycle plunged over a ramp from State Route 125 at I-8 in La Mesa, landing on a roadway below.

By Miriam Raftery

October 26, 2010 (Spring Valley) Despite disapproval of two County agencies and community groups, the County’s Planning Commission gave the thumbs up for an Alcoholic Beverages commission (ABC) license allowing beer at Blue Flayme, a new Hookah lounge in Spring Valley. The Commission overturned a decision by the Department of Planning and Land Use (DPLU), which opposed the license.

Hookahs have been linked to serious health hazards.  Now, the new trend of combining Hookah smoking and alcohol consumption locally has many in the community up in arms.

San Diego’s Congressional representatives earned grades from A to D.  Who scored the highest--and the lowest? The answers will surprise you.

 

October 25, 2010 – Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)'s Congressional Report Card grades members of Congress on support for combat veterans in the past two years. San Diego’s Congressional delegation includes the Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee, two veterans, a mlitary spouse, the wife of a military contractor, and a veterans' subcommittee member.  So how did our legislators rank on supporting the many veterans in their districts?

October 23, 2010 (Spring Valley) – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has ordered flags in the state capitol flown at half-mast to honor Sergeant Rafael Martinez Jr., 36, of Spring Valley. Martinez was serving his third tour of duty when he was killed on October 14 by insurgents who attacked his unit in Afghanistan with an improvised explosive device. Two other soldiers, Sgt. Carlos A. Benitz and Pfc. Tremaine J. Billingsley, also died from the explosion.
 

“He served our country with honor, integrity and steadfast loyalty, and in the end he made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty,” the Governor said, extending condolences to the Martinez family. "Rafael will be remembered and honored forever in our hearts."

East County News Service

October 21, 2010, (Ramona) -- The Palomar Ranger District of Cleveland National Forest in Ramona is maintaining closure of the Orosco Ridge Recreational Target Shooting Area for an indefinite amount of time, due to public safety concerns. Those include an accidental shooting, near misses at or near the range, and repeated wildfire starts caused by use of both legal and illegal firearms, the U.S. Forest Service reports.