December 16, 2010 (El Cajon) -- San Miguel Firefighters laid enough hose to cover the length of seven football fields during the fight to save a home in the Granite Hills neighborhood of El Cajon. The fire was reported at 12:51 Saturday morning on the 800 block of Van Horn Road. As crews responded, witnesses reported seeing flames shoot up about 40 feet into the air. Narrow streets and a very long driveway required Firefighters to lay out about 2000 feet of hose to reach the multi-story, single family structure. Four trucks were needed to pump water to the all wood structure.

January 15, 2010 (San Diego) – Vera Valdivia, a former San Diego resident and alumni of Thomas Jefferson School of Law, is in Haiti and seeks help from San Diego County residents for children in a Haitian orphanage that she co-founded and helped build. The 7.0 earthquake which struck Haiti earlier this week has destroyed the orphanage, East County Magazine has learned.

“As of right now, Valdivia and the orphanage children are living outside in the harsh, earthquake-ravaged conditions,” Denice Menard, communications coordinator for Thomas Jefferson School of Law informed ECM today. “The latest thing I heard is that they are not close enough to Port Au Prince, so they are not getting anything.”  The orphanage cares for approximately 60 children who are in need of food, milk, and other supplies.

January 14, 2010 (Alpine) – Supervisor Dianne Jacob is hosting a community meeting to inform the public about new details on potentially devastating impacts of the Sunrise Powerlink.  County representatives will be on hand to present these new findings at 6 p.m. at the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Boulevard.

Looking for a missing family member? Search hotline, online database set up

 

By Miriam Raftery

January 8, 2009 (San Diego) -- More than $4.3 million is going to local programs that help homeless individuals find shelter and deal with challenges such as mental illness, disabilities and domestic violence. East County Magazine has e-mailed the County to inquire whether any of these funds will address the growing homelessness needs in East County.

January 4, 2009 (El Cajon) – Interstate 8 will be closed in both directions between Second and East Main streets in El Cajon, Monday through Thursday early mornings from 12:30 until 4, according to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The closures will allow crews to demolish the pedestrian overcrossing at Grape Street.

January 4, 2010 (La Mesa) – La Mesa resident James Robinson was found dead in his vehicle late this morning at a 76 gas station in downtown San Diego, slumped over his sleeping infant daughter.

January 3, 2010 (El Cajon) -- At about 8:45 this morning, a vehicle driven by a 74-year-old El Cajon resident struck a Carl’s Jr. Restaurant located at 520 N. Second St. The vehicle went through the building, striking and killing a patron who was seated in a restaurant booth. The victim was a 66-year-old male who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Part two of our four-part Year in Review

Part four in our four-part Year in Review (fourth quarter 2009)

December 30, 2009 (Lakeside) – The County Coroner’s office has identified Raymundo Casillas, 43, Executive Director of the Barona Gaming Commission, as the victim who was shot and killed in his office yesterday. The gunman, Donnell Roberts, a former employee, killed himself after fatally wounding Casillas.

“This is a very difficult time for the Barona family and our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of this unimaginable tragedy,” a press release issued today by the Barona Gaming Commission stated, adding that the Commission is “saddened” by the loss.

Which East County residents have been good citizens in 2009, striving to make our commuity or our world a better place? Please send us your nomination –along wih a one-paragraph description of why you believe your nominee is deserving of praise. We’re looking for nominees in all categories –including education, business and labor, politics, philanthropy, healthcare, environment, community organizing, humanitarian efforts, heroism, and any other categories you wish to suggest. We will publish winners in an upcoming issue of East County Magazine.

Update 12:45 p.m.  A Sheriff's spokeperson informed ECM that the sniper took seven hostages but has since released them.  She was unable to confirm whether there are any additional hostages. The suspect has barricaded himself in an office and SWAT team negotiators are on hand.

$5 DAY PASS GETS FANS TO PARADE AND GAME WED. ON TROLLEY

December 30, 2009 (San Diego) – The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) is expanding Trolley service for the Big Bay Balloon Parade and Holiday Bowl on Dec. 30. Fans can park for free, avoid downtown traffic and save money while enjoying the events.

December 25, 2009 (Otay) – Alberto Herrera-Garcia was picking up a load of wood planks at a lumber storage company at 9960 Marconi Drive in Otay Mesa on Christmas Eve morning when the load shifted. The forklift fell onto him, crushing him.