January 7, 2011 (San Diego's East County)--The National Weather Service has issued a "fire weather planning forecast" for southwestern California. In San Diego County, moderate to strong northeast winds and very dry weather with low humidity are forecast for inland areas, combining to create "near critical fire weather conditions" on Sunday.

 Update 8:35 p.m.: The fire is now knocked down and residents are cleared to return to their residences.

January 7, 2012 (Lakeside)--Firefighters are on the scene of a garage fire  at 12097 Gay Rio Drive in Lakeside.  "The fire is putting up a lot of smoke and they're getting people out of the houses nearby," ECM photographer Dennis Richardson told ECM.

One person is reportedly suffering smoke inhalation and will be transported to a local hospital.

 
January 7, 2012 (La Mesa) -- In the past three months the La Mesa Police Department management team has gone through many new changes.  With Chief Lanning’s retirement in September of 2011 and Captain Medero’s retirement in December 2011, seven promotions of existing LMPD staff were made in 2011 to consist of a new Chief of Police, two new captains, two new lieutenants and two new sergeants.

 
January 6, 2012 (La Mesa) – Police seek two suspects who led police on a high-speed chase early this morning in a stolen white 1988 Toyota Camry (CA plate 2LQR720).  The chase began when La Mesa Police officers tried to stop a stolen vehicle leaving the parking lot at the Heritage Inn at 7851 Fletcher Parkway in La Mesa at 5:49 a.m. 

 
January 6, 2012 (Alpine and Spring Valley) -- TC Construction is offering a $500.00 reward for the return or conviction of the person(s) responsible for taking the following items from a jobsite in Spring Valley on December 27, 2011. This is the second theft within the December 2011 time frame.

Items taken include:

 Aluminum shoring, Flanges, Ladder, and Traffic Control Signs. Scroll down for photos and details.

 
January 6, 2012 (East County) --  Estela De Los Rios, social justice advocate from El Cajon, has been selected to receive the Ashley Walker Social Justice Award from the San Diego Human Relations Commission.  She has championed battles to end human trafficking, hate crimes, and discrimination in our region. 

 

January 6, 2012 (Alpine) -- In  December, the “Alpine Squares” square dance club held their 27th annual Christmas Sock Hop for the benefit of Rady Children’s Hospital.  Over $3700 was raised at this event, to be used for recreational therapy for the severely medically challenged children being treated there.  The dance was co-sponsored again by Toyota of Santee, and held at their showroom.

 
January 6, 2012 (North County San Diego) --  On Monday, January 16, at 10-11a.m., North County area families are invited to  join Westfield North County and the Westfield Family Program for Family Fun Days featuring "Cultural Traditions". They will explore how other cultures celebrate the New Year and hear classic folktales from around the world.

BRAVO “Top Chef” Finalist Brian Malarkey Will Dish Out “Meat Market” Cuisine

January 6, 2012 (La Mesa) – Dubbed the first “urban cowboy diner” and offering “meat market cuisine”, Gingham restaurant is set to open next week in La Mesa in a remodeled building that formerly housed Gio Bistro Wine Bar. 

By Nadin Abbott
Photos by Tom Abbott

Few San Diegans today are aware of numerous free speech fights across America a century ago—or that “dwarfing them all was the San Diego episode,” according to the San Diego Journal of History’s fascinating account at http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/73winter/speech.htm. Fearing mob violence from the Industrial Workers of the World amid a growing U.S. labor movement and actions by anarchists, City leaders in 1912 outlawed public speaking in a five-square block area of then-downtown centered at Fifth and E streets. Thousands of defiant people turned out in protest of the ban and numerous arrests ensued, clogging jails and courts. Fire hoses, horsewhips and clubs were used by police; vigilantes joined police, even kidnapping a newspaper publisher as riots and deaths ensued in a conflict that lasted six months.

To this day, however, San Diego has never restored the people’s free speech rights.

 
Youth symphony seeks students for auditions

January 5, 2012 --  (San Diego’s East County) – ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:  

• U.S. Manufacturing jumps to 6 month high (Journal of Commerce)
• U.S. warns Iran not to disrupt oil route (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• The bomb buried in Obamacare explodes today—hurray! (Forbes)
• Robot wars: what is the role of drones and robots in wars and how will they shape the future of the U.S. military? (Aljazeera)
• Iraqi refugees struggle for peace in America (NPR)
• Obama’s resolution? To limit dealings in Congress (Los Angeles Times)

• Mitt Romney poised to make history (Los Angeles Times)
• Obama weighs two tactics on Romney (NY Times)
• Mitt Romney says he would veto Dream Act (Los Angeles Times)
• Rick Santorum says he would bomb Iraq’s nuclear sites (Slate.com)
• Paul criticizes Gingrich as campaign shifts to New Hampshire (Wall Street Journal) 
• McCain chooses former foe Romney over ex-Senate colleague Santorum (CNN)
• 2012 GOP lawmaker endorsements for president (The Hill)
• ‘Are the Republican candidates all crazy?’ (BBC)

• Iran says it has produced its first nuclear fuel rod (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Egypt forces storm offices of pro-democracy groups (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Who owns 69 patriot missiles seized in Finland? (MSNBC)
• Muslim Brotherhood vows not to recognize Israel (Jerusalem Post)
• Amid bloodshed,  Hamas prepares to leave Syria (San Diego Union-Tribune)