August 21, 2012 (Rancho San Diego) -- Church members from the Gathering @RSD packaged 3,200 meals to be sent to needy children and their families in the Dominican Republic. The church raised the money through collecting extra change. The effort was coordinated through the organization, Children of the Nations, which reach out to children in need in Africa and the Caribbean.

August 21, 2012 (Alpine) – The San Diego Medical Examiner’s office has released the names of two men who died of injuries sustained in an accident on I-8 in Alpine on August 16.

August 21, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—Scattered thunderstorms and heavy rains are forecast for Tuesday through Sunday in San Diego County’s mountains and desert areas.

Skywarn weather activation is requested for Tuesday.

Reposted with permission; original published August 14, 2012 at http://www.mojavedesertblog.com/2012/08/desert-lands-policy-wind-industr...

By Shaun Gonzales

August 20, 2012 (Mojave Desert)--If you have been listening to the past few stakeholder conferences for the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) -- an inter-agency effort to protect desert ecosystems while identifying areas suitable for renewable energy in California's deserts -- then you know that representatives from the California Wind Energy Association (CalWEA) sound disappointed as their plans to industrialize much of California's desert wildlands meet resistance.   Some of the DRECP's proposed development focus areas would only accommodate 2-17% of the nearly 2 million acres to which the wind industry initially requested access. The wind industry expressed frustration during the meetings, wondering aloud why they cannot bulldoze desert, carve hundreds of miles of new roads, and set up massive wind turbines standing over 400 feet tall across public lands.

August 19 2012 (San Diego)—San Diego Police seek public help to locate John Sharpe, 72. Missing from his apartment at 5048 Wightman Avenue #10 in San Diego, he was last seen on August 17 at 5:30 p.m. 

The missing man has Alzheimer’s disease and is considered at risk, according to a police bulletin issued today.  He was last seen wearing a hat, yellow shirt and brown shoes. He is black with a dark complexion, has grey hair, brown eyes, stands 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 176 pounds.

August 19, 2012 (La Mesa) – Biz Center Art presents Inside Out, an art show with a 70’s vibe, on August 25 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the La Mesa biz Center, 7317 El Cajon Blvd., La Mesa.  The event will feature 70’s music and 70’s art.  The show will run through October.

Dress up in 70’s themed attire and step back in time with art that speaks to the 70’s.  There will even be an entire wall devoted to black velvet paintings.

August 19, 2012 (Alpine) – The Alpine Community Planning Group will be meeting on August 23 at the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Blvd., Alpine to vote on the Alpine Design Review Checklist.  The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m.

The Checklist includes items such as village character, planting, Alpine Blvd., etc.  The Checklist can be viewed here.  

By Miriam Raftery

Higher humidity and cooler temperatures are aiding firefighters, Cal Fire reports. The Vallecito Lightning Complex is now 22,828 acres and 90% contained. The suppression costs are up to $6,400,000 and firefighters still have a mile of containment line to construct. There have been a total of 4 injuries to firefighters.

As of  this evening, all roads in the fire area have been opened and all evacuation orders have been lifted.

August 17, 2012 (San Diego)--The San Diego FBI warns of a new Citadel malware platform used to deliver ransomware named Reveton. The ransomware lures the victim to a drive-by download website, at which time the ransomware is installed on the user’s computer. Once installed, the computer freezes and a screen is displayed warning the user they have violated United States federal law.

August 17, 2012 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police have issued a warning that a man in a “beat up” white small or medium pickup truck attempted to lure a 16-year-old female student into his vehicle. The girl was walking to Helix High School at 8 a.m. today in the 7500 block of University Ave. when the suspect pulled up next to her, got out of his truck and told her, “Hey, get in my car.” 

By Miriam Raftery

August 16, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Amid blistering heat and wildfires blazing across our region, here’s news that may inspire a chill down your spine. 

A recent issue  of Al Qaeda’s publication, Inspire, has surfaced on jihad forums inspiring Western terrorists to start forest fires in the U.S.