March 1, 2012 (East San Diego County) -- The Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians has announced that they are donating $2,500 for the recovery of “Chance,” the dog that was found shot on the Viejas Reservation earlier this month.

Update 9:30 p.m. Lanes are reopened.  ECM news partner 10 News reports the woman was struck while walking on the center median. She was taken to a local hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. 

February 29, 2012 (Bonita) – All lanes of State Route 54 westbound are closed after multiple vehicles struck a pedestrian, according to the CHP website at 7:53 p.m. Incident Page Network reports the collision is now a fatality.

"We will never put our heads down, we will play our hearts out, and we will play for Coach because he will be on the turf with us.” – Clay Meyer, Valhalla Saga

February 29, 2012 (Santee) – Frank Yancey was “an inspiration for all those who served under him,”  Clay Meyer  wrote in the Valhalla Saga.  The school’s varsity football coach passed away February 13 at his home in Santee of an undisclosed cause.

Yancey coached 18 season at West Hills High, five at El Cajon Valley High and his last five at Valhalla.  His East County roots included playing as an offensive lineman at Santana High School and Grossmont College, as well as later at San Francisco State.

February 28, 2012 (San Diego)—A coalition of students and faculty at San Diego State University plan to walk out of class Thursday, March 1 at 12 noon. A rally will follow at the Scripps Cottage Patio, 5500 Campanile Drive, as part of a National Day of Action for Education at universities across America.

Next president will appoint Supreme Court justice who will be swing vote;  at stake are women’s access to birth control and abortion, attorney tells local law students  

By Nadin Abbott

February 27, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Accidents have been reported on both eastbound and westbound I-8 in Alpine near Willows Road due to ice on the highway this evening. Due to snowfall, chains are required on Sunrise Highway, in Julian, and on old highway 80 in Jacumba.

February 27, 2012 (Ramona) – San Nicolas Island is best known as the setting for the novel Island of the Blue Dolphin.  But the isle in California’s Channel Islands was also used by the Navy—and a colony of wild cats believe to be descended from pets of naval personnel  were hunting wild birds and lizards, endangering native species including foxes. 

The Navy was prepared to kill all of the feral cats—until the Humane Society and the Fund for Animals stepped in.