By Miriam Raftery

February 9, 2016 (La Mesa) — The Mesa Village Merchants Association failed to pay back nearly $48,000 it owes to the city of La Mesa for the 2015 Oktoberfest, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Now the city has referred the debt to its collection agency. Arlene Moore, president of the nonprofit merchants’ group, told the Union-Tribune that the organization plans to repay the debt and hopes to continue hosting the Oktoberfest in future years.

The situation has sparked controversy in the community, with some criticizing the merchants for financial mismanagement, while others find fault with the city for requiring full cost recovery for Oktoberfest and other public events.

By Miriam Raftery

February 7, 2016 (Washington D.C.) - Congressman Duncan Hunter has introduced the Draft America’s Daughters Act, a bill that would require young women to register for the Draft with the Selective Service. 

East County News Service

Photo: 2007 Harris Fire

February 9, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Last year, 65 percent of the U.S. Forest Service’s $5 billion budget was spent on fighting wildfires, leaving only 35 percent for everything else.

By Miriam Raftery

February 8, 2016 (Santee) – Carol Wahl died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease on March 1^st, 2010. To honor her memory and raise money to help other ALS patients have better lives, her son, Mark Solz, will embark from Petco Park in San Diego on March 1^st for a 3,200 mile walk across America. 

By Miriam Raftery

February 8, 2016 (San Diego) — The California Faculty Association’s union has voted to go on strike at California State University campuses starting in mid-April unless a 5 percent raise is approved.  In San Diego County, that would include professors, lecturers  coaches, counselors and librarians at San Diego State University and Cal State San Marcos.

East County News Service

February 8, 2016 (Lakeside) – Plans are moving forward for a 14-acre Lakeside Equestrian center at Willow Road and Morena Avenue in Lakeside, but additional funds are needed to make the dream become a reality.

By Liz Alper

Photo: Youtube screenshot

February 8, 2016 (Santa Clara, Ca.) - It was Peyton Manning's last game and he made sure everyone knew it.  Conversely, the Carolina Panthers made sure to let everyone know that they can't hold on to the football.

East County News Service

February 8, 2016 (Lakeside) — Two passengers suffered life-threatening injuries yesterday morning in a rollover accident on State Route 67 north of Foster Truck Trail yesterday at 5:35 a.m. The Nissan Titan that overturned was driven by 21-year-old Lakeside resident Keith Edward Ruis Jr.

By Suzanne Potter, California News Service

February 7, 2016 (Los Angeles) -- Teams are hitting the streets gathering signatures for a ballot measure this fall that would extend part of Proposition 30, which raised income taxes on the wealthy and raised the sales tax by a quarter of a percent, then funneled the money to public education. 

East County News Service

February 7, 2016 (New Hampshire) - In preparation for this week’s New Hampshire primary and others to follow, Democrats and Republicans each held debates among their presidential candidates.

View Republican debate on ABC ;  Read  Republican debate transcript

 View full Democratic debate on MSNBC; Read Democratic debate transcript

For highlights, scroll down.

By Brigitte Garcia and Miriam Raftery

February 6, 2016 (Harbison Canyon) – Here’s a sweet fact from East County’s history: pioneer beekeeper John S. Harbison was once the largest producer of honey in the world.

 After settling with his family along the Sweetwater River in what later became known as Harbison Canyon, he led the way for San Diego County to become a major honey-making region during California’s “Golden Age of Beekeeping.”

But it wasn’t all sweet success. Obstacles along the way included severe weather, bees lost at sea, vindictive farmers and arson.

By Brian Lafferty

February 5, 2016 (San Diego) – Hail, Caesar! (Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, 2016) falls under a category I like to call a “Love Letter Movie.” Defining the term is hard. However, I can easily point to a classic example, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (John Hughes, 1986), which was the beloved director’s love letter to Chicago. It showcased Wrigley Field, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Von Steuben Day parade, and Chicago’s other fine attractions with affection and pride. Hail, Caesar! is the Coens’ love letter to classic Hollywood in much the same way.

East County News Service

February 5, 2016 (San Diego) — Medical researchers in Brazil have found Zika virus in saliva and urine of two patients. Dr. Paulo Gadelha, president of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Brazil that found the viruses in these body fluids, urged that pregnant women or other visitors concerned about contracting the virus avoid kissing strangers at this week’s Carnival in Brazil.

By Miriam Raftery

February 5, 2016 (Ramona) –“Valentine’s Day will always be very special here at the dairy, as this was when our beloved Valentine was born in the snow,” writes Nancy Riegler, co-owner of Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona. 

East County News Service

February 4, 2016 (Borrego Springs)--From a romance-filled Valentine's Day special dinner to an exceptionally beautiful wildflower season just around the corner, there are plenty of reasons to fall in love with La Casa del Zorro Resort in Borrego Springs this month.