By Leon Thompson

January 12, 2016 (Lemon Grove) - There will be zero medical cannabis dispensaries in Lemon Grove if Ordinance #437 passes on the “second reading” of the bill at the next City council meeting on January 19^th.

East County News Service

January 12, 2016 (Santee) — Crime Stoppers and Sheriff deputies in Santee seek public help to solve a crime spree involving burglaries of nine homes in Santee neighborhoods from December 14 to December 31, 2015. The suspect(s) targeted single story detached homes and forced their way in through a rear window or rear patio door. The stolen items were mainly prescription medications. Cash, electronics and tools have also been taken.

By Miriam Raftery

January 11, 2016 (Lakeside) – Assemblyman Brian Jones visited the Lakeside Skatepark on Friday to commemorate his measure, Assembly Bill 1146, which became law on January 1^st.  The new law allows non-motorized scooters, bicycles, in-line skates, roller skates and non-motorized wheelchairs in skate parks.

East County News Service

January 11, 2016 (San Diego) – A ballot proposal has been filed with the San Diego City Clerk on behalf of 20 civic organizations that endorse a Charter Amendment for an independendent Community Review Board on Police Practices. On January 13^th at 9 a.m. the City Council's Rules Committee will consider whether or not to refer the measureto the full City Council for placement on the 2016 ballot.

By Miriam Raftery

January 11, 2016  (San Diego) -- County Animal Services was the first animal sheltering organization in the nation to partner with Finding Rover and the arrangement is again showing its worth.

January 9, 2016 (San Diego)—Greg Palast, one of the most celebrated investigative journalists on the planet, is coming to San Diego for  a fundraising meet and greet for KNSJ  radio, the Network for Social Justice, on Sunday, January 10^th at 6 p.m.  He’ll share results of his investigation into the “theft of the 2016 election and the billionaires behind it.”

The Chicago Tribune said of Palast, “What a journalist should be:  a truth hound, undaunted by power.”  San Diego news anchor Bree Walker called Palast “The best damn reporter in the USA.  Period.”  Britain’s Guardian called him “The most important journalism of our time.” Palast has broken front-page stories for BBC Television Newsnight, The Guardian, Nation Magazine, Rolling Stone and Harper's Magazine. 

By Mimi Pollack

January 9, 2016 (La Mesa) -- The motto for the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club seems to be “How can we help?” There are actually two La Mesa Rotary Clubs, but the Sunrise group is for early birds, since meetings are held once a week at 7:30 a.m.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Nancy Manning: Snow in Descanso in 2012

January 9, 2016 (Descanso) – This week’s snowstorms evoked strong memories for Robert Stille, who wrote to share his recollections from the winter of 1949-50, which he recalls as one of the worst winters on record, at least in modern times.

“ I was a kid of 13 that winter in Descanso,” he writes.  “We had three feet of snow at Descanso and on up to Cuyamaca and Laguna they had six feet of it.  We went up with my dad when the storm first hit, to Harrison Park and evacuated a 9-month pregnant woman and her daughter out of there.  It was snowing so hard we barely made it back down to Descanso.”

East County News SErvice

January 9, 2016 (Mt. Laguna) - The totals from this week's storm are now complete--and Mt. Laguna received a full foot and a half of snow. 

If you're looking for a snow play day, today's a good option. However a new storm is due in this evening and early in the morning, though it will be lighter, dropping less than an inch of precipitation in most areas.

Click here to view snow and rainfall totals for areas across our region from the National Weather Service:  http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/getprod.php?wfo=sgx&sid=SGX&pil=RRM.  To view more images from local HP Wren web cameras run by the University of California San Diego, such as the image at left, visit http://hpwren.ucsd.edu/cameras/.

East County News Service

January 8, 2016 (Flinn Springs) — Bren Fisher, 64, was found dead in his home yesterday morning.  The Medical Examiner determined cause of death was blunt force trauma and the case has been ruled a homicide, said Lt. Kenneth Nelson with the Sheriff’s department.

East County News Service

January 8, 2016 (El Cajon) -- Young women ages 9-22 who would like to represent the City of El Cajon are encouraged to participate in the 2016 Miss El Cajon Pageant.

East County News Service

January 7, 2016 (San Diego) - The National Weather Service tweeted this image, viewed from their window in San Diego, of a rainbow arcing over the city after today’s storm.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos: Above, Jim Pelley sent us photo of snow-covered Laguna Mountains, viewed from desert in Ocotillo

Below, Fox 5 TV tweeted image of news van on Mt. Laguna for a "San Diego snow day"

January 7, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – After four years of drought, when it rains, it pours!  During the past 72 hours, the National Weather Service reports heavy snowfall in our local mountains including 12 to 15 inches on Mt. Laguna.  In addition, many communities soaked up  several inches of rain, topped by Mt. Woodson with nearly seven and a half inches.

Here are highlights on the snow and rainfall totals over the past three days.

By Miriam Raftery

January 7, 2016 (La Mesa) -- The board of directors of the Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) recently elected its board officers for the 2016 calendar year.