East County News Service

September 14, 2015 (Pine Valley)--U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a woman Saturday evening at the Interstate 8 checkpoint who had 38 bundles of meth in her car.The 38 bundles of methamphetamine weighed 45.46 pounds and have an estimated street value of $454,600. 

East County News Service

September 14, 2015 (La Mesa)--The Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, a consumer health library at 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, is now hosting its Summer Art Exhibit featuring 14 oil and watercolor paintings of landscape scenes by Mike Hefner of San Carlos. The show runs through the end of September.

The exhibit includes Hefner’s plein air watercolor paintings that highlight the beauty and history of San Diego, from its coasts and mountains to the deserts of Baja. Plein air means “open air” and refers to paintings created outside and on location.

By Greg Dunne                                          

September 14, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) --I don’t claim to be an expert on birds descending from the dinosaurs, but if Geese did descend from millions of years ago, it’s not surprising that they are fearless creatures. I’ve been “honked” at, faced down on the path, and even charged by Geese at our local lakes in the East County. The Geese in particular at tiny Lindo Lake in Lakeside seem to rule the area with bravado and pride and can be extremely aggressive.  In addition, one of the most diverse amounts of species of Geese I’ve witnessed is at Lindo Lake.

East County News Service

September 14, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Over 11,000 firefighters are battling 12 large fires across California.  The fires have destroyed hundreds of homes and threaten thousands more.  Several firefighters have been injured (but are recovering) and at least one life has been lost in the Valley Fire.  Robert Louis Stevenson state park is closed due to the fires, which also continue to threaten giant sequoias at Kings Canyon National Park.

County Fire Chief Tony Mecham and the CAL FIRE unit in San Diego assure that stations in San Diego County are open and fully staffed; all days off for CAL-FIRE firefighters have been cancelled.  He also urged local residents to be prepared in case fires occur here, warning of dangerous conditions.

Senator Joel Anderson urges Governor to veto spending for preschool and protecting Monarch butterflies, calls for money to be used on services for disabled,Medi-Cal providers and in-home support services

By Miriam Raftery

September 14, 2015 (Sacramento)—The state Legislature adjourned without approving a change required by the federal government to avoid losing $1.1 billion in Medi-Cal funding.  Democrats and Republicans are pointing fingers, with each blaming the other.

Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

Can We Please Take Our Seat – Safely!

September 14, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - National Child Passenger Safety Week is this week. Make sure the ones you love are safe and secure in the car on every trip reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

East County News Service

September 13, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - The County seeks volunteers for the San Miguel Local Park District Citizen Advisory Board (County Service Area 128).

Update: The body of missing chlid Wesley Hilare was found in Mission Bay.  Police now believe the boy drowned and that the report of a man walking off with the boy was a false lead.

Photo of Wesley Hilaire, by Daniesha Hilaire

September 13, 2015 (San Diego)  --- An Amber alert has been issued across southern California for a 4-year-old African-American boy abducted from San Diego last night at 7:44 p.m.  He vanished while at Mission Bay in the 2800 block of East Mission Bay Drive. He was last seen with a man who is believed to have abducted him from a family gathering.

Wesley Hilaire was last seen wearing red shorts and no shirt.  He is 4 feet 2 inches tall, weighs 40 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes.

The suspect, a stranger to the family, is described as a 40-year old African-American man, 6 feet tall, 235 pounds with short black hair. He was last seen wearing a grey T-shirt, dark blue jeans with a hole in the right knee, and flip flops.

WWII storyteller now stalks the mean streets of Los Angeles

Kylie Rowand Foundation founded by Alpine parents aims to help fight childhood cancer

By Janis Russell

September 11, 2015 (Jamul)—Luke and Bree Rowand lost their young daughter, Kylie, to neuroblastoma last February.  Now they have started the Kylie Rowand Foundation in hopes of sparing other families from having to endure with such a devastating loss.

East County News Service

September 12, 2015 (El Cajon)—Elijah “Bear” Diaz, 20, remains missing two weeks after vanishing from his El Cajon home on Saturday, August 29. A private investigator hired by the family calls his disappearance “suspicious,” NBC 7 reports.

Diaz is a diabetic with a serious foot injury who is likely on crutches. His family is deeply concerned that he left with only enough insulin for a week and has missed several doctor’s appointments.

A wide-screen TV was missing from his room.  Diaz left without his toothbrush, glasses and cell phone charger, NBC 7 has reported.

Hearing set for Oct. 13; public comments open now through Oct. 26

September 12, 2015 (Spring Valley ) – The County’s Planning & Development Services has proposed a Mitigated Negative Declaration of environmental impacts for the Sweetwater Place project at the northwest corner of Sweetwater Springs Blvd. and Jamacha Blvd. in Spring Valley.

For complete Calendar including Authors Events, go to www.SDWriteWay.org

This column is also published in the http://EastCountyMagazine.org. If you are from East County, I highly recommend that you check out the ECM for articles and the latest in what is happening in the East County.

DEADLINE: Saturday Noon

East County News Service

September 12, 2015 (Sacramento)—A trio of bills to regulate medical marijuana in California have passed the Legislature and now await Governor Jerry Brown’s signature. 

The measures cover the full gamut of the billion dollar cannabis industry, from farming to dispensaries, all to be licensed for transportation and distribution under a new Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation in the Department of Consumer Affairs. In addition to state licenses, local city or county licensing will also be required, so jurisdictions with bans or restrictions can keep them and voters can also weigh in on issues such as taxing the growing or sale of medical marijuana.