Editor's Note - February 22, 2011: location has changed to Faith Chapel Church of God in Christ, 4999 Holly Drive, San Diego, near Lincoln High School.

February 18, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- The Grossmont College Music Department‘s Grossmont College Gospel Choir and Grossmont College Master Chorale will celebrate Black History Month with two performances of gospel music.

February 21, 2011 --San Diego Police Department Homicide Unit detectives have arrested a suspect for the murders of two people inside an apartment at 10946 Evening Creek Drive in Sabre Springs. The victims have been identified as Bernabe Magno Villamar, 26, of Spring Valley and Valerie Marabante, 23, who rented the apartment. Her estranged husband, Melchor Marabante, was arrested at a hospital in Murrieta and has been charged with the murders.

February 21, 2011 (Descanso)-- Sheriff’s deputies, U.S. Border Patrol agents and CalFire personnel responded to a call of a dead body in rural Descanso around 7:15 a.m. Authorities found a Hispanic man dead at the scene. He may have been with a group of illegal border crossers who entered the U.S. this weekend during sub-freezing temperatures.

A man hospitalized in San Diego has identified a woman found dead in the same area as his wife. He told authorities that members of the group became separated from each other near Descanso. U.S. Border Patrol agents are now searching the area for other potential victims, said Lt. Dennis Brugos with the Sheriff’s homicide detail.

Obesity - The Solution, by Max Sturman (Do It Naturally Foundation, San Diego)

Book Review by Dennis Moore

February 20, 2011 (San Diego)--There is no more timely or urgent message than that found in Max Sturman's Obesity - The Solution. A February 1st story in the San Diego Union-Tribune states, "In a new attempt to help an overweight nation slim down and improve its long-term health, the government released new dietary guidelines that called on Americans to eat less, cut down on salt, bulk up on fruits and vegetables, and try water instead of sugary soft drinks."

Sturman, a 93-year-old San Diego author, has been delivering this message for years in fitness and healthcare books through his Do It Naturally Foundation, a non-profit that he founded.  His longevity is no accident--but, he believes,  the result of healthy living and a diet based on natural foods.

February 20, 2011 (La Mesa)-- On February 19, around 6:08 P.M., La Mesa Police Officers responded to a report of a robbery at 70th Street and Alvarado Road. The victim, a 33-year-old man, reported being robbed while crossing the street. As he stood on the center median waiting for traffic to clear, he was approached by the suspect, who told the victim he had a gun and demanded money.

February 20, 2011 (Valley Center) Last night at 6:10 p.m., three armed men entered an open door at 27446 S. Canal Road on the San Pasqual Indian Reservation in Valley Center. A woman was waiting at the open door for friends to arrive when the men burst into the home, according to Sergeant Bob Bishop with the Sheriff’s department.

February 19, 2011 (La Mesa)--San Diego FBI Special Agent eith Slotter, announces the arrest of Cesar Daniel Flores, age 20, of Imperial Beach. He is charged with robbing Bank of the West in La Mesa on February 4th.

February 19, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Heavy snowfall is making travel hazardous on East County roadways in mountain areas, resulting in numerous accidents and traffic delays tonight.

“The Cuyamaca area has received between 6 to 8 inches of snow and Mt. Laguna more than that,” Cal Fire’s Mike Mohler informed ECM in an e-mail. He advised people to avoid visiting these areas unless prepared.

February 19, 2011 (Spring Valley) –Lemon Grove Detectives and U.S. Marine Corps Criminal Investigators searched a home at 2851 Highlands Blvd. in Spring Valley Thursday morning that is also used as a licensed child day care center. Authorities had previously arrested Michael Manglicmot, 23, for desertion  from the Marine Corps.

Sheriff’s detective Joel Stranger, working with USMC-CID investigators, learned that Manglicmot was the primary suspect in several recent burglaries at Camp Pendleton and Spring Valley. During the search, stolen property items including USMC body armor and night vision equipment were found. Detectives arrested Manglicmot’s brother, Mario Solis, 27, on charges of drug possession and sale, as well as possessing a loaded firearm.

Bipartisan legislation would create flexible spending accounts to help families save on health care and child care expenses

February 19, 2011 (Washington, D.C). – At a press conference February 17, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47) announced their new legislation that would provide flexible spending accounts for service members. Flexible spending accounts would result in savings for military families by allowing service members to set aside part of their income before taxes to cover out-of-pocket child care and health care expenses such as co-pays, dental care and eye glasses.

This benefit is currently available to civilian employees at the Department of Defense, but not to uniformed service members.

Update 10:25 p.m.: CHP reports only minor injury in this accident, which is now cleared.
February 18, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – A Ford vehicle has plunged 200 feet over the side and rolled down into a canyon after losing control on rain-slicked I-8 just east of Highway 79. According to California Highway Patrol’s website, at least one person is trapped inside.

A rescue effort is in progress, involving 200 feet of cable down the steep side of the canyon.

February 18, 2011 (Imperial County) – Five Cal-Fire engines from San Diego County have been dispatched to Imperial County to help fight 15 tons of hay set ablaze by arsonists.

Three people are in custody in connection to a pair of haystack fires in the Imperial Valley. The Imperial County Sheriff's Office said 29-year-old Darryl Elmore Junior, 28-year-old Martin Arthur Archuleta, and 25-year-old Luis Alberto Vasquez face arson fire charges.

Nothing but the Truth!

February 12, 2011 (San Diego) --For years the Fed has been keeping interest rates near zero, trying to prop up spending and keep the economy from failing completely. It really has not worked. Jobs are disappearing, the gap between rich and poor is growing, and inflation show signs of growing rapidly.

By Brian Lafferty

February 18. 2011 (San Diego) – Alfred Hitchcock, the Master of Suspense, once said, “To make a great film you need three things – the script, the script and the script.” Too bad Korean director Sang-soo Im didn’t heed this advice when he wrote The Housemaid.