Update January 26:  The Medical Examiner's Office  has identified the victim as Judith Terrebonne Anderson, 79.  The preliminary cause of death was sharp force injuries, and the manner of death is homicide.  Judith Anderson is the mother of Arleigh Clifford Anderson, who was arrested for her murder.  The motive is still under investigation.

By Miriam Raftery

January 25, 2022 (Lakeside) --  Arleigh Clifford Anderson, 50, has been arrested and charged with murder of a 79-year old woman in Lakeside. 

Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call reporting a battery yesterday afternoon at 1:18 p.m. at a home in the 9400 block of Riverview Drive. They detained Anderson while deputies entered the home.

By Miriam Raftery

January 24, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – Supervisor Joel Anderson’s staff has compiled an extensive and diverse list of scholarship opportunities to help students attain their higher education goals. Note: some have deadlines just days away, while others are later in the year. Scholarships are listed in chronological order by deadline dates.

“As school season is starting back up, I am aware of the financial barriers that many parents or students face. Having three children go through this process, I understand the value behind scholarship opportunities and the importance behind financial assistance,” Supervisor Anderson states in an email to constituents.

If you know of additional scholarships or financial resources for students, please send them to michael.botello@sdcounty.ca.gov to be added to the list.  The updated list can be viewed at https://www.supervisorjoelanderson.com/content/d2/us/en/community/scholarship-list.html.

East County News Service

Photo by Miriam Raftery

January 24, 2022 (Alpine) – Marc Anthony Halcon, a firearms expert who owned shooting centers and the former Covert Canyon paramilitary training camp in Alpine, died of COVID-19 complications on January 14 at age 68.

East County News Service

Photo: CC by NC via Bing

January 24, 2022 (San Diego) -- Primior, a leading real estate development and asset management firm, has donated 1 million K95 masks to the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters (SWRCC) who represent more than 57,000 members across Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado.

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson 

(Photo courtesy of the County of San Diego)

Jan. 24, 2022 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Mt. Helix Improvement Association (GMIA) took a proactive look at where potential homeless sites would be located in La Mesa, while trying to balance compassionate solutions with community safety. 

One proposed site is at the Park and Ride near the Rancho San Diego Village Shopping Center at Avocado Blvd. and State Route 94 in unincorporated La Mesa; GMIA asked the county to host an online webinar, which was held January 18.  

Due to technical difficulties that knocked some participants offline, a second Zoom meeting has been set for Wed., Jan. 26, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.  The link for the Jan. 26th session is:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89774215131 . The next session should provide an opportunity for the attendees to further explore potential sites in La Mesa for the homeless. 

East County News Service

January 23, 2022 (Spring Valley) - The Saps at Sea, the San Diego chapter of the Sons of the Desert, the Laurel & Hardy appreciation society, present their February event, "Three Decades of Film Fun," Saturday, February 19 at Trinity Presbytarian Church, 3902 Kenwood Drive in Spring Valley.

By Emily Hoeven, CalMatters

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters

Photo:  State Capitol, CC-by-NC via Bing

Update: The author did not bring this bill up on the Assembly floor by this session's legislative deadline, due to lack of enough votes for passage.

January 22, 2022 (Sacramento) - Get ready for a showdown in Sacramento.

On Thursday, a key Assembly committee approved a controversial proposal to create a state-funded single-payer health care system — a move that could put many Democrats, and ultimately Gov. Gavin Newsom, in a tough bind ahead of this year’s elections.

By Miriam Raftery

January 22, 2022 (Santee) – Sheriff's deputies responded to the 8800 block of Diamondback Drive in Santee at 7:20 last night after a report that a man had shot another man. Deputies spotted a vehicle matching a description of the suspect’s and conducted a high-risk vehicle stop a block from the residence.

The suspect was alone in the vehicle and did not respond to the deputies' attempts to communicate with him. The deputies approached the vehicle and found the suspect had shot himself. They removed the suspect from the vehicle and performed lifesaving measures until relieved by fire department personnel, but the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.

By Miriam Raftery

January 21, 2022 (Spring Valley) – A male pedestrian who has not yet been identified was struck and killed tonight at 7:09 p.m. by a Volvo in Spring Valley.

According to Officer Travis Garrow with the California Highway Patrol, the victim stepped off the sidewalk into the path of the 2010 Volvo XC90, which was traveling north on Sweetwater Road near Saint George Street.

By Ken Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

January 21, 2022 (La Mesa) - Longtime East County educator Theresa Kemper announced Thursday that she’ll step down in June as superintendent of the Grossmont Union High School District after less than two years on the job but 33 in the district.

By Miriam Raftery

January 21, 2022 (San Diego) – Starting tomorrow, all people entering the U.S. at the Mexican or Canadian borders must be fully vaccinated, except for U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and U.S. nationals.  The new requirement will apply to both essential and non-essential travelers, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced.

Insurance coverage will be available starting February 1st for farm owners, wineries, and other outdoor businesses previously ineligible  

East County News Service

January 21, 2022 (Sacramento) -- Acting to address the growing needs for a competitive insurance market for farm owners, wineries, ranchers and other outdoor agricultural businesses, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara today approved the FAIR Plan to offer new commercial coverage for farm structure risks starting February 1, 2022. The FAIR Plan is an association made up of all admitted insurance companies to be the state’s property “insurer of last resort.”

By Elijah McKee

January 21, 2022 (Lemon Grove) — The Lemon Grove City Council moved forward with several key agenda items on Tuesday at their first meeting of the new year.

New policy & procedures aim to preserve remote access to meetings

Source:  City of La Mesa

January 21, 2022 (La Mesa) – In an ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability in local government, La Mesa City Council adopted a new public comment policy for City Council, Boards, and Commissions meetings. Currently, these meetings are held virtually, but the new policy preserves remote access to these meetings when in-person sessions return.

January 20, 2022 (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:

LOCAL

• San Diego ERs strain under crushing patient loads, but staffing shortages appear to be easing (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• New COVID-19 antiviral treatments are here, but supplies are limited  (KPBS)
• Lost dog? Babs Fry is on it.  (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Santee plane crash victim saved from burning home speaks out for first time (KUSI)
• Stopped by police in San Diego? A lot depends on where you live, drive (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Ordinance Sets Table for San Diego County Chefs to Sell Meals Prepared at Home (NBC San Diego)
• Preserve Alpine’s Heritage aims at coalition building (The Alpine Sun)

STATE

• Thieves in LA are looting freight trains filled with packages from UPS, FedEx and Amazon (CNN)
• California now requires boosters, negative COVID test for most nursing home visits (Sacramento Bee)
• Tsunami reaches California coast with high waves, local flooding and dangerous currents (Los Angeles Times)
• Signs of Inbreeding Among SoCal Mountain Lions Raise Extinction Fears  (NBC 7)
• California Gov. Gavin Newsom denies parole for RFK assassin Sirhan Sirhan (CNN)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.