2 bodies found in burned  home of retired teacher/coach and ailing wife; 

Settlement just announced by CA Attorney General targets couple's lender for predatory lending practices--but relief is too late for Santee couple

By Miriam Raftery

January 3, 2011 (Santee) – Michael L. Cour, 60 and his wife, Janice Gervais, 70, faced a bleak future. The couple filed for bankruptcy June 30th. On December 6th, their lender, World Savings Bank, foreclosed on their property. A neighbor, Ruth Talaza, said Gervais had cancer and that the couple had tried multiple times to refinance, without success.

So Cour, who taught for 35 years in the Grossmont Union-High School District, told a neighbor that he was going to kill his wife and burn down their home on Clifford Heights Road, a quiet cul-de-sac in Santee.  Soon after, a man called 911 to say he’d shot his wife and set fire to the home. He also threatened to shoot anyone if they tried to stop the inferno.

January 3, 2010 (San Diego)—Scattered showers are forecast today across San Diego County, with snow forecast in mountain areas.

“We’re all hoping for snow,” said Teresa Manley at Julian Meadow View Inn in Julian. Snow is good for the tourism business in Julian, but despite forecasts of snow last night, the mountain town which has an elevation of 4,235 feet got only drizzle, Manley said.

January 1, 2011 (Lakeside) -- Trever Richardson took this awe-inspiring shot of sunshine on the horizon, viewed from a hiking trail at Louis Seltzer Park in Lakeside. 

Send your best photos to editor@eastcountymagazine.org!

By Miriam Raftery

New laws address problems ranging from Facebook frauds to truant teens

January 2, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – As of January 1st, 725 new laws take effect in California. How many may affect you, your family, or your business?

Here are highlights of some new measures on the books.

January 2, 2011—“New Year’s Day is a perfect day to celebrate Peace on Earth,” said El Cajon resident Norrie Robbins. 

Perhaps you were among the people passing by who honked car horns or displayed the two-finger peace symbol throughout the day, as Robbins shivered on a sunny but cold mid-winter afternoon to bring her message of peace to East County residents.

By Miriam Raftery

December 29, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) –Good news often gets overlooked by the media amid headlines blaring the latest catastrophic news. We’ve scoured the globe to bring you the most important news trends that give reason for optimism in the coming year.

January 1, 2011 (San Diego) – San Diego Police seek public help to locate Juana Caltzontzin Martinez, a mother of eight. She was last seen on Christmas Day, December 25th, in the area of 700 Raven Street in San Diego, according to SDPD.

The San Diego Examiner reported yesterday that Martinez left to go to an Indian casino and told her family she would return Sunday.  She normally takes the trolley to El Cajon, then transfers to a bus bus to reach one of three casinos in East County (Barona, Sycuan, and Viejas).  The family is not sure which casino she intended to visit this time.   According to the Examiner, a few days ago a man came to the family home and said he found the  missing woman's wallet on a sidewalk in El Cajon. Her ID was in it, but the money was gone.

Update 6:45 p.m. - The fire destroyed one home and damaged a neighboring residence before fire officials were able to douse the blaze.  Authorities have not yet disclosed the fates of the homeowner and his wife, however the investigation has been turned over to the Homicide Unit.  Neighbors have told other media that the homeowner was despondent because he and his wife had lost their jobs, faced foreclosure, and because the wife had cancer.

An open letter to Mayor Jerry Sanders opposing plan to fluoridate San Diego’s water

By Jeanie Ryan
 

January 1, 2010 (San Diego) --The problem with water fluoridation is that it negatively affects those we try to protect. The American Dental Association advises no fluoride for children under 6 months and then very little to one year of age-- less than that with is supplied in fluoridated water.
 

We know that fluoride crosses the blood brain barrier and that one in six children have a learning disability. Studies have shown that children in high fluoride areas have lower intelligence. (See a Chinese study linking mental retardation and low IQs to fluoride in water.) 

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR MARKETING SUCCESS

By Rama Beerfas

January 1, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – We’ve identified the three components of a successful trade show marketing plan:

January 1, 2011 (Washington D.C.) - The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission has announced recalls on several products that have caused injury to consumers, including heaters sold at Wal-Mart, portable butane stoves, children's hooded jackets, Fagor refrigerators, and pacing loudspeakers. Below are details. 

January 1, 2010 (La Mesa) --Kids and Seniors Together (KAST) is looking for a few good volunteers! Jointly sponsored by the City of La Mesa and La Mesa Spring Valley School District, KAST is an intergenerational after-school program that matches mature adults with second through-fourth-grade students. It is designed to provide mature adults an opportunity to share their talents, skills and special interest with students who benefit from one-on-one mentoring.

January 1, 2011 (La Mesa) Updated 8 p.m.– Dana Lohner, 48, of La Mesa has been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving after she struck and killed Kelly McPherson, 53, a pedestrian from Mission Valley.  McPherson died at the scene.  

Lohner, who was driving a Ford Mustang was booked into the Las Colinas Jail.

Filthy conditions lead Animal Control to take custody of animals
 

December 31, 2010 (Santee) – Firefighters responded to a house fire this morning in the 9600 block of Halberns Blvd., where they discovered at least a dozen cats living in filthy conditions inside. According to ECM news partner 10 News, Animal Control officers took the cats for veterinary evaluation, include two which were ill from the smoke.

December 31, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Diana Ellen Bialawski, who was last seen by her family on Christmas Day when she left a note saying she was heading to Julian, has been found and is safe. Detective Mo Parga with San Diego Police left a message at East County Magazine’s office advising our editor that Bialawski has been located and is unharmed. Parga could not be reached for details this evening.