Police seek getaway vehicle, a silver Ford Explorer

June 9, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Two robbers held up a Wells Fargo Branch on Navajo Road near State Route 125 in the Lake Murray area at 9:45 this morning. “They burst in and ordered customers to the floor,” an employee at another Wells Fargo branch informed ECM, adding that the robbers wore ski masks. A San Diego Police bulletin indicates thieves wore dark pants and hooded sweatshirts.

 June 9, 2010 (El Cajon) -- Local author Ella deCastro Baron will read selections from her autobiographical book, Itchy Brown Girl Seeks Employment, with accompaniment by singer Malia Martinez and guitarist Graham Hadidian this Friday from 7-9 p.m. at Borders Bookstore in El Cajon.

June 9, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – In a an error reminiscent of the infamous “Dewey Defeats Truman” headline, the Valley News reported that Jeff Stone won the Republican primary for the 36th State Senate seat. That’s because the district spans both Riverside and San Diego Counties---and the chagrined publisher apparently only checked the Riverside results,  the conservative blog Flash Report revealed today.

In fact, Anderson leads by a hefty total of 6,810 votes with all precincts in both counties counted--though tens of thousands or more absentee and provisional ballots remain to be tallied.

Fire official warns against use of metal blades to cut brush

June 9, 2010 (Spring Valley) – Clearing brush with a metal-bladed weed whacker set off sparks which caused today’s four-acre blaze on Dictionary Hill in Spring Valley, said Leonard Villareal, spokesman for the San Miguel Fire District.

“Metal blades are not a good idea for cutting weeds,” he said, adding that plastic strips or blades are safer. Ironically, clearing brush, while important to create defensible space, can actually cause a fire if caution is not taken.  Villareal also warned against spilling flammable gasoline while refilling gas-powered weed cutters.

Sereni-Tea, By Dharlene Marie Fahl (Transformation Media Books, Bloomington, Indiana, 2009, 209 pages.)

Book Review by Dennis Moore

 

June 9, 2010 (San Diego) Author Dharlene Marie Fahl, a protégé of Mark Victor Hansen (Co-creator, #1 New York Times best selling series, Chicken Soup for the Soul), has an ambitious goal: to become Amazon’s next best-selling author. From what I have read of her book, Sereni-Tea, this East County resident is on her way. She has used tea as a means to examine our roles in life and the spirituality that we all possess. She redefines success from the inside out – all while sipping tea. An upcoming graduate of the East County Leadership program, Fahl will introduce her book at The World Tea Expo, June 11-13 in Las Vegas.

HUNTER ALSO WINS EASILY; WATCHDOG TO FACE CONGRESSSMAN IN NOVEMBER

 

June 9, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Raymond Lutz won a decisive victory in the 52nd Congressional district Democratic Primary, winning 70.63% of the vote. His opponent, community activist Connie Frankowiak of Anza-Borrego, received 29.3% with all precincts counted.
 

In November, Lutz will face off against incumbent Republican Congressman Duncan D. Hunter, who won a resounding primary victory over Tea Party activist Terri Linnell by a 90.5 to 9.5% margin.

June 9, 2010 (San Diego) – Francine Busby, who received 43% of the vote in her 2006 run against incumbent Congressman Brian Bilbray (R-San Diego) has won the Democratic primary by a nearly 66% to 34% margin over consumer attorney Tracy Emblem.

“I’m looking forward to working with Tracy and her campaign team to return responsible and representational government to our district,” Busby told East County Magazine. “We worked hard, and it’s good to be moving on from here.” 

A member of the Cardiff School Board, Busby has pledged to restore ethics to the district formerly represented by jailed Congressman Duke Cunningham, who was convicted of bribery. Busby has taken zero money from political action committees (PACs), raising $364,000 from individual donors as of the last reporting filing.

By Miriam Raftery
Richard Darvas also contributed to this report
 

June 9, 2010 (San Diego) – By a solid 56.8% margin, Sheriff Bill Gore won reelection to another four year term. Had he received less than 50%, a run-off race in the fall would have been triggered. Gore was appointed to fill the top lawman’s spot when Sheriff Bill Kolender retired.

Gore’s handling of prominent cases including the Chelsea King murder investigation contributed to his victory. In East County, his office’s efforts to obtain grants that boosted border security may also have raised his approval among voters.

By Miriam Raftery

Richard Darvas also contributed to this report.

une 9, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Santee Vice Mayor Brian Jones has a substantial 41.43% of the vote with nearly half of all precincts counted. Christine Rubin has 29.65% and Brian Jones 28.91%.

 Voters opted for experience; with seven years on the Council Jones has more time in elected office than his primary opponents. Rubin, a political communications specialist, held an appointed position in the Schwarzenegger administration. Wells, a one-term Councilmember in El Cajon, may be regretting his failure to submit a ballot statement.

June 8, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Voters gave Assemblyman Joel Anderson a victory in his quest for State Senate, despite a campaign finance scandal that has dogged his race. With 38% of precincts counted, Anderson has a hefty 45.33% of the vote, leading Riverside Supervisor Jeff Stone with 24.83%, veteran Kenneth Dickson with 20.16%, and Rev. Greg Stephens with 9.68%.

June 8, 2010 (Alpine) - A high-speed police pursuit that began in Santee has now reached Viejas Grade Road in Alpine. The suspect is known to be armed and dangerous.   We will post details as they become available.

Editor’s note: ECM was unable to issue a wildfire alert yesterday for this fire due to a computer server crash at the national service that we utilize for our alerts. We regret this omission, which was beyond our technical control.

June 8, 2010 (Poway) – A brush fire burned approximately 12 acres yesterday afternoon on a hill near Metate Lane and Community Road in Poway yesterday afternoon.

Recent discovery at proposed reservoir site “unparalleled” in San Diego County

“This site is sacred to our people, and it is culturally and historically significant for all residents of San Diego County and southern California.” – Viejas tribal chairman Bobby Barrett

“Every resident in Blossom Valley, Crest, Harbison Valley and Alpine is a stakeholder for fire safety and economic growth in their communities.” = Mike Uhrhammer, communications, director, Padre Dam

By Miriam Raftery
 

June 8, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – The Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians has been granted a restraining order in the Superior Court of California-San Diego County to halt the Padre Dam Municipal Water District from "further desecrating a recently-unearthed Kumeyaay burial and ceremonial ground," a statement issued by Viejas announced. Padre Dam Municipal Water District is constructing a new reservoir and pumping station at the site, which is on approximately two acres south of I-8 near Lake Jennings Park Road and Old Highway 80.

June 7, 2010 - Courtesy of PBS, here is live video of the oil leak in the Gulf, along with a counter keeping tabs of how many gallons are estimated to have flooded the Gulf Coast region, where tar balls have now come ashore in at least four states: