Photo: La Mesa Townhalls in 2018

By Jonathan Goetz

April 16, 2022 (La Mesa) - Building on a unanimous September 10, 2019 decision by this City's Council in California to join a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) with Chula Vista, Encinitas, Imperial Beach and San Diego, cityoflamesa.us will livecast a forum on April 27 at 6 p.m. 

Representatives from La Mesa, San Diego Gas & Electric and San Diego Community Power will discuss their design to expand cheaper cleaner electricity.

There are two options to participate:

1. Zoom (https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87079769622)

2. La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center (8450 La Mesa Blvd.)

By Matthew Manosh

April 15, 2022 (San Diego) - On Friday April 8th, the People's Convoy passed through San Diego on its way to Los Angeles. With a motto of “Let freedom roll,” the truckers are on the road to protest proposed vaccination mandates and other COVID-19 related bills in California.

The convoy left Arizona in the morning and arrived at the Golden Acorn Casino on the Campo Indian reservation around 6 p.m., where they were greeted by local supporters of the movement. When the convey first arrived, it parked in the front of the casino but was later moved to the back lot behind the building

East County News Service

April 15, 2022 (El Cajon) -- An arrest has been made in a 2003 shooting that killed two people in the unincorporated area of El Cajon. Michael Romero, 45, has been arrested and charged with the murders of Brandon Vigil and Patrick John Greene.

East County News Service 

April 15, 2022 (Spring Valley) -- The Spring Valley Community Alliance is working to make Spring Valley greener, cleaner, healthier and safer. The Alliance is hosting a community forum on Tuesday, April 19 at 5:30 p.m. featuring two experts on community empowerment and revitalization who will share specific examples and resources that residents can use in Spring Valley and other communities. Folks are invited to attend and learn how to become agents of change in Spring Valley and surrounding communities.

East County News Service

April 14, 2022 (San Diego) -- A 4.7 earthquake has struck in Baja, Mexico at 9:33 this evening, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.  The site is 62 miles south of San Diego and about 40 miles south of Tijuana.

Veteran Public Works czar Michael Throne brings vast experience to the position

Source:  City of La Mesa

April 14, 2022 (La Mesa) - With a commitment to tackling aging infrastructure, the City of La Mesa has tapped Michael Throne to be the new Director of Public Works. Throne, who started on April 11, has more than three decades of experience in reimagining engineering in the public sector.

Source: House of Ukraine

April 14, 2022 (San Diego) – The House of Ukraine invites the public to join in a “Freedom for Ukraine” rally on Saturday, April 16 at 1 p.m. at 1600 North Harbor Drive in San Diego (corner of W. Ash St. and North Harbor Drive).  The Russian invasion of Ukraine has resulted in massive loss of civilians’ life and evidence of war crimes by Russia.

By Miriam Raftery

April 14, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – A suspect accused of carjacking an El Cajon Police vehicle containing SWAT gear and weapons last night led officers on a high-speed chase across East County before being apprehended in Chula Vista.

An off-duty ECPD officer was leaving a 7-Eleven store in Santee when "a man opened the passenger door of the unmarked pickup truck, got into the vehicle and began yelling incoherently at the driver. At some point, both parties got out of the truck and the carjacker was able to get behind the wheel and drive away," says Sergeant Michael Gonzalez with the Sheriff's department.

The vehicle had SWAT gear, an assault rifle and a pistol locked in a storage locker, according to 10 News.

East County News Service

April 13, 2022 (San Diego) – Recognizing the need for transparent and independent investigations of officer and deputy-involved shootings, members of the San Diego County Chief's and Sheriff's Association have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (which establishes a new countywide protocol for the investigation of officer and deputy-involved shootings.  

Source: San Diego County News Service

April 13, 2022 (San Diego) - San Diego County is one of seven California counties participating in CalScope, a study that will help public health professionals better understand how many people in California have antibodies against COVID-19.

By Miriam Raftery

April 13, 2022 (La Mesa) – The city of La Mesa’s decision to fire La Mesa Police Officer Matt Dages in 2020 was “supported by the weight of the evidence”, according to a tentative ruling issued by Superior Court Judge Katherine Bacal.  According to the Judge, the evidence showed that Dages provided “false and misleading” information in his report on his arrest of Amaurie Johnson.

East County News Service

Update April 14:  Nicole Pare has been found safe, according to SDPD, which did not release details.

April 13, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego Police seek help to locate Nicole Marie Paré, 32, a Pacific Beach woman who vanished without picking up a family member at the airport on Monday, April 11. Her white Audi A5 (CA license plate 7VAZ668) was seen Monday in La Mesa and Lemon Grove, and her purse was found in La Mesa.

She is considered at risk due to the circumstances; her family told police she has never gone missing before.

She has blond hair, brown eyes, is 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs about 130 pounds.

By Greg Dunne                                         

April 12th, 2022 (Alpine) -- What are the best veggies For Easter dinner? Well, that of course is a personal preference, but here are some of the more traditional vegetables for the Easter menu. Asparagus tops the list and a few more are green beans, yams, potatoes, carrots, and Brussel sprouts. Here are some great vegetable recipes for your Easter dinner, see below.

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

April 12, 2022 (San Diego) - All of the County of San Diego’s 33 community branch libraries are expanding their hours starting Monday, April 11.