By Miriam Raftery

April 22, 2014 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid held a press conference yesterday, flanked by his supporters,  to formally launch his reelection campaign.  “I pledge that the city will continue to be properly managed and that I will vigorously protect its character and heritage,” said Mayor Madrid.  He cited successes under his leadership during his 24-year tenure as Mayor and his 10 years previously on the City Council, as well as a decade serving on civic boards and commissions.

“In 1990 when I was elected Mayor, my commitment then was to help make La Mesa the best community in the region in which to live and raise a family,” said the Mayor, adding that his leadership, collaborative governance and management skills have helped fulfill that dream.  “I’ve led the transformation of la Mesa into a vibrant, proactive and inclusive community that continues to attract new families and businesses to our city.”

April 21, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) --There is a staggering estimated population of up to 1.4 billion House Finches across North America. If the birding scientific estimates are accurate, that would be about the same as the number of people in China today!  When you consider that the House Finch was originally only in the western United States and Mexico until 1940, its success in population growth is even more impressive.

April 19, 2014 (Spring Valley)--A man wanted in connection with a crime spree in East County is now in custody. Kevin Knight (1/12/71) was arrested around 8:30 a.m. today (4/09/2014) near a Wendy's at the intersection of Campo Road and Spring Street in Spring Valley.

April 21, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) --The deadline for paying your federal income taxes on April 15^th is now passed.

But do you know where your tax dollars are going?  You may be surprised to find out just what the federal government is prioritizing – and what it’s not.

By Miriam Raftery

April 21, 2014 (Washington D.C.) --The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, is on the verge of approving the first-ever drug treatment for a severe form of muscular dystrophy.  Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a deadly disease that typically  leaves its victims in wheelchairs by their teens and dead in their 20s, according to the U.S. Human Genome Institute.  This disease strikes one in every 3500 boys worldwide.

April 21, 2014 (La Mesa) - On Saturday, May 31, beginning at 9:00AM, downtown La Mesa Village will dress up in red, white and blue to celebrate “A Salute to Old Glory!” at the La Mesa Flag Day Parade.

By Nadin Abbott; photos Tom Abbott

April 20, 2014 (Lemon Grove)--Assembly Member Shirley Weber (79^th-D) held a coffee day with constituents at the Lemon Grove Library on April 19. Weber explained that the issues that face the district are as diverse as the area she represents, adding that the issues of Lemon Grove are ever present in her mind.

April 19, 2014 (Ramona) – The Medical Examiner has not yet released the identity of a 29-year-old active duty sailor and Ramona resident who died April 11 following a head-on collision in Julian.

By Miriam Raftery

April 19, 2014 (El Cajon ) – More than $45,000 was raised at this year’s Morning Glory Brunch, held on  April 12 at St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center in El Cajon to benefit the center’s innovative programs helping the developmentally disabled. 

A highlight of the occasion included the ever-popular frog race, which had more than 500 entries this year vying for prizes. St. Madeleine’s swim team helped the plastic frog “contestants” along, kicking and splashing at the edge of the pool, while a “frog princess” at the opposite end declared the official winners. 

View a video of the frog race: http://youtu.be/o6kFCc-V2Uk

Click "read more" and scroll down for more photos and details from this event.

April 19, 2014 (La Mesa) – A 71-year-old La Mesa man, Michael James Bliss, died at the scene of a three-car collision on I-8 west of 70^th Street that occurred last night at 10:42 p.m.

April 19, 2014 (San Diego's East County) --Listen to a tape of the fire whistleblower interview here, which originally aired on the East County Magazine Radio Show on KNSJ 89.1 FM on April 18, 2014: 

https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

Just how effective is the new County Fire Authority at fire protection?  While some areas have improved since the 2003 and 2007 wildfires,Craig Williams, an information technology specialist with Campo Fire Department shares shocking details on fire stations unmanned across our backcountry—and what could be done to keep rural residents safe.