Facebook page for suspect James DiMaggio has cryptic final messages

By Nadin Abbott

August 8, 2013 (Lakeside) The Amber Alert for Hannah Anderson, 16, and her brother, Ethan, 8, has now extended to Mexico. According to El Diario, a Mexican newspaper, “The FBI is working with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, and Mexican authorities since Monday.”http://diario.mx/Estados_Unidos/2013-08-08_1b800648/emiten-alerta-amber-en-san-diego-buscan-al-sospechoso-en-mexico

Other developments have led to the extension of the Amber Alert to Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Canada. 

August 8, 2013 (Alpine) – The construction of a new library for the community of Alpine is another step closer to reality.

The County Board of Supervisors gave the go-ahead to advertise for a design and build contract during a Board meeting Tuesday.

August 8, 2013 (Santee) – The East County Chamber of Commerce will host a business after hours dinner/mixer at Carlton Oaks Golf Resort in Santee on August 22 from 5 to 7 p.m.

The event is $10 for non-members and free to members who RSVP ahead.  Hors d’houevres and non-alcoholic beverages are included.  The event also includes a putting contest, tour of facilities, and chance to win prizes.

By Go Aztecs, SDSU

August 8, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego State University is set for Aztec Fan Fest, formerly known as Aztec Family Day, which is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 17 at Qualcomm Stadium.

The event features Tailgate Town, a Fan Fest scrimmage and a Meet the Team autograph session.

Gates open at 3:30 p.m. and admission is free. The event begins with Tailgate Town, which includes appearances by SDSU players, coaches and sponsors, as well as the SDSU Marching Aztecs and Cheer team.

By Doug Deane

August 8, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – As you know, I was the Chairperson for the Grossmont Union High School District’s 2011 Boundary Study, and I appeared as a witness before the Grand Jury's Education Committee on 11/14/12.  I am disappointed by many aspects of the GUHSD's July 25th response to the Grand Jury's report, and as the Boundary Committee Chair, I believe that I have a responsibility to clarify some misstatements and errors in the GUHSD Response to that report.

August 8, 2013 (San Diego's East County) --ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

WORLD

• Interpol issues global security alert after prison breaks (Reuters)
• U.S. to extend some embassy closures up to a week (BBC)
• Exclusive: Japan nuclear body says radioactive water at Fukushima an 'emergency' (Reuters)
• Cafes shut, sports fields empty as war returns to Iraq (Reuters)
• Arab Gulf countries plan tougher anti-Hezbollah sanctions than EU (Jerusalem Post)
• Snowden gets job offer from Russia's Facebook (Reuters)
•  Dozens dead, stranded after flash floods in Afghanistan, Pakistan (Reuters)
• Yemen drone strike and US evacuation: Signs of drone war intensification? (CSS Monitor)
• Sudan ejects U.N. refugee agency staff from North Darfur (Reuters)

U.S.

• Mom sues US government in Indian girl's adoption (U-T San Diego)
• Bradley Manning faces up to 128 years in prison  (AP)
• Whistleblower: Protection Act Doesn't Cover Enough People (NPR)
• What is XKeyscore, and can it 'eavesdrop on everyone, everywhere'? (+video) (CS Monitor)
• N.S.A. Said to Search Content of Messages to and From U.S. (NY Times)
  

August 8, 2013 (San Diego) – There have been many breakthroughs recently in the study of adult (non-embryonic) stem cells. But the national media has all but ignored them. Most news outlets still seem to prefer perpetuating the tired notion that all adult stem cell researchers are cons and all patients who enroll in adult stem cell clinical trials are fools. That's no longer the case.

Yes, there are still unethical players in this sector who take advantage of ailing, desperate patients willing to try anything. And yes, this is a relatively new field about which there is still much to learn. But a number of reputable companies that specialize in this research, including Medistem and Cytori Therapeutics, already have FDA-approved trials under way or in the pipeline for a variety of health conditions.

August 8, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – About two weeks ago, two East County residents, Courtney Case and Victoria Haynes, rescued a female stray Chihuahua-Dachshund mix in Bakersfield. Now she is seeking donations to fund surgery for the rescued dog, which is needed to save her from a degenerative disease.

“She did not have a collar, her nails were painfully overgrown, and she had acquired a limp on her back hind leg,” said Case, an assistant manager at Partnerships with Industry in Santee. “After returning to East County, she had already found a permanent home with a loving family; they fell in love with her sweet and loving personality instantly. Her new family got her all cleaned up and named her Koa, but unfortunately her limp persisted. Koa was taken to the vet to get X-rays and she was diagnosed with Legg-Calvé-Perthes syndrome. This involves spontaneous degeneration of the head on the femur bone. Unfortunately, it was determined that she needs immediate surgery or her condition would worsen and cause her even more tremendous pain and no use of her back right leg.”

August 7, 2013 (La Mesa) – The Sixth Annual heART of Mt. Helix will take place on August 17, from 5:30 – 10 p.m. at Mt. Helix Park.  The event is a fundraiser to benefit the Park and will feature restaurant tastings, live music, visual arts demonstrations, and silent and live auctions.

Musical guests include Jan Conner Trio, Lillian Palmer, David Maldonado and headliner – The Untouchables. The food & beverage tastings include Alchemy, Anthony’s Fish Grotto, Ballast Point, Grove Pastry Shop and many more.

August 7, 2013 (Alpine) – On August 24 there will be a Celebration of Life Concert from 3 – 9 p.m. at the VFW Post 9578, 844 Tavern Rd., Alpine.  The concert will honor our nation’s Military and their families and proceeds will benefit Alpine Cemetery.

The concert will include performances by Three Chord Justice, The Legends and special guest, Teagan Taylor.  Everyone is welcome to dance and enjoy food and beverages.  The suggested donation is $10 per person at the door.

"We are hoping. We're keeping the faith; our little girl is coming home." -- Sara Britt, grandmother

By Nadin Abbott

August 6, 2013 (Lakeside) A very emotional gathering of friends, classmates and residents of Hannah and Ethan Anderson met at El Capitan High School tonight in Lakeside  to hold a vigil for the missing children. Those present lit candles and at the end of the ceremony let balloons lose to signify hope.

The children were declared missing and a statewide Amber Alert was issued by the authorities for Hannah, 16, and her 8-year-old brother, Ethan, Monday. On Sunday night, the body of their mother, Christina Anderson, and an unidentified child’s body were found in a burned home in Boulevard. 

Authorities have stated that Christina Anderson was murdered. They have not identified the child’s body found. Police believe that one or both children have been abducted by James Lee DiMaggio, a friend of their mother.

By Sylvia Hampton

August 6, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) -- I did not watch every minute of the George Zimmerman trial, but I did see the closing arguments and enough testimony to get the basic evidence against him and the arguments from the defense.  I was convinced the jury would take the hint from the judge and find him guilty of manslaughter. Most talking heads have missed an important key to why the verdict came down as “not guilty” and that was the fact that the most powerful personality on the six-women jury turned out to be wrong, biased, and she pressured and got a unanimous vote. The hold-outs caved to her pressure because they were intimidated, I believe.

August 6, 2013 (El Cajon) – Advanced Training Associates, a career training college in El Cajon, has formed a unique relationship with the city’s growing Chaldean community.  Noticing an influx of Chaldean students at its El Cajon campus, the school’s staff contacted Chaldean community leaders to offer friendship and support. This new partnership bore fruit this summer as Advanced Training awarded a scholarship to a young member of the Chaldean community. 

“It’s such a treat for us to welcome these new Americans,” said Advanced Training Education Coordinator Steven Howard. “I’m enjoying the opportunity to watch them learn and grow.  These are some hard working people.  They seem determined to make the most of life in this country.”

August 6, 2013 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, located at 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host a free senior discussion group presentation on “Emergency Preparedness” from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 28.  The public is invited to attend, and an RSVP is not required. 

August 6, 2013 (San Diego) – WANT TO READ BOOK REVIEWS OF LOCAL AUTHORS? Go to:

http://sdwriteway.org/readers_lounge/book_reviews/1a_reviews_book.htm

FOR ALL SAN DIEGO COUNTY LIBRARY EVENTS go to:

http://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/news-events/index.shtml