By Meg Jensen

December 28, 2011 (El Cajon) – After heated testimony, El Cajon’s Council unanimously approved a ballot measure to grant the City Council “supreme authority over state law by having El Cajon become a charter city. Council members also approved a management team for a new planned business improvement district (PBID)in its December 13 meeting.  

December 29, 2011 (El Cajon) -- Carey Hart, team owner of Hart and Huntington Racing, unveiled the new Supercross team riders and sponsors for the 2012 season during a press conference, Thursday, December 1 in San Diego at Sycuan Casino. The Dodge Motorsports/Sycuan Casino/Hart and Huntington/Bel-Ray Racing Team now include a brand new sponsorship with Sycuan Casino for the upcoming season and beyond, as well as, a continuing partnership with Dodge and Bel-Ray. Sycuan Casino is located at 5469 Casino Way, El Cajon, CA 92019, (619) 445-6002.

December 28, 2011 (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 reflecting 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:  

• GOP candidates heading to Iowa for final sprint before caucuses (The Hill)
• Iowa caucus: Republicans zig-zag state in pre-vote push (BBC)
• Obama’s approval numbers climb into positive territory (The Hill)
• Gingrich questions Ron Paul on racist newsletters (Reuters)
• Former staffer: Ron Paul `wishes the Israeli state did not exist’ (RawStory)
• Romney falsely claims Obama ‘has not created any new jobs’ (Think Progress)
• Looking up: The economy makes headway (London Economist)
• New powerful painkiller has drug abuse experts worried (Fox News)
• SEC ups its game to identify rogue firms (Wall Street Journal)

• Arab League mission arrives amid violence in Syria (CNN)
• Russians make historic demand for an election rerun  (National Public Radio)
• Afghanistan sets ground rules for Taliban (Reuters)
• Czechs, world leaders remember irreplaceable Vaclav Havel at funeral (Christian Science Monitor) 

 
December 28, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media.  This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include: 

• California could lose 1,500 inmate firefighters (Sacramento Bee)
• Rural schools hit hard by transportation grant cuts (Sacramento Bee)

• El Cajon SWAT standoff ends with arrest (10 News)
• 11% of city speeding tickets written in one spot (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Sweetwater committee seeks contractor support (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• If they make me go back, I will be lost  (espn.go.com) 

 
December 25, 2011 (Alpine) – TC Construction is offering a $500 reward for return of items stolen from a job site pump station at Victoria Drive and Victoria Park Terrace in Alpine, or for information leading to conviction of the person(s) who stole the equipment.  The theft occurred the morning of Wednesday  December 21.

Items taken include: 

• 1 ½” submersible pump
• 100ft extension cord
• 3 jackhammers: 90 lb., 60 lb. & 40 lb.
• 80 lbs. of aluminum

Local business leaders praise decision to expand renewable energy

Opponents hope Supervisors, court will protect scenic, cultural and wildlife resources

By Miriam Raftery

December 26, 2011 (McCain Valley) – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar signed approval December 20 forTule Wind Project on federal lands in McCain Valley in East County. The federal lands portion approved by the Department of the Interior constitute the bulk of the project, capable of generating up to 186 megawatts (MW) of the project’s total 200 MW capacity. 

The project will need additional approvals from the County of San Diego, California Public Utilities Commission, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and California State Lands Commission.  The County will hold hearings on a major use permit in the first quarter of 2012.  Planning Commissioners and ultimately, the Board of Supervisors are expected to vote on the issue.

 Region’s community colleges eyed as potential future sites

By Buck Shott

Past presidential fibs have led to impeachment and resignation. Shouldn’t honesty be a key qualification for any presidential candidate?

December 28, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Voters, and the candidates they support, often have drastically different views on the various issues.  But honesty and integrity are two traits we should all agree upon as minimal “qualifications” for anyone seeking the presidency.

Granted, in the heat of a campaign any candidate may have a slip of the lip, forgetting a statistic or misstating an name. But when presidential contenders knowingly tell brazen lies, air campaign ads with outright falsehoods, and then shamelessly defend such fibbing, we should all think twice about the character of those seeking our nation’s highest office.

 
December 28, 2011 (Kensington) Chef/Owner Ken Irvine of the Bleu Boheme invites the public to celebrate the "Reveillon" a New Years Eve celebration for a three -course festive menu with four choices of each course at $59.95 per person this Saturday, December 31. Bleu Boheme is located at 4090 Adams Avenue, San Diego CA 92116, in the Kensington area (between Terrace Drive and Kensington Drive).

December 27, 2011 (Bonita) - A dune buggy accident has claimed the life of David Sylvester Metje, a 52-year-old married man from Bonita.  Metje was the driver and sole occupant of an off-road vehicle when he lost control and was ejected. The accident ccurred in the 4700 block of Butternut Hollow Lane in Bonita.

December 27, 2011 (Otay) – San Diego Police seek help to locate Josephina Yolanda Lopez, 58.  “The San Diego Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue Unit has been called out to look for Lopez,” said Lt. Andra Brown.

 By Charlotte Reed

• East County Realtors rally to aid less fortunate at Christmas time
• Two new scams reported in East County

 Travels in time to Bucuresti, Romania

December 27, 2011 (Valley Center) – Thieves ransacked a Valley Center home last Thursday, making off with over $10,000 worth of belongings. The family’s cherished miniature Yorkshire Terrier, “Cookie”, is also missing. 

“She’s part of our family,” owner Joanne Hansen told ECM news partner 10 News. The dog weighs just one pound, eight ounces.