May 29, 2010 (Boulevard) – Sacred Rocks Reserve RV park and campground invites you to an annual Memorial Day celebration. Don’t feel like roughing in a tent or RV? Other lodging options include rental cottages or a Western-style bunkhouse.

“We have exciting new games like bocce ball and petanque, and as always, nature walks, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, and labyrinth for friends and family enjoyment,” said Sharon Courmousis, co-owner of the boulder-strewn rural retreat one hour east of San Diego. Other attractions include a stargazing plateau, ancient oak grove, badminton, horseshoes, and “wild croquet.”

Update:  The injured man, Anastasio Hernandez, died Saturday. The County Medical examiner's office listed high blood pressure, methamphetamine use, and the physical altercation with officers as contributing factors in his death.

May 29, 2010 (San Diego) – San Diego Police homicide detectives are investigating the serious injury of a 32-year-old Mexican border crosser. Following a struggle, a Border Patrol agent used a Taser to subdue the suspect, who quit breathing and is not expected to survive, according to SDPD.

Services Thursday for Medal of Honor recipient and former East County resident

May 29, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – John Finn, the oldest living Medal of Honor recipient honored for his heroism during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, died May 27 in a Chula Vista nursing home.

Finn manned a machine gun from an exposed position at the Naval Air Station at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii on December 7, 1941, firing at the attacking planes for more than two hours despite being hit 21 times by bomb and bullet fragments. The young Lieutenant left his post only when directly ordered to seek medical attention, then returned after treatment despite severe pain to supervise rearming of returning squadron planes.  For his courageous actions, he received the Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor during combat that a U.S. military member may earn.

May 29, 2010 (Alpine) – Grossmont Union High School District will host a forum on Alpine’s planned new high school on Tuesday, June 8 at 6 p.m. in the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Boulevard in Alpine. Residents from throughout the Grossmont Union High School are welcome to attend. While boundaries for the new school’s attendance are still being finalized, parents from Alpine and Blossom Valley are particularly encouraged to participate in the forum.

Speakers will include GUHSD superintendent Bob Collins, assistant superintendent mike Lewis, facility planner and project lead Dena Johnson, director of instruction Cindy Douglas, as well as the architectural team from IBI Group/Sprotte-Watson and the GUHSD design team.

May 28, 2010 (El Cajon) – El Cajon’s City Council voted Tuesday to approve using grant money to upgrade lighting at recreation centers, City Hall, a fire station, and along maor city streets. The stimulus funds is from the Obama administration’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which awarded El $881,100 for the upgrade of City equipment and facilities.

Nothing but the Truth!

By Will Power

May 28, 2010 (San Diego) -- The Deepwater Horizon oil spill was a tragedy, but the British Petroleum response could be Armageddon for the Gulf of Mexico. Oil is toxic enough, but the tons of chemical dispersants can be five times worse.

By Buck Shott

May 28, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – With just 10 days until the June 8 primary, hit pieces are out in droves--like killer bees swarming to finish off hapless victims. As usual, there’s a fair amount of truth-stretching going on. Greatest “hits” of the season include:

Update: Rick Powell won the Republican primary and will face off against Democratic Assemblyman Marty Block in November.

EDUCATION IS KEY ISSUE IN THE RACE

May 27, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Two military veterans square off in a Republican primary in the 78th Assembly District. Republican Emma Turner, a 27-year Navy veteran, is president of the La Mesa-Spring Valley School Board and says she’s running to fight for more funding forpublic schools, particularly K-12 education.

Col. Rick Powell, who also has a distinguished military career, thinks the answer to education is not more money for public schools, but instead providing vouchers and supporting charters that would let parents use public funds to send their children to private schools.

The winner in the GOP primary will run against Assemblyman Marty Block, an educator and former San Diego State University administrator who now chairs the Assembly Higher Education Committee. Block has championed education causes, particularly efforts to help college students and their families.

May 27, 2010 (Lakeside)--The Lakeside Relay for Life wil be held on Saturday June12th 9am thru Sunday June 13, 9am 2010 at the Lakeside Middle School on Woodside Ave in Lakeside. This event that is open to the public  to raise funds and awarness about cancer. Several teams will be camping out and walking around the track for 24 hours straight to demonstrate their support.

May 26, 2010 (El Cajon)—El Cajon Police have arrested Juan Jose Barba-Hinojosa, 31, and Joshua Gabriel Cordova Sander, 26, for attempted murder. The men are accused of shooting three victims, including a 17-year-old girl and two 18-year-old men last night in El Cajon. Police indicate the crimes may be gang-related.

Utility company spent $45 million to support measure that would make it harder for cities and counties to provide cheaper power alternatives to consumers

May 26, 2010 (San Diego) – Politics makes strange bedfellows—and in the case of Proposition 16, almost nobody is being swayed by Pacific Gas & Electric's efforts to woo voters. One of the largest coalitions in memory against a ballot proposition has been forged to oppose the utility giant's efforts, uniting business, labor, consumer, seniors, and enviornmental groups opposed to the measure.

PG&E has spent over $45 million on its “Yes on 16” campaign. If passed, the initiative on the June ballot would make it almost impossible for local cities or counties to start a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program to provide electricity at lower rates--or from cleaner sources--than a utility company.