East County News Service

January 1, 2017 (Lakeside) – A man found in a burned home this morning on Woodland Vista in Lakeside has died. Firefighters from the Lakeside Fire Department rescued and revived a Labrador retriever dog, using a special pet oxygen mask.

East County News Service

January 1, 2017 (San Diego) -- Around the world, people celebrated the end of a tumultuous 2016 and the arrival of a New Year. Here are some highlights worldwide, across the U.S., and here in San Diego County.

By  Laura Ball

January 1, 2017 (La Mesa/Mt. Helix) -- I have very active hummingbird feeders and have noticed a few birds with tumors on their beaks (see photo). I have been in contact with a specialist at the University of California-Davis Vet Med Center about this, and she had some suggestions on how to help them. The hummingbirds probably have avian pox, which is contagious - to birds only, not humans - and can spread through the feeders we all have in our yards.

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

December 31, 2016 (Alberquerque) - San Diego State women’s basketball was unable to get past a hot New Mexico team and fell to the Lobos in the Aztecs’ Mountain West opener, 85-42, Saturday evening at WisePies Arena.

Source: County of San Diego

December 30, 2016 (San Diego) -- The Department of Environmental Health has issued a General Advisory for the coastal waters of San Diego County due to recent rainfall. Swimmers, surfers, and other ocean users are warned that levels of bacteria can rise significantly in ocean and bay waters, especially near storm drains, creeks, rivers, and lagoon outlets that discharge urban runoff. Urban runoff may contain large amounts of bacteria from a variety of sources such as animal waste, soil, and decomposing vegetation. While many coastal storm drains within San Diego County are permanently posted with white metal warning signs, additional temporary warning signs are not posted for General Advisories. Activities such as swimming, surfing and diving should be avoided in all coastal waters for 72 hours following rain. This includes all coastal beaches and all of Mission Bay and San Diego Bay. Elevated bacteria levels can persist after a rainstorm depending upon the intensity of the storm, volume of runoff and ocean and current conditions. 

December 30, 2016 (San Diego's East County) -- Oak boring beetles and other insect pests have decimated vast swaths of oak forests across San Diego's East County.  Recently, we interviewed arborist Bret Hutchinson, an expert on oak tree infestations and owner of Green Tree Forest Service, on the latest efforts to preserve oaks in our region.

Drought leaves trees more vulnerable to infestation.  Learn how to prevent problems, spot infestations, and what to do if your oak trees are stricken by clicking the audio link to hear our interview, originally aired on KNSJ 89.1 FM radio. (sound files may take a few moments to load.)

East County News Service

Photo courtesy Bob Perry

December 29, 2016 (Mount Laguna) – The Laguna Mountain Volunteers (www.LMVA.net) are looking for more volunteers to man the visitor center and do other good works.  There are no minimum obligations, “just opportunities to seize,” says Bob Perry, who sent us these photos of a visit this week to the winter wonderland complete with  six inches of snow:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/rudyperry/albums/72157678384403265

He adds, “Louise and I drive up from El Cajon two Sundays a month to open the visitor center.  It's just the two of us having fun at 6,000 feet.  We've been doing this for six years.” 

East County News Service

December 29, 2016 (Washington D.C.) – The Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced recalls on Polaris Sportsman 570 all-terrain vehicles due to fire hazard.  In addition Joyride children’s three-wheeled scooters have been recalled because of wheels that can detach, causing injury.  Below are full details. 

Source: goztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

December 28, 2016 (San Diego) - San Diego State women’s basketball produced one of its best defensive efforts of the season against Biola, holding the Eagles to a season-low 48 points in a 63-48 non-conference win Wednesday evening.

East County News Service

December 28, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Their lives made a different to countless people across East County.  Though these noted community leaders passed on in 2016, their legacies live on. 

East County News Service

December 27, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – These are the people whose actions made headlines across our region this year—community leaders and ordinary citizens who worked tireless to help others, whose actions led to changes in our communities, or the promise of changes in the future.

By Miriam Raftery

December 28, 2016 (San Diego) - San Diego Republican Party Chairman Tony Krvaric has named a new acting executive director, Sage Naumann.  But there’s controversy surrounding the appointment due to photos of Naumann making Nazi jokes while wearing a German military uniform for Halloween seven years ago in 2009, when he was 18 years old. 

East County News Service

December 27, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes a New Year’s Eve Party, New Year’s day hikes in local state parks, a Joe Rathburn concert, and trivia nights at a winery!

Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including a family fun fest, vintage train rides, a classic movie night, a writers’ conference, and a stage production of “What the Butler Saw.”

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

East County News Service

December 27, 2016 (La Mesa) - Lamplighters Theatre in La Mesa will present “What the Butler Saw," a classic British farce opening January 20^th and running through Feb. 19^th. 

When a psychiatrist tries to seduce an aspiring secretary, his botched efforts lead to comic bedlam involving his insatiable wife, a randy bellhop, a befuddled police officer and Sir Winston Churchill. Psychiatry, religion, marriage, government, definitions of gender and even language are all targets of British playwright Orton's poison pen. His sly jokes and hilarious shenanigans will have you shaking with laughter from start to finish.

By Liz Alper

Photo:  redshirt junior Adekunle Ayinde is congratulated coming off the field after his fourth quarter interception.  Via @GopherFootball on Twitter

December 27, 2016 (San Diego) - University of Minnesota football players showed up to play in this year’s National Funding Holiday Bowl.  However, 10 of them did not.  Ten Golden Gopher football players were suspended for an alleged sexual assault that happened in September.  The team boycotted practice on December 15 and a petition that reach over 1,200 signatures was filed against Golden Gophers head coach Tracy Claeys, calling for his firing after how he handled the boycott and the situation with his players.

Alas, the Gophers showed up to play against the Cougars on Tuesday and San Diego had another bowl game on their hands.