January 22, 2012 (La Mesa)—Do you have the “write stuff to be a novelist or nonfiction writer?” Want to learn about the literary world or meet local authors? From romance writing to knights and chivalry, from political figures to an e-book publishing expert, you’ll find it all at the first annual La Mesa Readers and Writers Festival.

By Jo Marie Diamond, President and CEO
East County Economic Development Council (www.eastcountyedc.org)

January 24, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--Where’s East County in the scenarios presented by the Greater San Diego Vision? Make your voice heard soon.

You may have seen the ads, heard the radio spots and received emails urging you to engage in the public choosing process for the Greater San Diego Vision initiative. You may have even visited the Public Choosing site and taken a tour of the scenarios for Land Use, Economic Development, Education, and Culture and Amenities.

What you haven’t seen or heard is any reference to the role of East County in these scenarios.

January 24, 2012 (Jamul) – The citizens of Jamul,  a small rural town in eastern San Diego Country, have launched of a community website at www.Jamul.com. The new site includes community news, emergency alerts, history, resources, events and more.

January 25, 2012 (San Carlos)—A teen driver with four passengers in a Dodge Charger struck a Dodge SUV carry a family with three young children last night on Badin Drive near Jackson Drive. The crash, which occurred around 8:30 p.m., injured eight people.

Update January 29, 2012:  The San Diego Medical Examiner's office has identified the victim as Derek anthony Millsap, who lived with his family in Escondido.

January 24, 2012 (Escondido) – A 22-year-old Escondido driver was killed tonight after racing another vehicle, causing a shutdown of multiple lanes on I-15 south late this afternoon.

Modernized Career Technical Education building provides state-of-the-art workspaces to students

January 26, 2012 (El Cajon)--Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) and El Cajon Valley High School officials dedicated a newly renovated metal works facility and special education suites with an honorary chain-cutting ceremony yesterday.

January 24, 2012 (San Diego) – A Sig Alert has been issued for Highway 94 west near Federal Blvd. due to a rollover accident. At least one victim is reportedly trapped, according to the CHP website. Two lanes are blocked and traffic is impacted in both directions.

 
January 23, 2012 (San Diego)--The San Diego 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 the 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. 

Is duck-hunting training for dogs a wise use of public land and water, or just plain daffy?

By Miriam Raftery

January 23, 2012 (Jamul) – Last week, ECM reported on controversy surrounding sporting groups’ plans to create the Honey Springs Sporting Dog Training Facility  in the Hollenbeck Canyon Wildlife Area, a state-owned preserve.  Neighbors were shocked to learn that dog training ponds would be filled with 2.4 million gallons of groundwater a year.  So was the local planning group and the area’s rural fire department, which relies on the same water supply to fight fires.

Now state and county officials have both confirmed that groundwater will be the key factor in determining whether or not the project moves forward.

January 23, 2012 (Mount Laguna)--The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for the Mount Laguna Recreation Area water system located on Sunrise Highway, Mt. Laguna, CA 91948 effective immediately.

The drinking water system has tested present for total coliform bacteria and absent for E.coli.

By Brian Lafferty

January 23, 2012 (San Diego) – The last few years have been rough on a lot of people. People have lost their jobs, they don’t know how to support themselves and their families, and I’m sure there are those who, like George Bailey, wish they had never been born.

January 22, 2012 (Washington D.C.) -- Despite pressure from the powerful U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops lobby, the White House announced today that the President would not call for an expansion of the religious exemption in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services'(HHS) proposed rule regarding contraceptive coverage without cost-sharing by female employees.