Update 9 p.m.: The victim was a 67-year old Caucasian man from Valley Center, the San Diego Medical Examiner's office reports.  His name has not been released pending next of kin.

January 16, 2011 (Anza-Borrego) – A fatality accident involving a trailer and a motorcycle has shut down Highway 78 just east of Scissors Crossing in the Anza Borrego Desert State Park, California Highway Patrol reports. The accident was reported at 11:41 a.m. and the road closure occurred at 12:04 p.m.

January 16, 2011 (San Diego)--Cox Communications Senior Vice President and General Manager Bill Geppert has announced his plans to retire, culminating a 30-year career in the communications industry, to focus on serving the San Diego community.

“We are deeply grateful to Bill for his outstanding leadership heading up our operations in New Orleans, the United Kingdom and, finally, San Diego,” said Pat Esser, President and CEO of Cox Communications.

January 16, 2011 (San Diego)—A woman, 40, lost control of a 2007 Hummer H3 that she was driving at a high rate of speed on Mission Gorge Road at 3:25 this morning, according to San Diego Police Officer David Stafford. The vehicle plunged down an embankment and into the backyard of a house on Echo Dell Road, then struck a fence and a tree.

By Miriam Raftery

January 15, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Three local organizations and an East County land use issues expert have filed a lawsuit against five federal agencies. The suit alleges that the agencies approved SDG&E’s planned Sunrise Powerlink transition line in violation of environmental regulations—in some cases, making decisions based on the original route through the Anza Borrego Desert, instead of the revised southern route through numerous East County communities.

The suit makes other contentions, notably that key decision makers ignored fire danger and failed to consider the collective impact on public lands in East County, where several wind farms are planned as well as Powerlink in some wilderness areas.  In addition, plaintiffs claim that some decisions were made before completion of studies on endangered species and that once completed, those studies found the project could threaten endangered Peninsular bighorn sheep, golden eagles, and other species.

Nothing but the truth!
By Will Power

January 15, 2011 (San Diegoi)--In California, a program to keep criminals from learning home addresses of policemen has morphed into a bureaucratic boondoggle that allows California Public Service Workers to avoid freeway tolls, red-light tickets, and bridge tolls.

Tests Show Air Quality Unchanged, Soil Cleanup Completed

By Brian Lafferty

January 15, 2011 (San Diego) – Another Year is about how people move in and out of our lives, such as how my two sisters and their families from out of town visit once or twice a year. With each visit, I see they have made all sorts of progress in their lives. They have kids, the kids grow up, and each year everyone gets a little smarter and wiser.    

STASH OF GUNS SEIZED AT SUSPECT'S HOME

January 14, 2011 (La Mesa) – This morning, the El Cajon Police Department received a call from an unidentified man at his residence in El Cajon. He made a vague comment about a shooting at Helix High School in La Mesa, then hung up upon being questioned by the dispatcher. El Cajon Police and La Mesa Police gathered information about the suspect to assess what was believed to be a potential threat.

New ECCDC report highlights accomplishments, but results are apparent in a stroll down Main Street

By Miriam Raftery
 

County Office of Emergency Services accepting applications from those who suffered storm damage while awaiting aid from FEMA

January 14, 2011 (San Diego) –San Diego Councilmember Marti Emerald said her office has been in daily contact with the Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA), pushing the agency to extend federal assistance to San Diego property owners swamped by recent rains and flooding.

“It appears the city qualifies for federal aid because of the amount of damage to public and private properties, but San Diegans are still asking when repair dollars will be available,” Emerald said in a statement issued today.

January 14, 2011 (El Cajon) – Earl Evans, 19, of National City was arrested Wednesday night at 9:10 p.m. for a burglary at 699 West Washington Street in El Cajon. After breaking a window and entering the home, he was confronted by the homeowner and fled.

By Sharon Courmousis, Sacred Rocks Reserve

January 14, 2012 (Boulevard)--The natural rhythms of nature and our own physical systems help us understand about cycles. Last month we worked on completion. The completion of 2010 and shedding the old skin, the sadness of loss, the pain of outcomes not desired. It is now the New Year and time to look forward to the fresh and clean. It is time to bring in new information into our lives and re-generate plans for the coming twelve months.

January 14, 2011 (El Cajon)--El Cajon Wesleyan Church presents a free Southern gospel concert that is open to the public. Greater Vision - the most awarded trio in the history of gospel music, will be performing Saturday, January 15th at 6 p.m. (Doors open at 5 p.m.)