May 1, 2010 (La Mesa) -- Three East County youngsters are going to Akron, Ohio, this July to compete in the National All-American Soap Box Derby. They will be winners of their divisions in the 8th Annual Drew Ford-Kiwanis Club of La Mesa Soap Box Derby. Who will they be?

That won’t be known until race day, Saturday, May 22, on Junior High Drive adjacent to La Mesa Middle School.

April 20, 2010 (La Mesa) – Dean Calbreath, a business columnist/reporter for the San Diego Union-Tribune, was part of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team that exposed bribery by former Congressman Duke Cunningham. Calbreath will speak on Wednesday, May 5th at the La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club meeting.

Politics and religion mix in faith-based power pact

By Francine Phillips

April 1, 2010 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa’s long-time Mayor Art Madrid has signed a pact with the powers that be to remain the Mayor of La Mesa for eternity. Rumors that his political career is dead are unfounded. Madrid will still be mayor even after his earthly demise, St. Peter confirmed in an exclusive interview with East County Magazine.

March 28, 2010 – Sokin Roberts, 19, of La Mes has been arrested and charged with burglary and possession of stolen property. Roberts reportedly used a large rock to break a window of a vehicle at 8464 Echo Drive and steal property.

March 24, 2010 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police seeks the public’s help to reduce a growing number of car burglaries.

Over the past month, car burglaries have occurred throughout the City but the l pattern has been for a small area to be targeted and several cars burglarized from late evening to sunrise. Most frequently targeted areas are along Baltimore Drive north of Fletcher Parkway, Parkway Drive west of Baltimore Drive, and the residential areas around the intersection of Amaya Drive and Severin Drive. Apartment and condominium complexes, where residents do not have garage parking, have also been frequent targets.

March 10, 2010 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police has arrested Anthony Long, 19, of El Cajon and two juvenile males from El Cajon and Santee for attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. The assault occurred on March 6 at Northmont Park in LA Mesa.

The suspects were arrested after search warrants were obtained and searches conducted on three homes in East County. According to the police investigation, two groups of young men got into a phone argument over a girl following a party in El Cajon, then agreed to meet at Northmont Park for a fight.

February 26, 2010 (La Mesa) -- The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) is working with Sharp Grossmont Hospital officials to notify patients, visitors and employees who may have been exposed to a hospital worker diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB). The period of concern is Oct. 4, 2009 to Jan. 20, 2010, and limited to individuals who worked or visited one patient care floor of the hospital’s West Tower between 7:30 p.m. and 7:30 a.m.

City aims to attract, retain businesses in challenging economic times

February 20, 2010 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa… Seeking to encourage businesses to remain in La Mesa and attract new businesses to the community, the City of La Mesa has launched a redesigned economic development webpage at www.cityoflamesa.com/economicdevelopment aimed at providing up-to-date information including listings of space available, guides for property owners and start-up businesses.

February 14, 2010 (La Mesa)—A groundbreaking will be held Wednesday, February 17 at 11:30 a.m. for improvements including an elevator tower, stairs, and a pedestrian bridge connecting the Grossmont Transit Center trolley stop and residential community to Grossmont Shopping Center shops and nearby businesses.

February 7, 2010 (La Mesa) James Robinson, 29, of La Mesa died of acute heroin and alcohol intoxication, the San Diego County Medical Examiner has found. Robinson was found slumped over his infant child at Gas Depot, a gas station on in San Diego on January 4.

January 24, 2010 (La Mesa) – Two white men, one with a mustache, stole a purse and injured a woman who was walking from Walmart to her vehicle in the parking lot at Grossmont Center on Thursday, January 22nd.

A green older model Chevy or Ford pickup pulled up in front of the woman and a passenger got out, then tried to slash the victim’s purse strap with a knife. During a struggle, she sustained a deep cut on her hand.