By Miriam Raftery

August 9, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – The Cities of El Cajon, La Mesa and Lemon Grove, whose jointly managed fire departments make up Heartland Fire & Rescue, have selected Rick Sitta as its new Fire Chief. Sitta replaces Chief Mike Scott, who retired on July 27, 2012.

August 2, 2012 (La Mesa)—For the second weekend in a row, La Mesa residents will experience a scheduled power outage, SDG&E has announced. The power will go out at 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 4 and is expected to last up to five hours. 

A previous planned outage occurred July 28.  Traffic signals will be affected at University and Lowell Street as well as University Ave. and Parks Avenue. 

July 25, 2012 (La Mesa) – Patients, some in walkers and wheelchairs, were dismayed to learn that a power outage has forced evacuation of the five-story medical office building #3 at 5565 Grossmont Center Drive.  

A spokesperson at the property management company told ECM that power may not be restored until after 5 p.m. tonight.

July 23, 2012 (La Mesa) – SDG&E announces a power outage is scheduled for Saturday, July 28 at 3:00 am lasting up to four hours and a second power outage on Saturday, August 4 at 2:30 am lasting up to five hours  in La Mesa. The outage will affect the following streets:  

A brush fire that began near High Street at Buena Vista Avenue in La Mesa tonight briefly threatened homes and sent smoke billowing up that was visible on SR-94.  The fire was quickly doused by Heartland Fire, however High Street is closed for mop-up. 

June 23, 2012 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa Police and El Cajon Police with assistance from San Diego Sheriff’s ASTREA helicopter are currently involved in a police activity in the Fletcher Parkway/Dallas vicinity.. The public is advised to avoid the area.  Officers are looking for a stolen vehicle, silver Nissan Pickup Plate 8V91560

If you see this vehicle do not approach, contact 911.

June 21, 2012 (La Mesa)—Police seek public help to locate two men who robbed the Sam’s Market at 9:40 p.m. last night. 

The suspects entered the store at 7587 University Avenue in La Mesa and one suspect displayed a brown handgun, demanding cash from the clerk. After the clerk complied, the suspects left the store on foot.  They were last seen running westbound on Sturgess Avenue from Parks Avenue.

This year’s concerts through the decades will honor the centennial

June 9, 2012 (La Mesa) – The Boys & Girls Clubs of East County Foundation presents the 2012 “Sundays at Six” Summer concerts beginning June 10 at Harry Griffen Park, 9550 Milden Street, La Mesa at 6:00 p.m.  The series of free concerts will continue through June, July and August.

• Bill protects businesses from disability act suits (Sacramento Bee)
• Counties miss deadline to send ballots to overseas, military voters (California Watch)
• More water to be shipped to California; good news for avocado growers (North County Times)

• Fire Chief saves colleague’s life (NBC)
• AT&T opposes SDG&E wildfire recovery request (North County Times)
• Civic leader  Jim Wieboldt drops out of race for La Mesa City Council (La Mesa Patch)
• Grossmont and Alvarado hospitals get B and C grades for safety (La Mesa Patch)
• Bullets fired in field hit close to residents, Hanson Elementary (Ramona Patch)
• Man Who Tried To Kill Wife Sentenced To Life In Prison (10 News)

May 19, 2012 (La Mesa) –La Mesa Police and the San Diego County Sheriff’s helicopter are searching El Cajon Blvd. and Williamsburg and vicinity for a vandalism suspect armed with a knife.  The suspect is a white, unshaven male with brown hair, wearing a blue or gray T-shirt and shorts.

May 6, 2012 (La Mesa)—A transient who destroyed a room at the Motel 6 barricaded himself in a room late last night triggered a response from the La Mesa Police Department’s Special Response Team (SRT) and temporary evacuation of the motel. 

• Ramona wines beat French varieties in competition (UT San Diego)
• La Mesa Council deadlocked on PBID approval, will make decision in July (La Mesa Patch)   
• $1 billion hospital opens (Valley Roadrunner)
• DEA “accidentally” left forgotten suspect in holding cell for 5 days (UT San Diego)
• 6 La Mesa officers exonerated in fatal shooting of Andrew Yacko (La Mesa Patch)
• Lloyd Jr pleads guilty to manslaughter in Santee teen Carioscias’ death (Santee Patch)
• Lemon Grove School District cuts 30 jobs (UT San Diego)

• Voice of San Diego series:  Who is….

Bob Filner
Nathan Fletcher
Bonnie Dumanis
Carl DeMaio

• Other mayoral coverage:
• Filner releases pension plan (UT San Diego)
• Fletcher pledges to make cycling, transit a priority (Reader) 
• Fletcher-GOP feud still going strong: party sues candidate over $5,000 fundraiser (UT San Diego) 
• The Fletcher Flim-Flam (OB Rag) 
• The unfortunate trajectory of Carl DeMaio (Citybeat)
  

STATE

• San Diego takes water fight public (New York Times)
• UCAN reaches settlement to allow group to go on (UT San Diego)
• California rakes in healthcare grants (Saramento Bee)
• Environmentalists feeling burned by rush to build big solar projects (Los Angeles Times)
• Discovery of Indian artifacts complicates Genesis Solar project (Los Angeles Times)
• Calif. Public Utilities Commission: PG&E smart meter “opt out” fees suspended
• Diablo Canyon reactor gets some unwelcome guests