June 16, 2011 (La Mesa) – Kimberly Dawn Roehr of La Mesa has been arrested on four counts of burglary and one count of receiving stolen property, thanks to a tip from a local citizen who recognized her from the “San Diego’s Most Wanted-The FBI Files” television program.

The suspect had been recorded on video stealing hundreds of dollars of electronic merchandise at the Target store in Grossmont Center in January and February, according to the FBI.

June 11, 2011 (La Mesa) -- The City of La Mesa, in partnership with the La Mesa Park and Recreation Foundation, San Diego County La Mesa Branch Library, Readers Inc., and Friends of the La Mesa Library, will co-host Reading in the Park on Sat., June 18 from 10:00 a.m. to Noon at CollierPark, 4401 Palm Avenue, La Mesa.  

Hear children’s book authors give theatrical readings of their works and explain how their stories are created. Visit the craft table where kids can decorate a bookmark to take home. Everyone in the family can bring a gently used book to the event’s book exchange table and take home a fun new read. Guests can also sign up for La Mesa Library’s Summer Reading Program.

June 4, 2011 (La Mesa) -- This summer the City of La Mesa is offering fun, safe, and FREE outdoor family activities including the Chipotle “Sundays at Six” Summer Concert Series each Sunday in June and July at Harry Griffith Park. In addition, the city hosts a popular outdoor movie night July 29 at La Mesita Park plus a special "dive-in" showing at the La Mesa pool July 15.

New police station, fire station rehab, University Ave. revitalization, Alison Ave. upgrades, storm drain and wastewater collection projects named

May 29, 2011 (La Mesa) - The City of La Mesa has received eight awards for capital improvement projects.

Honors include four merit awards from American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), three project of the year awards from American Public Works Association (APWA), and one special recognition award from American Planning Association (APA).

May 25, 2011 (La Mesa)-- Firefighters from Heartland Fire & Rescue in La Mesa responded to a fire last night at 9:56 p.m. in the 5700 Block of Baltimore Drive. Upon arrival, the second floor condo was well involved in fire and the fire was extending to the third floor. 

May 23, 2011 (La Mesa) – A team of seventh graders from Day-McKellar Preparatory School in La Mesa will advance to the finals for the National History Day Competition in June 12-16 in Maryland. The team took first place at the California State National History Day Competition earlier this month with an award-winning performance on the 1980 U.S.-led Olympic boycott.

May 22, 2011 (La Mesa) -- Do you have a budding artist or a child that loves to act?  What about your sports enthusiast or do they love math and science?  La Mesa Community Services is offering these fourteen “memories-to-be-made” camps that will put a smile on any child’s face ages five years and up:  

*Art Smarts Art Camp, *Creative Theatre Camp, *Day Camp, *Engineering Camp, *Flag Football Camp, *Fencing Camp, *FRESHi Flix Filmmaking Camp, *Jump Rope Camp, *Mad Science Camp, *Math Zoom Camp, *Princess Camp, *Rock Star Camp, *Surf Camp, and *Tennis Camp.

Summer is just around the corner!  For more information, please visit www.cityoflamesa.com/classes or contact La Mesa Community Services at (619) 667-1300

May 21, 2011 (La Mesa)--On Tuesday, May 24, 2011, the City of La Mesa will host the Grand Opening of the Allison Avenue streetscape improvement project. The event will take place in front of and just east of the La Mesa Library (8074 Allison Avenue) at 4:30 pm.

Allison Avenue is located in the heart of La Mesa’s downtown and Civic Center providing access to shopping, the Trolley Station, bus stops, Civic Center, the Library and Post Office.

The award winning Allison Avenue project includes many new urban smart growth design concepts; including enhanced crosswalks with inlayed flashing pavement markers, decorative streetlights, walkability features, street trees,  landscaping, diagonal parking and improved bus shelters. 

On May 19, 2011, at about 1:15 PM, a man knocked a woman down and took her deposit bag near the Target Store in Grossmont Center. The suspect was described as a black male, 20 years old, muscular build wearing a white “do” rag, a white tee shirt and jeans. He was driven from the scene in a white Nissan X-Terra by a heavyset black female with long hair. 

The victim was a 49 year old female who sustained several abrasions as a result of the robbery. She was taken to Grossmont Hospital for evaluation. The loss was the deposit bag and its contents.  

May 5, 2011 (La Mesa) – Heidi Durfey, 24, has died after her sports utility vehicle (SUV) with her three young children inside rolled backward 60 feet and ran over her.  The tragedy occurerd on the driveway of her home in the 8700 block of Glenira Avene in La Mesa around 9:20 a.m. 

She became caught under the SUV as it rolled and was dragged beneath the vehicle. “It came to rest in the street with the front end of the vehicle on top of the victim’s head and chest,” said Sonny Saghera with Heartland Fire & Rescue. 

May 2, 2011 (La Mesa) – William S. Lerach has spent his career heading up prosecutions of some of Wall Street’s biggest corporate crooks. He's recovered billions of dollars for defrauded shareholders from big banks, corporations, accounting firms and insurance companies. After his most notable success—recovering $7.2 billion for defrauded shareholders of Enron—he appeared in the Oscar-nominated documentary, “Enron, the Smartest Guys in the Room.”

A frequent commentator on economic matters as well as securities and corporate law, Lerach now makes a chilling prediction: that America’s public and private pension funds are poised to fail.  The new financial crisis will threaten the financial security of retirees due to the actions of Wall Street, he warns.

April 29, 2011 (La Mesa) --La Mesa Police Officers received a report last night shortly after 8 p.m. of a robbery victim being treated at Grossmont Hospital. Officers responding to the hospital located a 13 year old male victim.  He told police he was walking home on Mills Street near Orchard Avenue when he was attacked from behind.

By Jeremy Los

“This issue has received band-aid approaches to fix it when it needs a tourniquet.” – La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid

“We look at them as a resource… they are the eyes and ears of the community… they certainly know when something is going on.” – El Cajon Mayor Mark Lewis, on the homeless in his town

 "I do not feel there needs to be a regional center for the homeless in East County." -- Lemon Grove Mayor Mary Sessom

"I am not in the homeless business." - Santee Mayor Randy Voepel

April 26, 2011 – Four East County mayors shared their reactions on a new study on the many homeless in our region. Their views differed dramatically on how to address the homeless problem.  In addition, three of the four mayors questioned the study findings and voiced doubts on the numbers of homeless people listed in their cities. 

According to the 2011 Point-In-Time Count by the Regional Task Force on the Homeless, East County is now home to 8.9% of San Diego County’s homeless population, with El Cajon staking claim to the highest number of homeless people. However, the majority of El Cajon's homeless are in shelters--while in other East County communities, the homeless are living on the streets, in cars, or camped along riverbeds.  

April 28, 2011 (La Mesa) – You’re invited to express yourself in public through the spoken word, poetry, song or dance at the Space Bar Internet Café at 7454 University Avenue in La Mesa tonight from 7:30-10:00 p.m.  The event, hosted by Jim Moreno, will feature author, poet and musician Lalo Velasco, recipient of a California Arts Council Grant. Refreshments are available.

"We've got a conga player from Cuba, and a percussionist from Ghana, and another from Zimbabwe that make the evening an interesting combination of music and spoken word," Moreno said.

April 18, 2011 (La Mesa)--La Mesa Police Department in conjunction with the San Diego County Probation Department conducted a Probation Stakeout Operation today.  This operation resulted in one arrest for a woman violating terms of her DUI (driving under the influence) probation.

The Probation Department identified 16 subjects, all on Court Ordered Probation and living in La Mesa. They are considered the “worst of the worst” of the DUI offenders. One of their probation conditions is “no alcohol” what so ever, at any time.