November 13, 2012  --  (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL/REGIONAL

• Filner’s priorities (U-T San Diego)
• Judge rejects gag order in SDG&E noose case (U-T San Diego)
• La Mesa Police warn of mall robbers (U-T San Diego)
• Girl bitten 6 times after stepping n rattler nest (KUSI)
• Escondido scrambling in wake of Prop P (North County Times)
• Jerry Sanders named CEO of regional chamber of commerce (Lemon Grove Patch)
• Suspects ID’d in Lakeside rock throwing ((U-T San Diego)

STATE

• ACLU asks courts t block part of Prop 35 on human trafficking  (Sacramento Bee)
• Jerry plan plans to restrain Democratic desires at capital (Sacramento Bee)
• Moody’s says  Prop 30 passage a boost to school credit (Sacramento Bee)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

Story, photos and video by Billy Ortiz

View video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9Y0hc267sA

November 3, 2012 (Lakeside) -- On a cool, cloudy autumn morning on October 20 in East County a group of teenage Boy Scouts from troop 801 in Coronado arrived at the Lakeside River Park. They brought heavy timbers and other materials to build what they hope will become a nest for the Ospreys that frequent a pond at the River Park. 

Former Chief Runs Against One of the Board Members Who Fired Him

By Mark Gabrish Conlan

October 8, 2012 (Lakeside) – The Lakeside Fire Protection District contains 55 square miles of land, 65,000 people, and according to its website, http://www.lakesidefire.net, “is primarily suburban residential but also has several core commercial zones, some light industry, and many rural/agricultural properties.” It has a significant wildland/urban interface — firefighter-speak for places where homebuilders have butted developments up against forests and other wild areas. In the last decade, that has proven a recipe for brewing out-of-control fires that have threatened properties and claimed lives—particularly here in Lakeside, which has been devastated by several of the worst wildfires in county history.

October 3, 2012 (Lakeside)—Wildcat Canyon Road is blocked in both directions due to a rollover accident.  The driver of the vehicle, a pickup truck, is walking and does not appear seriously injured, a Barona firefighter at the scene told ECM’s marketing director, who has been stuck in traffic for over 20 minutes at the scene, where tow trucks are now arriving. 

Update 12: 52: confirmed 2 deputies & 1 suspect being transported to area trauma centers. 

September 25, 2012 (Lakeside) – Two deputies have been injured by an active shooter in Lakeside at Ashwood and Mapleview, IPN reported at 12:38 p.m. Cal Trans confirms police activity at Highway 67 and Mapleview.  Scanner traffic indicates officers calling for cover. 

One injury is reported as serious, the other minor. Medics are transporting to Sharp Hospital trauma unit. Avoid the area.

September 15, 2012 (Lakeside)—A power outage that occurred at 5:49 p.m. has left 2,605 customers without power in the Lakeside region.  SDG&E indicates a problem in the overhead electrical system is the suspected cause. 

Portions of the following communities are affected:   Blossom Valley, El Monte, Glenview, San Vicente, Foster, Moreno, Winter Gardens, Lakeside, Bostonia. Power restoration is expected by 7:49 p.m.

August 30, 2012 (Lakeside) -- Authorities have recovered the body of Milt Eisen, 41, who drowned August 26 in the El Capitan Reservoir. 

Eisen, manager of the El Cajon Kia dealership, reportedly jumped from a boat into El Capitan reservoir to cool off but was unable to make his way back to the boat. Divers searched the 197-foot-deep for multiple days in conjunction with several agencies.

Photos and Video by Billy Ortiz

July 12, 2012 (Lakeside) – A brush fire briefly threatened homes at I-8 and Los Coches Road near in Lakeside early this afternoon.  Thanks to a full wildland fire response, the blaze was extinguished in about 20 minutes. 

"As I traveled up Los Coches Road, I spotted flames and smoke near a housing track. I called 911 and they dispatched fire crews.  Within 5 minutes  fire engine crews were on the scene," said ECM photographer Billy Ortiz, who shot this dramatic video as firefighters battled the blaze and concerned residents looked on.

In honor of Harold Hilliker Farm Day at Lakeside Middle School, videographer Billy Ortiz created a video documentary tour of local agricultural sites

Story, photos and video by Billy Ortiz

June 30, 2012 (Lakeside)-- Lakeside Middle School held  its first annual Harold Hilliker Farm Day on May 30.  It  was a day full of information on agriculture, highlighting several Lakeside farms for the 6th and 7th graders. 

View a special video tour of local farms in Lakeside created for the Lakeside Historical Society by clicking  this link.

In addition, view a presentation at Lakeside Middle School by freelance videographer Billy Ortiz here.   

Update June 10, 2012 6 p.m. - The Horse fire has been stopped at 12 acres, Lakeside Fire Chief Andy Parr told ECM.  Fixed wing aircraft and helicopters were used to battle the blaze under a unified command with Cal-Fire. No homes were lost, Chief Parr confirmed.

May 11, 2012 (Lakeside) -- Lakeside’s River park Conservancy is presenting a free guided Mother’s Day hike on May 13 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.  River Park biologist, Monica Winters, will lead a five mile loop of the San Diego Riverbed in East County.

Winters will point out plants, birds and insects along the way.  All mothers will receive a beautiful native plant to take home.

 Update 2:05 p.m. - The suspect is identified as Kenny Lee Walker, 45. 

"Deputies have the place surrounded and under containment. We're still trying to convince him to come out," Detective Tom Poulin told ECM. However the suspect has made threats to harm himself and officers. He says he's going to shoot it out with deputies and then shoot himself," said Poulin, who added that the suspect was wanted for slashing his wife's tires and is believed to be armed with a handgun.  

Update 10:50 a.m.  -- Lindo Lake Elementary and El Capitan High schools are on lockdown as a precaution, ECM news partner 10 News now reports.

May 7, 2012 (Lakeside) 10:40 a.m. – A suspect who wanted on a domestic violence charge has barricaded himself into a residence on Lakeshore Drive in Lakeside.  The suspect is believed to be armed. 

“They’re going to call a SWAT team out,” Detective Tom Poulin with the Sheriff’s substation in Santee told EC, while en route to the situation.  The suspect has been wanted for “a couple of days,” he added.

By Billy Ortiz

March 9, 2012 (Lakeside) – Most every day I like to drive down El Monte Rd in Lakeside. It reminds me of how it used to be in the old days with wide open fields, some farming and the best part is all the wildlife in the area--golden eagles, hawks and falcons, wild turkeys, deer and every once in a while a mountain lion or a bobcat.