Updated July 11, 2010 with biographical information and photo provided by Sarah Waldron, the victim's brother.

 
April 1, 2010 (Lakeside) – El Cajon resident Chris Ethan Allen Krum, 34, father of eight children, died from injuries sustained when he lost control of the 1994 Toyota Camry he was driving on Barona Road in Lakeside last night. The vehicle struck a tree and Krum was partially ejected from the vehicle. Despite aggressive resuscitative efforts, he died at the scene.

Born September 8, 1975 in Casa Grande, Arizona to Kenneth Arhold Krum and Joan Loreta Allen, Krum's life was marred by tragedy when he was just ten months old.  "My mother's and stepfather's mobile home caught fire in the middle of the night," rcalled Krum's sister, Sarah Waldron, "killing his older sister, Hidey, 3, and brother Kenny, 2, leaving my mother and brother badly burned."

By Miriam Raftery

February 28, 2010 (Lakeside) – What could be sweeter than plump, ripe, just-picked strawberries?

Victoria’s Gardens offers guests the opportunity to pick their own berries on a working farm—and also enjoy family fun activities that include a petting zoo, giant slides, train rides, pony rides, hay rides, fun jump and more.

February 21, 2010 (Lakeside) -- Multiple units from the Lakeside Fire District responded to a single vehicle rollover on rain-slickened Highway 67 in northern Lakeside this afternoon. Several passers-by including off-duty fire and police personnel performed CPR on the seriously injured driver until Lakeside Fire units arrived, Captain Scott Culkin reports.

February 17, 2010 (Lakeside) – Amy Beringhaus, 35, of Lakeside was struck by a car and killed yesterday morning on Los Coches Road in El Cajon while jogging with her husband, Shaun, and their dog.  According to authorities, she stepped off the sidewalk into an unmarked crossing area in the northbound land in front of an oncoming car.

February 6, 2010 (Lakeside) 9:25 a.m. -- Center lanes remain blocked on I-8 westbound at Lake Jennings Road in Lakeside due to a vehicle accident.  Emergency workers have now freed all people trapped in a vehicle and transported three patients to a hospital, according to Heartland Fire dispatch.

Incident Page Network reports that one of those trapped was a baby.  

By Miriam Raftery

 “How can you sit there and say it’s safe to be there when that canyon has burned every year—and you’re going to put those towers up, leave us with no power, and we only have one way in and one way out?” -- Myles Thurman, Lakeside

February 3, 2010 (Lakeside) – San Diego Gas & Electric officials received a far-from-warm welcome from Lakeside residents at a community forum last night hosted by the utility to discuss impacts of Sunrise Powerlink, the proposed high-voltage power line that SDG&E wants to run through Lakeside's El Monte Valley.

SDG&E plans to hold a follow-up meeting within 30 days.

FIRE BOARD AXES ITS CHIEF

 By Dennis Richardson

January 16, 2010 (Lakeside) -- The Lakeside Fire Board fired our Chief for doing his job far above the expectations. The rushed lynching of Chief Mark Baker was not announced or publicized to the public by the Fire Board.

This firing was done with the hearing room filled with his supporters who all voiced their heart-filled opinions to keep him; standing room only. The board went against the public outcry to keep Chief Baker.

The Magic Horse Therapeutic Riding Center hosts an art fair and live auction on Sunday, December 13th from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. at the Lakeside VFW Hall, 12650 Lindo Lane, Lakeside 92040. Admission and meal costs $25, or reserve a table for six including wine for $150. The event includes a live auction, opportunity drawing, creative activities for children, and T-shirt. Auction and drawin include items donated by local businesses and art by local artists, and artwork created by the horses!

November 16, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – A series of water main breaks in East County over the weekend have led some area residents to ask what’s caused so many infrastructure failures.

On Friday, November 13th, a water main break at the corner of La Mesa Blvd. and 4th Street sent large amounts of water flowing down La Mesa Blvd. and Allison Ave., causing damage to at least two businesses including the new Bella Mesa Art Gallery. Heartland Fire dispatched a response at 11:29 a.m. Fire crews closed roads and evacuated some businesses and restaurants. But damage could have been worse. 

Story By: Captain Mark Grow

November 4, 2009 (Lakeside) --The Lakeside Fire Protection District received a call of a multi-patient vehicle accident at the intersection of State Highway 67 and Gold Bar Way. This accident was a high velocity head-on collision between two SUV- type vehicles. One vehicle was occupied by a mother, small child, and an infant.

By Sandra Millers Younger

Editor’s note: We’re so inspired by this reader’s “unrattled” attitude over a common backcountry fear that we'd like to make “Tales from East County Readers” a regular feature. Do you have a memorable East County experience to share? If so, please send your essay to editor@eastcountymagazine.org.

By Miriam Raftery April 1, 2009 (San Diego's East County)--Aloha! Viejas teams up with El Cajon to host a brand new festival on Saturday, April 4. The new "It's 5'clock Somewhere Party" includes transformation of a downtown warehouse into an inland "beach" paradise complete with tiki bar, Hawaiian food and music by Shipwrecked, a Jimmy Buffet-style band. Also this weekend, community members are invited to turn out for a Community Mural Project and "River Blitz," both hosted by the San Diego River Park Foundation. Need a laugh?

San Diego Gas & Electric will be at the Lakeside Community Planning Group (LCGP) Mtg on February 18 at 7 PM at the Lakeside Community Center at 9841 Vine Street, Lakeside, CA to discuss the Sunrise Powerlink high-voltage power lines proposed for the El Monte Valley.

A map and view of the proposed powerline path, which would include three sides of the valley, is at: http://www.flickr.com/gp/34534939@N07/oku65G.