By Miriam Raftery
May 15, 2012 (Santa Ysabel) -- The Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel is accusing San Diego County officials of acting illegally in attempting seizure of the tribe’s governmental funds.

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By Miriam Raftery

May 9, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) –  A 49-year-old man suffered a head injury in a tumble down a trail leading to Three Sisters Falls on April 29.   The injury occurred at a steep section of trail where hikers must descend by rope, ECM has learned.

“The Forest Service considers this area unimproved wilderness,” said Lt. Todd Richardson with the Sheriff’s  office, which performed a hoist rescue via helicopter. 

Unlike nearby Cedar Creek Falls, where trails are maintained, the U.S. Forest Service declines to maintain trails in unimproved wilderness  areas such as Three Sisters Trails that are not officially designated as hiking trails.

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By Miriam Raftery; Bill Crotty also contributed to this report

“There is absolutely nothing wrong with that theater. It could be cleaned up and opened tomorrow.” – Paul Russell, former manager of the theater and founder of Christian Youth Theater

March 15, 2012 (El Cajon ) – Leaders of East County arts groups reacted with shock and condemnation to news that the El Cajon Council, by a 4-0 vote, agreed to enter into an exclusive negotiation with developer E. Neal Arthur for plans to tear down the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC) and build a Marriott hotel in its place.

Under Arthur’s plan, the hotel would have a “portable stage to accommodate limited performing arts.” 

But arts experts say that’s woefully inadequate –and leveled sharp criticism at the council. Some also contend that the Council failed to provide adequate notice the community before taking action.

February 22, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) -- ECM columnist Cate Sacks, owner of the local shelter rescue and dog training company, Shelter Dogs to Dream Dogs, is no stranger to odd animal antics. But bad behavior hit close to home when Scooter, her seven-pound pet Maltese, was mauled by a stranger dog while out in public with the family.

The attack left a two-inch hole in Scooter's chest cavity and lungs. He also almost lost his eye and more.

February 9, 2012 (Oceanside) – A major brush fire, now 25 acres, is burning on Camp Pendleton at Las Flores Road and Range 21, Incident Page Network reported at 10:21 p.m. Fire officials have requested strike teams immediately with mutual aid from Escondido and Vista Fire Departments.

By Miriam Raftery and Mia Myklebust

January 26, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) - President Barack Obama laid out some ambitious new legislative plans in Tuesday night’s State of the Union speech. Here’s a bipartisan sampling of reactions from local business and community leaders, as well as voters.

Scott Alevy, president and chief executive officer of the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce, voiced support for some of the president's economic proposals, while voicing skepticism over other points in the speech. “Anything that brings jobs to Americans, be it jobs coming back from another company or creating jobs, is good,” said Alevy. “As a veteran myself, I love the idea of employing the veterans coming back with a Jobs Corps.”

 
January 25, 2012 (San Diego's East County)--The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) seeks nominations for its 2012 Healthcare Hero Awards, GHD’s annual awards program that honors East County residents whose volunteer efforts help advance delivery of quality healthcare in the East County region.

January 21, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued an urgent high wind warning for San Diego County mountains and deserts. The warning is in effect from now through 10 p.m. tonight as a strong storm moves through the region.

December 12, 2011 (San Diego)--The Department of Environmental Health has issued a General Advisory for the coastal waters of San Diego County due to recent rainfall. Swimmers, surfers, and other ocean users are warned that the levels of bacteria can rise significantly in ocean and bay waters, especially near storm drains, creeks, rivers, and lagoon outlets that discharge urban runoff.

December 8, 2011 (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:

STATE

•  Jerry Brown has plans to hike sales, income tax (Sacramento Bee)
• California fiscal conservatives file spending cap proposal (Sacramento Bee)

LOCAL

• Sunrise Powerlink water use put in perspective (San Diego Union-Tribune)
•  County improves healthcare for the very poor, but stops there (Voice of San Diego)
•  Backcountry warrior keeps up the fight (San Diego Union-Tribune)
•  Hunter casts protest vote against immigration reform (CityBeat)
•  Water district directors meet, talk in secret (Voice of San Diego)
•  Release of rare golden eagle a success at Safari Park (North County Times)
•  Our Greater San Diego Vision launches interactive website (KPBS)
•  La Mesa is in “great financial position” new auditors tell City Hall (La Mesa Patch)
•  Reports reveal trends in drug use and gang involvement (SANDAG)
•  Mistrial of Stanley Lloyd Jr. case; new trial may be held (Santee Patch)
•  Barona murder “a puzzle”; casino and tribal security could have provided more pieces, prosecutor says (Ramona Patch)
•   So what can schools cut? (Voice of San Diego)
•    SDG&E defends solar rate hike to County Supervisors (San Diego Reader)
•    Escondido: Tighten the rules (The Reader editorial by Don Bauder)

Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.

November 26, 2011 (San Diego) – Startled shoppers in two San Diego Walmart stores received a message delivered by 75 Occupy San Diego protesters forming a human microphone. The protesters urged Walmart shoppers to support locally-owned small businesses instead of corporate-owned mass merchandizers.

View a video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgafr1uO_EY&feature=share