By Miriam Raftery

March 16, 2014 (El Cajon) – Abel Angel Martinez has turned himself into the Sheriff after reportedly breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s home, shooting her and her boyfriend.  The couple awoke  in bed to find Martinez in the residence. Both were shot with a handgun. The crime at 1525 Wilson Road in the unincorporated area of El Cajon was reported at 6:25 a.m.

Eufracio Alberto Enriquez, 35, was pronounced dead after efforts by family members, deputies and paramedics to perform CPR failed to revive him.  Leila Farmer, 40, suffered a gunshot wound to the arm and was transported to a hospital.

By Miriam Raftery

March 16, 2014 (California)--A new report reveals that the risk of earthquakes in California is being dramatically increased by oil companies injecting billions of gallons of wastewater from fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, into disposal wells near active faults near major cities.  “Millions of Californians live in areas at risk for induced earthquakes,” the report concludes.

The report, titled “On Shaky Ground,” was prepared by Earthworks, the Center for Biological Diversity, and Clean Water Action.   It found that 54% of our state’s 1,553 injection wells are within 10 miles of a recently active fault, 23% are within five miles and 6% are within just one mile. 

Numerous earthquakes across the country have been linked to fracking by scientists, including temblors as high as 5.7 on the Richter scale, the report details. Fracking quakes are common in areas such as Oklahoma and Texas, producing quakes higher than ever seen in some places.

By Roy L Hales

Deadline for public comments on changes March 24

March 15, 2014 (Mojave Desert)--The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has approved “the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of an up to 750-megawatt (MW) photovoltaic (PV) solar energy generation facility and related infrastructure called the McCoy Solar Energy Project.This project follows on the heels of the California Energy Commission’s approval of a similar project by NextEra Blythe Solar Energy.

Update March 18, 2014:  All four children have been found safe at the U.S.-Mexico border by Border Patrol agents. The parents remain at large and a warrant has been issued for their arrest. Details below in our earlier story.

March 15, 2014 (Los Angeles) – The California Highway Patrol has issued a statewide Amber Alert for four children abducted in Los Angeles today.  The suspects may be driving a dark-colored Chrysler PT cruiser with paper plates and a missing hubcab. Police believe they may be headed for San Diego or Mexico.

The suspects are Enrique Felix, 28, and Rose Chiarez, 28.  They are suspected of abducting their four children:  Enrique, 7, Justin, 5, and twins Veronica and Janeth.

March 15, 2014 (El Cajon )—A benefit concert will be held today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in El Cajon to help the family of Bella Noble cover the costs of  Life Flight, hospitalization and funeral services. Bella, 5, died after a tragic vehicle accident on October 17, 2013. 

The public is invited to join Eve Selis, Caliber, Lightning Train, and The PettyBreakers to sing, dance, celebrate and honor the life of Bella Noble.

“Bella and her brother, William, attended many musical events with their mom Sheri, and their dad, Bill, who has provided sound engineering services for many of the county's top musicians. Many of the musicians have recounted about how much Bella loves to sing and dance at their events, so a concert is a very fitting way to pay respects to her! In fact, the last time I saw Bella, she was dancing with her dad at my wedding - I'll never forget that image. It would mean the world to Bella to see everyone at the concert dancing - as she'll be dancing alongside us all in spirit,” says Mike Reilly.

By Miriam Raftery

March 14, 2014 (Lakeside) – A body found smoldering in a rural area of Alpine on Sunday, March 9 has been identified as Kimberly Renee Hayes, 35, of Lakeside.  

A Sweetwater Authority employee found Hayes’ burning body on a dirt road off the 17500 block of Sequan Truck Trail near Japatul Road shortly before 5 a.m.  The Medical Examiner’s office indicates that her death was a homicide. 

Hayes had worked as an emergency medical technician with San Diego Fire Rescue and at Scripps Mercy Hospital. She had a 14-year-old daughter.  But recently, she led a troubled life.

March 14, 2014 (San Diego)-- In the wake of President Barack Obama’s declaration of the challenge of helping young men of color  succeed as a “moral issue for the country,” Cuyamaca College recently held a workshop led by two San Diego State University professors  highlighting the issue’s relevance to community colleges.

Sophie’s Vineyard will celebrate a special sneak-peek planting party on April 5

March 11, 2014 (El Cajon)-- St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, the East County vocational day program for more than 400 adults with developmental disabilities, has announced the grand opening of Sophie’s Vineyard. As part of its expanding garden, the Center will install 290 vines in a unique double row design with the purpose of providing students with an education on grape agriculture, selling table grapes at local farmers markets, and the opportunity to partner with local wineries and wine makers.

March 12, 2014 (La Mesa) – The Medical Examiner has identified John Mathew Hajosy, 28, of La Mesa as the driver killed by a wrong-way driver on State Route 94 shortly after 2 a.m. on February 23.

Public Service Announcement: San Diego County

March 13, 2014 (San Diego)--The County of San Diego needs your help in identifying potential storm water quality improvement projects.  Recently adopted regulations require that the County identify and pursue a variety of on-the-ground projects to improve regional storm water quality.  The first step in this process is to assess and locate potential projects that could be implemented.  

Project types that may be considered include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following categories:

• Stream or riparian area rehabilitation

• Retrofitting existing infrastructure (Green Streets, Low Impact Development, Treatment);

• Regional BMP’s (best management practices for stormwater treatment basins);
• Groundwater recharge projects (infiltration basins);

• Water supply augmentation projects (large cisterns); and

• Land purchases to preserve floodplain functions.

Project suggestions will be accepted until March 28, 2014.  Scroll down for details.

By Miriam Raftery

San Diego State University Professor Emeritus Phil Pryde, editor/author of Environmental Resources and Constraints in the Former Soviet Republics, shared insights into the unfolding crises in the Crimea and Ukraine.  What are the implications of the upheaval and impending eleciton for the region and the world?  

ECM editor Miriam Raftery and intern Jessica Redmond interviewed Professor Pryde for KNSJ radio. Listen to the interview:

By Miriam Raftery

The second annual “Run East County” 5K Marathon will be held on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2014.

You can walk or run three options of courses: a certified half marathon, the Main Street 5 K, or the Green Mile suited for children or adults with developmental disabilities. Participants compete for prizes including cash prizes for best costume, massage and beauty treatments and more.

March 13, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Judge dismisses FAA fine against small drone user  (UT San Diego)
• Stolen passports raise security concerns (Wall Street Journal)
• Judge's order preserves NSA surveillance records (Sacramento Bee)
• Snowden: Proposed NSA reforms vindicate my data leaks (Reuters)

WORLD

• Missing Malaysian jet may have disintegrated in mid-air: source (Reuters
• U.S. warns Russia not to annex Crimea (BBC)
• Arab League refuses to recognize Israel as Jewish state (Christian Science Monitor)
• Iraqi women protest against proposed Islamic law in Iraq (Reuters)
• Not like a fairy tale: Saudi princesses reportedly locked in castle by king for 13 years (Jerusalem Post)
• Save the Children describes healthcare disaster in Syria (Reuters)
• Israel: Seized rockets would put Jerusalem in Gaza's range (+video) (Christian Science Monitor)
• Saudi Arabia names Muslim Brotherhood terrorist group  (Christian Science Monitor)

For excerpts and links to full stories, hit “read more” and scroll down.

Public Hearings to be held on April 29 and May 7

By Sharon Penny

On the evening of March 12, the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) board members convened a committee meeting for transmittal of the petition to unify the Alpine Union School (AUS) District. 

Alpine residents successfully submitted a petition meeting all requirements to convert the K-8 Alpine Union School District to a K-12 Alpine Unified School District, which would then include a future high school in Alpine (http://eastcountymagazine.org/node/15043).