March 10, 2010 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police has arrested Anthony Long, 19, of El Cajon and two juvenile males from El Cajon and Santee for attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. The assault occurred on March 6 at Northmont Park in LA Mesa.

The suspects were arrested after search warrants were obtained and searches conducted on three homes in East County. According to the police investigation, two groups of young men got into a phone argument over a girl following a party in El Cajon, then agreed to meet at Northmont Park for a fight.

By Nancy and Dawn Clement

Share creative ideas to assist people of all ages with tips to save money and improve their lifestyle!

by Christopher Mohr

(San Diego) March 5 - The Lady Wolfpack of West Hills High School captured their second straight girls Division II sectional basketball title Friday night with a 40-25 win over the Lady Wolverines from Westview High School (Rancho Penasquitos). The two teams faced off at the Jenny Craig Pavilion on the campus of USD, the site of all CIF San Diego Section championship basketball games throughout the weekend.

It became clear quickly that this was not going to be Westview's day when West Hills already had a double-digit lead before the Lady Wolverines could even get on the scoreboard. West Hills' stingy defense kept Westview in check as the Lady Wolverines were unable to generate much on offense or recover from the Lady Wolfpack's initial scoring surge. West Hills maintained their double-digit lead with a commanding 30-13 lead at halftime.

March 9, 2010 (San Diego) -- The County's Health and Human Services Agency Strategic Planning & Operations Support Division will hold public hearings in central and east regions of San Diego County to give interested community members an opportunity to provide input on refugee employment services in San Diego County.

March 9, 2010 (Poway) – Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher (R-San Diego) is working with the parents of slain teen Chelsea King to enact legal reforms aimed at protecting children from violent sexual predators. Fletcher’s district includes Poway and Escondido, homes of Chelsea King and Amber Dubois, murdered teens whose bodies were both found in the past week.

In an exclusive interview with East County Magazine, driver says Toyota advised him 2 weeks ago that his 2008 Prius was not on the recall list

March 8, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – James Sikes, 61, considers himself lucky to be alive following a harrowing high-speed ordeal on a highway in San Diego's East County.

“I am still shaken up,” the local real estate agent told East County Magazine this evening, just hours after surviving a chilling 94-mph race against time after the accelerator on his car became jammed on I-8 east this afternoon. It took over half an hour to bring the runaway vehicle under control with help from California Highway Patrol, including a patrolman who bravely placed his car in front of Sikes to assure that the vehicle could be stopped before entering a perilous downhill stretch of freeway.

March 8, 2010 (Ramona) -- The Ramona Music Fest benefit concert is March 20, from 2 to 6 p.m., at Dos Picos Park, 17953 Dos Picos Park Rd. in Ramona. The third annual event hosted by Ramona Kiwanis and Ramona Rotary clubs will feature two stages and wandering musicians.

March 7, 2010 (Escondido) – The county medical examiner’s office has used dental records to positively identify remains found Saturday as those of Amber Dubois, the 14-year-old teenage girl who went missing while walking to Escondido High School on February 13, 2009.   Her disappearance resulted in a massive search over more than a year and made headlines nationally.

Adult day-care program also protected from cuts by federal judge

March 7, 2010 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. Justice Department filed an amicus brief Tuesday in the U.S. Court of Appeal supporting a lawsuit to block Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plan to slash in-home care to 130,000 seniors and disabled people in California.

The Obama administration, in the brief, argued that the cuts would violate the Americans with Disabilities Act which “prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in the provision of public services.”

March 6, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- Seven businesses were honored at the 98thAnnual Inaugural Gala hosted by the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce and presented by Barona Resort & Casino on February 26. This year’s Gala replaced the Chamber’s Annual Awards Banquet, increasing the number of honorees and award-winners and broadening scope of the event.

by Christopher Mohr

(Spring Valley) March 2 - If you weren't at Mount Miguel High School Tuesday night to see the host Matadors play the visiting Raiders of San Diego Southwest High School, you missed out on a real gem. This basketball game had virtually everything you could ask for in a playoff matchup: a packed gym, fans from both teams getting loud and crazy, frequent scoring runs and lead changes and both teams playing with the highest intensity.

Unfortunately for the Raiders, intensity does not always translate to wins. Unable to connect on several potential game tying three-point shot attempts in the last minute, they come up short in a 51-48 loss to Mt. Miguel.

March 6, 2010 (Otay) – Approximately 3,000 rider have registered for the Gran Fondo cycling event, which starts tomorrow at 7 a.m. in downtown’s Little Italy with three routes. The longest route—a grueling 101 miles--heads into East County along Honey Springs and Otay Lakes roads. Motorists are advised to consider alternate routes.

Performances also slated in Vista and Mira Mesa

March 3, 2010 (El Cajon) – Children and the young at heart savored thrills and chills at Circus Vargas, now showing in a big top tent pitched in the parking lot at Parkway Plaza. Prior to the main show, the ringmaster invited all kids into the center ring for lessons in juggling, feather balancing and other circus tricks.

Law enforcement plans procession from Qualcomm Stadium to Shadow Mountain Church in El Cajon to honor fallen deputy

March 3, 2010 (El Cajon) – Services will be held Saturday for Sheriff’s Deputy Kenneth Collier, who died February 28 of injuries sustained in pursuit of a wrong-way driver in Santee.   The memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 6 at 10 a.m. at Shadow Mountain Church, 2100 Greenfield Drive in El Cajon. A closed-casket viewing will be held on Friday, March 5 from 5-9 p.m. at Greenwood Memorial Park and Mortuary, 4300 Imperial Avenue in San Diego.

CEO OF SAN DIEGO'S NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE, NAMED TO LEAD UNITED NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS OF AMERICA