September 8, 2011 (Spring Valley) – 2:50 p.m. – A residential structure fire that started in a split level home at Grand and Eucalyptus has spread into adjacent brush, Heartland Fire Dispatch has just confirmed. Wildland fire air support is en route. Mutual aide firefighting units from Santee and La Mesa have also been called to the scene.

September 6, 2011 (Spring Valley)—Two fires briefly threatened homes this evening in Spring Valley. A careless cigarette has been blamed for one blaze, while the other appears to be natural in cause, according to Leonard Villareal, spokesman for the San Miguel Fire District.

By Nancy Clement

August 18, 2011 (La Mesa) - Marli is about to start a new life adventure, pre-school, and she wanted some pretty, new clothes to wear. I was looking for a model for this column so we decided to team up. Since Marli is only 3½ years old, she needed some help to select clothes so we invited her Mom, Laura, to join us.

August 18, 2011 (Spring Valley) – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) will provide an update on what’s happening in Washington D.C. and take question from attendees at the Spring Valley Citizens Association Meeting tonight, August 18 from 7-7:30 p.m. The meeting will be at 2850 Via Orange Way in Spring Valley.

Fruitful wine industry restores farmers’ dreams in rural East County
 

Story by Miriam Raftery

Photos by Mark and Miriam Raftery

July 22, 2011 (Spring Valley) – Friends and neighbors turned out to help plant 600 grapevine rootstocks from Napa Valley last weekend at the Vineyard Mansion in Spring Valley. Afterwards, guests savored a poolside tri-tip barbecue and sampled estate-bottled vintages in a stone-lined wine cellar. 

Their efforts are all part of a vision by East County vintners to establish a wine-making region along Highway 94—revitalizing the local economy with a new agricultural market to reward the fruits of their labors.

July 3, 2011 (Lemon Grove) – Lon Scully, 74, was struck and killed around 2 a.m. Friday morning while attempting to cross the southbound lanes of State Route 125 north of Spring Street in La Mesa when he was struck by a silver Hyundai sedan, the San Diego Medical Examiner’s office reports.

The accident severed the victim’s legs and hurled his torso through the windshield, where it became lodged in the front seat, CHP spokesman Brian Pennings said, La Mesa’s Patch.com reported.

June 1, 2011 (Spring Valley ) – A man has jumped to his death off a bridge over northbound State Route 125 just south of Highway 54, CHP reports. The victim has not been identified, however the CHP website indicates he had left the home he shared with his wife and has been missing for two days.

May 19, 2011 (Spring Valley) -- The Sheriff seeks public help to locate Oscar Leyva Gonzales, 85. The elderly man, who has diabetes, went missing from Presidio Healthcare, a board and care facility at 3825 Lamar Street in Spring Valley five days ago on May 14.  The Sheriff did not notify media until today.

He does not have his medications with him.  He was wearing a black button-up shirt, black pants and sneakers.

County's Family Day in the Park Set for Spring Valley Park on April 30; Family Fun Walk added to list of activities

April 25, 2011 (Spring Valley) -- Families are invited to stretch their legs in a day of fitness and fun at the sixth-annual It’s How We Live! Family Day in the Park health festival  from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on April 30 at Spring Valley Park, 8735 Jamacha Blvd. This year’s event has an invigorating line-up of activities, entertainment and giveaways--all free!

April 8, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Jack Messina, a parolee described by Sheriff’s officials as a “person of interest” in a 1995 cold-case killing in Texas was airlifted out of an East County canyon Friday.

Messina failed to report to his parole agent, according to a press release issued by the Sheriff. He was found in an intersection at Sweetwater Springs Blvd. and Jamacha Blvd. with a GPS tracking device running low on battery. Deputies found him “very drunk” with his foot in a soft cast on a trail muddy from the recent rain.

Popular American musical playing March 24-27 in Spring Valley

By Miriam Raftery

March 22, 2011 (Spring Valley) – Director Jean Isaac calls Ragtime a show that “will get inside your soul.” Drawn to the musical’s epic scale and powerful yet timeless themes, she observes, “It’s a beautiful story to be told," then adds that it's important to tell the story anew in today’s turbulent times.

Isaac delivers a moving interpretation, brought to life through often stellar performances by the Young Actors’ Theatre cast. 

February 19, 2011 (Spring Valley) –Lemon Grove Detectives and U.S. Marine Corps Criminal Investigators searched a home at 2851 Highlands Blvd. in Spring Valley Thursday morning that is also used as a licensed child day care center. Authorities had previously arrested Michael Manglicmot, 23, for desertion  from the Marine Corps.

Sheriff’s detective Joel Stranger, working with USMC-CID investigators, learned that Manglicmot was the primary suspect in several recent burglaries at Camp Pendleton and Spring Valley. During the search, stolen property items including USMC body armor and night vision equipment were found. Detectives arrested Manglicmot’s brother, Mario Solis, 27, on charges of drug possession and sale, as well as possessing a loaded firearm.

February 8, 2011 (Spring Valley) – Curtis Haynes, 45, was shot four times after refusing to give up his wallet to a pair of robbers while walking outside the San Miguel Fire Station, in 3255 Helix Street in Spring Valley. He was struck in the torso, arm and both legs during the attack, which occurred around 7:03 p.m. last night.

January 23, 2011 (Spring Valley) – A Spring Valley man has been arrested for shooting a handgun inside his home at 1815 Sweetwater Road, #12, in Spring Valley. John Graham, 70, was reportedly intoxicated and despondent when he fired off the gun following an argument with his wife, who fled the residence. Deputies surrounded the home and made numerous calls into the residence via phone and loud speakers, but initially received no response.