January 22, 2011 (La Mesa)--The La Mesa Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance to help locate and apprehend Jeffrey John McPherson, 41, who is wanted for several counts of child molestation  after meeting the victim on MySpace.com.

On June 24, 2010, McPherson was arrested by the LMPD for molesting a 16-year-old boy over a 9-month period. He failed to make a court appearance while out on bail. On December 3, a felony arrest warrant was issued. McPherson’s current whereabouts are unknown.  He is white, 6’0”, 185 lbs, with brown hair, blue eyes, and multiple tattoos covering both arms.

January 21, 2011 (La Mesa) – How can tragedies such as the massacre in Arizona, the workplace shooting at Barona, or the mass school shootings at Santana and Granite Hills be prevented?

James N. Madero, Ph.D., specializes in workplace and school violence prevention. He is the Director of Violence Prevention International, a national organizational consulting firm based in San Diego. Madero will speak on Wednesday, February 2nd at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa. The event, sponsored by the La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club, is free and open to the general public. Socializing starts at 6:30, with the program at 7 p.m.

View our Ommering Dairy video tour, including exclusive interviews, at https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1269855082851&set=vb.121848884514514&type=3&theater
By Billy Ortiz
Photos by Pam Wilmers and Ommering Dairy

County Urges Residents to Use Caution When Cleaning Up Rodent Droppings;

Video Provides Tips for Homeowners

January 20, 2011 (Alpine) -- A wild deer mouse trapped in Alpine during routine monitoring has tested positive for the potentially deadly hantavirus, San Diego County vector control officials said today.

Artist’s reception for Abigail Kurtz Migala  on February 6

January 20, 2011 (La Mesa) – Police confiscated an arsenal of weapons from the home of David Schreiner, whose phone call to police about a shooting at Helix High School promoted authorities to secure the campus January 14th. Search warrant records obtained by ECM news partner 10 News indicate that authorities seized 40 rifles, pistols, shotguns and muskets as well as six knives, a dagger, a tomahawk, a hatchet, a machete, a leather sap, and a camouflage ballistic vest.

Donations of cash, food also sought by rescue volunteers

January 19, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Nine-year-old Makena Sacks of Blossom Valley volunteers with her mother, Cate Sacks, to train dogs rescued from shelters. Now Makena asks help from ECM readers to save cats slated to be destroyed.

“I am hoping that I can save them but there are so many,” she writes. “The people at the shelter are putting cats down starting today, I need help taking these cats.”

By: Jeremy Los

January 19, 2011 (Alpine)--The proposed 12th high school in Alpine continues to face hurdles as the push for its groundbreaking soldiers on. The latest obstacles facing the potential campus are the potential missed enrollment trigger as well as the prospect that the school will not service all the students in the area.

January 19, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- Motorists traveling on Mission Gorge Road to southbound State Route 125 in Santee will lose one lane for the next four weeks, Cal-Trans has announced.  Southbound traffic will be directed along a shoulder to the future 52/125 southbound onramp starting Thursday morning at 5 a.m.

On Friday, March 4, the cities of La Mesa and Santee will hold the Miss La Mesa and Miss Santee Pageants. Pageant organizers are currently seeking outgoing women ages 13-26 to participate in a program that has been a tradition in the cities since the late 1960’s and is an outstanding mentoring program for young women. The pageants are sponsored by the local Chambers of Commerce and focus on community service. There is no swimsuit competition--and is no entry fee to participate.

Miss La Mesa and Miss Santee 2011 will each receive at $1,000.00 scholarship while Miss La Mesa Teen and Miss Santee Teen 2011 will each receive a $500.00 scholarship.

January 18, 2011 (Palomar) --If you see smoke, don't panic.  The United States Forest service will be conducting a controlled burn today and tomorrow near the intersections of Palomar Divide Truck Trail and Halfway Road placing it on a North East / East aspect of Palomar Mountain.

By Brian Lafferty

January 18, 2011 (San Diego) – The Green Hornet is beset with many problems. The first glaring issue involves the casting. I could not buy Seth Rogen as either Britt Reid or his alter ego the Green Hornet. I can understand why he was cast; Rogen co-wrote the screenplay with his longtime writing partner Evan Goldberg. Having been an established actor and a bankable writer (he also co-wrote Superbad and Pineapple Express) I don’t doubt he had his heart set on playing such an enduring and somewhat iconic character.

But Rogen has miscalculated this time around. He should have let someone else play the hero this time. Someone who would have brought a smooth, sly personality to both characters.

"Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity." --
Martin Luther King, Jr., 1963

January 17, 2011 (Ramona) – Ron Selkovitch and Dave Patterson of the Ramona Forum demonstrated in Ramona over Martin Luther King Day weekend. According to a press release issued by the group, the purpose was to call for “civility and courage in the face of the recent shooting and political rancor.”

January 17, 2011 (Sacramento)--California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, urging all Californians to participate in local communities through public service.  To find a service project in your community, visit: www.californiavolunteers.org.

“Our nation has made great progress, guided by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s vision of advancing social justice and opportunity for all," said Newsom, "but I recognize that there is still work to be done."