By Miriam Raftery

September 8, 2011 (San Diego) – The San Diego Medical Examiner’s office has identified the man who died at Mission Trails yesterday morning as Jeffrey Andrew Martin, 33. Martin, who was single, resided in San Diego. Cause of death has not yet been determined, pending autopsy.

Resources are available to help if you or a loved one is in crisis

By Miriam Raftery

September 7, 2011 (San Diego) Updated 12:00 p.m. – The body of a “young man” has been found along  a popular trail at Mission Trails Regional Park, a park employee has informed East County Magazine.

September 5, 2011 (San Diego) – Before you fire up that Labor Day barbecue, you’d better check the weather. The National Weather Service has predicted a chance of thunderstorms for San Diego’s mountains and deserts this afternoon and evening; thunder can be heard over portions of East County this afternoon. Muggy weather is due to monsoonal moisture from the southeast.

San Vicente Dam is currently 220 feet tall and when completed, will be 117 feet taller, increasing the reservoir’s capacity from 90,000 acre-feet to 242,000 acre-feet.

By George J. Janczyn

originally published August 30, 2011 at GrokSurf's San Diego; reprinted with permission

September 4, 2011 (San Diego's East County)--It has been two years since groundbreaking for the San Vicente Dam Raise Project took place, but the dam is still at its original height.

Everything is going according to plan, though, and right on schedule.

by George J. Janczyn

Reprinted with permission from GrokSurf's San Diego

Update: Helix directors have voted to suspend the El Monte Valley Recharge project. 

September 4, 2011 (Lakeside)--This Wednesday, September 7, the Helix Water District Board of Directors will consider a staff recommendation to suspend the El Monte Valley Project.

The project is a groundwater recharge and recovery operation that would generate 5,000 acre feet of water per year using an advanced recycled water purification process known to water professionals as Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR).

There are strong ties between the 9/11 heroes in New York and our own La Mesa Fire Department--forged in the fires of dual tragedies in both regions

September 1, 2011 (La Mesa)--The City of La Mesa will host a remembrance ceremony on the ten year anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. A memorial wreath will be placed at the 9/11 Memorial at Fire Station 12, 8844 Dallas Street.

September 1, 2011 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon Police Chief Pat Sprecco is happy to announce that Officer Jarred Slocum, critically injured during the shooting and fire incident on August 21st, at 1033 Prince Street, was well enough to be released from the hospital on Monday.

August 27, 2011 (San Diego) – A Ford Explorer traveling northbound on Aldine Drive struck a curb while merging onto Fairmont Avenue and rolled over several times, San Diego Police report.

August 26, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a flood advisory today for mountain areas in San Diego County. Strong and persistent thunderstorms are occurring with heavy rainful just west of the Eagle Fire burn scar between Anza Borrego and Warner Springs.

August 26, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – CalTrans announces a full closure of the southbound 125 connector to westbound Interstate 8 on Sunday morning from 3-10 a.m. Closure is needed to allow crews to safely perform repairs.

Detour signs will direct traffic onto Grossmont Blvd. to northbound SR-125, then to westbound I-8.

Potential for “catastrophic” damage; could impact 50 million Americans or more

By Miriam Raftery

August 24, 2011 (Iowa) – President Barack Obama has announced new initiatives recommended by the White House Rural Council for creating jobs in rural America and helping to grow the U.S. economy.

The new efforts include helping rural small businesses access capital, expanding rural job search and training services, and increasing rural residents’ access to health care workers and technology including broad-band Internet access.

August 25, 2011 (San Diego)--Christopher Blakeley, 26, an off-duty San Diego Police Officer, was killed in a traffic collision last night at 9:41 p.m.  He was riding his motorcycle in Palm City, SDPD reports.