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.

August 26, 2011 (La Mesa)—An 18-year-old woman attempted suicide Wednesday by jumping off the Baltimore bridge and landing in lanes on Interstate 8.
 

“She is alive,” Lt. Bell with La Mesa Police informed East County Magazine yesterday. The patient remains hospitalized at Sharp Memorial, he added.

Her identity and area of residence have not bee released. La Mesa Police attempted to talk the woman out of jumping, but were unable to prevent her actions.

Online vehicle shoppers are being victimized by fraudulent vehicle sales and false claims of vehicle protection (VPP) programs

By Miriam Raftery

August 23, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Rural homeowners will pay a fire parcel fee of $90 at most, and in many cases considerably less. Statewide, the total annual fire parcel fee will average just $30 under emergency regulations approved yesterday by the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection.

By Miriam Raftery

August 22, 2011 (El Cajon) – Officer Jerred Slocum, 38, has been identified as the El Cajon policeman shot last night while responding to a domestic violence call.

An ECM Special Report: Part I

By Walter Hall

August 19, 2011 (La Mesa)--In October, property owners in La Mesa’s downtown district will vote on an initiative with long range consequences for the city and surrounding area. At stake is the charter and character of a Property-based Business Improvement District, commonly abbreviated to PBID.

“Operation Shadowbox” arrests 60; Suspects at Chaldean Social Club sold improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to undercover officers

By Miriam Raftery

August 18, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Elizabeth Rodriguez, 16, of Spring Valley has been missing since August 11. The San Diego Sheriff’s office is treating the case as a runaway, according to Detective Ward at the Lemon Grove Sheriff substation. However her parents have posted flyers asking the public to help locate their daughter, who was last seen Friday, August 11 in Lakeside at 12:45 a.m.
 

August 16, 2011 (Poway) – San Diego Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team is searching for a lost hiker, possibly injured, Incident Page Network reports.  The hiker has erratic cellphone communication in the vicinity of Twin Peaks Road and Midland Road, possibly on Twin Peaks Mountain. 

August 14, 2011 (Lakeside) – Parents of Elizabeth Rodriguez, 16, have been posting flyers and seeking public help to locate their daughter. She was last seen August 11, 2011 in Lakeside, California at 12:45 a.m. Click here to view and print a flyer: http://cbskscf.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/erica-rodriguez.pdf.

By Miriam Raftery