November 30, 2010 (San Diego) – The Drug Enforcement Agency(DEA)'s Narcotics Task Force in San Diego, in partnership with local law enforcement, seized over 378,243 marijuana plants county-wide in 2010. More than half (294,175) were removed from public lands—including U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management properties utilized by hikers, campers, and other members of the public.

November 29, 2010 (La Mesa) -- All but one eastbound lane on I-8 at Spring Street have been shut down late tonight due to football-sized rocks spilled by a dump truck, CHP reports. A Sig-Alert has been issued, along with a long-term closure order in order to clean up the debris.

November 29, 2010 (La Mesa)—A Heartland Fire & Rescue engine from La Mesa was driving northbound on Bancroft Drive when crew members smelled a strong odor of natural gas yesterday morning. The fire crew stopped to investigate the smell and determined that there was gas coming from underground at 5033 Bancroft Drive.

November 27, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued an urgent weather message warning of strong, gusty winds tonight and Sunday in mountain and desert areas. A fast-moving storm system will bring winds of 25-50mph, with gusts up to 60 mph. Strongest winds over mountain crests and on desert slopes of the mountains.

Update 8:30 p.m. - SDG&E has cleared the scene and determined that no carbon monoxide was present.  The initial call was for a woman suffering stomach pains, a Heartland Fire dispatcher said.  Twelve patients were transported to Grossmont Hospital. It is not yet known what caused the symptoms.

November 26, 2010 (Santee) – Twelve people in a large family are believed to have suffered carbon monoxide poisoning in a home at 9165 Paseo Cresta in Santee tonight. Incident Page Network reports that Sheriff’s officials, emergency medical responders and SDG&E have been summoned to the scene.

November 26,2010 (Lemon Grove) – An early morning fire the day before Thanksgiving destroyed a home at 2759 Washington Street in Lemon Grove. Just before 4:30 a.m., firefighters responded to fin heavy flames coming from the windows. A family of five was able to escape the burning home safely before fire crews arrived.

November 25, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Temperatures will drop below freezing tonight, dipping into the upper 20s to low 30s  in San Diego County’s inland valleys, mountains and lower deserts, with temperatures down to the low 20s possible. A frost advisory has been issued from 10 p.m. tonight to 9 a.m. Friday morning.

The National Weather Service advises keeping pets indoors and taking steps to protect sensitive outdoor plants, which may be killed if left uncovered.

By Miriam Raftery

November 24, 2010 (San Diego’s East County)—East County Magazine visited the Ramona Country Estates neighborhood yesterday where George Djuro Jakubec, the man accused of operating a “bomb factory” in Escondido, lived some two decades ago.

Some neighbors were shocked to learn of the notoriety now attached to this quiet, upscale neighborhood, where Jakubec is listed as the builder of a residence at 15500 Vista Vicente Drive, Ramona. The home is located across the street from a golf course with prime views—and just half a block from the former home of the late tennis star Bobby Riggs, suggesting that the Jakubec family was prosperous when living here.

Jakubec formerly ran a contracting business in Ramona
 

By Miriam Raftery
 

November 22, 2010 (Escondido)—George Djura Jakubec, 54, pled not guilty today to 28 criminal counts. He is accused of possessing destructive explosive devices and the ingredients to make them, as well as robbing two local banks.
 

Deputy District Attorney Terri Perez told Judge Marshall Hockett that the suspect’s home was “a bomb factory” containing “the largest quantity of these types of homemade explosives at one place in the United States.” Those materials pose “a huge danger to officers and the public,” she said.

“We mourn his passing and honor his life of courage and service to others.” -- Linda Armacost, president of the La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club

November 21, 2010 (Lakeside)—Emergency responders rushed to the rain-swollen Los Coches Creek earlier today, saving two youngsters who were swept downstream while playing near the water.

November 20, 2010 (San Diego) – Rain-slicked highways this evening are the scenes of numerous vehicular accidents, including serious accidents on highways 67, 52, 8, 15 and 805 as well as surface streets. 

Scroll down for details:

Update 5:30 p.m.  The freeway is now reopened.  Authorities used a robot to detonate six explosive devices, Incident Page Network reports.  More details at 10 News:  http://www.10news.com/news/25843031/detail.html 

Update 11:45 a.m.:  Closure was delayed but the highway is now closed as of 11:21 a.m.  in the southbound direction only.  Authorities have decided to leave the northbound lanes open.

Explosives have been found in a home in the 1900 block of Via Scott, where homeowner George Jakubek has been arrested.  A gardener, Mario Garcia, was seriously injured yesterday when an explosive went off, damaging his foot.  Several homes in the neighborhood have also been evacuated as the investigation continues. 

November 19, 2010 (Escondido) -- ECM news Partner Channel 10 reports that discovery of explosives at an Escondido home will result in a shut down of both sides of Interstate 15  from 9 a.m. to noon today (Friday).  

November 18, 2010 (San Diego) – Break out the umbrellas and winter coats. Rain, gusty winds and cold temperatures dipping below freezing are forecast for this weekend--with snow possible at higher mountain elevations.

November 18, 2010 (San Diego)—A 90-year-old woman driving a Toyota made an unsafe left turn across oncoming traffic on Waring Road in Allied Gardens yesterday at 4:07 p.m., striking a motorcyclist, according to San Diego Police Sergeant David E. Jennings.