January 3, 2010 (San Diego's East County)--What were the stories that captivated our interest and attention in the past year?  Stories that were newsworthy, tugged at our heartstrings, impacted our lives, or fired up indignation in San Diego's eastern regions?  Which images most indelibly reflect the changing times in East County--or captured key moments in time?

We've compiled our most compelling stories and images from 2009, starting with the first quarter (January through March):

Part three in our four-part Year in Review

December 30, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – SDG&E has named 110 people to serve on community councils to make recommendations on how areas should deal with disruptions caused by Sunrise Powerlink, the $1.88 billion high voltage power line project that the utility company wants to build. But many of the project’s most vocal opponents were not invited to participate—and are accusing SDG&E of stacking the deck in its favor.

By Miriam Raftery, Editor

4:27 p.m., December 29 2009 (Lakeside, CA) -- Two are confirmed dead at the Barona Gaming Commission office, Sheriff William Gore confirmed minutes ago.

"It appears to be a murder-suicide," said Gore, adding that homicide is investigating. The gunman, Donnell Roberts, 38, killed himself and another man whose name is being withheld, pending notification of next of kin. The shootings reportedly occurred inside the  Gaming Commission manager's office.

December 27, 2009 (El Cajon) – A vehicle struck a pedestrian on Greenfield Drive near Camillo Way in El Cajon around 5:40 this evening, California Highway Patrol reports. The victim, a 21-year-old man, was thrown 100 feet, Incident Protection Network reported at 6 p.m.

December 25, 2009 (San Diego) –The driver of a Ford Focus sedan at a high rate of speed on southbound I-15, just sound of the I-805 connector, ran off the highway and struck a tree shortly after 3 a.m. this morning. He was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later. The victim, described by the Coroner’s office as a Hispanic male, has not yet been named pending notification of kin. No other details are available at this time.
 

State's schools, once top in nation, now rank at bottom as budget cuts ravage K-12 and higher education

By Miriam Raftery

December 23, 2009 (Sacramento) – The Obama administration has challenged states to compete for federal “Race to the Top” (RTT) education funds aimed at improving under-performing K-12 schools. California is eligible for $300-$700 million of those funds—provided the Legislature and Governor can agree on changing state laws by January 19, 2010 to qualify for the funding.

December 22, 2009 (Anza Borrego) – San Diego Sheriff reported on December 18 that Mickey Guidry, 16, has been missing since November 26th when he ran away from his parents’ home in San Marcos. Guidry reportedly took his parents’ 1995 Jeep Cherokee without permission. On November 30th, the Jeep was located unoccupied in an extremely remote area of the Anza Borrego Desert.

December 21, 2009 (San Diego) – Eight-year-old Anthony Cole DeWeese of Rancho Penasquitos was killed last night when a Coast Guard vessel struck the ship on which he was a passenger during the Parade of Lights on San Diego Bay.

December 18, 2009 (San Diego) - The ACLU says San Diego State University has delivered an "empty Christmas present", turning over incomplete records in response to a public documents request.  Now the ACLU has sent a demand letter on behalf of the Education Consortium demanding full disclosure. 

Citizens express ire over arts mismanagement

by Gayle Early

“That theater has been referred to as the white elephant sitting in the middle of El Cajon. It ought to be the jewel of that city, the community place to pull people in together.”—Patricia Parlin

 “I don’t have a lot of faith in them. I don’t think they’ll do the right thing.”—John Martes

 December 17, 2009 (El Cajon)—Smack in the heart of El Cajon’s business promenade sits a soon-to-be darkened, empty theater.   On Tuesday, arts lovers and concerned citizens showed up to the first community forum over the summary closure and renovation plans for the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC).  After millions in local infrastructure improvements, the City is anxiously casting for ways to entice people to its downtown.

December 15, 2009 (Spring Valley) -- San Miguel Firefighters responded to a structure fire on the 600 Block of Brady Court, in the La Presa area. No one was home when the fire ignited. Fortunately, a neighbor heard the smoke alarm sound, investigated, saw thick black smoke coming from the roof and called 9-1-1.

December 14, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – Residential fires have caused major damage to homes in Descanso, Lakeside, Valley Center and La Mesa this month. The latest blaze occurred this morning at 4:17 a.m. in a condominium complex at 9320 Earl Street #25 in La Mesa, where fire crews arrived in less than five minutes and ran hose lines inside through thick, dark smoke down to the floor. Firefighters used a thermal imaging camera to locate the fire in the kitchen.

2ND ACCIDENT IN 2 DAYS TO DROP HEAVY OBJECTS OFF ELEVATED RAMPS IN LA MESA

By Miriam Raftery

December 12, 2009 (La Mesa) – A big rig smashed into a wall on an elevated I-8 connector in La Mesa around 10:20 a.m., knocking chunks of concrete onto southbound SR-125 below. The truck cab teetered precariously as a portion of the wall crumbled high above the roadway, reports Miriam Raftery, who was traveling on 125 moments after the accident occurred as emergency vehicles arrived overhead.