By Miriam Raftery

June 27, 2012 (La Mesa) – By a 4-1 vote with Director Kathleen Hedberg dissenting, the Helix Water District board of directors voted to approve a water rate study that recommends rate hikes.  The increase would average 4.7 percent, or $2.75 a month for the average water user, though owners of larger properties face substantially heftier increases.

June 25, 2012 (El Cajon) – Councilman Gary Kendrick’s proposal to legalize backyard chicken ownership will be back on the agenda at tomorrow’s El Cajon City Council meeting. 

Public has until July 18 to submit comments

June 24, 2012 (San Diego)--Cleveland National Forest (CNF) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have released an Environmental Assessment (EA) for feral pig management on public lands in San Diego, Riverside and Orange Counties, as well as on the Capitan Grande Indian Reservation.

Feral pigs, which are not native to our region, have caused extensive damage by rooting that destroys riparian waterways, habitat and forage for wildlife. The plan includes 600,000 acres of public lands, including many in East County.

117-mile, 500,000-volt transmission line improves electricity reliability, but increases concerns over fire safety for region

 June 21, 2012 (San Diego) – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)  announced June 18 that it had completed and put into service Sunrise Powerlink, a 500,000-volt transmission line linking San Diego to Imperial Valley.  

“Putting the Sunrise Powerlink into service is the final milestone in a complex and challenging energy project that ranks among the largest and most significant in the history of San Diego Gas & Electric,” said Jessie J. Knight, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of SDG&E.

Update June 22:  Joe Rodrigues is safe after walking into a medical clinic; he was hospitalized overnight for observation.

June 21, 2012 (Bonita) – The Sheriff seeks public help to find Joe Rodrigues, an 80-year-old Hispanic man who uses oxygen at night and walks with a cane. He walked away from his residence at 3709 Glen Verde Court in Bonita between 4 and 7:50 p.m. yesterday.

Although his destination is unknown, authorities say he may be heading toward his prior residence in downtown San Diego. He may have been wearing a dark baseball cap, long-sleeve blue shirt and glasses.  He is 5 feet 10 and weighs about 180 pounds.

June 20, 2012 (San Diego)--The San Diego Police Department  today asked for help from the public to find Beverly Simmons, 57. She was last seen in the area of 2400 Fairmount Ave. on Wednesday of last week, according to an SDPD bulletin.

June 20, 2012 (La Mesa) -- The purpose of the scoping meeting is to provide an opportunity for La Mesa residents and interested parties to review project information, ask questions, and provide oral and written testimony.