By Betty McMillen

December 19, 2011 (Lakeside) -- Dignitaries and VIPs braved the blustery wind for the grand opening of the new Lakeside Fire District Administration Office and combination Fire Station #2 on December 16.  It was branded a "sneak preview" since the station has about two weeks worth of finishing work to be done by the contractors.  Firefighters are hoping to be moved into the now empty 24,000 square foot structure by mid-January. 

December 18, 2011 (Jamul) – CHP reports a head-on collision on Highway 94 at Indian Springs in Jamul. The crash now involves three vehicles, a black SUV, a small white sedan, and a black mid-sized sedan. CHP, Cal-Fire and Border Patrol are now at the scene and an ambulance has been called.

December 18, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for mountain areas in San Diego County and other southern California mountain locations. Scattered snow showers are expected early this afternoon with the snow level falling to 4500 feet. Locations where snow is forecast include Cuyamaca, Mount Laguna, and Ranchita locally.

December 17, 2011 (La Mesa) -- PG&E, the utility that turned off the electricity for six families that had switched out smart meters for analog meters due to health problems that they believed were related to the wireless meters, has now reconnected them with electricity. 

By Miriam Raftery

December 15, 2011 (La Mesa) – Emotions ran high as advocates and opponents of a Planned Business Improvement District (PBID) presented their views before the La Mesa City Council last night.

La Mesa smart meter opponent voices outrage over families left in the cold

By Miriam Raftery

December 14, 2011 (La Mesa)—“We have just learned of a very troubling situation,” Susan Brinchman, a La Mesa activist leading statewide efforts to oppose smart meters, has informed ECM.  “Power has been cut off for three families who changed out the smart meters on their homes for analogs.” 

The shut-offs were made by Pacific Gas & Electric Company in Santa Cruz. Like a growing number of Californians, the families left in the dark had complained of health problems that they believed were caused by smart meters installed on their residences. Now, Brinchman fears that the same thing could happen in San Diego County.

Story by Miriam Raftery

Photos by Monica Zech

December 13, 2011 (El Cajon) – A motorist who hit the gas instead of the brake crashed into Tyler’s Taste of Texas restaurant yesterday shortly before noon, but fortunately no one was injured.

December 23 deadline for public comment on County's proposed wind ordinance

By Caleb Trainer

December 12, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--The eastern portions of San Diego County have become areas for increased interest in wind energy production. In response, County officials are proposing changes to current regulations that, in effect, will make it easier for wind energy development—including both wind farms with large-scale turbines and smaller scale residential windmills.

 Story and photo by Pam Wilmers

 View a video by Billy Ortiz:  http://youtu.be/RGCBdTSChHw

By Miriam Raftery

December 11, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning. A Pacific storm is forecast to bring cold temperatures, rain and heavy snowfall to our region Monday and Tuesday.

December 14, 2011 (San Diego's East County) - State Route 125 southbound will be closed today from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

All lanes are closed at I-8, south to Lemon Avenue. In addition, two lanes are closed from Navajo to I-8.  

The closure is for a police investigation of the fatal accident that killed a Grossmont High School student David Gonzalez and his grandmother, Celia Torres last Friday.  

December 9, 2011 (La Mesa) updated 9:40 p.m.-- Justin Foulds, 39, of Lemon Grove has been arrested for driving under the influence in relation to a fiery accident that killed a man and woman in La Mesa this evening.