Update 9 p.m.: The victim was a 67-year old Caucasian man from Valley Center, the San Diego Medical Examiner's office reports.  His name has not been released pending next of kin.

January 16, 2011 (Anza-Borrego) – A fatality accident involving a trailer and a motorcycle has shut down Highway 78 just east of Scissors Crossing in the Anza Borrego Desert State Park, California Highway Patrol reports. The accident was reported at 11:41 a.m. and the road closure occurred at 12:04 p.m.

January 16, 2011 (San Diego) – A man, 26, tried to pass traffic by driving onto the sidewalk in his 1998 Mitsubishi Montero this morning at 8:25 a.m. at 4400 Home Avenue. His vehicle struck a 2003 Ford F-150 that was turning right onto Fairmont ahead of him, causing the F-150 to roll over and strike a 2000 GMC Yukon.

By Miriam Raftery

January 15, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Three local organizations and an East County land use issues expert have filed a lawsuit against five federal agencies. The suit alleges that the agencies approved SDG&E’s planned Sunrise Powerlink transition line in violation of environmental regulations—in some cases, making decisions based on the original route through the Anza Borrego Desert, instead of the revised southern route through numerous East County communities.

The suit makes other contentions, notably that key decision makers ignored fire danger and failed to consider the collective impact on public lands in East County, where several wind farms are planned as well as Powerlink in some wilderness areas.  In addition, plaintiffs claim that some decisions were made before completion of studies on endangered species and that once completed, those studies found the project could threaten endangered Peninsular bighorn sheep, golden eagles, and other species.

New ECCDC report highlights accomplishments, but results are apparent in a stroll down Main Street

By Miriam Raftery
 

January 14, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Frederick “Rick” Sturckow, who grew up in Lakeside and La Mesa, may be the commander on the next space shuttle flight. NASA has named Sturckow to fill in at least temporarily in training for commander Mark Kelly, whose wife, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, is recovering from an attempted assassination in Tucson.

January 13, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) --The new, permanent northbound State Route 67 (SR-67) off-ramp to Prospect Avenue is scheduled to open Friday at 5 a.m., according to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).

January 13, 2011 (El Cajon) --A bomb threat triggered an evacuation of the Wal-Mart store at 13487 Caminoi Canada in El Cajon last night.  Sheriff's deputies from Lakeside, Santee and Alpine responded after an unidentified male called an interior store phone shortly after 6 p.m. and whispered to a worker that he had planted a bomb.

January 11, 2010 (Warner Springs) – Richard Hawkins, 87, has died of injuries after the World War II Trainer plane (tail number N57027) that he was flying crashed crashed late yesterday at Warner Springs Airport. His son remains hospitalized in critical condition at Palomar Medical Center, 10 News reports.

“Tonight at 5:24 p.m., three engines companies under the direction of Battalion Chief John Butz responded,” Cal-Fire battalion chief Nick Schuler said yesterday. “When firefighters arrived, the aircraft was in multiple pieces.”

January 8, 2011 (Santee) – A family with five children seeks the public’s help to find their dog, Zoe, who has not been seen since New Year’s Day. Firefighters opened up the family home on Clifford Heights Road in Santee to save it from flames after a next-door-neighbor, Michael Cour, shot his wife and himself, also setting fire to the couple’s home.

Zoe, a 3-year-old Bichon frise, was recently groomed and had a shorter haircut than a typical Bichon, the Union-Tribune reported. The dog has a friendly personality, has a microchip ID, and was wearing a pink collar with tags when last seen.

January 6, 2011 (San Carlos) – Esther Weinsheker,93,  was crossing Jackson Drive near Hyde Park Drive in the San Carlos neighborhood of San Diego was hit by a 2007 Toyota Tundra at 10:40 a.m. yesterday. She was transported to a hospitalwith CPR in progress, but despite life-saving efforts, she was pronounced dead at the hospital, according to the San Diego Medical Examiner's office.

No alcohol was involved, San Diego Police Department officer Frank Cali reports. SDPD’s traffic division is investigating the tragedy.

2 bodies found in burned  home of retired teacher/coach and ailing wife; 

Settlement just announced by CA Attorney General targets couple's lender for predatory lending practices--but relief is too late for Santee couple

By Miriam Raftery

January 3, 2011 (Santee) – Michael L. Cour, 60 and his wife, Janice Gervais, 70, faced a bleak future. The couple filed for bankruptcy June 30th. On December 6th, their lender, World Savings Bank, foreclosed on their property. A neighbor, Ruth Talaza, said Gervais had cancer and that the couple had tried multiple times to refinance, without success.

So Cour, who taught for 35 years in the Grossmont Union-High School District, told a neighbor that he was going to kill his wife and burn down their home on Clifford Heights Road, a quiet cul-de-sac in Santee.  Soon after, a man called 911 to say he’d shot his wife and set fire to the home. He also threatened to shoot anyone if they tried to stop the inferno.

January 3, 2010 (San Diego)—Scattered showers are forecast today across San Diego County, with snow forecast in mountain areas.

“We’re all hoping for snow,” said Teresa Manley at Julian Meadow View Inn in Julian. Snow is good for the tourism business in Julian, but despite forecasts of snow last night, the mountain town which has an elevation of 4,235 feet got only drizzle, Manley said.

January 1, 2011 (San Diego) – A New Year’s Day hike at Mission Trails Park was cut short when a hiker became injured, prompting a technical rescue. Incident Page Network reports that San Diego Fire Department dispatched a helicopter to provide a hoist rescue since the area was inaccessible to an ambulance by ground.

Update 6:45 p.m. - The fire destroyed one home and damaged a neighboring residence before fire officials were able to douse the blaze.  Authorities have not yet disclosed the fates of the homeowner and his wife, however the investigation has been turned over to the Homicide Unit.  Neighbors have told other media that the homeowner was despondent because he and his wife had lost their jobs, faced foreclosure, and because the wife had cancer.

December 31, 2010 (San Diego) – A free tow home is available for New Year’s party-goers who don’t want to take chances behind the wheel. The “tipsy tow” service is offered by the Automobile Club of Southern California, but is open to everyone, even if you are not a member. Free tows are available from 6 p.m. tonight to 6 a.m. tomorrow by calling 1-800-400-4AAA.

The Auto Club estimates that a first time conviction for driving under the influence can cost $13,468 or more in fines, penalties, restitution, legal fees and increased insurance costs.