GG'S WINDOW TO THE CITY OF LA MESA

COUNTERFEIT MONEY HITS LA MESA

2009-09-06T23:21:00.000-07:00

Blame it on the economy,the hot weather, whatever, but you'll be surprise people are counterfeiting not $100, not $50, not even $20-Dollar bills, they're going for the Mighty Buck! That's right just this evening, a blond woman in her 20s, went to a local Chevron Station and decided she wasn't going to be without her tobacco, and not having money decided to produce her own currency: Five fake single-dollar-bills. The suspect grabbed the smokes, ran out the door, hopped into her truck, and was last seen puffing her "red 100s" towards the I-8 freeway.

TROLLEY GATES BLOCKED

2008-09-05T14:26:00.000-07:00

For over 30 minutes last night, three trolley gates on Spring Street were down. MTS Transit Enforcement Officer Triold had to direct and divert traffic to avoid any accidents. According to Triold a broken power box locked the three gates that run from I-8 to the 94 Freeway on Spring Street blocking traffic from incoming vehicles for several minutes.

TWO SHOOTING SUSPECTS UNDER ARREST

2008-09-02T22:14:00.000-07:00

La Mesa Police Department has two suspects of the August 8 shooting in custody. A tip led police to capture two men - who happened to be brothers, and were responsible for the shooting at Baltimore and El Cajon Boulevard were two men were critically injured.
Both suspects have been charged with two counts of attempted murder.

A NEW BUILDING FOR LMPD

2008-08-18T22:33:00.000-07:00

Two years is the time expected for the city to inaugurate its new facility. The station will be built in the Civic Center area. The project's total price estimated at $18.6 million includes costs of construction management, architectural designs, testing and inspection services, and setting up utilities. The project will be paid mostly with proceeds from a $25 million bond measure approved by La Mesa voters in 2004.

PALOMAR MOUNTAIN OBSERVATORY

2008-08-13T20:53:00.000-07:00

Palomar Mountain Observatory can delight anybody, kids and adults, in a day trip from La Mesa.

SUMMER TIME ON A BUDGET

2008-08-13T20:03:00.000-07:00

With gas prices soaring most of the summer La Mesa residents have to be creative.
Some still like to go out of town, even if few miles away, to have the feeling of a vacation time spend with the family.
With beaches too crowded to enjoy, some people have taken their adventure to the San Diego County near mountains.
A good day trip is hitting north on 67, pass Ramona, and make the first stop at Santa Ysabel. The small town was once home of one of many Mission in California. Now site of the Santa Ysabel chapel. Driving north-west there's a lake for breath taking pictures. Few miles down there's a brand new casino with a good restaurant.
After lunch, the trip follows towards Palomar Mountain. The scenery is awesome and hardly any traffic. Palomar Mountain is a very interesting place to visit, not for the possibility to be in contact with nature but because the Palomar Mountain Observatory is enclave there.
Instead of coming back the same way, going forward on 79 allows to enjoy the many orange trees along the road. from there people can either hit I15 South, or turn on Valley Center Road and still enjoy the scenery before hitting the freeways again.
Within 50 miles La Mesa residents can enjoy a day-away-home, and maximize their gas consumption, coming home feeling they, too, had a summer vacation.

SUSPECT WANTED

2008-08-09T20:58:00.000-07:00

The La Mesa Police are looking for a man that witnesses say shot two men last night. One victim was found shot near El Cajon Boulevard and Guava Street, the second victim was found on a shoulder of Interstate 8 under the Baltimore Drive overpass.
Despite the help of a helicopter and several police cars searching the area for over an hour, the suspect -described as a light-skinned black man, 6 feet tall, driving a black or gray Ford Focus, wasn't found.
Anyone with information should contact La Mesa Police Department at 619-667-1400.

NO FUN FOR EBGAMES STORE

2008-07-29T12:18:00.000-07:00

EBGames store located at 5454 Grossmont Center Drive, was robbed yesterday when the sole worker was held in the backroom, bound with duct taped.
Three males in their 20s entered the store -one of them armed with a pistol.
After loading their car with several computer games the suspects fled the premises.
The 19-year-old female clerk was able to freed herself and then called police.

EARTHQUAKE RATTLES SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

2008-07-29T11:57:00.000-07:00

A 5.8 earthquake was felt from Los Angeles to San Diego Counties.
It certainly was felt at 11:42 a.m. in La Mesa as furniture bounced back and forth inside homes.
No major damage has been reported in the area.
The 5.8 magnitude has been downgraded to 5.4 in the past hour.

TERMINATOR AFTER LOCAL RESOURCES

2008-07-28T19:01:00.000-07:00

Mayors around the county got together today to ask Sacramento not to tap into their local funds as a desperate measure to ease the state's financial crises.
Art Madrid fears Schwarzenegger might take up to $2.5 millions from the city (from gas tax revenue)now that the state faces a $15 billion deficit, and legislators have not agreed yet in a budget for the new fiscal year.

GOT GAS?

2008-07-14T14:45:00.000-07:00

One gallon of regular gas nowadays: $4.69
Five gallons of gas: $23.45
To get someone else to pay for it: PRICELESS!
With gas prices soaring, people are becoming very creative.
First was the middle-age, well-dress, Asian man that needed to pick up his dog at his mom's home. Unfortunately he was running out of gas, while nobody was home to bring his wallet to the gas station. "If you could only lend me a gallon of gas..."
The clerk looked at him and thought "If I help this guy, I will have to work half an hour to pay for his gas."
Good will prevailed and the clerk coughed up the gallon -at his expense.
Up until today -three weeks later, he's still waiting for the man that was just going to "pick up his dog at his mom's home."
Yesterday was the good looking, teenage girl that ran out of gas. She was carrying a five-gallon gas can, determined to fill it up at someone else's expense.
Thirty minutes at the gas station were enough for a good Samaritan to fill up her gas can. With a big smile she walked down the street, jumped to her car and drove away.

SHORT CASH LA MESA

2008-07-01T18:55:00.000-07:00

It's official: The City of La Mesa will have to cut expenses to battle a $4 million budget gap. And that mean up to 35 employees will be lay off, around 12 percent of the payroll. A hiring freeze is in place for all departments except police and fire.
Other measures to fix the deficit are outsourcing some jobs and asking residents to pay more in sales tax. Since only voters can raise taxes, city officials are considering putting the measure in the November ballot.
According to Mayor Art Madrid the tough choices are going to be several, not only for the residents, but also for the city's employees.

LA MESA'S NEW LIBRARY

2008-06-24T17:20:00.000-07:00

The city has a new library. The new building opened a week ago and occupies more than half the building on Allison Avenue that will, also, house the post office, which will move to the new site later this summer.

The library/post office was funded by bonds issued in August 2006, which will be repaid from monies owed to the City from the Redevelopment Agency and a lease with the U.S. Postal Service.

The La Mesa library is located at 8074 Allison Ave., La Mesa

Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday

More information: sdcl.org or (619) 469-2151

ARCO HOLD UP

2008-06-24T16:47:00.000-07:00

GAS STATION & CONVINIENCE STORE HIT

2008-06-20T18:16:00.000-07:00

The ARCO gas station located at 7594 University Avenue was robbed at gun point on June 18, around 6:30 a.m. The suspect, described as a Hispanic male, 5'6'', medium build with black hair and a goatee, threatened the clerk with a gun and took an undisclosed amount of cash from the cash register.
It was an active day for thieves, approximately at 3:35 a.m., the La Mesa Police Department received what they described as a “Panic Alarm” activation from the 7-11 store located at 4253 Palm Avenue. Dispatchers called the store and spoke to the clerk who stated that he had just been robbed by a white male adult at knife point.
The suspect displayed a knife and demanded the clerk to open the register and took an unknown amount of cash and fled northbound on Palm Avenue. No vehicle was seen.
The suspect was described as a white male, 20-25 years old, 5’9” to 5’11” tall, 180-200 pounds, wearing a black “Hoodie” pulled over his head, black pants and gloves.
In both cases the stores surveillance videos are being checked.
Anyone with information regarding this robberies is encouraged to contact the
La Mesa Police Department at (619) 667-1400.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

2008-06-16T22:41:00.001-07:00

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

2008-06-16T22:09:00.000-07:00

La Mesa Police Department interviews a woman after she was seen driving erratically in a shopping center parking lot last night.

After searching her vehicle the woman was prevented from driving her car and was cited.

LA MESA FLAG DAY PARADE

2008-06-12T17:20:00.000-07:00

LA MESA FLAG DAY PARADE

2008-06-12T17:06:00.000-07:00

LA MESA FLAG DAY PARADE

2008-06-12T16:33:00.000-07:00

La Mesa's Annual Flag Day Parade began with two free patriotic concerts; one featuring La Mesa Middle School Band, and the second featuring Granger Junior High Jazz Band.

The Parade kicked off at ten a.m.

This year's invited Grand Marshals were the 2007 AFC West Division Champions San Diego Chargers.

Six marching units including the popular Marine Corps Band, marched in the parade along with floats, local service organizations, equestrian groups, drill teams, specialized vehicles, clowns, dogs, vintage cars, and pageant winners.

This was the 11Th La Mesa Annual Flag Day Parade.

CRIME OF OPPORTUNITY IN LA MESA

2008-06-11T20:13:00.000-07:00

This Chevron at 8200 University Avenue was robbed in a crime of opportunity when San Diego Gas & Electric cut the service to give maintenance to the area.

A door was broken and the thieves took cigarettes and beer from the location.

EDGAR'S LANDSCAPING

2008-06-06T17:23:00.000-07:00

Edgar's Landscaping crew quick response avoided an accident from oncoming traffic or pedestrians last night, when a tree fell late at night on a section of University avenue not well lit.

FALLEN TREE AT UNIVERSITY AVENUE

2008-06-06T17:18:00.000-07:00

Strong winds, lack of water?
Nobody knows what caused this tree to split and fall on University Avenue near Spring Street last night.

2008-04-22T19:39:00.000-07:00

TEENAGE CRIMES ON THE RISE

2008-04-22T18:56:00.000-07:00

It was 12:50 p.m. last Sunday when a teenager entered the gas station, walked towards the coolers, grabbed two 12 packs of beer and ran outside the store towards Orchard Street.
This scene is becoming more and more usual around La Mesa, and business owners think enough is enough and something's got to be done.
La Mesa Police Department takes this kind of criminal activity seriously but it's not at the top of their priorities when it comes to protect the city. Burglary, armed robbery, sexual assault, and homicides still take the lead when it comes to go after the criminals.
For residents and business owners one thing leads to the other, and if minors are not keep in check now, they will be the burglars, armed robbers, sexual predators, and killers of tomorrow.