Former Helix Exec's Severance, 'Taste' Photos, Embezzlement Guilty Plea

At La Mesa-Mount Helix Patch, we know that in your busy lives there may be some stories that you can't read about the day they happen. With the "Week That Was" column, we'll provide a roundup of the most important stories of the week.

Lizeth Ochoa, the former Drew Ford employee who was arrested in January in connection with alleged embezzlement of more than $800,000 from the dealership, pled guilty to the charges and will be sentenced in August. She is facing four years or more in prison.

Questions continue to surround the mysterious circumstances which led to former Helix Charter High School executive director Rani Goyal's resignation from the school just days before graduation. Last week, La Mesa-Mount Helix Patch reported that Goyal received a severance package of $56,000. It is still not known why Goyal chose to resign.

A spate of robberies and burglaries hit the La Mesa area last week. In multiple cases, helpful info from neighbors helped police apprehend suspects.

A recent study detailed statistics of childhood obesity in the state of California, and in San Diego County. In La Mesa, the childhood obesity rate sits at 37 percent, slightly lower than the state average (38 percent), but higher than the average across the county (34 percent).

The always-popular "Taste of La Mesa" event was attended by hundreds of hungry residents last week. Put on by the Chamber of Commerce, guests were treated to food and beverages from more than 30 local restaurants.