Community Corner

Freeway Fires, Hoops All-Stars, and a Faux Cop Steals a Pot Stash

These stories and more as we take a look at the Week in Review on La Mesa-Mount Helix Patch.

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.

Traffic was halted on westbound Interstate 8 near the La Mesa/El Cajon border Friday when a man whose vehicle was on fire inadvertently started several small fires alongside the roadway as he drove.

The fires caused Grossmont High School to be evacuated for a short time, with students moving to the back fields. It tied up traffic as firefighters took about 30 minutes to put out the blazes. See photos.

Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Updating a story that was published last week, La Mesa Patch has learned that a woman's claims that she was kidnapped and held for a time in La Mesa were unfounded. La Mesa police confirmed that the claims were false, though it appears as though an incident of domestic violence did occur.

In school news, new data revealed the dropout and graduation rates of all of the local schools in the GUHSD. Mount Miguel had the highest dropout rate, but that number was still far below the state average.

Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Parkway Middle School and Grossmont High School were named California Distinguished Schools.

The La Mesa Police Department was held in high esteem last week, when new data revealed that our local cops had the highest "closure rate" of violent crimes in the whole of San Diego County, with a .580 percentage.

LMPD Was Tony Gwynn of the County in 2012 for Solving Violent Crimes

The now shuttered doors of the East County Performing Arts Center could be swinging open if a potential partnership between the city of El Cajon and the GUHSD comes to fruition. The district is proposing a partnership which would allow schools to use ECPAC for performances and graduations. No decision has been made, and no timeframe is in place.

GUHSD Partnership Could Re-Open East County Performing Arts Center

One man's need for weed reached criminal levels last week, as he allegedly posed as a police officer, entered a Spring Valley home, and robbed the resident of a stash of marijuana. It is not known how much pot was taken.

Man Who Posed as Cop Robs Spring Valley Resident of Marijuana Stash

Several local high school basketball players showed their stuff last week during the San Diego Senior High School All-Star games. Check out the great photos of both the boys and girls game, and see if you know any of the players.

Photos: South Wins Game of Runs in Boys High School All-Star Game

PHOTOS: South Storms Back to Win Girls High School All-Star Game 92-90


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