Story and photos by Shiloh Ireland

December 23, 2022 (Lakeside) - Wesley Maddocks of San Diego County Parks and Recreation featured Snow Day at Lindo Park in Lakeside.

"It has been a dream of our directors to bring snow to our parks," says Maddocks.

Twenty tons of ice were donated for this event and the crowd grew to approximately 150 as kids arrived from school. Santa sat patiently for the children to hear their Christmas wishes. It looked like all the participants had a fun afternoon.

View a video by Billy Ortiz of water flowing into Lindo Lakes.

View an earlier video of stilts in low water. 

View a Facebook page created by Ortiz with photos of wildlife at Lindo Lakes.

June 22, 2013 (Lakeside) – Migratory shorebirds at risk for nesting areas drying out will be saved, thanks to an inquiry from Lakeside resident Billy Ortiz, a volunteer with the Lakeside River Park Conservancy. 

“I am happy to inform that as of June 21, 2013 San Diego County Parks and Recreation is pumping fresh water into Lindo Park Lake’s East basin,” Ortiz informed ECM today. The decision is a result of a request made in late May by Ortiz, also an ECM photographer and publicity chair of the Lakeside Hisotrical Society.

 Update 2:05 p.m. - The suspect is identified as Kenny Lee Walker, 45. 

"Deputies have the place surrounded and under containment. We're still trying to convince him to come out," Detective Tom Poulin told ECM. However the suspect has made threats to harm himself and officers. He says he's going to shoot it out with deputies and then shoot himself," said Poulin, who added that the suspect was wanted for slashing his wife's tires and is believed to be armed with a handgun.  

Update 10:50 a.m.  -- Lindo Lake Elementary and El Capitan High schools are on lockdown as a precaution, ECM news partner 10 News now reports.

May 7, 2012 (Lakeside) 10:40 a.m. – A suspect who wanted on a domestic violence charge has barricaded himself into a residence on Lakeshore Drive in Lakeside.  The suspect is believed to be armed. 

“They’re going to call a SWAT team out,” Detective Tom Poulin with the Sheriff’s substation in Santee told EC, while en route to the situation.  The suspect has been wanted for “a couple of days,” he added.