East County News Service

Photo credit: Mounarath-Powell Productions

September 9, 2021 (La Mesa) -- Mounarath-Powell Productions presents “Movement Makers,”  a choreographer’s showcase, Thursday through Saturday, September 16-18 at 8 p.m. in the Visionary Performance Space, 8674 La Msea Blvd. in La Mesa.   

By Miriam Raftery

August 31, 2021 (In-Ko-Pah) – James Coe, 63, of Arizona, has died after being rescued from a fiery rollover crash shortly after 3 p.m. yesterday on Interstate 8 eastbound at In-Ko-Pah Road in Jacumba, near the San Diego and Imperial County line.

East County News Service

August 31, 2021 (Descanso) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced temporary closure through September 17 at noon of national forests across California, including Cleveland National Forest in San Diego County.  The aim is to protect the safety of firefighters and the public during high fire danger conditions, with wildfires raging across much of the state. Locally, the closure includes popular hiking trails such as Cedar Creek Falls and Three Sisters Falls as well as the Hauser and Pine Creek wilderness areas and more.

East County News Service

August 31, 2021 (San Diego) – The California Highway Patrol is asking for witnesses to two freeway shootings early this morning by a shooter in a black four-door sedan who remains at large. The shootings injured two motorists.

The first shooting occurred around 2:14 a.m. on north I-805 in Imperial Avenue; the second occurred about 11 minutes later on east State Route 94 east of College Grove Way near Lemon Grove.

Below are details provided by the CHP:

August 31, 2021 (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:

LOCAL

• ​Grossmont Center, family-owned for 60 years, sells to firm with redevelopment plans (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Ramona School Board bans teaching of race theories (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Legal Marijuana Shops Are Taking on the Black Market (Voice of San Diego)
• Angry County Meeting on COVID Rules: ‘We’re Coming After Every One of You’ (Times of San Diego)
• Bankruptcy for OAN? Dominion Libel Suit Imperils San Diego Cable Outlet (Times of San Diego)
• California Border Patrol agents fired upon from Mexico while detaining migrants in mountain range (Fox)
• Supervisors OK proposal for more law enforcement on illegal pot shops (Fox5)

STATE

• Caldor Fire Grows 15 Miles Overnight in California, Nearing Nevada Border (Newsweek)
• Visiting the hospital or a nursing home? Have your vaccination card ready (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Court rules California gig worker initiative is unconstitutional (Reuters)
• Kevin Faulconer blasts California recall rival Larry Elder over past comments on women (Sacramento Bee)
• Toxic algae bloom considered in death of California family in Sierra National Forest (Press Democrat)
• Drought-stricken California on Thursday shut down one of its largest hydroelectric plants because there's not enough water to power it. (KPBS)
• RFK assassin Sirhan granted parole with support of 2 Kennedys  (San Diego Union-Tribune) 
• California could require COVID-19 vaccines at indoor restaurants, bars, gyms and more (Mercury News) 

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

August 30, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Last U.S. troops leave Afghanistan after 20 years of war (Time)
• U.S. winds down Kabul mission after helping evacuate 116,000 people in just over 2 weeks (CNBC)
• Hurricane Ida left over 1 million still without power, thousands without water and at least 3 dead (ABC News)
• Biden faces unfinished mission of evacuating Americans (The Hill)
• The Food Stamp Program SNAP Gets A 25% Increase, The Largest In Its History  (NPR)
• Senate passes a blueprint for transforming America    (CNN)
• Schumer sets September voting rights fight after GOP blocks quick debate (The Hill)
• Judge Sanctions Trump Allies And Orders Legal Education For Failed Election Lawsuit  (NPR)
• Exclusive: FBI finds scant evidence U.S. Capitol attack was coordinated - sources (Reuters)

WORLD  

• With U.S. Out, Taliban Claim Victory as Afghans Confront Their Future   (New York Times)
• US troops disabled 73 aircraft, weapons systems before leaving Kabul, then the Taliban came (India Today)
• These Female Afghan Politicians Are Risking Everything For Their Homeland (NPR)
• At least 304 dead, 1,800 hurt as powerful quake slams Haiti (AP News)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

Over 110,000 airlifted out; military also working to remove equipment

East County News Service

Photos via U.S. Dept. of Defense

Update August 30, 2021 with information on civilian casualties from yesterday's drone strike.

AUG. 29, 2021 (Washington D.C.) – Today, U.S. military forces conducted a  strike that eliminated a vehicle filled with explosives that posed a threat to Hamad Karzai International airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. Capt. Bill Urban, CENTCOM spokesperson, states,

“We are confident we successfully hit the target. Significant secondary explosions from the vehicle indicated the presence of a substantial amount of explosive material,” Voice of America reports.

CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department
@CALFIRERRU
****Effective immediately, for all future updates on acreage, containment and Evacuation Orders and Warnings, go to -
@CALFIRESANDIEGO
*****
Update August 29, 2021 9 a.m.:  The #ChaparralFire hsa grown to 1,450 acres and is 10% contained.  A firefighter was injured and two structures have burned.

CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department reports:

#ChaparralFire Evening Update 8/28/22 9:10 PM - Fire remains 1,200 acres and 0% contained. All Evacuation ORDERS:WARNINGS remain in place overnight & until further notice. Final update tonight unless significant activity occurs.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo via Bing

August 28, 2021 (Washington D.C. ) -- The U.S. Department of Defense announced today the deaths of 13 service members in the Marines, Navy and Army who died Aug. 26, 2021, as the result of an attack by an ISIS splinter group, ISIS-K, while supporting evacuation operations at the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. 

Those killed include ten who served at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County:

• Staff Sergeant Darin T. Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah.
• Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, Ca.
• Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Neb.
• Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Ind.
• Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Mo.
• Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas.
• Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyo.
• Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, Ca.
• Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco, Ca.
• Hospitalman Maxton Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio.

“I extend my deepest, heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of the 1st Marine Division servicemen who lost their lives while heroically safeguarding the evacuation of thousands of U.S citizens and faithful allies from Hamid Karzai International Airport,” said Major General Roger Turner Jr., comamnder of the 1st Marine division, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. “Nine Marines and one Sailor paid the ultimate price to defend our nation and extend the reach of freedom beyond our shores."

President Biden has ordered flags flown at half-mast to honor the troops killed and pledge to swiftly hold accountable those responsible. One day later, a U.S.-led airstriked killed at least two ISIS-K leaders, the White House announced.

Below is the full list of fatalities suffered in all three branches of the armed services.

By Miriam Raftery

August 27, 2021 (La Mesa) – A suspect accused of striking an 82-year-old man on the head and carjacking his Jeep Cherokee in La Mesa yesterday morning is under arrest.  Tymody Wallace, 29, was arrested in Irvine on unrelated charges.

By Miriam Raftery

August 26, 2021 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa Police seek public help to find a suspect who assaulted an elderly, disoriented man and stole his 2016 silver Jeep Cherokee (CA license 7REG835) this morning. The vehicle is also still missing.