By Miriam Raftery

June 30, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – A 28-year-old man is charged with vehicular homicide and felony driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, after a deadly head-on collision in Lemon Grove last night.

Sheriff’s deputies responded shortly before 8 p.m. to the crash in the 8400 block of Broadway, where they found the suspect beside a blue Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with major front-end damage.  According to Sergeant William Price, the man was “determined to be the driver and sole occupant of the blue truck at the time of the collision and had the strong odor of alcohol emanating from his breath and person.”

The sergeant adds ,”During the initial investigation, two open alcoholic beverages were found within the pickup, and a canister of nitrous oxide was located on the ground between the male and his truck.”

East County News Service

June 28,2025 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police have arrested three men and a juvenile for attempting to kill a teen boy, 17, insider Spencer’s at Parkway Plaza on June 24.

“One suspect pointed a handgun at the victim’s head and appeared to pull the trigger,” says Lieutenant Will Guerin. Fortunately, the weapon jammed and did not fire.

All four suspects fled the scene.  El Cajon Police detectives reviewed surveillance footage, which confirmed the assault and attempted murder. According to Lt. Guerin, the video clearly identified the suspects as Abraham Rodriguez, 19, Isidro Vazquez, 24, and Jermaine Taylor, 23, along with a 16-year-old male juvenile who was the shooter.

The Navy Southwest Band, shown here in 2013, is a regular part of the Sundays at Six summer concert series in La Mesa. (Photo by Karen Pearlman)

East County News Services

June 25, 2025 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa's Sundays at Six summer concert series continues this Sunday, June 29, with variety dance band Breez'n taking the stage from 6 to 7 p.m. at Harry Griffen Park.

This Sunday's free concert will also include the crowning of Miss La Mesa 2025, a person who will take over for the current Miss La Mesa, Samantha Luevano.

By Miriam Raftery

Image:  Lands proposed for sale in Rep. Darrell Issa's district

June 18, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Senate Republicans have slipped language into the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” budget reconciliation measure that would allow sale of up to 250 million acres of federal public lands in 11 states including California. 

The Wilderness Society calls this a “disturbing giveaway that sets an extremely dangerous precedent.”

A map of lands to be sold includes much of Cleveland National Forest in San Diego’s East County, as well as portions of Mt. Laguna and Pine Valley, plus large tracts of U.S. Forest and Bureau of Land Management lands in northeast county, desert areas near Anza Borrego Desert State Park, and even some coastal locations.

Over 16 million acres are proposed for sale in California, including Big Sur, an iconic and picturesque section of California’s coastline.

Find links to contact your Congressional members and Senators at the bottom of this article.

By Miriam Raftery

File photo: Homeless outreach workers offer help to an unsheltered person in an El Cajon park

June 19, 2025 (El Cajon) – The Regional Task Force on Homelessness has acknowledged that its 2025 Point in Time Count overstated the number of homeless people in the city of El Cajon. The report included 24 homeless individuals who were outside the city limits. 

Originally, the report listed 344 unsheltered people in El Cajon—a 21.6% rise over the prior year.  In fact, the increase was 13.07%, for a total of 320 unsheltered persons living on the streets.  The city also has 695 individuals living in shelters)

““Moving forward, to reflect this geographic area more accurately, the census tract designation will change from `El Cajon’ to `El Cajon, including unincorporated communities,”‘ the Task Force indicated.

The change follows criticisms from City Manager Graham Mitchell and Mayor Bill Wells over findings of the count done in January.

East County Wildfire and Emergency Alerts

Update June 20:  The #MonteFire has burned over 1,000 acres and is 65% contained.

Image by Josh Stotler, East County Magazine:  Helicopter scoops water to fight fire on day one of #MonteFire

June 18, 2025 (Lakeside)-- On day three of the #MonteFire,  976 acres have burned and the wildfire fire is 25% containment.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Office has lifted an evacuation order for an area off El Monte due to improved containment of the fire. If you had to evacuate your home in this area, it is now safe to return. All other evacuation orders and warnings, which are in remote areas away from homes, remain in place until further notice. To see maps of the affected areas, visit: https://protect.genasys.com/hazards/2f3488c6-736d-4161-aff6-a7729a7e28c0?z=14&latlon=32.89795864312755%2C-116.83490992590015 and https://emergencymap.sandiegocounty.gov/index.html.

The Temporary Evacuation Point at the Walmart Supercenter, located at 13487 Camino Canada in El Cajon, will be closed.

By Karen Pearlman

File photo by Miriam Raftery

June 18, 2025 (El Cajon) – Just weeks after they stood in San Diego Superior Court for a trial about code enforcement issues at their Fletcher Hills home, former El Cajon City Councilman Bessmon “Ben” Kalasho and his wife, Jessica Deddeh Kalasho, skipped out on a scheduled June 9 court hearing they were required to attend. There are now arrest warrants out for them, even as they are slated to appear in Superior Court here on a separate matter on July 2 (postponed from June 18). 

The June 9 hearing in San Diego Superior Court was to start the beginning of the couple’s eight-day jail sentences, which each received previously for criminal contempt-of-court findings.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Photo: Red areas are under mandatory evacuation orders as of 5 p.m. Yellow areas have evacuation warnings.  View interactive map here for latest evacuation updates. This is the county's map which has more details than others.  

Find out what evacuation zone you are in by typing your address here:  https://protect.genasys.com/search?z=14&latlon=32.794773%2C-116.962527

Update 6:44 p.m.-- Fire size: The fire is 340 acres and 10% contained, per Cal Fire.

Update 6:18 p.m.  Road closures: Due to the #MonteFire, the following roads are closed to thru traffic and open to residents only: • Lake Jennings Rd & El Monte Rd • El Monte Rd @ Omas Rd • Willow Rd @ Omas Rd, per CHP.

Update 5:19  p.m. -- Animal evacuation:  Large animals can be evacuated to Dianne Jacob Equestrian Park, 11055 Moreno Ave, Lakeside. Small animals can be evacuated to Humane Society shelter at 5821 Sweetwater Rd, Bonita.

Update 4:34 p.m.- The fire is now 312 acres, per Cal Fire with zero percent containment.

June 17, 2025 (Lakeside) -- Evacuations have been ordered in the fast-moving #MonteFire in Lakeside’s El Monte Valley.  The fire began at 15900 El Monte Rd. near El Monte Park and the San Diego River. Cal Fire says the fire has potential for extended attack.

El Monte Rd. is closed at Yucca Rd.

A very large air tanker has been ordered, per scanner traffic.

A temporary evacuation point has been set up at the Walmart Supercenter, 13487 Camino Canada, El Cajon per Genasys. .

For a map and more information go to www.AlertSD.org

The fire has reached the ridgeline, per Watch Duty App.