Update August 14, 2022:  The Medical Examiner's office has identified the 50-year-old man as Thomas Moreno. Moreno's family have been notified of his death. The cause and manner of his death remain under investigation, the Sheriff's office reports.

Updated August 1 at 5 p.m. with additional information from the Sheriff's department.

East County News Service

Photos by Shiloh Ireland Photography

August 1, 2022 (Lakeside) -- The body of a man around 50 years old was found this morning in a pond south of Willow Road near Moreno, east of State Route 67 in Lakeside. The Sheriff's Search and Rescue Dive Team responded to a call and recovered the body.

The man was wearing shorts with no shirt. Authorities indicated there were no obvious signs of trauma. The vicitm may have gone swimming and drowned, though the County Medical Examiner is slated to conduct an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.

At this point the death is suspicious in nature however, there is no indication of foul play. The circumstances of this incident are still under investigation," says Lieutenant Chris Steffan.

East County News Service

July 26, 2022 (Lakeside) – The owner of Shiloh Ireland Photography sent in these photos taken at the Lakeside Rodeo grounds on July 17, including an action shot of a junior barrel racer.

East County News Service

July 18, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – Today, Assemblymember Akilah Weber, MD, held a press conference to announce success in securing $51,550,000 dollars in state funds in the budget signed by Governor Gavin Newsom for several projects in her 79^th Assembly district.

East County News Service

County News Service contributed to this report

July 15, 2022 (Lakeside) – Fire crews from Cal Fire are treating brush along Wildcat Canyon Road in Lakeside with Phos-Chek fire retardant. The treatment limits the spread of fire from the road by limiting the flammability of the fuel, in this case brush and grass.

East County News Service

July 13, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) -- San Diego County Clerk Ernie Dronenburg expanded office hours this summer to offer a new “Love After Hours Evening Wedding Services” program. Couples may book an appointment for an evening wedding on the following Wednesdays this summer: July 20, August 10, and September 14, between 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

By Mike Allen

July 9, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) -- The agency managing the East County Advanced Water Purification (AWP) program took another step toward legally confiscating a sewage pumping station that now belongs to the city of San Diego.

East County News Service

Photo by Rebecca Jefferis-Williamson

July 3, 2022 (Santee) – Erica Wahlberg, 40, died in a hospital, where she was admitted June 28 after suffering medical distress at the Las Colinas Detention facility in Santee.

By Mike Allen

June 28, 2022 (Santee) -- While members of the Santee City Council say they adamantly oppose marijuana use, they also can’t ignore the escalating tax dollars other cities are reaping from the sale of the drug.

East County News Service

June 22, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) -- SANDAG and Caltrans are seeking public input on their San Vicente Comprehensive Multimodal Corridor Plan (CMCP), which will involve transportation improvements in the Lakeside, Santee, Poway, and Ramona communities. The goal of the project is to balance future transportation needs while also preserving existing rural and community characteristics including the natural landscape of mountains, hills, valleys, lakes, and creeks.

By Mike Allen

June 21, 2022 (Santee) -- Kyle Swanson responds to a question about the safety of the drinking water to be produced at the East County Advanced Water Purification (AWP) plant in a way that conveys a sure grasp and confidence in the science behind the $950 million project.

By Mike Allen

June 13, 2022 (Santee) -- After the Santee City Council voted last week to remove the Fanita Ranch project initiative from the November ballot, environmental activist Van Collinsworth called the move not only a slap in the face of local voters, but a clear message that the 3,000-unit development will never go to a vote.

The Council voted unanimously June 8 to take an earlier approved referendum on the project off the ballot because all pf the project’s legal approvals were already rescinded last month. The Council removed those approvals made in 2020 to comply with a judge’s recent ruling, which found the project’s environmental impact report deficient.

That report did not include impacts of a last-minute change by the Council to eliminate a key exit route in case of a wildfire evacuation, a lapse which the court found violated the California Environmental Quality Act requirements.

Source:  Santee Lakes

June 9, 2022 (Santee) - Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve is proud to announce our new Campground shade structure has been the perfect addition to our Campground! We would like to thank the American Melanoma Foundation (AMF) for partially funding this 30’x40’ structure to cover our playground in the campground and protect our camping kiddos.

By Mike Allen

Photo, left to right:  Allen Carlisle, Outgoing General Manager, Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Jeremy Bauer, Acting Deputy Director, Tribal, Intergovernmental and Policy Division, U.S. EPA Region 9, Deven Upadhyay, Chief Operating Officer and Assistant General Manager, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, David Gibson, Executive Officer at San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, Joel A. Scalzitti, Board Member, Helix Water District, Bill Pommering, Board President, Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Steve Goble, Joint Powers Authority Chair, East County Advanced Water Purification Program, San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson, Sandra Kerl, General Manager, San Diego County Water Authority, Jack Simes, Planning Officer, Bureau of Reclamation, Kyle Swanson, Incoming General Manager, Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Melissa McChesney, Communications Manager, Padre Dam Municipal Water District.  Photo courtesy East County Advanced Water Purification Program

June 1, 2022 (Santee) -- East County took a huge step toward greater water reliability and affordability today when regional officials broke ground on the $950 million Advanced Water Purification (AWP) project in Santee.

Source: Santee Summer Concerts

May 31, 2022 (Santee) -- The Santee Summer Concerts are back. After 38 years, concerts in Santee have become a tradition that draw crowds to a local park for free live music.

By Elijah McKee

May 8, 2022 (Lakeside) — Lakeside residents concerned with the Sheriff’s handling of the recent hate crime stabbing investigation still await clarity, while the 16 year-old boy charged in the attack on a teen girl has his next court appearance on June 6. He has pleaded not guilty on attempted murder and hate crime charges. His 15 year-old girlfriend was also recently rearrested for further involvement in the attack than previously thought. 

The boy’s father, who was present for the attack, has not been arrested. The District Attorney’s office has said the investigation is ongoing. 

The stabbing, which took place on April 16 around 11 p.m. at the Woodglen Apartments on Mapleview Street in Lakeside, was related to previous verbal altercations between the parties, who live near each other. Racial hate speech was present during these verbal incidents as well as during the physically violent escalation.