By Miriam Raftery

August 1, 2019 (El Cajon) – A jury in a civil trial has ruled that an El Cajon Police officer was justified in shooting and killing Alfred Olango on Sept. 27, 2016.  Olango’s sister ,Lucy,  had called 911 to ask for help for her brother, who was reportedly suffering a mental health crisis and walking into traffic.

While another officer pointed a taser at Olango, Officer Richard Gonsalves asked Olango to remove his hands from his pocket,. Olango pulled out a silver and black vape smoking device that resembled a gun and pointed it at the officer, assuming a shooter’s stance at point blank range.

By Miriam Raftery

August 1, 2019 (Santee) – Off Broadway Live Theatre in Santee will present a live musical play, “Roadshow,” on Sunday Sept. 29 at 3 p.m.   The performance follows a roadshow as singers barnstorm across the country to win a record deal.

By Miriam Raftery

July 31, 2019 (Valley Center) – My daughter and I savored a soothing summer’s eve at Keys Creek Lavender Farm in Valley Center, partaking of an outdoor high tea on a shaded patio--an idyllic way to relax and indulge in some scrumptious treats.

After rambling down winding country roads, we arrived to be greeted with a hand-washing station complete with a lavender sugar scrub that left our hands not only clean, but soft and smooth.  I recommend arriving early to take a stroll past lavender fields, albeit past the peak spring bloom season.  

By Miriam Raftery

July 31, 2019 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon branch of the County Library has closed unexpectedly due to major maintenance and repair issues.

“Based on the best information I have, they anticipate re-opening the library on Friday,” Assistant City Manager Vince DiMaggio advised the Mayor and City Council in an e-mail.

The Library’s website confirms that reopening is expected Friday at 9:30 a.m.

By Miriam Raftery

July 30, 2019 (Julian) – In a precedent-setting case over preservation of agricultural land protected under California’s Williamson Act, California’s Fourth District Court of Appeal has published a decision that reverses a Superior Court ruling in Cleveland National Forest Foundation et al. v. County of San Diego. 

The July 25th decision held that San Diego County officials acted wrongly when they approved a map for a housing subdivision  on the 1,400-acre Hoskings Ranch near Julian. The court found the Genesee Properties project would have set the stage to replace ranching with residential development--all while allowing the property owner to enjoy tax breaks intended to keep the land in agriculture.

East County News Service

July 30, 2019 (Spring Valley) - Saps at Sea, the San Diego chapter of the Sons of the Desert, the official Laurel & Hardy fan society, invites you to their next meeting on August 31 at 6:30 p.m. in Williams Hall at Trinity Presbytarian Church in Spring Valley. 

Source:  City of La Mesa

July 30, 2019 (La Mesa) - Enjoy two free outdoor movies as part of the 2019 Summer Movies in the Parks series. Movies are free to the public and will be shown on a large screen. Bring a picnic along with a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy this family activity in the park. Movies will begin at dusk. 

Source: City of El Cajon 

July 30, 2019 (El Cajon) - Earlier today, the City of El Cajon announced the appointment of Captain Mike Moulton as the next Chief of Police. Moulton replaces Chief Jeff Davis who will retire on September 12, 2019. Mike Moulton, 44, has worked for the El Cajon Police Department for the past twenty-four years.

East County News Service

July 29, 2019 (Ramona) – The Ramona Chamber of Commerce will present the 49th annual Ramona Country Fair, Thursday, Aug. 1 to Sunday, Aug. 4 at the Ramona Outdoor Community Center, 431 Aqua Lane, Ramona. Admission to the fair is free.

UPDATE July 29, 2019 8:20 a.m.:  The fire has burned 150 acres and is now 50 percent contained, Cal Fire reports.  One lane of Dehesa Rd. has been opened for traffic according to the Dept. of Public Works.

UPDATE 8:38 p.m.:  Forward spread has been halted. The fire has burned 50 acres and is now 10% contained.  Dehesa Rd. is closed at Willow Glen Dr. on the west and Harbison Canyon Rd. on the east.  Three homes remain evacuated but no structures were damaged and none are threatened. Cal Fire, the USFS, Sycuan Fire, San Miguel Fire, San Diego Sheriff, CHP and County Animal Control are at the scene, where 17 engines are working on the fire. Mop-up is underway/

UPDATE  7:09 p.m.:  Per the Incident Commander, the fire is now estimated to be 50 acres and 0% contained. 3 homes have been voluntarily evacuated along Dehesa Rd but no evacuation warnings or orders have been issued. There are no homes that are currently being threatened.

East County News Service

July 28, 2019 (Dehesa) - Cal Fire is responding to a reported vegetation fire in the area of Dehesa Rd. near Sycuan Summit Dr. The fire is 25 acres with a moderate rate of spread.

View photos:

Photo right: View from Target in Rancho San Diego, by Paul Kruze.

Photo, left: Smoke acros East County, by Andy Calderon

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Source:  Caltrans 

July 28, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) - Motorists are advised to watch for full connector closures along Interstate 8 (I-8) in the mountain areas of eastern San Diego County weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for pavement work, according to Caltrans. Full closures will take place at one intersection at a time in the coming week as follows:

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Update 10:30 p.m.  The fire is 2 acres and fire spread has been stopped. Firefighters will remain at scene overnight and into the morning to complete containment line and mop-up, per Cal Fire.

Photos by Chet Kalinowska

July 25, 2019 (Warner Springs) -- Lightning has sparked a brush fire on the Los Coyotes reservation in the Warner Springs area. The fire has burned approximately 1.5 acres as of 7:30 p.m., below the historic Hot Springs overlook.

Cal Fire reports that air resources are holding the fire's spread to a minimum while ground crews gain acces in difficult terrain to build a hand line around the #Springsfire.

Federal firefighters from Cleveland National Forest are assisting Cal Fire on the fire including two helicopters, a hot shot crew, chief officer, fire engine and a water tender.

By Miriam Raftery

July 9, 2019 (El Cajon) – The East County Leadership Council will host its second annual regional issues forum on July 27 from 1-3 p.m. at the El Cajon Library (201 E. Douglas Ave. in El Cajon).

East County News Service

July 26, 2019 (El Cajon) – Keller Williams Realty San Diego East Foothills in El Cajon, one of the largest residential real estate brokerages in San Diego County, has named Eric Tai as team leader. The announcement was made by Joe Garzanelli, broker, Keller Williams Realty San Diego East Foothills.