Reviewed By Jessyka Heredia

June 27, 2023 (Lemon Grove) -- Buon appetito!  Take a culinary stroll with ECM as we review AnniVenti La Trattoria in Lemon Grove with fresh Italian dishes created from family recipes and a modern twist inspired by the owners' family business in Palermo, Italy.

Story and photos by Shiloh Ireland

June 27, 2023  (Lakeside) – A vacant home went up in flames on Saturday 9727 Petite Lane in Lakeside.

Officials said the home was unoccupied, but being renovated.

Story and Photos By: Josh Stotler

Photo, left:  A San Diego Helitack crew heads into the smoke to clear crush as the Proctor fire burns in the background.

June 24, 2023 (Jamul)-- Crews from CAL FIRE and Inmate fire crews are still on the scene at the #ProctorFire this evening, mopping up and dousing hot spots. All   road closures and evacuation orders have been lifted.

The  brush fire was reported off Proctor Valley Road around 5:23 pm. Units were dispatched to the scene and reported the blaze burning in medium vegetation with a medium rate of spread. Due to vegetation drying out and homes in the area, the fire was upgraded; more air and ground units were called in.

East County News Service

June 24, 2023 (Spring Valley) – California Highway Patrol is searching for the drivers of a red SUV and a silver sedan which each struck a 50-year-old woman in Spring Valley shortly before 10 p.m. on June 22, then fled the scene.

The woman was walking northbound on Jamacha Blvd. east of Lamplighter Village Drive when she was hit by the red  SUV, which was traveling west on Jamacha.  The impact knocked the victim to the ground. While she was lying on the roadway, she was struck a second time by the silver sedan.

The woman sustained major injuries and died at the scene.

“Both vehicles were last seen fleeing the scene, westbound on Jamacha Blvd.,” says Officer Matthew Baranowski with the California Highway Patrol. 

East County News Service

Photos by Shiloh Ireland

Photo, left:  Burned vehicle after it was removed from the ravine

June 23, 2023 (Lakeside) – A car plummeted off State Route 67 into a ravine, igniting dry brush, sparking the #Foster Fire this afternoon.

The blaze began at State Route 67 near Foster Trail and Slaughterhouse Canyon in Lakeside, according to Cal Fire.

ECM reporter Shiloh Ireland says the driver, conscious but injured, has been transported to a hospital.

By Miriam Raftery

June 23, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – Michael Perez, an attorney who runs the nonprofit Imago Dei (operating as 29: Eleven), with his wife, a dream to restore two historic buildings in Lemon Grove. They wanted to open up a home for women who are struggling, including pregnant women in need of shelter and mothers with babies. Since buying the property in 2008, however, Perez told ECM, “We’ve been in a constant struggle with the city of Lemon Grove over building permits.”  

He described a nightmare of obstacles in the permitting process, as well as frustrations with the Sheriff’s department for not being responsive to his pleas for help to keep out homeless people who repeatedly broke down barriers to camp out inside.

Then last week, a fire destroyed one of the two buildings, a house originally built in the 1930s by Dr. Ebon McGregor. The other building, which once served as Dr. McGregor’s was spared. The site is on Main Street, next to city hall in the heart of Lemon Grove.

“My wife and I both cried when we heard about it,” Perez told ECM. “We’re going to trust  God,” he said, adding that he still hopes to  find a way to bring the nonprofit’s services to the site. “I think it’s needed.”

Watch full video

June 22, 2023 (El Cajon) – Last Tuesday, staff and parents with opposing views came to the Cajon Valley School Board meeting to be heard. With well over 200 people in attendance the Cajon Valley boardroom was overflowing with outrage and passion. LGBTQ  rights were at the forefront of the debate.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  former homeless camp in unincorporated El Cajon later cleared by the County, which opened a safe parking lot on the site

June 22, 2023 (San Diego) – El Cajon’s City Council voted unanimously on June 13 to direct staff to draft an ordinance prohibiting camping on any public property, such as sidewalks and parks.  The ordinance would mirror a similar, controversial ordinance adopted by the San Diego City Council 5-4 on the same date.

By Miriam Raftery

June 21, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – Two drownings, one fatal, two days apart in Lakeside prompted East County Magazine to dive into the circumstances and the victims’ lives. Our coverage has resulted in two awards from the Society of  Professional Journalists presented at last night’s awards ceremony.

Shiloh Ireland’s article, Who was Thomas Moreno? received first place in the daily reporting profile category. The piece profiled a man whose body was found in a Lakeside pond, his hope to reunite with his adult children after prison, and suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

A shocking video provided by a community member, Angel New, led to our article, Heroic bystander and deputies save drowning woman in Lindo Lake. Miriam Raftery and Shiloh Ireland shared SPJ’s third place award for breaking news in the daily reporting category.  The article documented a shocking delay by deputies to take action while a homeless woman was drowning in Lindo Lake. A bystander ultimately entered the water, and only then did law enforcement officials help to save her life. ECM grilled multiple officials in an effort to seek answers and accountability.

Our coverage depends on your support.  Will you please donate to help us report on more important stories in our region? Give now.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Photo courtesy of Cal Fire

June 21, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) --  The #Border14Fire is burning in vegetation near Marron Valley Road and Border Road in the Copper Canyon area south of Dulzura. 

On the Mexican side of the border, around 20 acres have burned,  but thus far the fire has been held to five acres on the U.S. side.

Multiple air tankers and helicopters have been making drops, stopping the forward progress of the flames,  Cal Fire reports.

Story and Photos By Josh Stotler

June 20, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) --  Federal, state, and tribal fire departments battled the #Blackwood Fire this afternoon, which threatened homes before crews halted the blaze at 37 acres.

The fire broke out around noon on the Campo Reservation just off interstate 8 on Black Wood Rd and Old Mine Rd.  Initial responders confirmed a vegetation fire and immediately upgraded the incident, calling for more ground units as well as air support.

Update June 21, 2023 -- The Medical has confirmed that the body recoveredis that of the missing hiker,Richard Oliver,28, from Rancho Cucamonga

East County Magazine

File photo of Three Sisters Falls, by MIriam Raftery

June 19, 2023 (Julian)  Volunteer divers with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department Reserve Unit found a body just before 1:30 p.m. today. The body was recovered underwater in the middle pool of Three Sisters Falls, the same area where a missing hiker was last seen on Friday, June 16.

The man was last seen swimming there went he went underwater and never came up.

“For four days, deputies with the Alpine Sheriff's Station, Julian Sheriff's Substation, Sheriff's ASTREA helicopter, CAL FIRE and U.S. Forest Service continuously searched for the man,” the Sheriff’s department announced in a press release.  “The water current was too dangerous for divers to attempt a search underwater until today.”

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Dan Rigger

June 19, 2023 (Jamul) – Cal Fire has filed a lawsuit in San Diego Superior Court against the parents of two young children, seeking to recover $675,000 in costs for fighting the Skyline Fire in Jamul three years ago. The suit alleges that parents “negligently” supervised their children while camping at Skyline Truck Trail and that a fire started by their two young children on June 11, 2020 spread into the brush and onto neighboring property.

East County News Service

June 18, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – Windy weather is forecast tonight through Monday in San Diego County’s mountain and desert areas.

The National Weather Service predicts west winds of 25-35 miles per hour, with gusts up to 60 mph, strongest in mountain passes. This will create hazardous driving conditions for high-profile vehicles. In addition, blowing sand and dust could reduce visibility in the desert.