Communities

FATALITY CRASH ON I-8 CAUSES LONG TRAFFIC DELAYS IN ALPINE

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

January 4, 2022 (Alpine) – The driver of a blue Peterbuilt truck towing a double-axle flatbed Fontaine trailer was killed in an accident this afternoon on I-8 east of Dunbar Lane in Alpine.  All but one lane remains closed and a SIG Alert has been issued due to traffic delays of an hour or more.

According to Officer Travis Garrow with the California Highway Patrol, the as yet unidentified man applied the brakes and a load of steel sheet pile beams shifted forward, penetrating the back of the truck and impaling the driver.


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TERRA-GEN FINED HALF MILLION DOLLARS FOR FALSIFYING DATA ON WIND TURBINE ENERGY PRODUCTION

Story and photos by Miriam Raftery

Photo: Terra-Gen’s planned Campo Wind turbines would be twice as tall as those shown at the existing Kumeyaay Wind site in Campo.

January 3, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – Terra-Gen, the company slated to build a massive wind project on the Campo reservation, has been fined over a half million dollars following an investigation that accused the company of submitting “false or misleading information to the California System Operator (CAISO)” regarding the capabilities and output of a wind power facility owned by Terra-Gen’s subsidiary Cameron Ridge, LLC. 


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PASSAGES: RON BRADY, CONSTRUCTION LEADER AND PHILANTHROPIST

By Karen Pearlman

December 31, 2021 (La Mesa) -- Ron Brady was the founder of a high profile construction company, but it was the practice of philanthropy over the course of many decades that helped him develop some of his closest community ties.

A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Brady took over his father's business, the lath and plastering contracting firm E.F. Brady that started in 1946, and turned it into a successful construction business known as the Brady Companies. The Brady companies were instrumental in developing much of San Diego County, Los Angeles County and parts of Northern California. The companies specialize in drywall, plaster and lath that are geared toward major commercial projects.

Over the course of his lifetime, he and his wife, Mary Alice, gave away hundreds of thousands of dollars to different organizations, from Sharp Grossmont Hospital to the East County YMCA to the Boys and Girls Clubs of East County.


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GRANT RECIPIENT TO SPEAK ON INDIGENOUS TRADITIONS AT AAUW MEETING IN LA MESA JAN. 8

East County News Service

December 31, 2021 (La Mesa) - The La Mesa-El Cajon Branch of the American Association of University Women will open the new year with featured speaker Jessica Gutierrez Masini, a 2021 Fund grant recipient. Jessica will be speaking to the branch via zoom on January 8th  beginning at 10:00 a.m. about Indigenous peoples of San Bernardino County.


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MEDICAL CREW AND PILOTS KILLED IN EAST COUNTY PLANE CRASH IDENTIFIED

Photo, left: Learjet crash victims Tina Ward, Julian Bugaj, Laurie Gentz and Douglas Grande, clockwise from bottom. Photo via Oceanside Firefighters Association 3736 Facebook

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

Dec. 30, 2021 (El Cajon) -- Two flight nurses and two pilots have been identified as those lost in the Learjet 35A plane crash that occurred Dec. 27 in the Bostonia neighborhood of El Cajon.  

The plane was owned by Aeromedevac Air Ambulance. Tina Ward, Julian Bugaj, Laurie Gentz, and Douglas Grande, the Aeromedevac flight crew N88OZ, all perished in the crash.


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: COYOTE HUNTING

East County News Service

December 29, 2021 (Ramona) – Scott Lagace snapped a series of images of a coyote pouncing on a gopher mound in the Ramona Grasslands Preserve this week, but the prey eluded capture, much to the coyote’s consternation.

The wily coyote earlier camouflaged itself among a herd of cattle – apparently oblivious to the “no trespassing” sign posted.


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PLANE THAT CRASHED INTO BOSTONIA NEIGHBORHOOD WAS OWNED BY MEDJET; POWER OUT TO HUNDREDS IN AREA

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Screenshot from video posted by 10 News, an ECM news partner

Update December 28, 2021: The FAA reports that four people were on board the plane.

December 27, 2021 (El Cajon) -- A Lear jet owned by Med Jet LLC, an air ambulance company, crashed at 7:15 p.m. tonight at Pepper Drive and North Mollison Avenue in the Bostonia area of El Cajon.  The pilot and any passengers aboard the 10-seat plane are presumed dead following multiple explosions.  There are no reports of fatalities on the ground, ECM news partner Times of San Diego reports.

The crash spewed fiery wreckage across the neighborhood, damaged a vehicle and knocked out power to around 2,500 customers of SDG&E, the utility website indicates. Power is expected to be restored by 6 a.m. tomorrow. Traffic signals are also out in the vicinity.


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PLANE CRASH IN EL CAJON; SEVERAL SDG&E CUSTOMERS WITHOUT POWER

East County News Service

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

December 27, 2021 (El Cajon) - A small jet crashed tonight on the intersection of Pepper Drive and North Mollison Avenue in El Cajon around 7:15 p.m.

The plane crashed onto the street.  No injuries have been reported, but SDG&E reports that 632 customers have lost power due to two downed power lines.


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WINTER STORM WARNING: SNOWSTORM AND HIGH WINDS FORECAST MONDAY AND TUESDAY

By Miriam Raftery

December 26, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – Heavy snowfall is forecast Monday, along with wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour in San Diego’s mountain areas.  Snow is forecast to blanket local mountain communities including Pine Valley and Julian. Above 4,500 feet, four to eight inches of snow are forecast, with up to 16 inches above 6,500 feet at the highest peaks in San Bernadino and Riverside counties. 


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ROCK FALL CLOSES BUTTES PASS SLOT CANYON IN ANZA-BORREGO

By Miriam Raftery 

December 23, 2021 (Anza-Borrego) – Anza-Borrego Desert State Park today posted an alert on social media warning that the Buttes Pass Slot Canyon is closed until further notice due to a “difficult rockfall blocking the path.” 


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SANTEE’S STARLIGHT CIRCLE WELCOMES VISITORS TO VIEW HOLIDAY LIGHTS

East County News Service

December 23, 2021 (Santee) – Each year, residents in an area dubbed “Starlight Circle” decorate their homes elaborately for the holidays, drawing thousands of visitors.


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WET AND WILD HOLIDAY WEATHER

By Miriam Raftery

December 21, 2021 (San Diego) – If you’re traveling this week, be sure to allow extra time and drive with caution. Heavy rain is forecast for Thursday night and Friday, Christmas Eve, the National Weather Service predicts. Cool weather and lighter showers are expected to continue through the holiday weekend into next week.


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EL CAJON COUNCIL APPROVES HIRING MORE POLICE, OPPOSES MILEAGE TAX AND SUPPORTS HOME KITCHENS

By Elijah McKee

December 21, 2021 (El Cajon) — The El Cajon City Council tackled several County-level issues at its recent meeting on December 14.  

First, City Manager Graham Mitchell spoke about a rare opportunity to temporarily over-staff the police department with 10 new officers drawn laterally from other nearby agencies, in an effort to save the city money over the next three years. 

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, as many as 160 San Diego police officers may be facing termination in light of the city’s vaccine mandate. Meanwhile, El Cajon does not currently have such a mandate.


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: BOBCAT IN DEERHORN VALLEY

East County News Service

December 20, 2021 (Deerhorn Valley) – Tanner Valladares shared these photos he took of a bobcat on December 19 in Deerhorn Valley.  The photos were taken with a Samsung s21 Ultra at about 10x zoom.  

“The cat was about 75 yards off our back porch,” he says.


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IN STATE OF CITY ADDRESS, MAYOR WELLS HIGHLIGHTS PRIORITIES

By Miriam Raftery

December 20, 2021 (El Cajon)  In his State of the City address on December 14, El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells declared the City is in “excellent condition” despite challenges posed by the pandemic and more.


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SANTEE FIRE DISPLACES RESIDENTS, ONE SUFFERS SMOKE INHALATION

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Scott Lagace

December 20, 2021 (Santee) – A fire in an upstairs apartment in Santee on Sunday morning displaced eight residents. 


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BODY FOUND IN LAKESIDE TRAILER

By Miriam Raftery

December 19, 2021 (Lakeside) – Sheriff’s deputies responding to a report of a vehicle burglary in the 12100 block of State Route 67 in Lakeside yesterday afternoon made a grim discovery. While searching the area, deputies looked into a nearby travel trailer and found a body with signs of rigor mortis, says Lieutenant David Gilmore.


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EL CAJON CITY COUNCIL TABLES DISCUSSIONS ON SAFE PARKING PROGRAM AND RV REZONING AMIDST GROWING HOMELESS COMMUNITY

 

By Elijah McKee

 

Photo, left: Rebecca Branstetter, East County Homeless Task Force, testifies to El Cajon City Council

 

December 18, 2021 (El Cajon) — The El Cajon City Council addressed several agenda items at its last meeting that had potential to either help or hurt those in the homeless community who rely on cars or RVs. 

 

According to the East County Homeless Task Force (ECHTF), the Cajon Valley Union and Grossmont Union High School Districts serve a known homeless population of over 550 families, at least 30 of which are unsheltered and sometimes living in vehicles. 

 

However, after lengthy discussion, the two pressing items — a Safe Parking Program proposal and a zoning code update on RVs — were pushed off to a future meeting so that City staff could look at them in greater detail. Many who spoke at the meeting hoped to see clear actionable steps and less policy mazes on these issues, but the City Council sought to strike a balance. 


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EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL: BULLDOGS HAND EAGLES FIRST HOME LOSS OF SEASON IN CLOSE THRILLER

Story and photos by Liz Alper
 
December 17, 2021 (El Cajon) - Grossmont Union High School District may be on winter break, but high school sports keep right on chugging.  Ready for some basketball, ECM Sports traveled to El Cajon to see a great East County matchup featuring a team we don’t get to cover very often.  The Bulldogs traveled down the hill from Ramona to El Cajon to square off against the Eagles of Granite Hills.  Both teams are off to a great start to the season; the Granite Hills guys are 8-1 so far and are undefeated (6-0) at home.  The Ramona boys have just started their season, but are 2-1 so far.

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LEMON GROVE DRIVE-THROUGH FOOD AND HOLIDAY STOCKING DISTRIBUTION DECEMBER 18

East County News Service

December 17, 2021 (Lemon Grove) – Lemon Grove residents are invited to a drive-through food distribution on Saturday, December 18 from 9 a.m. for as long as supplies last at the Lemon Grove Recreation Center, 3131 School Lane. The Deputy Sheriff’s Association will also be on hand to pass out stockings for children (children must be in the car to receive a stocking).

Be sure your trunk is clear so food can be loaded and stay in the car; no walkups allowed.  The first 200 vehicles to arrive will be served and must show proof of Lemon Grove residency.


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CARJACKER ARRESTED IN EL CAJON AFTER CHASE FROM KEARNY MESA

By Miriam Raftery

December 16, 2021 (El Cajon) – Sheriff’s deputies deployed a spike strip on Interstate 8 East in El Cajon Tuesday night to help stop a suspected carjacker who forced an Amazon driver out of a delivery truck in Kearny Mesa. The driver drove a short distance on the shredded tires before he was surrounded by officers and arrested in the parking lot at Shadow Mountain Church on Greenfield Drive in El Cajon around10 p.m.


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MAN ARRESTED AFTER SWAT STANDOFF, THREATS OF VIOLENCE IN SPRING VALLEY

By Miriam Raftery

December 16, 2021 (Spring Valley) – A 39-year-old man surrendered to Sheriff’s deputies at 2 a.m. after barricading himself inside a home near Avocado Street and Bancroft Drive in Spring Valley.


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LA MESA CITY COUNCIL APPROVES DESIGN FOR DOWNTOWN DISTRICT SIGN

East County News Service

December 16, 2021 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa City Council has approved the La Mesa Village Association’s proposed downtown district sign at this week’s Council meeting.


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SENATOR JONES HELPS OUT AT FEEDING AMERICA EVENT

10 volunteers honored with Senate Certificates of Recognition

Source:  Senator Brian Jones

Photo: Senator Brian Jones loading food at the drive-thru distribution event and afterwards with Feeding San Diego volunteers (below right)

December 15, 2021 (Santee) – State Senator Brian W. Jones (R-Santee) worked alongside “Feeding America” volunteers today during a drive-thru food distribution event held at Grossmont College.

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TOW TRUCK DRIVER ACCUSED OF ARSON TURNS SELF IN, EL CAJON POLICE REPORT

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News

Update December 17, 2021:  Burton Kanehailue, who was in the New Mexico/Texas area, contacted El Cajon Police Department arson investigators, indicating he wanted to turn himself in to police. Kanehailue was subsequently taken into custody by the Socorro Police Department in New Mexico without incident. The tow truck stolen by Kanehailue was also recovered. Kanehailue is being held in New Mexico pending extradition to California, where he will face charges of arson and auto theft, says Lt. Randy Soulard with El Cajon Police.

December 15, 2021 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police seek public help to locate Burton Kanehailua, 29, a tow truck driver wanted for allegedly setting fire to C&D Towing before fleeing in a stolen C&D flatbed tow truck, which is a 2016 Dodge Ram 5500.  He is also known to drive an older-model white Volvo station wagon.

The suspect weighs about 320 pounds, is 5 feet 9 inches tall, and has brown hair and brown eyes.


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WINE AND CHEESE SOIREE DECEMBER 18 TO BENEFIT JULIAN TOWN HALL RENOVATION

East County News Service

December 15, 2021 (Julian) – Julian’s historic town hall, built in 1914, needs structural and safety upgrades. To restore it to its former glory and continue serving Julian residents and visitors, the Julian Chamber of Commerce is hosting a series of events including a wine and cheese soiree on December 18 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the town hall at 2129 Main Street in Julian.


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WARNINGS, WATCHES IN EFFECT ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AS STORM HITS REGION

By Miriam Raftery

December 14, 2021 (San Diego) – A powerful storm moving down from Orange and San Bernadino Counties into the San Diego region has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a high wind warning for San Diego County’s mountain and desert aeras, with gusts up to 70 miles per hour. A wind advisory is in effect for inland valleys. Along the coast, a gale warning and high surf advisory have been issued locally.

Snow is forecast late today and tonight down to 3,500 feet which could include areas such as Pine Valley and Descanso in addition to places at higher elevations such as Julian, Cuyamaca, Mount Laguna, and Palomar Mountain. If you must travel in the mountains, carry chains and be aware of hazardous conditions.

Flash floods are also possible late today and tomorrow as heavy rains pelt our region. Cleveland National Forest reminds drivers to turn around and don’t drive across flooded roadways, since even shallow swift-moving water can quickly sweep a vehicle downstream to deeper waters.


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LEMON GROVE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS DENIED OFF-SITE ALCOHOL PERMIT DURING TENSE COUNCIL HEARING

 

By Elijah McKee

 

December 14, 2021 (Lemon Grove) — “We are a mom and pop store,” said Alisha Hormiz, as she stood at the podium facing the Lemon Grove City Council. “We want to earn your trust, and to work with you every step of the way,” she pleaded. “So please give us a chance.”

 

Alisha and her spouse, Peter Hormiz, have run the Discount Market convenience store on the corner of Broadway and Main Street for the past 21 years. Recently, they requested City permission to sell ten percent of their inventory as alcohol, both to help them financially and to listen to their customers’ wishes. The Planning Commission denied their request for the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) they needed — an appeal to the City Council was now their final option to try to win their permit. 

Audio: 


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EL CAJON POLICE INVESTIGATE SHOOTING DEATH

East County News Service

December 13, 2021 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police are investigating a suspicious death after Sharp Grossmont Hospital reported a 29-year-old man with a single gunshot wound admitted by family members last night around 8:15 p.m. The man died of his injury upon arrival at the hospital.  

“At this time, it is believed the incident originated on the 500 block of Jeffree Street in the City of El Cajon,” says Sergeant James Juns with El Cajon Police. 


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LET IT SNOW! STORM TO BLANKET MOUTAINS MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

Update December 15, 2021 - Only a trace of snow fell at high elevations. There was no snow left in Julian as of  late morning, per the Julian webcam, and less than an inch at Mt. Laguna, per a representative of the Laguan Mountain Lodge.

By Miriam Raftery 

December 13, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – A winter storm is forecast to bring rain across our region starting today, with snow Tuesday in San Diego County’s mountainregions reaching elevations as low as 3,500 feet. 


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