By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Elizabeth Hull, Helix Water District

December 7, 2016 (La Mesa) — Control of the Helix Water District board has shifted from a majority that voted to sharply increase water rates to a new majority that has pledged to resist new price hikes and if possible, roll back part of a five-year rate hike approved by outgoing board members. 

By Brian Trautman

December 8, 2016 (Cannonball, North Dakota) -- Over the past eight months, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North Dakota have been joined by more than 200 allied tribes and tens of thousands of non-Native activists for a nonviolent resistance campaign against Energy Transfer Partners’ (ETP) $3.8 billion Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). The pipeline, which has been projected to transport at least 470,000 barrels of oil per day over 1,100 miles from the Bakken oil field to an existing hub in Illinois for delivery to refineries on the Gulf Coast, was rerouted in 2014 from north of Bismarck to the south, taking it through unceded treaty lands of the Sioux. Pipeline construction over this altered route desecrated sacred ancestral sites, and, until last Sunday, was slated to cross the Missouri River at the Lake Oahe reservoir, which would have threatened the safety of the drinking water of the Standing Rock Sioux and millions of people downstream.

By Miriam Raftery

December 8, 2016 (San Diego) — Today, San Diego Registrar of Voters Michael Vu certified results in all races countywide. 

East County saw flips in several key races from election night to the final tally.  Here are the outcomes in some of East County’s closest races:

East County News Service

December 8, 2016 (La Mesa) — Susan Pierce, 59, was shot in the back at her La Mesa home on Keeney Street on December 6th, shortly before 9:30 p.m.  Now Sheriff’s deputies and U.S. marshals have arrested a 17-year-old teenage girl, who is a relative of the victim.

East County News Service

December 8, 2016 (San Diego) — Governor Jerry Brown has appointed former San Diego State Senator Marty Block to chair the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board.

By Miriam Raftery

December 7, 2016 (San Diego) – On December 3^rd, the Bernie Sanders Brigade hosted simultaneous solidarity vigils in  San Diego,  Los Angeles and San Francisco in support of the Standing Rock Sioux.  Locally, several dozen people participated in the vigil, including a contingent from  East County. The plight of tribal members seeking to block the Dakota Access oil pipeline has drawn worldwide attention.

By Liz Alper

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

December 7, 2016 (Phoenix) - Tonight, the San Diego State Aztecs men’s basketball team traveled to Phoenix to take on Grand Canyon, a small school with a big basketball team.

Aztec senior picks up third career All-America honor

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

December 7, 2016 (San Diego) - San Diego State’s Donnel Pumphrey was named a 2016 Sporting News Second-Team All-American, the publication announced Wednesday. The Aztec senior was one of just four running backs to appear on both the first and second-team lists, which included 26 players apiece.

By Kathy Carpenter

Associate/Youth Reviewer www.sdtheatrereviews.com

December 7, 2016 (El Cajon) - Peace on Earth, good will toward men. This is the time of year for giving. Give yourself a gift by taking time away from the stress of shopping, baking, social events, wrapping, the list goes on ... Add time for yourself helping others. For$7.00 you can't even go to a movie,  but you can enjoy going toyouth theatre. The look on the faces of the cast as they look out and see a full audience is priceless.

East County News Service

December 7, 2016 (Alpine) –  The Alpine Fire Protection District (AFPD) has been awarded a $35,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for Rescue Extrication Equipment.  The AFPD will use the funds to purchase modern life-saving equipment capable of safely assisting firefighters in extricating victims trapped in motor vehicle collisions. 

Listen now:  Hear  this week's Destination East County by clicking the orange audio link.

East County News Service

December 7, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) - This week’s Destination East County includes several Christmas theatrical productions, La Mesa’s Holiday in the Village celebration, Victorian teas in Julian, and a holiday wine trail in Ramona.

Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including Santa’s reindeer at Grossmont Center, a singing and clogging fiddler at Parkway Plaza, full moon fishing at Santee Lakes, a Jingle Concert by the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus at Sycuan, an excursion to Split Mountain in the Anza Borrego Desert, and a winter solstice hike to the top of Cowles Mountain.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

By Billie Jo Jannen

December 6, 2016 (Campo) - A celebration of life is planned for longtime Campo resident Carol Yates on Dec. 9. Mrs. Yates died in her home on November 13, 2016, at the age of 85.

She is remembered as an active auxiliary member of the John Finn VFW Post 2080 and of the Mountain Empire Homemakers Club. She worked for many years at the historic Dogpatch bar -- which burned down in 1987 -- in the Canyon City neighborhood of Campo. In recent years, she was a well-known face at senior lunches at the community center in Campo.

East County News Service

December 6, 2016 (San Diego) -- Shortly after being sworn in as the senator representing California’s 39^th District on Monday, Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) introduced legislation, SB 2, to create a permanent source of funding for affordable housing.

Story and photos by Liz Alper

Full quotes courtesy James Solien

December 6, 2016 (San Diego) - The San Diego State Aztecs football team will play Houston in the Las Vegas Bowl on December 17.  With a week off (barring practice), coach Rocky Long, senior defensive end Dakota Turner and junior tight end David Wells sat down with the media at this week's press conference.