SUPERVISOR FLETCHER TO RESIGN AFTER SEXUAL MISCONDUCT LAWSUIT FILED

EAST COUNTY MAGAZINE HONORED BY SANTEE CHAMBER

ATTORNEY GENERAL BONTA SECURES COURT ORDER SANCTIONING GOOGLE FOR DESTROYING EVIDENCE IN ANTITRUST LAWSUIT

WHEN I WAS HER DAUGHTER: AWARD-WINNING MEMOIR BY LESLIE FERGUSON

MOTORIST DIES AFTER COLLISION WITH SCHOOL BUS IN RAMONA

FALLEN TREE DAMAGES FORMER POTRERO CAFÉ, NEXT TO HISTORIC STORE

SUPERVISOR FLETCHER QUITTING STATE SENATE BID TO RECOVER FROM PTSD, CHILD TRAUMA

FIELD OF DREAMS: THE CROWNING OF BULLS ONLY RODEO QUEENS IN LAKESIDE

SDSU MEN'S BASKETBALL: AZTECS FINAL FOUR BOUND

MID-YEAR BUDGET REVIEW SHOWS PROMISE FOR LEMON GROVE

LOCAL BEERS WIN BIG AT 2023 BREWERS CUP OF CALIFORNIA

AZTECS MEN'S BASKETBALL DEFEATS ALABAMA 71-64 TO ADVANCE TO ELITE EIGHT

SANTEE FIRE NOW 259 ACRES

 

Update 3:15 p.m.  The fire has jumped to 259 acres, Viejas Fire Chief Don Butz has informed ECM. "It's in a very inaccessible area," said Butz, adding that the forward spread of the fire has been slowed.

June 26, 2010 (Santee) - A vegetation fire that began late this morning north of Santee is now approximately 70 acres in size, according to Heartland Fire dispatch.  The fire is burning westward into federal property in the adjacent Miramar area.

 

The blaze is not yet contained, however the forward spread of the fire is slowing, Heartland informed East County Magazine. Currently there are 100 firefighting personnel, five hand crews and three helicopters battling the blaze. Fixed wing aircraft have been released. 

JOHNS FLUSHED: UNDERCOVER STING NABS 14 FOR SOLICITING PROSTITUTION IN EL CAJON

 

June 25, 2010 (El Cajon) – An undercover operation by the El Cajon Police Department yesterday targeted males soliciting acts of prostitution from women on the streets of El Cajon. With assistance from the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, 14 individuals were arrested yesterday during the six-hour operation.

LA MESA AND SANTEE PAGEANTS ANNOUNCE 2nd ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER

June 25, 2010 (La Mesa, CA) -- The cities of La Mesa and Santee will hold their second annual fashion show fundraiser,“Fashion Rocks the East,” to benefit the Miss La Mesa and Miss Santee Pageants Scholarship Fund. The fashion show will be held on Sunday, August 8th at the La Mesa Community Services Arbor Room at 3 p.m.

 

Former contestants and titleholders in the Miss La Mesa and Miss Santee programs will model wardrobe items provided by local businesses.  Ramshakle, a popular East County band, will provide live music.

 

VARGAS PULLS AHEAD OF SALAS—BY SIX VOTES

 

 

June 25, 2010 (San Diego) – It doesn’t get much closer than this. Yesterday, Mary Salas' lead over Juan Vargas had evaporated to a single vote.  Today, in the hotly contested Democratic primary for the 40th State Senate District,Vargas pulled into the lead by a six vote margin with 24,079 votes to Salas' 24,073. But this horse race isn’t over yet, with thousands of votes yet to be tallied in a race spanning three separate counties.
 

BRUSH FIRE IN ESCONDIDO STARTED BY WEED WHACKER

 

Update 5:15 p.m.: Cal-Fire confirms this fire was started by a weed whacker with a metal blade. Residents are reminded not to trim brush after 10 a.m. and avoid metal blades, where possible.

Update 4 p.m.:  This fire has been contained at three acres.  
 

June 25, 2010 (Escondido) A brush fire at Harmony Grove and Country Club in Escondido is threatening a mobile home and has potential to reach five acres, Incident Page Network reports. The blaze is currently a half acre burning in light flashy fuel and spreading at a moderate rate.
 

View a map of the location here.

CARS VANDALIZED ON GRAD NIGHT AT WEST HILLS HIGH

 

June 25, 2010 (Santee) – At least 16 vehicles were vandalized or broken into at West Hills High School in Santee sometime between midnight and 5 a.m. yesterday morning. Graduating seniors left their cars parked in the "senior lot" before heading to Knott’s Berry Farm for Grad Night.

BILL TO LET STATE LIMIT HEALTH INSURANCE RATE HIKES ADVANCES IN STATE SENATE

Local legislators split on support, opposition to measure

 


June 25, 2010 (Sacramento) – On Wednesday, the State Senate Health Committee passed AB 2578, the Healthcare Accountability Act. The measure aims to protect California consumers from excessive health insurance rate hikes, such as the 39% rate increase announced by Anthem Blue Cross earlier this year and an up to 75% increase imposed on businesses by Blue Shield.

GARDEN BOUNTY: COOK UP SOME TASTY SUMMER VEGETABLES


RECIPE: SUMMER VEGGIES (A low-fat, tasty side dish.)

 

This seasonal favorite is compliments of Sharon Courmousis, owner of Sacred Rocks Reserve RV Campground in Boulevard and author of the "Purple Mountain Sage" column.

SHARP GROSSMONT OFFERS SENIOR HEALTH SERIES

June 25, 2010 (La Mesa) -- Sharp Grossmont Hospital’s Senior Resource Center offers free or low-cost educational programs and health screenings each month. The Senior Resource Center also provides information and assistance for health information and community resources. For more information, call 619-740-4214. For other programs, call 1-800-827-4277 or visit their website.

 

SMASHIN’ AND CRASHIN’ AT THE DEL MAR FAIR: EAST COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS SCORE WINS IN DEMOLITION DERBY

Finale at Viejas Fire-Safe Expo proves a bang-up hit with crowd
 

By Miriam Raftery
 

June 25, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Lemon Grove Firefighters scored a victory in the Firefighters Demolition Derby, held June 19th at the Del Mar Fair. Viejas, sponsor of the event to benefit the San Diego Burn Institute, took second in the action-packed event.

The Firefighters Demolition Derby has been a long-standing tradition in East County, dating back to the days of the old Cajon Speedway. The event disappeared when the Speedway shut down in 2005—until now, when Viejas resurrected the Derby and brought it to Del Mar. View our videos of the derby’s opening and final round segments.

BOY ESCAPES KIDNAPPER IN ROLANDO PARK : POLICE SEEK BEARDED MAN IN BLUE VAN

June 24, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego Police report that a man in a faded and rusted blue van tried to kidnap a 12-year-old boy who was walking home from school at 5:23 p.m. today. The man, described as a white man in his 30s or 40s with a long beard, ordered the boy to get in the van in the 3800 block of Demas Street in the Rolando area of San Diego, just west of La Mesa. When the boy refused, the man got out and grabbed the victim, ripping the boy's shirt.

INDIAN HEALTH COUNCIL CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY WITH OPEN HOUSE FESTIVITIES & FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS JUNE 25

June 24, 2010 (Valley Center) -- The Indian Health Council, Inc., (IHC) is celebrating its 40th anniversary June 25 with a festive Open House, featuring health screenings, raffle prizes and giveaways, tours of the facility, and a Fun Zone for children that includes a bike rodeo. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the council headquarters, 50100 Golsh Road, Valley Center (on the Rincon Reservation).

I-8 CLOSED DUE TO FIRE AT JACUMBA

 

Update 6:15 p.m. Spread ofd the fire has been completely stopped, Cal-Fire reports. Firefighters remain on scene to mop up hot spots.

Update 3:50 p.m.  -- Firefighters now have a hose lay completely around the fire, which is expected to hold at 10 acres or less.  An air tanker has been dismissed but helicopters remain on site.

 

June 24, 2010 3:15 p.m. (Jacumba) -- I-8 westbound is closed due to a vegetation fire at Carrizo Gorge near the community of Jacumba. CHP has issued a Sig Alert.  The fire, now 7-10 acres, resulted from a motor vehicle accident that occurred at 2:13 p.m.  A car overturned and one victim is reportedly in acute status with burns, Incident Page Network reports. 

PADRE DAM HALTS CONSTRUCTION; AGREES TO POSTPONE COURT HEARING ON WATER PROJECT

 

 

Viejas calls on District to negotiate in good faith to protect newly discovered Native American burial ground
 

By Miriam Raftery
 

June 24, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – A preliminary injunction hearing scheduled for Friday in San Diego Superior Court has been postponed to July 23, under an agreement reached between Padre Dam Municipal Water District and the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians.

ON THE SILVER SCREEN: "KNIGHT AND DAY" SUFFERS FROM DAY AND NIGHT TONE

By Brian Lafferty

 

June 24, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- Knight and Day was a movie that gave me fits. That’s something I did not expect from a movie starring either Tom Cruise or Cameron Diaz. These two stars are reunited for the first time since Cameron Crowe’s Vanilla Sky in 2001. That movie, while not their best, was at least interesting, thought-provoking, well-acted, and most of all, not the least bit boring. The same cannot be said for Knight and Day, which tries to be like James Cameron’s 1994 action flick True Lies but winds up only paling in comparison.

 

WILL POWER REPORT: HONEST SERVICES? (NOT REQUIRED)


Nothing but the Truth!

 

June 25, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- In a body blow to prosecutors trying to stop bankers and broker from fleecing their customers, the conservative US Supreme Court today invalidated the "Honest Services" clause.

The case sent Enron's Jeffrey Skilling's case back to the trial court. It did not, however, overturn his conviction. It did make it very much more diffcult to prosecute financial crooks.

HIGHWAY 54 REOPENING AFTER FIRE CLOSURE

June 23, 2010 (9:55 p.m.)  - California Highway Patrol announced shortly after 9:30 p.m. that it would reopen Highway 54, which was closed this evening due to a brush fire near Plaza Bonita and I-805.

 

The fire started in the Sweetwater River bed near a homeless encampment. According to some reports, explosions were hurt that may have been from propane tanks.  No structures were lost.

PALA FIRE AT PALOMAR MOUNTAIN

 

Earlier fire in Bonsall now under control

East County News Service

 

Update 6:05 p.m. The Pala Fire has been contained at 106 acres. The cause is still under investigation. Ten homes were evacuated, none damaged. The Incident Commander has release all airtankers. Firefighters will remain on scene for several hours mopping up any remaining hot spots.

STATE FUNDING CUTS FORCE SEVERE SUMMER COURSE REDUCTIONS

 

 

Nearly 5,000 students on waiting lists due to 50% cutback in classes;
veterans on G.I. bill and students on financial aid risk losing funds


East County News Service

June 21, 2010 (El Cajon) – Higher education funding cuts due to the California state budget crisis have forced Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District to severely reduce summer course sections, despite growing demands for classes from students seeking to retrain for new careers and complete general education requirements to transfer to four-year universities and colleges.

 

Despite efforts to keep budget cuts from harming students, the colleges have been forced to slash summer offerings by 50%.

CA ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE THREATENS LAWSUIT AGAINST PADRE DAM AFTER WATER DISTRICT DEFIES NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE COMMISSION, CONTINUES CONSTRUCTION AT SITE DEEMED SACRED

 

 

Community leaders testify on Viejas’ behalf, ask Padre’s water board to find alternative solution;
Viejas to ask judge on Friday to extend injunction

By Miriam Raftery

June 24, 2010 (Santee) – Improper. Disrespectful. Inappropriate. Embarassing. Those were some of the terms community leaders used at yesterday’s Padre Dam Municipal Water Board hearing to describe the Board’s refusal to halt construction at a planned reservoir and pipeline site near Lake Jennings.

 

“I’ve just come from the site,” Leon Thompson testified, drawing an audible gasp from the crow when he added that he shot video showing “desecration continuing” of areas near a circle of rocks marking grave sites.  View video here.

EAST COUNTY'S LARGEST FREE HEALTH FAIR DEEMED A VIBRANT SUCCESS

 

June 23, 2010 (La Mesa) -- The 10th annual Summer Healthcare Saturday, East County’s largest free health fair, held  June 19th at Grossmont Center, was by far the most successful ever, according to Mike Cully, president/CEO of the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce.  The event was organized by the Chamber and co-sponsored by Grossmont Healthcare District, Sharp Grossmont Hospital, Alvarado Hospital and Grossmont Center.

REP. HUNTER MEETS WITH CHAMBER LEADERS

Economy, bank bailout, war, and oil spill among concerns discussed

By Miriam Raftery
 

June 22, 2010 (Rancho San Diego) – Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-El Cajon) had a breakfast meeting with members of the Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors yesterday morning at the Press Box Sports Bar & Restaurant to discuss the business climate and provide an update from Washington D.C. for Chamber leaders.

ROADSTER REFURBISHED BY LOCAL SHOP STUDENTS ROLLS OUT AT BENEFIT CONCERT: BUYER WANTED!


Videos showcase talents of Dykes and Kruger Brothers

June 22, 2010 (El Cajon) – A full house packed a benefit concert held at Cuyamaca College to support shop programs at local high schools—including a guitar-making course and a class in which students rebuilt a classic roadster car. World-famous musicians Doyle Dykes and his daughter, Haley performed, along with the famed Kruger Brothers.

Highlights included a performance by Dykes on a Taylor Guitar made from the last liberty tree in America, which was toppled by a storm. The trees served as gathering spots for patriots in the Revolutionary War era. Bob Taylor, owner of Taylor Guitar, salvaged seeds and has planted them across America. Dykes has since played sweet strains of patriotic tunes on a liberty guitar in USO shows for American troops overseas.

SWIMMING POOL SAFETY TIPS TO PREVENT CHILD DROWNINGS

 

Local tragedy on Father's Day serves as grim reminder of need for pool safety

 

East County News Service

 

June 22, 2010 (San Diego's East County) - As the Father's Day drowning of an East County child tragically illustrates, pool safety is an important matter for all pool owners and parents to follow. In California, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in toddlers ages one to four. 

 

George e. Lucia Sr., Valley Center Fire Prevention District Captain/Fire Marshal, offersthis advice to prevent child drownings, including pool safety and rescue tips:

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