East County News Service

April 30, 2018 (La Mesa) - Former La Mesa City Treasurer Jim Stieringer announced that he has joined the crowded field for election to the Fourth District State Board of Equalization. Incumbent Dianne Harkey has announced that she will seek election to the 49^th Congressional District seat currently held by Congressman Darrel Issa. The Fourth District includes one fourth of the entire state including San Diego, Orange, Riverside, Imperial and San Bernardino Counties.

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

Cover photo:  sophomore Morgan Taylor had four goals, including the game winner 23 seconds into overtime.

April 29, 2018 (San Diego) - Today’s game, win or lose, marked a milestone for SDSU lacrosse as it was the first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title game in program history.  The Aztecs had only the Aggies of UC Davis blocking their way to glory.

By Miriam Raftery

April 29, 2018 (Spring Valley) – You could say that 71^st Assembly district candidate James Elia’s campaign is going to the dogs – after adopting an abandoned dachshund puppy.

After a doggedly determined day of canvassing precincts, Assembly candidate James Elia says some volunteers wanted to call it a day.  But he adds, “I believe in a little thing called fate.” 

Detroit Lions select Aztec FB in the seventh round

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

April 28, 2018 (Arlington, Texas) - San Diego State fullback Nick Bawden, who logged the second most snaps nationally at fullback in 2017, was selected by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

By Miriam Raftery

April 27, 2018 (Lake Morena) – Step back in time and see history come alive at the Manzanita High Rendezvous.  The authentic mountain man encampment with characters from the early 1800s will be open to the public May 11-13 and May 18-19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  at the Northcote Ranch near Lake Morena.

See and participate in tomahawk and knife throwing, archery, black powder shooting and more. Traders sell their goods, story tellers spin their yarns and there is fun for the whole family.  In addition to day visitors, period campers may register ahead at www.Manzanita Rendezvous.com.

Directions:

Memorial services in San Diego April 27 and May 1

East County News Service

April 27, 2018 (La Mesa) --- Gladys Palast (1921-2018), a beloved mother, former La Mesa resident, progressive activist and military veteran, passed away Friday at age 96 in Kaiser Permanente Hospital.  A life-long activist for union, education and civil rights, she is survived by her son, journalist, author and film producer Greg Palast and her daughter, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor Geri Palast. 

Gladys Palast was a union activist with SEIU and the San Diego Teachers Union.  Until the age of 80, she was also a school teacher in Los Angeles then San Diego.  She and her late husband, Gil Palast, were cofounders of the La Mesa Democratic Club and Activist San Diego, owner of KNSJ radio.

The first woman to enlist in the Coast Guard during World War II, she will be interred with full military honors at Miramar National Military Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego, CA 92122 today at 11 a.m. along with the ashes of her late husband, Gil Palast. A celebration of her life will follow at 1 p.m. in the rec room at 6780 Mission Gorge Road in San Diego, where friends are invited to bring memories, stories and songs to share.

East County News Service

April 26, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- The House today passed an amendment authored by Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) to protect emergency responders from illegal drone use during disasters. Davis’s amendment directs the federal government to work with state and local entities to educate the public about the dangers of flying unmanned aircraft into areas with temporary flight restrictions. It also calls for coordinating on enforcing current laws against such drone use.  The bill has yet to pass the House.

Source: Institute for Public Strategies San Diego

April 26, 2018 (San Diego) -- With Prescription Drug Take Back Day coming up on April 28, San Diegans are encouraged to turn in medications that have expired or they no longer need so that they cannot be abused or overused. This is especially true among senior citizens, a demographic we don’t normally associate with a growing drug problem. 

By Kendra Sitton

April 26, 2018 (Jamul) — ECM has new details on an attempted kidnapping of an 11-year-old girl walking between Oak Grove Middle School and Jamul Primary School on Tuesday.

The 6th grade student was using a dirt trail in the rural area frequented by other kids and even Oak Grove’s cross-country team. Near the bottom of the trail behind a baseball dugout, a man suddenly grabbed her backpack from behind, possibly in an attempt to knock her off her feet. She stood firm and then the suspect grabbed her arm tightly, so much so she described it as feeling like her arm was going to explode. She was able to escape and run towards the school.

By Miriam Raftery

April 25, 2018 (Santee) – In the latest round of claims that Assemblyman Randy Voepel has inflated his military record, audiotapes and transcripts from two California legislative hearings last year reveal Voepel speaking of being in “heavy combat” in Vietnam and serving with the “Tiger Battalion.”

April 25, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Hero customer rushes Waffle House killer and rips away his assault-style weapon (CNN)
• Friends or not, France’s Macron challenges Trump in Congress speech (Reuters)
• FAA orders inspections of engines like one in deadly Southwest incident (CBS)
• Kobach held in contempt in voter registration case (The Hill)
• Supreme Court considers power of agency judges and who should appoint them (Jewish World Review)

WORLD

• North Korea says it will stop nuclear tests, scrap test site (Reuters)
• Trump and France's Macron seek new measures on Iran as deadline looms   (Reuters)
• Busloads of migrants from 'caravan' arrive at U.S.-Mexico border (Reuters)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

By Miriam Raftery

April 25, 2018 (El Cajon) – Valhalla High School students bid farvel (farewell) to the Viking Center, which was demolished yesterday. A new parking lot will replace the Viking Center, which has been vacant for several years, formerly housed special education and other programs that are now offered on the main campus in more modern facilities. 

By Miriam Raftery

April 25, 2018 (Washington D.C.) – A federal judge in Washington D.C. has ruled that the Trump administration’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, or DACA, is “unlawful.”

U.S. District Judge John Bates ordered the administration to begin renewing work permits for DACA recipients, but he also stayed his ruling for 90 days to allow the Department of Homeland Security to provide justification for ending the program, which protects law-abiding young immigrants from being deported.