BRAXTON’S CENTURY, VOL. 3: ROYAL HISTORICAL FANTASY

COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY VOTES JUNE 26 WHETHER TO WITHDRAW FROM WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN: PETITION LAUNCHED TO SAVE GARDEN’S FUNDING

U.S. BOMBS IRAN’S NUCLEAR FACILITIES

TRUMP’S BUDGET BILL WILL NEGATIVELY AFFECT MEDICAID USERS

ICE AGENTS SCATTER AS SD BISHOP PHAM, CLERGY VISIT IMMIGRATION COURT

PASSAGES: BILLIE JO JANNEN, CHAIR OF CAMPO-LAKE MORENA PLANNING GROUP AND FORMER ALPINE SUN EDITOR

ADVANCING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES: JOURNEY OF YOUR MIND: UNDERSTANDING SUBSTANCE MISUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH

EL CAJON HOMELESS COUNT FINDINGS ADJUSTED IN RESPONSE TO CITY’S COMPLAINT

EL CAJON WOMAN, 53, DIES IN CUSTODY AT SANTEE DETENTION FACILITY

SOME EVACUATIONS LIFTED IN MONTE FIRE

INVESTIGATION INTO CAUSE OF HOUSE FIRE IN RAMONA THAT DAMAGED THREE PROPERTIES

KALASHOS FAIL TO SHOW UP TO BEGIN JAIL SENTENCE; NEW ARREST WARRANTS ISSUED

SANTEE CITY COUNCIL DUMPS ROUNDABOUT PROJECT, COSTING CITY MORE THAN $800,000

By Mike Allen

Image:  Plan for roundabout by Dokken Engineering. Santee spent about $800,000 on engineering and design work since 2015, funds that will be lost if city doesn’t build it.

July 22, 2023 (Santee) -- Last month, the Santee City Council eliminated a project to build a roundabout at the Highway 67 off ramp at Woodside Avenue, costing the city about $800,000 it had spent on design and engineering plans going back to 2015.

The decision was made June 14, during a discussion of the city’s capital improvement program (CIP), essentially a wish list of projects over the next five years. While no formal vote was taken, at least three Santee councilmembers said the roundabout or traffic circle wasn’t necessary and would likely cause more traffic problems than the current, four-stop configuration.

READER’S EDITORIAL: DIGITAL BILLBOARD PLAN LA MESA CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER TUESDAY COULD ENDANGER MOTORISTS, SPARK LAWSUITS

By Don Woods, La Mesa

Image: Rendering of a proposed digital billboard created by Clear Channel, via City of La Mesa documents

July 22, 2023 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa City Council will discuss a digital billboards proposal this Tuesday evening.

At a prior meeting, the City Council appointed Council members Pat Dillard and Jack Shu to form an “ad hoc” committee to consider a proposal by Clear Channel Outdoor Advertising company to erect a huge new, two-sided digital billboard along the north side of the I-8 freeway as it runs past the Grossmont Center shopping center. The committee has met and has now made a recommendation, which the Council will take up at its 6 p.m. meeting on Tuesday.

Item 14.2 on the Council’s Tuesday agenda says “The Digital Billboard Negotiating Ad-hoc Subcommittee recommends the Council direct staff to develop and circulate, within 30 days, a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the placement and installation of digital billboards in the City, to include: (1) a statement of facts identifying the process to authorize digital billboards; and (2) a listing of questions and concerns (for response) raised by the Digital Billboard Negotiating Ad-hoc Subcommittee”.

So instead of just discussing the proposal with Clear Channel, the ad hoc committee now wants to open up a bidding competition to see who is willing to pay the most to be allowed to erect a digital billboard. In effect, they are interested in selling the safety of La Mesa residents to the highest bidder!  

The committee’s recommendation shows a surprising lack of due diligence. It also seems to ignore a number of facts, and tries to put the cart before several horses.

ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

July 23, 2023 (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 a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

WORLD

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

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: SPACEX ROCKET OVER EAST COUNTY

July 22, 2023 (Campo) – Mary Simmonds snapped this dramatic image from Campo of a SpaceX rocket launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on July 19.

The Falcon 9 rocket launched 15 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit.

You can also view video of the rocket taken by Henri Migala at these links:

EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

July 23, 2023  (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:

LOCAL

STATE

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

DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: SIZZLING SUMMERTIME FESTIVITES

By Miriam Raftery

July 22, 2023 (San DIego's East County) -- As late July sizzles into hot August nights, there are some hot happenings coming up across San Diego’s inland region.

The fun includes the Ramona Country Fair, Pine Valley Days parade and festival, a comedy night, farm tours, party with police at Parkway Plaza, the Julian Star Fest, outdoor concerts and car shows, and the Mt. Helix Food and Wine Festival with a Western theme this year plus dancing under the stars.

Scroll down for details on these events and many more, coming up across San Diego’s inland region.

LEMON GROVE LIONS CLUB HOSTS QUARTERMANIA AUGUST 12

 

 

Source: Lemon Grove Lions Club

July 22, 2023 (Lemon Grove) -- Lemon Grove Lions Club will host Quartermania, a cross between an auction, a raffle and bingo,on August 12. The event will feature Preview Shopping at 10:30am, Quarter Auction from 11 a.m.-2: p.m., and a light lunch at 12 p.m.Bring plenty of quarters as you will need them to bid on auction items.

SHERIFF HOLDS FREE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ENGRAVING EVENT JULY 29 IN SANTEE

East County News Service

July 22, 2023 (Santee) – Catalytic converter thefts off vehicles have been on the rise regionally. To help protect motorists from losses and increase the chances of being able to return stolen parts to their owners, the San Diego County Sheriff is hosting a free catalytic converter engraving event on Saturday, July 29 from 9 a.m.to 1 p.m. at 8891 Railroad Ave. in Santee.Reservations are required.

SENATE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES LAND TRANSFER ACT FOR PALA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS

Source: Pala Band of Mission Indians

July 22, 2023 (Pala) -- The United States Senate this week passed H.R. 423, the Pala Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2023, by unanimous consent.  H.R. 423, introduced by U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), places approximately 721 acres of sacred land the Pala Band of Mission Indians currently owns into trust.  

“On behalf of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, we thank Congressman Issa, Senator Padilla, Senator Feinstein and their colleagues for supporting this very important piece of legislation,” said Chairman Robert Smith of the Pala Band of Mission Indians. “With the passage of this legislation, our ancestral grounds, which are central to our spiritual and cultural traditions, will be forever protected as part of the Pala Reservation.”

WITH NO GOP SUPPORT, SENATE PANEL PASSES BILL REQUIRING SUPREME COURT TO ADOPT ETHICS CODE

"Republicans are making clear they will defend their corrupt allies on the Supreme Court no matter what," said one campaigner. The bill is not likely to become law, due to opposition in the GOP-controlled  House.

By Jake Johnson, Common Dreams

Photo: Justice Clarence Thomas,via Library of Congress 2012. Thoms has drawn criticiism for accepting lavish trips and other gifts from a billionaire, actions which would be illegal for judges at any other level of the court system.

July 20, 2023 (Washington D.C.) -- The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday advanced legislation that would require the U.S. Supreme Court to adopt an enforceable code of ethics and adhere to stronger disclosure rules following a series of revelations about the luxury trips and other gifts justices have received from right-wing billionaires.

Led by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency (SCERT) Act advanced out of committee without any Republican support.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: COUNCILMAN GETS A SCARE AT COMICON

 

July 21, 2023 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Councilman Gary Kendrick sent in this photo of his reaction to a monster he encountered at Comicon.  A childhood fan of comic books, Councilman Kendrick credits reading Superman comics with teaching him the important of being respectful to everyone, a value he strives to follow in his civic duties as an elected official.

VEHICLE THEFT SUSPECT ARRESTED AFTER BARRICADING SELF IN EL CAJON MOTEL ROOM

East County News Service

July 22, 2023 (El Cajon) – A stolen vehicle suspect barricaded himself in an El Cajon motel Thursday evening and threatened to set the building on fire, prompting evacuation of nearby rooms, says Lieutenant Darrin Forster with El Cajon Police Department. 

The incident began at 6:38 p.m., when  El Cajon Police received information that the GPS system on a vehicle reported stolen showed it was parked at the Best Inn & Suites at 1274 Oakdale Avenue. Officers found the vehicle in the parking lot unoccupied. The driver of the stolen car was observed on surveillance video entering a motel room, which paid for by the San Diego County Homeless Voucher Program administered through EQUUS.

DID SOMEONE GIVE FENTANYL-TAINTED WATER TO A FLAGGING CONTRACTOR’S WORKERS?

By Miriam Raftery

Reported incident may be a hoax, but workers in the field are urged not to accept water or food from strangers

July 21, 2023 – A flyer with SDG&E’s logo circulating on Facebook claims two workers for a local flagging company during extreme heat were given water bottles by a stranger. “Apparently, the water bottles were laced with Fentanyl. Sadly, one of the flaggers died and the other is in critical condition after ingesting the water,” the flyer headlined “Non-SDG&E Contractor Incident Alert” states.

However, SDG&E spokesman Alex Welling told ECM, “We have been working on this since yesterday and we cannot verify the information.  We sent out an alert to contractors; this is true. But after further information we have been unable to verify the source.”

STORM CROWS: BIRDS OF THE ESTUARY UNITE

Storm Crows l by Erik C. Martin

Reviewed by Pennell Paugh

 

July 20,2023 (San Diego) -- San Diego resident Erik C Martin has written Storm Crows, a story about crows and their relationships.

A young crow leads his friends fleeing their flock’s oppressive leadership. They want freedom and they seek a new home near the ocean. They escape their flock’s vicious Black Wing guards and reach the coast, but their trials have only begun.

PACIFIC SOUTHWEST ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS HONORS STEVEN SLADEK OF ALPINE AS REALTOR OF THE YEAR

East County News Service



July 20, 2023 (Alpine) – Alpine resident and realtor Steven Sladek was recently honored with the Realtor of the Year award from the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR), one of San Diego County’s largest real estate trade organizations for San Diego-area realtors.

PARKWAY PLAZA ANNOUNCES NEW FOOD COURT TENANT, CHEF CHAR’S SEAFOOD N SOUL

 

Black woman-owned business won 3 months free rent and  $20,000 business investment in mall’s Taste for the Space Competition

Source: Parkway Plaza

July 20, 2023 (El Cajon)--   Parkway Plaza held its first-ever Taste for the Space competition in June, offering one local food business the opportunity to win three months of free rent at Parkway Plaza’s food court, plus a $20,000 business investment.  Chef Char’s Seafood N Soul is the lucky recipient of the prize package and will be moving into the shopping center’s food court latet this month.

Over 600 people came out to taste food from 12 selected local businesses to vote on whose cuisine was the best. The winner was chosen by a combination of votes from the community and a panel of tastemaker judges that included El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, Chef Phillip Esteban (Open Gym, White Rice and Weapon Ramen), Christina Ng (local culinary personality and Foundation Cultivator for Berry Good Food Food), and Sabrina Medora (freelance writer and novelist). The judges helped decide the winner based on taste as well as overall fit for the center.

Winner Charlene Plummer launched Chef Char Seafood N Soul (formerly known as ChefChar2020) amidst the Covid-19 pandemic when her then 16 year-old was unable to find employment. Creating the business not only helped provide her child with work, but also an opportunity to play a large role in the company which she could help cultivate and design.

LAS COLINAS INMATE VIANNA GRANILLO, 25, DIED OF SEPTIC SHOCK

Mother says victim had hole in her stomach and underwent surgery before dying

By Miriam Raftery

July 20, 2023 (Santee) – An autopsy has determined that 25-year-old Vianna Marissa “Vee” Granillo died of septic shock after being transferred to a hospital from the Las Colinas detention facility in Santee.

Septic shock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when a person’s blood pressure drops dangerously low due to an infection.  Treatments at a hospital may include oxygen therapy, IV fluids,medication, antibiotics, or surgery, according to the National Institute of  Health.

Granillo had been arrested by Sheriff’s deputies on July 8 for violation of a court order and was transferred from the Vista detention facility to Las Colinas that evening.  Shortly before 2 a.m.on July 12, deputies conducting a safety check found her unresponsive in her cell, according to Lieutenant Chris Steffen.

HOT OFF THE GRIDDLE: LAKESIDE FIRE HOSTS PANCAKE BREAKFAST SATURDAY

 

East County News Service

July 27, 2023 (Lakeside) -- You're invited to come support first responders and help keep your community safe.  Lakeside Fire Dept. will host a pancake breakfast on Saturday,, August 26 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Fire Station 2, locaetd at 12216:Lakeside Avenue in Lakeside.

This event will include fire engines, face painting, a dunk tank, CPR lessons and more.

SNAPDRAGON STADIUM IN MISSION VALLEY AWARDED NATIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

By Chris Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Snapdragon Stadium has its first event on September 3, 2022. Photo by Chris Stone

July 19, 2023 (San Diego) - Snapdragon Stadium has been chosen to host the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League Championship on November 11, the league announced Wednesday morning.

FAKE ELECTORS FACE CHARGES, INVESTIGATIONS IN SEVERAL STATES: TRUMP NOW A TARGET OF PROBE INTO EFFORTS TO STEAL 2020 ELECTION

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Boxes hold electoral college electors' votes, awaiting certification by Vice President Mike Pence in Congress on January 6, 2021.  Photo courtesy of Senator Jeff Merkley.

July 19, 2023 (Washington D.C.) – Former President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he received notice that he is a target of a federal grand jury investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The Grand Jury has been looking into the violent attack on the U.S. capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.  That attack included plans by insurrectionists to halt the counting of votes and now appears tied to a conspiracy to certify fake electors from multiple states and substitute them for the real electors’ votes.

The U.S. Department of Justice and some states have launched probes into the fake elector scheme,with the first arrests announced in Michigan, where felony charges have been filed. Here’s the latest, according to Newsweek:

VSV DISEASE CONFIRMED IN RHINOS AT SAN DIEGO ZOO SAFARI PARK

By Miriam Raftery

File photo by Miriam Raftery:  A crash of rhinos at San Diego Zoo Safari Park, spring 2023

July 18, 2023 (San Diego) – “Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV), a viral disease that affects hooved mammals, has been confirmed in southern white rhinos living at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park,” Darla  Davis, Senior Public Relations Representative for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, confirmed today in an  email to ECM.

The International Rhino Foundation estimates there are fewer than 16,000 white rhinos left in the world, due to poaching losses. All but two of these survivors are southern white rhinos; the population has decreased by almost 12% in the past four years.

SDSU FOOTBALL/WEST HILLS HIGH ALUM JACK BROWNING NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

July 19, 2023 (San Diego) - San Diego State’s defending Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year Jack Browning, a West Hills High School alum, has been named the 2023 preseason Mountain West Player of the Year, the league announced Wednesday. Browning is one of four preseason all-conference selections for the Aztecs, who were also picked to finish fourth in the first one-division preseason poll since 2012.

THE KITCHEN WITCHES: THE CANDOR EXPRESS

Review by Kathy Carpenter

 

July 18, 2023 (La Mesa) - A delightful culinary treat where Martha Stewart meets Jerry Springer takes stage as Lamplighters Theatre in La Mesa presents The Kitchen Witches.  The recipe for this play?  Take a spoonful of fun, whisk in plenty of witty dialog, sprinkle in some food chatter, and you will be spellbound for 90 minutes. Written by Caroline Smith, “The Kitchen Witches” combines humor, friendship, the love of food and witches for a spell that will leave you hungry for more. 

TORTOISE RESCUE GROUP ASKS PARENTS TO BUY TOYS, NOT TURTLES, WITH TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES MOVIE OPENING AUGUST 2

Source: American Tortoise Rescue

Photo: Red-eared slider turtle, by Greg Hume, CC-by-SA via Wikipedia

July 18,2023 (Malibu, CA ) – American Tortoise Rescue (ATR), founded in 1990 as the first national turtle and tortoise rescue, is sending a plea to parents – buy Ninja toys not turtles.

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