East County News Service

May 17, 2015 (Spring Valley) – Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call of a stabbing near the IHOP restaurant on Broadway in Spring Valley around 11 p.m. on Thursday, May 14^th.  According to Sergeant Jeremy Sheppard, two males were fighting in the parking lot when one began stabbing the other.

East County News Service

May 17, 2015 (San Diego County) – Yesterday the Sheriff’s Department conducted 71 compliance checks as part of “Operation Surge” countywide, resulting in 63 arrests on charges that included possession of controlled substances for sale, probation violations, auto theft and outstanding warrants.

East County News Service

May 17, 2015 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police responded to a call reporting a man had been shot inside a home in the 8200 block of El Paso Street on Saturday, May 16^th  at 5:24 a.m.

Hear our interview with Ashley Mazanec, membership  manager, San Diego Energy District. 

Listen now:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

May 17, 2015 (San Diego) – If you’re looking for an alternative to SDG&E for buying your electric power, you can now become a member in the San Diego Energy District.  In an interview on KNSJ in April, Ashley Mazanec told us a dozen businesses have signed up so far.  Ratepayers can enjoy lower rates and know their energy is coming from clean energy sources, according to Mazanec.  Locally produced energy can also reduce the need for new power lines, improving wildfire safety.

San Diego has a feasibility study underway and Solana Beach has moved forward to become a community  choice city.  The San Diego Energy District is reaching out to additional communities and hopes to build support in other local cities such as La Mesa, El Cajon , Santee and Lemon Grove as well as with County Supervisors. Individual property owners can sell surplus power back into the grid. Entities such as nonprofit orgnaizations, school districts, Native American tribes and businesses can also join the grid.

Iraq: The War That Shouldn’t Be – You Decide, by M.M. Chantiloupe (Xlibris Corporation, 2010, 305 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

May 16, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - Although the Iraq war is over, we are still feeling the residual effects of that controversial campaign, and it is put into perspective by San Diego resident M.M. Chantiloupe in her book; Iraq: The War That Shouldn’t Be – You Decide. Chantiloupe writes a scathing analysis and rebuke of the Bush Administration in this well-written and incisive book. She asks rhetorical questions that gets us all to think about why we actually went into that war and the harm that it has done to America and Iraq, as well as the world itself. Central in her discussion is the false pretenses of weapons of mass destruction. Chantiloupe writes in a scholarly fashion her analysis of this war and its residual effects, such as the current threat of ISIS, or the Islamic terrorist threat.

May 16, 2015 (El Cajon )--Upstart Theatre Company is proud to present its inaugural production, William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, hosted by the Valhalla Theatre Arts Department on June 4 and 5. Upstart, founded in 2015, is comprised of and run entirely by students from schools throughout the Grossmont Union High School District, dedicated to keeping classical works of theatre alive on the modern educational stage.

May 16, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - The storm that doused our region in recent days brought some welcome drought relief. According to the National Weather Service, so far in May, 2.35 inches have fallen in San Diego—making this the second wettest May in our region’s history and the wettest since 1921—and we still have half a month to go!

May 16, 2015 (Jacumba) – A bridge over Interstate 8 near Jacumba has been renamed to honor Eric Norman Cabral, a Border Patrol Agent who died of a heart attack caused by heat exhaustion suffered while tracking a group of suspected undocumented immigrants in the area.

May 15, 2015 (Sacramento) - Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) announced all Veterans and dependents using USDVA’s GI Bill benefits shall receive temporary in-state tuition status through the end of the year, regardless of their state of residence.

May 14, 2015 (Lemon Grove)--At approximately 7:51 p.m., Sunday, May 3, Heartland Fire & Rescue crews in Lemon Grove, responded to reports of a structure fire in the 25-hundred block of Pergl Street. Upon arrival firefighters found heavy smoke coming from a single-story structure at 2523 Pergl Street.

May 14, 2015 (Lakeside) - The Crimson River quartet will perform a free concert feature a rich blend of harmony on Saturday, May 30th at 6 p.m.  The concert will be held at the Lakeside Christian Church, 13739 El Monte Road, in Lakeside as the church celebrates 60 years at the site.

By Miriam Raftery

May 15, 2015 (Cleveland National Forest) – Last month, we reported that the County had begun a major cleanup of dirt dumped inside Cleveland National Forest along Boulder Creek Road, an area proposed for federal wilderness desgnation, following an East County Magazine investigation.

Now County communications specialist Gig Conaughton has provided follow-up information in response to our questions on whether piles would be completely removed, whether the dirt contained invasive or flammable weed species, and whether a similar cleanup would be done following similar grading by SDG&E.

May 14, 2015 (El Cajon)--The City of El Cajon has teamed up with Rady Children’s Hospital for school pedestrian safety improvements.

May 15, 2015 (El Cajon)--This week’s Destination East County includes Classic Cars, a wine and food festival, America on Main Street, a Last Chance Romance and more.

Plus we’ll also have a preview of coming attractions including a fiddlers’ competition in Julian, A Street Fair in Santee and Craft Beer festival.   So stay tuned for all of these events and much more!

County News Service

May 14, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Shortly after the release of a grand jury report that commends the County for making significant improvements to rural firefighting by unifying a patchwork of independent agencies, the Board of Supervisors approved a series of administrative steps toward bringing two more rural fire districts under the umbrella of the County Fire Authority.