November 1, 2016 (La Mesa) - Happiness filled my heart at the sight of a full audience for the Highland players on Thursday night. The production ofAlmost Maine featured romantic, funny, and filled with awe moments. The show has closed, but if you fill the need to support or you did not get your Halloween fix, West Hills High in Santee is doing Zombie Prom this weekend.

East County News Service

Source:  City of El Cajon

October 31,2016 (El Cajon)--The El Cajon Police Department has been awarded a $170,000.00 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long program of special enforcements and public awareness efforts to prevent traffic related deaths and injuries.  The El Cajon Police Department will use the funding as part of the city’s ongoing commitment to keep roadways safe and improve the quality of life through both enforcement and education, according to a release issued today.

“The El Cajon Police Department is looking forward to working with OTS, our partners in Law Enforcement, and our community stakeholders to reduce injury and death related to traffic collisions,” stated El Cajon Police Lieutenant Randy Soulard. “With an emphasis on the prevention of pedestrian and bicycle-related collisions, we will work collaboratively using a multi-pronged approach in addressing education and enforcement aspects of collision reduction.”

Additional DUI Patrols Scheduled For October 31

Source: San Diego Sheriff

October 31, 2016 ( San Diego)-- Sheriff's Deputies will be looking for drivers under the influence of alcohol this Halloween. On Monday, October 31st, deputies will be conducting additional DUI patrols in communities within the jurisdiction of the Sheriff's Department.

By Miriam Raftery

October 30, 2016 (El Cajon) — A man was shot in the leg Friday at 12:40 p.m. outside a cell phone kiosk in the 1000 block of Decker Street in El Cajon.  

According to Lieutenant Steve Kirk, officers responded to reports of gun shots heard. They found evidence of a handgun being fired and contacted the victim at a local hospital.

Source: Lions, Tigers & Bears

October 29, 2016 (Alpine) - Lions Tigers & Bears (LTB) - an accredited big cat, bear and exotic animal rescue sanctuary, in San Diego County, Calif., held it's 6th annual Halloween Spooky Campover from Friday, October 28 to Saturday, October 29, for guests of all ages to come and spend a wild and goulish night under the stars with the 60+ rescued animals that call the sanctuary home.

By Miriam Raftery

October 29,2016 (Washington D.C.)—FBI Director James Comey has notified Congress that it is renewing its investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of e-mails on a private server.

The action comes after emails were found on a computer shared by top Clinton aide Huma  Abedin and her estranged husband,  ex-Congressman Anthony Wiener. Huma had used the computer to send e-mails to Clinton.  The computer was seized as part of an investigation into Wiener for allegedly sexting a teenage girl.  It is unclear whether any of the emails were sent by Clinton, or whether they are new or duplicates of e-mails already examined before an earlier probe was dismissed, or if any contained classified material.

Both Democratic and Congressional leaders have called on Comey and on Attorney General  Loretta Lynch to promptly provide further disclosure and clarity.

For more sports coverage, visit ECM's sports section

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

October 28, 2016 (Logan, Ut.) - Donnel Pumphrey ran for 223 yards, moving into the top five on the NCAA career list, and Juwan Washington added 137 yards and two touchdowns in San Diego State's 40-13 victory over Utah State on Friday night.

East County News Service

October 28, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Authorities seek public help to identify two men who robbed gas stations and 7-11 stores Sunday night and early Monday morning.  The two masked thieves threatened clerks with a pistol, then stole cash from numerous locations in Lemon Grove, Spring Valley, Hillcrest, La Jolla and Lemon Grove.

By Miriam Raftery

October 28, 2016 (El Cajon) — The City of El Cajon is moving forward with plans for a new animal shelter.  A public hearing on a proposed conditional use permit for the new facility will be held by the city’s planning commission on Tuesday, November 1 at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers (200 Civic Center Way, El Cajon).

Attorney for white nationalist group developed computer program to drop minority voters off voting rosters in 30 states

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left:  Miriam Raftery with Greg Palast at film debut in San Diego

Listen now to our interview with Greg Palast, originally aired on KNSJ:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

Scroll down for highlights.

October 28, 2016 (San Diego)--Investigative reporter Greg Palast’s Academy Award-nominated documentary, The Best Democracy Money Can Buy:  A Tale of Billionaires and Ballot Bandits, pulls back the curtain to expose a dark conspiracy to steal votes from millions of minorities across America. A seasoned gumshoe detective turned award-winning investigative reporter, Palast leaves no room for doubt as he masterfully reveals the powerful players behind this insidious scheme.

East  County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery sat down for an exclusive interview with Palast,  in town for the debut of his film in San Diego on Monday.  You can hear our interview by clicking the orange audio link,  and scroll down to  read our review of this must-see documentary.

Source: San Diego Fire Foundation

October 27, 2016 (San Diego) - During this year’s Fire Prevention Week, the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation presented grant checks to a dozen local fire agencies at open house events around the county.

“These grants enable fire departments to obtain needed fire and medical/rescue equipment and to provide training to ensure our firefighters can deliver the highest level of service to all San Diego County communities,” said Fire Foundation Chairman Frank Ault.  “Each year, we receive specific requests from agencies targeted for their individual needs.”

Source: San Diego Community College District

October 27, 2016 (San Diego) – The San Diego Community College District has issued the following alert:  As many of you may already know, families across San Diego are receiving phone calls from “virtual kidnappers” claiming a loved one or family member has been kidnapped.  These criminals then demand a ransom amount (usually a few thousand dollars) that can be dropped off at a remote location (often in Tijuana) in exchange for the safe release and return of the “kidnapped” family member. The criminals’ phone numbers are often untraceable.

Please do not meet their demands!  This is a phone scam that local law enforcement and the FBI are investigating.  

What to do when you or your family member receives a similar phone call:

East County News Service

October 27, 2016 (Descanso) -- The Descanso Ranger District in Alpine will be conducting prescribed burn activities beginning in October through May 2017, provided weather and fuel moisture conditions permit. Prescribed burns are scheduled to take place in Pine Valley and Mount Laguna, with some work being done around Horsethief rd. The project will cover approximately 500 – 700 acres with the potential for smoke visibility along Sunrise Highway, Japatul Rd and Interstate 8.

Loans are available to help people with dry wells due to the drought

By Michele Clock, County of San Diego Communications Office

October 27, 2016 (San Diego) -- Do you own a property with a well in San Diego County? Is it dry due to our prolonged statewide drought? Help is available.

A new emergency water distribution program is offering assistance to residents without access to running water for drinking and sanitation due to a dry well. Residents who qualify can receive low-interest loans to replace individual water well systems and install temporary water tanks. The water assistance is not for landscaping or agricultural needs.