East County WIldfire and Emergency Alerts

November 22, 2017 (San Diego's East County) -- Elevated fire conditions are forecast for today, continuing on Thanksgiving.  While conditions should cool over the weekend, fire danger returns Monday due to extremely hot, dry conditions and Santa Ana winds, the National Weather Service predicts.

 Already this Thanksgiving week,  many places in San Diego County have experienced record-breaking temperatures for the season. Highs reached into the 90s in El Cajon, Ramona, Escondido and other local communities.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Ariele Brooke and Miriam Raftery

October 7, 2017 (Alpine)—One of Alpine’s most iconic restaurants, the Alpine Inn Steakhouse, has reopened after being closed for five years.  The reopening is welcome news to the community, which has reacted with praise and delight.

At a ribbon cutting held by the Alpine-Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce,  the Chamber’s Chairman Joseph Perricone stated, “Alpine Inn is an icon in our town and we’re all proud as punch that you’re back.”

By Miriam Raftery

October 1, 2017  (Campo) – After being blocked on a neighborhood watch forum, Campo-Lake Morena Community Planning Group member Keven Owens posted a profanity-laced podcast on his “Erroneous Opinions” webpage in which he threatened to punch 69-year-old Claudia Millerbragg in the face.

A partial transcript of his more than 20 minute rant is below, asprovided in writing by Owens in an email response after ECM sent him an inquiry. You can hear an audio excerpt at the audio link above published under the Fair Use doctrine on a matter of clear public interest:

East County News Service

September 29, 2017 (San Diego) -- The San Diego Regional Fugitive Task Force and Crime Stoppers has issued a bulletin warning the public to be on the lookout for Enrique Leon. He is wanted for using force and causing injury to escape arrest. He is known to frequent San Ysidro and Lemon Grove.

By Miriam Raftery

Rally and march photos by Robert Gehr

Cover photo:  Alfred Olango's father, Richard Olango Abuka

September 29, 2017 (El Cajon) – A one-year anniversary event commemorating the death of Alfred Olango, an African-American man shot and killed by an El Cajon Policeman, was held Thursday on Civic Center Way in downtown El Cajon, followed by a march to city hall and the police station.

East County News Service

September 26, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the La Mesa Oktoberfest, El Cajon’s summer concert season finale, opening weekend of El Cajon’s Oktoberfest, fall concerts at Cuyamaca College, and an art reception for Padre Johnson at Cuyamaca College.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including the Ramona Air Fair and Fly-In, the Laguna Mountain Rendezvous, Kids Care Fest in Lakeside, the Borrego Days celebration, El Cajon’s Haunt Fest on Main, a Haunted Elks Lodge, a Halloween Harvest Family Festival on Mt. Helix, a spooky sleepover at Lions Tigers and Bears in Alpine, and the Boulevard BOO Parade.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

East County News Service

September 28, 2017 (El Cajon) - The German America Club of San Diego hosts its annual Oktoberfest at its headquarters (1017 Mollison Ave.) in El Cajon over two weekends, September 29^th through October 1^st and again October 6^th through 8^th.

By Dr. Anthony D. McIvor

September 28, 2017 (La Mesa) --The City Council is understandably embarrassed by its serial fumbles on Little Flower Haven’s future. Having the four lawyers who sit on the dais (three Councilmembers and the City Attorney) publicly schooled by a lone attorney from Silvergate Development must have hurt. Most folks can understand that.

But the peevish attempt to shift culpability for the Little Flower fiasco by discrediting and then threatening to abolish the Design Review Board (DRB) resists all understanding. Burying the DRB in the Planning Commission would be a significant loss for residents. Here’s why.

By Miriam Raftery

September 26, 2017 (Santee) – Today, County Communications specialist Gig Conaughton reported that 11 cases of Hepatitis A have been diagnosed in Santee.

In response to a request from East County Magazine, the city of Santee responded that it has been working closely with the County Health and Human Services Agency to address the Hepatitis A virus outbreak by taking preventative measures to protect local residents.