May 22, 2013 (Lakeside) – The Victorian Roses Ladies Riding Society presents their Wild West Casino Night 2 on June 1, 2013 at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds, Lakeside, CA from 6-10 pm. It benefits Saving Horses Inc., a San Diego horse rescue charity.

Ticket price is $20/person & includes $200 in play chips. Beer or wine glasses are $20 each and come with 5 free drink tickets. Raffles, silent auction, door prizes, roulette, black jack, craps & poker tables.

Live music by the Honky Tonk Kings, food available for purchase by Descanso Junction Restaurant & Catering.

May 21, 2013 (Lakeside) – KSON radio will be at the Lakeside Park and Ride at Highway 67 and Mapleview tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. collecting donations to help tornado victims in Moore, Oklahoma. 

Local residents are invited to drive through and drop off cash donations.  Everyone who donates will also be entered in a contest to win two tickets to Taylor Swift’s sold-out concert August 15.

Ordeal shines spotlight on East County’s failure to offer shelter for the homeless

“We are too late. We the community of East County have let our homeless vets down again.”  --post on Fox News story about the fire

By Nadin Abbott and Miriam Raftery; photos by Billy Ortiz and Nadin Abbott

May 12, 2013 (Lakeside) – It was a grim Mother’s Day for families displaced by a fire that ravaged mobile homes in Lakeside today, and for a homeless woman veteran who is hospitalized with serious burns.

By Nadin Abbott

May 12, 2013 (El Cajon)—California Governor Edmund G. Brown declared the past week “Wildfire Awareness Week.”  On Thursday,  the top brass fromr Cal-Fire and San Diego Sheriff’s Department addressed the media. ECM also spoke with Lakeside Division Chief R. Laff.

All officials are urging San Diego residents who live in the urban-rural interface, as well as rural areas to be ready for a severe fire season that’s started early. So far Cal Fire has responded to more than 1,100 wildfires already, which is 500 more than normal for this time of year. According to Cal Fire Chief Cal Fire Chief Dale Hutchinson, Southern Region Chief 40,000 acres burned last week.

Officials are urging residents to get ready and maintain 100-feet of defensible space. This is not optional; it is the law, as Chief Hutchinson told us, for those in the urban-wildland interface. Also clean your gutters, and other places where dry vegetation might accumulate. If you do any remodeling, look into the latest fire resistant materials. In addition, remove all tree branches that are within six feet of your home.

First in our series on the best roadside diners along East County's highways                            

An East County Eater review by Ariele Johannson

April 24, 2013 (Lakeside)--Cafe 67 in Lakeside is a delight, featuring great home-made food and an entertaining vintage ‘50s “movie” decor. The restaurant atmosphere is “old-fashioned diner,” but even better. Patrons take a step back in time when they enter this eatery decorated with old movie posters, antiques, ceramic icons like Betty Boop, and movie star portraits.

The menu at Cafe 67 is also reminiscent of old movies, TV shows, and cartoons. The Kids’ Menu has several choices with names such as The Fonz, Lassie, Snoopy, and Spanky. Best of all, the food is hearty and home-made, with breakfast and lunch served all day at the Café.

April 22, 2013 (Lakeside)--The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for El Monte County Park located at 15805 El Monte Road, Lakeside, CA 92040 effective immediately.  The water system serves a ranger residence, park office and public restrooms.

The drinking water system has tested present for E.Coli and total coliform bacteria.  The presence of E.Coli bacteria indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes.  Health effects can include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or other symptoms.  E.Coli may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. 

April 18, 2013 (Lakeside) –For nearly half a century, Lakeside has celebrated its cowboy heritage with the annual rodeo and Western Days Parade.

This year, the parade rolls out on April 20 at 9:35 a.m. along Woodside and Maine Avenue .   The Lakeside Rodeo will be held April 19-21 at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds.

Residents spread word through social networking of crimes and more, strengthening bonds in close-knit community

April 12, 2013 (Eucalyptus Hills) --A hidden surveillance camera in Lakeside captured a mail thief in action last night, ECM has learned.  View the video.   Property owner Dennis Richardson, an award-winning ECM photographer,  has posted the video on his Facebook page and on the community’s Brush Fire Partyline website. He is hopeful that alert neighbors and law enforcement will lead to arrest of the thief, whose vehicle is also shown in the video.

 “Eucalyptus Hills is a very safe neighborhood with proactive people who have a huge network of communications – Facebook, e-mail and just neighborly across the fence,’ Richardson told ECM. “We can get the word out to a lot of people really quickly. Everybody is on the lookout and knows what to look for, so our neighborhood is safer than most.”

April 11, 2013 (Lakeside) – Two public meetings are scheduled regarding Lakeside's Lindo Lake.

The County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation will  hold a public meeting  on Wednesday, April 17 at 6 p.m. at the Lakeside Community Center. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the long term plans for Lindo Lake and obtain community input. All members of the public are welcome to attend. The meeting will be held at the Lakeside Community Center, 9841 Vine Street, Lakeside.

The Lindo Lake Subcommittee will hold a meeting on Monday May 6, 2013 at 9 a.m. to review the community input of the April 17, 2013 meeting and possibly develop recommendations to submit to the County regarding Lindo Lake.

By Nadin Abbott; photos by Tom Abbott

April 5, 2013(Lakeside)— The Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR) team has found 3-month-old Arisa Van Goerlitz safe tonight at 7:30 p.m. following a massive search in Lakeside. Searchers spent hours combing an area along the San Diego River bed including transient camps before locating the infant and her aunt, Deborah Ann Fowler, who has been arrested.

“The baby is okay,” Sergeant Greg Hampton of the Lemon Grove Sheriff’s station told media at the scene. “She is being evaluated by the Fire Department.” The baby was later transported to Grossmont Hospital for evaluation. The child is now in the hands of Child Protective Services and has been taken to the Polinsky’s Children Center.

The infant girl was reported missing this morning by her grandmother, Joyce Matyas, in Spring Valley at around 11:30.

April 5, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – A search is underway for a woman suspected of abducting a 3-week-old baby, her niece, from the 9100 block of  Valencia Street in Spring Valley, the Sheriff’ s office has confirmed. 

The suspect, Deborah Fowler, 46, may be in Lakeside. A black SUV belonging to the suspect was found abandoned on Vine Street.  Deputies have been searching along the San Diego Riverbed including transient camps.

April 4, 2013 (Lakeside) – The Solana Center in partnership with the County of San Diego and the Resource Conservation District will be hosting a free rainwater harvesting workshop in Lakeside on April 13th from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.  at the Resource Conservation District, 11769 Waterhill Road.

Join the Solana Center and the County of San Diego to learn how rainwater collection can benefit your home and garden and which system is best for you! Workshop will include a hands-on installation of a rain barrel and cost-effective tips on how to build your own. Pre-register at: www.solanacenter.org/event/free-rainwater-harvesting-workshop

March 29, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego Sheriff’s deputies arrested 14  juveniles during a curfew sweep of Santee and Lakeside from 10 p.m. last night until 1:30 a.m. this morning. 

The juveniles were released to their parents at the Santee Sheriff’s substation.  Eleven were given an opportunity to participate n a diversion program through San Diego Youth Services. Three cases were turned over to the District Attorney’s office for review. One juvenile was found in possession of marijuana.

Deputies were also out on patrol to look for social host violations. No social host violations were discovered.

March 9, 2013 (Lakeside) - Travel around the world and learn about other cultures, watch traditional country dances, play carnival games and taste exotic foods at Riverview Elementary School and Lakeside Union School District’s 5th Annual International Fair on Saturday, March 16th from 11am to 5pm. This fun-filled community event, complete with a one-of-the-kind silent auction, inflatables for the kids, photo booth, face painting, petting zoo and local product vendor and food booths takes place on the grounds of Riverview Elementary School at 9308 Winter Gardens Boulevard in Lakeside. All proceeds will benefit Riverview’s PTSA to provide field trips, assemblies, art, music and dance for Riverview students. For more information, please call (619) 390-2662, go to http://www.lsusd.net/Domain/690 or check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Riverview-International-Fair/158649264184882?fref=ts

March 6, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The County of San Diego is hosting a variety of unique events at parks countywide, include several East County and inland area locations: Agua Caliente Regional Park in the Anza Borrego Desert,  Lake Morena, Lakeside Community Center, Spring Valley Community Center,  Sweetwater Summit Regional Park and Campground in Bonita, Sycamore Canyon/Goodan Ranch Preserve, Vallecito County Park, Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve, Wilderness Gardens Presere, and William Heise County Park in Julian.

Scroll down for detailed listings of activities at each park. For information on park locations and more, also see http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/parks/

March 2, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) –  Photos taken at Lake Jennings during March may be entered in Helix Water District’s Lake Jennings Photo Contest.  Prizes of up to $100 will be awarded in adult and student categories. Photos can be of any aspect of the lake—wildlife, wild flowers, camping, fishing, boating, scenic views.  They can be up to 10 mg and must be e-mailed to:  lakejenningsphotocontest@helixwater.org.   An entry and release form must accompany each photo and can be found at:  www.lakejennings.org/photocontest/index.htm.  Contest rules are also posted at this URL.  Last year’s winners can be seen at:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-Jennings/301972993198610

By Nadin Abbott

February 28, 2013 (Flinn Springs)--CTC Towing at 15275 Olde Highway 80 suffered a fire of unknown origin on Tuesday. The fire started before 1 p.m., according to the Lakeside Fire Protection District, and drew a multiagency response, including both San Diego City Fire Department HAZMAT and County HAZMAT.

February 20, 2013 (San Diego’s East County)—El Cajon Police today announced the arrest of Forrest Gunner Fermil and Kailee Ray, both 18, in connection with three armed robberies within an hour on February 18 committed by a masked man.

The suspects were arrested in the 10000 block of Vista Parque in Lakeside at 3 p.m. today. After developing a promising lead, El Cajon Police workined in junction with investigators from the Santee Sheriff’s Station and located the first suspect.

February 17, 2013 (Lakeside) – The Lakeside Library is having its 100th birthday party on Saturday February 23rd from 12:30 - 3:00 p.m. You’re invited to a Centennial Celebration.

Scroll down for a schedule of events, including games, a trivia contest, historical presentations, Sparkles the Clown, a costume contest (dress as your favorite character from a book, or as a librarian) and of course, birthday cake.

February 10, 2013 (Lakeside) -- Wildcat Canyon Road in Lakeside remains closed tonight between Willows Road and Muth Valley Road.  The route has been shut down since a vehicle accident downed power lines around 1:58 a.m.  According to the California Highway Patrol website, Wildcat Canyon, the main access route to Barona Casino, could remain closed all night.

By Nadin Abbott

Vehicle found in Poway; sighting in Lakeside believed to be a hoax

February, 8 2013 (San Diego)--Police agencies all over the state of California are on high alert.   The manhunt for Christopher Dorner, 33, a former Los Angeles police officer  wanted for three murders in the L.A. area, has spanned multiple counties including San Diego.  Citizens across Southern California are asked to not engage and call 911.  Dorner is considered extremely dangerous and well armed.

He has threatened additional violence and released a manifesto accusing L.A. Police Department of corruption, other misconduct as well as wrongful firing. ECM news partner 10 News has an edited copy of it, with names removed. 

January 11, 2012 (Lakeside)-- The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for the Oakoasis Open Space Preserve water system at 12620 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside effective immediately.  This public water system serves a county park with campsites, a public restrooms and a volunteer residence. 

The drinking water system has tested present for total coliform bacteria and absent for E. coli. 

December 15, 2012 (Lakeside) – The San Diego Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team performed a hoist rescue last night to save two hikers off El Cajon (El Capitan) Mountain in Lakeside’s El Monte Valley area.

“The hikers reported that they were lost, cold, wet and unprepared for the cold weather,” Sgt. Mike Forbes with the Santee Sheriff Patrol Station reports.

Memorial service planned December 8 in Lakeside

December 6, 2012 (San Diego's East County) – Maria Ines Heimpel, who taught  languages for more than three decades at Helix High School in La Mesa and volunteered for humanitarian causes in San Diego and Tijuana, died peacefully in her home on November 27, 2012.

Her lifelong concern for those in need led to her involvement with a clinic and an orphanage in Tijuana. She also participated as an interpreter with the Mercy Outreach Surgical Team, a group of doctors performing free surgical procedures for poor children in Mexico.

“She was a people person and as a teacher, genuinely interested in each of her students, going out of her way to help them,” fellow teacher and  friend Jean Costa said.  “She was a positive influence on the lives of so many young people and on the lives of people who knew her.”

December 2, 2012 (Lakeside) – Oma’s Christmas Tree Patch is now open Tuesday – Friday 2-8 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. through December 21.  Children can participate in all activities for $5 per child, which includes a water bottle and candy cane.  Activities include a hayride, hay maze, petting corral and more.

By Billy Ortiz

View video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0EPuSgKJOY

November 20, 2012 (Lakeside) --Early in the morning on November 15 in El Monte Valley, I was driving slowly like always, hoping to see a cat. Today was my day--I spotted one close to the road, followed it up the mountain a bit and discovered that there was more than one. Much to my surprise, I saw a second and then a  third bobcat to my right. What I didn't realize was that I had gotten  between the mama and one of her young.

By Greg Dunne

November 15, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--We have our share of rare bird sightings now and then in our East County. The three I am going to talk about are the Greater White-Fronted Goose, the Nutmeg Mannikin, and the Vermilion Flycatcher. The Vermilion Flycatcher and the Nutmeg Mannikin are going to be the hardest to spot by the novice birder, but with any experience watching birds you should be able to see these uncommon visitors.  The Greater White-Footed Goose on the other hand can easily be seen any time of day at Lindo Lake.

November 13, 2012  --  (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL/REGIONAL

• Filner’s priorities (U-T San Diego)
• Judge rejects gag order in SDG&E noose case (U-T San Diego)
• La Mesa Police warn of mall robbers (U-T San Diego)
• Girl bitten 6 times after stepping n rattler nest (KUSI)
• Escondido scrambling in wake of Prop P (North County Times)
• Jerry Sanders named CEO of regional chamber of commerce (Lemon Grove Patch)
• Suspects ID’d in Lakeside rock throwing ((U-T San Diego)

STATE

• ACLU asks courts t block part of Prop 35 on human trafficking  (Sacramento Bee)
• Jerry plan plans to restrain Democratic desires at capital (Sacramento Bee)
• Moody’s says  Prop 30 passage a boost to school credit (Sacramento Bee)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

Story, photos and video by Billy Ortiz    

Video clip

Like the pioneers of old, he packs his mules...walking from town to town searching not for gold or silver or fame, but for the land that connects his three mules and himself.

November 10, 2012 (Lakeside)--A lone drifter, age unknown, rides into Lakeside, California with only his thoughts and his three trusted mules. North and south, east and west, they wander the country. Guided only by the love of the earth and its creatures, the man who goes by the name Mule allows his trusted mules to lead him.

Story, photos and video by Billy Ortiz

View video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9Y0hc267sA

November 3, 2012 (Lakeside) -- On a cool, cloudy autumn morning on October 20 in East County a group of teenage Boy Scouts from troop 801 in Coronado arrived at the Lakeside River Park. They brought heavy timbers and other materials to build what they hope will become a nest for the Ospreys that frequent a pond at the River Park.