January 16, 2020 (El Cajon) – Authorities yesterday announced a $10,000 reward for information to help find Elijah “Bear” Diaz, a member of the Barona Band of Mission Indians who vanished under suspicious circumstances in August 2015.
He was 20 years old at the time and ill from diabetes. “He was about to get his foot amputated. He couldn’t walk. He was in a wheelchair a few days before,” his mother, Lelanie Joe Thompson told ECM in a interview last year, adding that her son weighed only 110 pounds and could not have left on his own. She said Diaz had only two weeks of insulin left when he disappeared.
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San Diego County Tribe Donates $10,000 to ALS Association
September 5, 2014 (Lakeside) – The Barona Band of Mission Indians is proud to join the worldwide effort to raise donations and awareness for the ALS Association through the Ice Bucket Challenge. Barona Tribal Chairman Clifford LaChappa proudly accepted the challenge from Sycuan Tribal Chairman Danny Tucker.
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August 27, 2014 (Lakeside) – The Barona Band of Mission Indians invites San Diego to experience Native American dancing, music and cuisine at the 44th annual Barona Powwow at the Barona Indian Reservation’s recently renovated Sports Park. The celebration starts on Friday, August 29 with gourd dancing at 6 p.m. and grand entry at 7 p.m. and continues throughout the weekend on Saturday and Sunday, August 30-31, from 1 to 11 p.m.
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May 24, 2014 (El Cajon)--The City of El Cajon Recreation was awarded a grant through the Indian Gaming Local Benefit Committee for fiscal year 2013 - 2014 to replace the outdoor adult exercise equipment located at Wells Park. The ribbon cutting for the grand re-opening of the fitness area will be on Friday, May 30, at 10:00 a.m.
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December 10, 2013 (Boulevard) – Clover Flat Elementary School in Boulevard, CA was awarded $5,000 from the Barona Education Grant Program this morning. Representatives from the Barona Band of Mission Indians and Assemblyman Brian Jones will be presented the grant to Clover Flat School, which is comprised of students from the Boulevard and Jacumba communities. The grant was written by Alpine resident, Donna Burton. Mrs. Burton is a second grade teacher and assistant principal at Clover Flat Elementary School in the Mountain Empire Unified School District.
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August 20, 2013 (Lakeside) – The 43rd Annual Barona Powwow will be held August 30 through September 1 at Barona Baseball Field, on the Barona Indian Reservation in Lakeside. The Powwow begins on Friday at 6 p.m. with Gourd Dancing followed by the Grand Entry at 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday will feature Gourd Dancing at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. and the Grand Entry at 7 p.m. each day.
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August 30, 2012 (Lakeside) – The Barona Band of Mission Indians will celebrate Native American culture and traditions at the 42nd annual Barona Powwow this weekend. The festivities begin on August 31 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. and continue on September 1 & 2 from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Barona Baseball Field, 1095 Barona Road, Lakeside.
Since its inception in 1970, the tribal celebration has grown into a 3 day event featuring traditional tribal dances, singing and music, a hand drum contest, authentic Native American food and handcrafted arts and jewelry. More than 200 dancers from across the country will compete for more than $60,000 in cash prizes.
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June 1, 2012 (Valley Center) – The Sheriff’s Valley Center Substation is receiving a new License Plate Reader (ALPR) car through a grant from the Barona Band of Mission Indians, Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Nation and the Indian Gaming Local Community Benefit Committee which funded the $78, 673 car.
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December 24, 2011 (Sacramento) -- Assemblymember Marty Block, AD-78, continued his season of giving as he distributed toys and baby items to local families at the Grossmont Spring Valley Family Health Center, one of thirty sites operated by Family Health Centers of San Diego.
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June 12, 2011 (Spring Valley)-- The official groundbreaking of the Heartland Regional Fire and Public Safety Training Centerwas celebrated on June 8th. The goal of the new center is to develop a new phase of first responder training across the East County and beyond.
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$5,000 Award Will Give Middle School Students Access to Laptop Computers
May 17, 2011 – Middle school students at Ramona Lutheran School are set to benefit from a $5,000 education grant awarded today by the Barona Band of Mission Indians. Assemblyman Brian Jones (R-Santee) joined Principal Donna Myers in accepting the grant that was presented to the school by Edwin “Thorpe” Romero, Chairman of the Barona Band of Mission Indians.
“Today’s teaching and learning process is being transformed by technology,” said Chairman Romero. “Barona is pleased to award this grant that will provide middle school students at Ramona Lutheran with access to computers. Our hope is to enrich their educational experience and help prepare them for high school.”
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Carlton Hills Elementary School receives $5,000 grant; State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell joins tribal leaders at presentation
By Miriam Raftery
September 22, 2010 (Santee) – “Education is the foundation of our future. I urge you to get as much of it as you can,” Barona tribal chairman Edwin “Thorpe” Romero told schoolchildren at Carlton Hills Elementary School in Santee this morning. “My tribe, the Barona band of Mission Indians, and I are thankful that we are able to support your school.”
Romero presented principal Terry Heck with a check for $5,000 – surpassing the one million dollar mark for the Barona Education Grant program statewide.
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June 1, 2012 (Valley Center) – The Sheriff’s Valley Center Substation is receiving a new License Plate Reader (ALPR) car through a grant from the Barona Band of Mission Indians, Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Nation and the Indian Gaming Local Community Benefit Committee which funded the $78, 673 car.
June 12, 2011 (Spring Valley)-- The official groundbreaking of the Heartland Regional Fire and Public Safety Training Center
![](/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/resize/Barona-Ed-TC%26Sup.-sm-200x267.jpg "Tribal Chairman Edwin "Thorpe" Romero and State Superintendent Jack O'Connell")
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