By Janis Russell

Photos courtesy of Luann Neil

March 12, 2015 (La Mesa)- On Saturday, February 28, Foothills Christian held its second annual swing into spring dance, benefitting the school’s lacrosse team.

March 11, 2015 (Santee) - The Santee Chamber of Commerce invites you to join over 30,000 visitors at the Santee Street Fair and Craft Beer Festival on Saturday, May 23 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Festival highlights include: a craft beer festival, live music and entertainment, a crafter row and artist alley, over 300 food and vendor booths, carnival rides and games for the family. In celebration of Memorial Day weekend, there will also be a tribute to our veterans. This free event will be held at Riverview Parkway and Town Center Parkway in Santee.

March 12, 2015 (Anza Borrego Desert) -  Kristin Kjaero visited the Anza Borrego desert Tuesday, where she observed "thousands of caterpillars in a feeding frenzy...The roads were dotted with yellow splotches."  Standing still for just a few moments to take a photo, she adds, "I had caterpillars crawl onto each foot."

March 12, 2015 (El Cajon) – Photographer Robert Gehr snapped these beautiful early season barrel cactus blooms – no, not in the desert, but in the cactus garden outside the Olaf Wieghorst Museum and Western Heritage Center in downtown El Cajon.

Source: City of El Cajon

March 11, 2015 (El Cajon)--In August of 2013, the El Cajon City Council adopted, via unanimous vote the Deemed Approved Ordinance (DAO).  The DAO strengthened the City’s abilities to address establishments that sold off-premise alcohol within the City. This included placing specific restrictions on the sale of alcohol, when warranted. This Ordinance was viewed by the City Council as a necessary action in order to protect the community’s youth and businesses from illegal or inappropriate alcohol sales.

East County News Service

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

March 11, 2015 (Alpine) – Two horses running loose in Alpine early this morning were hit by vehicles, and one horse is dead. The California Highway Patrol is trying to find out who owns the horses; if you have information please call Animal Control at 619-498-2305.

March 11, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – An unseasonable heat wave is forecast for Friday through Monday, sending daytime temperatures to record levels west of the mountains with very low humidity, according to Alexander Tardy at the National Weather Service. Temperatures are expected to reach the mid-90s in San Diego County’s inland areas and well into the 80s for several hours each of these days, though the peak of the hot weather should occur Saturday and Sunday.

East County News Service

March 11, 2015 (Alpine)--Agents from the San Diego Regional Fugitive Task Force were involved in a shooting Wednesday morning in Alpine. The agents were looking for a felony warrant suspect at 2157 Arnold Way. The warrant suspect entered a 2004 Ford Excursion and tried to flee, according to Lieutenant John Maryon with the Sheriff’s Homicide detail.

In lively meeting, Council also hears ideas from the public ranging from creating a city-owned utility district to bringing the Chargers to East County

By Miriam Raftery

March 10, 2015 (El Cajon ) – At Tuesday’s El Cajon Council meeting, two women  spoke out to voice outrage that an El Cajon Police sergeant accused of sending naked photos of himself to women officers remains on the force.   The Sergeant. Richard Gonsalves, was demoted to officer and the city now faces a lawsuit filed by a female officer who alleges sexual harassment and discrimination.

Photo: "Hummingbird Moth (9691010084)" by Larry Lamsa - Hummingbird MothUploaded by PDTillman. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons -

March 10, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - Anza Borrego’s desert wildflowers are both beautiful and fragile.

15 cases, including several that caused blindness, found in California and Washington

March 9, 2014 (Los Angeles) Since December 2014, as many as 15 cases of ocular syphilis—a sexually transmitted disease which has led to blindness in several of the individuals—have been reported in men who have sex with men on the West Coast. Confirmed cases in Washington State, San Francisco as well as two suspected cases found in Los Angeles that are currently under investigation are raising alarm among public health officials, community care providers and prevention specialists, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation reports.

March 9,2015 (San Diego’s East County)--On Friday, March 6, 2015 the city of La Mesa and the city of Santee crowned winners in the Miss La Mesa and Miss Santee Pageants.  The programs have been traditions in the cities since the late 1960’s and provide mentoring for young women.  Santee Mayor Randy Voepel and La Mesa Vice Mayor Ruth Sterling were in attendance to formally present Miss La Mesa 2015 Tiffany Hoffman, Miss Teen La Mesa 2015 Kaitilyn Mayhue, Miss Santee 2015 Rebecca Hudson and Miss Teen Santee 2015 Heather Cantin.