East County News Service

July 30, 2014 (Sacramento)--California’s Legislature has voted to put an advisory measure on the November ballot asking the state’s voters whether they believe the Citizens’  United decision should be overturned.

August 2, 2014 (San Diego)—The California Highway Patrol reports 105 crashes occurred locally from midnight to 4 p.m. today, as a storm doused the region. The statistics include freeways in San Diego County, streets in San Diego’s unincorporated areas, as well ass also Temecula in south Riverside County.

East County News Service

August 2, 2014 (Washington D.C.)—The White House has issued its first official condemnation of the persecution and massacre of Iraqi Christians by ISIS terrorists.

Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Benjamin Rhodes met with Iraqi Chaldean and Assyrian leaders on July 31st to discuss the security situation in Iraq and its effect on Christian and other minority populations.

“Mr. Rhodes appreciated hearing the vital perspectives of these important communities regarding the difficulties facing Iraq’s Christians. He condemned the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s (ISIL) ongoing attacks on the Christian and minority communities in northern Iraq and the group’s systematic destruction of religious sites," a statement issued by the White House press secretary later in the day reads.   Rhodes further emphasized that "the United States continues to urge Iraq’s leaders to form an inclusive government that can address the rights and legitimate concerns of all of Iraq’s diverse communities, including Iraq’s Christians – only then can Iraq successfully and sustainably confront the security and humanitarian challenges all of its citizens face in the common fight against ISIL," the White House press secretary stated.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo from Yasmen Vidales’ Facebook page

August 1, 2014 (Ramona) – An 18-year-old woman who died July 22 of heat exhaustion following a hike in the Three Sisters Falls area has been identified as Yasmen Vidales, the San Diego Medical Examiner’s office reports.  A recent graduate of Chula Vista High School, she also played in the school’s orchestra.

By Nadin Abbott

Photos by Tom Abbott

July 31, 2014 (San Diego)--One of the myriad of groups at Comicon San Diego was Robin Hood Tax on Wall Street, which came fully armed with street theater. The group’s members contend that since the big banks and hedge funds caused the nation’s financial crisis, they should pay their fair share to clean it up.

July 29, 2014 (Boulevard) – The public is invited to meet new leaders of Cal Fire in rural East County.  Free pizza will also be offered at the event at the Manzanita Diner in Boulevard on August 7, 2014 from 4 to 7 p.m.

For complete Calendar including Authors Events, go to www.SDWriteWay.org

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By Miriam Raftery

July 30, 2014 (La Mesa)--Downtown La Mesa is getting a facelift.

Construction has begun on the Downtown village Streetscape Project, which will include new landscaping, sidewalks, outdoor lighting, benches, and enhanced pedestrian features, as well as upgrades to sewers and street signs.  The project will take several months with construction expected next year.

July 29, 2014 (La Mesa)--Firefighters from La Mesa’s Station 12 called police yesterday at 5:51 p.m. to report finding a man in their secure parking area who was burglarizing their personal vehicles.  As La Mesa Police officers responded, the suspect ran away and hid in the garage of a nearby home – where he began stealing items in the garage.

Owners Celebrate With Free Sub Fundraiser

July 30, 2014 (El Cajon)--– Jersey Mike’s Subs, known for its fresh sliced/fresh grilled subs,  opens in El Cajon on July 30.  Franchise owners Ray Ibrahim and Nabil Somo will hold a grand opening and free sub fundraiser from Wednesday, July 30 to Sunday, August 3 to support the Eric Paredes Save a Life Foundation.

By Miriam Raftery

July 30, 2014 (El Cajon) – Outliers Collective (www.outco.com), the only legal,  licensed medical marijuana dispensary  in East County’s unincorporated areas, will open this Saturday, August 2 near Gillespie Field.  A grand opening party is set from 1 to 4 p.m. at the collective dispensary, located at 8157 Wing Avenue in unincorporated El Cajon.

The grand opening will feature raffles, prize giveaways, meet and greet with model “Queen Esther”, poster signings, a food truck, 619 clothing and more.

By Miriam Raftery

August 1, 2014 (Lakeside)--A boat collision has claimed the life of at a 21-year-old man and injured two others at El Capitan Reservoir in Lakeside Thursday night.   In addition a 20-year-old victim is missing after being ejected into the water.  A search continues, with help from San Diego Lifeguards, Heartland Fire & Rescue and the San Diego Fire Rescue Department.

A witness told ECM news partner 10 News that a Nitro vessel was traveling at a high rate of speed when it slammed into a small boat that was adrift, plunging everyone on board into the water.

By Don Rutkoff

Photo: Elaine Lyttleton, Hatfield Creek Winery

By Miriam Raftery

Hear our audio highlights from the vigil, as reported on KNSJ 89.1.  Listen now:  http://kiwi6.com/file/31hofx5nbg

July 26, 2014 (El Cajon)--Local political and religious leaders offered messages of hope for Iraqi Christians fleeing persecution and genocide in Iraq, many of them seeking to find refuge in America.   They offered a safe haven here in East County, as well as political actions now underway in Washington D.C. and Sacramento to aid Christians in their homeland.

“When they come here, I want you to tell them they will be safe here,” Mayor Bill Wells told the crowd during a prayer vigil in El Cajon’s Centennial Plaza last night  that was attended by an estimated 2,000 people.

The Mayor denounced the “unconscionable” slaughter of Iraqi Christians by ISIS terrorists who have declared a caliphate, or Muslim state, in the Mosul area, where churches dating back to Biblical times are being destroyed and Christians ordered to convert to Islam or die by the sword.

A quarter of all rural stations were closed –at the same time—during April

An East County Magazine special investigative report

By Miriam Raftery

July 31, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – The County Fire Authority has touted its successes in preventing the May wildfires in North County from destroying thousands of homes despite a county-wide disaster declaration.  Granted, a lot has improved since the devastating 2003 and 2007 firestorms in our region--the worst in California's history. But if fires were to start in East County today, the outcome could be tragic. An East County Magazine investigation raises serious doubts over  inadequate volunteer firefighter staffing and the ability to respond even to routine house fires and medical calls in some rural communities.

Last October,  our investigative report,"Closed for Fire Season" revealed that Boulevard’s fire station was closed for two months during fire season and Jacumba’s station also had some dark days- -including one when a resident died of a medical emergency after a delay in emergency services arriving. The County responded by funding emergency staffing and according to Supervisor Jacob’s staff, these two stations remained open every day  for at least several months thereafter, an ECM records check in late April revealed.   

But on July 9, Craig Williams, an information technology provider for the Campo Fire Department, advised ECM that “without any notification to the community leaders."  two days ago Cal Fire “moved the overtime, off-budget, paid Cal Fire firefighters out of Boulevard to Jacumba Hot Springs. Now  Boulevard is stuck with Fire Authority `volunteers’ only, just like Campo.’”

Worse,  a new investigation by ECM reveals that this is the tip of an iceberg--with many stations understaffed and some closed for months.