By Jaxie Russell

April 16, 2018 (Eastlake) -- When I was four years old, I was diagnosed with Selective Mutism. It is an anxiety disorder that made me very shy, nervous and not want to speak in front of other people.  It prevented me from enjoying my life and one of the most important things to me; dance!

Updated April 17th with identiy of the victim.

By Miriam Raftery

April 16, 2018 (Ramona) – Sheriff’s deputies responding to a 911 call reporting gunshots and screams Sunday night shortly after 8:30 p.m. found a mortally wounded man on the ground in front of a home at 15921 Wood Rock Lane in Ramona, according to Lieutenant Michael Blevins. 

The victim has been identified as 21-year old Ivan Nivinskus.  The county Medical Examiner has ruled the death has been ruled a homicide, caused by multiple gunshot wounds.

By Miriam Raftery

April 15, 2018 (Lemon Grove) – The Lemon Grove Lions Club invites you to enjoy salsa tasting plus salsa dancing, Mexican food, music and prizes at their annual Salsa y Salsa Fiesta. The festivities will be held on Friday, May 11 from 6 to 9 p.m. to benefit service projects including support for the Lemon Grove Little League, Girls On The Run at Lemon Grove Schools,  sponsorships to send kids to camp, and the Lion's International Disaster Fund. 

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Photo: Clouds layered “like pancakes” over East County’s mountains; National Weather Service San DIego

April 15, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a high wind advisory in effect starting at midnight tonight through 5 a.m. Tuesday in our mountains and deserts.

Gusts could reach 65 to 75 miles per hour, with sustained southwest to west winds of 35 to 45 mph. The strongest winds are forecast for Monday afternoon and evening.

By Mike Allen

 View full-size map B adopted by Council here.

 April 14, 2018 (Santee) -- Santee’s ongoing process of shifting from voting for their representatives by all city voters to a system of district elections took another step to reality last week when the council adopted a map made by Mayor John Minto and held the first reading instituting the change.

 Minto offered a map he drew that divides the city into four areas and with a close balance of some 13,000 people in each district. His motion also called for a change in the cycle of elections that results in two council seats being elected every four years starting in 2020. The mayor’s position will remain at large, or selected by all city voters.

 His motion, which was seconded by Councilman Ronn Hall, passed 3-2 with Council members Brian Jones and Rob McNelis opposed. The second reading and adoption of the law and the map is scheduled for April 25.

By Chris Jennewein, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Navy photo: A Tomahawk cruise missile blasts off from a vertical launch tube on the USS

April 14, 2018 (San Diego) -- A San Diego-based destroyer was among four Navy vessels that fired dozens of cruise missiles early Saturday morning local time in the attack on Syrian chemical weapons sites.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins, which departed San Diego in November, was joined in the action by the Norfolk-based cruiser USS Monterey, destroyer USS Laboon and submarine USS John Warner.

Update April 20: The Design Review Committee hearing slated for April 23 has been postponed. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Jeff Phair, right, shares information with area resident Anthony McIvor, left, at site of planned La Mesa Summit Estates.

April 12, 2018 (La Mesa) – On a hilltop above the Serramar development in La Mesa’s Eastridge area, local builder Jeff Phair hopes to build La Mesa Summit Estates.  The proposal calls for 30 new homes—each with multi-generational suites complete with separate entrances, stacked washer/dryers, and media centers.  They’re designed for families that want space for parents, grandparents or grown children---and the concept came out of extensive meetings with neighbors.

 “All developers don’t wear black hats,” an article in The Phair Company’s newsletter is titled. The company has a policy of “cooperative community based planning” that calls for meeting with neighbors and incorporating their input into designs, where possible, before ever approaching city staff of elected officials.