East County News Service

Photo: San Diego Fire Department, via San Diego Police Department Twitter feed

August 6, 2016 (El Cajon – Governor Jerry Brown, California Attorney General Kamala Harris and thousands of San Diegans turned out Friday morning at Shadow Mountain Church in El Cajon to honor the memory of murdered San Diego Police Officer Jonathan DeGuzman. 

Officer DeGuzman died in the line of duty, gunned down July 28 in an attack that also critically wounded his partner, Wade Irwin.

San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman called Officer DeGuzman a “great man” who was liked by everybody on the force.  “As he would approach you, he would flash his big smile, and positive energy was just all around him.” The Chief added that DeGuzman was an outstanding police officer because he “truly cared about everyone.”

By Liz Alper

Photo courtesy @Padres on Twitter

August 5, 2016 (San Diego) - After a good series against the Brewers, the Padres saw the Philadelphia Phillies for the first time since April.  Christian Friedrich got the start for San Diego against a man who was the subject of heavy trade rumors, Jeremy Hellickson.

August 5, 2016 (Santee) -- San Diego Sheriff is advising residents who live near the 9900 block of Woodglen Vista Drive in Santee to stay indoors due to a SWAT stand-off.

The incident began after deptuies were called to a residence for a domestic dispute mid-afternoon.  A suspect believed to be armed refused to come out and a stand-off has occurred.  Scanner traffic indicates the suspect reportedly shot arrows at officers, according to posts at Brush Party Fireline on Facebook.

By Tasha Matthews

ECM Editor Miriam Raftery also contributed to this report

August 4, 2016 (La Mesa)--Councilmember Guy McWhirter opened the La Mesa City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 26^th by expressing concern for our country in the wake of recent shootings of police officers. He thanked police for their brave work helping to protect citizens—two days before two San Diego Police officers were shot, one fatally.

But the Council rejected a Grand Jury recommendation to create a police oversight board aimed at assuring that citizens’ rights are protected if officer misconduct is alleged. The Grand Jury made its recommendations to La Mesa and other local cities in a report on Citizens Oversight Boards of Police Behavior.

East County News Service

August 4, 2016 (Santee) - The Pacific Island Beer Company invites you to a Polynesian parking lot luau on Sunday, August 21 from noon to 7:00 p.m.

Source: Caltrans news release

August 4, 2016 (San Diego) - Motorists are advised to expect delays on East County freeways Friday during the funeral procession for fallen San Diego Police Department Officer Jonathan “JD” DeGuzman.

By Miriam Raftery

August 2, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – The deadline to file as a candidate to run for local offices is August 11. But so far, many East County races have no candidates declared or qualified for the ballot, according to the Registrar of Voters candidate list for the November election.  Most community planning groups have nobody running.  The same is true in some school, water and fire districts. Races with no candidates will be filled by appointment. In other districts, people are running unopposed—even incumbents on some of the most controversy-riddled boards.

No candidates are listed yet for the city councils in El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove or Santee, nor for the mayoral seats open in Lemon Grove and Santee, nor the La Mesa City Clerk or Treasurer seats.  Candidates have been actively campaigning in some of those races and some will likely file before deadline, but it’s also common for candidates to drop out before qualifying for the ballot.

In the Grossmont Union High School District, incumbent Jim Stieringer is thus far running unopposed in district two (La Mesa/Mt. Helix/Rancho San Diego); in district one (Lemon Grove/Spring Valley) which is an open seat, only one candidate has filed: Pastor Steve Babbitt from Spring Valley Community Church.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy Transgriot blog

August 4,2016 (Washington D.C.) — The U.S. Supreme Court has voted 5-3 to temporarily prevent a transgender student in Virginia from using the bathroom of his choice, until the high court decides whether to hear the case.

By Miriam Raftery

August 3, 2016 (Lakeside) -- I caught this image of an egret at Lake Jennings, its vertical plumes striking a counterpoint against horizontal lines formed by rippling waters on the lake's glassy surface.

For more LakeJennings photographs, click "read more" and scroll down.

August 3, 2016 (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

• Heartbroken family hopes baby’s death from whooping cough raises awareness (Good Morning America)
• Tule Wind project takes another step (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Sterling decides to leave council then changes mind (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Voters to decide Lilac Hills project (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Numbers show increase in assaults on San Diego Police officers in recent years (10 News)
• Cuyamaca College to launch fall program in Kumeyaay studies (Times of San Diego)
• Santee coach who had sex with student, 15, gets 1 year  in jail (Patch)
• Representative of CPUC addressed Alpine regarding EMF (Alpine Sun)

STATE

• State officials want these California reservoir owners to warn people not to eat the fish (Los Angeles Times)
• Big Sur fire spreads into Los Padres National Forest(San Jose Mercury News)
• Nuts, by the truckload,make appetizing targets for thieves (CNN)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

August 3, 2016 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Flint water scandal: more state officials charged (BBC)
• Lava from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano reaches the sea (CNN)
• To some in military, Trump disqualified as commander in chief (Christian Science Monitor)
• VFW slams Trump, Gold Star families demand apology (CNN)
• House GOP chairs call for Hillary Clinton perjury investigation (CBS)
• Donald Trump says he’d tap Sarah Palin for a cabinet post (Politico)
• Mike Pence declares that Roe vs. Wade will be overturned under President Trump (Latest)
• Hillary Clinton, the adult in the room (Zengers News Magazine)
• Thinking of voting for Jill Stein or Gary Johnston? Here are their positions (Seattle Times)

WORLD

• Olympics “dirty bomb” fear (The Sun)
• U.S. warplanes launch bombing campaign on Islamic state in Syria (Reuters)
• Paris accomplice killed in Syria as U.S. strikes at ISIS ‘head of snake’(Christian Science Monitor)
• Normandy mosque refuses to hold funeral for terrorist who killed priest (Times of Israel)
• Rescuers say toxic gas dropped on Syrian town where Russian helicopter flew (Reuters)

For excerpts and full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications

August 3, 2016 (San Diego) -- A 51-year-old El Cajon woman has been confirmed as the first locally acquired human case of West Nile virus this year, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.

By Miriam Raftery

August 3, 2016 (Washington D.C.) - It’s been a bad week for Donald Trump.  A recent poll shows him trailing his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, by 8 points.  Trump has continued to alienate a broad swath of the electorate and prominent Republicans within his own party, even insulting families of fallen military members and showing eagerness to launch nuclear weapons. Now, an online petition is asking the GOP to require a mental health screening of the party’s presidential candidate following his latest erratic actions.

Senior cornerback lands on second team

Source: goaztecs.com press release

Photo: Damontae Kazeee courtesy goaztecs.com

August 3, 2016 (San Diego) - San Diego State senior cornerback Damontae Kazee has been named a 2016 preseason second-team All-American by SI.com, the website revealed on Wednesday. The honor is one of many for the San Bernardino product, who was named the preseason Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year last week in Las Vegas, Nevada.

East County News Service

August 3, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Besides stocking up on back-to-school supplies for your children, you’d best make sure their vaccinations are up to date.