By Miriam Raftery

October 9, 2018 (El Cajon) – Robert Weaver, a Navy veteran now working for an acquisition agency for the U.S. Navy, has been forced to withdraw from the El Cajon mayoral race in order to keep his job. The decision hinges on a broad legal interpretation of what constitutes a partisan race.

By Miriam Raftery

October 9, 2018 (El Cajon)—Jesse Kendrick, son of El Cajon Councilman Gary Kendrick, has filed a police report accusing Councilman Ben Kalasho of twice stalking and harassing him on the campaign trail, including pursuing him some two miles, at times blocking his way.Kalasho is running against Kendrick on the November ballot.

Jesse Kendrick told ECM that on September 28, he was driving a licensed golf cart in Fletcher Hills “distributing flyers warning the citizens of El Cajon of Mr. Kalasho’s gross misconduct in office” when I noticed a black Range Rover driving very closely behind me.” Those flyers were titled `The terrifying truth about Ben Kalasho.’  View call records to police.

By Miriam Raftery

October 5, 2018 (El Cajon) -- In his latest campaign piece titled "The Lies vs. The Facts", El Cajon Councilman Kalasho has made claims that are so outlandish that most can best be described as detached from reality. He urges voters to "don't believe what you hear in the press," despite well documented news articles in East County Magazine, the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Reader, and multilple network TV stations on his actions.

His piece derides as “fake news” reports that he is guilty of wrongdoing and fraud, faces sexual harassment claims deemed true by a judge, is accused of threatening people with an attack dog, is under investigation, and paid business fines.

Here are the actual documents from official government agencies, court records and more proving that all of these facts reported are the media are not "fake news," but provably true:

By Miriam Raftery

October 5, 2018 (Lakeside) – Acting on a tip from the public, El Cajon Police traffic investigators and San Diego Sheriff’s deputies last night visited a Lakeside address, where they found the Blue Honda Fit identified as the suspect vehicle in a hit and run that seriously injured a 9-year-old boy on a bicycle yesterday morning.

After conducting an investigation, officers had a brief stand-off with the suspect, then entered the home and found her hiding under a bed. Courtney Webber, 25, was arrested and booked into the Las Colinas Women’s Detention Facility on felony charges.

By Miriam Raftery

October 4, 2018 (El Cajon) – El Cajon City Manager Graham Mitchell has sent a second letter again warning Councilman Ben Kalasho to cease illegal use of the city’s official seal/logo on his campaign materials.

The letter states that Kalasho is violating FPPC state ethics laws as well as possibly violating Government Code section 8314. The city’s municipal code also prohibits use of the city logo by officials for non-official city business. Kalasho was previously warned in August and again in September, after complaints were lodged, says Mitchell.

ECM photographer who aided victim gives eyewitness account of accident he calls "heartbreaking," calls for more funds for police to enforce traffic laws

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Suspect vehicle, from surveillance footage

Update October 5, 2018 -- An arrest has been made in this case.  Read details here. 

October 4, 2018 (El Cajon) – A 9-year-old boy on a bicycle was hit and seriously injured this morning while crossing an intersection at Main Street and Sunshine Avenue. Police are seeking a woman described by witnesses as possibly blond and driving a blue hatchback or SUV, possibly a Honda Fit, who fled the scene of the accident.

ECM photographer Robert Gehr was walking home from the post office between 7:30 and 8 a.m. when he saw the boy ride past him, press a button and wait for the green light, then ride across the intersection. He witnessed the vehicle strike the child.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Ben and Jessica Kalasho

October 2, 2018 (El Cajon) – A process server has filed a report with El Cajon Police (incident #938) accusing Councilman Ben Kalasho of threatening him with an attack dog on September 26.  The incident comes on the heels of a similar police complaint filed by East County Magazine reporter Paul Kruze, who reported that Kalasho threatened him with the same dog in July.

According to an email sent by Knox Services, the process server company, to attorney Jennifer Hasso, the threat occurred while a process server was attempting to serve Jessica Kalasho, the Councilman’s wife, at their residence regarding a civil lawsuit in which the Kalashos are accused of harassing and defaming multiple plaintiffs. ECM has viewed a copy of that letter with the police incident number.

East County Seeks to Inspire the Next Generation of Manufacturers

Source:  East County Economic Development Council

September 30, 2018 (El Cajon) -- San Diego’s East County is kicking off Manufacturing Week by hosting the largest Manufacturing Expo in the County on Tuesday, October 2 at Allen Airways Flying Museum (2020 N. Marshall Ave.) in El Cajon from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The Expo brings together over 30 manufacturers ranging from the industrial and aerospace realm to candy and wine makers from throughout San Diego! The event is part of Manufacturing Day, a nation-wide effort to celebrate and showcase modern manufacturing and meant to inspire the next generation of manufacturers and skilled-workforce.

East County News Service

September 30, 2018 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police officers responding to reports of a shooting near the 600 block of Emerald Avenue at 5:45 p.m. Saturday evening found a man suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest. Paramedics responded and attempted life-saving measures, but the man was pronounced dead.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Pastor Harold Brown, ECTLC, during holiday party for homeless children

September 27, 2018 (El Cajon) – The East County Transitional Living Center proposes to expand by adding two new buildings to its facility at 1527 East Main Street. The plan. submitted by Pastor Harold Brown, would add 48 beds to the center, which assists homeless people transition off the streets.

By Miriam Raftery

September 25, 2018 (Rancho San Diego) – The Valle de Oro Planning Group has voted 12-2 on September 4th to oppose a proposal by Skyline Church to build a senior living facility on 9 acres of open land  north of Highway 94 in Rancho San Diego.  Planners and long-time community residents say that when the evangelical megachurch was built, church leaders promised the county to preserve this site as open space. 

By Miriam Raftery

September 22, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – Despite litigation over the Grossmont High School District’s failure to build an Alpine High School, the Alpine community failed to mount a challenger to trustee Jim Kelly, who represents Alpine after redistricting.  Trustee Robert Shield is also running unopposed.

But trustee Gary Woods, who represents the El Cajon area in district 3 and directs a religious educational institute,  faces a challenge from Peggy “Liz” Weaver, a public school teacher of fourth and fifth graders at Rancho Elementary School.

By Miriam Raftery

September 22, 2018 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police seek public help to find the driver of a silver Nissan Altima that struck and seriously injured a 58-year-old man in a wheelchair Thursday night around 9:25 p.m. in the 1000 block of East Main Street.

Officers and paramedics responding to a call of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle found the victim unconscious near the center left turn lane, alongside his wheelchair.  He was transported to a hospital with life-threatening head injuries, says Lt. Steve Kirk.

By Miriam Raftery

September 20, 2018 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon Community Clean Up group was recently commended by the City Council for removing over 5,000 pounds of trash off the city’s streets.  

East County News Service

September 20, 2018 (El Cajon) -- The 7^th Annual “HauntFest on Main” is back on Friday, October 19 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the 200 block of East Main Street in Downtown El Cajon.

This fun, family-friendly Halloween-themed community event features live music, costume contests, carnival rides & games, candy challenge activities, Monster’s, Inc. & Monster’s University outdoor movies, face painting, craft booths, inflatables and more! Admission is free, but some of the rides will charge a nominal fee.

For more information, visit www.Hauntfest.org or call (619) 441-1754.