March 19, 2018 (El Cajon) - Grossmont College continues its performances of The Heir Apparent, a French farce by Jean-Francois Regnard that was relevantly unknown in American theatre until David Ives’ adaptation more than 300 years later. The production has been updated it for a modern ear, yet keeping the rules of a French domestic farce::decorum, repartee, rhyming couplets, satire without being condemning, sexually charged characters, mistaken identity, a sometimes macabre tone and doors slamming in faces--everything needed to make things fun.

By Miriam Raftery; photos by Monica Zech

Photo: El Cajon Police Chief Jeff Davis, left, and Officer Jordan Walker, right

March 15, 2018 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police Officer Jordan Walker was named Top Vehicle Theft Recovery Officer of the Year countywide by the Auto Theft Advisory Committee out of 33 officers honored yesterday in Balboa Park.

East County News Service

March 14, 2018 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon Police Department has identified Joseph Mercurio, 31, as the vehicular burglary suspect shot and killed on March 11^th.  Investigators have since learned from their investigation that “Mercurio was driving a stolen vehicle and had been involved in at least two vehicle burglaries the night of this incident,” Sgt. Forster said. 

By Miriam Raftery

March 12, 2018 (El Cajon) -- Agents from the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and the El Cajon Police Department arrested five suspects in El Cajon on March 10th for ABC violations, including three who furnished alcoholic beverages to minors. 

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

March 10, 2018 (Spring Valley) - While college March Madness is fun, high school March Madness is proving to be just as exciting as tonight, the Patriots of Christian High School traveled to Spring Valley to face the Matadors of Mount Miguel in a 12 vs. 13-seed Division IV matchup in the CIF Southern Sectional state playoff quarterfinals. A tough but fun contest awaited; the Patriots were an almost spotless 11-1 in league play coming into tonight’s game and 22-9 overall.  Compare that to Mount Miguel’s perfect 8-0 record in the Grossmont League and 31-4 record and this was going to be a fun game.

By Paul Kruze

March 9, 2018 (El Cajon) -- As though the water couldn’t get any hotter for embattled El Cajon Councilman Ben Kalasho, he is now facing accusations that he is illegally shielding his personal assets, prior to an anticipated August trial on allegations that he sexually harassed two beauty pageant participants in 2016, among other claims.

The plaintiffs’ attorney, Jimmie Davis Parker, asserts that Kalasho made false real estate filings in order to hide assets that could potentially be sought to satisfy a legal judgment, should Kalasho lose the case. (View documents.) 

Filing false real estate documents is a felony crime in California, though it is not yet determined whether the allegation is true.

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Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Check out our sports section for more sports stories!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

March 6, 2018 (El Cajon) - Basketball playoffs are, for the most part, over (except for state playoffs and hats off to Mount Miguel and Foothills Christian boys basketball and good luck to them), so now it’s time for spring sports.  El Cajon Valley girls softball kicked off their season against the (sort of in East County) Crawford Colts.

By E.A. Barrera

March 5, 2018 (San Diego) -- My mother, Marion Kathryn Holmes Barrera, died on March 3, 2018. She died a little after four in the morning, 25 days to the minute from when my father died. My dad was San Diego State Professor Ernesto Martin Barrera. Together, my parents led a life that began on the campus of UCLA and took them to Cartagena, Los Angeles, San Diego - and a lifetime of romance, family and meaningful purpose. 

By Miriam Raftery

March 1, 2018 (El Cajon) – A search warrant was served this morning at Cloud 9 Wellness, an illegal marijuana dispensary in the 500 block of West Douglas in El Cajon. 

“A large amount of cash and marijuana was seized as evidence,” Lieutenant Walt Miller with the El Cajon Police Department states in a press release. Six employees and three armed security guards working at the business were briefly detained but not arrested. However, Lt. Miller notes, “Although the employees were not arrested today, they and the owner of the business may face charges of allowing the Commercial Sale of Marijuana within the City.”

Backcountry hidden pleasures:   Our guide to unique lodging adventures in San Diego’s beautiful backcountry

By Robert Gehr

February 25, 2018 (El Cajon) – The new Courtyard Marriott Hotel will hold its grand opening this week on February 28^th.  in the heart of downtown El Cajon complete with a restaurant and bar, fitness center, business and wedding facilities.

February is Career Technical Education Month

East County News Service

February 22, 2018 (El Cajon) -- Automotive students in teacher Jordie Lehr’s classes at Grossmont High School were treated to a fun experience as part of Career Technical Education Month. On Wednesday, February 21, La Mesa Police Chief Walt Vasquez, Captain Matt Nicholass, and Officer Dan Paugh brought the La Mesa Police Department’s 2016 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C7 onto campus for the day.

By Paul Kruze

February 18, 2018 (El Cajon) -- The El Cajon City Council on Tuesday continued to address issues concerning the city’s growing homeless population, such as considering signs to direct the homeless to resources. 

Click to view video of Adnan Al Jaafari's anti-corruption message in Arabic or scroll down for highlights and local reactions

By Jonathan Goetz

Translator Abbas Al Khuzaie also contributed to this report

February 14, 2018  (El Cajon) -- Adnan Al Jaafari is a journalist who has published a video criticizing corruption, including harsh words for Iraq's highest ranked religious figure, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

A blog on Huffington Post, as well as an East County resident we interviewed, credit Sistani with defeating ISIS in Iraq.

Runway Shoes & Accessories is Rancho San Diego’s newest fashion bargain retailer

By Reema Makani Boccia

February 11, 2018 (El Cajon) - Rancho San Diego’s retail offerings have expanded with the recent addition of the fashionable Runway Shoes & Accessories. The boutique is locally owned and operated by an East County family, and features head-to-toe merchandise for any fashionista on a budget.

By Miriam Raftery

February 11, 2018 (El Cajon) — A man in a vehicle parked outside the Home Goods store at Parkway Plaza shopping mall in El Cajon exposed himself to a 14-year-old girl on Tuesday, the girl’s mother told ECM news partner 10 News.