By Miriam Raftery

July 15, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Recently, we sat down with Eric Lund, chair of the East County Regional Task Force on the Homeless  and president of the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce, for an interview that originally aired on KNSJ radio. 

He shared details about the Task Force's vision and proposals for a compassion approach to helping the homeless obtain housing and services, while also keeping communities clean and safe for residents and businesses.

Listen now by clicking the audio link.

By Paul Kruze

July 7, 2017 (El Cajon) -- In a unanimous 4-0 vote (with Councilmember Bob McClellan absent), the El Cajon City Council has approved a major measure to address homelessness in El Cajon as part of an initiative developed by the East County Homeless Task Force (ECHTF.org). The measure includes an expenditure of $168,000 by the city.

A Salute to Jimmie Johnson at the next Cajon Classic Cruise Car Show!

East County News Service

July 7, 2017 (El Cajon) – A soul music concert, outdoor movies and a salute to NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson are just some of the many events coming up in El Cajon.  See below for full details on these events and more.

By Miriam Raftery

June 30, 2017 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police Department warns that a 13-year-old girl walking her dog shortly before 1 p.m. today in the 400 block of Hart Drive in unincorporated El Cajon was followed by a black, four-door sedan.

The driver, described as a Hispanic male around age 25, thin with short black hair, is wanted for annoying a minor.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Paul Kruze

June 29, 2017 (El Cajon) – A DUI/driver’s license checkpoint in El Cajon on June 24th resulted in zero arrests.  Around 20 law enforcement personnel from El Cajon Police Department, including officers as well as five cadets and five senior volunteers, participated in the checkpoint in the 1400 block of East Washington Avenue from 8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

By Rachel Williams

Video:  interview with homeless woman Lorraine Leighton

June 23, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Lorraine Leighton was among hundreds of homeless people who connected at Rock Church in El Cajon on June 2nd. More than 30 organizations offered health care and legal services for rebuilding a healthy, safe life.

By Robert Gehr

June 22, 2017 (El Cajon) -- This morning, volunteers were out and about all over San Diego County excitedly shouting out and collecting monetary donations for Ronald McDonald House, which helps families in need with housing, meals and so much more at no cost when their children are hospitalized due to illness or injury.

East County News Service

June 20, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) is hosting a Veterans Town Hall to establish a greater understanding between local veterans and the friends and neighbors they fought for.  The town hall will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 24 at the Ronald Reagan Community Center in El Cajon.

East County News Service

June 18, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – A new state program authorizes school districts to work with local water districts to provide free lead testing of drinking water at all school sites.  The results are in for Cajon Valley Union School District campuses, which draw water from three water agencies: Helix Water District, Otay Water District and Padre Dam Municipal Water District.

By Paul Kruze

June 15, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Aiding El Cajon’s homeless population, disruption of a neighborhood by occupants of a house allegedly inhabited by drug users, and licensing of a new adult daycare center near El Cajon’s city center were the main topics discussed by the El Cajon City Council at its bi-monthly hearings on June 13th.  In addition, a budget workshop was held earlier  to consider El Cajon’s fiscal 2017-2018 preliminary annual budget.  Councilmember’s Ben Kalasho’s concept to draw down El Cajon’s sales tax to 7.75% drew strong broad opposition, with critics arguing it would devastate law enforcement and fire protection in the city.

East County News Service

June 13, 2017 (Rancho San Diego) -- Families and folks of all ages are welcomed to the Rancho San Diego Library at 11555 Via Rancho San Diego for their annual Celebrate the USA event, an old-fashioned Fourth of July festival. This event will be taking place Saturday, July 1^st  from 11am-1pm, and is free for all ages. As part of the event, the Friends of the Rancho San Diego Library will be holding a half-price book sale in the library courtyard from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

June 13, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) — Family members of Santana High School teacher Janelle Pasquale Garrison are asking help to cover medical bills as she battles an acute form of leukemia that rarely occurs in adults.

By Miriam Raftery

June 11, 2017  (El Cajon) – The city of El Cajon invites you to participate in “Clean El Cajon Day” on Saturday, June 17^th at Wells Park.   Councilman Ben  Kalasho introduced the measure that created  Clean El Cajon Day and the first 100 people who sign up online will receive free T-shirts.  Click here to view a special video from Councilman Kalasho and Waste Management. 

East County News Service

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

June 9, 2017 (El Cajon) - Cal Fire crews are at the scene of a 10-acre brush fire south of I-8 at Los Coches.  Lanes are re-opened and the forward spread has been stopped, but be advised.

No structures are threatened or injuries to residents are reported, according to Cal Fire.

The fire is 10% contained.

Kalasho provides documents to bolster his defense, though this isn't first time he has faced claims of fraud or ethics questions

By Miriam Raftery

Updated with comments from Tawfiq's attorney

June 7, 2017 (El Cajon) – A lawsuit has been filed against the Miss Middle East Beauty pageant  USA Inc. and Ben (Bessmon) Kalasho, organizer of the pageant and an El Cajon City Councilman.

The suit, filed by pageant winner Zhala Tawfiq and first reported by the Reader, claims the pageant is fraudulent, that prize money was not paid, and that after she objected to giving up passwords to her social media accounts, photos of her face photoshopped onto someone else’s nude body were posted on  an Instagram page named “Zhala_Tawfiq_Fanpage” with a  post reading, “Leaked images of Miss Middle East Beauty Queen.”  Soon after she was removed as pageant winner and the title was given to the runner-up.

Asked if he posted the photos, Kalasho told East County Magazine, “Absolutely not." He indicated Tawfiz was replaced due to not fulfilling terms of her contract.