By Nick Pellegrino

By Mimi Pollack

July 31, 2017 (El Cajon) -- When Juan Martin Sajche left his small village in Guatemala in 1997 and arrived in El Cajon at the age of 15, he never dreamed he would one day be a respected Spanish teacher at Morse High School in San Diego. The past 20 years have been quite a journey!

East County News Service

July 24, 2017 (El Cajon) – The Courtyard San Diego Marriott hotel opening soon in El Cajon is now hiring for positions including  front desk associates,  housekeeping and laundry positions.  The East County Career Center will host the Courtyard on Wednesday, August 9 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

July 20, 2017 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon Police Officers Association has set up a Go fund me page (https://www.gofundme.com/ieshafund ) for Iesha Booker, a homeless mother of seven who came to the aid of Officer Sioson after he was knocked unconscious by a suspect who continued to assault him, causing serious injuries.

The 34-year-old MTS bus driver, was at the KFC in El Cajon when the assault occurred.  “When everyone else at the KFC stood around shocked, Lesha quickly stepped in, using Officer Sioson’s police radio to transmit `Officer Down at the KFC!’   It was that transmission which allowed us to expedite help to Officer Sioson, quickly arrest the suspect,” says Travis Howard, president of the El Cajon Police Officers Association.

East County News Service

July 18, 2017 (El Cajon) – Mark David Dabrowski, a 55-year-old transient in El Cajon, has been arrested and charged with kidnapping and domestic violence.

Yesterday morning, a witness called El Cajon Police to report that Dabrowski had abducted his former girlfriend, who is also homeless, while she was sleeping on an elementary school campus.

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.