By Miriam Raftery

August 19, 2015 (El Cajon)—About 250 to 300 Iraqis from multiple religions and beliefs united in a demonstration in El Cajon on Saturday, standing in solidarity with people across Iraq who have taken to the streets to demand governmental reforms.  Mass protests in Iraq followed a cut-off of electricity amid sweltering heat.

August 17, 2015 (El Cajon) – The public is invited to an Emergency Resource Fair at Parkway Plaza mall in El Cajon on Saturday, August 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. organized by Senator Joel Anderson. You can learn about earthquake safety, fire safety and how to prepare for emergencies. Organizations participating include American Medical Response, Community Emergency Response Team, SDG&E, American Red Cross, Heartland Fire & Rescue, and FEMA.

By Jaime Mirman

August 13, 2015 (Rancho San Diego)--The San Diego Concert Band and The Water Conservation Garden presented An Evening of Music in the Garden last July 26th. Coincidentally, the Band is celebrating its 26th season this year, and their program immersed the listeners into an exciting display of treasured songs, rousing marches and gripping contemporary pieces.

The annual event took place for the third year at the amphitheater in the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College, which proved to be a visually and acoustically effective environment for the performance. As expected, San Diego Concert Band delivered its interpretations with gusto, thunder and finesse. Their care and dedication succeed as a most welcome musical contribution to our community.

August 5, 2015 (El Cajon) – Leon Thompson snapped these photos at the El Cajon Classic Cruises held each Wednesday night in downtown El Cajon – or what he refers to as “hotrod heaven,” showcasing everything from a little deuce coup to low-riders.  For details on upcoming Classic Cruise night themes, you can visit www. DowntownElCajon.com .

East County News Service

July 31, 2015 (El Cajon)—Dr. Jeffrey Joel Abrams, an El Cajon doctor, has pled guilty to sexually assaulting patients while working at Volunteers in Medicine, a low-income clinic on Madison Avenue in El Cajon.

July 28, 2015 (Fletcher Hills)--The Fletcher Hills Highlands Association’s Board of Directors and Median Improvement Committee announce the completion of the Valley Lake Median Beautification Project.

July 27, 2015 (El Cajon ) – El Cajon Police are looking for the driver of a black Mercedes sedan who fled the scene after striking a fire hydrant near the intersection of Ballantyne Street and Madison Avenue in El Cajon on Monday.  The collision caused a 40-foot-high water geyser that damaged several trees nearby, but did not damage homes.

By Robert Gehr ©

July 25, 2015 (El Cajon)--A combination of several factors caused an electrical power outage in El Cajon Friday evening beginning around 6:20 p.m.

July 22, 2015 (San Diego's East County) -- Stay safe and informed!  East County Magazine's free wildfire and emergency alert service has been busy lately warning people here about flash floods, wildfires, roadway hazards and severe weather.

Our regional emergency alerts come via email, so you can get them even if phone lines burn down. You can also get alerts on your cell phone. Plus you can receive our free weekly newsletter with top news stories in our region.

Sign up today! It's FREE.  Click here.

County News Service

Photo: County crews work to clean up mud flow on Rutherford Road in Ramona, where over 3 inches of rain fell on Sunday.

July 20, 2015 (San Diego) -- The remnants of Hurricane Dolores created record rainfall in San Diego County, taking residents by surprise over the weekend. If your property or small business sustained damage from the weekend’s heavy rains and flooding, the County would like your help to estimate rain damages in our region.

The County Office of Emergency Services is asking storm-affected residents to complete a short damage survey form that will assist the County in collecting damage information and associated costs from the weekend’s heavy rains and flooding.

The information gathered from the surveys will be used to estimate total damages countywide and will determine if enough damages occurred to qualify the region for federal disaster assistance, such as low interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration for those who are uninsured or underinsured.

East County News Service

July 18, 2015 (El Cajon ) – A vehicle theft suspect is under arrest after a chase that led El Cajon Police officers on a wild chase that ended after the suspect crashed into three parked cars.

July 18, 2014 (La Mesa) -- There are numerous power outages right now around the county, including San Carlos, El Cajon City Heights and Poway.

Information about service interruptions and estimates when power will be restored can be found on

SDGE's Outage Map.

By Robert Gehr

July 18, 2015 (El Cajon)--Saturday morning July 18^th began with an early morning wake up call by Mother Nature herself . The sound of lightning - THUNDER!

By Miriam Raftery

July 16, 2015 (El Cajon ) – El Cajon’s City Council voted Tuesday to move forward on plans to build a Hampton Inn with upscale restaurants on the site of the former police station on Fletcher Parkway near North Magnolia Avenue.  The action comes after last month’s approval to bring a Marriott Hotel to town.

“Revitalization of El Cajon has a snowball effect,” Councilman Gary Kendrick told East County Magazine. Since approval of the Marriott deal, he says, “our phone has been ringing off the hook from investors because they know  that Marriott does their homework.”

By Juwan Armstrong

July 14, 2015 (El Cajon)--A man who was wanted on 17 counts of child molestation since 1996 was arrested at his home in El Cajon last Friday, July 10.