By Robert Gehr

August 14, 2017 (Santee) -- I spent a wonderful Sunday morning hanging out with my ‘son’ Jeffrey Caton and his son Jeffrey junior at this relaxing place of beauty.

The morning dawning was cool and slightly overcast, with a hushed calm accompanied by the pleasant sounds and smell of nature filling my senses.

Source: San Diego Sheriff’s Santee Station

August 8, 2017 (Santee) -- Investigators with the Santee Sheriff's Station want your help in identifying and locating a man wanted for burglary and credit card fraud.

The first incident happened just after midnight on May 6th. The suspect used a stolen credit card to buy more than $500 worth of merchandise from the CVS store along the 9700 block of Mission Gorge Road in Santee. Investigators say the suspect had stolen the credit card from a secured locker inside the 24-Hour Fitness located in the 9900 block of Mission Gorge Road.

By Miriam Raftery

Scene photos credit:  Lynn Spicer

Photo: Kristina Andarus, 6, of Santee suffered a spinal injury in the crash. Her mother, Aneta Andarus, has asked for prayers.

August 3, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – The two people killed yesterday after a big-rig lost control on State Route 125 were a mother and daughter from Ramona:  Nancy Jeanette Bauerlein, 57,  and Jennifer Campbell, 29. Campbell leaves behind a husband and two children.  Bauerlein had a husband, five children and 10 grandchildren.

The crash has also left 6-year-old Kristina Andarus of Santee with severe spinal injuries.  She has undergone surgery but may be left paralyzed, her mother told 10 News. Her mother, Aneta Andarus, an Iraqi immigrant and owner of Threading by Aneta in Clairemont, has asked for prayers.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

August 2, 2017 (San Diego’s East County)   -- The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch Wednesday morning for San Diego’s inland region that includes the East County communities of La Mesa, El Cajon, Santee, Pine Valley and Julian as well as other inland areas of Escondido, Poway and San Marcos. 

The flood watch is in effect through tonight, with the threat of flash flooding and debris flows greatest in areas burned bare by brush fires. A deluge could bring over an inch an hour to some areas.

Authorities ask public help to find abuser who bound dog’s snout

East County News Service

July 28, 2017 (Santee) -- An abused 3-month-old terrier is now recovering at County Animal Services after being found abandoned late Wednesday night outside a Santee fast food restaurant. A witness reported seeing an orange Dodge Charger stop, pause, then pull away. The puppy ran from the spot where the Dodge had been, then hid beneath another vehicle.

By Miriam Raftery

July 22, 2017 (Lakeside) – In a strongly worded “Eye on East County” column, Californian editor Albert Fulcher has criticized a proposal before the county to close three public trails in Lakeside, a proposal that he calls a “recipe for disaster.”

The proposal involves  Lakeside Downs  (parcel S302)  west of State Route 67  near Eucalyptus Hills and Oak Creek Drives. This land has been acquired by the Endangered Habitat League (EHL), which has previously shut down other public trails on land that it has obtained.

East County News Service

July 24, 2017 (San Diego's East County) – The 10 Chick-fil-A restaurants in San Diego County, including the restaurants at 9418 Mission Gorge Road in Santee and 8200 Fletcher Parkway in La Mesa, will host a “Daddy-Daughter Date Night” for fathers and daughters from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 1.

East County News Service

July 17, 2017 (Santee) – In a 5-0 unanimous vote, the Santee City Council has authorized Mayor John Minto to send an official letter from the council to San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore requesting a change in Gore’s internal policy regarding the issuance of concealed weapon permits. Specifically, the council is asking Sheriff Gore to accept self-defense or personal protection to fulfill California’s requirement of “good cause.” 

UPDATE AS OF 9:50 PM:  FIRE IS 10% CONTAINED

UPDATE AS OF 8:57 PM: ALL MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDERS HAVE BEEN LIFTED 

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Jonathan Goetz

July 11, 2017 (Lakeside) -- The fast-moving #JenningsFire has charred over 300 acres in the past hour and forced shutdown of I-8 in both directions from Lake Jennings Road to Dunbar Lane. 

At least five structures remain threatened as of 3:30 p.m.. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered on Viewside, south of I-8,  Cal-Fire reports.

The fire, which began in brush at 1:40 p.m.,  is burning toward propane tanks at Kamps Propane, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.  Airtankers and ground crews are battling the blaze.

Fire is burning southeast from the freeway toward Harbison Canyon Rd, the Santee Sheriff substation tweeted. Residents in Harbison Canyon and Crest should be on alert!

East County News Service

July 10, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - The Associated General Contractors hosting a construction industry-wide blood drive throughout the county this week, including several East County locations.  Over the last 6 years, AGC has collected over 1,700 units of blood products for local area hospitals.  Appointments are available at www.sandiegobloodbank.org .  Below are the East County locations:

East County News Service

July 6, 2017 (Lakeside) – Heritage turkeys are much more than a Thanksgiving staple, plus heritage-breed turkeys have an interesting place in San Diego's history. Come and hear all about it and even see the bird in person at Richard Edword’s talk on Saturday, July 15 at 11 a.m. at Lakeside River Park Conservancy, 12108 Industry Rd, Lakeside, CA 92040

By Miriam Raftery

Photos courtesy of Lakeside Fire

July 2, 2017 (Lakeside) – A mother and sons are homeless after a fire that began with a vehicle striking a commercial building next door spread into their residence yesterday.  A GoFundMe page has been started to assist the victims, For: LaVonne Kraus, Tory Rodriguez, Richard Rodriguez, Jesse Rodriguez.  The Solis Hair Salon has also been heavily damaged.

By Miriam Raftery

June 30, 2017 (Santee) – Our volunteer at East County Magazine, Kim Cooney,  needs a new home for her 9-year-old beagle, Angus.  She says Angus is good with children, cats and non-aggressive dogs.

Kim is moving out of state and is also slated for knee surgery. She is no longer able to care for and walk Angus, so she needs to find him a new home immediately.  

Updated with more special Independence Day events.

East County News Service

June19, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Julian’s Fourth of July Parade, El Cajon’ Independence Day picnic with fireworks and the  Santee Salutes patriot celebration are cherished annual traditions in East County.  Below are details. If you know of an East County Fourth of July activity we’ve missed, please email editor@eastcountymagazine.rog and post details in our comments section below.

By Patty Mooney

Photo:  Patty Mooney and Mark Schulze married on their mountain bikes in San Diego’s Cleveland National Forest in 1987; creative commons photo by Rolf Schulze via Wikipedia

June 20, 2017 (Santee) - There’s a new kid on the block (8774 Cuyamaca Street) in Santee. Heads up to bicyclists in the neighborhood, because the “new kid” happens to be the illustrious Zumwalt’s Bicycle Center.  The shop has served avid bicyclists in San Diego for over 85 years now and is the oldest family-run bicycle shop in our region.  The cyclery had its roots in North Park when Robert Zumwalt, weary of repairing lawnmowers, began repairing bicycles and opened Zumwalt’s Bicycle Hospital along with his father on University Avenue in 1931.  Father and son added bicycle sales, starting with Schwinn.  The small shop weathered WW2 during which steel was unavailable for consumer goods like bicycles.  So Zumwalt’s fell back on bicycle repairs and reconditioning used bicycles.  When the war ended, the popularity of bicycles skyrocketed and Zumwalt’s cyclery flourished.