East County News Service

September 11, 2017 (La Mesa) – The two Chick-fil-A restaurants in the East County in Santee and La Mesa will host a fundraiser on Tuesday, Sept. 19 to support recovery efforts for Houston’s victims of Hurricane Harvey. Chick-fil-A officials said both stores will donate 15 percent of all sales between 5 and 8 p.m. to a Chick-fil-A fund earmarked for Houston residents.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Photo: CalTrans crew fixing dips on State Route 52 eastbound

September 8, 2017 (San Diego's East County) -- If you're on the road tonight or this weekend, there are several road closures you should avoid including State Route 125, State Route 52, State Route 67, and Interstate 5.

Tonight, all northbound lanes of State Route 125 is closed in the Navajo Road area due to an officer-involved shooting, the Sheriff's office advises. No deputies were injured and there are no outstanding suspects.

Planned highway closures include:

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Billy Ortiz: El Capitan Dam in Lakeside, ranked “fair” for safety, has an “extremely high “downstream hazard status for potential loss of life and property damage.

September 2, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) - The State of California on Friday released data on dam safety in California which found nine percent of dams statewide fall below satisfactory and could pose potential hazards in severe storms or earthquakes—including nine dams in San Diego County.

By Valerie Watts

August 29, 2017 (Lakeside) -- The Grossmont Healthcare District presents its Kids Care Fest Saturday, October 14 from 9 a.m.to 1 p.m. at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds, 12584 Mapleview Street in Lakeside.  This event will offer FREE checkups and health information as well as safety demonstrations and fun activities for the whole family.  This year there will be dental and vision screenings and flu shots (while supplies last),   The District hasn’t forgotten the adults--they can have their cholesterol and blood pressure checked.  To alleviate the sting of the flu shots,  the kids can ride ponies, climb a wall or participate in other fun activities.  For more details and to see a video of last year's event, go to kidscarefest.org.  You can also get more information by calling 619-825-5050.

East County News Service

August 24, 2017 (Santee) – Women walking on the Walker Preserve Trail in Santee have said that a man exposed himself to them on August 17^th and 21^st.  He is described as a white or Hispanic man standing about 5 feet tall and weighing around 200 pounds. He wore a gold chain and a white shirt.

East County News Service

August 23, 2017 (Santee) – A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest of an unidentified suspect who carjacked a vehicle at knifepoint on July 27 around 5 p.m. in the Walmart parking lot at 170 Town Center Parkway in Santee.  The suspect approached the victim from behind the car, punched and attempted to stab the male driver.

Source: San Diego Sheriff

August 21, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Do you recognize the man in this sketch? He is suspected of following two young girls in the East County.

The first incident happened just before 8:30 a.m. on June 29th near Royal Road and Winter Gardens Boulevard in Lakeside. The suspect honked his car as he drove by a 14-year-old girl. The victim says the suspect made a U-turn and pulled over to tell her she was "too pretty to be walking." The suspect then asked the victim if she wanted a ride. She said no and he drove away.

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.”