East County News Service

March 22, 2017 (Santee) – To commemorate Tuesday, March 28 as the American Diabetes Association’s “Alert Day,” the nine Chick-fil-A restaurants in San Diego County, including the Chick-fil-A restaurant at 9418 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, will giveaway free food to customers who find out their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

East County News Service

March 21, 2017 (Santee) -- The City of Santee, and Santee Lakes present the 14th annual Spring Eggstravaganza at Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve (Lake #5) on Saturday, April 15^th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Source: County of San Diego

March 19, 2017 (San Diego's East County)--An estimated 900,000 gallon sewage spill was identified Friday, March 17^th at Los Coches Creek near East Sierra Alta Way in unincorporated El Cajon, the County announced today. The sewage entered the creek after an underground sewer pipe became exposed and significantly damaged during the February 27^th storms.

East County News Service

March 13, 2017 (Lakeside)  - Lakeside's River Park Conservancy will hold the 10th annual San Diego River Run 5k on Saturday, May 6 from  8 a.m. to 11 a.m.at the Lakeside River Park trail.

The San Diego River Run 5k will be held in the morning this year, with on-site registration beginning at 7:00 am and the race starting at 8:00 am. The event will take place at Lakeside's River Park located at 10398 Channel Road, Lakeside.

By Michelle Mowad, County of San Diego Communications Office

March 5, 2017 (Lakeside) -- The hike at El Capitan County Preserve is considered one of the most rugged and physically challenging in San Diego County. The preserve’s trails run along a granite-ribbed ridgeline, which has stunning views of both the ocean and mountains. It can easily take up to six hours to complete this 12-mile out-and-back trek.

By Miriam Raftery

March 4, 2017 (San Diego) — Andy Parr has been appointed to serve as the County’s new Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Administrator.  Parr is best known in East County as the former Fire Chief of the Lakeside Fire Protection District, where he served for 37 years including during the Cedar and Witch Creek wildfires. Most recently he served as EMS/Fire Liaison for the County Health and Human Services Agency.

By Mike Allen

Photo, left:  shot of early stage treatment of reclaimed water at PD water recycling plant just north of Santee Lakes.

February 27, 2017 (Santee) -- While the recent rainy weather has improved what was a critical drought situation for much of California, officials at the Padre Dam Municipal Water District continue work on a regional water reclamation program to convert sewage discharge into drinkable water.

Source: California Highway Patrol

February 24, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) — A tow truck driver assisting a disabled vehicle on the right-hand shoulder of State Route 52 eastbound was hit by a Ford Explorer yesterday at 5:08 p.m.  and died at the scene.

East County News Service

Update February 25, 2017 :  The victim has been identified as Santee resident Andrea Daves, 33. Cause and manner of death will be determined by the medical examiner.

February 23, 2017 (Lakeside) – Sheriff’s deputies responded to a vehicle fire on a cul-de-sac in the 11200 block of Mast Boulevard in Lakeside last night shortly after 11 p.m.  They found a vehicle fully engulfed in flames.

By Kathy Carpenter, Associate/Youth Reviewer www.sdtheatrereviews.com

February 22, 2017 (Santee) – In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch admonished his children to walk in someone else's shoes before judging them. You cannot know another clearly until you have considered things through their eyes. That’s a lesson we could all benefit from if we chose to exercise the option more.

East County News Service

February 20, 2017 (Santee) – A SWAT team stand-off in the 8500 block of Massery Lane in Santee has ended peacefully. 

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February 15, 2017 (La Mesa) - Grossmont girls’ soccer sports an outstanding 10-3-6 record on the season, with a 2-1-5 record in Grossmont league play.  Tonight, they hosted the Wolf Pack of West Hills, an opponent of equal stature with an 11-6-6 overall record, but a 1-2-5 record in league play.

Crash raises concerns from flight school neighbors

By Miriam Raftery

February 14, 2017 (Ramona) – A Cessna registered to the American Aviation Academy and flying out of Gillespie Field as an instructor/student flight on Sunday crashed onto a mountainside in Ramona, killing Shaira Noor, 21, of Bangladesh. She had been training at the academy for nine months. Noor was in the backseat of the Cessna and was impaled by a tree on impact, which killed her instantly.

Two other occupants survived, climbing to an elevated area and using cell phones to call for help, the Sheriff’s department reports.

Story, photos and video by Billy Ortiz (Lakeside)

February 12, 2017 (Lakeside) -- The Lakeside Optimists are a great group helping out our community.  Yesterday they were at Lake Jennings in Lakeside for the annual "Kids Day", where all kids under 10 were allowed to fish for free at Lake Jennings.

By Miriam Raftery

February 11, 2017 (Santee) – Mountain Health celebrates the grand opening of Santee Family Medicine, the organization’s 5^th health center location, on February 11^th at 120 Town Center Parkway in Santee. There will be an open house and guided tours, free blood pressure screenings, help with Medi-Cal and Covered California, dental information, vendors, speakers and a blood drive.