Updated May 2, 2018 with identity of the victim.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by ECM news partner 10 News

May 1, 2018 (Spring Valley) – Maria Cristina Duran, a 35-year-old mother from Spring Valley, was driving a blue Kia SUV westbound on State Route 94 this morning near the Kenwood Drive exit when she swerved to avoid hitting a Honda Civic that had pulled in front of her. She crashed onto the center divide and the vehicle overturned, CHP reports. 

Duran, who was wearing a seatbelt, died at the scene, says California Highway Patrol Officer Ben Demarest.

Her son, 17, and daughter, 12, both passengers in the Kia, were transported to a hospital with minor injuries.

An open letter to the Grossmont-Union High School District governing board asserts changes led to “very late buses, lost children” and other serious problems

By Holly Hernandez, California School Employees Association President, Chapter 607 Alpine

April 30, 2018 (Alpine) -- CSEA has concerns with transportation issues that have been reoccurring since last Tuesday April 10^th, 2018.

During Bargaining on April 12^th, 2018, it was voiced by Holly Hernandez that GUHSD would not be able to go to four routes in Alpine. After four days of drastically failing at the attempt to comply with only four bus routes, the following occurred; very late buses, lost children, routes getting to bus stops in the mornings very early because of last minute route changes, parents not being notified of changes, incorrect student rosters, kindergartners being on the bus for up to 1 hr. 45 minutes, and very worried and frustrated students and parents.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos: Screenshots, KUSI Turko Files

April 30, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – Several property owners have filed lawsuits against SDG&E over negative impacts from the utility’s plan to widen easements to 15 feet on each side of power lines in communities including Pine Valley, Descanso and Alpine.

By Kendra Sitton

April 26, 2018 (Jamul) — ECM has new details on an attempted kidnapping of an 11-year-old girl walking between Oak Grove Middle School and Jamul Primary School on Tuesday.

The 6th grade student was using a dirt trail in the rural area frequented by other kids and even Oak Grove’s cross-country team. Near the bottom of the trail behind a baseball dugout, a man suddenly grabbed her backpack from behind, possibly in an attempt to knock her off her feet. She stood firm and then the suspect grabbed her arm tightly, so much so she described it as feeling like her arm was going to explode. She was able to escape and run towards the school.

By Kathy Carpenter

By Miriam Raftery

April 7, 2018 (Alpine) – You’re invited to savor fine wines from over 40 wineries and taste specialty foods from local restaurants at Vintage Alpine, a wine experience in the country.  The event takes place on Sunday, May 6 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Summers Past Farms (15602 Olde Highway 80 in Flinn Springs)—all to benefit the children of Sna Diego County.

By Miriam Raftery

April 2, 2018 (Potrero) – The public is invited to the grand opening of the Potrero Community Center on Saturday, April 21^st.   Supervisor Dianne Jacob, county leaders and Mountain Empire residents will be on hand for the celebration of this new community asset at 24550 Highway 94, where the old volunteer fire station was located.

East County News Service

March 30, 2018 (Jamul) -- The Jamul Kiwanis are revving up for their 10^thAnnual Hot Rod and Chili Cook off. The event will be held on April14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pio Pico/Thousand Trails, 14615 Otay Lakes Road, Jamul. 

By Kendra Sitton

March 29, 2018 (Jamul) -- The latest Jamul-Dulzura Planning Meeting on Tues., March 27 was dominated with discussion about a proposed development on Village 14, Planning Areas 15 and 19. The proposal would bring over a thousand new homes into an unincorporated area of 6,163 people, as of the last census.

By Miriam Raftery

March 28, 2018 (Spring Valley) – A boy alleged to have stolen his family’s pickup truck led police on a chase that ended in a crash into a Spring Valley gas station, igniting a fire that caused $200,000 worth of damage.

Patch.com reports that the incident started around 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday when a Sheriff’s deputy tried to stop a green Toyota Tacoma pickup truck driving without headlights on Jamacha Boulevard.  The driver refused to stop and sped off, losing control as he turned onto Sweetwater Springs Boulevard.

By Miriam Raftery

March 27, 2018 (Spring Valley) – The Rancho San Diego Sheriff’s Station will host a coffee with the community on Thursday, March 29 at the Spring Valley Teen Center, 838 Kempton Street in Spring Valley.

The Rancho San Diego substation serves communities from Mt. Helix south to Jamul.

By Miriam Raftery

March 23, 2018 (Spring Valley) – A man suspected of intentionally seting a fire at 10767 Jamacha Blvd. in Spring Valley was detained last night at 9:43 p.m. by deputies from the Rancho San Diego Sheriff’s station.

He was rescued from a burning home and detained by a deputy for allegedly set the fire. The suspect was transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries related to the fire, said Sergeant Kotaro Murashige.

Members of the Sheriff’s bomb/arson unit are investigating the cause and origin of the blaze.

By Miriam Raftery

March 21, 2018 (Alpine) – The Alpine Education Association will hold its sixth annual Spring Gala on Saturday, April 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Viejas Casino & Resort in the Oak Ballroom. The event includes a buffet-style dinner, silent and live auctions, music and dancing – all to improve education for children in Alpine schools.

For tickets, visit https://aef4kids.org/events/aef-gala-2018//.

By Miriam Raftery

March 18, 2018 (Boulevard) – On Friday, Judge David Gill approved placement of Michael Joseph Martinez at 2135 McCain Valley Road in Boulevard, a small town in San Diego's East County, starting in late April. Martinez has been in  state mental hospital since 2009 but was approved last year for release. He was committed as a sexually violent predator and has been diagnosed with a pedophilia and personality disorder.

By Miriam Raftery

March 13, 2018 (La Mesa) – After 14 years as Superintendent of the La Mesa0Spring Valley School District, Brian Marshall will retire on December 31^st, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Marshall has a long career in East County and San diego.  After receiving his Masters of Arts degree in Educational Administration from San Diego State University and a teaching credential at the University of San Diego, he became vice principal of Lakeside Middle School in 1993 and in 1995 was named principal of Tierra del Sol Middle School in the Lakeside Union School District.