Source: City of El Cajon 

July 30, 2019 (El Cajon) - Earlier today, the City of El Cajon announced the appointment of Captain Mike Moulton as the next Chief of Police. Moulton replaces Chief Jeff Davis who will retire on September 12, 2019. Mike Moulton, 44, has worked for the El Cajon Police Department for the past twenty-four years.

East County News Service

July 29, 2019 (Ramona) – The Ramona Chamber of Commerce will present the 49th annual Ramona Country Fair, Thursday, Aug. 1 to Sunday, Aug. 4 at the Ramona Outdoor Community Center, 431 Aqua Lane, Ramona. Admission to the fair is free.

UPDATE July 29, 2019 8:20 a.m.:  The fire has burned 150 acres and is now 50 percent contained, Cal Fire reports.  One lane of Dehesa Rd. has been opened for traffic according to the Dept. of Public Works.

UPDATE 8:38 p.m.:  Forward spread has been halted. The fire has burned 50 acres and is now 10% contained.  Dehesa Rd. is closed at Willow Glen Dr. on the west and Harbison Canyon Rd. on the east.  Three homes remain evacuated but no structures were damaged and none are threatened. Cal Fire, the USFS, Sycuan Fire, San Miguel Fire, San Diego Sheriff, CHP and County Animal Control are at the scene, where 17 engines are working on the fire. Mop-up is underway/

UPDATE  7:09 p.m.:  Per the Incident Commander, the fire is now estimated to be 50 acres and 0% contained. 3 homes have been voluntarily evacuated along Dehesa Rd but no evacuation warnings or orders have been issued. There are no homes that are currently being threatened.

East County News Service

July 28, 2019 (Dehesa) - Cal Fire is responding to a reported vegetation fire in the area of Dehesa Rd. near Sycuan Summit Dr. The fire is 25 acres with a moderate rate of spread.

View photos:

Photo right: View from Target in Rancho San Diego, by Paul Kruze.

Photo, left: Smoke acros East County, by Andy Calderon

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Source:  Caltrans 

July 28, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) - Motorists are advised to watch for full connector closures along Interstate 8 (I-8) in the mountain areas of eastern San Diego County weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for pavement work, according to Caltrans. Full closures will take place at one intersection at a time in the coming week as follows:

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Update 10:30 p.m.  The fire is 2 acres and fire spread has been stopped. Firefighters will remain at scene overnight and into the morning to complete containment line and mop-up, per Cal Fire.

Photos by Chet Kalinowska

July 25, 2019 (Warner Springs) -- Lightning has sparked a brush fire on the Los Coyotes reservation in the Warner Springs area. The fire has burned approximately 1.5 acres as of 7:30 p.m., below the historic Hot Springs overlook.

Cal Fire reports that air resources are holding the fire's spread to a minimum while ground crews gain acces in difficult terrain to build a hand line around the #Springsfire.

Federal firefighters from Cleveland National Forest are assisting Cal Fire on the fire including two helicopters, a hot shot crew, chief officer, fire engine and a water tender.

By Miriam Raftery

July 9, 2019 (El Cajon) – The East County Leadership Council will host its second annual regional issues forum on July 27 from 1-3 p.m. at the El Cajon Library (201 E. Douglas Ave. in El Cajon).

East County News Service

July 26, 2019 (El Cajon) – Keller Williams Realty San Diego East Foothills in El Cajon, one of the largest residential real estate brokerages in San Diego County, has named Eric Tai as team leader. The announcement was made by Joe Garzanelli, broker, Keller Williams Realty San Diego East Foothills.

By Miriam Raftery

July 24, 2019 (El Cajon) – A motorcycle rider was struck and killed by pickup truck today in El Cajon.

East County News Service

July 24, 2019 (Jamul) -- After 11 years, Jamul resident Debbie Case, President & CEO of Meals on Wheels San Diego County, has announced her retirement. December 31, 2019 will mark the end of Case leading one of the largest regional senior wellness programs for home-bound seniors in San Diego.

Aviation Association recognizes deputies for saving skier's life

East County News Service

By Miriam Raftery

July 23, 2019 (La Mesa) – An attorney with Californians Aware (CalAware), an organization that protects the public’s rights in open government matters, has advised ECM that Councilman Colin Parent should likely recuse himself from tonight’s vote on the La Mesa Farmer’s Market for showing bias prior to public testimony.

Four applicants have submitted applicants. Three would keep the market downtown and one, Grossmont Center, would move it to the regional shopping mall.

ECM sought Calaware's opinion after Councilman Parent posted a notice on the NextDoor forum urging residents to email a form letter to fellow councilmembers asking that the farmer’s market be kept downtown. A resident sent us a reader’s editorial and a letter to the full Council and  City Manager complaining of bias.  

Parent also sent a media advisory announcing a press conference to be held at 5 p.m., before tonight’s meeting, which he plans to hold with Brian Beevers, who currently operates the farmer’s market along with the La Mesa Village Association. The media notification states,  “ Both support the current location and date of the Farmer’s Market.”

Who does Colin Parent really serve?

An Open letter to the La Mesa City Council and City Manager

By Marcia Tolin, La Mesa resident

July 23, 2019 (La Mesa) -- I am a bit taken back by this recent post on a thread on NextDoor regarding the Farmer’s Market before tonight’s vote on which of four proposals to adopt.  The scare mongers are out there in full force and one of your colleagues is spear heading it.  If you have not seen this link and web page, I encourage all of you to look at it.  https://www.colinparent.org/farmersmarket

It seems to me that Councilmember Parent is using the "power of his elected position" to garner support for the Market in the Village. Also he is using the City's current Farmer's Market marketing collateral and slogan on his website for the Farmer's Market and slogan and data on his Social Media and outreach.  In addition, he is using the City of La Mesa Logo with the Farmer's Market "logo" while he is sitting on the dais in pushing his agenda and exhibiting his bias. 

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

July 22, 2019 (San Diego) - The sun is shining, but weather forecasts say summer storms could possibly create heavy rains and flooding in the mountains and deserts this week, meaning this could be a good time to stock up on free sandbags.

By Michelle Mowad, County of San Diego Communications Office

July 21, 2019 (San Diego) - San Diego County Parks and Recreation on Friday opened four new cabins built to be accessible to people with mobility challenges at Dos Picos County Park in Ramona, making it easier for nature lovers of all abilities to stay overnight.