East County News Service

Photo:  Murder suspect Zachary Bunney mugshot via Washington County, OR Sheriff 

January 28, 2019 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police announce that they have solved a grisly murder case from 12 years ago using DNA testing.

East County News Service 

January 27, 2019 (Lakeside) – A 27-year-old San Diego man driving a stolen 2003 white Chevrolet Tahoe died in a crash in Lakeside early this morning.

By Mike Allen

Photo:  Race-walk winners Claire Tallent, Australia, and David Velasquez, Ecuador

January 26, 2019 (Santee) – The U.S.A. Track and Field 50 kilometer (31 mile) Race Walk Championship was held today in Santee, which has hosted the national championships eight times in the past 11 years. This year’s race determined the make-up of the U.S. team that will compete at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru in July. The race was also a qualifier for the IAFF World Track & Field Championships in Quatar in September.

Held concurrent with the national championship was the Waterbridge Capital International 50K Challenge,  on the same Santee course that started and finished at Santee Trolley Square. Winners were David Velasquez, 24 of Ecuador and Claire Tallent, 37 of Australia.  The international competition included race walkers from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Mexico. Among the top US walkers was Nick Christie from El Cajon. 

East County News Service

January 25, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the 14 Chick-fil-A restaurants in San Diego County will host a “Daddy-Daughter Date Night” for fathers and daughters from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5.  Local Chick-fil-A restaurants in the East County are located at 9418 Mission Grove Road in Santee and 8200 Fletcher Parkway in La Mesa.

Source:  East County Transitional Living Center

January 24, 2019 (El Cajon) - Are you, or someone you know, an essential employee or furloughed federal employee or contractor?

“This is your house.” -- Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Mike Van Bibber

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

Editor Miriam Raftery also contributed to this report

January 24, 2019 (Julian) –“We’re rising from the ashes and we will emerge like the Phoenix, even better than before we were,” Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Mike Van Bibber told a crowd of some 75 citizens at a spaghetti dinner held Sunday in the main stationhouse on Highway79.

The mood was buoyant, despite storm clouds still looming over the district. A special election to save the county’s last volunteer fire department is slated for March, after residents gathered enough signatures to put the decision on the ballot and temporarily block takeover by the County Fire Department run by Cal-Fire.

East County News Service

January 22, 2019  (Borrego) -- Thanks to the rain, wildflowers are blooming early this year in the Anza-Borrego desert, according to Sunbelt Publications. If you’re planning to visit the Anza Borrego Desert State Park, these sites will provide updates on where and when to view those beautiful blooms:

By Miriam Raftery

January 19, 2019 (Julian) – The community is invited to a spaghetti dinner hosted by the Julian Cuyamaca Firefighters Association on Sunday, January 20 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.  Bring a non-perishable food item to share for the Julian Blessing Box, a free food pantry that helps people in need.

By Miriam Raftery

January 18, 2019 (Lakeside) – Kathryn Anne Kennedy, 70, was found in Ocotillo Wells shortly after 11 a.m. this morning, Lt. David Perkins with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department has confirmed to ECM.

“A concerned citizen saw her sitting on the steps of the market at a campground in Ocotillo Wells and called for a welfare check because she seemed disoriented,” Lt. Perkins told ECM. Law enforcement officers identified her as the missing woman and transported her back to Lakeside to be reunited with friends, after making sure she did not appear to have any physical injuries.

“She was shaken, hungry and tired,” says Jill Barto, who helped organize a search for the missing woman and received word via a phone call with the good news.

East County News Service

January 17, 2019 (Ramona) -- The Wildlife Research Center in Ramona will present “Hawk Watch” each Saturday in January and February.  This year the event will be held at the Begent Ranch in Ramona (18528 Highland Valley Road.)

Arrive at 9:30 a.m. for coffee and doughnuts before the program begins at 10 a.m. You will  meet birds of prey up close in the Ramona grasslands such as hawks, owls and eagles. Charles Gailband of Wild Wings, his apprentice, Spencer, and fellow falconer Cisco who bring their amazing raptors to share with the public.

January 17, 2019 (Jamul) – EnviroMine, the developer of a proposed sand mine at the Cottonwood Golf Course site in Rancho San Diego, is slated to make a presentation to the Jamul-Dulzura Community Plannning Group. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 12^th at 7:30 p.m. at Jamul Primary School's Auditorium at 14567 Lyons Valley Road (at the corner of Lyons Valley Road and Skyline Truck Trail).

Note: This location has changed from the usual venue to accommodate a large anticipated crowd.

East County News Service

January 16, 2019 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon Citizen of the Year Committee has selected Joe Mackey as its 2018 El Cajon Citizen of the Year award.

Mackey, founder, president and CEO of XL Staffing Service, Inc. and Excell Security, Inc., will be honored at a luncheon from noon to 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 5 at the El Cajon Elks Lodge 1812, 1400 E Washington Ave., El Cajon. Admission is $25 per person, lunch is included. Tickets are available online at www.EastCountyChamber.org under “Events,” or by calling (619) 440-6161.