By Miriam Raftery

July 17, 2019 (Santee) - The July 27 Concert at the Lakes in Santee will feature a “whole lot of rock ‘n’ roll and a little bit of country,” according to organizers. This year’s lineup of the event at Santee Lakes will feature Shannon Rae & 100 Proof, Tom Petty and the Heartshakers and DSB.

The concert is open to those age 14 and up.  Lawn and table tickets are available at https://www.concertatthelakes.com/.

Source: Alpine Union School District

July 16, 2019 (Alpine) -- Joan MacQueen Middle School Engineering students made the Alpine community proud by bringing home another national accolade from the 2019 Jr Solar Sprint held at the Technology Student Association (TSA) convention in Washington, DC. The JMMS team won first place in the sprint racing segment of the competition and finished 2nd out of 94 teams in the overall scoring of the Jr Solar Sprint event. This is the second top three finish for the JMMS Engineering program in the past three years.

New Julian fire station No. 56 sits on disputed land

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

July 13, 2019 (Julian) – Following a firestorm of controversy over San Diego County’s takeover of the Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District, the County may lose access to a new fire station. Theodore J. Griswold, attorney for the Kumeyaay Native American Land Conservancy, has filed an eviction notice with the San Diego County Fire Authority (SDCFA) that would force the SDCFA to abandon Julian Fire Station No. 56 within two weeks.

The future of Station No. 56,  located at 3407 State Route 79 just south of downtown Julian, has been a dicey subject from the onset of the county’s efforts to shut down of the Julian Cuyamaca Fire protection District (JCFPD), the county’s last volunteer fire department. Though the transfer of authority was approved by a majority of voters and the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), many area residents have fought strenuously to reverse the action, with litigation pending. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News

Update July 19, 2019: Police have identified the decease as Hollis Forman, 38.

July 16, 2019 (San Carlos) – An alleged burglar was shot and killed after being confronted by a homeowner and the homeowner’s son in the 6300 block of Lake Shore Drive around 6:30 a.m. 

By Miriam Raftery

July 15, 2019 (Santee) – Fanita Ranch, the controversial master-planned development proposed in Santee, is seeking to drum up community support through pop-up ads targeting East County residents on the Internet.  This reporter had one of the ads pop up while paying an online solitaire game.

The ad claims that Fanita Ranch can “improve traffic” including adding westbound and eastbound lanes as well as a high-capacity onramp at Mast Blvd.  The ad clicks open to the website https://fanitaranch.com/improvingtraffic. But project opponents take issue with the advertising’s claims.  

East County News Service 

July 15, 2019 (Lakeside) – A concert by Pete and Norene Cook in Lakeside will benefit youths in our area who can’t afford summer camp.  Mapleview Baptist Church will host the concert on Sunday, July 28 at 6 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

July 15, 2019 (La Mesa)—The city of La Mesa is exploring a community choice aggregation (CCA) energy option to provide 100 percent clean energy for the entire community.

Tonight at 6 p.m., the city’s Environmental Sustainability Commission will discuss findings of a feasibility study funded jointly by the cities of La Mesa, Santee and Chula Vista on the viability of a CCA that would let each city purchase electrical power for its residents as an option to SDG&E for competitively priced clean energy. 

East County News Service

Photos: Map of proposed project; wildlife photos by Debbie Ekhaml, including raccoons in adjacent Sweetwater National Wildlife Refuge and mule deer in Jamul ecological preserve are among wildlife species that could be negatively impacted

July 13, 2019 (Rancho San Diego) – Significant concerns raised by the community over the proposal for a 10-year sand mining operation at Cottonwood Golf Course have been confirmed with the release of the County of San Diego’s Scoping Letter on the project.

By Miriam Raftery

July 13, 2019 (La Mesa) – The City of La Mesa has an opportunity to apply for a Calif. Dept. of Parks and Recreation (Prop 68) grant. The grant will help the next phase of improvements at Collier Park.

The city is hosting a series of public meetings to get the community’s ideas and input.

By Miriam Raftery 

July 12, 2019 (Escondido) – The city of Escondido wants to evict Bubba and Einstein, a pair of alpacas owned by Kelly Thor and Ryan Jimenez. The couple fulfilled their dream of buying a home where they could raise animals in 2017 and were surprised to learn that the city regulates alpacas as cattle for purposes of zoning.

Source:  San Diego County Sheriff's Department

July 11, 2019 (El Cajon) - A missing person at risk in the East County has been found safe.

79-year-old Eufemia Danaher was found around 10:00 a.m. in the 600 block of El Cajon Boulevard in El Cajon. Sheriff's ASTREA (helicopter) Deputy Gary Kneeshaw spotted a woman who matched Danaher's description and made contact with her. She has been reunited with her family.

By Miriam Raftery

July 11, 2019 (Campo) – The San Diego & Arizona Railway, known as the “Impossible Railway” for the many challenges faced during its construction, is celebrating its 100th anniversary with two major centennial events on September 7 and November 16.

On Saturday, September 7, a Groundbreaking Festival will commemorate the 1907 groundbreaking of the railway, which took a dozen years to complete. 

Then on Saturday, November 16, a Centennial Celebration Day will include a reenactment of the 1919 golden spike ceremony, when John D. Spreckels drove in the final spike to complete the rail line in Carriso Gorge.

Both events will be held at the Campo Railroad Park & Museum operated by the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum, a nonprofit organization. 

At the events, the public is invited to come and enjoy train rides, view vintage railway cars and unique railroad equipment including a 1902 steam pump engine, an operating scale steam train exhibit, plus food, drinks, souvenirs, commemorative program and fun for the whole family.

Source: Helix Water District

July 10, 2019 (Lakeside) -- Helix Water District has announced the winners of its 2019 Lake Jennings Spring Photo Contest. 

Now in its eighth year, the contest drew 60 entries from throughout the county. This year’s theme was Life at the Lake, and each of the entries highlighted the unique beauty of camping, fishing, hiking, spotting wildlife and enjoying the view at Lake Jennings in Lakeside.