East County News Service

August 8, 2018 (El Cajon) – Cajon Valley students put on a ‘50s musical performance at El Cajon’s Classic Cars night this evening in Downtown El Cajon. Thanks to Jill Barto for sharing this video: https://www.facebook.com/cvusd/videos/10155942006118924/

By Alan Ridley

“Try fencing.  Other sports are pointless.”

August 8, 2018 (St. Louis) - Ten athletes from East County’s LionHeart Fencing Academy took part in the United States National Fencing Championship held in St. Louis, Mo. from June 28 – July 7.

More than 4,000 competitors from throughout the nation participated in the largest fencing event in the world where the best fencers in the United States vied for gold.   National Champions were crowned in age groups from ages 8 to 80 with 60 titles in all three fencing disciplines (epee, foil and saber) for both men and women.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Richard Edwords, an Alpine resident driving a water tender truck: at the Mendocino Complex Fire, where bulldozers  have been cutting fire breaks

Update: An earlier version of this article stated that the Mendocino Complex fire is the second largest in our state's history.  With more acreage burned tonight, it is now the largest.

August 6, 2018 (San Diego) – Across California, 36 wildfires are currently burning. View map and incident reports. Currently the only one in San Diego County, the #CasnerFire in Ramona, is 75% contained at 14 acres, with no structures lost.  A 1,000 brush fire on Camp Pendleton has been extinguished.  But elsewhere in the state, explosive fires are burning, claiming lives and property.

The #MendocinoComplexFire is now the second largest in California history, where 283,000 acres have burned after the Ranch and River fires joined forces, Reuters reports tonight.

Evacuations are ordered in Orange County, where the #HolyFire that started in Cleveland National Forest has scorched 1,200 acres, burning one structure and causing one injury, the Orange County Register reports tonight.

By Miriam Raftery and Paul Kruze

August 6, 2018 (El Cajon) – The legal spiderweb entangling El Cajon Councilman Bessmon "Ben" Kalasho and his wife, Jessica, has become even stickier. Superior Court Judge Timothy Taylor has issued an order granting a motion by plaintiff Lina Charry, deeming admitted the contents of requests for admissions to which the Kalashos repeatedly failed to respond. Those admissions include allegedly illegal financial dealings,fraudulent and defamatory actions.

East County News Service

August 5, 2018 (Santee) – Congratulations to Richard and Gail Schultz of Santee, who celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary on August 3^rd, 2018.

They have two children, Kevin, 42, and Karen, 39 and two adopted grandchildren, George Warren and Patricia Ann.

By Miriam Raftery

August 5, 2018 (Lakeside) – Deb Carney Carlson is an administrator for the Brush Fire Partyline, donating her time to post fire alerts to keep others safe. Now her daughter, Tara, is fighting for her life – and needs help from the public.

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine Editor

August 5, 2018 (El Cajon) - Councilman Ben Kalasho’s attacks on First Amendment freedom of the press has drawn national attention.  

The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, which tracks attacks on journalists’ First Amendment rights in the United States, has published an article on our reporter Paul Kruze’s police complaint against El Cajon Councilman Ben Kalasho accusing Kalasho of threatening Kruze with atrained attack dog. 

East County News Service

August 3, 2018 (Jamul) -- The Jamul Indian Village (JIV) and the Jamul Indian Village Development Corporation (JIVDC) will celebrate the official relaunch of the newly renamed Jamul Casino with a block party celebration on Saturday, August 4, 2018.

“We look forward to welcoming the community to Jamul Casino where we will be celebrating in every venue at the casino,” said Jamul Indian Village Chairwoman Erica M. Pinto. “We’re celebrating not just the change in the casino’s name, but our Tribe’s success in achieving our dream of independently owning and managing our own casino. We want to thank the community for their continued support and invite everyone back into the casino to enjoy the hospitality of the Jamul Indian Village.”

East County News Service

August 1, 2018 (La Mesa) – The Interfaith Council of La Mesa is sponsoring its fifth annual peace and justice event as part of the International Day of Peace on Sunday, September 16^th from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive in La Mesa.

By Miriam Raftery

August 1, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – The filing deadline to run for local offices is August 10^th.   We checked with El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove and Santee to find out which seats are on the ballot, and who has taken out papers declaring an intent to run for city council or mayor so far.  Below is the list of prospective candidates to date, though more candidates may file, and prospective candidates are not confirmed until they turn in signatures and meet verification requirements to qualify for the November ballot. 

If you are interested in running, you have until August 10 to pull papers and turn in the required signatures from registered voters in support of your candidacy. Since some city offices are closed on Friday the 10th, be sure to check with your local jurisdiction.

City Council and Mayoral races are officially nonpartisan; however, some officials tout their endorsements or affiliations with political parties. For those candidates, we have listed their affiliations.

East County News Service

July 31, 2018 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce invite you to enjoy great food from a dozen restaurants, enter for a chance to win 40 free door prizes, and meet spotlighted business members at the 5^th annual Summer Bash Business Expo. The fun takes place Thursday, August 9 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the La Mesa Community Center (4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa).

By Miriam Raftery

July 30, 2018 (La Mesa) – New Origins, the applicant for a medical marijuana dispensary is suing the city of La Mesa, after the city reversed earlier approval of the dispensary to open in the La Mesa Medical Plaza on University Avenue near El Cajon Boulevard.

East County News Service

July 29, 2018 (Santee) - The Santee Fire Department posted this photo of a red diamondback on Facebook, with a timely message:  “ Santee Fire Department is an “all hazards” fire department, which means we wrangle snakes from time to time! This little fella is one of the bigger snakes we’ve captured. Don’t put your hands or feet where you can’t see, and always look before stepping over doorsteps, snakes like to crawl along the sides of buildings.”

By Miriam Raftery

July 29, 2018 (El Cajon) – A man stabbed in front of a 7-11 store in the 700 block of Jamacha yesterday afternoon died after being transported to a local hospital, says Lt. Walt Miller with the El Cajon Police Department. 

Soon after the stabbing, reported at 2:05 p.m. Saturday, officers responded to a burglary at an apartment in the 1200 block of north Mollison.  They took a burglary suspect to a hospital  for medical issues unrelated to his arrest, according to Lt. Miller.

“Investigators are exploring the possibility that this suspect may be related to the stabbing based on a physical description provided by witnesses,” said Miller. That suspect’s identity has not been released. However a second suspect may still be at large.