Update Nov. 13: Jamul-Dulzura has been added to the list of school districts closed today.

East County News Service

November 12, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- Four East County school districts will be closed tomorrow because San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) has activated a public safety power shutoff in some rural areas of the County. The following districts' schools wil be closed: 

• Jamul Dulzura Union School District
• Julian Union School District
• Julian Union High School District
• Mountain Empire Unified School District
• Spencer Valley School District
  

East County News Service

November 12, 2018 (La Mesa) – The Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, a consumer health library at 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, is now presenting its Fall Art Exhibit titled “Personal Impressions.” The collaborative exhibit showcases 20 paintings, including eight paintings by La Mesa resident Maureen Parker and 12 paintings by Parker’s art teacher, Kay Norris Carlin of San Diego. The exhibit runs through the end of December.

East County News Service

Photo: SDG&E camera

November 10, 2018 (Ramona) -- A small plane crashed into a field west of the Ramona airport shortly before 8 a.m today and caught fire, but fortunately the pilot and a passenger escaped unharmed.

According to Cal. Fire/County Fire Authority, the fire was swiftly doused without spreading to adjacent brushy areas.

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

November 9, 2018 (La Mesa) - A team that should be in the playoffs against a team hanging on by the seat of their pants.  This playoff edition of ECM Friday Night Lights takes us to Helix again, where the Scottie dawgs faced off with Grossmont in round two of the Battle for the Musket and the CIF Division I quarterfinal.

East County News Service

November 9, 2018 (Alpine) - The glowing 23^rd Annual Alpine Village Christmas Parade of Lights & Snow Festival is going to be bigger and better than ever on Friday, Dec. 7 in Alpine. Shining holiday lights will decorate every entry in this hometown, award-winning parade that starts down Alpine Boulevard at West Victoria Drive at 6:30 p.m.  Almost 100 entries, including decorated pets, children, floats and big trucks, have registered so far.  

East County News Service

November 7, 2018 (San Diego's East County) –  The 14 Chick-fil-A restaurants across San Diego County are teaming up to offer free food to customers who download or log into the Chick-fil-A Mobile App in November through Dec. 1. Chick-fil-A restaurants in East County are located at 8200 Fletcher Parkway, La Mesa, and 9418 Mission Gorge Road, Santee.

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

Photo by Jesse Kendrick: Mayor  Wells and Councilman Kendrick savor Election Night victories

November 7, 2018 (El Cajon)--El Cajon voters returned Mayor Bill Wells and Councilma/Mayor Pro Tem Gary Kendrick to their positions on the El Cajon City Council on Tuesday night with veritable knockout punches against their challengers.

With 86 percent of precincts reporting, incumbent Mayor Bill Wells maintained his lead all evening with 66% (7799 votes) while his challenger, East County businessman Joel A. Scalzitti garnered only 26% (3064 votes). Robert M. Weaver, Jr., in spite of dropping out of the race early and not mounting a campaign because of federal Hatch Act conflicts with his position with the federal government, garnered 8% of the vote with 905 votes.

With nearly 88% precincts reporting, Councilman Kendrick was successful in staving off a challenge from fellow Councilman Ben Kalasho by a landslide. Kendrick got a whopping 85% (3408 votes) with Kalasho only getting 15% (621 votes). 

By Miriam Raftery

November 7, 2018 (Spring Valley) --- A trio of incumbents backed by the firefighters' union won reelection easily in the San Miguel Fire Protection District.

With 39% of districts counted, Theresa McKenna has 33.2%, Jim Ek 27.4%, and Michael Vaio 26.6%, defeating William A. Kiel II, son of board member William Kiel. The younger Kiel, a  trading card company owner with no fire experience, drew just 12.8% of the vote.

The stakes were high in the race, since the three incumbents who won reelection voted to return the district to independent operation, cancelling a contract with Cal Fire. The action passed by a slim one-vote margin, with Kiel, senior, voting against separating from Cal Fire.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Challenger Teresa Rosiak says even if she doesn't win, she hopes to restart a Chamber of Commerce to help bring new businsses to Lemon Grove and help improve the city's economy.

November 6, 2018 ( Lemon Grove) – With 14% of precincts counted, incumbent Councilmenbers Jennifer Mendoza and Jerry Jones appear headed for reelection in Lemon Grove. They are leading with 32.48% and 29% of the votes respectively.

Updated with comments from Councilmembers Baber and McWhirter, plus additional information on the Public Safety Advocates PAC.

By Miriam Raftery

November 4, 2018 (La Mesa) – A flurry of deceptive mailers have been sent to Democrats in La Mesa, where two Democratic candidates, Dr. Akilah Weber and retired Sheriff commander Dave Myers are challenging Republican incumbents Bill Baber and Guy McWhirter.  

One mailer paid for by the Baber-McWhirter campaign urged Democrats to vote – on the wrong date. (The election is Tuesday, November 6th.) The flyer had photos endorsing Republicans McWhirter and Baber as well as Mayor Mark Arapostathis, who is running unopposed. Baber says this was his mistake. "It was a typo. I wish I had Miriam as my editor!" he quipped. His campaign later sent a corrected copy, which he forwarded to ECM.

Two other mailers were sent by the “Public Safety Advocates” PAC in Encinitas and include negative information on the two Democrats, including false statements about Weber

East County News Service

November 4, 2018 (Poway) – You’re invited to swing into your holiday season at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, November 30^th at 8 p.m. with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s Wild and Swingin’ Holiday Party.  So, break out the zoot suits and swing dance dresses to take a step back in time to the ‘40s and ‘50s.

By Miriam Raftery

November 3, 2018 (Poway) – A student at Poway High School has been arrested for threatening during an argument with other students to bring a gun to school and shoot them.

The Sheriff’s Poway station received information from several concerned parents via the Poway TIP line.  After an investigation by deputies, including the Poway School Resource Officer and juvenile detective, deputies identified the student and arrested him at his home.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

November 3, 2018 (Santee) – An elderly, disabled man was found dead in a Santee mobile home that burned overnight.  The man called 911 to ask for help, telling the dispatcher he had difficulty moving around. 

By Mike Allen

November 2, 2018 (Santee) -- Running in his fourth city election, Santee Councilman Rob McNelis has been around the block a few times asking for funds to pay for such things as campaign signs and mailers so it’s no surprise that he easily leads the pack of seven candidates for the City Council with about $23,000 collected as of late October.

East County News Service

November 1, 2018 (Santee) – This is the first election in which Santee residents cast votes by district. In District 1, Councilman Rob NcNelis, a market leader with a mortgage banking company and former Chamber of Commerce president, is running against Evlyn Andrade-Heymsfield, a software engineer and business owner who worked at U.C. Berkeley’s school of public health as a program manager and chair of the staff advisory council.

Key issues are development vs. quality of life, as well as how to address the city’s budget deficit. Andrade-Heymsfield claims her opponent puts developers’ interests over those of residents; she pledges to oppose Fanita Ranch. McNelis says he’s voted against some developer donors’ projects and votes for what's best for Santee. He pledges to keep government small and out of people’s pockets; Andrade-Heymsfield says she has ideas for new revenue sources to address the city’s deficit without raising taxes. 

We interviewed both candidates on KNSJ 89.1 FM radio. Hear the full interviews by clicking the audio links (Evlyn Andrade Heymsfield audio and Rob McNelis audio) plus read highlights below.