East County News Service

July 5, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – Have you “herd?” It’s time to break out your cowbells and get your spots on.

http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/cabins-camping-and-fishing-are-lures-lake-morena-county-park-gateway-pacific-crest-trail​​​​​​​

By Jonathan Goetz

July 3, 2018 (Campo) – Happy Independence Day, Campo and rural readers! We are taking this time to share pictures from the Manzanita High Mountain Rendezvous, held earlier in spring. The gathering recreates life in a mountain man encampment from the 18^th and 19^th centuries on the American frontier.

Please enjoy, and have a great Fourth of July!

By Jesse B. Kendrick

Photo: El Cajon Councilmember Bob McClellan and granddaughter Jessica (left) join Mayor Pro Tem Gary Kendrick (center) to honor Pearl Harbor survivor Stu Hedley, 96 (right).

July 3, 2018 (El Cajon) – Nearly 10,000 community members gathered this weekend for Celebrate America, the annual Independence Day event hosted by Shadow Mountain Community Church. The event featured indoor fireworks and a surprise appearance from military personnel who rappelled down ropes from the ceiling.

By Miriam Raftery

July 2, 2018 (Boulevard) – East County Magazine spoke with two officials from California Fish & Wildlife Service today regarding their investigation into reported tiger sightings in San Diego’s East County. 

“We took the report very seriously,” says media specialist Peter Tira. “We believe it is a hoax.” 

Tira says U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) notified the state Fish & Wildlife agency last week about a report of a possible full-grown tiger just north of the border.  Sheriff’s representatives previously told ECM that undocumented immigrants apprehended by Border Patrol agents under ICE claimed to have seen a tiger.

East County News Service

July 2, 2018 (La Mesa) -- Elizabeth Yeatts, 92, of Lakeville, Massachusetts, formerly of La Mesa, CA died on June 26, 2018 at home, surrounded by family and friends. Born in New London Connecticut, she graduated from the Williams School in 1943. Married to a Navy officer, Elizabeth lived in many different places including Rhode Island, Vermont, Florida, Hawaii and California during her husband’s Naval career and raised two daughters.

East County News Service

July 1, 2018 (La Mesa) - Thousands of La Mesans found a surprise in their mailbox last month with the arrival of a new community newspaper, La Mesa Village News.

La Mesa Village News is the latest of 30 hyper-local community direct mail newspapers launched by San Diego publishing house Local Umbrella Media. Local Umbrella, since the acquisition in 2015 of North Park News (which has been in existence since the 1990’s).

East County News Service

Photo via Lakeside Fire Department on Twitter

July 1, 2018 (Lakeside) – A paraglider pilot stranded on the face of El Cajon Mountain (also known as El Capitan) in Lakeside today suffered minor to moderate injuries. 

San Diego Sheriff’s Copter 11 made a hoist rescue, flying the injured pilot down to El Monte Park. There, firefighter-paramedics from Lakeside Fire Department provided treatment and transported the paraglider to a local trauma center.

East County News Service

June 30, 2018 (Santee) – After dousing a brush fire that charred about 500 square feet near Santee Lakes this afternoon, firefighters found a body at the scene.

The blaze was reported around 2:10 p.m. in the 9300 block of Fanita Parkway, Sheriff’s Lt. Rich Williams said, Patch.com reports.

The Medical Examiner is working to try and identify the decease. No description has been provided. Authorities are investigating the cause of both the death and the fire, but it is not yet known whether foul play was involved.

By Miriam Raftery

June 29, 2018 (Lemon Grove) – Gustavo Flores, 38, of Lemon Grove has been arrested and charged with the murder of Juan Martinez, 47. Martinez, a Lemon Grove resident who had suffered mortal wounds, banged on the door of residents in the 7600 block of Lemon Grove on June 21^st shortly before 9 p.m.

East County News Service

June 29, 2018 (Deerhorn Valley) – “If it moves, it can parade!” say organizers of the 6^th annual Deerhorn Valley Independence Day Parade.  That includes wagons, carts, tractors,  bikes, strollers, joggers, horses, dogs, emus and other animals in a parade that reflects small town Americana at its best.

Staging for the parade in Deerhorn Valley, a small town south of Jamul, begins at 9:30 a.m. at McNeil’s Field at the junction of Elena Way and Mt. Elena (accessed off Deerhorn Valley Road: see map) with the parade rolling out at 10 a.m. A picnic follows, with hotdogs, chips, ice cream, water and free popcorn. There will also be face painting and vintage autos on display.

By Miriam Raftery

June 28, 2018 (El Cajon) – The city of El Cajon will present its annual Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration at Kennedy Park (1675 East Madison Ave.) starting at noon Wednesday and ending with a 9 p.m. fireworks show synchronized to music.  1675 East Madison Avenue. Bring  a picnic or buy food from vendors, plus enjoy live music by two bands, inflatables, crafts, games and a “kiddie train.

Schedule of events:

By Kendra Sitton

June 28, 2018 (El Cajon) -- Community-oriented business leaders from across the County descended on Suri Restaurant in El Cajon on Wed., June 20.  Business for Good SD partnered with the restaurant for World Refugee Day. During their monthly mixer, the entrepreneurs and local leaders ate Syrian food masterfully prepared by the restaurant’s staff, comprised entirely of refugees.

By Ken Stone

Credit to Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Julian Fire Chief Rick Marinelli (left) with a Julian resident after July 2017 special meeting of fire district. Photo by Julie Pendray via eastcountymagazine.org

June 26, 2018 (Julian) - Five months before retiring, Julian’s fire chief violated state law — threatening volunteer firefighters involved in a vote of no confidence in his leadership, a labor agency says.

But Rick Marinelli, who left as chief in late May, denies allegations made in the state agency’s complaint against the Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District.

East County News Service

June 25, 2018 (Ramona) – A 72-year-old woman killed in a vehicle crash outside her home has been identified as Nicole Rodriguez Estrada, the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s office reports.

The Ramona resident’s vehicle was found along the driveway of her home at 480 Gem Lane on June 20^th after an apparent impact into an embankment. Fire and paramedic units responded to a 911 call and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

She was not wearing a seatbelt, according to Officer Travis Garrow with the California Highway Patrol.